# Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Vocational Rehabilitation Financial Report (RSA-17)
**AGENCY:**
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education (ED).
**ACTION:**
Notice.
**SUMMARY:**
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).
**DATES:**
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 26, 2026.
**ADDRESSES:**
To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use *http://www.regulations.gov* by searching the Docket ID number ED-2026-SCC-0827. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at *http://www.regulations.gov* by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. If the *regulations.gov* site is not available to the public for any reason, the Department will temporarily accept comments at *[email protected].* Please include the docket ID number and the title of the information collection request when requesting documents or submitting comments. Please note that comments submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Rehabilitation Services Administration, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 4B104, Washington, DC 20202-1200.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact David Steele, 202-245-6358.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
The Department, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. The Department is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.
*Title of Collection:* Vocational Rehabilitation Financial Report (RSA-17).
*OMB Control Number:* 1820-0017.
*Type of Review:* An extension without change of a currently approved ICR.
*Respondents/Affected Public:* State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
*Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses:* 312.
*Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours:* 10,193.
*Abstract:* The Vocational Rehabilitation Financial Report (RSA-17) collects data on the State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services program activities for agencies funded under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended by title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), U.S. Department of Education (Department) uses the data to evaluate and monitor the financial and programmatic performance of VR agencies. This report is used in lieu of the SF-425 Federal Financial Report because the SF-425 does not capture the required data elements necessary to ensure compliance with the financial requirements of the VR program. The data collected via the RSA-17 are necessary to ensure Federal requirements imposed by the Rehabilitation Act and its implementing Federal regulations are satisfied; including matching, maintenance of effort, carryover, and earmarking.
This is a request for revision of the RSA-17 form with extension of the revised form for three years. RSA identified a unique circumstance where a VR grantee may not receive credit for non-Federal expenditures for establishment or construction expenditures when the grantee's compliance with the maintenance of effort requirement is calculated. The current RSA-17 form does not collect the data element necessary to address this unique circumstance. The proposed revision to the form corrects this issue by providing the ability to track unliquidated obligations and liquidations for the Establishment and Construction of Facilities for Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP) purposes through revisions to lines 28, 32 and 33. In addition, the revisions remove reporting element, line 15(a), Required and Coordination Pre-employment Transition Service Activities and Other VR Services that Support Access to and Participation in Pre-Employment Transition Services and include minor typographical edits.
Ross Santy,
Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.