[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18117]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 26, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Amendment of System of Records--Veterans and Armed Forces
Personnel United States Government Life Insurance Records--VA (36VA00)
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Amendment of system of records.
Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
is revising certain paragraphs in the system of records entitled,
``Veterans and Armed Forces Personnel United States Government Life
Insurance Records--VA'' (36VA00) which first appeared in the Federal
Register, 40 FR 38095, on August 26, 1975. It was revised in 47 FR
29132 (July 6, 1982) and amended in 50 FR 13448 (April 4, 1985) and in
50 FR 50033 (December 6, 1985). The ``System location'', ``Authority
for maintenance of the system'', ``Routine uses of records. * * *''.
``Storage'', ``Retrievability'', and ``Safeguards'' paragraphs are
being revised to make minor changes.
Approved: May 10, 1994.
Jesse Brown,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Notice of Amendment to System of Records
The system of records identified as 36VA00, ``Veterans and Armed
Forces Personnel United States Government Life Insurance Records--VA''
is being amended. It first appeared in the Federal Register, 40 FR
38095, on August 25, 1975, was revised in 47 FR 29132 (July 6, 1982)
and amended in 50 FR 13448 (April 4, 1985) and in 50 FR 50033 (December
6, 1985). 36VA00 is amended by changing ``data processing'' centers to
``benefits delivery'' centers by adding a reference to the microfiche
record storage capability and by making other minor changes as follows:
36VA00
Veterans and Armed Forces Personnel United States Government Life
Insurance Record--VA.
Active records are located at the VA Regional Office and Insurance
Centers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and St. Paul, Minnesota. Inactive
records are stored at various servicing Federal Archives and Records
Centers and at the VA Records Processing Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
Information from these files is also maintained in automated files at
the VA Benefits Delivery Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Information from the automated files in Philadelphia is available to
all VA Regional Offices, except Manila, Philippines, through the ITS
(Insurance Terminal System) which provides direct access to the records
via video display terminals. Duplicate copies of certain manual and
automated files are maintained at other locations in accordance with
Federal and VA policy on security and vital records. Address locations
of VA facilities are listed in VA Appendix 1 at the end of this
document.
* * * * *
Title 38, United States Code, Chapter 5, Section 501, and Chapter
19.
* * * * *
19. Any information in this system, including the nature and amount
of a financial obligation, may be disclosed to a debtor's employing
agency or commanding officer, upon its official request, in order to
assist VA in the collection of unpaid financial obligations owed VA so
that the debtor-employee may be counseled by his or her Federal
employer or commanding officer. This purpose is consistent with 5
U.S.C. 5514, 4 CFR 102.5, and section 206 of Executive order 11222 of
May 8, 1965.
20. Any information in this system, including available identifying
data regarding the debtor, such as name of debtor, last known address
of debtor, name of debtor's spouse, social security account number of
debtor, VA insurance number, VA loan number, VA file number, place of
birth and date of birth of debtor, name and address of debtor's
employer or firm and dates of employment, may be disclosed to other
Federal agencies, State probate courts, State drivers license bureaus,
and State automobile title and license bureaus as a routine use in
order to obtain current address, locator and credit report assistance
in the collection of unpaid financial obligations owed the United
States. This purpose is consistent with the Federal Claims Collection
Act of 1966 (Pub. L. 89-508, 31 United States Code, 3701-3718) and 4
CFR parts 101-105 and 38 U.S.C. 5701(b)(6).
21. Any information concerning the veteran's indebtedness to the
United States by virtue of a person's participation in a benefits
program administered by VA, including personal information obtained
from other Federal agencies through computer matching programs, may be
disclosed to any third party, except consumer reporting agencies, in
connection with any proceeding for the collection of an amount owed to
the United States by virtue of a person's participation in any benefit
program administered by VA. Purposes of these disclosures may be to (a)
Assist VA in collection of title 38 benefit overpayments, overdue
indebtedness, and or costs of services provided individuals not
entitled to such services, and (b) initiate legal actions for
prosecuting individuals who willfully or fraudulently obtain title 38
benefits without entitlement. This disclosure is consistent with 38
U.S.C. 5701(b)(6).
22. The name and address of a veteran, other information as is
reasonably necessary to identify such veteran, including personal
information obtained from other Federal agencies through computer
matching programs, and any information concerning the veteran's
indebtedness to the United States by virtue of the person's
participation in a benefits program administered by VA may be disclosed
to a consumer reporting agency for purposes of assisting in the
collection of such indebtedness, provided that the provisions of 38
U.S.C. 5701(g)(4) have been met.
* * * * *
Records are stored on magnetic tape, microfilm, microfiche, disks,
and paper documents including computer lists and punched cards.
All manual and automated insurance records are retrievable by the
insurance file number, using name, social security number, VA file
number and date of birth as additional identifying information.
1. Physical security: a. All VA facilities are protected by the
Federal Protective Service or other security personnel. All file areas
are restricted to authorized personnel on a need-to-know basis. Areas
containing paper records are protected by a sprinkler system. Paper
records pertaining to employees and public figures, or otherwise
sensitive files, are stored in locked files. Microfilm records are
stored in a locked, fireproof, humidity-controlled vault. Automated
records which are not in use at the Benefits Delivery Center are stored
in secured, locked vault areas.
b. Access to the VA Benefits Delivery Center is restricted to
Center employees, custodial personnel, and Federal Protective Service
or other security personnel. Access to computer rooms is restricted to
authorized operational personnel through electronic locking devices.
All other persons gaining access to computer rooms are escorted by an
individual with authorized access.
c. At Regional Offices and at Regional Office and Insurance
Centers, the video display terminals are protected by password access.
Electronic keyboard locks are activated on security errors. A security
officer at each facility is assigned responsibility for privacy-
security measures, including review of violation logs and local control
and distribution of passwords.
2. System Security: a. At the Benefits Delivery Center,
identification of magnetic tapes and disks containing data is rigidly
enforced using manual and automated labeling techniques. Access to
computer programs is controlled at three levels: Programming, auditing
and operations.
b. The Insurance Terminal System(ITS) uses the VA data
telecommunications terminal system known as the Benefits Delivery
Network (BDN) which provides computerized access control for security
purposes. This system provides automated recognition of authorized
users and their respective access levels and restrictions through
passwords. Passwords are changed periodically and are restricted to
authorized individuals on a need-to-know basis for system access or
security purposes.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 94-18117 Filed 7-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01