[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] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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