[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