[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 169 (Thursday, August 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 45463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22090]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Proposed Data Collection Available for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for 
public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad 
Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data 
collections.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information 
collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection 
of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize 
the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Title and purpose of information collection: Gross Earnings 
Reports; OMB 3220-0132.
    In order to carry out the financial interchange provisions of 
section 7(c)(2) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), the RRB obtains 
annually from railroad employer's the gross earnings for their 
employees on a one-percent basis, i.e., 1% of each employer's railroad 
employees. The gross earnings sample is based on the earnings of 
employees whose social security numbers end with the digits ``30.'' The 
gross earnings are used to compute payroll taxes under the financial 
interchange.
    The gross earnings information is essential in determining the tax 
amounts involved in the financial interchange with the Social Security 
Administration and Health Care Financing Administration. Besides being 
necessary for current financial interchange calculations, the gross 
earnings file tabulations are also an integral part of the data needed 
to estimate future tax income and corresponding financial interchange 
amounts. These estimates are made for internal use and to satisfy 
requests from other government agencies and interested groups. In 
addition, cash flow projections of the social security equivalent 
benefit account, railroad retirement account and cost estimates made 
for proposed amendments to laws administered by the RRB are dependent 
on input developed from the information collection.
    The RRB utilizes Form BA-11 or its electronic equivalent to obtain 
gross earnings information from railroad employers. One response is 
requested of each railroad employer. Completion is mandatory.
    The RRB proposes minor, non-burden impacting editorial revisions to 
Form BA-11.
    Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden: Gross earnings reports are 
required annually from all employers reporting railroad service and 
compensation. There are approximately 633 railroad employers who 
currently report gross earnings to the RRB. Most large railroad 
employers include their railroad subsidiaries in their gross earnings 
reports. This results in the RRB collection less than 633 earnings 
reports. Also, there are a large number of railroad employers having 
work forces so small that they do not have employees with social 
security numbers ending in ``30.'' Currently, there are 399 such 
employers in this category who file ``negative'' BA-11 responses to the 
RRB. Overall, on an annual basis, the RRB receives 28 reports 
consisting of computer prepared tapes or listings and 104 by means of 
manually prepared Form BA-11. The RRB estimates an average preparation 
time of 5 hours for each gross earnings report submitted by computer 
tape or listing and 30 minutes for each manually prepared BA-11.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: To request more information or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, and/
or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312) 
751-3363. Comments regarding the information collection should be 
addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 N. Rush 
Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. Written comments should be 
received within 60 days of this notice.
Chuck Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-22090 Filed 8-28-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M