[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19381-19382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8961]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Programs--Department Of 
Veterans Affairs

AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice of a Computer Matching Program to Comply with Pub. L. 
100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with Pub. L. 100-503, the Computer Matching and 
Privacy Protection Act of 1988, we are publishing a notice of a 
computer matching program that ACF will conduct on behalf of itself, 
the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), and the Food and 
Nutrition Service (FNS), utilizing Veterans Affairs pension and 
compensation information and State Public Assistance Agency records.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by writing to 
the Director, Office of State Systems Policy, Administration for 
Children and Families, Aerospace Building, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, 
Washington, DC 20447. All comments received will be available for 
public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Office of State Systems 
Policy, Administration for Children and Families, Aerospace Building, 
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447, Telephone Number 
(202) 401-6959.

DATES: We filed a report of the subject ACF matching program with the 
Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
Government Reform and Oversight of the House of Representatives and the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the Office of Management 
and Budget on March 31, 2000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

    Pub. L. 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act 
of 1988, amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by adding certain 
protections for individuals applying for and receiving Federal 
benefits. The law regulates the use of computer matching by Federal 
agencies when records in a system of records are matched with other 
Federal, State and local government records.
    The amendments require Federal agencies involved in computer 
matching programs to:
    (1) Negotiate written agreements with source agencies;
    (2) Provide notification to applicants and beneficiaries that their 
records are subject to matching;
    (3) Verify match findings before reducing, suspending or 
terminating an individual's benefits or payments;
    (4) Furnish detailed reports to Congress and OMB; and
    (5) Establish a Data Integrity Board that must approve matching 
agreements.

B. ACF Computer Match Subject to Pub. L. 100-503

    Below is a brief description followed by a detailed notice of a 
computer match that ACF will be conducting as of May 1, 2000 or later.
    ACF computer match with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 
Purpose: To detect and determine the amount of benefit overpayment to 
public assistance recipients by verifying client VA pension and 
compensation circumstances using VA automated data files.

Notice of Computer Matching Program

    State Public Assistance Agencies will match public assistance 
client records with VA compensation and pension records.

A. Participating Agencies

    ACF, VA and State Public Assistance Agencies (SPAAs).

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to provide the SPAAs listed 
in attachment A with data from the VA benefit and compensation file for 
the states to determine eligibility and insure fair and equitable 
treatment in the delivery of benefits attributable to funds provided by 
the Federal Government. The SPAAs, listed in attachment A, will provide 
ACF with a file of Medicaid, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families 
(TANF), general assistance and Food Stamp clients. VA will provide ACF 
with a file of individuals receiving VA compensation and pension 
benefits. The Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), in the role of a 
contractor providing computer support services to ACF, will match the 
SPAAs, listed in attachment A, files with the VA file and provide ACF 
with VA pension and compensation benefit information for all matched 
records. ACF will in turn provide the SPAAs with the appropriate VA 
information. The SPAAs listed in attachment A, will use the VA 
information to verify client circumstances for eligibility and for fair 
and equitable treatment, and to initiate adverse action when 
appropriate.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    The legal authority for this match is section 402 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602) and section (b)(3) of the Privacy Act (5 
U.S.C. 552a).

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match

    VA will disclose information from the VA Compensation, Pension, and 
Education and Rehabilitation Records--VA (58 VA 21/22), contained in 
the Privacy Act Issuances, 1997 Compilation.
    ACF will match this information with State Public Assistance 
Agencies Client Eligibility files.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Match

    This computer match will begin no sooner than 30 days from the date 
HHS publishes a Computer Matching Notice in the Federal Register or 30 
days from the date copies of the approved agreement and the notice of 
the matching program are sent to the Congressional committee of 
jurisdiction under subsections (0)(2)(B) and (r) of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, or 30 days from the date the approved agreement is sent to the 
Office of Management and Budget, whichever is later, provided no 
comments are received which result in a contrary determination.

F. Address for Receipt of Public Comments or Inquiries

    Individuals wishing to comment on this matching program should 
submit comments to the Director, Office of State Systems Policy, 
Administration for Children and Families, Aerospace Building, 370 
L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447.


[[Page 19382]]


    Dated: April 5, 2000.
Olivia A. Golden,
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.

Attachment A: ACF Public Assistance Reporting Information System 
(PARIS) Project

Participating State Public Assistance Agencies

1. Connecticut Department of Social Services
2. District of Columbia Department of Social Services
3. Florida Division of Public Assistance
4. Illinois Department of Public Aid
5. Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services
6. Louisiana Department of Social Services
7. Maryland Department of Human Resources
8. Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance
9. Nebraska Department of Social Services
10. New York Department of Social Services
11. North Carolina Department of Human Resources
12. Ohio Department of Human Services
13. Oklahoma Department of Human Services
14. Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
15. South Dakota Department of Social Services
16. Tennessee Department of Human Services
17. Texas Department of Human Services
18. Utah Department of Workforce Services and Department of Health
19. Virginia Department of Social Services

[FR Doc. 00-8961 Filed 4-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P