[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57817-57820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24595]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Privacy Act of 1974; Amended Systems of Records Notice

AGENCY: Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974 
(5 U.S.C. 552a), the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) is 
publishing notice of its amendment of its system of records entitled 
``The Location and Collection System'', DHHS/OCSE No. 09-90-0074.

DATES: HHS invites interested parties to submit comments on this notice 
by October 26, 2000. As required by the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(r)), 
on September 19, 2000 HHS sent a report of an Amended System to the 
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, 
and the Office of Management and Budget. The amendments in this notice 
are effective upon publication unless HHS receives comments that would 
result in a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this Notice by writing to 
the Associate Commissioner for Automation and Program Operations, 
Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and 
Families, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, 2nd Floor West, Washington, DC 
20447, (202) 401-4963. All comments received will be available for 
public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Bonar, Associate Commissioner 
for Automation and Program Operations, at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Notice is hereby given that the Office of Child Support Enforcement 
(OCSE) is amending one of its System of Records, ``The Location and 
Collection System (LCS),'' DHHS/OCSE No. 09-90-0074, last published at 
64 FR 49809 on September 14, 1999. OCSE wishes to advise the public 
that the LCS is being expanded to include a new routine use. This 
notice also provides technical amendments to the System of Records. 
Consistent with section 453(j)(6) of the Social Security Act (the Act) 
as added by Public Law 106-113, information contained in the National 
Directory of New Hires (NDNH) portion of the system will be disclosed 
to the Department of Education (DOE) for the purpose of enforcing 
obligations on loans made under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 that are in default or for collection of overpayments of grants 
awarded under this Act. We have also made an adjustment to this Notice 
to clarify that information provided to researchers pursuant to section 
453(j)(5) of the Act will be derived from the NDNH portion of this 
system.
    The complete system notice is republished below.

    Dated: September 20, 2000.
David Gray Ross,
Commissioner, Office of Child Support Enforcement.
09-90-0074

SYSTEM NAME:
    Location and Collection System (LCS), HHS, OCSE.

[[Page 57818]]

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
    None.

SYSTEM LOCATION:
    Office of Child Support Enforcement, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 
4th Floor East, Washington, DC 20447; Social Security Administration, 
6200 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235.

CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM:
    Records will be maintained to locate individuals for the purpose of 
establishing parentage, establishing, setting the amount of, modifying, 
or enforcing child support obligations, or enforcing child custody or 
visitation orders and may include (1) information on, or facilitate the 
discovery of, or the location of any individuals: (A) Who are under an 
obligation to pay child support or provide child custody or visitation 
rights; (B) against whom such an obligation is sought; (C) to whom such 
an obligation is owed including the individual's social security number 
(or numbers), most recent address, and the name, address, and employer 
identification number of the individual's employer; and (D) who have or 
may have parental rights with respect to a child; (2) information on 
the individual's wages (or other income) from, and benefits of, 
employment (including rights to enrollment in group health care 
coverage); (3) information on the type, status, and amount of any 
assets or debts owed to or by such an individual; and (4) information 
on certain Federal disbursements payable to a delinquent obligor which 
may be offset for the purpose of collecting past-due child support.

CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
    Specific records retained in the LCS system are: The name of 
noncustodial or custodial parent or child, Social Security number (when 
available), date of birth, place of birth, sex code, State case 
identification number, local identification number (State use only), 
State or locality originating request, date of origination, type of 
case (TANF, non-TANF full-service, non-TANF locate only, parental 
kidnapping); home address, mailing address, type of employment, work 
location, annual salary, pay rate, quarterly wages, medical coverage, 
benefit amounts, type of military service (Army, Navy, Marines, Air 
Force, not in service), retired military (yes or no), Federal employee 
(yes or no), recent employer's address, known alias (last name only), 
date requests sent to State and Federal agencies or departments (SSA, 
Treasury, DoD/OPM, VA, USPS, FBI, and SESAs), dates of Federal 
agencies' or departments' responses, date of death, record identifier; 
employee's SSN, SSN verification indicator and any corrected SSN, 
employee first name, middle name, last name, employee address(es), date 
of birth (optional), employee date of hire (optional), employee State 
of hire, wage amount, quarter paid, reporting period; employer name, 
Federal Employer Identification Number or Federal Information 
Processing System Code, State Employee Identification Number of Federal 
Information Processing System Code, employer address, employer foreign 
address, employer optional address, and employer optional foreign 
address; multistate employer name, address and Federal Identification 
Number; employee SSN, employee first name, middle name, last name, 
employee address(es), date of birth (optional), date of hire 
(optional), State of hire (optional), employee wage amount, quarter 
paid, reporting period; unemployment insurance record identifier, 
claimant SSN, SSN verification indicator and any corrected SSN; 
claimant first name, middle name, claimant address, SSA/VA benefit 
amount, unemployment insurance benefits amount, reporting period, 
quarter paid, payer State, date report processed; State code, local 
code, case number, arrearage amount, collection amount, adjustment 
amount, return indicator, transfer State, street address, city and 
State, zip code, zip code 4, total debt, number of adjustments, number 
of collections, net amount, adjustment year, tax period for offset, 
type of offset, offset amount, submitting State FIPS, locate code, case 
ID number, case type, and court/administrative order indicator. Records 
used to aid State Child Support Enforcement Agencies in obtaining 
information from multistate financial institutions may include 
institution name(s), name control, Taxpayer Identification Number(s), 
year, month, service bureau indicator, transfer agent indicator, 
foreign corporation indicator, reporting agent/transmitter, 
address(es), file indicator, record type, payee last name control, 
SSN(s), payee account number, account full legal title (optional), 
payee foreign country indicator (optional), payee names, addresses, 
account balances (optional), trust fund indicator, account balance 
indicator (optional), account update indicator, account type, date of 
birth. Individuals will be fully informed of the uses and disclosures 
of their records.

AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
    Legal authority for maintenance of the system is contained in 
sections 452 and 453 of the Social Security Act that require the 
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to establish 
and conduct the Federal Parent Locator Service, a computerized national 
location network which provides address and social security number 
information to authorized persons, primarily for the purposes of 
establishing and collecting child support obligations.

PURPOSES:
    The primary purpose of the Location and Collection System is to 
improve States' abilities to locate parents and collect child support.

ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES 
OF USERS AND THE PURPOSE OF SUCH USES:
    The routine uses of records maintained in the LCS are as follows: 
(1) Request the most recent home and employment addresses and SSN of 
the noncustodial or custodial parents from any State or Federal 
government department, agency or instrumentality which might have such 
information in its records; (2) provide the most recent home and 
employment addresses and SSN to State Child Support Enforcement (CSE) 
agencies under agreements covered by section 463 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 
663) for the purpose of locating noncustodial parents or children in 
connection with activities by State courts and Federal attorneys and 
agents charged with making or enforcing child custody determinations or 
conducting investigations, enforcement proceedings or prosecutions 
concerning the unlawful taking or restraint of children; (3) provide 
the most recent home and employment addresses and SSN to agents and 
attorneys of the United States, involved in activities in States which 
do not have agreements under section 463 of the Act for purposes of 
locating noncustodial parents or children in connection with Federal 
investigations, enforcement proceedings or prosecutions involving the 
unlawful taking or restraint of children; (4) provide to the State 
Department the name and SSN of noncustodial parents in international 
child support cases, and in cases involving the Hague Convention on the 
Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction; (5) provide to State 
agencies data in the NDNH portion of this system for the purpose of 
administering the Child Support Enforcement program and the Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program; (6) provide to

[[Page 57819]]

the Commissioner of Social Security information for the purposes of 
verifying reported SSNs, verifying eligibility and/or payment amounts 
under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, and for other 
purposes; (7) provide to the Secretary of the Treasury information in 
the NDNH portion of this system for purposes of administering advance 
payments of the earned income tax credit and verifying a claim with 
respect to employment in a tax return; (8) provide to researchers new 
hire data for research efforts that would contribute to the TANF and 
CSE programs. Information disclosed may not contain personal 
identifiers; (9) provide to State CSE agencies, or any agent of an 
agency that is under contract with the State CSE agency, information 
which will assist in locating individuals for the purposes of 
establishing paternity and for establishing, modifying, and enforcing 
child support obligations; (10) disclose to authorized persons as 
defined in section 463(d)(2) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 663(d)(2)) records 
for the purpose of locating individuals and enforcing child custody and 
visitation orders; (11) disclose to the State agency administering the 
Medicaid, Unemployment Compensation, Food Stamp, SSI and territorial 
cash assistance programs new hire information for income eligibility 
verification; (12) disclose to State agencies administering 
unemployment and worker's compensation programs new hire information to 
assist in determining the allowability of claims; (13) disclose 
information to the Treasury Department in order to collect past due 
child support obligation via offset of tax refunds and certain Federal 
payments such as: Federal salary, wage and retirement payments; vendor 
payments; expense reimbursement payments, and travel payments; (14) 
disclose to the Secretary of State information necessary to revoke, 
restrict, or deny a passport to any person certified by State CSE 
agencies as owing a child support arrearage in an amount specified in 
section 452(k) of the Act; and (15) disclose to States information 
pertaining to multistate financial institutions which has been provided 
by such institutions in order to aid State Child Support Enforcement 
Agencies; and (16) disclose to the Department of Education information 
in the NDNH portion of this system for purposes of enforcing 
obligations on loans under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
that are in default or for collecting overpayments of grants awarded 
under this Act.

DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES:
    None.

POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, 
AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
STORAGE:
    The Location and Collection System records are maintained on disc 
and computer tape, and hard copy.

RETRIEVABILITY:
    System records can be accessed by either a State assigned case 
identification number or Social Security Number.

SAFEGUARDS:
    1. Authorized Users: All requests from the State IV-D Agency must 
certify that: (1) They are being made to locate noncustodial and 
custodial parents for the purpose of establishing paternity or securing 
child support, or in cases involving parental kidnapping or child 
custody and visitation determinations and for no other purpose; (2) the 
State IV-D agency has in effect protective measures to safeguard the 
personal information being transferred and received from the Federal 
Parent Locator Service; and (3) the State IV-D Agency will use or 
disclose this information for the purposes prescribed in 45 CFR 303.70.
    2. Physical Safeguards: For computerized records electronically 
transmitted between Central Office and field office locations 
(including organizations administering HHS programs under contractual 
agreements), safeguards include a lock/unlock password system. All 
input documents will be inventoried and accounted for. All inputs and 
outputs will be stored in a locked receptacle in a locked room. All 
outputs will be labeled ``For Official Use Only'' and treated 
accordingly.
    3. Procedural and Technical Safeguards: All Federal and State 
personnel and contractors are required to take a nondisclosure oath. A 
password is required to access the terminal. All microfilm and paper 
files are accessible only by authorized personnel who have a need for 
the information in the performance of their official duties. These 
practices are in compliance with the standards of Chapter 45-13 of the 
HHS General Administration Manual, ``Safeguarding Records Contained in 
Systems of Records,'' and the Department's Automated Information System 
Security Program Handbook.

RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
    Quarterly wage data and unemployment data supplied to the LCS 
which, within 12 months, has not produced a match as a result of any 
information comparison will not thereafter be used for child support 
enforcement purposes. Quarterly wages and unemployment data and new 
hire information will be deleted from the database 24 months after the 
date of entry. An information comparison will be retained for 24 
months. Sample data will be retained only long enough to complete 
research authorized under section 453(j)(5) of the Act. Tax refund and 
administrative offset information will be maintained for six years in 
an active master file for purposes of collection and adjustment. After 
this time, records of cases for which there was no collection will be 
destroyed. Records of cases with a collection will be stored on-line in 
an inactive master file. Records pertaining to passport denial will be 
updated and/or deleted as obligors meet satisfactory restitution or 
other State approved arrangements. Records of information provided to 
authorized users will be maintained only long enough to communicate the 
information to the appropriate State or Federal agent. Thereafter, the 
information provided will be destroyed. However, records pertaining to 
the disclosures, which include information provided by States, Federal 
agencies contacted, and an indication of the type(s) of information 
returned, will be stored on a history tape and in hard copy for five 
years and then destroyed. Records of information provided by financial 
institutions for the purpose of facilitating matches will be maintained 
only long enough to communicate the information to the appropriate 
State agent. Thereafter, the information provided will be destroyed. 
However, records pertaining to the disclosures, which include 
information provided by States, Federal agencies contacted, and an 
indication of the type(s) of information returned, will be stored on a 
history tape and in hard copy for five years and then destroyed.

SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:
    Associate Commissioner for Automation and Program Operations, 
Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and 
Families, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, 2nd Floor West, Washington, D.C. 
20447.

NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
    To determine if a record exists, write to the Systems Manager at 
the address

[[Page 57820]]

listed above. The Privacy Act provides that, except under certain 
conditions specified in the law, only the subject of the records may 
have access to them. All requests must be submitted in the following 
manner: identify the system of records you wish to have searched, have 
your request notarized to verify your identity, indicate that you are 
aware that the knowing and willful request for or acquisition of a 
Privacy Act record under false pretenses is a criminal offense subject 
to a $5,000 fine. Your letter must also provide sufficient particulars 
to enable OCSE to distinguish between records on subject individuals 
with the same name.

RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
    Write to the Systems Manager specified above to attain access to 
records. Requesters should provide a detailed description of the record 
contents they are seeking.

CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURE:
    Contact the official at the address specified under System Manager 
above, and identify the record and specify the information to be 
contested and corrective action sought with supporting justification to 
show how the record is inaccurate, incomplete, untimely, or irrelevant.

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
    Information is obtained from departments, agencies, or 
instrumentalities of the United States or any State and from multi-
state financial institutions.

ITEMS EXEMPTED FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ACT:
    None.

[FR Doc. 00-24595 Filed 9-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P