[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63904-63905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27328]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program, Office of 
Personnel Management/Social Security Administration

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

ACTION: Publication of notice of computer matching program to comply 
with Public Law 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection 
Act of 1988.

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SUMMARY: OPM is publishing notice of its computer matching program with 
the Social Security Administration (SSA) to meet the reporting and 
publication requirements of Public Law 100-503. The purpose of the 
computer match is to establish the conditions under which SSA agrees to 
the disclosure of tax return information to OPM.

DATES: The matching program will begin in October 2000, or 40 days 
after agreements by the parties participating in the match have been 
submitted to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget, or 30 
days after notice of the match is published in the Federal Register, 
whichever is later. The data exchange will begin at a date mutually 
acceptable between OPM and SSA, unless comments are received which will 
result in a contrary determination. Subsequent matches will take place 
annually on a recurring basis until one of the parties advises the 
other, in writing, of its intention to reevaluate, modify and/or 
terminate the agreement.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to William J. Washington, Acting 
Assistant Director for Systems, Finance, and Administration, 1900 E. 
Street, NW., Room 4312, Washington, DC 20415.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marc Flaster, (202) 606-2115.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OPM and SSA intend to conduct a computer 
matching program, as described below. The purpose of this agreement is 
to establish the conditions under which SSA agrees to the disclosure of 
tax return information to OPM. The SSA records will be used in a 
matching program in which OPM will match SSA's tax return records with 
OPM's records on disability retirees under age 60, disabled adult child 
survivors, certain retirees in receipt of a supplemental benefit under 
the Federal Employees Retirement System, and certain annuitants 
receiving a discontinued service retirement benefit under the Civil 
Service Retirement System. By law, these annuitants and survivors are 
limited in the amount they can earn and still retain benefits paid to 
them. In the case of the discontinued service annuitants, retirement 
benefits will cease upon re-employment in federal service. OPM will use 
the SSA data to determine continued eligibility for benefits being 
paid.

Office of Personnel Management.
Janice R. Lachance,
Director.

Report of Computer Matching Program Between the Office of Personnel 
Management and the Social Security Administration

A. Participating Agencies

    OPM and SSA.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    Chapters 83 and 84 of title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.) require 
OPM to verify earnings data supplied by civil service annuitants. 
Section 6103(11) of the Internal Revenue Code requires SSA to disclose 
tax return information to OPM to administer programs under chapters 83 
and 84 of title 5, United States Code. The purpose of this agreement is 
to establish the conditions under which SSA agrees to the disclosure of 
tax return information to OPM.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    Public Law 97-253, Chapters 83 and 84, title 5, United States Code 
and 26 U.S.C. 6103(11).

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match

    The SSA records involved in the match are earnings, self-employment 
and other data which constitute tax return information pursuant to 26 
U.S.C. 6103. The Earnings Recording and Self-Employment Income System, 
SSA/OSR, 60-0059 (last published in the Federal Register at 59 FR 
62407, December 5, 1994), maintains records of individuals' wages or 
self-employment income from employment under Social Security. The OPM 
records consist of annuity data from its system of records entitled 
OPM/Central 1--Civil Service Retirement and Insurance Records (last 
published in the Federal Register at 64 FR 54930, October 8, 1999), as 
amended May 3, 2000 (65 FR 25775).

E. Description of Matching Program

    OPM provides an annual electronic finder file containing 
identifying information for those records that SSA will verify. SSA 
will then provide an electronic reply file containing information in 
response to OPM's finder file.

F. Privacy Safeguards and Security

    The personal privacy of the individuals whose names are included in 
the data exchange is protected by strict adherence to the provisions of 
the Privacy Act and OMB's ``Guidance Interpreting the Provisions of 
Public Law 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 
1988''. Access to the records used in the data exchange is restricted 
to only those authorized employees and officials who need it to perform 
their official duties in connection with the uses of the information 
authorized in this agreement. Records matched or created will be stored 
in an area that is physically safe. Records used in the exchange and 
any records created by this exchange will be processed under the 
immediate supervision and control of authorized personnel in a manner 
which will protect the confidentiality of the records, and in such a 
way that unauthorized persons cannot retrieve any such records by means 
of computer, remote terminal or other means. The records matched and 
any records created by this agreement will be transported under 
appropriate safeguards consistent with the manner in which they are 
stored and processed. All personnel who will have access to the records 
matched and to any records created by the match will be advised of the 
confidential nature of the information, the safeguards required to 
protect the information and the civil and criminal sanctions for 
noncompliance contained in applicable federal laws.

G. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    This computer matching program is subject to review by the Congress 
and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OPM's report to these 
parties must be received at least 40 days prior to the initiation of 
any matching activity. If no objections are raised by either Congress 
or OMB, and the mandatory 30 day public notice period for comment for 
this Federal Register notice expires, with no significant receipt of 
adverse public comments resulting in a contrary determination, then 
this computer matching program becomes effective. By agreement

[[Page 63905]]

between OPM and SSA, the matching program will be in effect and 
continue for 18 months with an option to renew for 12 additional months 
under the terms set forth in 5 U.S.C. 552a(o)(2)(D).

[FR Doc. 00-27328 Filed 10-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-01-P