[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 16072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7141]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

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) publishes 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

    Employer Reporting; OMB 3220-0005.
    Under Section 9 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) and Section 6 
of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), railroad employers 
are required to submit reports of employee service and compensation to 
the RRB as needed for administering the RRA and RUIA. To pay benefits 
due on a deceased employee's earnings records or determine entitlement 
to, and amount of annuity applied for, it is necessary at times to 
obtain from railroad employers current (lag) service and compensation 
not yet reported to the RRB through the annual reporting process. The 
reporting requirements are specified in 20 CFR 209.4 and 209.5.
    The RRB currently utilizes Form G-88a.1, Notice of Retirement and 
Verification of Date Last Worked, Form G-88a.2, Notice of Retirement 
and Request for Service Needed for Eligibility, Form AA-12, Notice of 
Death and Compensation, to obtain the required lag service and related 
information from railroad employers. Form G-88a.1 is sent by the RRB to 
railroad employers and used for the specific purpose of verifying 
information previously provided to the RRB regarding the date last 
worked by an employee. If the information is correct, the employer need 
not reply. If the information is incorrect, the employer is asked to 
provide corrected information. Form G-88a.2 is used by the RRB to 
secure lag service and compensation information when it is needed to 
determine benefit eligibility. The RRB proposes to replace the current 
Form G-88a.1, with proposed Form G-88a.1, Notice of Retirement 
Verification of Date Last Worked. Proposed Form G-88a.1, is a computer 
generated listing that will be generated monthly, sent to railroad 
employers, and used to verify information regarding the date last 
worked. If the information is incorrect, the employer is asked to 
provide corrected information. If the information is correct, the 
railroad employers will not have to respond. It is expected that the 
proposed new form will be easier for railroad employers to complete and 
result in fewer overall responses being required. No changes are 
proposed to Form G-88a.2 or Form AA-12.
    In addition, 20 CFR 209.12(b) requires all railroad employers to 
annually furnish the RRB with the home addresses of all employees hired 
within the last year (new-hires). Form BA-6a, BA-6 Address Report, is 
used by the RRB to obtain home address information of employees from 
railroad employers that do not have the home address information 
computerized and who submit the information in a paper format. The form 
also serves as an instruction sheet to railroad employers who submit 
the information electronically by magnetic tape, cartridge, or PC 
diskette.
    No changes are proposed to Form BA-6a. The completion time for the 
Proposed Form G-88a.1 is estimated at 5 to 20 minutes. Form G-88a.2 is 
estimated at 5 minutes per response. The estimated completion time for 
Form AA-12 is 6\1/2\ minutes per response. The estimated completion 
time for form BA-6 is 30 minutes if completed manually and 15 minutes 
if completed electronically. Completion is mandatory. The RRB estimates 
that approximately 800 Form AA-12's, 400 Form G-88a.1's, 1,200 Form G-
88a.2's and 464 Form BA-6a's are completed annually.

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 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 
60611-2902. Written comments should be received on or before May 21, 
2001.

Chuck Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-7141 Filed 3-21-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M