[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 180 (Monday, September 17, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48013-48014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23164]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 180 / Monday, September 17, 2001 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 48013]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

15 CFR Parts 50 and 80

[Docket Number 010828220-1220-01]
RIN 0607-AA24


Amendments to Age Search Procedures

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) proposes a rule that 
would clarify and revise the general information requirements 
pertaining to its Age Search program. The Census Bureau is proposing 
these clarifications to ensure that there are no misunderstandings 
about the program requirements as a result of ambiguous language. The 
intent of the Census Bureau in taking these actions is to clarify and 
revise processing requirements and legal restrictions.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 17, 
2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments on this proposed rulemaking to 
Judith N. Petty, Chief, National Processing Center, U.S. Census Bureau, 
1201 East 10th Street, Room 247, Building 66, Jeffersonville, IN 47132, 
by telephone on (812) 218-3344 or by fax on (812) 218-3293.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stanley M. Domzalski, Assistant 
Division Chief (Services), National Processing Center, U.S. Census 
Bureau, 1201 East 10th Street, Room 247, Building 66, Jeffersonville, 
IN 47132, by telephone on (812) 218-3579 or by fax on (812) 218-3293.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The age and citizenship searching service is a self-supporting 
operation of the Census Bureau in accordance with Title 31, United 
States Code, Section 483a. Under this statute, all expenses incurred in 
the retrieval of personal information from decennial census records and 
the preparation of census transcripts are covered by fees paid by 
individuals who request this service. The Age Search census transcript 
provides proof of age to qualify individuals for social security or 
other retirements benefits, proof of citizenship to obtain passports, 
proof of family relationships for rights of inheritance, or to satisfy 
other situations where a birth certificate is required but not 
available. Census records are also considered a valuable tool for 
genealogical research. The 1910 through 1990 censuses in custody of the 
Census Bureau are confidential and protected from disclosure by Title 
13, United States Code.

Program Requirements

    In order to clarify and update the general rules applying to the 
Age Search Program, the Census Bureau proposes the following four 
amendments to Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), parts 50 and 
80:
     Amend Sec. 50.1 to change the time frame from 120 days to 
90 days for submitting any required additional information after 
completing an initial, unsuccessful search. This change is consistent 
with current policy on the issue.
     Amend Sec. 50.5 to update the note following the chart on 
the fee structure. The Census Bureau has not had a fee increase since 
1993.
     Amend Sec. 80.1 to clarify the procedures for releasing 
census information. This change is consistent with current policy on 
the issue.
     Amend Sec. 80.1 to reflect the current address.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    The rulemaking revises and clarifies language in procedures and 
requirements for the Age Search program. The clarification in language 
does not impose any additional costs or have any other adverse economic 
impact on small business or entities who use the Age Search program.
    The revision to the number of days the public has to submit any 
required additional information after completing an initial, 
unsuccessful search may have an effect on program users. The proposed 
rule would reduce, from 120 to 90, the number of days the public has to 
submit additional information. The Census Bureau is proposing this 
revision to the time frame to promote efficiency in the administrative 
process. While the time period for filing requested information would 
be 30 days shorter than previously allowed, there is no cost to small 
entities directly attributable to this reduced time period.

Executive Orders

    This rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of 
Executive Order 12866. This rule does not contain policies with 
federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 
13132.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure 
to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) unless that collection of 
information displays a current Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
control number. This notice does not represent a collection of 
information and is not subject to the PRA's requirements. The Form BC-
600, referenced in the amended language for Sec. 80.1, has been cleared 
under OMB control number 0607-0117.

List of Subjects

15 CFR Part 50

    Census data, Population census, Statistics.

15 CFR Part 80

    Census data, Population census, Statistics

    For reasons set out in the preamble, Parts 50 and 80 are amended as 
follows:

PART 50--SPECIAL SERVICES AND STUDIES BY THE BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

    1. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 50 continues to read as 
follows:


[[Page 48014]]


    Authority: Sec. 3, 49 Stat. 293, as amended; and 15 U.S.C. 192a. 
Interprets or applies sec. 1, 40 Stat. 1256, as amended; sec. 1, 49 
Stat. 292; sec. 8, 60 Stat. 1013, as amended; 15 U.S.C. 192, 189a; 
and 13 U.S.C. 8.
    2. Amend Sec. 50.1 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec. 50.1  General.

* * * * *
    (d) If a search is unsuccessful and additional information for a 
further search is requested by the Bureau, such information must be 
received within 90 days of the request or the case will be considered 
closed. Additional information received after 90 days must be 
accompanied by a new fee and will be considered a new request.
* * * * *
    3. Amend Sec. 50.5 by revising the following note on the chart.


Sec. 50.5  Fee structure for age search and citizenship information

* * * * *

    Note: The $10.00 for each full schedule requested is in addition 
to the $40.00 transcript fee.

PART 80--FURNISHING PERSONAL CENSUS DATA FROM CENSUS OF POPULATION 
SCHEDULES

    1. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 80 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Sec. 1, Pub. L. 83-1158, and 68 Stat. 1013 (13 U.S.C. 
8).

    2. Amend Sec. 80.1 by revising paragraphs (c) and (g) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 80.1  General requirements.

* * * * *
    (c) Requests for information from decennial census of population 
records (herein ``Census Information'') should be made available on 
Form BC-600, which is available from offices at the Census Bureau in 
Suitland, Maryland 20233, and Jeffersonville, Indiana 47131; all county 
courthouses; Social Security Administration field offices; post 
offices; and Immigration and Naturalization Service offices. A letter 
request--without Form BC-600--will be accepted only if it contains the 
information necessary to complete a Form BC-600. No application will be 
processed without payment of the required fee as set forth in 15 CFR 
50.5.
* * * * *
    (g) Census information will not be furnished to another person 
unless the person to whom the information relates authorizes such 
release in the space provided on the Form BC-600.

    Dated: September 10, 2001.
William G. Barron, Jr.,
Acting Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 01-23164 Filed 9-14-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P