[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63185-63186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25723]


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

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Statement of Organization Functions, and Delegations of Authority

    This statement amends part S of the Statement of Organization, 
Functions, and Delegations of Authority which covers the Social 
Security

[[Page 63186]]

Administration (SSA). Chapter S9 covers the Office of the General 
Counsel. Notice is given that there are organizational and functional 
changes within OGC. The changes are as follows:

Section S9.00 The Office of the General Counsel--(Mission)

    Replace in its entirety:
    The Office of the General Counsel advises the Commissioner on legal 
matters, is responsible for providing all legal advice to the 
Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and all subordinate organizational 
components (except OIG) of SSA in connection with the operation and 
administration of SSA. Responsible for the policy formulation and 
decision making related to the collection, access, and disclosure of 
such information in the records of the Social Security Administration; 
and processing of Freedom of Information requests and appeals (under 
the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts).

Section S9.10 The Office of the General Counsel--Organization

    Retitle:
    B. The Principal Deputy General Counsel (S9) to The Deputy General 
Counsel (S9).
    C. The Immediate Office of the General Counsel (S9A) which 
includes:
    Delete:
    1. The Deputy General Counsel (S9A-1).
    Renumber:
    2. The Executive Operations Staff (S9A-3) to 1. The Executive 
Operations Staff (S9A-3).
    Establish:
    G. The Office of Public Disclosure (S9).
    Reletter:
    H. The Offices of the Regional Chief Counsels (S9G-F1--S9G-FX).

Section S9.20 The Office of the General Counsel--(Functions)

    Replace in its entirety:
    B. The Deputy General Counsel (S9) assists the General Counsel in 
carrying out his/her responsibilities and performs other duties as the 
General Counsel may prescribe. In the event of the General Counsel's 
absence or disability, or in the event of a vacancy in the position of 
General Counsel, the Deputy General Counsel acts for him/her unless the 
Commissioner directs otherwise. The Deputy General Counsel also serves 
as the Designated Agency Ethics Official with responsibility for 
coordinating and managing the Social Security Administration's (SSA) 
ethics program.
    Replace in its entirety:
    C. The Immediate Office of the General Counsel (S9A) includes the 
Executive Operations Staff (S9A-3).
    Replace in its entirety:
    1. The Executive Operations Staff (S9A-3) provides internal 
organizational planning, management analysis and review, staff support 
and assistance to the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, OGC 
Executive Staff, OGC Executive Officer, and other OGC managers. Plans, 
develops, and coordinates OGC's financial, personnel, and 
administrative management regional offices. Plans, directs and provides 
day-to-day operational support services on all areas of administrative, 
budget, space and facilities, communications, and systems management. 
Identifies, coordinates, and implements OGC's training program. 
Formulates, justifies, and presents annual and multi-year budget 
submissions. Controls the collection, recording, and reporting of all 
financial, personnel, and administrative data in connection with budget 
and staffing formulation and executive functions.
    Replace in its entirety:
    D. The Office of General Law (S9B).
    1. Provides legal services on business management activities and 
administrative operations throughout SSA, including procurement, 
contracting, patents, copyrights, budget, appropriations, personnel, 
ethics, adverse employment actions, employment discrimination, 
compensation, travel, personnel and tort claims by and against SSA, 
electronic service delivery, labor-management relations and Touhy 
requests.
    2. Provides legal services and advice regarding SSA's civil 
defense, civil rights and security programs as well as for SSA's 
administration of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts and 
Computer Matching Agreements. Provides liaison with the Department of 
Justice on administering the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts. 
Serves as liaison with the Comptroller General.
    3. Working under the direction of the Designated Agency Ethics 
Official, provides liaison with the Office of Government Ethics, as 
appropriate.
    4. Furnishes litigation support and litigation related advice to 
the Commissioner and all components of SSA in both administrative and 
court litigation in connection with each of the areas mentioned above. 
Represents SSA in all such litigation when such direct representation 
is authorized by law. In other cases, makes and supervises contacts 
with attorneys responsible for the conduct of such litigation.
    Establish:
    G. The Office of Public Disclosure (S9).
    1. Develops and interprets SSA policy governing the collection, 
use, maintenance and disclosure of personally identifiable information 
under the Privacy Act and requests for information made under the 
provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
    2. Develops national standards relating to the release and exchange 
of personal data in SSA databases to federal, state, and local 
agencies.
    3. Assures Agency-wide sensitivity to the importance of privacy 
considerations in all situations involving disclosure of SSA data about 
individuals. Ensures necessary privacy protections are built into new 
systems and processes developed to deliver more efficient service to 
Agency customers.
    4. Reviews Agency projects and initiatives to ensure compliance 
with the Privacy Act and related laws and regulations.
    5. Examines public service issues related to handling various 
information requests from the public.
    6. Acts on Privacy Act and FOIA appeals.
    7. Directs FOIA activities in SSA, develops SSA's FOIA policies and 
procedures and prepares the Annual Report to Congress on these 
activities.
    8. Reviews requests and determines whether records are required to 
be disclosed to members of the public.
    9. Serves as the Agency focal point for all data sharing activities 
with outside organizations.
    Reletter:
    H. The Offices of Regional Chief Counsels (S9G-F1--S9G-FX).

    Dated: October 1, 2002.
Jo Anne B. Barnhart,
Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 02-25723 Filed 10-9-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P