[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 100 (Friday, May 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28301-28302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12930]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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) will publish 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 part 209.
    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, and 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 a 
computer-generated listing 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. Form AA-12 obtains a report of lag service and 
compensation from the last railroad employer of a deceased employee. 
This report covers the lag period between the date of the latest record 
of employment processed by the RRB and the date an employee last 
worked, the date of death or the date the employee may have been 
entitled to benefits under the Social Security Act. The information is 
used by the RRB to determine benefits due on the deceased employee's 
earnings record. No changes are proposed to Form G-88a.1, Form G-88a.2 
or Form AA-12.
    In addition, 20 CFR 209.12(b) requires all railroad employers to 
furnish the RRB with the home address 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 the approved Form BA-6a currently in use.
    In accordance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) 
of 1998, which directed Federal agencies to develop electronic service 
delivery instruments as an alternative to traditional paper-based 
processes, the RRB is proposing the addition of an Internet equivalent 
of current Form BA-6a, BA-6 Address Report, to the information 
collection.
    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-6a is 10 to 30 
minutes. 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 900 Form 
BA-6a's are completed annually.

[[Page 28302]]


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 60611-2092. Written comments should be 
received within 60 days of this notice.

Chuck Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-12930 Filed 5-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M