[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 138 (Friday, July 18, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42585-42586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18264]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

15 CFR Parts 50 and 80

[Docket Number 010828220-3161-02]
RIN 0607-AA24


Amendments to Age Search Procedures

AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of final rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is issuing this final 
rule to clarify and revise the general information requirements 
pertaining to its Age Search Program. The Census Bureau is making 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.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 18, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Grice, Assistant Division Chief 
(Processing), 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 9701. 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 also are considered a valuable tool for 
genealogical research. The 1910 through 2000 censuses in custody of the 
Census Bureau are confidential and protected from disclosure by Title 
13, United States Code.
    On September 17, 2001 (66 FR 48013), the Census Bureau published in 
the

[[Page 42586]]

Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking and request for 
comment on the subject. The Census Bureau did not receive any public 
comments.

Program Requirements

    In order to clarify and update the general rules applying to the 
Age Search Program, the Census Bureau is making the following four 
amendments to Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), parts 50 and 
80:
    [sbull] Amend Section 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.
    [sbull] Amend Section 50.5 to update the note following the chart 
on the fee structure. The Census Bureau has not had a fee increase 
since 1993.
    [sbull] Amend Section 80.1 to clarify the procedures for releasing 
census information. This change is consistent with current policy on 
the issue.
    [sbull] Amend Section 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 rule would not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The factual basis for 
this certification was published with the proposed rule. No comments 
were received regarding the economic impact of this rule. As a result, 
no final regulatory flexibility analysis was prepared.

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

    This notice contains a collection of information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Form BC-600, referenced in 
the amended language for section 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.

0
For reasons set out in the preamble, 15 CFR parts 50 and 80 are amended 
as follows:

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

0
1. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 50 continues to read as 
follows:

    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.


0
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 Census 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.

0
3. Amend Sec.  50.5 by revising the following note on the chart to read 
as follows:


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

0
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).


0
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: July 14, 2003.
Charles Louis Kincannon,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 03-18264 Filed 7-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P