[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 214 (Wednesday, November 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62662-62663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27723]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0017]


Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

[[Page 62663]]


ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501-21), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits 
Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted the 
collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes 
the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and 
burden and includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 5, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY OF THE SUBMISSION CONTACT: Denise 
McLamb, Records Management Service (005E3), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-8030, 
FAX (202) 273-5981 or e-mail: [email protected]. Please refer 
to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0017.''
    Send comments and recommendations concerning any aspect of the 
information collection to VA's OMB Desk Officer, OMB Human Resources 
and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503 (202) 395-7316. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 
2900-0017'' in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Titles:
    a. Court Appointed Fiduciary's Account (Letter Size), VA Form 21-
4706.
    b. Federal Fiduciary for Amounts, VA Form 21-4706b.
    c. Court Appointed Fiduciary's Account, VA Form 21-4706c.
    d. Account Book, VA Form 21-4718.
    e. Certificate of Balance on Deposit and Authorization to Disclose 
Financial Records (Pursuant to title 38, U.S.C., Chapter 55 and Title 
12, U.S.C., Chapter 35), VA Form 27-4718a.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0017.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract:
    a. VA Forms 21-4706--4706b and 4706c are used by estate to 
determine proper usage of benefits paid to fiduciaries. The 21--4706 
and 21--4706b are both necessary to conform to requirement of various 
state courts.
    b. VA Form 21-4718 is provided to VA fiduciaries to submit 
accountings to either State courts or the VA. It is not a reporting 
form per se, but a vehicle to assist the fiduciary in accurately 
maintaining records of monies received and spent.
    c. VA Form 21-4718a--Fiduciaries are required to obtain 
certifications that the balances remaining on deposit in financial 
institutions as shown on accountings are correct. The form is completed 
by a certifying official at a financial institution who must affix the 
institution's official seal or stamp. Analysts review the information 
provided on the form when they auditing accounting to determine the 
veracity of the information supplied by fiduciaries accounting. The 
analysts compare the financial institution's information on the form 
against the fiduciary's accounting. The purpose is to prevent 
fiduciaries from supplying false certification, embezzling funds, and 
possibly prevent and/or identify fraud, waste and abuse of government 
funds paid to fiduciaries on behalf of VA beneficiaries.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register Notice with a 
60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of 
information was published on August 14, 2003, at page 48665.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households, Business or other for-
profit, Not-for-profit institutions, and State, Local or Tribal 
Government.

Estimated Annual Burden

    a. VA Form 21-4706--500 hours.
    b. VA Form 21-4706b--4,500 hours.
    c. VA Form 21-4706c--1,500 hours.
    d. VA Form 21-4718--12,500 hours.
    e. VA Form 21-4718a--1,250 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent

    a. VA Form 21-4706--30 minutes.
    b. VA Form 21-4706b--27 minutes.
    c. VA Form 21-4706c--30 minutes.
    d. VA Form 21-4718--2\1/2\ hour.
    e. VA Form 21-4718a--3 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.

Estimated Number of Respondents

    a. VA Form 21-4706--1,000.
    b. VA Form 21-4706b--10,000.
    c. VA Form 21-4706c--3,000.
    d. VA Form 21-4718--5,000.
    e. VA Form 21-4718a--25,000.

    Dated: October 24, 2003.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Jacqueline Parks,
IT Specialist, Records Management Service.
[FR Doc. 03-27723 Filed 11-4-03; 8:45 am]
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