[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63041-63042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28031]


 ========================================================================
 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. 68, No. 216 / Friday, November 7, 2003 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 63041]]



RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

20 CFR Part 321

RIN 3220-AB57


Electronic Filing of Applications and Claims for Benefits Under 
the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act

AGENCY: Railroad Retirement Board.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Railroad Retirement Board (Board) proposes to amend its 
regulations to permit the filing of applications and claims for 
benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act via the 
Internet. The Government Paperwork Elimination Act provides that 
Federal agencies are required to provide ``for the option of the 
electronic maintenance, submission, or disclosure of information, when 
practicable as a substitute for paper''. This proposed new part will 
permit the filing of applications and claims for benefits under the 
Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act electronically.

DATES: Submit comments on or before January 6, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Address any comments concerning this proposed rule to 
Beatrice Ezerski, Secretary to the Board, Railroad Retirement Board, 
844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant 
General Counsel, (312) 751-4945, TTD (312) 751-4701.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The amendments would add a new part 321 to 
the Board's regulations (20 CFR 321) to permit the filing of 
applications and claims for benefits under the Railroad Unemployment 
Insurance Act via the Internet. The Government Paperwork Elimination 
Act, Public Law 105-277, sections 1701-1710 (codified as 44 U.S.C. 
3504n) provides that Federal agencies are required to provide ``for the 
option of the electronic maintenance, submission, or disclosure of 
information, when practicable as a substitute for paper''. The proposed 
part 321 will permit the filing of applications and claims for benefits 
under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act electronically.
    The new part 321 provides that both an application and claims for 
benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act may be filed 
electronically through the Board's Web site utilizing a User ID/PIN/
Password system. The new part further provides that determinations 
regarding those applications and claims will be adjudicated in accord 
with established procedures.
    In establishing the authenticity of the person who is filing an 
application or claim for benefits, the Board intends to use a User ID/
PIN/Password system for identification as a substitute for a signature.
    The Board currently uses a User ID/PIN/password system to allow 
employers access to RRBLINK to make electronic tax deposits and submit 
Form DC-1, ``Employer's Quarterly Report of Contributions Under the 
RUIA'' (Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act) electronically. A PIN/
password system is used to access the Pay.gov website. The U.S. 
Department of the Treasury operates the Pay.gov website. Such a system 
also is consistent with the guidance provided by the Department of 
Justice regarding the use of electronic processes. The Board has also 
proposed amending its regulations to permit the filing of an 
application for benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act using the 
same User ID/PIN/password system.
    The Board, with the concurrence of the Office of Management and 
Budget, has determined that this is not a significant regulatory action 
under Executive Order 12866. Therefore, no regulatory analysis is 
required. The Office of Management and Budget has approved information 
collections associated with this rule under control numbers 3220-0022, 
3220-0039, and 3220-0198.

List of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 321

    Claims, Railroad unemployment insurance, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Railroad Retirement 
Board proposes to amend title 20, chapter II, of the Code of Federal 
Regulations by adding a new part 321 to read as follows:

PART 321--ELECTRONIC FILING OF APPLICATIONS AND CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS 
UNDER THE RAILROAD UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT

Sec.
321.1 Filing applications electronically.
321.2 Filing claims for benefits electronically.

    Authority: 45 U.S.C. 355 and 362(l).


Sec.  321.1  Filing applications electronically.

    (a) Electronic filing. An application for benefits under the 
Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act may be filed electronically through 
the Board's Web site, http://www.rrb.gov, utilizing a User ID/PIN/
Password.
    (b) Adjudication of applications filed electronically. An 
application filed electronically shall be adjudicated in accordance 
with the procedures set forth in this part.
    (c) Date of filing. The date of filing for an application filed 
electronically shall be the date that the electronic filing of the 
application is accepted by the Board's electronic system. If an attempt 
to file an application through the Board's electronic system is 
unsuccessful and is rejected by that system, the claimant must submit 
another application. If the subsequent application, filed either 
electronically or on paper, is received by the Board within 30 days 
from the date of the notification that the initial filing attempt was 
rejected, the Board will establish the filing date of the subsequent 
application as the date the rejected application was attempted to be 
filed.


Sec.  321.2  Filing claims for benefits electronically.

    (a) Electronic Filing. A claim for benefits under the Railroad 
Unemployment Insurance Act may be filed electronically through the 
Board's website, http://www.rrb.gov, utilizing a User ID/PIN/Password.
    (b) Adjudication of claims filed electronically. A claim for 
benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act filed 
electronically shall be adjudicated in accordance with the procedures 
set forth in this part.
    (c) Date of filing. The date of filing for a claim for benefits 
under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act filed electronically 
shall be the date that the

[[Page 63042]]

electronic filing of the claim is accepted by the Board's electronic 
system. If an attempt to file a claim for benefits under the Railroad 
Unemployment Insurance Act is unsuccessful and is rejected by the 
Board's electronic system, the claimant must submit another claim for 
benefits. If the subsequent claim for benefits, either filed 
electronically or on paper, is received by the Board within 30 days 
from the date of the notification that the initial filing was rejected, 
the Board will establish the filing date of the subsequent claim as the 
date the rejected claim was attempted to be filed.

    Dated: November 3, 2003.

    By Authority of the Board.
Beatrice Ezerski,
Secretary to the Board.
[FR Doc. 03-28031 Filed 11-6-03; 8:45 am]
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