[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 9, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32259-32260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13009]


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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: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Railroad Retirement Board (Board) amends its regulations 
to permit the filing of applications and claims for benefits under the 
Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act via the Internet electronically. 
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''. The new part will permit the filing of 
applications and claims for benefits under the Railroad Unemployment 
Insurance Act via the Internet electronically.

DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective June 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments, if any, may be addressed 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: This amendment adds a new part 321 to the 
Board's regulations (20 CFR part 321) to permit the filing of 
applications and claims for benefits under the Railroad Unemployment 
Insurance Act via the Internet electronically. The Government Paperwork 
Elimination Act, Public Law 105-277, sections 1701-1710 (codified as a 
note after 44 U.S.C. 3504) 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''.

[[Page 32260]]

    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 Internet Web site utilizing a User 
ID and a 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 
and a PIN/Password system for identification as a substitute for a 
signature.
    The Board currently uses a User ID and a 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 Web site. The U.S. 
Department of the Treasury operates the Pay.gov Web site. Such a system 
is also consistent with the guidance provided by the Department of 
Justice regarding the use of electronic processes.
    The Board published part 321 as a proposed rule on November 7, 2003 
(68 FR 63041). Only one comment was received. The commenter found the 
reference to the ``User ID/PIN/Password system'' confusing. In this 
final rule publication we have clarified that the person will be 
identified by a User ID and a PIN that will serve as the password to 
make transactions through the system.
    The Board, with the concurrence of the Office of Management and 
Budget, has determined that this final rule does not constitute 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.


0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Railroad Retirement Board 
amends 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 Internet Web site, http://www.rrb.gov, utilizing a User ID 
and a 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 Internet Web site, http://www.rrb.gov, utilizing a User ID and 
a 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 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: June 3, 2004.

    By Authority of the Board.
    For the Board,
Carolyn Rose,
Staff Assistant, Office of Secretary to the Board.
[FR Doc. 04-13009 Filed 6-8-04; 8:45 am]
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