[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 228 (Monday, November 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 69420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26287]


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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: Supplemental 
Information on Accident and Insurance; OMB 3220-0036.
    Under Section 12(o) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act 
(RUIA), the Railroad Retirement Board is entitled to reimbursement of 
the sickness benefits paid to a railroad employee if the employee 
receives a sum or damages for the same infirmity for which the benefits 
are paid. Section 2(f) of the RUIA requires employers to reimburse the 
RRB for days in which salary, wages, pay for time lost or other 
remuneration is later determined to be payable. Reimbursements under 
section 2(f) generally result from the award of pay for time lost or 
the payment of guaranteed wages. The RUIA prescribes that the amount of 
benefits paid be deducted and held by the employer in a special fund 
for reimbursement to the RRB.
    The RRB currently utilizes Form(s) SI-1c, (Supplemental Information 
on Accident and Insurance), SI-5 (Report of Payments to Employee 
Claiming Sickness Benefits Under the RUIA), ID-3s (Request for Lien 
Information), ID-3s-1, (Lien Information Under Section 12(o) of the 
RUIA), ID-3u (Request for Section 2(f) Information), ID-30k (Form 
Letter Asking Claimant for Additional Information on Injury or 
Illness), and ID-30k-1 (Request for Supplemental Information on Injury 
or Illness--3rd Party), to obtain the necessary information from 
claimants and railroad employers. The RRB proposes the addition of a 
column to Form ID-3s that will differentiate informal informational 
inquiries from formal inquiries that initiate a reimbursement action. 
Completion of the forms is required to obtain or retain benefits. One 
response is requested of each respondent.
    In addition, the RRB proposes to provide employers an alternative 
method for providing ID-3s, (Request for Lien Information) and ID-3u, 
(Request for Section 2(f) Information) data to the RRB. Instead of the 
current manual form or facsimile process, the RRB will utilize secure 
and encrypted e-mail to accept responses and respond to inquiries from 
railroad employers. The new method of collection, which will 
essentially mirror the information currently provided on Forms ID-3s 
and ID-3u, will use digital certificates and encryption software 
consistent with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
standards to exchange data between the RRB and railroad employers. 
Railroad employers will be required to purchase a digital certificate 
and encryption software at an estimated cost of $15 annually to take 
part in the proposed program.
    The estimated annual respondent burden for this collection is as 
follows:

                                      Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
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                           Form Nos.                              Annual responses    Time (min)   Burden (hrs)
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SI-1c..........................................................               1,000            5              93
SI-5...........................................................               2,500            5             208
ID-3s..........................................................              11,100            3             555
ID-3s (secure e-mail)..........................................               7,400            3             370
ID-3s.1........................................................                 500            3              25
ID-3u..........................................................                 900            3              45
ID-3u (secure e-mail)..........................................                 600            3              30
ID-30k.........................................................               2,000            5             208
ID-30k.1.......................................................               2,500            5             167
    Total......................................................              28,500                        1,691
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    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 or send an e-mail request to [email protected]. 
Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to 
Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, 
Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092 or send an e-mail to 
[email protected]. Written comments should be received within 60 
days of this notice.

Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-26287 Filed 11-26-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P