[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 174 (Friday, September 8, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53004-53005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14884]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

20 CFR Part 341

RIN 3220-AB60


Electronic Filing of Settlement and Final Judgment Notices by 
Railroad Employers

AGENCY: Railroad Retirement Board.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Railroad Retirement Board (Board) amends its regulations 
to include the option of electronic notification by railroad employers 
of settlements and final judgments based on an injury for which 
sickness benefits have been paid under the Railroad Unemployment 
Insurance Act (RUIA). Part 341 currently requires that notifications of 
settlements and final judgments be submitted to the Board in writing. 
This rule allows these notifications to be made by railroad employers 
either in writing or by sending an electronic message, e.g. via e-mail.

DATES: Effective Date: This regulation shall be effective September 8, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Beatrice Ezerski, Secretary to the Board, Railroad 
Retirement Board, 844 Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant 
General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 Rush Street, Chicago, 
Illinois 60611, (312) 751-4945, TDD (312) 751-4701.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Part 341 of the Board's regulations deals 
with the notification of settlements and final judgments based on an 
injury for which sickness benefits have been paid under the Railroad 
Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA). Currently, the regulations require 
all individuals or companies to make notifications of settlements and 
final judgments in writing to the Board. These revisions allow railroad 
employers to also notify the Board electronically in these instances, 
e.g. via e-mail.
    Section 341.6(a) is amended to allow railroad employers to notify 
the Board, in writing or electronically in the manner prescribed by the 
agency, of a settlement or final judgment based on an injury for which 
the employee received sickness benefits.
    In addition, this rule amends sections 341.8(a) and 341.8(b) to 
allow a railroad employer to notify the Board electronically or in 
writing. Also, sections 341.8(b) and (c) are amended to change the 
outdated references of ``Division of Claims Operations'' and ``Bureau 
of Unemployment and Sickness Insurance'' to the correct reference of 
``Sickness and Unemployment Benefits Section''.
    The Board, with the concurrence of the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB), has determined that this is not a significant regulatory 
action under Executive Order 12866. Therefore, no regulatory impact 
analysis is required.
    There is an information collection impacted by the amended rule.
    The Railroad Retirement Board is providing notice that OMB has 
approved the information collection requirements contained in the 
affected sections of this final rule. The OMB Control Number for this 
collection is 3220-0036, expiring January 31, 2009.
    The Board published the proposed rule on December 9, 2005 (70 FR 
73176) and invited comments by February 7, 2006. No comments were 
received. Accordingly, the proposed rule is being published as a final 
rule.

[[Page 53005]]

List of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 341

    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, subchapter C, part 341 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 341--STATUTORY LIEN WHERE SICKNESS BENEFITS PAID

0
1. The authority citation for part 341 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 45 U.S.C. 362(o).

0
2. Revise Sec.  341.6(a) introductory text to read as follows:


Sec.  341.6  Report of settlement or judgment.

    (a) When a person or company makes a settlement or must satisfy a 
final judgment based on an injury for which the employee received 
sickness benefits, the person or company shall notify the Board of the 
settlement or final judgment. That notice shall be in writing and 
submitted within five days of the settlement or final judgment. A 
railroad employer may fulfill the written notice requirement by sending 
an electronic message in the manner prescribed by the agency. That 
notification shall contain:
* * * * *
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3. Amend Sec.  341.8 as follows:
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a. Add a new sentence to the end of paragraph (a);
0
b. Revise paragraph (b); and
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c. Amend paragraph (c) by removing the phrase ``Division of Claims 
Operations'' and adding the phrase ``Sickness and Unemployment Benefits 
Section'' in its place.
0
The additions and revisions read as follows:


Sec.  341.8  Termination of sickness benefits due to a settlement.

    (a) * * * A railroad employer may file the required report by 
sending an electronic message in the manner prescribed by the agency.
    (b) A report of settlement shall be made to the Sickness and 
Unemployment Benefits Section and shall include the information 
required in Sec.  341.6. Where the report is an oral report, and the 
informant is neither the employee nor his or her representative, the 
informant shall be told that written confirmation containing the 
information called for by Sec.  341.6 must be submitted to the Board 
within 5 days from the date of the oral report. A railroad employer may 
fulfill the written report requirement by sending an electronic message 
in the manner prescribed by the agency.
* * * * *

    Dated: September 5, 2006.

    By Authority of the Board.
Beatrice Ezerski,
Secretary to the Board.
 [FR Doc. E6-14884 Filed 9-7-06; 8:45 am]
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