[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 66556]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-19271]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Federal-State Unemployment Compensation Program: Notice of 
Federal Agencies With Adequate Alternative Safeguards To Satisfy the 
Confidentiality Requirement of 20 CFR 603.9(d)

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of Federal agencies with adequate alternative 
safeguards.

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SUMMARY: The Employment and Training Administration interprets Federal 
law requirements pertaining to the Federal-State unemployment 
compensation (UC) program. Section 303(a)(1), Social Security Act, as 
implemented at 20 CFR part 603 (71 FR 56830), generally requires States 
to maintain the confidentiality of UC information.
    Section 603.9 of 20 CFR requires States and State UC agencies to 
assure that recipients of confidential UC information have certain 
safeguards in place before any confidential information may be 
disclosed. Section 603.9(d) provides that States are not required to 
apply these safeguard and security arrangements to a Federal agency 
which the Department of Labor (Department) has determined, by notice 
published in the Federal Register, to have in place safeguards adequate 
to satisfy the requirements of Sec.  603.9.
    The Department has determined that the Internal Revenue Service 
(IRS) has in place such safeguards for purposes of tax administration, 
including administration of the Federal unemployment tax and the Health 
Coverage Tax Credit. Specifically, Section 6103 of the Internal Revenue 
Code and IRS regulations on the confidentiality of tax return 
information (26 CFR 301.6103(a)-1 et seq.) are sufficient to protect 
the confidentiality of information consistent with the Department's 
regulation.
    The Department has also determined that wage and claim information 
disclosed to the Department of Health and Human Services for purposes 
of the National Directory of New Hires is protected by a ``security 
plan'' which provides safeguards adequate to meet the requirements of 
the Department's regulation. Further, laws governing information in the 
National Directory of New Hires impose strict controls on redisclosure 
and disposal of information. See, e.g., 42 U.S.C. 653(i), (j), (l), and 
(m).
    This notice is published to inform the public of the Department's 
determination with respect to these agencies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerard Hildebrand, Chief, Division of 
Legislation, Office of Workforce Security, Employment and Training 
Administration, (202) 693-3038 (this is not a toll-free number) or 1-
877-889-5627 (TTY), or by e-mail at [email protected].

    Dated: October 31, 2006.
Emily Stover DeRocco,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration, Labor.
[FR Doc. E6-19271 Filed 11-14-06; 8:45 am]
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