[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 34052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11922]



[[Page 34052]]

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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

    Summary: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding 
an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for the following collection of information: 3220-0136, Public Service 
Pension Questionnaires.
    Public Law 95-216 amended the Social Security Act of 1977 by 
providing, in part, that spouse or survivor benefits may be reduced 
when the beneficiary is in receipt of a pension based on employment 
with a Federal, State, or local governmental unit. Initially, the 
reduction was equal to the full amount of the government pension.
    Public Law 98-21 changed the reduction to two-thirds of the amount 
of the government pension. Public Law 108-203 amended the Social 
Security Act by changing the requirement for exemption to public 
service offset, that Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes 
be deducted from the public service wages for the last 60 months of 
public service employment, rather than just the last day of public 
service employment.
    Sections 4(a)(1) and 4(f)(1) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) 
provides that a spouse or survivor annuity should be equal in amount to 
what the annuitant would receive if entitled to a like benefit from the 
Social Security Administration. Therefore, the public service pension 
(PSP) provisions apply to RRA annuities.
    RRB Regulations pertaining to the collection of evidence relating 
to public service pensions or worker's compensation paid to spouse or 
survivor applicants or annuitants are found in 20 CFR 219.64c.
    Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the 
public. Completion of the forms is voluntary, failure to complete the 
forms could result in the nonpayment of benefits. One response is 
required from a respondent. Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we 
impose appropriate paperwork burdens.
    The RRB invites comments on the proposed collection of information 
to determine (1) the practical utility of the collection; (2) the 
accuracy of the estimated burden of the collection; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility and clarity of the information that is the subject 
of collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collections on 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments to RRB or OIRA must 
contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper consideration of 
your comments, it is best if RRB and OIRA receive them within 30 days 
of publication date.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (72 FR 14628 on March 28, 2007) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Public Service Pension Questionnaires.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0136.
    Form(s) submitted: G-208, Public Service Pension Questionnaire; G-
212, Public Service Monitoring Questionnaire.
    Type of request: No material or nonsubstantive change to a 
currently approved collection.
    Affected public: Individuals or households.
    Abstract: A spouse or survivor annuity under the Railroad 
Retirement Act may be subjected to a reduction for a public service 
pension. The questionnaires obtain information needed to determine if 
the reduction applies and the amount of such reduction.
    Changes Proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Form G-208 and 
minor, non-burden impacting editorial changes to Form G-212.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 1,170.
    Total annual responses: 1,170.
    Total annual reporting hours: 294.
    Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the forms and 
supporting documents can be obtained from Charles Mierzwa, the agency 
clearance officer (312-751-3363) or [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 [email protected] and to the OMB 
Desk Officer for the RRB, at the Office of Management and Budget, Room 
10230, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

Charles Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-11922 Filed 6-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P