[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 46 (Friday, March 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12476-12477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4533]


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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

    Medical Reports: OMB 3220-0038.
    Under Sections 2(a)(1)(iv), 2(a)(2) and 2(a)(3) of the Railroad 
Retirement Act (RRA), annuities are payable to qualified railroad 
employees whose physical or mental condition is such that they are 
unable to (1) work in their regular occupation (occupational 
disability); or (2) work at all (permanent total disability). The 
requirements for establishment of disability and proof of continuance 
of disability are prescribed in 20 CFR part 220.
    Under sections 2(c)(1)(ii)(c) and 2(d)(1)(ii) of the RRA, annuities 
are also payable to qualified spouses and widow(ers), respectively, who 
have a qualified child who is under a disability which began before age 
22. Annuities are also payable to surviving children on the basis of 
disability under section 2(d)(1)(iii)(C) if the child's disability 
began before age 22 and to widow(ers) on the basis of disability under 
section 2(d)(1) (i)(B). To meet the disability standard, the RRA 
provides that individuals must have a permanent physical or mental 
condition such that they are unable to engage in any regular 
employment.
    Under section 2(d)(1)(v) of the RRA, annuities are also payable to 
remarried and surviving divorced spouses on the basis of, inter alia, 
disability or having a qualified disabled child in care. However, the 
disability standard in these cases is that found in the Social Security 
Act. That is, individuals must be able to engage in any substantial 
gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or 
mental impairment. The RRB also determines entitlement to a period of 
early disability and early Medicare entitlement for qualified claimants 
in accordance with section 216 of the Social Security Act.
    When making disability determinations, the RRB needs evidence from 
acceptable medical sources. The RRB currently utilizes Forms G-3EMP, 
Report of Medical Condition by Employer; G-197, Authorization to 
Release Medical Information, G-250, Medical Assessment; G-250a, Medical 
Assessment of Residual Functional Capacity; G-260, Report of Seizure 
Disorder; RL-11b, Disclosure of Hospital Medical Records; RL-11d, 
Disclosure of Medical Records from a State Agency; and RL-250, Request 
for

[[Page 12477]]

Medical Assessment, to obtain the necessary medical evidence.
    The RRB proposes no changes to the information collection. 
Completion is voluntary. One response is requested of each respondent.

                      Estimate of Respondent Burden
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Annual                    Burden
             Form No.               responses   Time (mins)    (hours)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-3EMP...........................          600           10          100
G-197............................        6,000           10        1,000
G-250............................       11,950           30        5,975
G-250a...........................           50           20           17
G-260............................          100           25           42
RL-11b...........................        5,000           10          833
RL-11d...........................          250           10           42
RL-250...........................       11,950           10        1,992
    TOTAL........................       35,900  ...........       10,001
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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. E8-4533 Filed 3-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P