[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7227-7229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02558]



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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 4 
Information Collection Requests (ICR) to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Our 
ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. 
Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we impose appropriate 
paperwork burdens.
    The RRB invites comments on the proposed collections of information 
to determine (1) the practical utility of the collections; (2) the 
accuracy of the estimated burden of the collections; (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 the 
RRB or OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper 
consideration of your comments, it is best if the RRB and OIRA receive 
them within 30 days of the publication date.
    1. Title and purpose of information collection: Placement Service; 
OMB 3220-0057.
    Section 12(i) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), 
authorizes the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) to establish, maintain, 
and operate free employment offices to provide claimants for 
unemployment benefits with job placement opportunities. Section 704(d) 
of the Regional Railroad Reorganization Act of 1973, as amended, and as 
extended by the consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, 
required the RRB to maintain and distribute a list of railroad job 
vacancies, by class and craft, based on information furnished by rail 
carriers to the RRB. Although the requirement under the law expired 
effective August 13, 1987, the RRB has continued to obtain this 
information in keeping with its employment service responsibilities 
under Section 12(k) of the RUIA. Application procedures for the job 
placement program are prescribed in 20 CFR part 325. The procedures 
pertaining to the RRB's obtaining and distributing job vacancy reports 
furnished by rail carriers are described in 20 CFR 346.1.
    The RRB currently utilizes four forms to obtain information needed 
to carry out its job placement responsibilities. Form ES-2, 
Supplemental Information for Central Register, is used by the RRB to 
obtain information needed to update a computerized central register of 
separated and furloughed railroad employees available for employment in 
the railroad industry. Form ES-21, Referral to State Employment 
Service, and ES-21c, Report of State Employment Service Office, are 
used by the RRB to provide placement assistance for unemployed railroad 
employees through arrangements with State Employment Service offices. 
Form UI-35, Field Office Record of Claimant Interview, is used 
primarily by RRB field office staff to conduct in-person interviews of 
claimants for unemployment benefits. Completion of these forms is 
required to obtain or maintain a benefit. In addition, the RRB also 
collects Railroad Job Vacancies information received voluntarily from 
railroad employers.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (78 FR 66786 on November 6, 2013) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Placement Service.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0057.
    Form(s) submitted: ES-2, ES-21, ES-21c, UI-35 and Job Vacancies 
Report.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Private Sector; Businesses or other for-profits.
    Abstract: Under the RUIA, the Railroad Retirement Board provides 
job placement assistance for unemployed railroad workers. The 
collection obtains information from job applicants, railroad employers, 
and State Employment Service offices for use in placement, for 
providing referrals for job openings, reports of referral results and 
for verifying and monitoring claimant eligibility.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no revisions to the forms in the 
collection.
    The Burden Estimate for the ICR is as Follows:

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                        Form No.                         Annual  responses   Time  (minutes)    Burden  (hours)
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ES-2...................................................              7,500               0.25                 31
ES-21..................................................              3,500               0.68                 40
ES-21c.................................................              1,250               1.50                 31
UI-35 (in-person)......................................              9,000               7.00              1,050
UI-35 (by mail)........................................              1,000              10.50                175
Railroad Job Vacancies Report..........................                750              10.00                125
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    TOTAL..............................................             23,000  .................              1,452
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    2. Title and Purpose of information collection: Withholding 
Certificate for Railroad Retirement Monthly Annuity Payments; OMB 3220-
0149.
    The Internal Revenue Code requires that all payers of tax liable 
private pensions to U.S. citizens or residents: (1) Notify each 
recipient at least concurrent with initial withholding that the payer 
is, in fact, withholding benefits for tax liability and that the 
recipient has the option of electing not to have the payer withhold, or 
to withhold at a specific rate; (2) withhold benefits for tax purposes 
(in the absence of the recipient's election not to withhold benefits); 
and (3) notify all beneficiaries, at least annually, that they have the 
option to change their withholding status or elect not to have benefits 
withheld.
    The RRB provides Form RRB-W4P, Withholding Certificate for Railroad 
Retirement Payments, to its annuitants to exercise their withholding 
options. Completion of the form is required to obtain or retain a 
benefit. One response is requested of each respondent.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (78 FR 66787 on November 6, 2013) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Withholding Certificate for Railroad Retirement Monthly 
Annuity Payments.

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    OMB Control Number: 3220-0149.
    Form(s) submitted: RRB W-4P.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Individuals or Households.
    Abstract: Under Public Law 98-76, railroad retirement 
beneficiaries' Tier II, dual vested and supplemental benefits are 
subject to income tax under private pension rules. Under Public Law 99-
514, the non-social security equivalent benefit portion of Tier I is 
also taxable under private pension rules. The collection obtains the 
information needed by the Railroad Retirement Board to implement the 
income tax withholding provisions.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Form RRB W-4P.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 25,000.
    Total annual responses: 25,000.
    Total annual reporting hours: 1.
    3. Title and Purpose of information collection: Investigation of 
Claim for Possible Days of Employment; OMB 3220-0196.
    Under Section 1(k) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act 
(RUIA), unemployment and sickness benefits are not payable for any day 
remuneration is payable or accrues to the claimant. Also Section 4(a-1) 
of the RUIA provides that unemployment or sickness benefits are not 
payable for any day the claimant receives the same benefits under any 
law other than the RUIA. Under the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) 
regulation 20 CFR 322.4(a), a claimant's certification or statement on 
an RRB-provided claim form that he or she did not work on any day 
claimed and did not receive income such as vacation pay or pay for time 
lost for any day claimed is sufficient evidence unless there is 
conflicting evidence. Further, under 20 CFR 322.4(b), when there is a 
question raised as to whether or not remuneration is payable or has 
accrued to a claimant with respect to a claimed day or days, 
investigation shall be made with a view to obtaining information 
sufficient for a finding.
    Form ID-5S (SUP), Report of Cases for Which All Days Were Claimed 
During a Month Credited Per an Adjustment Report, collects information 
about compensation credited to an employee during a period when the 
employee claimed either unemployment or sickness benefits from a 
railroad employer. The request is generated as a result of a computer 
match that compares data which is maintained in the RRB's RUIA Benefit 
Payment file with data maintained in the RRB's records of service. The 
ID-5S (SUP) is generated annually when the computer match indicates 
that an employee of the railroad employer was paid unemployment or 
sickness benefits for every day in one or more months for which 
creditable compensation was adjusted at the request of their railroad 
employer on RRB Form BA-4 (OMB Approved 3220-0008).
    The computer-generated Form ID-5S (SUP) includes pertinent 
identifying information, the BA-4 adjustment process date, and the 
claimed months in question. Space is provided on the report for the 
employer's use in supplying the information requested in the computer-
generated transmittal letter, Form ID-5S, Railroad Compensation 
Adjustment Discrepancy Report, which accompanies the report. Completion 
is voluntary. One response is requested of each respondent.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (78 FR 66787 on November 6, 2013) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Investigation of Claim for Possible Days of Employment.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0196.
    Form(s) submitted: ID-5S (SUP).
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Private Sector; Businesses or other for profits
    Abstract: Under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, 
unemployment or sickness benefits are not payable for any day in which 
remuneration is payable or accrues to the claimant. The collection 
obtains information about compensation credited to an employee during a 
period when the employee claimed unemployment or sickness benefits from 
their railroad employer.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no revisions to Form ID-5S 
(SUP).
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

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                     Form number                       Annual  responses    Time  (minutes)     Burden  (hours)
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ID-5S (SUP).........................................                 55                  10                   9
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    4. Title and Purpose of information collection: Designation of 
Contact Officials; 3220-0200.
    Coordination between railroad employers and the RRB is essential to 
properly administer the payment of benefits under the Railroad 
Retirement Act (RRA) and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act 
(RUIA). In order to enhance timely coordination activity, the RRB 
utilizes Form G-117A, Designation of Contact Officials. Form G-117A is 
used by railroad employers to designate employees who are to act as 
point of contact with the RRB on a variety of RRA and RUIA-related 
matters. Completion is voluntary. One response is requested from each 
respondent.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (78 FR 66787 on November 6, 2013) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Designation of Contact Officials.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0200.
    Form(s) submitted: G-117A.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Private Sector; Businesses or other for profits.
    Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) requests that 
railroad employers designate employees to act as liaison with the RRB 
on a variety of Railroad Retirement Act and Railroad Unemployment 
Insurance Act matters.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no revisions to Form G-117A.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

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                     Form number                       Annual  responses    Time  (minutes)     Burden  (hours)
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G-117A..............................................                100                  15                  25
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    Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the forms and 
supporting documents can be obtained from Dana Hickman at (312) 751-
4981 or [email protected].
    Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed 
to Charles Mierzwa, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, 
Chicago, Illinois, 60611-2092 or [email protected] and to the OMB 
Desk Officer for the RRB, Fax: 202-395-6974, Email address: [email protected].

Charles Mierzwa,
Chief of Information Resources Management.
[FR Doc. 2014-02558 Filed 2-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P