[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 72 (Tuesday, April 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21343-21344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08424]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA-2014-0002]


Privacy Act of 1974, as Amended; Computer Matching Program (SSA/
Law Enforcement Agency (Source Jurisdiction))--Match Number 5001

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Notice of a renewal of an existing computer matching program 
that will expire on October 9, 2014.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as 
amended, this notice announces a renewal of an existing computer 
matching program that we are currently conducting with the Source 
Jurisdiction.

DATES: We will file a report of the subject matching program with the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
Representatives; and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The matching program will be 
effective as indicated below.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by either 
telefaxing to (410) 966-0869 or writing to the Executive Director, 
Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, Social 
Security Administration, 617 Altmeyer Building, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401. All comments received will be 
available for public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Executive Director, Office of 
Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel, as shown above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. General

    The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Public 
Law (Pub. L.) 100-503), amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by 
describing the conditions under which computer matching involving the 
Federal government could be performed and adding certain protections 
for persons applying for, and receiving, Federal benefits. Section 7201 
of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-508) 
further amended the Privacy Act regarding protections for such persons.
    The Privacy Act, as amended, regulates the use of computer matching 
by Federal agencies when records in a system of records are matched 
with other Federal, State, or local government

[[Page 21344]]

records. It requires Federal agencies involved in computer matching 
programs to:
    (1) Negotiate written agreements with the other agency or agencies 
participating in the matching programs;
    (2) Obtain approval of the matching agreement by the Data Integrity 
Boards of the participating Federal agencies;
    (3) Publish notice of the computer matching program in the Federal 
Register;
    (4) Furnish detailed reports about matching programs to Congress 
and OMB;
    (5) Notify applicants and beneficiaries that their records are 
subject to matching; and
    (6) Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, terminating, 
or denying a person's benefits or payments.

B. SSA Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

    We have taken action to ensure that all of our computer matching 
programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.

Kirsten J. Moncada,
Executive Director, Office of Privacy and Disclosure, Office of the 
General Counsel.

Notice of Computer Matching Program, SSA With the Law Enforcement 
Agency (Source Jurisdiction)

A. Participating Agencies

    SSA and Source Jurisdiction.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of this matching program is to establish the terms, 
conditions, and safeguards under which we will conduct a computer 
matching program with the Source Jurisdiction in accordance with the 
Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy 
Protection Act of 1988 (5 U.S.C. 552a), and the regulations and 
guidance promulgated thereunder, to identify individuals in the Source 
Jurisdiction who are (1) fleeing fugitive felons, parole violators, or 
probation violators, as defined by the Social Security Act (Act) and in 
accordance with the Martinez Settlement and the Clark Court Order, as 
defined below, who are also (2) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 
recipients, Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance (RSDI) 
beneficiaries, Special Veterans Benefit (SVB) beneficiaries, or 
representative payees for SSI recipients, RSDI beneficiaries, or SVB 
beneficiaries.

C. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program

    The legal authority for the matching program conducted under this 
agreement is: sections 1611(e)(4)(A), 202(x)(l)(A)(iv) and (v), and 
804(a)(2) and (3) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(e)(4)(A), 402(x)(l)(A)(iv) 
and (v), and 1004(a)(2) and (3)), which prohibit the payment of SSI, 
RSDI, and/or SVB benefits to an SSI recipient, RSDI beneficiary, or SVB 
beneficiary for any month during which such individual flees to avoid 
prosecution, or custody or confinement after conviction, under the 
applicable laws of the jurisdiction from which the person flees, for a 
crime or attempt to commit a crime considered to be a felony under the 
laws of said jurisdiction. These sections of the Act also prohibit 
payment of SSI, RSDI, and/or SVB benefits to a recipient/beneficiary in 
jurisdictions that do not define such crimes as felonies, but as crimes 
punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year 
(regardless of the actual sentence imposed), and to an individual who 
violates a condition of probation or parole imposed under Federal or 
state law. As a result of a settlement of a nationwide class action in 
Martinez v. Astrue, No. 08-4735 (N.D. Cal. September 24, 2009) 
(Martinez Settlement), SSA's nonpayment of benefits under these 
sections of the Act is limited to individuals with certain flight- or 
escape-coded warrants. Further, as a result of a settlement of a 
nationwide class action in Clark v. Astrue, 06 Civ. 15521 (S.D. NY, 
April 13, 2012) (Clark Court Order), SSA's nonpayment of benefits under 
these sections of the Act cannot be based solely on the existence of 
parole or probation arrest warrants.
    Sections 1631(a)(2)(B)(iii)(V), 205(j)(2)(C)(i)(V), and 
807(d)(1)(E) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(a)(2)(B)(iii)(V), 
405(j)(2)(C)(i)(V), 1007(d)(1)(E)), which prohibit SSA from using a 
person as a representative payee when such person is a person described 
in sections 1611(e)(4)(A), 202(x)(1)(A)(iv), or 804(a)(2) of the Act.
    The legal authority for SSA's disclosure of information to the 
Source Jurisdiction is: sections 1106(a), 1611(e)(5), 
1631(a)(2)(B)(xiv), 202(x)(3)(C), 205(j)(2)(B)(iii) and 807(b)(3) of 
the Act; the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by the Computer Matching 
and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3)); and SSA's 
disclosure regulations promulgated at 20 C.F.R. 401.150. The settlement 
terms in Martinez v. Astrue and Clark v. Astrue do not restrict this 
disclosure authority in any manner.

D. Categories of Records and Persons Covered by the Matching Program

    The Source Jurisdiction will identify individuals who are fleeing 
fugitive felons, probation violators, or parole violators in its 
records originating from various databases. The Source Jurisdiction 
will prepare and disclose its records electronically (e.g., Government 
to Government Services Online) with clear identification of the record 
source. SSA will match the following systems of records with the 
incoming Source Jurisdiction records to determine individuals who 
receive SSI, RSDI, SVB benefits, or individuals serving as 
representative payees: Supplemental Security Income Record/Special 
Veterans Benefits (SSR/SVB), SSA/ODSSIS (60-0103) Routine Use 28, last 
published on January 11, 2006 (71 FR 1830); Master Beneficiary Record 
(MBR), SSA/ORSIS (60-0090) Routine Use 2, last published on January 11, 
2006 (71 FR 1826); Master Representative Payee File, SSA/NCC (60-0222) 
Routine Use 12, last published on April 19, 2013 (78 FR 23811); and, 
Master Files of Social Security Number Holders and SSN Applications, 
SSA/OTSO (60-0058) Routine Use 24, last published on December 29, 2010 
(75 FR 82121).

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    The effective date of this matching program is October 10, 2014; if 
the following notice, periods have lapsed: 30 days after publication of 
this notice in the Federal Register and 40 days after notice of the 
matching program is sent to Congress and OMB. The matching program will 
continue for 18 months from the effective date and, if both agencies 
meet certain conditions, it may extend for an additional 12 months 
thereafter.

[FR Doc. 2014-08424 Filed 4-14-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P