[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 164 (Monday, August 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50726-50727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20056]


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OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL


Agency Information Collection Activities, Request for Comment

AGENCY: Office of Special Counsel.

ACTION: Second Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), plans to 
request

[[Page 50727]]

approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use of an 
expanded version of an approved information collection consisting of an 
electronic customer survey form. OSC is required by law to conduct an 
annual survey of those who seek its assistance. The information 
collection is used to carry out that mandate. However, the additional 
questions for the survey cover a category of complaint, whistleblower 
disclosures, whose inclusion in the survey is not statutorily required, 
but rather is being done voluntarily by our agency. The 6 specific 
questions to be added are: ``Did the agency against which you filed the 
disclosure inform you about your right to make whistleblower 
disclosures, and the channels for making such disclosures?'' ``Did you 
obtain the action that you wanted from OSC?'' ``What reason did OSC 
give for closing your disclosure matter?'' (Check all that apply.)'' 
``Did you agree with the reason OSC gave for closing your disclosure 
matter?'' ``If you answered ``no'' to the question in number 4 above, 
could you please elaborate? [below which is a free field text box].'' 
``How would you rate the service provided by OSC in each of the 
following areas?'' The current OMB approval for this collection of 
information [without the new questions for the Disclosure Unit] does 
not expire until 10/31/2015.
    Current and former Federal employees, employee representatives, 
other Federal agencies, state and local government employees, and the 
general public are invited for a second time to comment on this 
information collection. Comments are invited on: (a) whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of OSC functions, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of OSC's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collections of information; (c) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES: Comments should be received by September xx, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Kammann, Director of Finance, at 
1730 M St. NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036, or by facsimile at 
(202) 254-3711.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSC is an independent agency responsible 
for, among other things, (1) investigation of allegations of prohibited 
personnel practices defined by law at 5 U.S.C. 2302(b), protection of 
whistleblowers, and certain other illegal employment practices under 
titles 5 and 38 of the U.S. Code, affecting current or former Federal 
employees or applicants for employment, and covered state and local 
government employees; and (2) the interpretation and enforcement of 
Hatch Act provisions on political activity in chapters 15 and 73 of 
title 5 of the U.S. Code, and implementing regulations concerning the 
controlling of paperwork burdens on the public, found at 5 CFR part 
1320.
    Title of Collection: Office of Special Counsel (OSC) Annual Survey; 
OMB Control Number 3255-0003.
    OSC is required to conduct an annual survey of individuals who seek 
its assistance. Section 13 of 103 (1994), codified at 5 U.S.C. 1212 
note, states, in part: ``[T]he survey shall--(1) Determine if the 
individual seeking assistance was fully apprised of their rights; (2) 
determine whether the individual was successful either at the Office of 
Special Counsel or the Merit Systems Protection Board; and (3) 
determine if the individual, whether successful or not, was satisfied 
with the treatment received from the Office of Special Counsel.'' The 
same section also provides that survey results are to be published in 
OSC's annual report to Congress. Copies of prior years' annual reports 
are available on OSC's Web site, at http://www.osc.gov/RR_AnnualReportsToCongress.htm or by calling OSC at (202) 254-3600.
    The survey form for the collection of information is available for 
review by calling OSC at (202) 254-3600.
    Affected Public: Current and former Federal employees, applicants 
for Federal employment, state and local government employees, and their 
representatives, and the general public.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Estimated Annual Number of Survey Form Respondents: 415.
    Frequency of Survey Form Use: Annual.
    Estimated Average Amount of Time for a Person To Respond to Survey: 
12 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Survey Burden: 141 hours.
    This survey form is used to survey current and former Federal 
employees and applicants for Federal employment who have submitted 
allegations of possible prohibited personnel practices or other 
prohibited activity for investigation and possible prosecution by OSC, 
and whose matter has been closed or otherwise resolved during the prior 
fiscal year, on their experience at OSC. Specifically, the survey asks 
questions relating to whether the respondent was: (1) Apprised of his 
or her rights; (2) successful at the OSC or at the Merit Systems 
Protection Board; and (3) satisfied with the treatment received at the 
OSC.

    Dated: August 18, 2014.
Carolyn N. Lerner,
Special Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2014-20056 Filed 8-22-14; 8:45 am]
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