[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 174 (Wednesday, September 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54329-54330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22640]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Privacy Act of 1974, as amended; Notice of Computer Matching 
Program (Railroad Retirement Board and Commercial Employment 
Verification Providers)

AGENCY: Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).

ACTION: Notice of creating a new computer-matching program with 
commercial employment verification providers.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the RRB is 
issuing public notice of its intent to create a new computer-matching 
program with commercial employment verification providers. The purpose 
of this notice is to advise individuals

[[Page 54330]]

applying for or receiving benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act 
and/or the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to use information 
obtained from these providers to verify eligibility for benefits.

DATES: This matching program becomes effective as proposed without 
further notice on October 19, 2015. We will file a report of this 
computer-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).

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this publication by 
writing to Ms. Martha P. Rico, Secretary to the Board, Railroad 
Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Timothy Grant, Chief Privacy 
Officer, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, 
Illinois 60611-2092, telephone 312-751-4869 or email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. General

    The Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a) as amended by the Computer 
Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, (Pub. L. 100-503), 
requires a Federal agency participating in a computer matching program 
to publish a notice in the Federal Register for all matching programs.
    The Privacy Act, as amended, regulates the use of computer matching 
by Federal agencies when records contained in a Privacy Act System of 
Records are matched with other Federal or non-Federal agency 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 the approval of the matching agreement by the Data 
Integrity Boards (DIB) 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. RRB Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act

    We have taken appropriate action to ensure that this computer 
matching program complies with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as 
amended.

Notice of Computer Matching Program: RRB and Commercial Employment 
Verification Providers

A. Name of Participating Agencies

    Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) and Commercial Employment 
Verification Providers.

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of the RRB conducting matches with commercial 
employment verification providers is to ensure beneficiaries applying 
for and/or receiving benefits are entitled to them. We will conduct two 
types of matches. The first match will be daily online queries 
submitted when individuals apply for benefits under either the Railroad 
Retirement Act (RRA) or the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA). 
The second match will be batch processing (frequency to be determined) 
of those individuals who have applied for, or are receiving RRA or RUIA 
benefits.

C. Authority for Conducting the Match

    The Railroad Retirement Board is authorized by the Railroad 
Retirement Act (RRA) of 1974, 45 U.S.C. 231(f), et. seq. and the 
Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), 45 U.S.C. 362, et. seq. to 
administer these benefit programs by paying benefits only to qualified 
beneficiaries.

D. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered

    The RRB will provide a list of beneficiary social security numbers 
to the commercial employment verification provider to conduct the 
match. If there is a match, the commercial employment verification 
provider will notify the RRB with earnings and employment related 
information, specifically: Matched employees name, employer information 
(name, address, and identification number), and employer reported 
earnings.
    The applicable RRB Privacy Act Systems of Records and their Federal 
Register citation used in the matching program are:
    1. RRB-21, Railroad Unemployment and Sickness Insurance Benefit 
Systems; 80 FR 28016 (May 15, 2015), and
    2. RRB-22, Railroad Retirement, Survivor, Pensioner Benefit System; 
80 FR 28018 (May 15, 2015).

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    This matching program will become effective October 19, 2015. or 40 
days after approval of the agreement, by the RRB DIB, is sent to 
Congress and the OMB, whichever date is later. The matching program 
will continue for 18 months after the effective date and may be 
extended for an additional 12 months, if the conditions specified in 5 
U.S.C. 552a(o)(2)(D) have been met.

    Dated: September 3, 2015.

By authority of the Board.
Martha P. Rico,
Secretary to the Board.
[FR Doc. 2015-22640 Filed 9-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7905-01-P