[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 36 (Friday, February 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5733-5734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-03056]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Submission for Revision of a Previously Approved Information 
Collection: Declaration for Federal Employment, Optional Form (OF) 306

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: 60-day notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB), Office of Personnel 
Management (OPM) offers the opportunity to comment on its proposed 
revision of a previously-approved information collection, Declaration 
for Federal Employment, Optional Form (OF) 306.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until April 23, 
2019. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1).

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and 
title, by the following method:
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number 
for this document. The general policy for comments and other 
submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions 
available for public viewing at http://www.regulations.gov as they are 
received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact 
information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of this ICR, with applicable 
supporting documentation, may be obtained by contacting the National 
Background Investigations Bureau, Office of Personnel Management, 1900 
E Street NW, Washington, DC 20415, Attention: Donna McLeod or sent by 
email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OPM is soliciting comments for this 
collection as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). The Office of Management and Budget is particularly 
interested in comments that:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submissions of responses.
    The Declaration for Federal Employment Optional Form (OF) 306 is 
completed by applicants who are under consideration for Federal or 
Federal contract employment. It collects information about an 
applicant's selective service registration, military service, and 
general background. The information collected on this form is mainly 
used to determine a person's acceptability for Federal and Federal 
contract employment, and his or her retirement status and life 
insurance enrollment. However, if necessary, and usually in conjunction 
with another form or forms, the information on this form may be used in 
conducting an investigation to determine a person's suitability or 
ability to hold a security clearance, and it may be disclosed to 
authorized officials making similar, subsequent determinations.
    The OF 306 requests that the applicant provide personal identifying 
data, including past convictions, imprisonments, probations, paroles or 
military court martial, delinquency on a Federal debt, Selective 
Service Registration, United States military service, Federal civilian 
or military retirement benefits received or applied for, and life 
insurance enrollment.
    OPM proposes the following modifications to the OF 306.
     The Instructions include an explanation that the questions 
and answers are not optional and must be answered.
     In the Privacy Act Statement, section headings 
(Authorities, Purpose, Information Regarding Disclosure of Your Social 
Security Number (SSN)) are added for clarity; additional authority is 
cited for collecting the respondent's SSN; and a website link is added 
for the System Notice OPM/GOVT-1, General Personnel Records, https://www.opm.gov/information-management/privacy-policy/sorn/opm-sorn-govt-1-general-personnel-records.pdf.
     The Public Burden Statement includes an updated address 
for the submission of comments regarding the burden estimate.
     Additional examples added to Question 5, Other Names Ever 
Used.
     Military Service, Question 8 was amended to list the 
specific branch (Army, Army National Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air 
National Guard, Marine Corps, and/or Coast Guard).
     The Background Information instructions were amended to 
reflect a higher traffic fines reporting threshold and reads `traffic 
fines of $1,000 or less' from `traffic fines of $300 or less.'
     Question 9 currently reads, ``During the last 7 years, 
have you been convicted, been imprisoned, been on probation, or been on 
parole? (Includes felonies, firearms or explosives violations, 
misdemeanors, and all other offenses.) If `YES,' use item 16 to provide 
the date, an explanation of the violation, place of occurrence, and the 
name and address of the police department or court involved.'' Question 
9 is amended to read, ``During the last 7 years, have you: Been 
convicted of any crime (Include misdemeanors, felonies, firearms or 
explosives violations, domestic violence, alcohol, drugs, and all other 
crimes or offenses); Been subject to judge or court specified 
conditions requiring satisfactory completion before a criminal charge 
has been or will be dismissed; Served time in jail or prison as a 
result of being convicted of a crime; or Been on probation or parole? 
If ``YES,'' use item 16 to provide the date, explanation of the 
violation/charge, place of occurrence, and the name and address of the 
police and court involved.''
    The verbiage change from asking if one has been ``imprisoned'' to 
ask if one has ``served time in jail or prison'' as the result of a 
conviction is also for clarity. OPM is proposing to add a requirement 
to admit charges for which one has been placed into a pretrial 
intervention or diversionary program or the like. These programs allow 
individuals to agree to comply with specific conditions in lieu of 
criminal prosecution and upon compliance, to have the charge(s) 
dismissed. They are generally available to those accused of committing 
a wide range of offenses. The offender is not commonly placed into 
traditional

[[Page 5734]]

community supervision and participants or those who successfully 
complete the program, are not considered to have been convicted. The 
proposed change closes a gap for those who participate in or 
successfully complete this type of alternative disposition and may not 
have to answer affirmatively to the current question and report the 
details of the offense.
     Question 11, ``Are you currently under charges for any 
violation of law?'' was amended to ``Are you currently under charges 
for any violation of law, on trial or awaiting a trail on criminal 
charges?''
     Question 12, related to reasons for leaving employment, 
was organized into bullet points to improve readability.
     Question 13, related to financial delinquency, was amended 
to clarify that its coverage includes co-signers and guarantors as well 
as sole debtors.
     Continuation Space/Agency Optional Questions, item 16, was 
reorganized for greater clarity.
     Certifications/Additional Questions, APPLICANT 
instructions were amended to instruct the applicant to read and 
complete the form's certification paragraph, and a separate new consent 
statement.
     The ``I consent'' paragraph was separated from the ``I 
certify'' paragraph, and each paragraph must be signed and dated. Also 
added was an explanation that ``This consent is valid for two (2) years 
from the date signed below, or expires when my affiliation with the 
Federal Government ends, whichever is sooner.''

Analysis

    Agency: NBIB, U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
    Title: Declaration for Federal Employment, Optional Form (OF) 306.
    OMB Number: 3206-0182.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Number of Respondents: 315,478.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 15 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 78,870.

    Office of Personnel Management.
Alexys Stanley,
Regulatory Affairs Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2019-03056 Filed 2-21-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6325-53-P