[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38671-38672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16069]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Workers' Compensation Programs


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Division of Federal Employees' Compensation, Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95). This program helps to ensure that requested data 
can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and 
financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly 
understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents 
can be properly assessed. Currently, the Office of Workers' 
Compensation Programs is soliciting comments concerning the proposed 
collection: Peace Corps Volunteer Authorization for Examination and/or 
Treatment (CA-15). A copy of the proposed information collection 
request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the 
addresses section of this Notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before October 7, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by mail, delivery service, or by 
hand to Mr. Vincent Alvarez, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Ave. NW, Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210; by fax,(202) 354-9643, or 
email to [email protected] Please use only one method of 
transmission for comments (mail/delivery, fax, or email). Please note 
that comments submitted after comment period will not be considered.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    I. Background: The Department of Labor (DOL) is requesting an 
approval of a new information collection as a result of the recent 
passage of the Sam Farr and Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 2018 
(Farr-Castle), which modified various aspects of the Peace Corps, 
including changes to the provision of health care to volunteers.
    Peace Corps Volunteers are considered to be in the performance of 
duty while abroad during the period of Peace Corps service for purposes 
of FECA coverage. An injury sustained outside the United States during 
service is deemed proximately caused by such service, unless the injury 
or illness was proximately caused by willful misconduct, intention to 
bring about injury or death, or intoxication.
    Under the provisions of the FECA, 5 U.S.C. 8142 of the FECA defines 
Peace Corps volunteer as
    (1) A volunteer enrolled in the Peace Corps under section 2504 of 
title 22;

[[Page 38672]]

    (2) A volunteer leader enrolled in the Peace Corps under section 
2505 of title 22; and
    (3) An applicant for enrollment as a volunteer or volunteer leader 
during a period of training under section 2507(a) of title 22 before 
enrollment.
    Entitlement to disability compensation payments does not commence 
until the day after the date of termination of service as a volunteer. 
5 U.S.C. 8142(b).
    Farr-Castle directs the Secretary of the Department of Labor to 
authorize the Director of the Peace Corps to furnish medical benefits 
to a volunteer, who is injured during the volunteer's period of 
service, for a period of 120 days following the termination of such 
service if the Director certifies that the volunteer's injury probably 
meets the requirements set forth in 5 U.S.C. 8142(c)(3).
    To this end, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) 
and the Peace Corps have collaborated to initiate a new form, the CA-
15, Peace Corps Volunteer Authorization for Examination and/or 
Treatment, that will authorize medical treatment for recently 
terminated Peace Corps volunteers who require medical treatment for 
injuries/exposure sustained in the performance of their volunteer 
service. Issuance of this form will solely be at the discretion of the 
Peace Corps, and will bridge a gap between the occurrence of an initial 
injury and/or disease exposure and the actual adjudication of a claim 
by OWCP by helping ensure that recently terminated volunteers receive 
prompt medical care, without delay, for a period of 120 days following 
separation from service.
    II. Review Focus: The Department of Labor is particularly 
interested in comments which:
     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;
     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;
     Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     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.
    III. Current Actions: The Department of Labor seeks approval of 
this new information in order to carry out its responsibility to meet 
the statutory requirements of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act 
as amended by the Sam Farr and Nick Castle Peace Corps Reform Act of 
2018 (Farr-Castle).
    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
    Title: Peace Corps Volunteer Authorization for Examination and/or 
Treatment.
    OMB Number: 1240-0NEW.
    Agency Number: CA-15Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Total Respondents: 252.
    Total Annual Responses: 252.
    Average Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 63.
    Frequency: Once.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $146.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

Vincent Alvarez
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs US 
Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2019-16069 Filed 8-6-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-CH-P