[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 236 (Friday, December 9, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 75672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-26754]


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OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL

[OMB Control No. 3255-0005]


Form OSC-14

AGENCY: Office of Special Counsel.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection activity.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) implementing regulations, and the 
Government Paperwork Elimination Act, OSC obtained approval from OMB on 
September 18, 2017, for a new, dynamic electronic form to be used for 
filing complaints and disclosures with OSC. OSC revised the previously-
approved form, known as Form OSC-14, in July 2019 to reflect interim 
statutory changes and sought and obtained emergency OMB/OIRA processing 
of the new information collection. The final rule authorizing use of 
Form OSC-14 went into effect on August 26, 2019, and OMB approval on 
February 3, 2020, allows use of the form, as revised, through March 
2023. This proposed information collection seeks to extend OSC's period 
of using the form through 2026.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before February 7, 
2023. Note, however, that OMB is required to act on the collection of 
information discussed in this proposed rule between 30 and 60 days 
after this notice's publication in the Federal Register. Therefore, 
comments are best assured of having full effect if received by OMB 
within 30 days of this notice's publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments online at this website:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments;
     In writing, by mail, to: Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk 
Officer for OSC, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, 
DC 20503; or by email via: [email protected].
    Comments received may be posted to http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan K. Ullman, General Counsel, U.S. 
Office of Special Counsel, by telephone at (202) 804-7000, or by email 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSC is a permanent independent federal 
investigative and prosecutorial agency. OSC's basic authorities come 
from four federal statutes: The Civil Service Reform Act, the 
Whistleblower Protection Act, the Hatch Act, and the Uniformed Services 
Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). OSC's primary mission is 
to safeguard the merit system by protecting federal employees and 
applicants from prohibited personnel practices, especially reprisal for 
whistleblowing, and to serve as a safe channel for allegations of 
wrongdoing.

Procedural Determinations

    Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA): OSC submits this proposed collection 
to OMB for review pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 
3501, et seq.
    Title of Collection: Updated Form OSC-14: Electronic Submission of 
Allegations and Disclosures.
    The updated electronic form is available on the OSC website at 
http://www.osc.gov.
    Type of Information Collection Request: Approval of a collection of 
information from individuals who choose to file complaints or 
disclosures with OSC. The proposed collection is the same as the 
collection that was approved on February 3, 2020 and replaces three 
separate forms OSC previously used to collect the information.
    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 Form OSC-14 Respondents: 6,000 (estimate 
based on a review of recent OSC Annual Reports and Congressional Budget 
Justifications, and trends).
    Frequency of Use of Updated Form OSC-14: Daily.
    Estimated Average Amount of Time for a Person to Respond Using Form 
OSC-14: For prohibited personnel practice and other prohibited 
activities allegations, one hour and 15 minutes; for whistleblower 
disclosures, one hour; and for Hatch Act allegations, 30 minutes to 
complete the form. OSC based these estimates on testing completed by 
OSC employees during the development of the collection form.
    Estimated Annual Burden for Filing Form OSC-14: 6917.5 hours.
    Abstract: The electronic form must be used to submit allegations of 
possible prohibited personnel practices or other prohibited activity 
for investigation and possible prosecution by OSC and is recommended 
for filing disclosures of covered wrongdoing for review and possible 
referral to heads of agencies. The form may also be used by individuals 
to file complaints under the Hatch Act.

    Dated: December 5, 2022.
Travis Millsaps,
Deputy Special Counsel for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2022-26754 Filed 12-8-22; 8:45 am]
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