[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 229 (Thursday, November 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83588-83590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26332]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
chapter 35), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding an 
Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Our 
ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. 
Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we impose appropriate 
paperwork burdens.
    The RRB invites comments on the proposed collection of information 
to determine (1) the practical utility of the collection; (2) the 
accuracy of the estimated burden of the collection; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information that is the 
subject of collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of 
collections on respondents, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments to the 
RRB or OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper 
consideration of your comments, it is best if the RRB and OIRA receive 
them within 30 days of the publication date.
    1. Title and purpose of information collection: Application and 
Claim for Unemployment Benefits and Employment Service; OMB 3220-0022.
    Section 2 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) (45 
U.S.C. 231), provides unemployment benefits for qualified railroad 
employees. These benefits are generally payable for each day of 
unemployment in excess of four during a registration period (normally a 
period of 14 days).
    Section 12 of the RUIA provides that the RRB establish, maintain 
and operate free employment facilities directed toward the reemployment 
of railroad employees. The procedures for applying for the unemployment 
benefits and employment service and for registering and claiming the 
benefits are prescribed in 20 CFR 325.
    The RRB utilizes the following forms to collect the information 
necessary to pay unemployment benefits: Form UI-1 (or its internet 
equivalent, Form UI-1 (Internet)), Application for Unemployment 
Benefits and Employment Service, is completed by a claimant for 
unemployment benefits once in a benefit year, at the time of first 
registration. Completion of Form UI-1 or UI-1 (Internet) also registers 
an unemployment claimant for the RRB's employment service.
    The RRB also utilizes Form UI-3, (or its internet equivalent Form 
UI-3 (Internet)) Claim for Unemployment Benefits for use in claiming 
unemployment benefits for days of unemployment in a particular 
registration period, normally a period of 14 days.
    Completion of Forms UI-1, UI-1 (Internet), UI-3 and UI-3 (Internet) 
is required to obtain or retain benefits. The number of responses 
required of each claimant varies, depending on their period of 
unemployment.

[[Page 83589]]

    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (88 FR 66067 on September 26, 2023) required by 
44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Application and Claim for Unemployment Benefits and 
Employment Service.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0022.
    Forms submitted: UI-1, UI-1 (Internet), UI-3, UI-3 (Internet).
    Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected public: Individuals or Households.
    Abstract: Under section 2 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance 
Act, unemployment benefits are provided for qualified railroad 
employees. The collection obtains the information needed to determine 
the eligibility to and amount of such benefits for railroad employees.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to the forms in the 
collection.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UI-1...................................................              2,118                 10                323
UI-1 (Internet)........................................              7,549                 10              1,258
UI-3...................................................             23,724                  6              2,372
UI-3 (Internet)........................................             82,027                  6              8,203
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Total..............................................            115,418  .................             12,186
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    2. Title and purpose of information collection: Placement Service; 
OMB 3220-0057.
    Section 12(i) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) (45 
U.S.C. 362), authorizes the RRB to establish, maintain, and operate 
free employment offices to provide claimants for unemployment benefits 
with job placement opportunities. Section 704(d) of the Regional 
Railroad Reorganization Act of 1973, as amended, and as extended by the 
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, required the 
RRB to maintain and distribute a list of railroad job vacancies, by 
class and craft, based on information furnished by rail carriers to the 
RRB. Although the requirement under the law expired effective August 
13, 1987, the RRB has continued to obtain this information in keeping 
with its employment service responsibilities under section 12(k) of the 
RUIA. Application procedures for the job placement program are 
prescribed in 20 CFR 325. The procedures pertaining to the RRB's 
obtaining and distributing job vacancy reports furnished by rail 
carriers are described in 20 CFR 346.1.
    The RRB currently utilizes four forms to obtain information needed 
to carry out its job placement responsibilities. Form ES-2, Central 
Register Notification, is used by the RRB to obtain information needed 
to update a computerized central register of separated and furloughed 
railroad employees available for employment in the railroad industry. 
Forms ES-21, Referral to State Employment Service, and ES-21c, Report 
of State Employment Service Office, are used by the RRB to provide 
placement assistance for unemployed railroad employees through 
arrangements with State Employment Service offices. Form UI-35, Field 
Office Record of Claimant Interview, is used primarily by the RRB to 
conduct in-person interviews of claimants for unemployment benefits.
    Completion of these forms is required to obtain or maintain a 
benefit. In addition, the RRB also collects Railroad Job Vacancies 
information received voluntarily from railroad employers.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (88 FR 66068 on September 26, 2023) required by 
44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Placement Service.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0057.
    Form(s) submitted: ES-2, ES-21, ES-21c, UI-35 and Job Vacancies 
Report.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Private Sector, Businesses or other for-profits; 
Individuals or Households; State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Abstract: Under the RUIA, the Railroad Retirement Board provides 
job placement assistance for unemployed railroad workers. The 
collection obtains information from job applicants, railroad employers, 
and State Employment Service offices for use in placement, for 
providing referrals for job openings, reports of referral results and 
for verifying and monitoring claimant eligibility.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to the forms in this 
information collection.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

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                        Form No.                         Annual  responses   Time  (minutes)    Burden  (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ES-21..................................................                 80               1.00                  1
ES-21c.................................................                 25               2.00                  1
UI-35 in person........................................              6,300               7.00                735
UI-35 by mail..........................................                700              11.00                128
Job Vacancies..........................................                470              10.00                 78
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Total..............................................              7,575  .................                943
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Title and purpose of information collection: Report of Medicaid 
State Office on Beneficiary's Buy-In Status; OMB 3220-0185.
    Under section 7(d) of the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. 231), 
the RRB administers the Medicare program for persons covered by the 
railroad retirement system. Under section 1843 of the Social Security 
Act, states may enter into ``buy-in agreements'' with the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services for the purpose of enrolling certain groups 
of low-income individuals under

[[Page 83590]]

the Medicare medical insurance (Part B) program and paying the premiums 
for their insurance coverage. Generally, these individuals are 
categorically needy under Medicaid and meet the eligibility 
requirements for Medicare Part B. States can also include in their buy-
in agreements, individuals who are eligible for medical assistance 
only. The RRB uses Form RL-380-F, Report to State Medicaid Office, to 
obtain information needed to determine if certain railroad 
beneficiaries are entitled to receive Supplementary Medical Insurance 
program coverage under a state buy-in agreement in states in which they 
reside. Completion of Form RL-380-F is voluntary. One response is 
received from each respondent.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (88 FR 66068 on September 26, 2023) required by 
44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Report of Medicaid State Office on Beneficiary's Buy-In 
Status.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0185.
    Forms submitted: RL-380-F.
    Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected public: State, local, and Tribal governments.
    Abstract: Under the Railroad Retirement Act, the Railroad 
Retirement Board administers the Medicare program for persons covered 
by the railroad retirement system. The collection obtains the 
information needed to determine if certain railroad beneficiaries are 
entitled to receive Supplemental Medical Insurance program coverage 
under a state buy-in agreement in states in which they reside.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes the following changes to Form 
RL-380-F:
     Change `Medicare Number' box on righthand side of form to 
`Medicare Beneficiary Identifier'.
     Remove box 6 on righthand side of form `Social Security 
Number' as it is a duplicate of box 4 `Beneficiary's Own Social 
Security Number'.
     In Question 4, change `Medicare number under which state 
paid premium (if different from RRB Medicare claim number' to `Medicare 
Beneficiary Identifier Number (MBI) in which state paid premium'.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

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                      Form No.                         Annual  responses    Time  (minutes)     Burden  (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RL-380-F............................................                600                  10                 100
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    Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the forms and 
supporting documents can be obtained from Kennisha Money at (312) 469-
2591 or [email protected]. Comments regarding the information 
collection should be addressed to Brian Foster, Railroad Retirement 
Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-1275 or 
[email protected].
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

Brian Foster,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-26332 Filed 11-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P