[The Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda of Federal Regulations]
[Railroad Retirement Board Regulatory Plan]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]


RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD (RRB)

Statement of Regulatory Priorities
The Railroad Retirement Board administers a retirement program for 
railroad workers and their families under the Railroad Retirement Act 
of 1974 and an unemployment and sickness benefit program for railroad 
workers under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. Regulations 
issued by the Railroad Retirement Board under these two statutes and 
certain Governmentwide statutes are contained in chapter II of title 20 
of the Code of Federal Regulations.
The Board has been involved in a multiyear project to review, revise, 
and update its regulations. During this project, the Board has 
published final rules amending nearly all of its regulations. In 
addition, there are several regulations actively under consideration by 
the Board at this time. The Board's short-term plan is to publish final 
regulations to complete the total review and revision project 
undertaken previously.
The regulations issued by the Railroad Retirement Board are virtually 
all interpretive rather than legislative in nature. These regulations 
are designed to be informative and to assist the agency's constituents 
understand the benefit systems administered by the Board. In 
promulgating regulations, the agency is mindful of the burdens that may 
be imposed on the public and crafts its regulations in such a way as to 
impose the least possible burden on the public. In addition, through 
regulation, the Board makes every effort to simplify and streamline 
administration of the programs it administers. We believe that the 
Board's regulatory review program is consistent with the priorities and 
objectives of the Administration.
_______________________________________________________________________
RRB

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                          PROPOSED RULE STAGE

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144.  FINALITY OF DECISIONS REGARDING RAILROAD RETIREMENT 
ANNUITIES
Priority:


Other Significant


Reinventing Government:


This rulemaking is part of the Reinventing Government effort. It will 
revise text in the CFR to reduce burden or duplication, or streamline 
requirements.


Legal Authority:


 45 USC 231f(b)(5)


CFR Citation:


 20 CFR 261


Legal Deadline:


None


Abstract:


This new part explains when the Board will reopen a claim for benefits 
under the Railroad Retirement Act.


Statement of Need:


The rules governing finality are presently contained in Board Orders 
which are not readily available to the public. The Board Order 
regarding finality of decisions provides that finality of certain 
decisions is based on a number of factors; adjudication based on these 
factors is difficult to administer. Also the Board Order does not 
contain any time limits on reopening.


Summary of the Legal Basis:


The general authority for issuance of regulations under the Railroad 
Retirement Act is provided for in section 7(b)(5) of the Act (45 USC 
231f(b)(5)).


Alternatives:


None.


Anticipated Costs and Benefits:


There will be no additional costs or burdens imposed by this regulation 
over and above those imposed by the statute or existing regulation.


Risks:


None.


Timetable:
_______________________________________________________________________
Action                                 DFR Cite

_______________________________________________________________________
NPRM                                                           12/00/95
Small Entities Affected:


None


Government Levels Affected:


Federal


Additional Information:


In the April 1995 agenda, a proposed amendment to part 261 was combined 
with the proposed amendment to part 211 of the Board's regulations as 
RIN 3220-AB10. For the October 1995 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda, 
however, it has been separated from RIN 3220-AB10, and is identified as 
a separate amendment.


Agency Contact:
Michael C. Litt
General Attorney
Bureau of Law
Railroad Retirement Board
844 Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312 751-4929
Fax: 312 751-7102
RIN: 3220-AB15
_______________________________________________________________________
RRB

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                            FINAL RULE STAGE

                              -----------

145. RECOVERY OF OVERPAYMENTS
Priority:


Other Significant


Reinventing Government:


This rulemaking is part of the Reinventing Government effort. It will 
revise text in the CFR to reduce burden or duplication, or streamline 
requirements.


Legal Authority:


 45 USC 231f(b)(5)


CFR Citation:


 20 CFR 255


Legal Deadline:


None


Abstract:


The Board plans to issue a final regulation dealing with collection and 
waiver of overpayments under the Railroad Retirement Act. This 
regulation clarifies the agency's policy and practice with respect to 
debt collection.


Statement of Need:


The agency's policy and practice with respect to recovery and waiver of 
recovery of overpayments, as established through normal adjudication, 
has evolved beyond the current regulation and the regulation is being 
updated to reflect this current policy and practice.


Summary of the Legal Basis:


The general authority for issuance of regulations under the Railroad 
Retirement Act is provided for in section 7(b)(5) of the Act (45 USC 
231f(b)(5)).


Alternatives:


None.


Anticipated Costs and Benefits:


This regulation should result in savings in administrative costs 
associated with protests and appeals in debt recovery cases.


Risks:


None.


Timetable:
_______________________________________________________________________
Action                                 DFR Cite

_______________________________________________________________________
NPRM            56 FR 47426                                    09/19/91
NPRM Comment Per56 FR 47426                                    10/21/91
Final Action                                                   03/00/96
Small Entities Affected:


None


Government Levels Affected:


Federal


Agency Contact:
Thomas W. Sadler
Assistant General Counsel
Bureau of Law
Railroad Retirement Board
844 Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312 751-4513
Fax: 312 751-7102
RIN: 3220-AA44
BILLING CODE 7905-01-F