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


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Part XLII





Railroad Retirement Board





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

[[Page 73804]]



RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD (RRB)






_______________________________________________________________________

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

20 CFR Ch. II

Semiannual Agenda of Regulations Under Development or Review

AGENCY: Railroad Retirement Board.

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.

_______________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY: This agenda contains lists of regulations that the Board is 
developing or proposes to develop in the next 12 months and regulations 
that are scheduled to be reviewed in that period.

ADDRESSES: 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant 
General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 
(312) 751-4945, Fax (312) 751-7102, TDD (312) 751-4701.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For this edition of the Railroad Retirement 
Board's regulatory agenda, the most important significant regulatory 
actions are included in The Regulatory Plan, which appears in part II 
of this issue of the Federal Register. The Regulatory Plan entries are 
listed in the Table of Contents below and are denoted by a bracketed 
bold reference, which directs the reader to the appropriate sequence 
number in part II.

     Regulations that are routine in nature or which pertain solely 
to internal agency management have not been included in the agenda.

Dated: September 11, 2003.

By Authority of the Board.

 Beatrice Ezerski,

Secretary to the Board.

                                 Railroad Retirement Board--Proposed Rule Stage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3814        Employers' Contributions and Contribution Reports...................................    3220--AB53
3815        Electronic Filing of Applications and Claims for Benefits Under the Railroad            3220--AB57
            Unemployment Insurance Act (Reg Plan Seq No. 134)...................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in the Regulatory Plan in part II of this issue of the Federal Register.


                                   Railroad Retirement Board--Final Rule Stage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3816        Reduction and Nonpayment of Annuities by Reason of Work.............................    3220--AA61
3817        Freedom of Information Act Requests.................................................    3220--AB47
3818        Determining Disability..............................................................    3220--AB50
3819        Appendix 1 to Part 220--Listing of Impairments......................................    3220--AB51
3820        Application for Annuity or Lump Sum (Reg Plan Seq No. 135)..........................    3220--AB55
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in the Regulatory Plan in part II of this issue of the Federal Register.


                                  Railroad Retirement Board--Long--Term Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3821        Creditable Railroad Compensation....................................................    3220--AB23
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                  Railroad Retirement Board--Completed Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Regulation
 Sequence                                          Title                                          Identification
  Number                                                                                              Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3822        Determining Disability..............................................................    3220--AA99
3823        Retirement Age......................................................................    3220--AB54
3824        Account Benefits Ratio..............................................................    3220--AB56
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 73805]]

_______________________________________________________________________


Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)                     Proposed Rule Stage






_______________________________________________________________________




3814. EMPLOYERS' CONTRIBUTIONS AND CONTRIBUTION REPORTS

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 45 USC 345 362(l)

CFR Citation: 20 CFR 345.202 to 204

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board amends sections 345.202 to 204 
of 20 CFR part 345 to explain the effective date of consolidated 
employer records that result in the issuance of a joint contribution 
rate under the ``experience rating'' provisions of section 8 of the 
Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. The amendment also incorporates a 
nomenclature change due to a recent agency reorganization.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            12/00/03

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: Federal

Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, 
Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312 751--4945
TDD Phone: 312 751--4701
Fax: 312 751--7102

RIN: 3220-AB53
_______________________________________________________________________




3815. ELECTRONIC FILING OF APPLICATIONS AND CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS UNDER 
THE RAILROAD UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT

 Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 134 in part II of this issue 
of the Federal Register.

RIN: 3220-AB57
_______________________________________________________________________


Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)                        Final Rule Stage






_______________________________________________________________________




3816. REDUCTION AND NONPAYMENT OF ANNUITIES BY REASON OF WORK

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 45 USC 231f(b)(5)

CFR Citation: 20 CFR 230

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board revises 20 CFR part 230 to 
explain how employment or self--employment after an annuity beginning 
date may cause a reduction in, or nonpayment of, the annuity. It also 
reflects the changes in law made by the enactment of Public Law 106--
182, the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act of 2000.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            08/16/95                    60 FR 42482
NPRM Comment Period End         09/25/95                    60 FR 43999
Final Rule                      12/00/03

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: Federal

Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, 
Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312 751--4945
TDD Phone: 312 751--4701
Fax: 312 751--7102

RIN: 3220-AA61
_______________________________________________________________________




3817. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 45 USC 231f(b)(5); 45 USC 362; 5 USC 552

CFR Citation: 20 CFR 200.4

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board amends 20 CFR 200.4 to direct 
all Freedom of Information Act requests to the Board's General Counsel, 
and to extend the time within which responses may be made from 10 to 20 
working days as provided by the Freedom of Information Act.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Direct Final Rule               10/29/03                    68 FR 61620
Direct Final Rule Effective     01/27/04

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: Federal

Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, 
Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312 751--4945
TDD Phone: 312 751--4701
Fax: 312 751--7102

RIN: 3220-AB47
_______________________________________________________________________




3818. DETERMINING DISABILITY

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 45 USC 231a; 45 USC 231f

CFR Citation: 20 CFR 220.143; 20 CFR 220.170

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board amends 20 CFR sections 220.143 
and 220.170 to index the amount of earnings used to determine if an 
individual is engaged in substantial gainful activity (SGA) to any 
increase in the Social Security national average wage index, and to 
increase (from $200 to $530) the minimum amount of monthly earnings to 
count during a trial work period, and then to index that amount to the 
Social Security national average wage index.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Proposed Rule                   06/09/03                    68 FR 34341
NPRM Comment Period End         08/08/03
Final Action                    12/00/03

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: Federal

Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, 
Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312 751--4945
TDD Phone: 312 751--4701
Fax: 312 751--7102

RIN: 3220-AB50

[[Page 73806]]

_______________________________________________________________________




3819. APPENDIX 1 TO PART 220--LISTING OF IMPAIRMENTS

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 45 USC 231a; 45 USC 231f

CFR Citation: 20 CFR 220.110; 20 CFR 220, app 1

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board amends 20 CFR 220.110 and 
appendix 1--Listing of Impairments, to conform the medical criteria 
that apply to disability determinations to the medical criteria in the 
Social Security Administration's regulations (20 CFR 404, subpart P, 
appendix 1).

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Interim Final Rule              02/00/04

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: Federal

Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, 
Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312 751--4945
TDD Phone: 312 751--4701
Fax: 312 751--7102

RIN: 3220-AB51
_______________________________________________________________________




3820. APPLICATION FOR ANNUITY OR LUMP SUM

 Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 135 in part II of this issue 
of the Federal Register.

RIN: 3220-AB55
_______________________________________________________________________


Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)                       Long-Term Actions






_______________________________________________________________________




3821. CREDITABLE RAILROAD COMPENSATION

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority: 45 USC 231f

CFR Citation: 20 CFR 211.3

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The RRB amends its regulations regarding the creditability of 
pay for time lost to prohibit the crediting of pay for time lost beyond 
the date of a judgment or settlement, or in the absence of a judgment 
or settlement, beyond the date of payment. The Labor Member of the RRB 
dissents from this proposal and recommends allowing the crediting of 
pay for time lost in these circumstances when the accompanying railroad 
retirement taxes are paid on the compensation.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            12/04/97                    62 FR 61488
NPRM Comment Period End         02/02/98
Final Action                     To Be                       Determined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: Federal

Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, 
Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312 751--4945
TDD Phone: 312 751--4701
Fax: 312 751--7102

RIN: 3220-AB23
_______________________________________________________________________


Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)                       Completed Actions






_______________________________________________________________________




3822. DETERMINING DISABILITY

Priority: Other Significant

CFR Citation: 20 CFR 220.114

Completed:
________________________________________________________________________

Reason                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Final Rule                      10/22/03                    68 FR 60290
Final Rule Effective            10/22/03

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: Federal

Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo
Phone: 312 751--4945
TDD Phone: 312 751--4701
Fax: 312 751--7102

RIN: 3220-AA99
_______________________________________________________________________




3823. RETIREMENT AGE

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

CFR Citation: 20 CFR 218; 20 CFR 220; 20 CFR 225

Completed:
________________________________________________________________________

Reason                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Final Rule                      07/01/03                    68 FR 39009
Final Action                    07/01/03                    68 FR 39009
Final Action Effective          07/01/03
Correction                      08/01/03                    68 FR 45315

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: Federal

Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo
Phone: 312 751--4945
TDD Phone: 312 751--4701
Fax: 312 751--7102

RIN: 3220-AB54
_______________________________________________________________________




3824. ACCOUNT BENEFITS RATIO

Priority: Other Significant

CFR Citation: 20 CFR 206

Completed:
________________________________________________________________________

Reason                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Final Rule                      08/26/03                    68 FR 51152
Final Rule Effective            08/26/03

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: Federal

Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo
Phone: 312 751--4945
TDD Phone: 312 751--4701
Fax: 312 751--7102

RIN: 3220-AB56
[FR Doc. 03-24038 Filed 12-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-S
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