Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,

[Federal Register: August 11, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 154)]

[Notices]

[Page 42890-42891]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr11au98-159]

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Summary: In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data collections.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Title and Purpose of information collection: Supplemental Information on Accident and Insurance; OMB 3220-0036 Under Section 12(o) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), the Railroad Retirement Board is entitled to reimbursement of the sickness benefits paid to a railroad employee if the employee receives a sum or damages for the same infirmity for which the benefits are paid. Section 2(f) of the RUIA requires employers to reimburse the RRB for days in which salary, wages, pay for time lost or other renumeration is later determined to be payable. Reimbursements under section 2(f) generally result from the award of pay for time lost or the payment of guaranteed wages. The RUIA prescribes that the amount of benefits paid be deducted and held by the employer in a special fund for reimbursement to the RRB.

The RRB currently utilizes Form (s) SI-1c, Supplemental Information on Accident and Insurance), SI-5 (Report of payments to Employee Claiming Sickness Benefits Under the RUIA), ID-3s (Request for Lien Information), ID-3u (Request for Section 2(f) Information), ID-30k (Form Letter Asking Claimant for Additional Information on Injury or Illness), ID-30k-1 (Request for Supplemental Information on Injury or Illness-3rd Party), and ID-3-Q (Insurance Inquiry) to obtain the necessary information from claimants and railroad employers.

Minor formatting and editorial changes which include the addition of language required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 are proposed to Forms SI-1c and Form SI-5. Forms ID-3s and ID-3U are being revised to insert completion instructions and the Paperwork Reduction Act notice to the reverse side of the form. The RRB proposes the creation of a new form, Form ID-3s-1, Request for Lien Information, which is similar to Form ID-3s but has been designed for use by an attorney and/or insurer responsible for paying personal-injury damages to the railroad employee for third party liability cases. Enhancements are also being proposed to Forms ID-30k and ID-30k-1 which will, upon OMB approval, allow for the obsolescence of Form ID-3-0Q. Completion is required to obtain benefits. One response is requested of each respondent.

Estimate of Annual Respondent burden

The estimated annual respondent burden for this collection is as follows:

Annual

Form Nos.

responses Time (min) Burden (hrs)

SI-1c...........................................................

3,200

5

267 SI-5............................................................

2,500

5

208 ID-3s...........................................................

18,500

3

925 ID-3s.1.........................................................

500

3

25

[[Page 42891]]

ID-3u...........................................................

1,500

3

75 ID-30k..........................................................

2,500

5

208 ID-30k.1........................................................

2,000

5

167

Total.......................................................

30,700 ..............

1,875

Additional Information or Comments: To request more information or to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, and/or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312) 751-3363. Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 N. Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice. Chuck Mierzwa, Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 98-21396Filed8-10-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M