Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Matching Program

Federal Register, Volume 79 Issue 224 (Thursday, November 20, 2014)

Federal Register Volume 79, Number 224 (Thursday, November 20, 2014)

Notices

Pages 69189-69190

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2014-27500

=======================================================================

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Privacy Act of 1974; Report of Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Program.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) intends to conduct a recurring computer matching program matching Department of Justice, Bureau of Prison (BOP), inmate records with VA pension, compensation, and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) records. The goal of this match is to identify incarcerated veterans and beneficiaries who are receiving VA benefits, and to reduce or terminate benefits, if appropriate. The match will include records of current VA beneficiaries.

DATES: Comments on the matching agreement must be received no later than December 22, 2014. If no public comment is received, the amended system will become effective December 22, 2014.

The match will start no sooner than 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register, or 40 days after copies of this notice and the agreement of the parties is submitted to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget, whichever is later, and end not more than 18 months after the agreement is properly implemented by the parties. The involved agencies' Data Integrity Boards (DIBs) may extend this match for 12 months provided the agencies certify to their DIBs, within three months of the ending date of the original match, that the matching program will be conducted without change and that the matching program has been conducted in compliance with the original matching program.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted through http://www.Regulations.gov; by mail or hand-delivery to the Director, Regulations Management (02REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or by fax to 202-

273-9026. Copies of comments received will be available for public inspection in the Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Room 1063B, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays). Please call 202-461-4902 for an appointment. In addition, during the comment period, comments may be viewed online through the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at http://www.Regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas J. Murphy, Compensation and Pension Service, (202) 461-9700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA will use this information to verify incarceration and adjust VA benefit payments as prescribed by law. The proposed matching program will enable VA to accurately identify beneficiaries who are incarcerated for a felony or a misdemeanor in a Federal penal facility.

The legal authority to conduct this match is 38 U.S.C. 1505, 5106, and 5313. Section 5106 requires any Federal department or agency to provide VA such information as VA requests for the

Page 69190

purposes of determining eligibility for, or the amount of VA benefits, or verifying other information with respect thereto. Section 1505 provides that no VA pension benefits shall be paid to or for any person eligible for such benefits, during the period of that person's incarceration as the result of conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, beginning on the 61st day of incarceration. Section 5313 provides that VA compensation or dependency and indemnity compensation above a specified amount shall not be paid to any person eligible for such benefits, during the period of that person's incarceration as the result of conviction of a felony, beginning on the 61st day of incarceration.

The VA records involved in the match are the VA system of records, Compensation, Pension, Education, and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Records--VA (58 VA 21/22/28), published at 74 FR 29275, June 19, 2009. The BOP records consist of information from the system of records identified as Inmate Central Records System, BOP #005 published on June 7, 1984 (48 FR 23711), and last amended at 67 FR 31371 (May 9, 2002).

In accordance with Title 5 U.S.C., subsection 552a(o)(2) and (r), copies of the agreement are being sent to both Houses of Congress and to the Office of Management and Budget. This notice is provided in accordance with the provisions of Privacy Act of 1974 as amended by Public Law 100-503.

Signing Authority: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jose D. Riojas, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs approved this document on November 5, 2014, for publication.

Dated: November 17, 2014.

Kathleen M. Manwell,

VA Privacy Service, Office of Privacy and Records Management, Department of Veterans Affairs.

FR Doc. 2014-27500 Filed 11-19-14; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 8320-01-P

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT