80 FR 48936 - Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 157 (August 14, 2015)

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. Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), provides for the payment of an annuity to the spouse or divorced spouse of a retired railroad employee. For the spouse or divorced spouse to qualify for an annuity, the RRB must determine if any of the employee's current marriage to the applicant is valid. The requirements for obtaining documentary evidence to determine valid marital relationships are prescribed in 20 CFR 219.30 through 219.35. Section 2(e) of the RRA requires that an employee must relinquish all rights to any railroad employer service before a spouse annuity can be paid. The RRB uses Form G-346, Employee's Certification, to obtain the information needed to determine whether the employee's current marriage is valid. Form G-346 is completed by the retired employee who is the husband or wife of the applicant for a spouse annuity. Completion is required to obtain a benefit. One response is requested of each respondent. Consistent with 20 CFR 217.17, the RRB uses Form G-346sum, Employee's Certification Summary, which mirrors the information collected on Form G-346, when an employee, after being interviewed by an RRB field office staff member ``signs'' the form using an alternative signature method known as ``attestation.'' Attestation refers to the action taken by the RRB field office employee to confirm and annotate the RRB's records of the applicant's affirmation under penalty of perjury that the information provided is correct and the applicant's agreement to sign the form by proxy. Completion is required to obtain a benefit. One response is requested of each respondent. Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the initial 60-day notice (80 FR 32637 on June 9, 2015) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 157 (Friday, August 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48936-48937]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20079]


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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

SUMMARY: 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.
    Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), provides for the 
payment of an annuity to the spouse or divorced spouse of a retired 
railroad employee. For the spouse or divorced spouse to qualify for an 
annuity, the RRB must determine if any of the employee's current 
marriage to the applicant is valid.
    The requirements for obtaining documentary evidence to determine 
valid marital relationships are prescribed in 20 CFR 219.30 through 
219.35. Section 2(e) of the RRA requires that an employee must 
relinquish all rights to any railroad employer service before a spouse 
annuity can be paid.
    The RRB uses Form G-346, Employee's Certification, to obtain the 
information needed to determine whether the employee's current marriage 
is valid. Form G-346 is completed by the retired employee who is the 
husband or wife of the applicant for a spouse annuity. Completion is 
required to obtain a benefit. One response is requested of each 
respondent.
    Consistent with 20 CFR 217.17, the RRB uses Form G-346sum, 
Employee's Certification Summary, which mirrors the information 
collected on Form G-346, when an employee, after being interviewed by 
an RRB field office staff member ``signs'' the form using an 
alternative signature method known as ``attestation.'' Attestation 
refers to the action taken by the RRB field office employee to confirm 
and annotate the RRB's records of the applicant's affirmation under 
penalty of perjury that the information provided is correct and the 
applicant's agreement to sign the form by proxy. Completion is required 
to obtain a benefit. One response is requested of each respondent.
    Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the 
initial 60-day notice (80 FR 32637 on June 9, 2015) required by 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

    Title: Employee's Certification.
    OMB Control Number: 3220-0140.
    Forms submitted: G-346 and G-346sum.
    Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Affected public: Individuals or Households.
    Abstract: Under Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act, spouses 
of retired railroad employees may be entitled to an annuity. The 
collection obtains information from the employee about the employee's 
previous marriages, if any, to determine if any impediment exists to 
the marriage between the employee and his or her spouse.
    Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to the forms in this 
collection.
    The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

[[Page 48937]]



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                                                                      Annual           Time           Burden
                            Form No.                                 responses       (minutes)        (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-346...........................................................           4,830               5             403
G-346sum........................................................           2,070               5             172
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................           6,900  ..............             575
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the forms and 
supporting documents can be obtained from Dana Hickman at (312) 751-
4981 or [email protected].
    Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed 
to Charles Mierzwa, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, 
Chicago, Illinois, 60611-2092 or [email protected] and to the OMB 
Desk Officer for the RRB, Fax: 202-395-6974, Email address: 
[email protected].

Charles Mierzwa,
Chief of Information Resources Management.
[FR Doc. 2015-20079 Filed 8-13-15; 8:45 am]
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