Proposed Data Collection Available for Public Comment and Recommendations

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 150 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42733-42734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20097]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Proposed Data Collection Available for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

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

    Evidence of Marital Relationship, Living with Requirements; OMB 
3220-0021.
    To support an application for a spouse or widow(er)'s annuity under 
Sections 2(c) or 2(d) of the Railroad Retirement Act, an applicant must 
submit proof of a valid marriage to a railroad employee. In some cases, 
the existence of a marital relationship is not formalized by a civil or 
religious ceremony. In other cases, questions may arise about the legal 
termination of a prior marriage of an employee, spouse, or widow(er). 
In these instances, the RRB must secure additional information to 
resolve questionable marital relationships. The circumstances requiring 
an applicant to submit documentary evidence of marriage are prescribed 
in 20 CFR 219.30.

[[Page 42734]]

    In the absence of documentary evidence to support the existence of 
a valid marriage between a spouse or widow(er) annuity applicant and a 
railroad employee, the RRB needs to obtain information to determine if 
a valid marriage existed. The RRB utilizes Forms G-124, Statement of 
Marital Relationship; G-124a, Statement Regarding Marriage; G-237, 
Statement Regarding Marital Status; G-238, Statement of Residence; and 
G-238a, Statement Regarding Divorce or Annulment to secure the needed 
information. One response is requested of each respondent. Completion 
is required to obtain benefits. The RRB proposes minor non-burden 
impacting cosmetic, editorial and formatting changes to all of the 
forms in the collection.

Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden

    The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Annual     Time    Burden
                 Form Nos.                   responses   (min)    (hrs)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-124 (In person)..........................       125        15       31
G-124 (By mail)............................        75        20       25
G-124a.....................................       300        10       50
G-237 (In person)..........................        75        15       19
G-237 (By mail)............................        75        20       25
G-238 (In person)..........................       150         3        8
G-238 (By mail)............................       150         5       13
G-238a.....................................       150        10       25
                                            -----------         --------
    Total..................................     1,100                196
------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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. 99-20097 Filed 8-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M