[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31198-31199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12199]


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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: Lag Service Reports; 
OMB 3220-005.
    Under Section 9 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), railroad 
employers are required to submit reports of employee service and 
compensation to the RRB as needed for administering the RRA. To pay 
benefits due on a deceased employee's earnings records or determine 
entitlements to, and amount of an annuity applied for, it is necessary 
at times to obtain from railroad employers current (lag) service

[[Page 31199]]

and compensation information not yet reported to the RRB through the 
annual reporting process. The reporting requirements are specified in 
20 CFR 209.4 and 209.5.
    The RRB currently utilizes Form G-88A, Employer's Supplemental 
Report of Service and Compensation and Form AA-12, Notice of Death and 
Statement of Compensation, to obtain the required lag service and 
compensation and related information from railroad employers.
    The RRB proposes to obsolete Form G-88a. Form G-88a will be 
replaced by two forms, Form G-88a.1, Notice of Retirement and Request 
for Verification of Date Last Worked, and G-88a.2, Notice of Retirement 
and Request for Service Needed for Eligibility. Form G-88a.1 will be 
sent by the RRB to railroad employers and used for the specific purpose 
of verifying information previously provided to the RRB regarding the 
date last worked by the employee. If the information is correct, the 
employer need not reply. If the information is incorrect, the employer 
is asked to provide corrected information. Form G-88a.2 will be used by 
the RRB to secure lag service and compensation information when it is 
needed to determine benefit eligibility. Both proposed forms will 
direct the railroad employers to fax the information directly to the 
RRB. It is expected that the proposed new forms will be easier for 
railroad employers to complete and encourage a speedier reply, allowing 
the RRB to pay applicants in a more timely and accurate manner. A minor 
editorial change is proposed to Form AA-12.
    The completion time for proposed forms G-88a.1 and G-88a.2 is 
estimated at 5 minutes per response. The estimated completion time for 
Form AA-12 is estimated at 6\1/2\ minutes per response. The RRB 
estimates that approximately 800 Form AA-12's, 2,300 Form G-88a.1's and 
1,200 G-88.2's will be completed annually.

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 North 
Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. Written comments should be 
received within 60 days of this notice.

Chuck Mierzwa,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-12199 Filed 5-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M