[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 199 (Friday, October 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 61022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26293]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of Computer Matching Program.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA) intends to conduct a recurring computer program matching records 
from the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) of the Department of Justice with VA 
compensation pension and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) 
records.
    The purpose of the match is to verify continuing eligibility for 
Federal benefit programs of those who are confined for a period 
exceeding 60 days due to a conviction for a felony or misdemeanor. VA 
has the obligation to reduce or suspend compensation, pension, and 
dependency and indemnity compensation benefit payments to veterans and 
VA beneficiaries on the 61st day following conviction and incarceration 
in the Federal institution for a felony or misdemeanor. VA also has the 
obligation to reduce educational assistance to any recipient who is 
incarcerated for a felony conviction.
    VA plans to match records of VA beneficiaries with those reported 
by BOP as being incarcerated and to adjust their VA benefits 
accordingly. VA will use the BOP records provided in the match to 
update the master records of VA beneficiaries and to adjust their VA 
benefits, accordingly, if needed.

Records To Be Matched

    The VA records involved in the match are the VA system of records, 
Compensation, Pension, Education and Rehabilitation Records--VA (58 VA 
21/22) first published at 41 FR 9294, March 3, 1976 and last amended at 
65 FR 37605 (June 15, 2000). The data elements provided to VA will be 
taken from BOP's Inmate Central Records System, Justice/BOP-005, 
published on June 7, 1884. 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 (OMB).
    This notice is provided in accordance with the provisions of the 
Privacy Act of 1974 as amended by Public Law 100-503.

DATES: The match will start no sooner than 30 days after publication in 
the Federal Register and end not more than 18 months after the 
agreement is properly implemented by the parties. The involved 
agencies' Data Integrity Boards (DIB) 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: Interested individuals may submit written comments to the 
Director, Office of Regulations Management (02D), Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 
20420. Comments will be available for public inspection at the above 
address in the Office of Regulations Management, Room 1158, between 8 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, except holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Trowbridge (212), (202) 273-7318.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information is required by Title 5 
U.S.C. subsection 552a(e)(12), the Privacy Act of 1974. A copy of this 
notice has been provided to both House of Congress and OMB.

    Approved: September 29, 2000.
Hershel W. Gober,
Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 00-26293 Filed 10-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-M