Notice2021-20420
Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 21, 2021
Issuing agencies
Railroad Retirement Board
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 180 (Tuesday, September 21, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52502-52505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20420]
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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments
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 collections of information
to determine (1) the practical utility of the collections; (2) the
accuracy of the estimated burden of the collections; (3) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and
[[Page 52503]]
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.
1. Title and purpose of information collection: Railroad Service
and Compensation Reports/System Access Application; OMB 3220-0008.
Under Section 9 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) (45 U.S.C.
231h) and Section 6 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA)
(45 U.S.C. 356), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) maintains for each
railroad employee, a record of compensation paid to that employee by
all railroad employers for whom the employee worked after 1936. This
record, which is used by the RRB to determine eligibility for, and
amount of, benefits due under the laws it administers, is conclusive as
to the amount of compensation paid to an employee during such period(s)
covered by the report(s) of the compensation by the employee's railroad
employer(s), except in cases when an employee files a protest
pertaining to his or her reported compensation within the statute of
limitations cited in Section 9 of the RRA and Section 6 of the RUIA.
To enable the RRB to establish and maintain the record of
compensation, employers are required to file with the RRB, reports of
their employees' compensation, in such manner and form and at such
times as the RRB prescribes. Railroad employers' reports and
responsibilities are prescribed in 20 CFR 209. The RRB currently
utilizes Form BA-3, Annual Report of Creditable Compensation, and Form
BA-4, Report of Creditable Compensation Adjustments, to secure the
required information from railroad employers. Form BA-3 provides the
RRB with information regarding annual creditable service and
compensation for each individual who worked for a railroad employer
covered by the RRA and RUIA in a given year. Form BA-4 provides for the
adjustment of any previously submitted reports and also the opportunity
to provide any service and compensation that had been previously
omitted. Requirements specific to Forms BA-3 and BA-4 are prescribed in
20 CFR 209.8 and 209.9.
Employers currently have the option of submitting BA-3 and BA-4
reports electronically by CD-ROM, secure Email, File Transfer Protocol
(FTP), or online via the RRB's Employer Reporting System (ERS).
The information collection also includes RRB Form BA-12,
Application for Employer Reporting internet Access, and Form G-440,
Report Specifications Sheet. Form BA-12 is completed by railroad
employers to obtain system access to ERS. Once access is obtained,
authorized employees may submit reporting forms online to the RRB. The
form determines what degree of access (view/only, data entry/
modification or approval/submission) is appropriate for that employee.
It is also used to terminate an employee's access to ERS. Form G-440,
Report Specifications Sheet, serves as a certification document for
Forms BA-3 and BA-4 as well as other RRB employer reporting forms (Form
BA-6a, BA-6 Address Report (OMB 3220-0005), Form BA-9, Report of
Separation Allowance or Severance Pay (OMB 3220-0173) and Form BA-11,
Report of Gross Earnings (OMB 3220-0132)). It records the type of
medium the report was submitted on, and serves as a summary
recapitulation sheet for reports filed on paper.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60-day notice (83 FR 38507 on July 21, 2021) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Railroad Service and Compensation Reports/System Access
Application.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0008.
Form(s) submitted: BA-3, BA-3 (internet), BA-4, BA-4 (internet),
BA-12 and G-440.
Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Affected public: Private Sector; Businesses or other for-profits.
Abstract: Under the Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act, employers are required to report service
and compensation for each employee to update Railroad Retirement Board
records for payments of benefits. The collection obtains service and
compensation information and information needed to ensure secure system
access from employers who voluntarily opt to use the RRB's internet-
based Employer Reporting System to submit reporting forms and
information needed to certify employer reporting transactions.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Forms BA-3
(internet), BA-4 (internet), BA-12, and G-440. The RRB proposes to
remove Form BA-3 (Paper) and BA-4 (Paper) from the Information
Collection due to less than 10 responses per year.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
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Reporting Responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
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BA-3:
Electronic Media 2/....................... 96 46.25 (2,775 min)............... 4,440
BA-3 (Internet)........................... 617 46.25 (2,775 min)............... 28,536
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Total BA-3............................ 713 ................................ 32,976
BA-4:
Electronic Media 2/....................... 355 1.00 (60 min)................... 355
BA-4 (Internet)........................... 3,942 .33 (20 min).................... 1,314
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Total BA-4............................ 4,297 ................................ 1,669
BA-12:
Initial Access............................ 295 .33 (20 min).................... 98
Access Termination........................ 38 .166 (10 min)................... 7
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Total BA-12........................... 333 ................................ 105
G-440 (certification):
Form BA-3 (no employees).................. 19 .25 (15 min).................... 5
Form BA-11 (no employees)................. 60 .25 (15 min).................... 15
Paper forms (without recap)............... 7 .25 (15 min).................... 1
[[Page 52504]]
Form BA-15................................ 600 .25 (15 min).................... 150
Electronic transactions................... 94 .50 (30 min).................... 47
BA-3 and BA-4 (with recap)................ 125 1.25 (75 min)................... 156
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Total G-440........................... 905 ................................ 374
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Grand Total........................... 6,248 ................................ 35,194
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2. Title and purpose of information collection: Evidence for
Application of Overall Minimum, OMB 3220-0083.
Under Section 3(f)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) (45
U.S.C. 231b), the total monthly benefits payable to a railroad employee
and his/her family are guaranteed to be no less than the amount which
would be payable if the employee's railroad service had been covered by
the Social Security Act. This is referred to as the Social Security
Overall Minimum Guarantee, which is prescribed in 20 CFR 229. To
administer this provision, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) requires
information about a retired employee's spouse and child(ren) who would
not be eligible for benefits under the RRA but would be eligible for
benefits under the Social Security Act if the employee's railroad
service had been covered by that Act. The RRB obtains the required
information by the use of Forms G-319, Statement Regarding Family and
Earnings for Special Guaranty Computation, and G-320, Student
Questionnaire for Special Guaranty Computation. One response is
required of each respondent. Completion is required to obtain or retain
benefits. The RRB proposes no changes to Forms G-319 and G-320.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60-day notice (83 FR 38508 on July 21, 2021) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Evidence for Application of Overall Minimum.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0083.
Forms submitted: G-319 and G-320.
Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected public: Individuals or Households.
Abstract: Under Section 3(f)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act, the
total monthly benefits payable to a railroad employee and his/her
family are guaranteed to be no less than the amount which would be
payable if the employee's railroad service had been covered by the
Social Security Act.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Forms G-319 and G-
320.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
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Annual
Form number responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
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G-319 (completed by the employee):
With assistance............................................. 5 26 2
Without assistance.......................................... 230 55 211
G-319 (completed by spouse):
With assistance............................................. 5 30 2
Without assistance.......................................... 10 60 10
G-320:
(Age 18 at Special Guaranty Begin Date or Special Guaranty 30 15 7
Age 18 Attainments)........................................
G-320:
(Student Monitoring done in Sept, March and at end of school 10 15 2
year)......................................................
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Total................................................... 290 .............. 234
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3. Title and purpose of information collection: Gross Earnings
Report; OMB 3220-0132. In order to carry out the financial interchange
provisions of Section 7(c)(2) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) (45
U.S.C. 231f), the RRB obtains annually from railroad employer's the
gross earnings for their employees on a one-percent basis, i.e., 1% of
each employer's railroad employees. The gross earnings sample is based
on the earnings of employees whose social security numbers end with the
digits ``30.'' The gross earnings are used to compute payroll taxes
under the financial interchange.
The gross earnings information is essential in determining the tax
amounts involved in the financial interchange with the Social Security
Administration and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Besides
being necessary for current financial interchange calculations, the
gross earnings file tabulations are also an integral part of the data
needed to estimate future tax income and corresponding financial
interchange amounts. These estimates are made for internal use and to
satisfy requests from other government agencies and interested groups.
In addition, cash flow projections of the social security equivalent
benefit account, railroad retirement account and cost estimates made
for proposed amendments to laws administered by the RRB are dependent
on input developed from the information collection.
The RRB utilizes Form BA-11 to obtain gross earnings information
from railroad employers. Employers have the option of preparing and
submitting BA-11 reports online via the RRB's Employer Reporting System
or on paper (or in like format) on magnetic tape cartridges, by File
Transfer Protocol (FTP), or secure Email. The online BA-11 includes the
option to file a ``negative report'' (no employees, or no employees
with the digits ``30''). Completion is mandatory. One response is
requested of each respondent.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60-day notice (83 FR 38508 on July 21,
[[Page 52505]]
2021) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no
comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Gross Earnings Report.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0132.
Form(s) submitted: BA-11, BA-11 (internet).
Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected public: Private Sector; Businesses or other for-profits.
Abstract: Section 7(c)(2) of the Railroad Retirement Act requires a
financial interchange between the OASDHI trust funds and the railroad
retirement account. The collection obtains gross earnings of railway
employees on a 1% basis. The information is used to determine the
amount which would place the OASDHI trust funds in the position they
would have been if railroad service had been covered by the Social
Security and FIC Acts.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Form BA-11.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
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Annual
Form number responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
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BA-11 CD-ROM.................................................... 0 30 0
BA-11 File Transfer Protocol.................................... 11 300 55
BA-11 Secure Email.............................................. 0 30 0
BA-11 (Internet)--Positive...................................... 424 30 77
BA-11 (Internet)--Negative...................................... 154 15 106
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Total....................................................... 589 .............. 238
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Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the forms and
supporting documents can be obtained from Kennisha Tucker at (312) 469-
2591 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ad1fff4f4f3e9f2fbb4ceeff9f1ffe8dae8e8f8b4fdf5ec"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="29624c4747405a4148077d5c4a424c5b695b5b4b074e465f">[email protected]</span></a>. Comments regarding the information
collection should be addressed to Brian Foster, Railroad Retirement
Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60611-1275 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a5e7d7ccc4cb8be3cad6d1c0d7e5d7d7c78bc2cad3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cf8dbda6aea1e189a0bcbbaabd8fbdbdade1a8a0b9">[email protected]</span></a>.
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice
to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find this particular information
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
Brian Foster,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-20420 Filed 9-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 21, 2021.
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