Notice2021-26007
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
November 30, 2021
Issuing agencies
Railroad Retirement Board
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 227 (Tuesday, November 30, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67995-67996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26007]
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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 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: Employee's
Certification; OMB 3220-0140.
Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) (45 U.S.C. 231a),
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. The RRB proposes no changes to Form G-346 or Form G-346sum.
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 representative ``signs'' the form using an
alternative signature method known as ``attestation.'' Attestation
refers to the action taken by the RRB field office representative 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 (86 FR 53120 on September 24, 2021) 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 the
collection.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
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Annual
Form No. responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
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G-346........................................................... 3,300 5 300
G-346sum........................................................ 2,260 5 188
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Total....................................................... 5,560 .............. 488
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2. Title and Purpose of information collection: Railroad Separation
Allowance or Severance Pay Report; OMB 3220-0173.
Section 6 of the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. 231e) provides
for a lump-sum payment to an employee or the employee's survivors equal
to the Tier II taxes paid by the employee on a separation allowance or
severance payment for which the employee did not receive credits toward
retirement. The lump-sum is not payable until retirement benefits begin
to accrue or the employee dies. Also, Section 4(a-1)(iii) of the
Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act provides that a railroad employee
who is paid a separation allowance is disqualified for unemployment and
sickness benefits for the period of time the employee would have to
work to earn the amount of the allowance. The reporting requirements
are specified in 20 CFR 209.14.
In order to calculate and provide payments, the Railroad Retirement
Board (RRB) must collect and maintain records of separation allowances
and severance payments which were subject to Tier II taxation from
railroad employers. The RRB uses Form BA-9, Report of Separation
Allowance or Severance Pay, to obtain information from railroad
employers concerning the separation allowances and severance payments
made to railroad employees and/or the survivors of railroad employees.
Employers currently have the option of submitting their reports on
[[Page 67996]]
paper Form BA-9, (or in like format) on a CD-ROM, or by File Transfer
Protocol (FTP), or Secure Email. Completion is mandatory. One response
is requested of each respondent.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60-day notice (86 FR 53120 on September 24, 2021) required by
44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Railroad Separation Allowance or Severance Pay Report.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0173.
Form(s) submitted: BA-9.
Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Affected public: Private Sector; Businesses or other for profits.
Abstract: Section 6 of the Railroad Retirement Act provides for a
lump-sum payment to an employee or the employee's survivor equal to the
Tier II taxes paid by the employee on a separation allowance or
severance payment for which the employee did not receive credits toward
retirement. The collection obtains information concerning the
separation allowances and severance payments paid from railroad
employers.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to the manual, CD-
ROM, secure email, or FTP Version of Form BA-9. The RRB proposes the
addition of an internet equivalent version of Form BA-9 to the
information collection.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
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Annual
Form No. responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
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BA-9 (Paper).................................................... 100 76 127
BA-9 (Internet)................................................. 215 15 54
BA-9 (CD-ROM)................................................... 10 76 13
BA-9 (Secure Email)............................................. 25 76 32
BA-9 (FTP)...................................................... 10 76 13
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Total....................................................... 360 .............. 239
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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#98d3fdf6f6f1ebf0f9b6ccedfbf3fdead8eaeafab6fff7ee"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5219373c3c3b213a337c062731393720122020307c353d24">[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#480a3a212926660e273b3c2d3a083a3a2a662f273e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="db99a9b2bab5f59db4a8afbea99ba9a9b9f5bcb4ad">[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. 2021-26007 Filed 11-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P
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