[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 174 (Friday, September 8, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53004-53005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14884]
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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
20 CFR Part 341
RIN 3220-AB60
Electronic Filing of Settlement and Final Judgment Notices by
Railroad Employers
AGENCY: Railroad Retirement Board.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Railroad Retirement Board (Board) amends its regulations
to include the option of electronic notification by railroad employers
of settlements and final judgments based on an injury for which
sickness benefits have been paid under the Railroad Unemployment
Insurance Act (RUIA). Part 341 currently requires that notifications of
settlements and final judgments be submitted to the Board in writing.
This rule allows these notifications to be made by railroad employers
either in writing or by sending an electronic message, e.g. via e-mail.
DATES: Effective Date: This regulation shall be effective September 8,
2006.
ADDRESSES: Beatrice Ezerski, Secretary to the Board, Railroad
Retirement Board, 844 Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant
General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 Rush Street, Chicago,
Illinois 60611, (312) 751-4945, TDD (312) 751-4701.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Part 341 of the Board's regulations deals
with the notification of settlements and final judgments based on an
injury for which sickness benefits have been paid under the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA). Currently, the regulations require
all individuals or companies to make notifications of settlements and
final judgments in writing to the Board. These revisions allow railroad
employers to also notify the Board electronically in these instances,
e.g. via e-mail.
Section 341.6(a) is amended to allow railroad employers to notify
the Board, in writing or electronically in the manner prescribed by the
agency, of a settlement or final judgment based on an injury for which
the employee received sickness benefits.
In addition, this rule amends sections 341.8(a) and 341.8(b) to
allow a railroad employer to notify the Board electronically or in
writing. Also, sections 341.8(b) and (c) are amended to change the
outdated references of ``Division of Claims Operations'' and ``Bureau
of Unemployment and Sickness Insurance'' to the correct reference of
``Sickness and Unemployment Benefits Section''.
The Board, with the concurrence of the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB), has determined that this is not a significant regulatory
action under Executive Order 12866. Therefore, no regulatory impact
analysis is required.
There is an information collection impacted by the amended rule.
The Railroad Retirement Board is providing notice that OMB has
approved the information collection requirements contained in the
affected sections of this final rule. The OMB Control Number for this
collection is 3220-0036, expiring January 31, 2009.
The Board published the proposed rule on December 9, 2005 (70 FR
73176) and invited comments by February 7, 2006. No comments were
received. Accordingly, the proposed rule is being published as a final
rule.
[[Page 53005]]
List of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 341
Railroad unemployment insurance, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
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For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Railroad Retirement Board
amends title 20, Chapter II, subchapter C, part 341 of the Code of
Federal Regulations as follows:
PART 341--STATUTORY LIEN WHERE SICKNESS BENEFITS PAID
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1. The authority citation for part 341 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 45 U.S.C. 362(o).
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2. Revise Sec. 341.6(a) introductory text to read as follows:
Sec. 341.6 Report of settlement or judgment.
(a) When a person or company makes a settlement or must satisfy a
final judgment based on an injury for which the employee received
sickness benefits, the person or company shall notify the Board of the
settlement or final judgment. That notice shall be in writing and
submitted within five days of the settlement or final judgment. A
railroad employer may fulfill the written notice requirement by sending
an electronic message in the manner prescribed by the agency. That
notification shall contain:
* * * * *
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3. Amend Sec. 341.8 as follows:
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a. Add a new sentence to the end of paragraph (a);
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b. Revise paragraph (b); and
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c. Amend paragraph (c) by removing the phrase ``Division of Claims
Operations'' and adding the phrase ``Sickness and Unemployment Benefits
Section'' in its place.
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The additions and revisions read as follows:
Sec. 341.8 Termination of sickness benefits due to a settlement.
(a) * * * A railroad employer may file the required report by
sending an electronic message in the manner prescribed by the agency.
(b) A report of settlement shall be made to the Sickness and
Unemployment Benefits Section and shall include the information
required in Sec. 341.6. Where the report is an oral report, and the
informant is neither the employee nor his or her representative, the
informant shall be told that written confirmation containing the
information called for by Sec. 341.6 must be submitted to the Board
within 5 days from the date of the oral report. A railroad employer may
fulfill the written report requirement by sending an electronic message
in the manner prescribed by the agency.
* * * * *
Dated: September 5, 2006.
By Authority of the Board.
Beatrice Ezerski,
Secretary to the Board.
[FR Doc. E6-14884 Filed 9-7-06; 8:45 am]
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