[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2757-2758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00663]
[[Page 2757]]
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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988; Report of
Matching Program: RRB and State Agencies
AGENCY: U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).
ACTION: Notice of a renewal of an existing computer matching program
due to expire on February 10, 2015.
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SUMMARY: The Privacy Act, as amended, requires the RRB to issue a
public notice of its use and intent to use, information obtained from
state agencies in ongoing computer matching programs regarding
individuals who received benefits under the Railroad Unemployment
Insurance Act.
The information received through the computer matching programs may
consist of either: (1) A report of unemployment or sickness payments
made by the state for the same period that benefits were paid by the
RRB, or (2) a report of wages paid to an individual, and the names and
addresses of employers who reported those wages to the state for the
same period that benefits were paid by the RRB.
The purpose of this notice is to advise individuals applying for or
receiving benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act of the
use made by the RRB of the information obtained from state agencies by
means of a computer match.
DATES: Submit comments on or before March 2, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Address any comments concerning this notice in writing to
the Secretary to the Board, U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North
Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Timothy S. Grant, Chief Privacy
Officer, U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Attn:
BIS-IRMC, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. General
The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L.
100-503), amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) by describing the
conditions under which computer matching involving the Federal
government could be performed, and by adding certain protections for
persons applying for, and receiving, Federal benefits. Section 7201 of
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-508) further
amended the Privacy Act regarding protection for such persons.
The Privacy Act, as amended, regulates the use of computer matching
by Federal agencies when matching records in a system of records with
other Federal, State, or local government records. It requires Federal
agencies involved in computer matching programs to:
(1) Negotiate written agreements with the other agency or agencies
participating in the matching programs;
(2) Obtain approval of the matching agreement by the Data Integrity
Boards of the participating Federal agencies;
(3) Publish notice of the computer matching program in the Federal
Register;
(4) Furnish reports about matching programs to Congress and Office
of Management and Budget;
(5) Notify beneficiaries and applicants that their records are
subject to matching; and
(6) Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, terminating,
or denying a person's benefits or payments.
B. RRB Computer Matches Subject to the Privacy Act
We have taken action to ensure that all of our computer matching
programs comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act, as amended.
C. Notice of Computer Matching Program: RRB With State Agencies
1. Name of Participating Agencies: The Railroad Retirement Board
and agencies of all 50 states which provide unemployment or sickness
benefits.
2. Purpose of the Match: To identify individuals who have
improperly collected benefits provided by the RRB under the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act while earning remuneration in non-railroad
employment or while collecting unemployment or sickness benefits paid
by a state agency.
3. Authority for Conducting the Match: The Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 503(c)(1)), and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (45 U.S.C.
231f(b) and 362(f)). Disclosures under this agreement are made in
accordance with the Privacy Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3)) and
in compliance with the matching procedures in the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C.
552a(o), (p), and (r)).
4. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered: All recipients of
benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act during a given
period who reside in the states with which the RRB has negotiated a
computer matching program agreement. Records furnished by the states
are covered under Privacy Act system of records RRB-21, Railroad
Unemployment and Sickness Insurance Benefit System, which was published
in the Federal Register (FR) on July 26, 2010 (75 FR 43725).
5. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program: This computer matching
program is effective February 10, 2015 through August 10, 2017. Before
becoming effective the following notice periods must have lapsed: 30
days after publication in the Federal Register and 40 days after notice
of the matching program sent to Congress and OMB. The computer matching
program is valid for 18 months from the effective date and, if both
agencies meet certain conditions, the RRB may grant a one-time
extension of another 12 months. The number of matches conducted with
each state during the period of the match will vary from state to
state, depending on whether the computer matching agreement provides
for matches to be conducted quarterly or every six months.
6. Procedure: The RRB will furnish the state agency a file of
records. The data elements will consist of beneficiary identifying
information, such as name and Social Security Number (SSN), as well as
the overall period during which the individual received benefits under
the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. The state agency will match
the identifying information.
If the matching operation reveals that the individual who had
received benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act also
received either unemployment or sickness insurance benefits from the
state for any days in the period, the state agency will notify the RRB.
Depending on arrangements made between the two jurisdictions, and, in
the case of state sickness benefits, on the applicable state law,
either the RRB or the state agency will attempt to recover the amount
of the duplicate payments.
If the matching operation reveals that wages had been reported for
the individual during the requested period, the state will notify the
RRB of this fact and furnish a breakdown of the wages, as well as the
name and address of each employer who reported earnings for the
individual. The RRB will then contact each employer who reported
earnings for the individual for the given period. Only if the
employment is verified will the RRB take action to recover the
overpayment. If the RRB benefits had been paid under the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act, recovery is limited to payments made for
those days on which the individual was gainfully employed.
[[Page 2758]]
7. Other information: The notice we are giving here is in addition
to any individual notice. We will file a report with the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee
on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management
and Budget (OMB).
Dated: January 13, 2015.
By authority of the Board.
Martha P. Rico,
Secretary to the Board.
[FR Doc. 2015-00663 Filed 1-16-15; 8:45 am]
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