[Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions] [Railroad Retirement Board Semiannual Regulatory Agenda] [From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Part XLII Railroad Retirement Board ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Semiannual Regulatory Agenda [[Page 31220]]RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD (RRB) _______________________________________________________________________ RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD 20 CFR Ch. II Semiannual Agenda of Regulations Under Development or Review AGENCY: Railroad Retirement Board. ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda. _______________________________________________________________________ SUMMARY: This agenda contains lists of regulations that the Board is developing or proposes to develop in the next 12 months and regulations that are scheduled to be reviewed in that period. ADDRESSES: 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, (312) 751-4945, Fax (312) 751-7102, TDD (312) 751-4701. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations that are routine in nature or which pertain solely to internal agency management have not been included in the agenda. Dated: March 20, 2003. By Authority of the Board. Beatrice Ezerski, Secretary to the Board. Railroad Retirement Board--Proposed Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identification Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3639 Determining Disability.............................................................. 3220-AB50 3640 Employers' Contributions and Contribution Reports................................... 3220-AB53 3641 Electronic Filing of Applications and Claims for Benefits Under the Railroad 3220-AB57 Unemployment Insurance Act.......................................................... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Railroad Retirement Board--Final Rule Stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identification Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3642 Reduction and Nonpayment of Annuities by Reason of Work............................. 3220-AA61 3643 Determining Disability.............................................................. 3220-AA99 3644 Freedom of Information Act Requests................................................. 3220-AB47 3645 Appendix 1 to Part 220--Listing of Impairments...................................... 3220-AB51 3646 Retirement Age...................................................................... 3220-AB54 3647 Application for Annuity or Lump Sum................................................. 3220-AB55 3648 Account Benefits Ratio.............................................................. 3220-AB56 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Railroad Retirement Board--Long-Term Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identification Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3649 Creditable Railroad Compensation.................................................... 3220-AB23 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Railroad Retirement Board--Completed Actions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence Title Identification Number Number ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3650 Requests for Reconsideration and Appeals Within the Board........................... 3220-AB03 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________________________________ Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Proposed Rule Stage _______________________________________________________________________ 3639. DETERMINING DISABILITY Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 45 USC 231a; 45 USC 231f CFR Citation: 20 CFR 220.143; 20 CFR 220.170 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board amends 20 CFR sections 220.143 and 220.170 to index the amount of earnings used to determine if an individual is engaged in substantial gainful activity (SGA) to any increase in the Social Security national average wage index, and to increase (from $200 [[Page 31221]] to $530) the minimum amount of monthly earnings to count during a trial work period, and then to index that amount to the Social Security national average wage index. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Proposed Rule 05/00/03 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611- 2092 Phone: 312 751-4945 TDD Phone: 312 751-4701 Fax: 312 751-7102 RIN: 3220-AB50 _______________________________________________________________________ 3640. EMPLOYERS' CONTRIBUTIONS AND CONTRIBUTION REPORTS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 45 USC 345 362(l) CFR Citation: 20 CFR 345.202 to 204 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board amends sections 345.202 to 204 of 20 CFR part 345 to explain the effective date of consolidated employer records that result in the issuance of a joint contribution rate under the ``experience rating'' provisions of section 8 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. The amendment also incorporates a nomenclature change due to a recent agency reorganization. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 05/00/03 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611- 2092 Phone: 312 751-4945 TDD Phone: 312 751-4701 Fax: 312 751-7102 RIN: 3220-AB53 _______________________________________________________________________ 3641. ELECTRONIC FILING OF APPLICATIONS AND CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS UNDER THE RAILROAD UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 45 USC 355; 45 USC 362(l) CFR Citation: 20 CFR 321 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board amends its regulations to add a new part 321 to permit the electronic filing of applications and claims under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act via the Internet in accordance with the provisions of the Government Paperwork Elimination Act. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 06/00/03 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611- 2092 Phone: 312 751-4945 TDD Phone: 312 751-4701 Fax: 312 751-7102 RIN: 3220-AB57 _______________________________________________________________________ Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Final Rule Stage _______________________________________________________________________ 3642. REDUCTION AND NONPAYMENT OF ANNUITIES BY REASON OF WORK Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 45 USC 231f(b)(5) CFR Citation: 20 CFR 230 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board revises 20 CFR part 230 to explain how employment or self-employment after an annuity beginning date may cause a reduction in, or nonpayment of, the annuity. It also reflects the changes in law made by the enactment of Public Law 106- 182, the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act of 2000. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 08/16/95 60 FR 42482 NPRM Comment Period End 09/25/95 60 FR 43999 Final Rule 08/00/03 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611- 2092 Phone: 312 751-4945 TDD Phone: 312 751-4701 Fax: 312 751-7102 RIN: 3220-AA61 _______________________________________________________________________ 3643. DETERMINING DISABILITY Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 45 USC 231a; 45 USC 231f CFR Citation: 20 CFR 220.114 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board amends title 20 CFR 220.114 to expand the Board's description of the manner in which symptoms, including pain, are evaluated for purposes of determining disability. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 09/11/95 60 FR 47122 NPRM Comment Period End 11/13/95 Final Rule 08/00/03 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No [[Page 31222]] Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611- 2092 Phone: 312 751-4945 TDD Phone: 312 751-4701 Fax: 312 751-7102 RIN: 3220-AA99 _______________________________________________________________________ 3644. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 45 USC 231f(b)(5); 45 USC 362; 5 USC 552 CFR Citation: 20 CFR 200.4 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board amends 20 CFR 200.4 to direct all Freedom of Information Act requests to the Board's General Counsel, and to extend the time within which responses may be made from 10 to 20 working days as provided by the Freedom of Information Act. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Direct Final Rule 08/00/03 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611- 2092 Phone: 312 751-4945 TDD Phone: 312 751-4701 Fax: 312 751-7102 RIN: 3220-AB47 _______________________________________________________________________ 3645. APPENDIX 1 TO PART 220--LISTING OF IMPAIRMENTS Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 45 USC 231a; 45 USC 231f CFR Citation: 20 CFR 220.110; 20 CFR 220, app 1 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board amends 20 CFR 220.110 and appendix 1--Listing of Impairments, to conform the medical criteria that apply to disability determinations to the medical criteria in the Social Security Administration's regulations (20 CFR 404, subpart P, appendix 1). Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Interim Final Rule 08/00/03 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611- 2092 Phone: 312 751-4945 TDD Phone: 312 751-4701 Fax: 312 751-7102 RIN: 3220-AB51 _______________________________________________________________________ 3646. RETIREMENT AGE Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 45 USC 231f(b)(5) CFR Citation: 20 CFR 218; 20 CFR 220; 20 CFR 225 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board amends title 20 CFR sections 218, 220, and 225, to update references in those sections to the age required for annuity eligibility to reflect changes to full retirement age under the Railroad Retirement Act. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 06/17/02 67 FR 41205 NPRM Comment Period End 08/16/02 Final Action 05/00/03 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611- 2092 Phone: 312 751-4945 TDD Phone: 312 751-4701 Fax: 312 751-7102 RIN: 3220-AB54 _______________________________________________________________________ 3647. APPLICATION FOR ANNUITY OR LUMP SUM Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 45 USC 231d; 45 USC 231f CFR Citation: 20 CFR 217.5; 20 CFR 217.6; 20 CFR 217.15 to 217.18 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board amends its regulations to permit the filing of applications for annuity or lump sum payment electronically via the Internet in accordance with the provisions of the Government Paperwork Elimination Act. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 12/18/02 67 FR 77448 NPRM Comment Period End 02/18/03 Final Rule 08/00/03 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611- 2092 Phone: 312 751-4945 TDD Phone: 312 751-4701 Fax: 312 751-7102 RIN: 3220-AB55 _______________________________________________________________________ 3648. ACCOUNT BENEFITS RATIO Priority: Other Significant Legal Authority: 45 USC 231f(b)(5); 45 USC 231u(a) CFR Citation: 20 CFR 206 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board adds a new part 206 to its regulations as information, and to advise that the Board will annually compute the account benefits ratio for the railroad retirement system, and will make a projection of the account benefits ratio and the average account benefits ratio for future years. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 12/18/02 67 FR 77447 NPRM Comment Period End 02/18/03 Final Rule 08/00/03 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No [[Page 31223]] Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611- 2092 Phone: 312 751-4945 TDD Phone: 312 751-4701 Fax: 312 751-7102 RIN: 3220-AB56 _______________________________________________________________________ Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Long-Term Actions _______________________________________________________________________ 3649. CREDITABLE RAILROAD COMPENSATION Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant Legal Authority: 45 USC 231f CFR Citation: 20 CFR 211.3 Legal Deadline: None Abstract: The RRB amends its regulations regarding the creditability of pay for time lost to prohibit the crediting of pay for time lost beyond the date of a judgment or settlement, or in the absence of a judgment or settlement, beyond the date of payment. The Labor Member of the RRB dissents from this proposal and recommends allowing the crediting of pay for time lost in these circumstances when the accompanying railroad retirement taxes are paid on the compensation. Timetable: ________________________________________________________________________ Action Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ NPRM 12/04/97 62 FR 61488 NPRM Comment Period End 02/02/98 Final Action To Be Determined Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Small Entities Affected: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611- 2092 Phone: 312 751-4945 TDD Phone: 312 751-4701 Fax: 312 751-7102 RIN: 3220-AB23 _______________________________________________________________________ Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Completed Actions _______________________________________________________________________ 3650. REQUESTS FOR RECONSIDERATION AND APPEALS WITHIN THE BOARD Priority: Other Significant CFR Citation: 20 CFR 260; 20 CFR 320 Completed: ________________________________________________________________________ Reason Date FR Cite ________________________________________________________________________ Final Rule 12/17/02 67 FR 77152 Final Rule Effective 12/17/02 Correction 02/11/03 68 FR 6820 Final Action 02/11/03 68 FR 6820 Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No Government Levels Affected: Federal Agency Contact: Marguerite P. Dadabo Phone: 312 751-4945 TDD Phone: 312 751-4701 Fax: 312 751-7102 RIN: 3220-AB03 [FR Doc. 03-7444 Filed 05-23-03; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7905-01-S