[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 139 (Thursday, July 18, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 37498-37499] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-18224] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD Proposed Collection; Comment Request SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data collections. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Title and purpose of information collection: Pension Plan Reports: OMB 3220-0089. Under Section 2(b) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) pays supplemental annuities to qualified RRB employee annuitants. A supplemental annuity, which is computed according to Section 3(e) of the RRA, can be paid at age 60 if the employee has at least 30 years of creditable railroad service or at age 65 if the employee has 25-29 years of railroad service. In addition to 25 years of service, a ``current connection'' with the railroad industry is required. Eligibility is further limited to employees who had at least one month of rail service before October 1981 and were awarded regular annuities after [[Page 37499]] June 1966. Further, if an employee's 65th birthday was prior to September 2, 1981, he or she must not have worked in rail service after certain closing dates (generally the last day of the month following the month in which age 65 is attained). The RRB requires the following information from railroad employers to calculate supplemental annuities: (a) the current status of railroad employer pension plans and whether such an employer pension plan causes a reduction to the supplemental annuity; (b) the amount of the employer private pension being paid to the employee; (c) whether or not the railroad employer pension is based on a collective bargaining agreement, and; (d) whether the employer pension plan continues when the employer status under the RRA changes. The RRB currently utilizes Form(s) G-88p (Employer's Supplemental Pension Report), G-88r (Request for Information About New or Revised Pension Plan), and G-88r.1 (Request for Additional Information about Employer Pension Plan in Case of Change of Employer Status or Termination of Pension Plan), to obtain the necessary information from railroad employers. One response is requested of each respondent. Completion is mandatory. Minor editorial changes are being proposed to all of the forms in order to incorporate language required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Also, at the request of railroad employers, minor textual changes are being proposed to Form G-88p. Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Annual Time Burden Form #(s) responses (Min) (Hrs) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ G-88p...................................... 2,200 8 293 G-88r...................................... 25 10 4 G-88r.1.................................... 15 10 3 ---------------------------- Total.................................... 2,240 300 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: To request more information or to obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, and/ or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312) 751-3363. Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 N. Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice. Chuck Mierzwa, Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 96-18224 Filed 7-17-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7905-01-M