Privacy Act of 1974; as Amended; New System of Records and New Routine Use Disclosures, 29547-29550 [05-10237]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 98 / Monday, May 23, 2005 / Notices
B. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Burden on Competition
The Exchange does not believe that
the proposed rule change, as amended,
will impose any burden on competition
that is not necessary or appropriate in
furtherance of the purpose of the Act.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s
Statement on Comments on the
Proposed Rule Change Received from
Members, Participants, or Others
The Exchange has neither solicited
nor received written comments on the
proposed rule change.
III. Date of Effectiveness of the
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action
The foregoing proposed rule change,
as amended, has become effective
pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the
Act,10 and paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b–
4 thereunder,11 because it establishes or
changes a due, fee, or other charge
imposed by the Exchange. At any time
within 60 days of the filing of the
proposed rule change, as amended, the
Commission may summarily abrogate
such rule change if it appears to the
Commission that such action is
necessary or appropriate in the public
interest, for the protection of investors,
or otherwise in furtherance of the
purposes of the Act.
only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s
Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the
submission, all subsequent
amendments, all written statements
with respect to the proposed rule
change, as amended, that are filed with
the Commission, and all written
communications relating to the
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than
those that may be withheld from the
public in accordance with the
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
available for inspection and copying in
the Commission’s Public Reference
Room. Copies of such filing also will be
available for inspection and copying at
the principal office of the NYSE. All
comments received will be posted
without change; the Commission does
not edit personal identifying
information from submissions. You
should submit only information that
you wish to make available publicly. All
submissions should refer to File
Number SR–NYSE–2005–30 and should
be submitted on or before June 13, 2005.
For the Commission, by the Division of
Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated
authority.12
Margaret H. McFarland,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5–2563 Filed 5–20–05; 8:45 am]
IV. Solicitation of Comments
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule
change, as amended, is consistent with
the Act. Comments may be submitted by
any of the following methods:
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
Electronic Comments
• Use the Commission’s Internet
comment form (https://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File
Number SR–NYSE–2005–30 on the
subject line.
(SSA).
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Privacy Act of 1974; as Amended; New
System of Records and New Routine
Use Disclosures
AGENCY:
Social Security Administration
Proposed new system of records
and proposed routine uses.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4) and
(e)(11)), we are issuing public notice of
our intent to establish a new system of
records entitled Representative Payee/
Paper Comments
Misuse Restitution Control System (RP/
MRCS), 60–0318, and routine uses
• Send paper comments in triplicate
applicable to this system of records.
to Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary,
Hereinafter, we will refer to the
Securities and Exchange Commission,
proposed system of records as the RP/
450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC
MRCS. We invite public comments on
20549–0609.
this proposal.
All submissions should refer to File
DATES: We filed a report of the proposed
Number SR-NYSE–2005–30. This file
new system of records and proposed
number should be included on the
subject line if e-mail is used. To help the routine use disclosures with the
Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Commission process and review your
Homeland Security and Governmental
comments more efficiently, please use
Affairs, the Chairman of the House
10 15
11 17
U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A)(ii).
CFR 240.19b–4(f)(2).
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CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
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29547
Committee on Government Reform, and
the Director, Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) on
January 25, 2005. The proposed system
of records and routine uses will become
effective on March 6, 2005, unless we
receive comments warranting it not to
become effective.
ADDRESSES: Interested individuals may
comment on this publication by writing
to the Executive Director, Office of
Public Disclosure, Office of the General
Counsel, Social Security
Administration, Room 3–A–6
Operations Building, 6401 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235–
6401. All comments received will be
available for public inspection at the
above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Joyce Schaul, Social Insurance
Specialist, Office of Public Disclosure,
Office of the General Counsel, Social
Security Administration, Room 3–A–6
Operations Building, 6401 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235,
e-mail address at joyce.schaul@ssa.gov,
or by telephone at (410) 965–5662.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background and Purpose of the
Proposed New System of Records
Entitled the RP/MRCS System
A. General Background
On March 4, 2004, President Bush
signed into law the Social Security
Protection Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108–
203), which amended section 205(j) of
the Social Security Act. Included in the
amendment is a requirement for the
Commissioner of Social Security to reissue benefits under Title II or XVI
whenever an individual representative
payee serving 15 or more beneficiaries
or an organizational representative
payee is found to have misused a
beneficiary’s funds. This is effective for
determinations of misuse on or after
January 1, 1995. To carry out this
function as required under the amended
section 205(j), SSA must collect and
maintain certain identifying information
about: (1) Representative payees that
have misused benefits; (2) beneficiaries
whose benefits have been misused; and
(3) the relationship between the
representative payee and the
beneficiary.
B. Collection and Maintenance of the
Data for the Proposed New System of
Records Entitled the RP/MRCS System
SSA must collect and maintain
certain identifying information about
representative payees that have misused
benefits; beneficiaries whose benefits
have been misused; and, the
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relationship between the representative
payee and the beneficiary. We will
retrieve information from the proposed
system of records by using the
individual’s name and/or Social
Security Number. Thus the RP/MRCS
system will constitute a system of
records under the Privacy Act of 1974,
as amended.
II. Proposed Routine Use Disclosures of
Data Maintained in the Proposed RP/
MRCS
A. Proposed Routine Use Disclosures
We are proposing to establish routine
uses of information that will be
maintained in the proposed RP/MRCS
as discussed below.
1. To the Office of the President for
the purpose of responding to an
individual pursuant to an inquiry
received from that individual or from a
third party on his or her behalf.
We will disclose information under
this routine use only in situations in
which an individual may contact the
Office of the President, seeking that
Office’s assistance in a matter relating to
information contained in this system of
records. Information will be disclosed
when the Office of the President makes
an inquiry and indicates that it is acting
on behalf of the individual whose
record is requested.
2. To a congressional office in
response to an inquiry from that office
made at the request of the subject of a
record.
We will disclose information under
this routine use only in situations in
which an individual may ask his or her
congressional representative to
intercede in a matter relating to
information contained in this system of
records. Information will be disclosed
when the congressional representative
makes an inquiry and indicates that he
or she is acting on behalf of the
individual whose record is requested.
3. To the Department of Justice (DOJ),
a court or other tribunal, or another
party before such tribunal when:
(a) SSA, or any component thereof; or
(b) Any SSA employee in his/her
official capacity; or
(c) Any SSA employee in his/her
individual capacity where DOJ (or SSA
where it is authorized to do so) has
agreed to represent the employee; or
(d) The United States or any agency
thereof where SSA determines that the
litigation is likely to affect the operation
of SSA or any of its components,
Is party to litigation or has an interest
in such litigation, and SSA determines
that the use of such records by DOJ, a
court or other tribunal, or another party
before such tribunal is relevant and
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necessary to the litigation, provided,
however, that in each case, SSA
determines that such disclosure is
compatible with the purpose for which
the records were collected.
Disclosure of any information defined
as ‘‘return or return information’’ under
26 U.S.C. 6103 of the Internal Revenue
Code (IRC) will not be made unless
authorized by a statute, the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS), or IRS
regulations.
We will disclose information under
this routine use only as necessary to
enable DOJ to effectively defend SSA,
its components or employees, in
litigation involving the proposed new
system of records and ensure that courts
and other tribunals have appropriate
information.
4. To contractors and other Federal
Agencies, as necessary, for the purpose
of assisting SSA in the efficient
administration of its programs. We
contemplate disclosing information
under this routine use only in situations
in which SSA may enter into a
contractual or similar agreement with a
third party to assist in accomplishing an
Agency function relating to this system
of records.
We will disclose information under
this routine use only in situations in
which SSA may enter into a contractual
agreement or similar agreement with a
third party to assist in accomplishing an
Agency function relating to this system
of records.
5. To student volunteers, individuals
working under a personal service
contract, and other individuals
performing functions for SSA but
technically not having the status of
Agency employees, if they need access
to the records in order to perform their
assigned Agency functions.
Under certain Federal statutes, SSA is
authorized to use the service of
volunteers and participants in certain
educational, training, employment and
community service programs. Examples
of such statutes and programs include:
5 U.S.C. 3111 regarding student
volunteers and 42 U.S.C. 2753 regarding
the College Work-Study Program. We
contemplate disclosing information
under this routine use only when SSA
uses the services of these individuals,
and they need access to information in
this system to perform their assigned
agency duties.
6. Non-tax return information which
is not restricted from disclosure by
federal law may be disclosed to the
General Services Administration (GSA)
and the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA) under 44 U.S.C.
2904 and 2906, as amended by NARA
Act of 1984, for the use of those
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agencies in conducting records
management studies.
The Administrator of GSA and the
Archivist of NARA are charged by 44
U.S.C. 2904, as amended, with
promulgating standards, procedures and
guidelines regarding record
management and conducting records
management studies. 44 U.S.C. 2906, as
amended, provides that GSA and NARA
are to have access to Federal agencies’
records and that agencies are to
cooperate with GSA and NARA. In
carrying out these responsibilities, it
may be necessary for GSA and NARA to
have access to this proposed system of
records. In such instances, the routine
use will facilitate disclosure.
7. To Federal, State, and local law
enforcement agencies and private
security contractors, as appropriate,
information necessary:
• To enable them to protect the safety
of SSA employees and customers, the
security of the SSA workplace, and the
operation of SSA facilities, or
• To assist investigations or
prosecutions with respect to activities
that affect such safety and security or
activities that disrupt the operation of
SSA facilities.
We will disclose information under
this routine use to law enforcement
agencies and private security
contractors when information is needed
to respond to, investigate, or prevent
activities that jeopardize the security
and safety of SSA customers, employees
or workplaces or that otherwise disrupt
the operation of SSA facilities.
Information would also be disclosed to
assist in the prosecution of persons
charged with violating Federal or local
law in connection with such activities.
B. Compatibility of Proposed Routine
Uses
The Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3))
and SSA’s disclosure regulation (20 CFR
part 401) permit us to disclose
information under a published routine
use for a purpose that is compatible
with the purpose for which we collected
the information. SSA’s Regulations at 20
CFR 401.150(c) permit us to disclose
information under a routine use where
necessary to carry out SSA programs.
SSA’s Regulations at 20 CFR 401.120
provide that we will disclose
information when a law specifically
requires the disclosure. The proposed
routine uses numbered 1 through 5 and
7 above will ensure efficient
administration of SSA programs
administered through the RP/MRCS;
the disclosure that would be made
under routine use number 6 is required
by law. The proposed routine uses are
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Dated: January 25, 2005.
Jo Anne B. Barnhart,
Commissioner.
appropriate and meet the relevant
statutory and regulatory criteria.
III. Records Storage Medium and
Safeguards for the Proposed New
System Entitled the RP/MRCS
SSA will maintain information in the
RP/MRCS in electronic and paper form.
Only authorized SSA and contractor
personnel who have a need for the
information in the performance of their
official duties will be permitted access
to the information. We will safeguard
the security of the information by
requiring the use of access codes to
enter the computer system that will
maintain the data and will store
computerized records in secured areas
that are accessible only to employees
who require the information to perform
their official duties. Any manually
maintained records will be kept in
locked cabinets or in otherwise secure
areas. Furthermore, SSA employees
having access to SSA databases
maintaining personal information must
sign a sanction document annually,
acknowledging their accountability for
making unauthorized access to or
disclosure of such information.
Contractor personnel having access to
data in the RP/MRCS will be required to
adhere to SSA rules concerning
safeguards, access and use of the data.
SSA and contractor personnel having
access to the data on this system will be
informed of the criminal penalties of the
Privacy Act for unauthorized access to
or disclosure of information maintained
in this system. See 5 U.S.C. 552a(i)(1).
IV. Effect of the Proposed RP/MRCS on
the Rights of Individuals
The proposed new system of records
will maintain only that information that
is necessary for the efficient and
effective control and processing of the
RP/MRCS in order to investigate certain
misuse cases to determine whether the
beneficiary has been repaid by either
SSA or the representative payee.
Security measures will be employed
that protect access to and preclude
unauthorized disclosure of records in
the proposed system of records.
Therefore, we do not anticipate that the
proposed system of records will have an
unwarranted adverse effect on the rights
of individuals.
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29549
will also be used to control completion
of cases and to provide details about
how the case was resolved.
Social Security Administration (SSA);
Notice of System of Records; Required
by the Privacy Act of 1974; as Amended
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE
SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND
THE PURPOSE OF SUCH USES:
60–0318
SYSTEM NAME:
Representative Payee/Misuse
Restitution Control System (RP/MRCS),
Office of the Deputy Commissioner for
Disability and Income Security
Programs, Associate Commissioner for
Income Security Programs.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION:
None.
SYSTEM LOCATION:
Associate Commissioner for Income
Security Programs, Social Security
Administration, 6401 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235–
6401.
CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE
SYSTEM:
This system maintains information
about representative payees that have
misused benefits and beneficiaries/
recipients whose benefits have been
misused.
CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
Data in this system consist of: (1)
Names, mailing address, location
address, phone number, employee
identification number (EIN)/Social
Security number (SSN), and
identification number of representative
payees; (2) Names, SSNs or other crossreferenced account numbers, the
program in which the misuse occurred
(Title II or Title XVI), current address,
payment status, misuse amount, misuse
determination date, misuse start date,
misuse end date and SSA negligence
code (Y or N) of beneficiaries/recipients;
and (3) The original amount refunded
by payee, original amount restored by
SSA, new amount refunded by payee,
new amount restored by SSA, case
outcome and completion date.
AUTHORITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE SYSTEM:
The Social Security Protection Act of
2004 (Pub. L. 108–203); Section 205(j)(5)
of the Social Security Act; (42 U.S.C.
405(j)(5)).
PURPOSE(S):
Information in this system will assist
SSA in investigating certain
representative payee misuse cases going
back to January 1, 1995, to determine
whether the beneficiary has been repaid
by either SSA or the representative
payee. The information in this system
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Disclosure may be made for routine
uses as indicated below. However,
disclosure of any information defined as
‘‘return’’ or ‘‘return information’’ under
26 U.S.C. 6103 of the Internal Revenue
Code will not be made unless
authorized by a statute, the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) or IRS
regulations.
1. To the Office of the President for
the purpose of responding to an
individual pursuant to an inquiry
received from that individual or from a
third party on his or her behalf.
2. To a congressional office in
response to an inquiry from that office
made at the request of the subject of a
record.
3. To the Department of Justice (DOJ),
a court or other tribunal, or another
party before such tribunal when: (a)
SSA, or any component thereof; or (b)
Any SSA employee in his/her official
capacity; or (c) Any SSA employee in
his/her individual capacity where DOJ
(or SSA where it is authorized to do so)
has agreed to represent the employee; or
(d) The United States or any agency
thereof where SSA determines that the
litigation is likely to affect the
operations of SSA or any of its
components, Is party to litigation or has
an interest in such litigation, and SSA
determines that the use of such records
by DOJ, a court or other tribunal, or
another party before such tribunal is
relevant and necessary to the litigation,
provided, however, that in each case,
SSA determines that such disclosure is
compatible with the purpose for which
the records were collected.
Disclosure may be made for routine
uses as indicated below. However,
disclosure of any information defined as
‘‘return’’ or ‘‘return information’’ under
26 U.S.C. 6103 of the Internal Revenue
Code will not be made unless
authorized by a statute, the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) or IRS
regulations.
4. To contractors and other Federal
agencies, as necessary, for the purpose
of assisting SSA in the efficient
administration of its programs. We
contemplate disclosing information
under this routine use only in situations
in which SSA may enter into a
contractual or similar agreement with a
third party to assist in accomplishing an
agency function relating to this system
of records.
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5. To student volunteers, individuals
working under a personal services
contract, and other individuals
performing functions for SSA but
technically not having the status of
Agency employees if they need access to
the records in order to perform their
assigned Agency functions.
6. Non-tax return information which
is not restricted from disclosure by
Federal law may be disclosed to the
General Services Administration (GSA)
and the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA) under 44 U.S.C.
2904 and 2906, as amended by NARA
Act of 1984, for the use of those
agencies in conducting records
management studies.
7. To Federal, State, and local law
enforcement agencies and private
security contractors, as appropriate,
information necessary:
• To enable them to protect the safety
of SSA employees and the public, the
security of the SSA workplace, the
operation of SSA facilities, or
• To assist investigations or
prosecutions with respect to activities
that affect such safety and security or
activities that disrupt the operation of
SSA facilities.
produced by the Office of Systems from
the Representative Payee System (RPS)
using the criteria specified by section
205(j) of the Social Security Act. This
flat file will also contain current
beneficiary contact data from the Master
Beneficiary Record and/or the
Supplemental Security Income Record.
Once the data is loaded into RP/
MRCS, field offices will develop the
status of repayment of each misuse
event and post resolution information.
Management information regarding
cases pending and cleared will be
collected and reported as will
information about case resolution.
Data collected during the course of an
RP/MCRS action is stored in a database
on the Dallas Regional Office’s
Windows servers. Only a limited
number of new records (those that were
not recorded on RPS) will be added to
the database. RP/MRCS will cover only
misuse events related to the closed
period of January 1, 1995, through the
initial population of the database from
SSA’s Representative Payee System in
April 2004.
Records in the system will be retained
for 12 months after the final data are
posted and then they will be archived.
POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING,
RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING AND
DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM:
SYSTEM MANAGER(S):
information provided by telephone is
insufficient, the individual will be
required to submit a request in writing
or in person. If an individual is
requesting information by telephone on
behalf of another individual, the subject
individual must be connected with SSA
and the requesting individual in the
same phone call. SSA will establish the
subject individual’s identity (his/her
name, SSN, address, date of birth and
place of birth along with one other piece
of information such as mother’s maiden
name) and ask for his/her consent in
providing information to the requesting
individual. (20 CFR 401.45)
If a request for notification is
submitted by mail, an individual must
include a notarized statement to SSA to
verify his/her identity or must certify in
the request that he/she is the person
claimed to be and that he/she
understands that the knowing and
willful request for, or acquisition of, a
record pertaining to another individual
under false pretenses is a criminal
offense. These procedures are in
accordance with SSA Regulations (20
CFR 401.45).
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURE(S):
Records in this system are maintained
electronically.
Associate Commissioner for Income
Security Programs, Social Security
Administration, 6401 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235–
6401.
Same as Notification procedures.
Requesters also should reasonably
specify the record contents they are
seeking. These procedures are in
accordance with SSA Regulations (20
CFR 401.40).
RETRIEVABILITY:
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE(S):
CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURE(S):
An individual can determine if this
system contains a record about him/her
by writing to the systems manager(s) at
the above address and providing his/her
name, SSN or other information that
may be in the system of records that will
identify him/her. An individual
requesting notification of records in
person should provide the same
information, as well as provide an
identity document, preferably with a
photograph, such as a driver’s license or
some other means of identification. If an
individual does not have any
identification documents sufficient to
establish his/her identity, the individual
must certify in writing that he/she is the
person claimed to be and that he/she
understands that the knowing and
willful request for, or acquisition of, a
record pertaining to another individual
under false pretenses is a criminal
offense. (20 CFR 401.40).
If notification is requested by
telephone, an individual must verify
his/her identity by providing identifying
information that parallels the record to
which notification is being requested. If
it is determined that the identifying
Same as Notification procedures.
Requesters should also reasonably
identify the record, specify the
information they are contesting, and
state the corrective action sought and
the reasons for the correction with
supporting justification showing how
the record is untimely, incomplete,
inaccurate, or irrelevant. These
procedures are in accordance with SSA
Regulations (20 CFR 401.65).
STORAGE:
Records in this system will be
retrieved by the name, SSN or EIN of the
representative payee, or name or SSN of
the beneficiary/recipient.
SAFEGUARDS:
Security measures include the use of
access codes to enter the computer
system which will maintain the data,
the storage of computerized records in
secured areas which are accessible only
to employees who require the
information in performing their official
duties. SSA employees who have access
to the data will be informed of the
criminal penalties of the Privacy Act for
unauthorized access to or disclosure of
information maintained in the system.
See 5 U.S.C. 552a(i)(1).
Contractor personnel having access to
data in the system of records will be
required to adhere to SSA rules
concerning safeguards, access and use of
the data.
RETENTION AND DISPOSAL:
Misuse data and contact information
about misusers (payees) will be
populated into RP/MRCS via a flat file
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RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
Information in this system of records
is obtained from existing systems of
records such as the Claims Folder
System, 60–0089, Master Beneficiary
Record, 60–0090, Supplemental
Security Income Record and Special
Veterans Benefits, 60–0103 and the
Master Representative Payee File, 60–
0222.
SYSTEMS EXEMPT FROM CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF
THE PRIVACY ACT:
None.
[FR Doc. 05–10237 Filed 5–20–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191–02–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 98 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29547-29550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10237]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Privacy Act of 1974; as Amended; New System of Records and New
Routine Use Disclosures
AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).
ACTION: Proposed new system of records and proposed routine uses.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4) and
(e)(11)), we are issuing public notice of our intent to establish a new
system of records entitled Representative Payee/Misuse Restitution
Control System (RP/MRCS), 60-0318, and routine uses applicable to this
system of records. Hereinafter, we will refer to the proposed system of
records as the RP/MRCS. We invite public comments on this proposal.
DATES: We filed a report of the proposed new system of records and
proposed routine use disclosures with the Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Chairman
of the House Committee on Government Reform, and the Director, Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) on January 25, 2005. The proposed system of records and routine
uses will become effective on March 6, 2005, unless we receive comments
warranting it not to become effective.
ADDRESSES: Interested individuals may comment on this publication by
writing to the Executive Director, Office of Public Disclosure, Office
of the General Counsel, Social Security Administration, Room 3-A-6
Operations Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland
21235-6401. All comments received will be available for public
inspection at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Joyce Schaul, Social Insurance
Specialist, Office of Public Disclosure, Office of the General Counsel,
Social Security Administration, Room 3-A-6 Operations Building, 6401
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235, e-mail address at
joyce.schaul@ssa.gov, or by telephone at (410) 965-5662.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background and Purpose of the Proposed New System of Records
Entitled the RP/MRCS System
A. General Background
On March 4, 2004, President Bush signed into law the Social
Security Protection Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-203), which amended
section 205(j) of the Social Security Act. Included in the amendment is
a requirement for the Commissioner of Social Security to re-issue
benefits under Title II or XVI whenever an individual representative
payee serving 15 or more beneficiaries or an organizational
representative payee is found to have misused a beneficiary's funds.
This is effective for determinations of misuse on or after January 1,
1995. To carry out this function as required under the amended section
205(j), SSA must collect and maintain certain identifying information
about: (1) Representative payees that have misused benefits; (2)
beneficiaries whose benefits have been misused; and (3) the
relationship between the representative payee and the beneficiary.
B. Collection and Maintenance of the Data for the Proposed New System
of Records Entitled the RP/MRCS System
SSA must collect and maintain certain identifying information about
representative payees that have misused benefits; beneficiaries whose
benefits have been misused; and, the
[[Page 29548]]
relationship between the representative payee and the beneficiary. We
will retrieve information from the proposed system of records by using
the individual's name and/or Social Security Number. Thus the RP/MRCS
system will constitute a system of records under the Privacy Act of
1974, as amended.
II. Proposed Routine Use Disclosures of Data Maintained in the Proposed
RP/MRCS
A. Proposed Routine Use Disclosures
We are proposing to establish routine uses of information that will
be maintained in the proposed RP/MRCS as discussed below.
1. To the Office of the President for the purpose of responding to
an individual pursuant to an inquiry received from that individual or
from a third party on his or her behalf.
We will disclose information under this routine use only in
situations in which an individual may contact the Office of the
President, seeking that Office's assistance in a matter relating to
information contained in this system of records. Information will be
disclosed when the Office of the President makes an inquiry and
indicates that it is acting on behalf of the individual whose record is
requested.
2. To a congressional office in response to an inquiry from that
office made at the request of the subject of a record.
We will disclose information under this routine use only in
situations in which an individual may ask his or her congressional
representative to intercede in a matter relating to information
contained in this system of records. Information will be disclosed when
the congressional representative makes an inquiry and indicates that he
or she is acting on behalf of the individual whose record is requested.
3. To the Department of Justice (DOJ), a court or other tribunal,
or another party before such tribunal when:
(a) SSA, or any component thereof; or
(b) Any SSA employee in his/her official capacity; or
(c) Any SSA employee in his/her individual capacity where DOJ (or
SSA where it is authorized to do so) has agreed to represent the
employee; or
(d) The United States or any agency thereof where SSA determines
that the litigation is likely to affect the operation of SSA or any of
its components,
Is party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and SSA
determines that the use of such records by DOJ, a court or other
tribunal, or another party before such tribunal is relevant and
necessary to the litigation, provided, however, that in each case, SSA
determines that such disclosure is compatible with the purpose for
which the records were collected.
Disclosure of any information defined as ``return or return
information'' under 26 U.S.C. 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC)
will not be made unless authorized by a statute, the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS), or IRS regulations.
We will disclose information under this routine use only as
necessary to enable DOJ to effectively defend SSA, its components or
employees, in litigation involving the proposed new system of records
and ensure that courts and other tribunals have appropriate
information.
4. To contractors and other Federal Agencies, as necessary, for the
purpose of assisting SSA in the efficient administration of its
programs. We contemplate disclosing information under this routine use
only in situations in which SSA may enter into a contractual or similar
agreement with a third party to assist in accomplishing an Agency
function relating to this system of records.
We will disclose information under this routine use only in
situations in which SSA may enter into a contractual agreement or
similar agreement with a third party to assist in accomplishing an
Agency function relating to this system of records.
5. To student volunteers, individuals working under a personal
service contract, and other individuals performing functions for SSA
but technically not having the status of Agency employees, if they need
access to the records in order to perform their assigned Agency
functions.
Under certain Federal statutes, SSA is authorized to use the
service of volunteers and participants in certain educational,
training, employment and community service programs. Examples of such
statutes and programs include: 5 U.S.C. 3111 regarding student
volunteers and 42 U.S.C. 2753 regarding the College Work-Study Program.
We contemplate disclosing information under this routine use only when
SSA uses the services of these individuals, and they need access to
information in this system to perform their assigned agency duties.
6. Non-tax return information which is not restricted from
disclosure by federal law may be disclosed to the General Services
Administration (GSA) and the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA) under 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906, as amended by NARA
Act of 1984, for the use of those agencies in conducting records
management studies.
The Administrator of GSA and the Archivist of NARA are charged by
44 U.S.C. 2904, as amended, with promulgating standards, procedures and
guidelines regarding record management and conducting records
management studies. 44 U.S.C. 2906, as amended, provides that GSA and
NARA are to have access to Federal agencies' records and that agencies
are to cooperate with GSA and NARA. In carrying out these
responsibilities, it may be necessary for GSA and NARA to have access
to this proposed system of records. In such instances, the routine use
will facilitate disclosure.
7. To Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and
private security contractors, as appropriate, information necessary:
To enable them to protect the safety of SSA employees and
customers, the security of the SSA workplace, and the operation of SSA
facilities, or
To assist investigations or prosecutions with respect to
activities that affect such safety and security or activities that
disrupt the operation of SSA facilities.
We will disclose information under this routine use to law
enforcement agencies and private security contractors when information
is needed to respond to, investigate, or prevent activities that
jeopardize the security and safety of SSA customers, employees or
workplaces or that otherwise disrupt the operation of SSA facilities.
Information would also be disclosed to assist in the prosecution of
persons charged with violating Federal or local law in connection with
such activities.
B. Compatibility of Proposed Routine Uses
The Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3)) and SSA's disclosure
regulation (20 CFR part 401) permit us to disclose information under a
published routine use for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose
for which we collected the information. SSA's Regulations at 20 CFR
401.150(c) permit us to disclose information under a routine use where
necessary to carry out SSA programs. SSA's Regulations at 20 CFR
401.120 provide that we will disclose information when a law
specifically requires the disclosure. The proposed routine uses
numbered 1 through 5 and 7 above will ensure efficient administration
of SSA programs administered through the RP/MRCS; the disclosure that
would be made under routine use number 6 is required by law. The
proposed routine uses are
[[Page 29549]]
appropriate and meet the relevant statutory and regulatory criteria.
III. Records Storage Medium and Safeguards for the Proposed New System
Entitled the RP/MRCS
SSA will maintain information in the RP/MRCS in electronic and
paper form. Only authorized SSA and contractor personnel who have a
need for the information in the performance of their official duties
will be permitted access to the information. We will safeguard the
security of the information by requiring the use of access codes to
enter the computer system that will maintain the data and will store
computerized records in secured areas that are accessible only to
employees who require the information to perform their official duties.
Any manually maintained records will be kept in locked cabinets or in
otherwise secure areas. Furthermore, SSA employees having access to SSA
databases maintaining personal information must sign a sanction
document annually, acknowledging their accountability for making
unauthorized access to or disclosure of such information.
Contractor personnel having access to data in the RP/MRCS will be
required to adhere to SSA rules concerning safeguards, access and use
of the data.
SSA and contractor personnel having access to the data on this
system will be informed of the criminal penalties of the Privacy Act
for unauthorized access to or disclosure of information maintained in
this system. See 5 U.S.C. 552a(i)(1).
IV. Effect of the Proposed RP/MRCS on the Rights of Individuals
The proposed new system of records will maintain only that
information that is necessary for the efficient and effective control
and processing of the RP/MRCS in order to investigate certain misuse
cases to determine whether the beneficiary has been repaid by either
SSA or the representative payee. Security measures will be employed
that protect access to and preclude unauthorized disclosure of records
in the proposed system of records. Therefore, we do not anticipate that
the proposed system of records will have an unwarranted adverse effect
on the rights of individuals.
Dated: January 25, 2005.
Jo Anne B. Barnhart,
Commissioner.
Social Security Administration (SSA); Notice of System of Records;
Required by the Privacy Act of 1974; as Amended
60-0318
System Name:
Representative Payee/Misuse Restitution Control System (RP/MRCS),
Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security
Programs, Associate Commissioner for Income Security Programs.
Security Classification:
None.
System Location:
Associate Commissioner for Income Security Programs, Social
Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland
21235-6401.
Categories of Individuals Covered by the System:
This system maintains information about representative payees that
have misused benefits and beneficiaries/recipients whose benefits have
been misused.
Categories of Records in the System:
Data in this system consist of: (1) Names, mailing address,
location address, phone number, employee identification number (EIN)/
Social Security number (SSN), and identification number of
representative payees; (2) Names, SSNs or other cross-referenced
account numbers, the program in which the misuse occurred (Title II or
Title XVI), current address, payment status, misuse amount, misuse
determination date, misuse start date, misuse end date and SSA
negligence code (Y or N) of beneficiaries/recipients; and (3) The
original amount refunded by payee, original amount restored by SSA, new
amount refunded by payee, new amount restored by SSA, case outcome and
completion date.
Authority for Maintenance of the System:
The Social Security Protection Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-203);
Section 205(j)(5) of the Social Security Act; (42 U.S.C. 405(j)(5)).
Purpose(s):
Information in this system will assist SSA in investigating certain
representative payee misuse cases going back to January 1, 1995, to
determine whether the beneficiary has been repaid by either SSA or the
representative payee. The information in this system will also be used
to control completion of cases and to provide details about how the
case was resolved.
Routine Uses of Records Maintained in the System, Including Categories
of Users and the Purpose of Such Uses:
Disclosure may be made for routine uses as indicated below.
However, disclosure of any information defined as ``return'' or
``return information'' under 26 U.S.C. 6103 of the Internal Revenue
Code will not be made unless authorized by a statute, the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) or IRS regulations.
1. To the Office of the President for the purpose of responding to
an individual pursuant to an inquiry received from that individual or
from a third party on his or her behalf.
2. To a congressional office in response to an inquiry from that
office made at the request of the subject of a record.
3. To the Department of Justice (DOJ), a court or other tribunal,
or another party before such tribunal when: (a) SSA, or any component
thereof; or (b) Any SSA employee in his/her official capacity; or (c)
Any SSA employee in his/her individual capacity where DOJ (or SSA where
it is authorized to do so) has agreed to represent the employee; or (d)
The United States or any agency thereof where SSA determines that the
litigation is likely to affect the operations of SSA or any of its
components, Is party to litigation or has an interest in such
litigation, and SSA determines that the use of such records by DOJ, a
court or other tribunal, or another party before such tribunal is
relevant and necessary to the litigation, provided, however, that in
each case, SSA determines that such disclosure is compatible with the
purpose for which the records were collected.
Disclosure may be made for routine uses as indicated below.
However, disclosure of any information defined as ``return'' or
``return information'' under 26 U.S.C. 6103 of the Internal Revenue
Code will not be made unless authorized by a statute, the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) or IRS regulations.
4. To contractors and other Federal agencies, as necessary, for the
purpose of assisting SSA in the efficient administration of its
programs. We contemplate disclosing information under this routine use
only in situations in which SSA may enter into a contractual or similar
agreement with a third party to assist in accomplishing an agency
function relating to this system of records.
[[Page 29550]]
5. To student volunteers, individuals working under a personal
services contract, and other individuals performing functions for SSA
but technically not having the status of Agency employees if they need
access to the records in order to perform their assigned Agency
functions.
6. Non-tax return information which is not restricted from
disclosure by Federal law may be disclosed to the General Services
Administration (GSA) and the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA) under 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906, as amended by NARA
Act of 1984, for the use of those agencies in conducting records
management studies.
7. To Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and
private security contractors, as appropriate, information necessary:
To enable them to protect the safety of SSA employees and
the public, the security of the SSA workplace, the operation of SSA
facilities, or
To assist investigations or prosecutions with respect to
activities that affect such safety and security or activities that
disrupt the operation of SSA facilities.
Policies and Practices for Storing, Retrieving, Accessing, Retaining
and Disposing of Records in the System:
Storage:
Records in this system are maintained electronically.
Retrievability:
Records in this system will be retrieved by the name, SSN or EIN of
the representative payee, or name or SSN of the beneficiary/recipient.
Safeguards:
Security measures include the use of access codes to enter the
computer system which will maintain the data, the storage of
computerized records in secured areas which are accessible only to
employees who require the information in performing their official
duties. SSA employees who have access to the data will be informed of
the criminal penalties of the Privacy Act for unauthorized access to or
disclosure of information maintained in the system. See 5 U.S.C.
552a(i)(1).
Contractor personnel having access to data in the system of records
will be required to adhere to SSA rules concerning safeguards, access
and use of the data.
Retention and Disposal:
Misuse data and contact information about misusers (payees) will be
populated into RP/MRCS via a flat file produced by the Office of
Systems from the Representative Payee System (RPS) using the criteria
specified by section 205(j) of the Social Security Act. This flat file
will also contain current beneficiary contact data from the Master
Beneficiary Record and/or the Supplemental Security Income Record.
Once the data is loaded into RP/MRCS, field offices will develop
the status of repayment of each misuse event and post resolution
information. Management information regarding cases pending and cleared
will be collected and reported as will information about case
resolution.
Data collected during the course of an RP/MCRS action is stored in
a database on the Dallas Regional Office's Windows servers. Only a
limited number of new records (those that were not recorded on RPS)
will be added to the database. RP/MRCS will cover only misuse events
related to the closed period of January 1, 1995, through the initial
population of the database from SSA's Representative Payee System in
April 2004.
Records in the system will be retained for 12 months after the
final data are posted and then they will be archived.
System Manager(s):
Associate Commissioner for Income Security Programs, Social
Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland
21235-6401.
Notification Procedure(s):
An individual can determine if this system contains a record about
him/her by writing to the systems manager(s) at the above address and
providing his/her name, SSN or other information that may be in the
system of records that will identify him/her. An individual requesting
notification of records in person should provide the same information,
as well as provide an identity document, preferably with a photograph,
such as a driver's license or some other means of identification. If an
individual does not have any identification documents sufficient to
establish his/her identity, the individual must certify in writing that
he/she is the person claimed to be and that he/she understands that the
knowing and willful request for, or acquisition of, a record pertaining
to another individual under false pretenses is a criminal offense. (20
CFR 401.40).
If notification is requested by telephone, an individual must
verify his/her identity by providing identifying information that
parallels the record to which notification is being requested. If it is
determined that the identifying information provided by telephone is
insufficient, the individual will be required to submit a request in
writing or in person. If an individual is requesting information by
telephone on behalf of another individual, the subject individual must
be connected with SSA and the requesting individual in the same phone
call. SSA will establish the subject individual's identity (his/her
name, SSN, address, date of birth and place of birth along with one
other piece of information such as mother's maiden name) and ask for
his/her consent in providing information to the requesting individual.
(20 CFR 401.45)
If a request for notification is submitted by mail, an individual
must include a notarized statement to SSA to verify his/her identity or
must certify in the request that he/she is the person claimed to be and
that he/she understands that the knowing and willful request for, or
acquisition of, a record pertaining to another individual under false
pretenses is a criminal offense. These procedures are in accordance
with SSA Regulations (20 CFR 401.45).
Record Access Procedure(s):
Same as Notification procedures. Requesters also should reasonably
specify the record contents they are seeking. These procedures are in
accordance with SSA Regulations (20 CFR 401.40).
Contesting Record Procedure(s):
Same as Notification procedures. Requesters should also reasonably
identify the record, specify the information they are contesting, and
state the corrective action sought and the reasons for the correction
with supporting justification showing how the record is untimely,
incomplete, inaccurate, or irrelevant. These procedures are in
accordance with SSA Regulations (20 CFR 401.65).
Record Source Categories:
Information in this system of records is obtained from existing
systems of records such as the Claims Folder System, 60-0089, Master
Beneficiary Record, 60-0090, Supplemental Security Income Record and
Special Veterans Benefits, 60-0103 and the Master Representative Payee
File, 60-0222.
Systems Exempt From Certain Provisions of the Privacy Act:
None.
[FR Doc. 05-10237 Filed 5-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P