Agency Information Collection Activities, Request for Comment, 40796 [2014-16411]

Agencies

• Office of Special Counsel

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 134 (Monday, July 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 40796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16411]


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OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL


Agency Information Collection Activities, Request for Comment

AGENCY: Office of Special Counsel.

ACTION: First notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), plans to 
request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use 
of an expanded version of an approved information collection consisting 
of an electronic customer survey form. OSC is required by law to 
conduct an annual survey of those who seek its assistance. The 
information collection is used to carry out that mandate. However, the 
additional questions for the survey cover a category of complaint, 
whistleblower disclosures, whose inclusion in the survey is not 
statutorily required, but rather is being done voluntarily by our 
agency. The 6 specific questions to be added are: ``Did the agency 
against which you filed the disclosure inform you about your right to 
make whistleblower disclosures, and the channels for making such 
disclosures?'' ``Did you obtain the action that you wanted from OSC?'' 
``What reason did OSC give for closing your disclosure matter?'' (Check 
all that apply.)'' ``Did you agree with the reason OSC gave for closing 
your disclosure matter?'' ``If you answered ``no'' to the question in 
number 4 above, could you please elaborate? [below which is a free 
field text box].'' ``How would you rate the service provided by OSC in 
each of the following areas?'' The current OMB approval for this 
collection of information [without the new questions for the Disclosure 
Unit] does not expire until 10/31/2015.
    Current and former Federal employees, employee representatives, 
other Federal agencies, state and local government employees, and the 
general public are invited to comment on this information collection. 
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of OSC functions, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of OSC's estimate of the burden of the proposed collections of 
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Comments should be received by August 16, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Kammann, Director of Finance, at 
1730 M St. NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036, or by facsimile at 
(202) 254-3711.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSC is an independent agency responsible 
for, among other things, (1) investigation of allegations of prohibited 
personnel practices defined by law at 5 U.S.C. 2302(b), protection of 
whistleblowers, and certain other illegal employment practices under 
titles 5 and 38 of the U.S. Code, affecting current or former Federal 
employees or applicants for employment, and covered state and local 
government employees; and (2) the interpretation and enforcement of 
Hatch Act provisions on political activity in chapters 15 and 73 of 
title 5 of the U.S. Code, and implementing regulations concerning the 
controlling of paperwork burdens on the public, found at 5 CFR part 
1320.
    Title of Collection: Office of Special Counsel (OSC) Annual Survey; 
OMB Control Number 3255-0003.
    OSC is required to conduct an annual survey of individuals who seek 
its assistance. Section 13 of 103 (1994), codified at 5 U.S.C. 1212 
note, states, in part: ``[T]he survey shall--(1) Determine if the 
individual seeking assistance was fully apprised of their rights; (2) 
determine whether the individual was successful either at the Office of 
Special Counsel or the Merit Systems Protection Board; and (3) 
determine if the individual, whether successful or not, was satisfied 
with the treatment received from the Office of Special Counsel.'' The 
same section also provides that survey results are to be published in 
OSC's annual report to Congress. Copies of prior years' annual reports 
are available on OSC's Web site, at https://www.osc.gov/RR_AnnualReportsToCongress.htm or by calling OSC at (202) 254-3600.
    The survey form for the collection of information is available for 
review by calling OSC at (202) 254-3600.
    Affected Public: Current and former Federal employees, applicants 
for Federal employment, state and local government employees, and their 
representatives, and the general public.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Estimated Annual Number of Survey Form Respondents: 415.
    Frequency of Survey Form Use: Annual.
    Estimated Average Amount of Time for a Person to Respond to Survey: 
12 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Survey Burden: 141 hours.
    This survey form is used to survey current and former Federal 
employees and applicants for Federal employment who have submitted 
allegations of possible prohibited personnel practices or other 
prohibited activity for investigation and possible prosecution by OSC, 
and whose matter has been closed or otherwise resolved during the prior 
fiscal year, on their experience at OSC. Specifically, the survey asks 
questions relating to whether the respondent was: (1) Apprised of his 
or her rights; (2) successful at the OSC or at the Merit Systems 
Protection Board; and (3) satisfied with the treatment received at the 
OSC.

    Dated: July 8, 2014.
Carolyn N. Lerner,
Special Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2014-16411 Filed 7-11-14; 8:45 am]
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