Survey Renewal for FY 2015-Request for Comment, 37710 [2015-16110]

Agencies

• Office of Special Counsel

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 37710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16110]


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OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL


Survey Renewal for FY 2015--Request for Comment

AGENCY: Office of Special Counsel.

ACTION: First Notice for public comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), and implementing regulations at 5 CFR part 1320, 
the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), plans to request approval 
from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use of a previously 
approved information collection consisting of an electronic survey 
form. The current OMB approval for the OSC Survey expires 10/31/15. We 
are submitting the electronic survey for renewal, based on its pending 
t expiration. There are several changes being submitted with this 
request for renewal of the use of the OSC survey. 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 for the first time. Comments are invited on: 
(a) Whether the proposed collection consisting of our survey 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 collection 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 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karl Kammann, Director of Finance, at 
the address shown above; 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.
    Title of Collection: Office of Special Counsel (OSC) Annual Survey; 
OMB Control Number 3255-0003, Expiration 10/31/2015.
    OSC is required to conduct an annual survey of individuals who seek 
its assistance. Section 13 of Public Law 103-424 (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 reports to Congress. Copies of prior years' 
annual reports are available on OSC's Web site, at https://osc.gov/Pages/Resources-ReportsAndInfo.aspx or by calling OSC at (202) 254-
3600. The survey form for the collection of information is available by 
calling OSC at (202) 254-3600.
    Type of Information Collection Request: Approval of previously 
approved collection of information that expires on 10/31/2015, with 
some revisions. The Disclosure Unit was added for the first time to the 
electronic survey of individuals with cases resolved in FY 2014. The 
second major change is that the survey is hosted by Survey Monkey, 
(https://www.surveymonkey.com) rather than being an in-house supported 
IT tool. A future enhancement will add an additional question to the 
survey about the user's experience with our new OSC Form 14 Wizard and 
electronic complaint form, which is currently in development.
    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: 320.
    Frequency of Survey form use: Annual.
    Estimated Average Amount of Time for a Person To Respond to survey: 
12 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Survey Burden: 109 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: June 15. 2015.
Carolyn N. Lerner,
Special Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2015-16110 Filed 6-30-15; 8:45 am]
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