Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments, 31232-31235 [2020-11019]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 100 / Friday, May 22, 2020 / Notices
documentation and the following
documents:
• Attachment 1—an application for
non-public treatment;
• Attachment 2—the IRA–USPS
Agreement;
• Attachment 3—Governors’ Decision
No. 19–1;
• Attachment 4—a certified statement
required by 39 CFR 3035.105(c)(2).
Id. at 4–5.
The Postal Service intends for the
IRA–USPS Agreement to become
effective July 1, 2020, and continue
indefinitely. Id. at 5. The Postal Service
expects that additional FPOs will
become party to the agreement and
states that it will update this docket
should additional FPOs accede to the
IRA–USPS Agreement. Id.
The Postal Service states it intends for
these rates to be in effect on July 1,
2020. Id. at 1. The Postal Service states
that, beginning with the rates that will
be in effect in 2021, any party to the
IRA–USPS Agreement can change its
delivery rates by communicating the
new rates to the International Post
Corporation by June 1 of the year
preceding the rate’s application. Id. at 6.
Additionally, the Postal Service notes
that the IRA–USPS Agreement allows
parties to self-declare rates within
defined parameters. Id.
The Postal Service states that the
IRA–USPS Agreement is in compliance
with 39 U.S.C. 3633 and is functionally
equivalent to the inbound competitive
portions of the baseline agreement
which was included in the Inbound
Competitive Multi-Service Agreements
with Foreign Postal Operators 1 product
(MC2010–34). Id. at 10. For these
reasons, the Postal Service avers that the
IRA–USPS product should be added to
the Inbound Competitive Multi-Service
Agreements with Foreign Postal
Operators 1 product. Id.
II. Commission Action
The Commission establishes Docket
No. CP2020–141 to consider the Notice.
Interested persons may submit
comments on whether the IRA–USPS
Agreement is consistent with 39 U.S.C.
3633 and 39 CFR 3035.105 and whether
it is functionally equivalent to the
baseline agreement included in the
Inbound Competitive Multi-Service
Agreements with Foreign Postal
Operators 1 product (MC2010–34).
Comments are due by June 1, 2020.
The Request and related filings are
available on the Commission’s website
(https://www.prc.gov). The Commission
encourages interested persons to review
the Notice for further details.
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The Commission appoints Natalie R.
Ward to serve as Public Representative
in this proceeding.
III. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket
No. CP2020–141 for consideration of the
matters raised by the Notice of United
States Postal Service of Filing
Functionally Equivalent Inbound
Competitive Multi-Service Agreement
with Foreign Postal Operators, May 15,
2020.
2. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Natalie
R. Ward is appointed to serve as an
officer of the Commission (Public
Representative) to represent the
interests of the general public in this
proceeding.
3. Comments by interested persons
are due by June 1, 2020.
4. The Secretary shall arrange for
publication of this order in the Federal
Register.
By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020–11022 Filed 5–21–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P
POSTAL SERVICE
Board of Governors; Sunshine Act
Meeting
DATES AND TIMES:
Thursday, May 28,
2020, at 9 a.m.
PLACE:
Washington, DC.
STATUS:
Closed.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:
Thursday, May 28, 2020, at 9 a.m.
1. Strategic Issues.
2. Financial and Operational Matters.
3. Personnel Matters.
4. Administrative Issues.
The
General Counsel of the United States
Postal Service has certified that the
meeting may be closed under the
Government in the Sunshine Act.
GENERAL COUNSEL CERTIFICATION:
CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Michael J. Elston, Secretary of the Board
of Governors, U.S. Postal Service, 475
L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC
20260–1000. Telephone: (202) 268–
4800.
Michael J. Elston,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020–11227 Filed 5–20–20; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 7710–12–P
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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
Agency Forms Submitted for OMB
Review, Request for Comments
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is
forwarding 4 Information Collection
Requests (ICR) to the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs
(OIRA), Office of Management and
Budget (OMB). Our ICR describes the
information we seek to collect from the
public. Review and approval by OIRA
ensures that we impose appropriate
paperwork burdens.
The RRB invites comments on the
proposed collections of information to
determine (1) the practical utility of the
collections; (2) the accuracy of the
estimated burden of the collections; (3)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information that is the
subject of collection; and (4) ways to
minimize the burden of collections on
respondents, including the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments to the RRB or OIRA must
contain the OMB control number of the
ICR. For proper consideration of your
comments, it is best if the RRB and
OIRA receive them within 30 days of
the publication date.
1. Title and purpose of information
collection: Placement Service; OMB
3220–0057.
Section 12(i) of the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA)
(45 U.S.C. 362), authorizes the RRB to
establish, maintain, and operate free
employment offices to provide
claimants for unemployment benefits
with job placement opportunities.
Section 704(d) of the Regional Railroad
Reorganization Act of 1973, as
amended, and as extended by the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985, required the
RRB to maintain and distribute a list of
railroad job vacancies, by class and
craft, based on information furnished by
rail carriers to the RRB. Although the
requirement under the law expired
effective August 13, 1987, the RRB has
continued to obtain this information in
keeping with its employment service
responsibilities under Section 12(k) of
the RUIA. Application procedures for
the job placement program are
prescribed in 20 CFR 325. The
procedures pertaining to the RRB’s
obtaining and distributing job vacancy
reports furnished by rail carriers are
described in 20 CFR 346.1.
The RRB currently utilizes four forms
to obtain information needed to carry
out its job placement responsibilities.
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 100 / Friday, May 22, 2020 / Notices
Form ES–2, Central Register
Notification, is used by the RRB to
obtain information needed to update a
computerized central register of
separated and furloughed railroad
employees available for employment in
the railroad industry. Forms ES–21,
Referral to State Employment Service,
and ES–21c, Report of State
Employment Service Office, are used by
the RRB to provide placement assistance
for unemployed railroad employees
through arrangements with State
Employment Service offices. Form UI–
35, Field Office Record of Claimant
Interview, is used primarily by the RRB
to conduct in-person interviews of
claimants for unemployment benefits.
Completion of these forms is required
to obtain or maintain a benefit. In
addition, the RRB also collects Railroad
Job Vacancies information received
voluntarily from railroad employers.
Previous Requests for Comments: The
RRB has already published the initial
60-day notice (85 FR 8895 on February
18, 2020) required by 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2). That request elicited no
comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Placement Service.
OMB Control Number: 3220–0057.
Form(s) submitted: ES–2, ES–21, ES–
21c, UI–35 and Job Vacancies Report.
Type of request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Affected public: Private Sector,
Businesses or other for-profits;
Individuals or Households; State, Local,
and Tribal Governments.
Abstract: Under the RUIA, the
Railroad Retirement Board provides job
placement assistance for unemployed
railroad workers. The collection obtains
information from job applicants,
railroad employers, and State
Employment Service offices for use in
placement, for providing referrals for job
openings, reports of referral results and
for verifying and monitoring claimant
eligibility.
Changes proposed: The RRB no longer
offers the Central Register as a basic
employment service as of April 2017
and propose to obsolete Form ES–2. The
RRB proposes no changes to Forms ES–
21 and ES–21c and proposes minor
changes to Form UI–35 to remove all
reference to the obsolete Central
Register and renumber accordingly.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as
follows:
Annual
responses
Form No.
Time
(minutes)
Burden
(hours)
ES–21 ..........................................................................................................................................
ES–21c ........................................................................................................................................
UI–35 in person ...........................................................................................................................
UI–35 by mail ...............................................................................................................................
Job Vacancies .............................................................................................................................
80
25
6,300
700
470
1.00
2.00
7.00
11.00
10.00
1
1
735
128
78
Total ......................................................................................................................................
7,575
........................
943
2. Title and Purpose of information
collection: Certification Regarding
Rights to Unemployment Benefits; OMB
3220–0079.
Under Section 4 of the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA)
(45 U.S.C. 354), an employee who leaves
work voluntarily is disqualified for
unemployment benefits unless the
employee left work for good cause and
is not qualified for unemployment
benefits under any other law. RRB Form
UI–45, Claimant’s Statement—
Voluntary Leaving of Work, is used by
the RRB to obtain the claimant’s
statement when the claimant, the
claimant’s employer, or another source
indicates that the claimant has
voluntarily left work.
Completion of Form UI–45 is required
to obtain or retain benefits. One
response is received from each
respondent.
Previous Requests for Comments: The
RRB has already published the initial
60-day notice (85 FR 8895 on February
18, 2020) required by 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2). That request elicited no
comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Certification Regarding Rights to
Unemployment Benefits.
OMB Control Number: 3220–0079.
Form(s) submitted: UI–45.
Type of request: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected public: Individuals or
Households.
Abstract: In administering the
disqualification for the voluntary
leaving of work provision of Section 4
of the Railroad Unemployment
Insurance Act, the Railroad Retirement
Board investigates an unemployment
claim that indicates the claimant left
voluntarily. The certification obtains
information needed to determine if the
leaving was for good cause.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes
no changes to Form UI–45.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as
follows:
Form No.
Annual
responses
Time
(minutes)
Burden
(hours)
UI–45 ...........................................................................................................................................
200
15
50
3. Title and purpose of information
collection: Self-Employment and
Substantial Service Questionnaire; OMB
3220–0138.
Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement
Act (RRA) (45 U.S.C. 231a) provides for
payment of annuities to qualified
employees and their spouses. In order to
receive an age and service annuity,
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Section 2(e)(3) states that an applicant
must stop all railroad work and give up
any rights to return to such work.
However, applicants are not required to
stop nonrailroad work or selfemployment.
The RRB considers some work
claimed as ‘‘self-employment’’ to
actually be employment for an
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employer. Whether the RRB classifies a
particular activity as self-employment or
as work for an employer depends upon
the circumstances of each case. These
circumstances are prescribed in 20 CFR
216.
Under the 1988 amendments to the
RRA, an applicant is no longer required
to stop work for a ‘‘Last Pre-Retirement
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 100 / Friday, May 22, 2020 / Notices
Nonrailroad Employer’’ (LPE). However,
Section 2(f)(6) of the RRA requires that
a portion of the employee’s Tier II
benefit and supplemental annuity be
deducted for earnings from the ‘‘LPE.’’
The ‘‘LPE’’ is defined as the last
person, company, or institution with
whom the employee or spouse applicant
was employed concurrently with, or
after, the applicant’s last railroad
employment and before their annuity
beginning date. If a spouse never
worked for a railroad, the LPE is the last
person for whom he or she worked.
The RRB utilizes Form AA–4, SelfEmployment and Substantial Service
Questionnaire, to obtain information
needed to determine if the work the
applicant claims is self-employment is
really self-employment or work for an
LPE or railroad service. If the work is
self-employment, the questionnaire
identifies any month in which the
applicant did not perform substantial
service.
Completion is voluntary. However,
failure to complete the form could result
in the nonpayment of benefits. One
response is requested of each
respondent.
Previous Requests for Comments: The
RRB has already published the initial
60-day notice (85 FR 8896 on February
18, 2020) required by 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2). That request elicited no
comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Self-Employment and
Substantial Service Questionnaire.
OMB Control Number: 3220–0138.
Form(s) submitted: AA–4.
Type of request: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Affected public: Individuals or
Households.
Abstract: Section 2 of the Railroad
Retirement Act (RRA) provides for
payment of annuities to qualified
employees and their spouses. Work for
a Last Pre-Retirement Nonrailroad
Employer (LPE), and work in selfemployment affect payment in different
ways. This collection obtains
information to determine whether
claimed self-employment is really selfemployment, and not work for a railroad
or LPE.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes
minor non-burden impacting changes to
the form AA–4.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as
follows:
Annual
responses
Form No.
Time
(minutes)
Burden
(hours)
AA–4 (With assistance) ...............................................................................................................
AA–4 (Without assistance) ..........................................................................................................
570
30
40
70
380
35
Total ......................................................................................................................................
600
........................
415
4. Title and purpose of information
collection: Withholding Certificate for
Railroad Retirement Monthly Annuity
Payments; OMB 3220–0149.
The Internal Revenue Code requires
that all payers of tax liable private
pensions to U.S. citizens or residents:
(1) Notify each recipient at least
concurrent with initial withholding that
the payer is, in fact, withholding
benefits for tax liability and that the
recipient has the option of electing not
to have the payer withhold, or to
withhold at a specific rate; (2) withhold
benefits for tax purposes (in the absence
of the recipient’s election not to
withhold benefits); and (3) notify all
beneficiaries, at least annually, that they
have the option to change their
withholding status or elect not to have
benefits withheld.
The RRB provides Form RRB–W4P,
Withholding Certificate for Railroad
Retirement Payments, to its annuitants
to exercise their withholding options.
Completion of the form is required to
obtain or retain a benefit. One response
is requested of each respondent.
Previous Requests for Comments: The
RRB has already published the initial
60-day notice (85 FR 8896 on February
18, 2020) required by 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2). That request elicited no
comments.
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18:07 May 21, 2020
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Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Withholding Certificate for
Railroad Retirement Monthly Annuity
Payments.
OMB Control Number: 3220–0149.
Form(s) submitted: RRB W–4P.
Type of request: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected public: Individuals or
Households.
Abstract: Under Public Law 98–76,
railroad retirement beneficiaries’ Tier II,
dual vested and supplemental benefits
are subject to income tax under private
pension rules. Under Public Law 99–
514, the non-social security equivalent
benefit portion of Tier I is also taxable
under private pension rules. The
collection obtains the information
needed by the Railroad Retirement
Board to implement the income tax
withholding provisions.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes
no changes to Form RRB W–4P.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as
follows:
Estimated annual number of
respondents: 25,000.
Total annual responses: 25,000.
Total annual reporting hours: 1.
5. Title and purpose of information
collection: Designation of Contact
Officials; 3220–0200.
Coordination between railroad
employers and the RRB is essential to
properly administer the payment of
benefits under the Railroad Retirement
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Act (RRA) and the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA).
In order to enhance timely coordination
activity, the RRB utilizes Form G–117A,
Designation of Contact Officials. Form
G–117A is used by railroad employers
to designate employees who are to act
as point of contact with the RRB on a
variety of RRA and RUIA-related
matters.
Completion is voluntary. One
response is requested from each
respondent.
Previous Requests for Comments: The
RRB has already published the initial
60-day notice (85 FR 8896 on February
18, 2020) required by 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2). That request elicited no
comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Designation of Contact Officials.
OMB Control Number: 3220–0200.
Form(s) submitted: G–117A.
Type of request: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected public: Private Sector;
Businesses or other for profits.
Abstract: The Railroad Retirement
Board (RRB) requests that railroad
employers designate employees to act as
liaison with the RRB on a variety of
Railroad Retirement Act and Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act matters.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes
no revisions to Form G–117A.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as
follows:
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 100 / Friday, May 22, 2020 / Notices
Form No.
Annual
responses
Time
(minutes)
Burden
(hours)
G–117A ........................................................................................................................................
100
15
25
Additional Information or Comments:
Copies of the forms and supporting
documents can be obtained from
Kennisha Tucker at (312) 469–2591 or
Kennisha.Tucker@rrb.gov. Comments
regarding the information collection
should be addressed to Brian Foster,
Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North
Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611–
1275 or Brian.Foster@rrb.gov.
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain. Find this particular
information collection by selecting
‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open
for Public Comments’’ or by using the
search function.
Brian Foster,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020–11019 Filed 5–21–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Release No. 34–88906; File No. SR–OCC–
2020–803]
Self-Regulatory Organizations; The
Options Clearing Corporation; Notice
of Filing of Advance Notice
Concerning Changes to The Options
Clearing Corporation’s Non-Bank
Liquidity Facility Program as Part of Its
Overall Liquidity Plan
May 19, 2020.
Pursuant to Section 806(e)(1) of Title
VIII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
Reform and Consumer Protection Act,
entitled Payment, Clearing and
Settlement Supervision Act of 2010
(‘‘Clearing Supervision Act’’) 1 and Rule
19b–4(n)(1)(i) 2 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange
Act’’),3 notice is hereby given that on
April 15, 2020, the Options Clearing
Corporation (‘‘OCC’’) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) an advance notice as
described in Items I, II and III below,
which Items have been prepared by
OCC. The Commission is publishing
1 12
U.S.C. 5465(e)(1).
CFR 240.19b–4(n)(1)(i).
3 15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.
18:07 May 21, 2020
I. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
Terms of Substance of the Advance
Notice
This advance notice is filed by The
Options Clearing Corporation (‘‘OCC’’)
in connection with a proposed change
to its operations to: (i) Set the aggregate
commitment amount that it may seek
under its program for accessing
additional committed sources of
liquidity that do not increase the
concentration of OCC’s counterparty
exposure (‘‘Non-Bank Liquidity
Facility’’) as part of OCC’s overall
liquidity plan and (ii) allow more
flexibility for OCC to negotiate the NonBank Liquidity Facility’s commitment
term. All terms with initial
capitalization that are not otherwise
defined herein have the same meaning
as set forth in the OCC By-Laws and
Rules.4
II. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the
Advance Notice
In its filing with the Commission,
OCC included statements concerning
the purpose of and basis for the advance
notice and discussed any comments it
received on the advance notice. The text
of these statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below.
OCC has prepared summaries, set forth
in sections A and B below, of the most
significant aspects of these statements.
(A) Clearing Agency’s Statement on
Comments on the Advance Notice
Received From Members, Participants or
Others
Written comments were not and are
not intended to be solicited with respect
to the proposed change and none have
been received.
(B) Advance Notices Filed Pursuant to
Section 806(e) of the Payment, Clearing,
and Settlement Supervision Act
Description of Change
This advance notice concerns a
change to OCC’s operations to: (i) Set
the aggregate commitment amount that
it may seek under the Non-Bank
Liquidity Facility to up to $1 billion as
part of OCC’s overall liquidity plan and
4 OCC’s By-Laws and Rules can be found on
OCC’s public website: https://optionsclearing.com/
about/publications/bylaws.jsp.
2 17
VerDate Sep<11>2014
this notice to solicit comments on the
advance notice from interested persons.
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(ii) allow more flexibility for OCC to
negotiate the Non-Bank Liquidity
Facility’s commitment term.
Background
OCC’s current liquidity plan provides
it with access to a diverse set of funding
sources, including banks (i.e., OCC’s
syndicated credit facility 5 and a master
repurchase agreement with a bank
counterparty (‘‘Repo Liquidity
Facility’’) 6), the Non-Bank Liquidity
Facility program,7 and Clearing
Members’ Cash Clearing Fund
Requirement.8 The Non-Bank Liquidity
Facility program reduces the
concentration of OCC’s counterparty
exposure with respect to its overall
liquidity plan by diversifying its lender
base among banks and non-bank, nonClearing Member institutional investors,
such as pension funds or insurance
companies.
The currently approved Non-Bank
Liquidity Facility program is comprised
of two parts: A Master Repurchase
Agreement (‘‘MRA’’) and confirmations
with one or more institutional investors,
which contain certain individualized
terms and conditions of transactions
executed between OCC, the institutional
investors and their agents. The MRA is
structured like a typical repurchase
arrangement in which the buyer (i.e., the
institutional investor) would purchase
from OCC, from time to time, United
States government securities (‘‘Eligible
Securities’’).9 OCC, as the seller, would
transfer Eligible Securities to the buyer
in exchange for a payment by the buyer
to OCC in immediately available funds
(‘‘Purchase Price’’). The buyer would
5 See Exchange Act Release No. 85924 (May 23,
2019), 84 FR 25089 (May 30, 2019) (SR–OCC–2019–
803).
6 See Exchange Act Release No. 88317 (March 4,
2020), 85 FR 13681 (March 9, 2020) (SR–OCC–
2020–801).
7 See Exchange Act Release No. 73979 (Jan. 2,
2015), 80 FR 1062 (Jan. 8, 2015) (SR–OCC–2014–
809) (‘‘Notice of No Objection to 2014 Advance
Notice’’); Exchange Act Release No. 76821 (Jan. 4,
2016), 81 FR 3208 (Jan. 20, 2016) (SR–2015–805)
(‘‘Notice of No Objection to 2015 Advance Notice’’).
8 See OCC Rule 1002.
9 OCC would use U.S. government securities that
are included in Clearing Fund contributions by
Clearing Members and margin deposits of any
Clearing Member that has been suspended by OCC
for the repurchase arrangements. OCC Rule 1006(f)
and OCC Rule 1104(b) authorize OCC to obtain
funds from third parties through securities
repurchases using these sources. The officers who
may exercise this authority include the Executive
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief
Operating Officer.
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[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 100 (Friday, May 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31232-31235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11019]
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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding 4 Information Collection
Requests (ICR) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
(OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Our ICR describes the
information we seek to collect from the public. Review and approval by
OIRA ensures that we impose appropriate paperwork burdens.
The RRB invites comments on the proposed collections of information
to determine (1) the practical utility of the collections; (2) the
accuracy of the estimated burden of the collections; (3) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information that is
the subject of collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of
collections on respondents, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments to the
RRB or OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper
consideration of your comments, it is best if the RRB and OIRA receive
them within 30 days of the publication date.
1. Title and purpose of information collection: Placement Service;
OMB 3220-0057.
Section 12(i) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) (45
U.S.C. 362), authorizes the RRB to establish, maintain, and operate
free employment offices to provide claimants for unemployment benefits
with job placement opportunities. Section 704(d) of the Regional
Railroad Reorganization Act of 1973, as amended, and as extended by the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, required the
RRB to maintain and distribute a list of railroad job vacancies, by
class and craft, based on information furnished by rail carriers to the
RRB. Although the requirement under the law expired effective August
13, 1987, the RRB has continued to obtain this information in keeping
with its employment service responsibilities under Section 12(k) of the
RUIA. Application procedures for the job placement program are
prescribed in 20 CFR 325. The procedures pertaining to the RRB's
obtaining and distributing job vacancy reports furnished by rail
carriers are described in 20 CFR 346.1.
The RRB currently utilizes four forms to obtain information needed
to carry out its job placement responsibilities.
[[Page 31233]]
Form ES-2, Central Register Notification, is used by the RRB to obtain
information needed to update a computerized central register of
separated and furloughed railroad employees available for employment in
the railroad industry. Forms ES-21, Referral to State Employment
Service, and ES-21c, Report of State Employment Service Office, are
used by the RRB to provide placement assistance for unemployed railroad
employees through arrangements with State Employment Service offices.
Form UI-35, Field Office Record of Claimant Interview, is used
primarily by the RRB to conduct in-person interviews of claimants for
unemployment benefits.
Completion of these forms is required to obtain or maintain a
benefit. In addition, the RRB also collects Railroad Job Vacancies
information received voluntarily from railroad employers.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60-day notice (85 FR 8895 on February 18, 2020) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Placement Service.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0057.
Form(s) submitted: ES-2, ES-21, ES-21c, UI-35 and Job Vacancies
Report.
Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Affected public: Private Sector, Businesses or other for-profits;
Individuals or Households; State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
Abstract: Under the RUIA, the Railroad Retirement Board provides
job placement assistance for unemployed railroad workers. The
collection obtains information from job applicants, railroad employers,
and State Employment Service offices for use in placement, for
providing referrals for job openings, reports of referral results and
for verifying and monitoring claimant eligibility.
Changes proposed: The RRB no longer offers the Central Register as
a basic employment service as of April 2017 and propose to obsolete
Form ES-2. The RRB proposes no changes to Forms ES-21 and ES-21c and
proposes minor changes to Form UI-35 to remove all reference to the
obsolete Central Register and renumber accordingly.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual
Form No. responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ES-21........................................................... 80 1.00 1
ES-21c.......................................................... 25 2.00 1
UI-35 in person................................................. 6,300 7.00 735
UI-35 by mail................................................... 700 11.00 128
Job Vacancies................................................... 470 10.00 78
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 7,575 .............. 943
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Title and Purpose of information collection: Certification
Regarding Rights to Unemployment Benefits; OMB 3220-0079.
Under Section 4 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA)
(45 U.S.C. 354), an employee who leaves work voluntarily is
disqualified for unemployment benefits unless the employee left work
for good cause and is not qualified for unemployment benefits under any
other law. RRB Form UI-45, Claimant's Statement--Voluntary Leaving of
Work, is used by the RRB to obtain the claimant's statement when the
claimant, the claimant's employer, or another source indicates that the
claimant has voluntarily left work.
Completion of Form UI-45 is required to obtain or retain benefits.
One response is received from each respondent.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60-day notice (85 FR 8895 on February 18, 2020) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Certification Regarding Rights to Unemployment Benefits.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0079.
Form(s) submitted: UI-45.
Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected public: Individuals or Households.
Abstract: In administering the disqualification for the voluntary
leaving of work provision of Section 4 of the Railroad Unemployment
Insurance Act, the Railroad Retirement Board investigates an
unemployment claim that indicates the claimant left voluntarily. The
certification obtains information needed to determine if the leaving
was for good cause.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Form UI-45.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual
Form No. responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UI-45........................................................ 200 15 50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Title and purpose of information collection: Self-Employment and
Substantial Service Questionnaire; OMB 3220-0138.
Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) (45 U.S.C. 231a)
provides for payment of annuities to qualified employees and their
spouses. In order to receive an age and service annuity, Section
2(e)(3) states that an applicant must stop all railroad work and give
up any rights to return to such work. However, applicants are not
required to stop nonrailroad work or self-employment.
The RRB considers some work claimed as ``self-employment'' to
actually be employment for an employer. Whether the RRB classifies a
particular activity as self-employment or as work for an employer
depends upon the circumstances of each case. These circumstances are
prescribed in 20 CFR 216.
Under the 1988 amendments to the RRA, an applicant is no longer
required to stop work for a ``Last Pre-Retirement
[[Page 31234]]
Nonrailroad Employer'' (LPE). However, Section 2(f)(6) of the RRA
requires that a portion of the employee's Tier II benefit and
supplemental annuity be deducted for earnings from the ``LPE.''
The ``LPE'' is defined as the last person, company, or institution
with whom the employee or spouse applicant was employed concurrently
with, or after, the applicant's last railroad employment and before
their annuity beginning date. If a spouse never worked for a railroad,
the LPE is the last person for whom he or she worked.
The RRB utilizes Form AA-4, Self-Employment and Substantial Service
Questionnaire, to obtain information needed to determine if the work
the applicant claims is self-employment is really self-employment or
work for an LPE or railroad service. If the work is self-employment,
the questionnaire identifies any month in which the applicant did not
perform substantial service.
Completion is voluntary. However, failure to complete the form
could result in the nonpayment of benefits. One response is requested
of each respondent.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60-day notice (85 FR 8896 on February 18, 2020) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Self-Employment and Substantial Service Questionnaire.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0138.
Form(s) submitted: AA-4.
Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Affected public: Individuals or Households.
Abstract: Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) provides
for payment of annuities to qualified employees and their spouses. Work
for a Last Pre-Retirement Nonrailroad Employer (LPE), and work in self-
employment affect payment in different ways. This collection obtains
information to determine whether claimed self-employment is really
self-employment, and not work for a railroad or LPE.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes minor non-burden impacting
changes to the form AA-4.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual
Form No. responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AA-4 (With assistance).......................................... 570 40 380
AA-4 (Without assistance)....................................... 30 70 35
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 600 .............. 415
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Title and purpose of information collection: Withholding
Certificate for Railroad Retirement Monthly Annuity Payments; OMB 3220-
0149.
The Internal Revenue Code requires that all payers of tax liable
private pensions to U.S. citizens or residents: (1) Notify each
recipient at least concurrent with initial withholding that the payer
is, in fact, withholding benefits for tax liability and that the
recipient has the option of electing not to have the payer withhold, or
to withhold at a specific rate; (2) withhold benefits for tax purposes
(in the absence of the recipient's election not to withhold benefits);
and (3) notify all beneficiaries, at least annually, that they have the
option to change their withholding status or elect not to have benefits
withheld.
The RRB provides Form RRB-W4P, Withholding Certificate for Railroad
Retirement Payments, to its annuitants to exercise their withholding
options.
Completion of the form is required to obtain or retain a benefit.
One response is requested of each respondent.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60-day notice (85 FR 8896 on February 18, 2020) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Withholding Certificate for Railroad Retirement Monthly
Annuity Payments.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0149.
Form(s) submitted: RRB W-4P.
Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected public: Individuals or Households.
Abstract: Under Public Law 98-76, railroad retirement
beneficiaries' Tier II, dual vested and supplemental benefits are
subject to income tax under private pension rules. Under Public Law 99-
514, the non-social security equivalent benefit portion of Tier I is
also taxable under private pension rules. The collection obtains the
information needed by the Railroad Retirement Board to implement the
income tax withholding provisions.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to Form RRB W-4P.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
Estimated annual number of respondents: 25,000.
Total annual responses: 25,000.
Total annual reporting hours: 1.
5. Title and purpose of information collection: Designation of
Contact Officials; 3220-0200.
Coordination between railroad employers and the RRB is essential to
properly administer the payment of benefits under the Railroad
Retirement Act (RRA) and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act
(RUIA). In order to enhance timely coordination activity, the RRB
utilizes Form G-117A, Designation of Contact Officials. Form G-117A is
used by railroad employers to designate employees who are to act as
point of contact with the RRB on a variety of RRA and RUIA-related
matters.
Completion is voluntary. One response is requested from each
respondent.
Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the
initial 60-day notice (85 FR 8896 on February 18, 2020) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Designation of Contact Officials.
OMB Control Number: 3220-0200.
Form(s) submitted: G-117A.
Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected public: Private Sector; Businesses or other for profits.
Abstract: The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) requests that
railroad employers designate employees to act as liaison with the RRB
on a variety of Railroad Retirement Act and Railroad Unemployment
Insurance Act matters.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no revisions to Form G-117A.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:
[[Page 31235]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual
Form No. responses Time (minutes) Burden (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-117A....................................................... 100 15 25
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the forms and
supporting documents can be obtained from Kennisha Tucker at (312) 469-
2591 or [email protected]. Comments regarding the information
collection should be addressed to Brian Foster, Railroad Retirement
Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-1275 or
[email protected].
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice
to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
Brian Foster,
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-11019 Filed 5-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P
