National Technical Information Service 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Technical Information Service (NTIS) issues a proposed rule that would, if implemented, establish a program pursuant to Section 203 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (Act) through which persons may become ``certified'' and thereby be eligible to obtain access to Death Master File (DMF) information about an individual within three years of that individual's death (``Limited Access DMF,'' as defined in the proposed rule). The rule is established to provide immediate access to the DMF to those users who demonstrate a legitimate fraud prevention interest or a legitimate business purpose for the information, and to otherwise delay the release of the DMF to all other users, thereby reducing opportunities for identity theft and restricting information sources used to file fraudulent tax returns. This rule sets forth requirements to become a certified person, establishes a process for third party attestation and auditing of the information safeguarding requirement for certification, provides that certified persons will be subject to periodic scheduled and unscheduled audits, and sets out penalties for persons who disclose or use DMF information in a manner not in accordance with the Act. This rule would also establish the process for appealing denials or revocations of certification, the imposition penalties, and a fee program.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The National Technical Information Service is issuing this interim final rule to establish a certification program under which persons may obtain immediate access to the publicly available Death Master File (DMF), pursuant to Section 203 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (Act). This rule sets forth temporary requirements to become a certified person, provides that certified persons will be subject to periodic and unscheduled audits, and provides for the imposition of penalty upon any person who discloses or uses DMF information in a manner not in accordance with the Act. This rule also provides for the charging of fees for the certification program.