Department of Justice October 3, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Justice (DOJ), Criminal Division, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

Under the James Zadroga 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Reauthorization Act, Public Law 114-113 (December 18, 2015) (``Reauthorization Act''), the Special Master for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (``VCF'') is required to periodically reassess VCF policies and procedures to ensure that (1) the VCF prioritizes compensation to those claimants who suffer with the most debilitating conditions, and (2) the VCF does not exceed the amount of available appropriated funds. Current projections, using data as of August 31, 2018, and at the current rate of disbursal, suggest a possibility that the funds that have been appropriated to compensate claimants pursuant to the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 (``Zadroga Act''), Public Law 111-347 (January 2, 2011), as amended by the Reauthorization Act, may be insufficient to compensate all claims (including those filed and those anticipated to be filed) under the current policies and procedures guiding the calculation of awards. In an abundance of caution, therefore, and in fulfillment of her statutory responsibility to conduct periodic reassessments of VCF policies and procedures under the Act, the Special Master issues this Notice of Inquiry to seek public comments on how the remaining funds might be allocated in a fair and equitable manner to claims and amendments that have not yet been determined, with priority given, as the Reauthorization Act requires, to those claimants with the most debilitating conditions. This is a request for information only. No determination has been made that any changes to VCF policies and procedures are necessary at this time. Instead, the Special Master will reassess the available funds and VCF policies and procedures as required by law in early 2019 with data as of December 31, 2018. In the event that the Special Master determines, at that time, that VCF policies and procedures need to be changed, then suggestions made in response to this Notice of Inquiry will be considered. Any changes to policy made as a result of the required statutory reassessment completed with data as of December 31, 2018, will be effective only as to claims filed after February 1, 2019, or such other date as the Special Master shall announce.