Proposed Data Collection Available for Public Comment and Recommendations

RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD

Proposed Data Collection Available for Public Comment and

Recommendations

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for

public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad

Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data

collections.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information

collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of

the agency, including whether the information has practical utility;

(b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection

of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize

the burden related to the collection of information on respondents,

including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of

information technology.

Title and Purpose of Information Collection

Railroad Job Vacancies: OMB 3220-0122.

[[Page 1416]]

Section 12(k) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA),

authorizes the RRB to operate an employment service. In conjunction

with this service, the RRB requests railroad employers to report job

vacancy information to the agency. Although furnishing the job

information is voluntary, failure to comply defeats the purpose of the

RRB's placement program by decreasing the opportunities for

reemployment of persons claiming railroad unemployment insurance

benefits. This, in turn, increases the amounts of benefits charged to

employers, and can affect contribution rates under the RUIA. The RRB

maintains and distributes a list of railroad job vacancies by class and

craft based on information furnished by rail carriers to the RRB.

Railroad employers report railroad job vacancies to office(s) of the

RRB via telephone or mail. The information collected is electronically

distributed to all RRB field offices to assist agency personnel in

finding jobs for individuals separated from their railroad employer.

The RRB issues instructions in the form of a circular letter which

explains in detail how rail carriers should report job vacancies to the

RRB. The circular letter is distributed to railroad hiring officials

and chief executives of all covered employers. A minor editorial change

is being proposed to the informational circular letter.

Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden

The annual respondent burden is estimated to be 125 hours annually.

The estimate is based on 250 rail carriers filing an average of 3

reports annually with each report taking about 10 minutes to complete.

Additional Information or Comments

To request more information or to obtain a copy of the information

collection justification, forms, and/or supporting material, please

call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312) 751-3363. Comments regarding

the information collection should be addressed to Ronald J. Hodapp,

Railroad Retirement Board, 844 N. Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-

2092. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this

notice.

Chuck Mierzwa,

Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 96-610 Filed 1-18-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M