Computer Matching Program; Notice

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Computer Matching Program; Notice

AGENCY: Department of Education (ED).

ACTION: Notice of computer matching program between the U. S.

Department of Education and the U. S. Postal Service (USPS).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Subsection (e)(12) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by

the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-

503), requires agencies to publish advance notice of computer matching

programs as a means of informing benefit recipients/employees of plans

to conduct computer matches. This publishes notice that ED proposes to

conduct a computer matching program with the USPS. The matching program

will compare USPS payroll and ED debtor records to identify postal

employees delinquently indebted to the federal government under certain

programs administered by ED. ED will contact affected employees and

will take appropriate steps to collect those debts under the salary

offset provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-365)

when voluntary payment is not made.

DATES: Comments must be received May 22, 1996. Unless comments are

received that result in a contrary determination, the matching program

covered by this notice will begin no sooner than 40 days after the

computer matching agreement and this notice have been sent to the

Congress and the Office of Management and Budget.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the U. S. Department of Education,

Washington Service Center, Attention: USPS CMA Comments, 600

Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-5320.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Demetrius V. Windom, (202) 708-4774.

Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may

call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339

between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education expects that

this computer matching program will enable it to obtain current home

and work addresses for 6,000 USPS employees having student loan

obligations held by ED. ED has collected approximately $3 million from

previous matches with the USPS, and expects to recover from the 1996

match $10.4 million over an average repayment period of five years. Set

forth below is a description of the computer matching program proposed

by this notice in compliance with OMB Bulletin No. 89-22,

``Instructions on Reporting Computer Matching Programs to the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB), Congress and the Public''.

Report of Computer Matching Program--U. S. Department of Education and

U. S. Postal Service (Comparing ED Debtor Records and USPS Payroll)

A. Participating Agencies

The U. S. Postal Service (USPS) is the recipient agency and will

perform the computer match with debtor records provided by the

Department of Education (ED), the source agency in this matching

program.

B. Purposes of the Matching Program

This matching program will compare USPS payroll and ED delinquent

debtor files for the purposes of identifying postal employees who may

owe delinquent debts to the federal government under programs

administered by the Department of Education. The pay of an employee

identified and verified as a delinquent debtor may be offset under the

provisions of the Debt Collection Act of 1982 when voluntary payment is

not made.

C. Legal Authorities Authorizing Operation of the Match

This matching program will be undertaken under the authority of the

Debt Collection Act of 1982 (P. L. 97-365) which authorizes federal

agencies to offset a federal employee's salary as a means of satisfying

delinquent debts owed to the United States.

D. Categories of Individuals Matched and Identification of Records Used

The following systems of records, maintained by the participant

agencies under the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, will be used to

disclose records for this matching program:

1. USPS' ``Finance Records--Payroll System, USPS 050-020,''

containing records for approximately 800,000 employees. [Disclosure

will be made pursuant to routine use No. 24 of USPS 050-020, which last

appeared in the Federal Register on December 4, 1992 (57 FR 57515).]

2. ED's ``Title IV Program Files'' (18-40-0024), containing debt

records for approximately 3,000,000 borrowers. [A notice of this system

was last published in the Federal Register on April 12, 1994 (59 FR

17351).]

E. Description of the Matching Program

ED will provide USPS a magnetic computer tape containing the names

and social security numbers (SSN) of its loan defaulters. By computer,

the USPS will compare that information with its payroll files,

establishing matched individuals (i.e., ``hits'') on the basis of

[[Page 17691]]

like SSNs. For each matched individual, the USPS will provide to ED the

name, SSN, home address and work location. The identity and debtor

status of an individual will be verified by ED through a review of its

manual application and payment files and independent inquiries as

needed. In all cases of mismatched names or SSN's, ED's regional

personnel will confirm identity through individual file check and/or

external sources such as the Social Security Administration. If

identity is established, ED's computer system will ascertain the

current repayment status for the account, eliminating from subsequent

follow-up those accounts that are in repayment status, recently paid in

full or otherwise resolved.

The Debt Collection Act requires ED to give debtors advance notice

of offset and an opportunity to contest the alleged debt. The

Department's offset procedures include providing the debtor employee

with the following notice and opportunities:

1. A 65-day written notice of the Department of Education's

determination of the debt and an explanation of the debtor employee's

rights under the Debt Collection Act;

2. An opportunity to inspect and copy records relating to the debt;

3. An opportunity to enter into a written agreement establishing a

repayment schedule; and

4. An opportunity to a hearing on the existence or amount of the

debt and on the terms of any involuntary repayment schedule.

Involuntary offsets will be made only after ED has afforded the

debtor these opportunities and certified over the signature of an

authorized agency official that all due process procedures have been

followed.

F. Beginning and Ending Dates of the Matching Program

The matching program is expected to begin in May 1996 and to

continue in effect for a period not to exceed 18 months. The agreement

may be extended for one additional year beyond that period, if within

90 days prior to the actual expiration date of the matching agreement,

the Data Integrity Boards of both the USPS and ED find that the

computer matching program will be conducted without change and each

party certifies that the matching program has been conducted in

compliance with the matching agreement.

Dated: April 17, 1996.

David A. Longanecker,

Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

[FR Doc. 96-9818 Filed 4-19-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P