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 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 Separation

Allowance or Severance Pay Report Section 6 of the Railroad Retirement

Act provides for a lump-sum payment to an employee or the employee's

survivors equal to the Tier II taxes paid by the employee on a

separation allowance or severance payment for which the employee did

not receive credits toward retirement. The lump-sum is not payable

until retirement benefits begin to accrue or the employee dies. Also,

Section 4 (a-1)(iii) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act

provides that a railroad employee who is paid a separation allowance is

disqualified for unemployment and sickness benefits for the period of

time the employee would have to work to earn the amount of the

allowance. In order to calculate and provide payments, the Railroad

Retirement Board (RRB) must collect and maintain records of separation

allowances and severance payments which were subject to Tier II

taxation from railroad employers. The RRB uses Form BA-9 to obtain, on

a quarterly basis, the information needed from railroad employers

concerning the separation allowances and severance payments made to

railroad employees

[[Page 69694]]

and/or the survivors of railroad employees. All reports contain a one-

line entry for each such payment or adjustment. The RRB proposes no

changes to Form BA-9.

Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden

The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows:

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Annual

Form No. responses Time (min) Burden (hrs)

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BA-9......................................................... 1,072 75 1,340

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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. 98-33417 Filed 12-16-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M