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: Statement of Authority

to Act for Employee; OMB 3220-0034.

Under Section 5(a) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act

(RUIA), claims for benefits are to be made in accordance with such

regulations as the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) shall prescribe. The

provisions for claiming sickness benefits are provided by Section 2 of

the RUIA are prescribed in 20 CFR 335.2. Included in these provisions

is the RRB's acceptance of forms executed by someone else on behalf of

an employee if the RRB is satisfied that the employee is sick or

injured to the extent of being unable to sign forms.

The RRB utilizes Form SI-10, Statement Authority to Act for

Employee, to provide the means for an individual apply for authority to

act on behalf of an incapacitated employee and also to obtain the

information necessary to determine that the delegation should be made.

Part I of the form is completed by the applicant for the authority and

Part II is completed by the employee's doctor. One response is

requested of each respondent. Completion is required to obtain

benefits. The RRB proposes no changes to Form SI-10.

The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows:

Form: SI-10.

Estimate of Annual Responses: 400.

Estimated Completion Time: 6 minutes.

Total Burden House: 40.

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. 99-16121 Filed 6-23-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M