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

Evidence of Marital Relationship, Living with Requirements; OMB

3220-0021.

To support an application for a spouse or widow(er)'s annuity under

Sections 2(c) or 2(d) of the Railroad Retirement Act, an applicant must

submit proof of a valid marriage to a railroad employee. In some cases,

the existence of a marital relationship is not formalized by a civil or

religious ceremony. In other cases, questions may arise about the legal

termination of a prior marriage of an employee, spouse, or widow(er).

In these instances, the RRB must secure additional information to

resolve questionable marital relationships. The circumstances requiring

an applicant to submit documentary evidence of marriage are prescribed

in 20 CFR 219.30.

[[Page 42734]]

In the absence of documentary evidence to support the existence of

a valid marriage between a spouse or widow(er) annuity applicant and a

railroad employee, the RRB needs to obtain information to determine if

a valid marriage existed. The RRB utilizes Forms G-124, Statement of

Marital Relationship; G-124a, Statement Regarding Marriage; G-237,

Statement Regarding Marital Status; G-238, Statement of Residence; and

G-238a, Statement Regarding Divorce or Annulment to secure the needed

information. One response is requested of each respondent. Completion

is required to obtain benefits. The RRB proposes minor non-burden

impacting cosmetic, editorial and formatting changes to all of the

forms in the collection.

Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden

The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows:

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

Annual Time Burden

Form Nos. responses (min) (hrs)

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

G-124 (In person).......................... 125 15 31

G-124 (By mail)............................ 75 20 25

G-124a..................................... 300 10 50

G-237 (In person).......................... 75 15 19

G-237 (By mail)............................ 75 20 25

G-238 (In person).......................... 150 3 8

G-238 (By mail)............................ 150 5 13

G-238a..................................... 150 10 25

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

Total.................................. 1,100 196

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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. 99-20097 Filed 8-4-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7905-01-M