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Start Preamble
AGENCY:
Railroad Retirement Board.
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
The Railroad Retirement Board (Board) amends its regulations to reflect the restructuring of the Office of Programs and the elimination of the Regional Offices.
DATES:
This rule will be effective March 17, 2015.
ADDRESSES:
Martha P. Rico, Secretary to the Board, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 N. Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2092.
Start Further InfoFOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, (312) 751-4945, TTD (312) 751-4701.
End Further Info End Preamble Start Supplemental InformationSUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Railroad Retirement Board has restructured its Office of Assessment and Training in a Board-approved reorganization plan. The Office of Assessment and Training, formerly a single component of the Office of Programs, is now intermingled with other subcomponents of the Office of Programs. Therefore, issues that were formerly under the jurisdiction of the Office of Programs/Assessment and Training are now under the jurisdiction of the Office of Programs/Policy and Systems for purposes of the following regulations.
Additionally, the Railroad Retirement Board underwent a reorganization of its regional offices in an effort to improve efficiency and eliminate duplication. As a result of this reorganization, the Railroad Retirement Board eliminated its Regional Offices in Atlanta, Georgia, Denver, Colorado, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The work done by the Regional Offices is now handled by the Field Services Headquarters staff.
The Board published a proposed rule on February 14, 2012 and requested comments by April 16, 2012 [77 FR 8183]. No comments were received. The final rule is essentially the same as the proposed rule.
The Board, with the concurrence of the Office of Management and Budget, has determined that this is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866, as amended. Therefore, no regulatory impact analysis is required. There are no changes to the information collections associated with Parts 200, 320 and 345.
Start List of SubjectsList of Subjects in 20 CFR Parts 200, 320, and 345.
- Railroad employees
- Railroad employers
- Railroad retirement
- Railroad unemployment
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Railroad Retirement Board amends title 20, chapter II, subchapter A, part 200 and subchapter C, parts 320 and 345 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:
Start PartPART 200—GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
End Part Start Amendment Part1. The authority citation for part 200 continues to read as follows:
End Amendment Part Start Amendment Part2. In § 200.1, paragraph (a)(4) is revised to read as follows:
End Amendment PartDesignation of central and field organization.(a) * * *
(4) The headquarters of the Board is in Chicago, Illinois, at 844 North Rush Street. The Board maintains numerous district offices across the country in localities easily accessible to large numbers of railroad workers.
* * * * *3. In § 200.4, paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), and (d)(5) are revised to read as follows:
End Amendment PartAvailability of information to the public.* * * * *(d) * * *Start Printed Page 13764
(1) In the Office of Programs/Operations: The Retirement Claims Manual, RCM Circulars, Special Services Manual, Policy Decisions, Procedural Memoranda containing information on the adjudication of claims not contained in the Retirement Claims Manual or in RCM Circulars, Field Operating Manual (Parts I and VI), FOM Circulars and Memoranda, the Occupational Disability Rating Schedule, Adjudication Instruction Manual, memorandum instructions on adjudication, and circular letters of instruction to railroad officials.
(2) In the Office of Programs/Policy and Systems: The Instructions to Employers, and Circular Letters to Employers.
* * * * *(5) Field offices shall also make available to the extent practicable such of these materials and indexes as are furnished them in the ordinary course of business.
PART 320—INITIAL DETERMINATIONS UNDER THE RAILROAD UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT AND REVIEWS OF AND APPEALS FROM SUCH DETERMINATIONS
End Part Start Amendment Part4. The authority citation for part 320 continues to read as follows:
End Amendment Part Start Amendment Part5. In § 320.6, paragraph (c) introductory text is revised to read as follows:
End Amendment PartAdjudicating office.* * * * *(c) Field Service-Headquarters. Field Service-Headquarters staff are authorized to make determinations on any of the issues listed in paragraph (b) of this section. In addition, Field Service-Headquarters staff are authorized to make initial determinations on the following issues:
* * * * *6. In § 320.10, paragraph (c) is revised to read as follows:
End Amendment PartReconsideration of initial determination.* * * * *(c) Notice of decision. The adjudicating office shall, as soon as possible, render a decision on the request for reconsideration. If a decision rendered by a district office, as the adjudicating office, sustains the initial determination, either in whole or in part, the decision shall be referred to the appropriate Field Service-Headquarters staff for review prior to issuance. The party who requested reconsideration shall be notified, in writing, of the decision on reconsideration no later than 15 days from the date of the decision or, where the Field Service-Headquarters staff has conducted a review of the decision, within 7 days following the completion of the review. If the decision results in denial of benefits, the claimant shall be notified of the right to appeal as provided in § 320.12 of this part. If the decision results in payment of benefits, the base-year employer(s) shall be notified of the right to appeal as provided in § 320.12 of this part.
* * * * *PART 345—EMPLOYERS' CONTIBUTIONS AND CONTRIBUTION REPORTS
End Part Start Amendment Part7. The authority citation for part 345 continues to read as follows:
End Amendment Part Start Amendment Part8. Revise § 345.202 to read as follows:
End Amendment PartConsolidated employer records.(a) Establishing a consolidated employer record. Two or more employers that are under common ownership or control may request the Board to consolidate their individual employer records into a joint individual employer record. Such joint individual employer record shall be treated as though it were a single employer record. A request for such consolidation shall be made to the Director of Policy and Systems, and such consolidation shall be effective commencing with the calendar year following the year of the request.
(b) Discontinuance of a consolidated employer record. Two or more employers that have established and maintained a consolidated employer record will be permitted to discontinue such consolidated record only if the individual employers agree to an allocation of the consolidated employer record and such allocation is approved by the Director of Policy and Systems. The discontinuance of the consolidated record shall be effective commencing with the calendar year following the year of the Director of Policy and Systems' approval.
9. In § 345.307 paragraphs (a) and (b) are revised to read as follows:
End Amendment PartRate protest.(a) Request for reconsideration. An employer may appeal a determination of a contribution rate computed under this part by filing a request for reconsideration with the Director of Policy and Systems within 90 days after the date on which the Board notified the employer of its rate of contribution for the next ensuing calendar year. Within 45 days of the receipt of a request for reconsideration, the Director shall issue a decision on the protest.
(b) Appeal to the Board. An employer aggrieved by the decision of the Director of Policy and Systems under paragraph (a) of this section may appeal to the Board. Such appeal shall be filed with the Secretary to the Board within 30 days after the date on which the Director notified the employer of the decision on reconsideration. The Board may decide such appeal without a hearing or, in its discretion, may refer the matter to a hearings officer pursuant to part 319 of this chapter.
* * * * *Dated: March 11, 2015.
Martha P. Rico,
Secretary to the Board, By Authority of the Board.
[FR Doc. 2015-05888 Filed 3-16-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
Document Information
- Effective Date:
- 3/17/2015
- Published:
- 03/17/2015
- Department:
- Railroad Retirement Board
- Entry Type:
- Rule
- Action:
- Final rule.
- Document Number:
- 2015-05888
- Dates:
- This rule will be effective March 17, 2015.
- Pages:
- 13763-13764 (2 pages)
- RINs:
- 3220-AB65: Proposed Amendment of Regulations to Reflect Reorganization of the Office of Programs
- RIN Links:
- https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/3220-AB65/proposed-amendment-of-regulations-to-reflect-reorganization-of-the-office-of-programs
- Topics:
- Railroad employees, Railroad retirement
- PDF File:
- 2015-05888.pdf
- CFR: (6)
- 20 CFR 200.1
- 20 CFR 200.4
- 20 CFR 320.6
- 20 CFR 320.10
- 20 CFR 345.202
- More ...