2023-26332. Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we impose appropriate paperwork burdens.

The RRB invites comments on the proposed collection of information to determine (1) the practical utility of the collection; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collection; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information that is the subject of collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collections on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments to the RRB or OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper consideration of your comments, it is best if the RRB and OIRA receive them within 30 days of the publication date.

1. Title and purpose of information collection: Application and Claim for Unemployment Benefits and Employment Service; OMB 3220–0022.

Section 2 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) (45 U.S.C. 231), provides unemployment benefits for qualified railroad employees. These benefits are generally payable for each day of unemployment in excess of four during a registration period (normally a period of 14 days).

Section 12 of the RUIA provides that the RRB establish, maintain and operate free employment facilities directed toward the reemployment of railroad employees. The procedures for applying for the unemployment benefits and employment service and for registering and claiming the benefits are prescribed in 20 CFR 325.

The RRB utilizes the following forms to collect the information necessary to pay unemployment benefits: Form UI–1 (or its internet equivalent, Form UI–1 (Internet)), Application for Unemployment Benefits and Employment Service, is completed by a claimant for unemployment benefits once in a benefit year, at the time of first registration. Completion of Form UI–1 or UI–1 (Internet) also registers an unemployment claimant for the RRB's employment service.

The RRB also utilizes Form UI–3, (or its internet equivalent Form UI–3 (Internet)) Claim for Unemployment Benefits for use in claiming unemployment benefits for days of unemployment in a particular registration period, normally a period of 14 days.

Completion of Forms UI–1, UI–1 (Internet), UI–3 and UI–3 (Internet) is required to obtain or retain benefits. The number of responses required of each claimant varies, depending on their period of unemployment.

Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the initial 60-day notice (88 FR 66067 on September 26, 2023) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

Title: Application and Claim for Unemployment Benefits and Employment Service.

OMB Control Number: 3220–0022.

Forms submitted: UI–1, UI–1 (Internet), UI–3, UI–3 (Internet).

Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Affected public: Individuals or Households.

Abstract: Under section 2 of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, unemployment benefits are provided for qualified railroad employees. The collection obtains the information needed to determine the eligibility to and amount of such benefits for railroad employees.

Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to the forms in the collection.

The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

UI–1	2,118	10	323
UI–1 (Internet)	7,549	10	1,258
UI–3	23,724	6	2,372
UI–3 (Internet)	82,027	6	8,203
Total	115,418		12,186

2. Title and purpose of information collection: Placement Service; OMB 3220–0057.

Section 12(i) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) (45 U.S.C. 362), authorizes the RRB to establish, maintain, and operate free employment offices to provide claimants for unemployment benefits with job placement opportunities. Section 704(d) of the Regional Railroad Reorganization Act of 1973, as amended, and as extended by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, required the RRB to maintain and distribute a list of railroad job vacancies, by class and craft, based on information furnished by rail carriers to the RRB. Although the requirement under the law expired effective August 13, 1987, the RRB has continued to obtain this information in keeping with its employment service responsibilities under section 12(k) of the RUIA. Application procedures for the job placement program are prescribed in 20 CFR 325. The procedures pertaining to the RRB's obtaining and distributing job vacancy reports furnished by rail carriers are described in 20 CFR 346.1.

The RRB currently utilizes four forms to obtain information needed to carry out its job placement responsibilities. Form ES–2, Central Register Notification, is used by the RRB to obtain information needed to update a computerized central register of separated and furloughed railroad employees available for employment in the railroad industry. Forms ES–21, Referral to State Employment Service, and ES–21c, Report of State Employment Service Office, are used by the RRB to provide placement assistance for unemployed railroad employees through arrangements with State Employment Service offices. Form UI–35, Field Office Record of Claimant Interview, is used primarily by the RRB to conduct in-person interviews of claimants for unemployment benefits.

Completion of these forms is required to obtain or maintain a benefit. In addition, the RRB also collects Railroad Job Vacancies information received voluntarily from railroad employers.

Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the initial 60-day notice (88 FR 66068 on September 26, 2023) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

Title: Placement Service.

OMB Control Number: 3220–0057.

Form(s) submitted: ES–2, ES–21, ES–21c, UI–35 and Job Vacancies Report.

Type of request: Extension without change of a currently approved collection.

Affected public: Private Sector, Businesses or other for-profits; Individuals or Households; State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Abstract: Under the RUIA, the Railroad Retirement Board provides job placement assistance for unemployed railroad workers. The collection obtains information from job applicants, railroad employers, and State Employment Service offices for use in placement, for providing referrals for job openings, reports of referral results and for verifying and monitoring claimant eligibility.

Changes proposed: The RRB proposes no changes to the forms in this information collection.

The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

Form No.	Annual responses	Time (minutes)	Burden (hours)
ES–21	80	1.00	1
ES–21c	25	2.00	1
UI–35 in person	6,300	7.00	735
UI–35 by mail	700	11.00	128
Job Vacancies	470	10.00	78
Total	7,575		943

3. Title and purpose of information collection: Report of Medicaid State Office on Beneficiary's Buy-In Status; OMB 3220–0185.

Under section 7(d) of the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. 231), the RRB administers the Medicare program for persons covered by the railroad retirement system. Under section 1843 of the Social Security Act, states may enter into “buy-in agreements” with the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the purpose of enrolling certain groups of low-income individuals under the Medicare medical insurance (Part B) program and paying the premiums for their insurance coverage. Generally, these individuals are categorically needy under Medicaid and meet the eligibility requirements for Medicare Part B. States can also include in their buy-in agreements, individuals who are eligible for medical assistance only. The RRB uses Form RL–380–F, Report to State Medicaid Office, to obtain information needed to determine if certain railroad beneficiaries are entitled to receive Supplementary Medical Insurance program coverage under a state buy-in agreement in states in which they reside. Completion of Form RL–380–F is voluntary. One response is received from each respondent.

Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the initial 60-day notice (88 FR 66068 on September 26, 2023) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

Information Collection Request (ICR)

Title: Report of Medicaid State Office on Beneficiary's Buy-In Status.

OMB Control Number: 3220–0185.

Forms submitted: RL–380–F.

Type of request: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Affected public: State, local, and Tribal governments.

Abstract: Under the Railroad Retirement Act, the Railroad Retirement Board administers the Medicare program for persons covered by the railroad retirement system. The collection obtains the information needed to determine if certain railroad beneficiaries are entitled to receive Supplemental Medical Insurance program coverage under a state buy-in agreement in states in which they reside.

Changes proposed: The RRB proposes the following changes to Form RL–380–F:

• Change `Medicare Number' box on righthand side of form to `Medicare Beneficiary Identifier'.
• Remove box 6 on righthand side of form `Social Security Number' as it is a duplicate of box 4 `Beneficiary's Own Social Security Number'.
• In Question 4, change `Medicare number under which state paid premium (if different from RRB Medicare claim number' to `Medicare Beneficiary Identifier Number (MBI) in which state paid premium'.

The burden estimate for the ICR is as follows:

Form No.	Annual responses	Time (minutes)	Burden (hours)
RL–380–F	600	10	100

Additional Information or Comments: Copies of the forms and supporting documents can be obtained from Kennisha Money at (312) 469–2591 or [e-mail]. Comments regarding the information collection should be addressed to Brian Foster, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611–1275 or [e-mail].

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

Brian Foster,

Clearance Officer.