98-32199. Proposed Data Collection Available for Public Comment and Recommendations

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 232 (Thursday, December 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 66836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32199]


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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

    Availability for Work: Under Section 1(k) of the Railroad 
Unemployment Insurance Act, unemployment benefits are not payable for 
any day for which the claimant is not available for work.
    Under Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) regulation 20 CFR 327.5, 
``available for work'' is defined as being willing and ready for work. 
This section further provides that a person is ``willing'' to work if 
that person is willing to accept and perform for hire such work as is 
reasonably appropriate to his or her employment circumstances. The 
section also provides that a claimant is ``ready'' for work if he or 
she; (1) is in a position to receive notice of work and is willing to 
accept and perform such work, and (2) is prepared to be present with 
the customary equipment at the location of such work within the time 
usually allotted.
    Under RRB regulation 20 CFR 327.15, a claimant may be requested at 
any time to show, as evidence of willingness to work, that he or she is 
making reasonable efforts to obtain work. In order to determine whether 
a claimant is: (a) available for work, and (b) willing to work, the RRB 
utilizes Forms UI-38 and UI-38s to obtain information from the claimant 
and Form ID-8k from his union representative. One response is completed 
by each respondent. No changes are proposed to any of the three forms.
    Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden: The estimated annual 
respondent burden is as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Annual      Time     Burden
                Form No.                   responses     (Min)    (Hrs)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
UI-38s:
  In person.............................          250       6         25
  By mail...............................          500      10         83
UI-38...................................        3,750      11.5      719
Id-8k...................................        3,100       5        258
                                         -------------------------------
    Total...............................        7,600  ........    1,085
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 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. 98-32199 Filed 12-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M