[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 73 (Monday, April 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16511-16512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9268]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
Proposed Collection Comment Request
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a preclearance
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format,
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized,
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
Currently, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed extension of Department of Labor
regulations implementing various provisions of the Debt Collection Act
of 1982, including Disclosure of Information to Credit Reporting
Agencies; Administrative Offset; Interest, Penalties and Administrative
Costs.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addressee section below on or before May 15, 1996. The Department is
requesting OMB to approve or disapprove this request on or before July
31, 1996.
The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments
which:
[[Page 16512]]
* Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
* Evaluate the burden of the proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used:
* Enhance the quality, utility, and clarify of the information to
be collected; and
* Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submissions of responses.
ADDRESSES: Mark Wolkow, Department of Labor, Room S-4502 Frances
Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20210;
202-219-8184 (phone); 202-219-4975 (fax); mwolkow@dol.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:.
I. Background
The Debit Collection Act of 1982 and the Federal Claims Collection
Standards, as implemented in the Department by 29 CFR Part 20, require
Federal agencies to afford debtors the opportunity to exercise certain
rights before the agency reports a debt to a credit bureau or makes an
administrative offset. In the exercise of these rights, the debtor may
be asked to provide a written explanation of the basis for disputing
the amount of existence of a debt alleged owed the agency. A debtor may
also be required to provide asset, income, liability, or other
information necessary for the agency to determine the debtor's ability
to repay the debt, including any interest, penalties and administrative
costs assessed.
Information provided by the debtor will be evaluated by the agency
official responsible for collection of the debt in order to reconsider
his/her initial decision with regard to the existence or amount of the
debt. Information concerning the debtor's assets, income, liabilities,
etc., will be used by the agency official responsible for collection of
the debt to determine whether the agency's action with regard to
administrative offset or the assessment of interest, administrative
costs or penalties would create undue financial hardship for the
debtor, or to determine whether the agency should accept the debtor's
proposed repayment schedule.
If a debtor disputes or asks for reconsideration of the agency's
determination concerning the debt, the debtor will be required to
provide the information or documentation necessary to state his/her
case. Presumably, the agency's initial determination would not change
without the submission of new information.
Information concerning the debtor's assets, income, liabilities,
etc., would typically not be available to the agency unless submitted
by the debtor.
II. Current Actions:
Failure of the agency to request the information described would
either violate the debtor's rights under the Debt Collection Act of
1982 or limit the agency's ability to collect outstanding debts.
If a debtor wishes to appeal an agency action based on undue
financial hardship, he/she may be asked to submit information on his/
her assets, income, liabilities, or other information considered
necessary by the agency official for evaluating the appeal. Use of the
information will be explained to the debtor when it is requested;
consent to use the information for the specified purpose will be
implied from the debtor's submission of the information.
III. Type of Review
Extension without change.
IV. Agency
Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
V. Title
Disclosure of Information to Credit Reporting Agencies;
Administrative Offset; Interest penalties and Administrative Costs.
VI. OMB Number
1225-0030.
VII. Agency Number
N/A.
VIII. Affected Public
Individuals or households; businesses or other for-profit; not-for-
profit institutions; small business or organizations; farms; Federal
employees.
IX. Cite/Reference/Form/Etc.
It is estimated that 10% of the individuals and organizations
indebted to the Department will contest the proposed collection action
and will request an administrative review and/or appeal an action based
on undue financial hardship. In some cases the debtor will make one
request, but not the other. However, in most cases, it is expected that
the debtor will request both actions--first, administrative review of
the determination of indebtedness, and second, relief because of undue
financial hardship.
Annual burden was estimated based on a review of debtor responses
to similar requests for information. Debtors typically respond in 1-2
page letters, supplemented by copies of documents. Letters are most
often typewritten. Annual burden is based on a 1\3/4\ hour time
allotment to prepare and type a letter. Debtors will not be asked to
respond on a form.
X. Estimated Total Burden Hours
12,250.
XI. Estimated Total Burden Cost
Estimated annual cost to the Federal Government: $734,650.
Estimated annual cost to the respondents: $239,890.
Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and
Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also
become a matter of public record.
Dated: April 8, 1996.
Michael N. Griffin,
Acting Deputy Chief Financial Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-9268 Filed 4-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-23-M
