95-8751. Review of Social Security Administration Regulations

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 17731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8751]



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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

20 CFR Chapter III


Review of Social Security Administration Regulations

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice with Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with President Clinton's memorandum of March 4, 
1995 to heads of Departments and Agencies which announced a government-
wide Regulatory Reinvention Initiative, we are soliciting comments on 
Social Security Administration (SSA) regulations which mandate burdens 
on States, other governmental agencies or the private sector and 
suggestions to reduce or eliminate any such mandated burden.

DATES: To be sure your comments are considered, we must receive them no 
later than May 8, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted in writing to the Commissioner 
of Social Security, P.O. Box 1585, Baltimore, Maryland 21235, sent by 
telefax to [phone], sent by E-mail to [e-mail],'' 
or delivered to the Division of Regulations and Rulings, Social 
Security Administration, 3-B-1 Operations Building, 6401 Security 
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 
on regular business days. Comments may be inspected during these same 
hours by making arrangements with the contact person shown below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Henry D. Lerner, Legal Assistant, 
Division of Regulations and Rulings, Social Security Administration, 
6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Regulatory Reinvention Initiative 
announced by the President on March 4, 1995 is designed to provide to 
all Americans the benefits of effective regulation while minimizing 
burdens on States and members of the public. The initiative is aimed 
primarily at regulatory agencies which impose mandatory burdens on 
States, other governmental entities and the private sector as part of 
their core business processes.
    While SSA is not generally regarded as a ``regulatory agency,'' SSA 
does issue regulations. However, SSA regulations usually serve only to 
amplify Congressional direction in administering the social insurance 
and assistance programs for which we are responsible. While we have 
some program rules which may create a burden on the public in terms of 
forms completion or other activities concerning information collection, 
we generally do not impose mandatory burdens on States, other 
governmental entities or the private sector.
    We recognize that members of the public may have a very different 
view of the burdens imposed by SSA regulations than the views of those 
who administer the programs. In the hope of obtaining the widest 
possible span of viewpoints, we issue this invitation for public 
comments on any SSA regulations which mandate actions by States, other 
governmental entities, or the private sector. We are requesting that 
the public assist us in identifying any SSA regulation which creates 
such a burden, along with suggested changes to lessen or eliminate the 
burden. We request further that commenters provide specific details 
regarding the regulation which imposes the burden, the nature of the 
burden, and the recommended solution.
    We do not consider as part of this initiative SSA regulations which 
provide the rules we use to determine entitlement to retirement, 
survivors, disability insurance or supplemental security income 
benefits since they do not, by their very nature, impose mandatory 
burdens. Also, we view as outside the scope of this initiative our 
internal operating procedures in which members of the public do not 
have a direct role, including the statutory relationship under which 
State Disability Determination Services make disability determinations 
on behalf of SSA.
    We do consider ``burdens'' on individuals and other segments of the 
public as needing our attention. However, in accord with the principles 
of the National Performance Review we initiated a process that allows 
customers to provide input on such matters. By means of focus groups, 
customer surveys, comment cards, and other means, we have in place a 
process for determining the needs of the public we serve. We will 
address burdens on individuals through a separate initiative to provide 
``world class service'' to the public. This is a long-term project 
related to one of the Agency's major goals. Accordingly, we are 
restricting this request for comments to those SSA regulations which 
appear to impose mandatory burdens on States, other governmental 
entities, or the private sector.

    Dated: April 4, 1995.
Shirley Chater,
Commissioner of Social Security.
[FR Doc. 95-8751 Filed 4-6-95; 8:45 am]
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