[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33329-33330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15782]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
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 (RRB) 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:
Pension Plan Reports: OMB 3220-0089.
Under Section 2(b) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), the
Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) pays supplemental annuities to
qualified RRB employee annuitants. A supplemental annuity, which is
computed according to Section 3(e) of the RRA, can be paid at age 60 if
the employee has at least 30 years of creditable railroad service or at
age 65 if the employee has 25-29 years of railroad service. In addition
to 25 years of service, a ``current connection'' with the railroad
industry is required. Eligibility is further limited to employees who
had at least one month of rail service before October 1981 and were
awarded regular annuities after June 1966. Further, if an employee's
65th birthday was prior to September 2, 1981, he or she must not have
worked in rail service after certain closing dates (generally the last
day of the month following the month in which age 65 is attained).
The RRB requires the following information from railroad employers
to calculate supplemental annuities: (a) the current status of railroad
employer pension plans and whether such an employer pension plan causes
a reduction to the supplemental annuity; (b) the amount of the employer
private pension being paid to the employee; (c) whether or not the
railroad employer pension is based on a collective bargaining
agreement, (d) whether or not the employee made contributions to the
pension; and (e) whether the employer pension plan continues when the
employer status under the RRA changes.
The RRB currently utilizes Form(s) G-88p (Employer's Supplemental
Pension Report), G-88r (Request for Information
[[Page 33330]]
About New or Revised Pension Plan), and G-88r.1 (Request for Additional
Information about Employer Pension Plan in Case of Change of Employer
Status or Termination of Pension Plan), to obtain the necessary
information from railroad employers. One response is requested of each
respondent. Completion is mandatory. Minor non-burden impacting changes
are being proposed to all of the forms in the collection.
Estimate of Annual Respondent Burden
The estimated annual respondent burden is as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Time Burden
Form Nos. responses (Min) (Hrs)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-88p................................... 2,200 8 293
G-88r................................... 25 10 4
G-88r.1............................. 15 10 3
-------------------------------
Total........................... 2,240 ........ 300
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information or to
obtain a copy of the information collection justification, forms, and/
or supporting material, please call the RRB Clearance Officer at (312)
751-3363. Comments regarding 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. 99-15782 Filed 6-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-M
