04-16397. Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Defense Finance and Accounting Service, DOD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service announces the proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Consideration will be given to all comments received by September 20, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations on the proposed information collection should be sent to, Attn: DFAS-DGG/CL, Rodney Winn, Assistant General Counsel for Garnishment Operations, Defense Finance and Accounting Service—Cleveland, P.O. Box 998002, Cleveland, OH 44199-8002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to the above address, or call, Mr. Rodney Winn, [phone].

Title, Associated Form, and OMB Number: Application for Former Spouse Payments From Retired Pay, DD Form 2293; OMB Number 0730-0008.

Needs and Uses: Under 10 U.S.C. 1408, State courts may divide military retired pay as property or order alimony and child support payments from that retired pay. The former spouse may apply to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) for direct payment of these monies by using DD Form 2293. This information collection is needed to provide DFAS the basic data needed to process the request.

Affected Public: Individuals and households.

Annual Burden Hours: 5,130 hours.

Number of Respondents: 20,520.

Responses Per Respondent: 1.

Average Burden Per Response: 15 minutes.

Frequency: On occasion.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary of Information Collection

The respondents of this information collection are spouses or former spouses of military members. The applicant submits a DD Form 2293 to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). The information from the DD Form 2293 is used by DFAS in processing the applicant's request as authorized under 10 U.S.C. 1408. The DD Form 2293 was devised to standardize applications for payment under the Act. Information on the form is also used to determine the applicant's current status and contains statutory required certifications the applicant/former spouse must make when applying for payments.

Dated: July 13, 2004.

L.M. Bynum,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.