[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 152 (Thursday, August 7, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42439-42443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20742]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
20 CFR Parts 404 and 422
RIN 0960-AE09
Federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance; Disclosure
of Information to Consumer Reporting Agencies and Overpayment Recovery
Through Administrative Offset Against Federal Payments
AGENCY: Social Security Administration.
ACTION: Proposed rules.
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SUMMARY: We propose to make several revisions to our regulations
dealing with debt collection. First, we propose to modify the
regulations dealing with the recovery of benefit overpayments under
title II of the Social Security Act (the Act) to reflect statutory
authority for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to selectively
refer information to consumer reporting agencies and to recover title
II overpayments through administrative offset by the Department of the
Treasury against other Federal payments to which the overpaid
individual may be entitled. These collection practices would be limited
to overpayments made to a person after he or she attained age 18 that
are determined to be otherwise unrecoverable under section 204 of the
Act after the individual ceases to be a beneficiary under title II of
the Act. Second, as an independent agency in the executive branch of
the U.S. Government, we propose to establish a new subpart D in part
422 of title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations which will explain
our rules on debt collection procedures for both administrative debts
and for title II program overpayments determined to be otherwise
unrecoverable under section 204 of the Act. These proposed rules for
the new subpart D would address the reporting of delinquent debts to
consumer and other credit reporting agencies and the use of
administrative offset through the Department of the Treasury. Third, we
propose to revise our rules on the recovery of title II program
overpayments through the use of the Federal income tax refund offset
(TRO) provisions to reflect that, beginning January 1, 1998, the
Department of the Treasury, rather than the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS), will administer the TRO program, and to reflect other changes in
policies and procedures applied by the IRS and the Department of the
Treasury in the TRO program.
DATES: To be sure your comments are considered, we must receive them no
later than October 6, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted in writing to the Commissioner
of Social Security, P.O. Box 1585, Baltimore, Maryland 21235, sent by
telefax to (410) 966-2830, sent by e-mail to regulations@ssa.gov,''
or delivered to the Division of Regulations and Rulings, Social
Security Administration, 3-B-1 Operations Building, 6401 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 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: Robert J. Augustine, Legal Assistant,
Division of Regulations and Rulings, Social Security Administration,
6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235, (410) 966-5121. For
information on eligibility or claiming benefits, call our national
toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 204 of the Act prescribes the
methods SSA may use to recover Social Security benefits erroneously
paid under title II of the Act (title II program overpayments), as
distinguished from the methods SSA may use to collect other debts owed
the agency (administrative debts) that are recoverable under other
statutory authority. Until recently, SSA was authorized to recover
title II program overpayments only through adjustment of future
benefits payable to the overpaid individual or to others on the
earnings record on which the overpayment was made, by direct recovery
from the overpaid person (or the overpaid person's estate, if
deceased), or by offset against Federal income tax refunds due from the
Department of the Treasury. Amendments to section 204 of the Act by
section 5 of Pub. L. 103-387 (1994) and section 31001(z)(2) of Pub. L.
104-134 (1996) permit SSA to use several debt collection procedures
that have
[[Page 42440]]
been available to Federal agencies (including SSA) by statute since
1982, but that SSA had been precluded from using to recover title II
program overpayments. Among other things, these procedures include
reporting delinquent debts to consumer and other credit reporting
agencies and recovering debts by administrative offset against other
Federal payments to which the debtor is entitled. Under section 204(f)
of the Act (42 U.S.C. 404(f)), these additional debt collection
procedures may be used to recover title II program overpayments only if
the overpayment was made to a person after he or she attained age 18
and the overpayment has been determined to be otherwise unrecoverable
under section 204 of the Act after the overpaid person is no longer
entitled to benefits under title II of the Act.
Before we can refer information to consumer or other credit
reporting agencies or refer a debt to the Department of the Treasury
for administrative offset (either title II program overpayments or
administrative debts), we must (1) send the debtor written notice (or,
in the case of an individual for whom we do not have a current address,
take reasonable action to locate and send written notice) describing
the amount and nature of the debt, the action that we propose to take,
and the debtor's rights to an explanation of the debt, to request us to
review the debt, to dispute the accuracy of the information about the
debt, and to inspect or copy our records about the debt; and (2) give
the debtor at least 60 calendar days to present evidence that all or
part of the debt is not past-due or not legally enforceable, or enter
into a written agreement to pay the debt.
Prior to March 31, 1995, SSA was an operating division of the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). SSA relied on the DHHS
rules at 45 CFR part 30 for debt collection (other than collection of
title II program overpayments). The Social Security Independence and
Program Improvements Act of 1994 (SSIPIA), Pub. L. 103-296, established
SSA as an independent agency in the executive branch of the Federal
government effective March 31, 1995, and vested general regulatory
authority in the Commissioner of Social Security (the Commissioner).
Under section 106(b) of the SSIPIA, DHHS regulations in effect
immediately before March 31, 1995, which relate to functions now vested
in the Commissioner by reason of SSA's independence, continue to apply
to SSA until such time as they are modified, suspended, terminated, or
repealed by the Commissioner. In this rule, we propose to establish a
new subpart D in part 422 of our regulations which will set forth the
SSA rules on debt collection for title II program overpayments that
have been determined to be otherwise unrecoverable under section 204 of
the Act and for administrative debts. At this time, we propose to set
forth in subpart D our rules on referral to consumer and other credit
reporting agencies and referral to the Department of the Treasury for
administrative offset. In the future, as we make the necessary systems
changes and develop policies and procedures to enable us to use
additional debt collection tools for recovery of title II program
overpayments, we will modify subpart D of part 422. In the meantime, we
will continue to rely on the definitions and collection methods
contained in the DHHS regulations in 45 CFR part 30 to recover
administrative debts owed the Federal government.
We are also proposing revisions to our existing rules on the
recovery of title II program overpayments through the withholding of
amounts due to former beneficiaries as Federal income tax refunds to
reflect the fact that, beginning January 1, 1998, the Federal income
tax refund offset (TRO) program will be administered by the Department
of the Treasury, Financial Management Service (FMS), instead of the
IRS. The policy requiring agencies to delay referral of debts for TRO
for three months after the right to collect first accrued has been
rescinded. Also, the TRO program, as administered by FMS, will be
ongoing rather than cyclical so that it will no longer be necessary for
agencies to recertify amounts for collection by TRO each year. Instead,
the case will remain with FMS for offset in succeeding years.
Explanation of Changes to Regulations
We propose to revise our title II rules on TRO at Secs. 404.520-
404.526 to reflect the fact that, beginning January 1, 1998, we will be
referring title II program overpayments for TRO to the Department of
the Treasury, rather than to IRS. Section 404.520 would be revised to
delete the requirement that a debt may not be referred for TRO before
the expiration of three months after our right to collect first
accrued. Section 404.526 would also be revised by deleting reference to
the need to recertify an overpayment for TRO in cases where a tax
refund is insufficient to recover an overpayment in a given year,
reflecting the fact that the case will now remain with the Department
of the Treasury for offset in succeeding years without need for
recertification.
We propose to add a new Sec. 404.527 to our regulations to explain
that we will use the additional debt collection methods authorized by
section 204(f) of the Act to recover title II program overpayments if
the overpayment occurred after the individual attained age 18, and the
overpayment has been determined to be otherwise unrecoverable under
section 204 of the Act after the individual is no longer entitled to
benefits under title II of the Act. Proposed Sec. 404.527 also contains
the criteria under which we determine that an overpayment is
``otherwise unrecoverable under section 204 of the Act.'' An
overpayment debt will be determined to be unrecoverable when all of the
following conditions are met: we completed our billing sequence or
collection activity has been suspended or terminated in accordance with
the Federal Claims Collection Standards in 4 CFR 104.2 and 104.3; there
is no installment payment agreement or the overpaid person has failed
to pay in accordance with such an agreement for two consecutive months;
we cannot collect the overpayment by adjusting benefits payable to
individuals other than the overpaid person. For purposes of proposed
Sec. 404.527, an overpayment will be deemed to be unrecoverable by
adjustment of benefits payable to an individual who lived in a separate
household from the overpaid person when the overpayment occurred and
did not receive the overpayment. Adjustment of benefits is waived when
waiver is requested under these circumstances. See 20 CFR 404.509.
We propose to add to Sec. 404.903 new paragraphs (t) and (u) to
include in the list of administrative actions that are not initial
determinations our determinations whether we will refer information
about an overpayment debt to consumer reporting agencies and whether we
will refer the debt to the Department of the Treasury for offset
against other Federal payments due the overpaid person. Administrative
actions that are not initial determinations may be reviewed by us, but
they are not subject to the administrative review process provided by
subpart J of our regulations at 20 CFR part 404, and they are not
subject to judicial review.
We also propose to create a new subpart D to part 422 of our
regulations to contain our rules on certain debt collection practices
and procedures. In Sec. 422.301, we would specify that the debt
collection tools in subpart D may be used to recover both title II
program overpayments the Commissioner has determined to be
unrecoverable under section 204 of the Act and overdue administrative
debts owed the agency.
[[Page 42441]]
In Sec. 422.305, we explain that we will refer all overdue title II
program debts over $25 to consumer reporting agencies. We describe the
information we must include in the notice we send to the debtor before
we report the debt to a consumer reporting agency. We also explain in
this section that, in cases where an individual disputes the
information we propose to refer to a consumer reporting agency within
60 calendar days of our notice of our proposed referral, we will not
send the information until we determine the correct information.
In Sec. 422.306, we explain that we will refer all overdue
administrative debts over $25 to credit reporting agencies. We also
describe the information we must include in the notice we send to the
debtor before we report the debt to a credit reporting agency. Examples
of administrative debts are overpayments of employees' pay and
allowances, debts for civil money penalties imposed under section
1140(b) of the Act, debts for unpaid fees for reimbursable services by
SSA (e.g., disclosure of information), contractor debts, etc.
In Sec. 422.310, we explain our rules relating to referring debts
to the Department of the Treasury for administrative offset.
Specifically, we explain that we will refer overdue debts over $25 to
the Department of the Treasury for offset against any Federal payments
due the debtor. We also describe the information we must include in the
notice we send to the debtor before referring the debt to the
Department of the Treasury for administrative offset.
In Sec. 422.315, we explain that a debtor has the right to inspect
or copy our records related to a debt before we refer the debt to a
consumer or credit reporting agency or to the Department of the
Treasury for administrative offset, and the procedures for exercising
that right.
In Sec. 422.317, we explain that a debtor has the right to have us
review the debt. To exercise this right, the debtor must notify us
within 60 calendar days from the date of our notice of proposed
referral and give us evidence that he or she does not owe all or part
of the debt, or we do not have the right to collect it. After our
review of the evidence, we explain that we will issue written findings
of our review. If the debtor requests review and submits evidence
within the 60-day period, we will not refer the debt to consumer or
credit reporting agencies or to the Department of the Treasury unless
and until we have completed our review and sent our findings to the
debtor that all or part of the debt is overdue and legally enforceable.
Electronic Version
The electronic file of this document is available on the Federal
Bulletin Board (FBB) at 9:00 a.m. on the date of publication in the
Federal Register. To download the file, modem dial (202) 512-1387. The
FBB instructions will explain how to download the file and the fee. The
file is in WordPerfect and will remain on the FBB during the comment
period.
Regulatory Procedures
Executive Order 12866
We have consulted with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
and determined that these proposed rules do not meet the criteria for a
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. Thus, they
were not subject to OMB review.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
We certify that these proposed regulations will not have a
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis, as provided in the
Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended, is not required.
Paperwork Reduction Act
These proposed regulations will impose no new reporting or
recordkeeping requirements requiring OMB clearance.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Programs No. 96.001, Social
Security--Disability Insurance; 96.002 Social Security--Retirement
Insurance; 96.003 Social Security--Special Benefits for Persons Aged
72 and Over; 96.004, Social Security--Survivors Insurance)
List of Subjects
20 CFR Part 404
Administrative practice and procedure, Blind, Death benefits,
Disability benefits, Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Social security.
20 CFR Part 422
Administrative practice and procedure, Organization and functions
(Government agencies), Social security.
Dated: July 28, 1997.
John J. Callahan,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, we propose to amend
subparts F and J of part 404 of chapter III of title 20 of the Code of
Federal Regulations and to add a new subpart D to part 422 of chapter
III of title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:
1. The authority citation for subpart F of Part 404 is revised to
read as follows:
Authority: Secs. 204, 205(a), and 702(a)(5) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 404, 405(a), and 902(a)); 31 U.S.C. 3720A.
2. Section 404.520 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 404.520 Referral of overpayments to the Department of the
Treasury for tax refund offset--General.
(a) The standards we will apply and the procedures we will follow
before requesting the Department of the Treasury to offset income tax
refunds due taxpayers who have an outstanding overpayment are set forth
in Secs. 404.520 through 404.526. These standards and procedures are
authorized by 31 U.S.C. 3720A and are implemented through Department of
the Treasury regulations at 26 CFR 301.6402-6.
(b) We will use the Department of the Treasury tax refund offset
procedure to collect overpayments that are certain in amount, past due
and legally enforceable, and eligible for tax refund offset under
regulations issued by the Department of the Treasury. We will use these
procedures to collect overpayments only from individuals who are not
currently entitled to monthly Social Security benefits under title II
of the Act. We will refer an overpayment to the Department of the
Treasury for offset against tax refunds no later than 10 years after
our right to collect the overpayment first accrued.
3. Section 404.521 is amended by revising the introductory text to
read as follows:
Sec. 404.521 Notice to overpaid individual.
A request for reduction of a Federal income tax refund will be made
only after we determine that an amount is owed and past due and send
the overpaid individual written notice. Our notice of intent to collect
an overpayment through tax refund offset will state:
* * * * *
4. Section 404.526 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 404.526 Tax refund insufficient to cover amount of overpayment.
If a tax refund for a given taxable year is insufficient to recover
an overpayment completely, the case will remain with the Department of
the Treasury for offset, assuming that all criteria for offset continue
to be met.
5. Section 404.527 is added to read as follows:
[[Page 42442]]
Sec. 404.527 Additional methods for recovery of title II benefit
overpayments.
(a) General. In addition to the methods specified in Sec. 404.502
and Sec. 404.520, an overpayment under title II of the Act is also
subject to recovery under the rules in subpart D of part 422, provided:
(1) The overpayment occurred after the individual has attained age
18;
(2) The overpaid individual is no longer entitled to benefits under
title II of the Act; and
(3) Pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, we have determined
that the overpayment is otherwise unrecoverable under section 204 of
the Act.
(b) When an overpayment is considered to be otherwise
unrecoverable. An overpayment under title II of the Act is considered
to be otherwise unrecoverable under section 204 of the Act if all of
the following conditions are met:
(1) Our billing system sequence has been completed (i.e., we have
sent the individual an initial notice of the overpayment, a reminder
notice, and a past-due notice) or collection activity has been
suspended or terminated in accordance with the Federal Claims
Collection Standards in 4 CFR 104.2 or 104.3.
(2) We have not entered into an installment payment arrangement
with the overpaid individual or, if we have entered into such an
arrangement, the overpaid individual has failed to make any payment for
two consecutive months.
(3) The overpaid individual has not requested waiver pursuant to
Sec. 404.506 or Sec. 404.522 or, after a review conducted pursuant to
those sections, we have determined that we will not waive collection of
the overpayment.
(4) The overpaid individual has not requested reconsideration of
the initial overpayment determination pursuant to Secs. 404.907 and
404.409 or, after a review conducted pursuant to Sec. 404.913, we have
affirmed, in whole or in part, the initial overpayment determination.
(5) The overpayment cannot be recovered pursuant to Sec. 404.502 by
adjustment of benefits payable to any individual other than the
overpaid individual. For purposes of this paragraph, an overpayment
will be deemed to be unrecoverable from any individual who was living
in a separate household from the overpaid person at the time of the
overpayment and did not receive the overpayment.
6. In addition to the amendments set forth above, remove the
acronym ``IRS'' and add, in its place, the words ``Department of the
Treasury'' in the following places:
(a) Section 404.521(b);
(b) Section 404.522(b);
(c) Section 404.523(a) and (c); and
(d) Section 404.525.
7. The authority citation for subpart J of Part 404 is revised to
read as follows:
Authority: Secs. 201(j), 204(f), 205(a), (b), (d)-(h), and (j),
221, 225, and 702(a)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
401(j), 404(f), 405(a), (b), (d)-(h), and (j), 421, 425, and
902(a)(5)); 31 U.S.C. 3720A; sec. 5, Pub. L. 97-455, 96 Stat. 2500
(42 U.S.C. 405 note); secs. 5, 6(c)-(e), and 15, Pub. L. 98-460, 98
Stat. 1802 (42 U.S.C. 421 note).
8. Section 404.903 is amended by deleting the word ``and'' at the
end of paragraph (r), replacing the period at the end of paragraph (s)
with a semicolon, and adding paragraphs (t) and (u) to read as follows:
Sec. 404.903 Administrative actions that are not initial
determinations.
* * * * *
(t) Determining whether we will refer information about your
overpayment to a consumer reporting agency (see Sec. 404.527 and
Sec. 422.305 of this chapter); and
(u) Determining whether we will refer your overpayment to the
Department of the Treasury for collection by offset against Federal
payments due you (see Sec. 404.527 and Sec. 422.310 of this chapter).
PART 422--ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURES
10. Subpart D is added to read as follows:
Subpart D--Claims Collection
Sec.
422.301 Material included in this subpart.
422.305 Report of overdue title II program overpayment debts to
consumer reporting agencies.
422.306 Report of overdue administrative debts to credit reporting
agencies.
422.310 Collection of overdue debts by administrative offset.
422.315 Review of our records related to the debt.
422.317 Review of the debt.
Subpart D--Claims Collection
Authority: Secs. 204(f), 205(a), and 702(a)(5) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 404(f), 405(a), and 902(a)(5)); 31 U.S.C.
3711(e); 31 U.S.C. 3716.
Sec. 422.301 Material included in this subpart.
This subpart describes the procedures relating to collection of:
(a) Overdue administrative debts, and
(b) Overdue title II program overpayments described in Sec. 404.527
of this chapter.
Sec. 422.305 Report of overdue title II program overpayment debts to
consumer reporting agencies.
(a) Debts we will report. We will report to consumer reporting
agencies all overdue title II program overpayment debts over $25.
(b) Notice to debtor. Before we report any such debt to a consumer
reporting agency, we will send the debtor written notice of the
following:
(1) We have determined that payment of the debt is overdue;
(2) We will refer the debt to a consumer reporting agency within
not less than 60 calendar days after the date of the notice unless,
within that 60-day period, the debtor pays the full amount of the debt
or takes either of the actions described in paragraphs (b)(6) or (b)(7)
of this section;
(3) The specific information we will provide to the consumer
reporting agency, including information that identifies the debtor
(e.g., name, address, and social security number) and the amount,
status, and history of the debt;
(4) The debtor has the right to a complete explanation of the debt;
(5) The debtor may dispute the accuracy of the information to be
provided to the consumer reporting agency;
(6) The debtor may request a review of the debt by giving us
evidence showing that he or she does not owe all or part of the amount
of the debt or that we do not have the right to collect it; and
(7) The debtor may request an installment payment plan.
(c) Disputing the information that we would send to consumer
reporting agencies. If a debtor believes that the information we
propose to send to consumer reporting agencies is incorrect, the debtor
may ask us to correct such information. If, within 60 calendar days
from the date of our notice described in paragraph (b) of this section,
the debtor notifies us that any information to be sent to consumer
reporting agencies is incorrect, we will not send the information to
consumer reporting agencies until we determine the correct information.
Sec. 422.306 Report of overdue administrative debts to credit
reporting agencies.
(a) Debts we will report. We will report to credit reporting
agencies all overdue administrative debts over $25. Some examples of
administrative debts are as follows: overpayments of pay and allowances
paid to employees, debts for civil monetary penalties imposed under
section 1140(b) of the Act, debts for unpaid fees for reimbursable
services
[[Page 42443]]
performed by SSA (e.g., disclosures of information), and contractor
debts.
(b) Notice to debtor. Before we report any administrative debt to a
credit reporting agency, we will send the debtor written notice of the
following:
(1) We have determined that payment of the debt is overdue;
(2) We will refer the debt to a credit reporting agency within not
less than 60 calendar days after the date of the notice unless, within
that 60-day period, the debtor pays the full amount of the debt or
takes either of the actions described in paragraphs (b)(6) or (b)(7) of
this section;
(3) The specific information we will provide to the credit
reporting agency, including information that identifies the debtor
(e.g., name, address, social security number, and employer
identification number) and the amount, status, and history of the debt.
(4) the debtor has the right to a complete explanation of the debt;
(5) the debtor may dispute the accuracy of the information to be
provided to the credit reporting agency;
(6) the debtor may request a review of the debt by giving us
evidence showing that he or she does not owe all or part of the amount
of the debt or that we do not have the right to collect it; and
(7) the debtor may request an installment payment plan.
Sec. 422.310 Collection of overdue debts by administrative offset.
(a) Referral to the Department of the Treasury for offset. We will
recover overdue debts by offsetting Federal payments due the debtor
through the Treasury Offset Program (TOP). TOP is a Governmentwide
delinquent debt matching and payment offset process operated by the
Department of the Treasury, whereby debts owed to the Federal
Government are collected by offsetting them against Federal payments
owed the debtor.
(b) Debts we will refer. We will refer for administrative offset
all overdue debts over $25.
(c) Notice to debtor. Before we refer any debt for collection by
administrative offset, we will send the debtor written notice that:
(1) We have determined that payment of the debt is overdue;
(2) We will refer the debt for administrative offset within not
less than 60 calendar days after the date of the notice unless, within
that 60-day period, the debtor pays the full amount of the debt or
takes either of the actions described in paragraphs (c)(4) or (c)(5) of
this section;
(3) The debtor may inspect or copy our records relating to the
debt;
(4) The debtor may request a review of the debt by giving us
evidence showing that the debtor does not owe all or part of the amount
of the debt or that we do not have the right to collect it; and
(5) The debtor may request an installment payment plan.
Sec. 422.315 Review of our records related to the debt.
(a) Notification by the debtor. The debtor may request to inspect
or copy our records related to the debt.
(b) Our response. In response to a request from the debtor
described in paragraph (a) of this section, we will notify the debtor
of the location and time at which the debtor may inspect or copy our
records related to the debt. We may also, at our discretion, mail to
the debtor copies of the records relating to the debt.
Sec. 422.317 Review of the debt.
(a) Notification and presentation of evidence by the debtor. A
debtor who receives a notice described in Secs. 422.305(b), 422.306(b),
or 422.310(c) has a right to have us review the debt. To exercise this
right, within 60 calendar days from the date of our notice, the debtor
must notify us and give us evidence that he or she does not owe all or
part of the debt or that we do not have the right to collect it. If the
debtor does not notify us and give us this evidence within the 60
calendar-day period, we may take the action described in our notice.
(b) Review of the evidence. If the debtor notifies us and presents
evidence within the 60 calendar day period described in paragraph (a)
of this section, we will not take the action described in our notice
unless and until we consider all of the evidence and send the debtor
our findings that all or part of the debt is overdue and legally
enforceable.
(c) Findings by SSA. Following our review of all of the evidence
presented, we will issue written findings, including the supporting
rationale for the findings. Issuance of these findings will be the
final Agency action on the debtor's request for review. If we find that
the debt is not overdue or we do not have the right to collect it, we
will not send information about the debt to consumer or other credit
reporting agencies or refer the debt to the Department of the Treasury
for administrative offset.
[FR Doc. 97-20742 Filed 8-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-P
