Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects

Title: Information Comparison with Insurance Data

OMB No.: 0970-0342

Description: The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 amended Section 452 of the Social Security Act (the Act) to authorize the Secretary, through the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS), to conduct comparisons of information concerning individuals owing past-due child support with information maintained by insurers (or their agents) concerning insurance claims, settlements, awards, and payments. Public Law 109-171, § 7306.

The insurer may choose to conduct the data comparison by either of the following methods. Under the first method, an insurer or the insurer's agent will submit to OCSE information concerning claims, settlements, awards, and payments. OCSE will then compare that information with information pertaining to individuals owing past-due support.

Under the second method, OCSE will send to the insurer or the insurer's agent a file containing information pertaining to individuals owing past-due support. The insurer or the insurer's agent will compare that information with information pertaining to claims, settlements, awards, and payments. The insurer will then send the information resulting from the comparison to OCSE.

On a daily basis, OCSE will send the results of a comparison to the state agencies responsible for collecting child support from the individuals by transmitting the Insurance Match Response Record. The results of the comparison will be used by the State agencies to collect from the insurance proceeds past-due child support owed by the individuals.

This information collection is authorized by: (1) 42 U.S.C. 652(a)(9) which requires the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) to operate the FPLS established by 42 U.S.C. 653(a)(1); 42 U.S.C. 652(l) (to be redesignated (m)) which authorizes OCSE, through the FPLS to compare information concerning individuals owing past-due support with information maintained by insurers (or their agents) concerning insurance claims, settlements, awards, and payments, and to furnish information resulting from the data matches to the state child support agencies responsible for collecting child support from the individuals.

Respondents: Insurers or their agents, including the U.S. Department of Labor and state agencies administering workers' compensation programs, and the Insurance Services Office (ISO).

In compliance with the requirements of Section 506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. Email address: infocollection@acf.hhs.gov. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection.

The Department specifically requests comments 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 collection of information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication.