[Federal Register: April 15, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 72)]
[Notices]
[Page 18229-18230]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ap03-82]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Privacy Act of 1974, As Amended; Computer Matching Program
AGENCY: Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), ACF, DHHS.
ACTION: Notice of a computer matching program.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by Pub.
L. 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988,
we are publishing a notice of a computer matching program that OCSE
will conduct on behalf of itself and the District of Columbia
Department of Human Services, Income Maintenance Administration (IMA)
for verification of continued eligibility for Public Assistance. The
match will utilize National Directory of New Hire (NDNH) records and
IMA records. The purpose of the computer matching program is to
exchange personal data for purposes of identifying individuals who are
employed and also are receiving payments pursuant to the Temporary Aid
to Needy Families (TANF) benefit program being administered by IMA.
DATES: OCSE will file a report of the subject OCSE matching program
with the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of the House of
Representatives and the
[[Page 18230]]
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB). The matching program will be effective as indicated
below.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by writing to
the Director, Office of Federal Systems, Office of Child Support
Enforcement, Aerospace Building, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW.,
Washington, DC 20047. All comments received will be available for
public inspection at this address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Office of Federal Systems,
Office of Child Support Enforcement, Aerospace Building, 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20047. Telephone Number (202) 401-9271.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Law 100-503, the Computer Matching
and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, amended the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C.
552a) by adding certain protections for individuals applying for and
receiving Federal benefits. The law regulates the use of computer
matching by Federal agencies when records in a system of records are
matched with other Federal, state and local government records.
The amendments require Federal agencies involved in computer
matching programs to:
1. Negotiate written agreements with source agencies;
2. Provide notification to applicants and beneficiaries that their
records are subject to matching;
3. Verify match findings before reducing, suspending, or
terminating an individual's benefits or payments;
4. Furnish detailed reports to Congress and OMB; and
5. Establish a Data Integrity Board that must approve matching
agreements.
This Computer Match meets the requirements of Pub. L. 100-503.
Dated: April 7, 2003.
Sherri Z. Heller,
Commissioner, Office of Child Support Enforcement.
Notice of Computer Matching Program
A. Participating Agencies
OCSE and IMA.
B. Purpose of the Match
To exchange personal data for purposes of identifying individuals
who are employed and also are receiving payments pursuant to TANF
benefit programs being administered by the IMA and to verify continuing
eligibility for TANF benefits.
OCSE will match public assistance records, obtained from IMA, to
the NDNH. After matching has been conducted, OCSE will provide matched
data to IMA which will use this information to verify the continued
eligibility of individuals to receive public assistance benefits and,
if ineligible, to take such action, as may be authorized by law and
regulation. Under the matching program, IMA will obtain data provided
by OCSE.
C. Authority for Conducting the Match
The authority for conducting the matching program is contained in
section 453(j)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653(j)(3)).
D. Records to be Matched
The system of records maintained by the ACF under the Privacy Act
of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a, from which records will be
disclosed for the purpose of this computer match, is the Location and
Collection System of Records, DHHS/OCSE No. 09-90-0074, last published
in the Federal Register at 65 FR 57817 on September 26, 2000. The match
is a routine use under this system of records.
OCSE, as the source agency, will collect from IMA electronic files
containing the names and other personal identifying data of eligible
public assistance beneficiaries. Upon receipt of the electronic files
of IMA beneficiaries, OCSE will perform a computer match against the
NDNH. The NDNH database consists of Quarterly Wage, New Hire, and
Unemployment Insurance information. The matches will be furnished by
OCSE to IMA.
1. The electronic files provided by IMA will contain data elements
of the client's name and SSN.
2. OCSE will match the SSN on the IMA file by computer against the
NDNH database. Matching records, based on SSNs, will produce data
elements of the individual's name; SSN; employer, and current work or
home address, etc.
E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program
The effective date of the matching agreement and date when matching
may actually begin shall be at the expiration of the 40-day review
period for OMB and Congress, or 30 days after publication of the
matching notice in the Federal Register, whichever date is later. By
agreement between DHHS and IMA, the matching program will be in effect
for 18 months from the effective date, with an option to renew for 12
additional months, unless one of the parties to the agreement advises
the other by written request to terminate or modify the agreement.
[FR Doc. 03-9089 Filed 4-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M