[Federal Register: July 18, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 138)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 42585-42586]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18jy03-10]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
15 CFR Parts 50 and 80
[Docket Number 010828220-3161-02]
RIN 0607-AA24
Amendments to Age Search Procedures
AGENCY: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of final rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is issuing this final
rule to clarify and revise the general information requirements
pertaining to its Age Search Program. The Census Bureau is making these
clarifications to ensure that there are no misunderstandings about the
program requirements as a result of ambiguous language. The intent of
the Census Bureau in taking these actions is to clarify and revise
processing requirements and legal restrictions.
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 18, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Grice, Assistant Division Chief
(Processing), National Processing Center, U.S. Census Bureau, 1201 East
10th Street, Room 247, Building 66, Jeffersonville, IN 47132, by
telephone on (812) 218-3579, or by fax on (812) 218-3293.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The age and citizenship searching service is a self-supporting
operation of the Census Bureau in accordance with Title 31, United
States Code, Section 9701. Under this statute, all expenses incurred in
the retrieval of personal information from decennial census records and
the preparation of census transcripts are covered by fees paid by
individuals who request this service. The Age Search census transcript
provides proof of age to qualify individuals for social security or
other retirements benefits, proof of citizenship to obtain passports,
proof of family relationships for rights of inheritance, or to satisfy
other situations where a birth certificate is required but not
available. Census records also are considered a valuable tool for
genealogical research. The 1910 through 2000 censuses in custody of the
Census Bureau are confidential and protected from disclosure by Title
13, United States Code.
On September 17, 2001 (66 FR 48013), the Census Bureau published in
the
[[Page 42586]]
Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking and request for
comment on the subject. The Census Bureau did not receive any public
comments.
Program Requirements
In order to clarify and update the general rules applying to the
Age Search Program, the Census Bureau is making the following four
amendments to Title 15, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), parts 50 and
80:
[sbull] Amend Section 50.1 to change the time frame from 120 days
to 90 days for submitting any required additional information after
completing an initial, unsuccessful search. This change is consistent
with current policy on the issue.
[sbull] Amend Section 50.5 to update the note following the chart
on the fee structure. The Census Bureau has not had a fee increase
since 1993.
[sbull] Amend Section 80.1 to clarify the procedures for releasing
census information. This change is consistent with current policy on
the issue.
[sbull] Amend Section 80.1 to reflect the current address.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration that this rule would not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The factual basis for
this certification was published with the proposed rule. No comments
were received regarding the economic impact of this rule. As a result,
no final regulatory flexibility analysis was prepared.
Executive Orders
This rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of
Executive Order 12866. This rule does not contain policies with
federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order
13132.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This notice contains a collection of information requirements
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Form BC-600, referenced in
the amended language for section 80.1, has been cleared under OMB
control number 0607-0117.
List of Subjects
15 CFR Part 50
Census data, Population census, Statistics.
15 CFR Part 80
Census data, Population census, Statistics.
0
For reasons set out in the preamble, 15 CFR parts 50 and 80 are amended
as follows:
PART 50--SPECIAL SERVICES AND STUDIES BY THE BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
0
1. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 50 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: Sec. 3, 49 Stat. 293, as amended; and 15 U.S.C. 192a.
Interprets or applies Sec. 1, 40 Stat. 1256, as amended; Sec. 1, 49
Stat. 292; Sec. 8, 60 Stat. 1013, as amended; 15 U.S.C. 192, 189a;
and 13 U.S.C. 8.
0
2. Amend Sec. 50.1 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:
Sec. 50.1 General.
* * * * *
(d) If a search is unsuccessful and additional information for a
further search is requested by the Census Bureau, such information must
be received within 90 days of the request or the case will be
considered closed. Additional information received after 90 days must
be accompanied by a new fee and will be considered a new request.
0
3. Amend Sec. 50.5 by revising the following note on the chart to read
as follows:
Sec. 50.5 Fee structure for age search and citizenship information.
* * * * *
Note. --The $10.00 for each full schedule requested is in
addition to the $40.00 transcript fee.
PART 80--FURNISHING PERSONAL CENSUS DATA FROM CENSUS OF POPULATION
SCHEDULES
0
1. The authority citation for 15 CFR part 80 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: Sec. 1, Pub. L. 83-1158, and 68 Stat. 1013 (13 U.S.C.
8).
0
2. Amend Sec. 80.1 by revising paragraphs (c) and (g) to read as
follows:
Sec. 80.1 General requirements.
* * * * *
(c) Requests for information from decennial census of population
records (herein ``Census Information'') should be made available on
Form BC-600, which is available from offices at the Census Bureau in
Suitland, Maryland 20233, and Jeffersonville, Indiana 47131; all county
courthouses; Social Security Administration field offices; post
offices; and Immigration and Naturalization Service offices. A letter
request--without Form BC-600--will be accepted only if it contains the
information necessary to complete a Form BC-600. No application will be
processed without payment of the required fee as set forth in 15 CFR
50.5.
* * * * *
(g) Census information will not be furnished to another person
unless the person to whom the information relates authorizes such
release in the space provided on the Form BC-600.
Dated: July 14, 2003.
Charles Louis Kincannon,
Director, Bureau of the Census.
[FR Doc. 03-18264 Filed 7-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P