Notice-Computer Matching between the U.S. Department of Education and the Social Security Administration.

[Federal Register: December 29, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 249)]

[Notices]               

[Page 73023-73024]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr29de99-68]                         


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION



Privacy Act of 1974; Computer Matching Program


AGENCY: Department of Education.


ACTION: Notice-Computer Matching between the U.S. Department of 

Education and the Social Security Administration.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act 

of l988, Pub.L. 100-503, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 

Guidelines on the Conduct of Matching Programs, a notice is hereby 

given of the computer matching program between the U.S. Department of 

Education (ED) (the recipient agency), and the Social Security 

Administration (SSA) (the source agency). The following notice 

represents the approval of a new computer matching agreement by the SSA 

and ED Data Integrity Boards to implement the matching program on the 

effective date as indicated below.

    In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as 

amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 

(Pub.L. 100-503), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Final 

Guidelines on the Conduct of Matching Programs (see 54 FR 25818, June 

19, 1989), and OMB Circular A-130, we are providing the following 

information:


1. Names of Participating Agencies


    The U.S. Department of Education and the Social Security 

Administration.


2. Purpose of Match


    ED is one of several Federal agencies to operate benefit programs 

that have statutory requirements to reduce, suspend, or terminate 

benefits to those who are incarcerated. Sections 484(a)(5)(20 U.S.C. 

1091) and 401(b)(8)(20 U.S.C. 1070a) of the Higher Education Act of 

1965, as amended (HEA) provide that an incarcerated student is 

ineligible for loans under the Title IV student financial assistance 

programs and that students incarcerated in any Federal or State penal 

institution are ineligible for Federal Pell Grant assistance. The SSA, 

with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and various State 

and local entities developed a database of persons who are 

incarcerated. On April 25, 1998, the White House directed ED to 

coordinate its efforts to enforce the requirements of sections 

484(a)(5)(20 U.S.C. 1091) and 401(b)(8)(20 U.S.C. 1070a) of the HEA 

with SSA by accessing SSA's prisoner database. This computer matching 

program will provide an efficient and comprehensive method of 

identifying incarcerated applicants who are ineligible to received 

student financial assistance under the Title IV programs.


3. Legal Authority for Conducting the Matching Program


    ED is authorized to participate in the matching program under Title 

IV section 484(a)(5)(20 U.S.C. 1091) and 401(b)(8)(20 U.S.C. 1071a) of 

the HEA. SSA is authorized to participate in the matching program under 

42 U.S.C. 1382(e)(1)(I)(ii).


4. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Match


    ED will submit for verification from its Central Processing System 

files (Federal Student Aid Application File (18-11-01)) the social 

security number (SSN) and other identifying information for each 

applicant for Title IV student financial assistance. This information 

will be matched against the SSA State Verification and Exchange System, 

which contains the SSN and other identifying information for all SSN 

holders.


5. Effective Dates of the Matching Program


    The matching program will become effective 40 days after a copy of 

the agreement, as approved by the Data Integrity Board of each agency, 

is sent to Congress and OMB (or later if OMB objects to some or all of 

the agreement), or 30 days after publication of this notice in the 

Federal Register, whichever date is later. The matching program will 

continue for 18 months after the effective date and may be extended for 

an additional 12 months thereafter, if the conditions specified in 5 

U.S.C. 552a(o)(2)(D) have been met.


6. Address for Receipt of Public Comments or Inquiries


    Individuals wishing to comment on this matching program or obtain 

additional information about the program including a copy of the 

computer matching agreement between ED and SSA should contact Ms. Edith 

Bell, Program Specialist, U.S. Department of Education, Room 3053, ROB-

3, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-5400. Telephone: (202) 

708-8242. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), 

you may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-

8339.

    You may inspect all public comments about this matching program at 

Regional Office Building 3, 7th and D Streets, SW, Room 3045, 

Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Eastern 

time, Monday through Friday of each week except Federal holidays.

    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 

alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape or computer 

diskette) on request to the contact person listed.


Electronic Access to this Document


    You may view this document in text or Adobe Portable Document 

Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following sites:


http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm

http://www.ed.gov/news.html

http://ifap.ed.gov/csb__html/fedlreg.htm


To use the PDF you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with 

Search, which is available free at the previous sites. If you have 

questions about using the PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office 

(GPO), Toll free at 1-888-293-6498, or in the Washington, DC, area at 

(202) 512-1530.


    Note: The official version of this document is the document 

published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 

official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 

Regulations is available on GPO access at: http://

www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html



[[Page 73024]]



    Dated: December 21, 1999.

Jeanne VanVlandren,

Acting Chief Operating Officer, Office of Student Financial Assistance.

[FR Doc. 99-33744 Filed 12-28-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000-01-U