Publication
Date: May 9, 2006 FRPart: Page Numbers: 26934-26935 Notice; Computer Matching Program Posted on 05-09-2006 [Federal Register: May 9, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 89)] [Notices] [Page 26934-26935] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr09my06-45] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of computer matching program between the U.S. Department of Education (ED), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, Pub. L. 100-503, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Final Guidance Interpreting the Provisions of Public Law 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, 54 FR 25818 (June 19, 1989), this document gives notice of a computer matching program between ED and HHS/ACF/OCSE. This computer matching program between the two agencies will become effective, as indicated in paragraph six of this notice. In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), OMB Final Guidance Interpreting the Provisions of Public Law 100-503, the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, 54 FR 25818 (June 19, 1989), and OMB Circular No. A-130, Appendix I (65 FR 77677 (December 12, 2000)), we provide the following information: 1. Names of Participating Agencies The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is the source agency; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), is the recipient agency. 2. Purpose of Matching Program The purpose of the matching program is to obtain address and employment information on individuals who owe funds to the Federal government for defaulted student loans or grant overpayments awarded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. ED will use this information to initiate independent collection of these debts under the provisions of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1982 when voluntary payment is not forthcoming. For individuals whose annualized wage level exceeds $16,000, these collection efforts will include orders by ED, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ); or a guaranty agency to the employing entity, pursuant to statutory, non-judicial, administrative wage garnishment authority, to withhold a portion of the disposable pay of the debtor until such time as the obligation is paid in full. 3. Authority for Conducting the Matching Program The legal authority for HHS and ED to conduct this matching program is contained in the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653(j)(6)). 4. Categories of Records and Individuals Covered by the Matching Program The current systems
of records maintained by the respective agencies 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
matching program are as follows: 5. Description of Computer Matching Program ED administers student
financial assistance programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965,
as amended (HEA). OCSE maintains a database that consists of three separate
components. The first
component, the new hire or ``W4'' file, contains all newly hired employees
as reported from the State Directory of New Hires (SDNH) and directly
from Federal agencies. The second component, the quarterly wage or ``QW''
file, contains quarterly wage information on individual employees, as
received from Federal agencies and States. The third component, the unemployment
insurance or ``UI'' file, contains unemployment insurance information
on individuals who have received, or
made application for, unemployment benefits, as reported by the State
Workforce Agency or other State agencies responsible for the implementation
of the Unemployment Insurance Program.
This matching agreement between ED and HHS/ACF/OCSE will assist ED, and
other entities with whom ED shares the data, in locating and collecting
funds from those individuals who are in default on loans awarded under
Title IV of the HEA or owe an obligation to refund an overpayment of a
grant awarded under Title IV of the HEA. The primary identifying elements
that the two agencies will match are: 6. Effective Dates of the Matching Program The matching program will become effective on (1) May 16, 2006; (2) 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register; or (3) 40 days after the signing of the transmittal letters sending the computer matching program report to Congress and OMB, unless OMB disapproves the agreement within the 40 day review period or grants a waiver of 10 days of the review period, whichever date occurs last. 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. 7. Address for Receipt of Public Comments or Inquiries If you wish to comment
on this matching program or obtain additional information about the program
including a copy of the computer matching agreement between ED and HHS/ACF/OCSE,
contact Marian E. Currie, Management and Program Analyst, U.S. Department
of Education, Federal Student Aid, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Union Center
Plaza, room 41B4, Washington, DC 20202-5320, Telephone: (202) 377-3212;
or, as a secondary contact: Naomi Randolph, Supervisory, Management and
Program Analyst, U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, 400
Maryland Avenue, SW., Union Center Plaza, room 44E3, Washington, DC 20202-5320,
Telephone: (202) 377-4367. Electronic Access to This Document You may view this document, as well as all other Department of Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister/index.html. To use PDF you must
have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If
you have questions about using 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.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html. Dated: May 4, 2006. BILLING CODE 4000-01-P |