[Federal Register: June 29, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 123)]
[Notices]               
[Page 31038-31039]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29jn09-66]                         

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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).

ACTION: Notice of a new computer matching program.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, OCSE 
is publishing notice of a new computer matching program between OCSE 
and State Agencies administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program (SNAP).

DATES: As required by the Privacy Act, the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS) will file a report of the matching program with 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the 
Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House 
of Representatives, and the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The matching program 
will be effective as of the dates indicated below.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by writing to 
Linda Deimeke, Director, Division of Federal Systems, Office of 
Automation and Program Operations, Office of Child Support Enforcement, 
Administration for Children and Families, 370 L'Enfant

[[Page 31039]]

Promenade, SW., 4th Floor East, Washington, DC 20447. Comments received 
will be available for public inspection at this address from 9 a.m. to 
5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You may also transmit written comments 
electronically via the Internet at: http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Deimeke, Director, Division of 
Federal Systems, Office of Automation and Program Operations, Office of 
Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and Families, 
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 4th Floor East, Washington, DC 20447. 
Telephone Number (202) 401-5439.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Privacy Act of 1974 as amended (5 U.S.C. 
552a), provides for certain protections for individuals applying for 
and receiving Federal benefits. The law governs the use of computer 
matching by Federal agencies when records in a system of records are 
matched with other Federal, State or local government records. The 
Privacy Act requires agencies involved in computer matching programs 
to:
    1. Negotiate written agreements with the other agency or agencies 
participating in the matching programs;
    2. Provide notification to applicants and beneficiaries that their 
records are subject to matching;
    3. Verify information produced by such matching program before 
reducing, making a final denial of, suspending, or terminating an 
individual's benefits or payments;
    4. Publish notice of the computer matching program in the Federal 
Register;
    5. Furnish reports about the matching program to Congress and OMB; 
and
    6. Obtain the approval of the matching agreement by the Data 
Integrity Board of any Federal agency participating in a matching 
program.
    This matching program meets the requirements of the Privacy Act of 
1974, as amended, (5 U.S.C. 552a).

    Dated: June 19, 2009.
Vicki Turetsky,
Commissioner, Office of Child Support Enforcement.

Notice of New Computer Matching Program

A. Participating Agencies

    The participating agencies are OCSE, which is the ``recipient 
agency,'' and State Agencies administering the Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program (SNAP), which are the ``source agencies.''

B. Purpose of the Matching Program

    The purpose of the matching program is to provide new hire, 
quarterly wage (QW) and unemployment insurance (UI) information from 
OCSE's National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) database to State 
Agencies administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
for the purpose of determining the eligibility of Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance applicants and recipients. The State Agencies 
administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program may also 
use the NDNH information for the purpose of updating the recipients' 
reported participation in work activities and updating recipients' and 
their employers' contact information maintained by the State Agencies 
administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

C. Authority for Conducting the Match

    The authority for conducting the matching program is contained in 
section 453(j)(10) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec.  
653(j)(10)).

D. Categories of Individuals Involved and Identification of Records 
Used in the Matching Program

    The categories of individuals involved in the matching program are 
adult members of households that receive or have applied for 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The system of 
records maintained by OCSE from which records will be disclosed for the 
purpose of this matching program is the ``Location and Collection 
System'' (LCS), No. 09-90-0074, last published in the Federal Register 
at 72 FR 51446 on September 7, 2007. The LCS contains the NDNH, which 
contains new hire, QW, and UI information. Disclosures of NDNH 
information to the State Agencies administering SNAP are a ``routine 
use'' under this system of records. Records resulting from the matching 
program and which are disclosed to State Agencies administering the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program include names, Social 
Security numbers, home addresses, and employment information.

E. Inclusive Dates of the Matching Program

    The matching agreement will be effective and matching activity may 
commence the later of the following:
    (1) 30 days after this Notice is published in the Federal Register 
or (2) at least 40 days after OCSE sends a report of a matching program 
to the Congressional committees of jurisdiction under 5 U.S.C. 
552a(o)(2)(A); and to OMB, unless OMB disapproves the agreement within 
the 40-day review period or grants a waiver of 10 days of the 40-day 
review period. The matching agreement will remain in effect for 18 
months from its effective date, unless one of the parties to the 
agreement advises the other by written request to terminate or modify 
the agreement. The agreement is subject to renewal by the HHS Data 
Integrity Board for 12 additional months if the matching program will 
be conducted without any change and each party to the agreement 
certifies to the Board in writing that the program has been conducted 
in compliance with the agreement.

 [FR Doc. E9-15231 Filed 6-26-09; 8:45 am]