[Federal Register: October 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 210)]
[Notices]               
[Page 61811-61812]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30oc03-69]                         

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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: ACF, HHS.

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. The purpose 
of this computer match is to identify specific individuals who are 
receiving payments pursuant to various benefit programs administered by 
both HHS and Department of Agriculture. ACF will facilitate this 
program on behalf of the State Public Assistance Agencies (SPAAs) that 
participate in the Public Assistance Reporting Information System 
(PARIS) for verification of continued eligibility for public 
assistance. The match will utilize Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
records and SPAA records.

DATES: ACF will file a report of the subject matching program with the 
Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on 
Government Reform and Oversight of the House of Representatives, and 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs with the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). The dates for the matching program will be 
effective as indicated below.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may comment on this notice by writing to 
the Director, Office of Financial Services, Office of Administration, 
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. All comments 
received will be available for public inspection at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Office of Financial 
Services, Office of Administration, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 
Washington, DC 20447. Telephone Number (202) 401-7237.

[[Page 61812]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pub. L. 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. Federal 
agencies which provide or receive records in computer matching programs 
must:
    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 matching program meets the requirements of Pub. L. 
100-503.

    Dated: October 17, 2003.
Curtis L. Coy,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, ACF.

Notice of Computer Matching Program

A. Participating Agencies

    VA and the SPAAs.

B. Purpose of the Match

    To identify specific individuals who are receiving benefits from VA 
and also receiving payments pursuant to HHS and Department of 
Agriculture benefit programs, and to verify their continued eligibility 
for such benefits. SPAAs will contact affected individuals and seek to 
verify the information resulting from the match before initiating any 
adverse actions based on the match results.

C. Authority for Conducting the Match

    The authority for conducting the matching program is contained in 
section 402 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602).

D. Records to be Matched

    VA will disclose records from its Privacy Act system of records 
entitled ``Compensation, Pension, Education and Rehabilitation 
Records'' (58 VA 21/22 first published at 41 FR 9294 (March 3, 1976), 
and last amended at 66 FR 47727 (September 13, 2001)). VA's disclosure 
of information for use in this computer match is listed as a routine 
use in this system of records.
    VA, as the source agency, will prepare electronic files containing 
the names and other personal identifying data of eligible veterans 
receiving benefits. These records are matched electronically against 
SPAA files consisting of data regarding monthly Medicaid, Temporary 
Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), general assistance, and Food Stamp 
beneficiaries.
    1. The electronic files provided by the SPAAs will contain client 
names and Social Security numbers (SSNs).
    2. The resulting output returned to the SPAAs will contain personal 
identifiers, including names, SSNs, employers, current work or home 
addresses, 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. 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 others by written request to 
terminate or modify the agreement.

[FR Doc. 03-27356 Filed 10-29-03; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184-01-M