Overview
Title
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Defense Department wants to ask people some questions to make sure they do a good job managing money for retired soldiers and their families. They want to know if people think these questions are useful, and if there are better, easier ways to ask them, so everyone should share their thoughts by April 1, 2021.
Summary AI
The Department of Defense (DoD) is requesting public comments on a proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The collection will help manage military retired pay and related payments to individuals such as spouses and beneficiaries. Comments on the necessity, accuracy, and ways to reduce the burden of this process are encouraged and must be submitted by April 1, 2021. The collection involves various forms and affects approximately 40,371 respondents with an annual burden of 7,233.1 hours.
Abstract
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document titled "Proposed Collection; Comment Request" is a notice from the Department of Defense (DoD) concerning a proposed information collection by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. According to the requirements set forth by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites public comments on various aspects of the planned data collection, including its necessity, accuracy, and methods to minimize burden on respondents.
General Summary
The purpose of the proposed information collection is to manage military retired pay and associated payments to individuals such as spouses and beneficiaries. Comments from the public are highly encouraged, particularly regarding the necessity and practical utility of the collection, as well as potential improvements to processes and reduction of respondent burden. The deadline for public comment submissions is April 1, 2021.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One of the main concerns is the use of complex language in the document, which could be difficult for those not familiar with legal or bureaucratic jargon to understand. Moreover, the document does not offer clarity on budgetary implications, such as potential costs or spending associated with this collection effort, making it challenging to assess financial impacts.
Additionally, while the document aims to collect necessary information, it lacks specific explanations regarding how this data will enhance the functioning of the agency. The notice invites suggestions for automating data collection to ease respondent burden but does not specify if comprehensive automated methods are already considered or implemented.
Impact on the Public
This information collection could have various impacts on the public. For the general populace, especially those directly involved, such as military retirees, spouses, and beneficiaries of unpaid retired pay, the collection could lead to more efficient and accurate compensation management. However, without clear communication of objectives and concepts, those affected may find the process opaque or burdensome.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For stakeholders like military retirees and their beneficiaries, the impact is significant because the collection aims directly to streamline financial processes that pertain to them. By potentially reducing errors and improving efficiency, the initiative could result in smoother and more reliable payments. Meanwhile, if not optimized, the data collection process could impose an unnecessary burden on respondents, leading to potential dissatisfaction among those who must comply.
In summary, while the effort to invite public comments and feedback reflects a positive step toward transparency and responsiveness, the document could benefit from clearer language, more detailed explanations of utility, and a focus on minimizing respondent burden through potential automation and simplification of the data collection process.
Issues
• The document contains language that may be considered overly complex for individuals unfamiliar with bureaucratic or legal terminology related to the Paperwork Reduction Act.
• The document does not specify the cost or budgetary implications related to the information collection, making it difficult to assess potential wasteful spending.
• The clarity of the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection could be enhanced; it's not explicitly clear how collected information will improve agency functions.
• The document lacks language to explain if there is any potential impact or bias towards specific groups or organizations regarding the required information collection.
• It is unclear if there are more efficient automated methods for data collection to minimize respondent burden, as suggested in the public comment solicitation.