Overview
Title
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Department of Defense wants to know what people think about their plan to ask for information from courts about people who owe money but have passed away. They are checking if this plan is helpful and not too hard for the 300 people involved to do.
Summary AI
The Department of Defense (DoD) is asking the public to comment on a proposed information collection related to deceased debtors. This collection is necessary for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service to obtain information from probate courts about estates of deceased debtors to file claims for money owed to the U.S. government. The DoD is seeking feedback on the necessity, utility, and burden of this information collection, which will involve 300 respondents and have an annual burden of 100 hours. Comments are accepted until April 27, 2021, through the federal eRulemaking portal, as mail submissions are not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 from the Federal Register, issued by the Department of Defense (DoD), seeks public input on a proposed information collection related to deceased debtors. The initiative, driven by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, aims to obtain necessary data from probate courts to file claims on estates for debts owed to the U.S. government. Comments are welcomed until April 27, 2021, through the federal eRulemaking portal because physical mail submissions are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
General Summary
This notice outlines a requirement where the DoD proposes to collect information on deceased individuals who owe debts to the U.S. government. Using "Request for Information Regarding Deceased Debtor, DD Form 2840," the department plans to gather details from probate courts, which could include the names and addresses of executors or estate lawyers, to submit claims against these estates. The document presents a timeline, methodology for comment submissions, and supplementary operational information related to the proposal.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One significant issue is the lack of clarity on the necessity and practical utility of collecting this information from probate courts. The document lacks concrete examples or methodologies that explain how this collection will enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected, which could lead to ambiguity in its justification.
Furthermore, the proposed collection's stated "average burden per response" of 20 minutes appears arbitrary without detailed justification, raising concerns about its accuracy across various jurisdictions. Moreover, the absence of measures to minimize the burden on respondents through technological advancements suggests potential inefficiencies in the process. The document also doesn't specify the costs involved, leaving open questions about the potential financial implications and efficiency of the initiative.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, the document involves a collection activity that touches on financial accountability and debt recovery for the U.S. government. Members of the public, particularly those involved in handling estates, might be impacted by additional administrative responsibilities or potential legal obligations. Considering the ongoing pandemic, expecting respondents to adjust to electronic submission methods poses an adaptive challenge, highlighting gaps in preparedness discussed in the notice.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
The proposal could significantly affect state, local, and tribal governments, as they are the identified respondent group. The burden of furnishing detailed information on deceased debtors may place additional demands on their resources. On the positive side, if implemented efficiently, the proposal could assist in debt recovery, potentially benefitting public finances.
However, the stakeholders may face difficulties navigating the new requirements if sufficient technological solutions or support mechanisms are not provided, indicating a negative impact if such gaps are not bridged swiftly. Addressing these concerns with clear guidelines and support would be valuable for enhancing cooperation and compliance.
Issues
• The document does not provide specific details regarding the necessity and practical utility of the information collected from probate courts, leaving ambiguity in its justification.
• The language concerning how the collected information 'enhances the quality, utility, and clarity' is vague and lacks concrete examples or methodologies, which might hinder full understanding.
• There is no detailed explanation of measures taken to minimize the burden on the respondents and improve efficiency through 'automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology'.
• The document does not specify the potential costs involved in the process of collecting this information, which could be crucial for assessing possible wasteful spending.
• Details regarding why the specific number of respondents (300) is expected and how these were estimated are not provided, leaving questions on representativeness and necessity.
• The estimate of '20 minutes' as the average burden per response seems arbitrary without detailed justification or discussion on variability among different jurisdictions.