FR 2025-07600

The document from the Federal Register outlines a request by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), an agency under the Department of Justice, seeking public input on proposed changes to its medical forms. These forms are crucial as they ensure that law enforcement personnel, including both employees and contractors, are physically able to fulfill their duties safely and effectively. The document invites public feedback until July 1, 2025, focusing on the necessity, accuracy, and practicality of the information collection.

General Summary

The primary goal of this notice is to revise and reinstate the collection of medical information from individuals involved with the U.S. Marshals Service. The process involves using specific forms to assess the fitness of various categories of personnel, such as operational employees, court security officers, and special security officers. These forms include the USM-522A for operational employees and the CSO-012 for court security officers, among others. The forms are completed by private sector physicians, and the gathered data is meant to ensure the safety and effectiveness of USMS operations.

Significant Issues and Concerns

Several concerns arise from the document:

1. Lack of Clarity in Utilization: The document does not clearly explain how the responses to the information collection will be employed or what decision-making criteria the U.S. Marshals Service will use with the collected data. This opacity may leave responders uncertain about the impact of their input.

2. Distinction Between Employees and Contractors: The text differentiates between USMS employees and contractors but does not elaborate on why this distinction is important, potentially confusing readers unfamiliar with the agency's structure.

3. Need for Separate Forms: The explanation for having separate forms for operational employees and court security officers is not comprehensive, which could lead to misunderstandings about the necessity of different evaluation processes for these roles.

4. Time Burden Estimates: The estimated time burden for respondents to fill out the forms lacks detailed reasoning, making it hard to verify whether these figures accurately represent the actual time required.

5. Cost Burden Calculation: The document mentions an estimated annual cost burden of $152,721 but does not clarify how this figure was derived, challenging readers to assess the appropriateness of this cost estimate.

Impact on the Public

Broadly, the document highlights an administrative process that might not directly touch the everyday public but ensures the operational effectiveness and safety of federal law enforcement personnel. It reflects a commitment to maintaining high standards of physical fitness among those charged with public safety. However, the issues noted could lead to miscommunication or misapprehension among stakeholders.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For healthcare providers, particularly physicians who will need to fill these forms, the lack of clarity regarding time burden and process could lead to logistical concerns, affecting how they manage this task in conjunction with their other responsibilities.

USMS personnel and contractors affected by this process might experience confusion or frustration due to unclear distinctions between different roles and the implications of the forms they must submit.

The document offers an opportunity for public contribution, enabling stakeholders to voice concerns and suggest improvements. Yet, without clearer guidelines on how feedback will be used, the efficacy of such public input may be questioned.

Overall, while the intent to maintain rigorous health and safety standards for law enforcement is unmistakable, the document could benefit from clearer communication on the process and implications for those involved.

The document discusses a proposed collection of information by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) concerning medical evaluation forms required for various personnel involved in their operations. It includes a notable financial reference, which is the estimated annual cost burden of $152,721 associated with this information collection process.

Financial Overview

The document mentions an estimated cost burden of $152,721, which represents the anticipated expense related to the completion and processing of the medical evaluation forms required by the USMS. These forms are part of the structured process to ensure that all operational employees, security officers, and certain contractors are medically qualified to fulfill their job duties effectively and safely. The document, however, does not provide a detailed breakdown or rationale behind how this specific cost figure was derived.

Relation to Identified Issues

One of the key issues noted in the document is the lack of clarity on how the financial estimate was calculated. Without a detailed breakdown, it is difficult to assess the accuracy or comprehensiveness of the $152,721 cost estimate. This lack of transparency may raise questions regarding the assumptions or methodologies used to arrive at this figure, which is critical for understanding the potential financial impact on the agency and taxpayers.

Furthermore, the document does not illuminate whether this cost includes potential savings or efficiencies gained from implementing these forms electronically, or if it takes into consideration the burden on the private-sector physicians required to fill out these evaluations. Additionally, the financial reference does not address potential variations in cost should the number of forms or respondents fluctuate.

In summary, while the document provides an overarching estimate of the financial cost associated with the information collection, the absence of a detailed explanation makes it challenging to verify the accuracy of this estimate or to understand its implications fully. This lack of detail contributes to one of the main identified issues, requiring further information to allow stakeholders to evaluate the financial burden effectively.