Notice of Request for Public Comment on Proposed Working Group Policy, 896 [E9-197]

Download as PDF 896 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 6 / Friday, January 9, 2009 / Notices Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site: https://www.ed.gov/ news/fedregister. To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll-free, at 1– 888–293–6498; or in the Washington DC, area at (202) 512–1530. Note: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official version of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/ index.html. Program Authority: Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 at Div. B, Title I, Chapter 7, Pub. L. 110–329, 122 Stat. 3595 (Sept. 30, 2008). Dated: January 6, 2009. Kerri L. Briggs, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. [FR Doc. E9–237 Filed 1–8–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION Notice of Request for Public Comment on Proposed Working Group Policy mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES AGENCY: United States Election Assistance Commission. ACTION: Notice: Request for public comment. SUMMARY: The EAC seeks public comment on a proposed policy entitled ‘‘Proposed Working Group Policy.’’ This policy is designed to set procedures and requirements for the formation and use of working groups to assist the United States Election Assistance Commission in developing proposed policies, including advisories, guidance, opinions, regulations and rules regarding the implementation of the Help American Vote Act (HAVA) and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA). EAC issues this notice according to a policy adopted on September 18, 2008 that requires EAC to provide notice and an opportunity for public comment on, among other things, advisories being considered for adoption by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. DATES: Comments must be received by 5 p.m. EST on February 9, 2009. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted: Via e-mail at havainfo@eac.gov, Via mail addressed to the U.S. Election Assistance VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:16 Jan 08, 2009 Jkt 217001 Commission, 1225 New York Ave., NW., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005, or by fax at 202/566–3127. Commenters are encouraged to submit comments electronically and include ‘‘Working Group Policy’’ in the subject line, to ensure timely receipt and consideration. Person to Contact for Information: Bryan Whitener, Telephone: (202) 566– 3100. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is the complete text of the proposed Working Group Policy the EAC is seeking public comment on. The proposed policy may also be viewed on the EAC Web site at https://www.eac.gov. Proposed Working Group Policy I. Purpose This document sets policy concerning the use, makeup and administration of working groups. For the purposes of this policy, a working group is a collection of persons with unique experience and expertise gathered to provide their individual opinions on matters impacting EAC’s mission. Working groups do not vote or otherwise provide a consensus opinion on matters presented. They are assembled either to provide individual advice on a common issue or exchange information. Working groups are not permanent and meet only for a limited purpose and time. The United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) believes that seeking diverse input from qualified individuals is critical to developing sound public policy. As EAC works meet its mission under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) the agency must utilize the experience of technical experts, election administrators and nongovernmental organizations in developing its policies. II. Roles and Responsibilities The Executive Director is hereby directed to develop internal procedures concerning the use, make-up, administration and product of working groups. These procedures must reflect and implement the policy goals adopted in this directive. III. Membership, Use and Product of Working Group Diversity of Opinion and Membership. The membership of EAC working groups shall reflect the diversity of opinion on a given issue. This commitment to diversity of opinion requires EAC staff to seek out new voices in the debate. Therefore, when reasonable, EAC will openly recruit candidates to be considered and may limit participation of an individual or PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 organization in consecutive working groups. EAC has various important constituencies that should be represented on working groups formed under this policy. These may include state and local election officials, state and local legislative bodies and nongovernmental organizations. EAC working groups must include a fairly balanced membership. Members of the working group should represent a crosssection of the election or other communities that are directly affected by the topic under consideration and academics and/or technical experts who are uniquely qualified as appropriate to the nature and functions of the working group. The reasonable credibility of the individual and the organization represented will be considered in the selection process. Limited Use. Working groups should only be used in the development of EAC policy or other matters where gathering of a variety of technical expertise or stakeholder opinions are essential to meeting agency objectives. Other determining factors for the creation of a working group shall include EAC’s strategic plan and its annual operating budget, goals and objectives. The creation of working groups shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Director. Any request for a working group must be submitted to the Executive Director in writing and identify the need for the working group, the proposed charge of the working group, the identification of the various opinions or interests that must be represented, a proposed composition of the group, an approximate length of time that the working group will be in place. Group Focus. Any working group established by the EAC must be provided a clear focus in the form of a written agenda or group mandate. Staff must be assigned to the group to facilitate discussion, maintain group focus and document opinion or facts expressed. Publication of Working Group Discussion Points. In reporting on the activities of a working group, the EAC shall capture the opinions or facts expressed by the working group and make that information available to the Commissioners and EAC program staff for use in making a final policy determination. This information will also be made available to the public. Gracia Hillman, Commissioner, U.S. Election Assistance Commission. [FR Doc. E9–197 Filed 1–8–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820–KF–P E:\FR\FM\09JAN1.SGM 09JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 6 (Friday, January 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-197]


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ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION


Notice of Request for Public Comment on Proposed Working Group 
Policy

AGENCY:  United States Election Assistance Commission.

ACTION:  Notice: Request for public comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The EAC seeks public comment on a proposed policy entitled 
``Proposed Working Group Policy.'' This policy is designed to set 
procedures and requirements for the formation and use of working groups 
to assist the United States Election Assistance Commission in 
developing proposed policies, including advisories, guidance, opinions, 
regulations and rules regarding the implementation of the Help American 
Vote Act (HAVA) and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA). 
EAC issues this notice according to a policy adopted on September 18, 
2008 that requires EAC to provide notice and an opportunity for public 
comment on, among other things, advisories being considered for 
adoption by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

DATES:  Comments must be received by 5 p.m. EST on February 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted: Via e-mail at havainfo@eac.gov, 
Via mail addressed to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 1225 New 
York Ave., NW., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005, or by fax at 202/566-
3127. Commenters are encouraged to submit comments electronically and 
include ``Working Group Policy'' in the subject line, to ensure timely 
receipt and consideration.
    Person to Contact for Information: Bryan Whitener, Telephone: (202) 
566-3100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is the complete text of the 
proposed Working Group Policy the EAC is seeking public comment on. The 
proposed policy may also be viewed on the EAC Web site at https://
www.eac.gov.

Proposed Working Group Policy

I. Purpose

    This document sets policy concerning the use, makeup and 
administration of working groups. For the purposes of this policy, a 
working group is a collection of persons with unique experience and 
expertise gathered to provide their individual opinions on matters 
impacting EAC's mission. Working groups do not vote or otherwise 
provide a consensus opinion on matters presented. They are assembled 
either to provide individual advice on a common issue or exchange 
information. Working groups are not permanent and meet only for a 
limited purpose and time.
    The United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) believes 
that seeking diverse input from qualified individuals is critical to 
developing sound public policy. As EAC works meet its mission under the 
Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) and the National Voter 
Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) the agency must utilize the experience 
of technical experts, election administrators and nongovernmental 
organizations in developing its policies.

II. Roles and Responsibilities

    The Executive Director is hereby directed to develop internal 
procedures concerning the use, make-up, administration and product of 
working groups. These procedures must reflect and implement the policy 
goals adopted in this directive.

III. Membership, Use and Product of Working Group

    Diversity of Opinion and Membership. The membership of EAC working 
groups shall reflect the diversity of opinion on a given issue. This 
commitment to diversity of opinion requires EAC staff to seek out new 
voices in the debate. Therefore, when reasonable, EAC will openly 
recruit candidates to be considered and may limit participation of an 
individual or organization in consecutive working groups. EAC has 
various important constituencies that should be represented on working 
groups formed under this policy. These may include state and local 
election officials, state and local legislative bodies and 
nongovernmental organizations. EAC working groups must include a fairly 
balanced membership. Members of the working group should represent a 
cross-section of the election or other communities that are directly 
affected by the topic under consideration and academics and/or 
technical experts who are uniquely qualified as appropriate to the 
nature and functions of the working group. The reasonable credibility 
of the individual and the organization represented will be considered 
in the selection process.
    Limited Use. Working groups should only be used in the development 
of EAC policy or other matters where gathering of a variety of 
technical expertise or stakeholder opinions are essential to meeting 
agency objectives. Other determining factors for the creation of a 
working group shall include EAC's strategic plan and its annual 
operating budget, goals and objectives. The creation of working groups 
shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Director. Any request 
for a working group must be submitted to the Executive Director in 
writing and identify the need for the working group, the proposed 
charge of the working group, the identification of the various opinions 
or interests that must be represented, a proposed composition of the 
group, an approximate length of time that the working group will be in 
place.
    Group Focus. Any working group established by the EAC must be 
provided a clear focus in the form of a written agenda or group 
mandate. Staff must be assigned to the group to facilitate discussion, 
maintain group focus and document opinion or facts expressed.
    Publication of Working Group Discussion Points. In reporting on the 
activities of a working group, the EAC shall capture the opinions or 
facts expressed by the working group and make that information 
available to the Commissioners and EAC program staff for use in making 
a final policy determination. This information will also be made 
available to the public.

Gracia Hillman,
Commissioner, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
 [FR Doc. E9-197 Filed 1-8-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-KF-P
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