March 14, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The proposed information collection requirement described below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. HUD is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) provides funding to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) to administer assisted housing programs. Form HUD-50058 MTW Family Reports solicit demographic, family profile, income and housing information on the entire nationwide population of tenants residing in assisted housing. The information collected through the Form HUD-50058 MTW will be used to monitor and evaluate the Office of PIH's MTW Demonstration program which includes Public Housing, Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, Section 8 Project Based Certificates and Vouchers, Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation and MTW Demonstration programs.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office) published in the Federal Register of February 14, 2013, a final rule revising the rules of practice in patent cases for consistency with, and to address the examination issues raised by, the changes in the first inventor to file provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) (First Inventor to File Final Rule). Due to a technical issue, the First Inventor to File Final Rule as published in the Federal Register is missing text in the provisions pertaining to claims for priority to a foreign application in an application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). This document corrects the omission in the First Inventor to File Final Rule as published in the Federal Register.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Bucksport, South Carolina during the Outboard Drag Boat Association (ODBA) dragging on the Waccamaw, a series of high-speed boat races. The event is scheduled to take place on 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 22, 2013, through 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 23, 2013. Approximately 50 high-speed race boats are anticipated to participate in the races. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life and property on navigable waters of the United States during the event. These special local regulations would temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Persons and vessels that are not participating in the races would be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the restricted area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is amending its regulations to reflect new export reporting requirements. Specifically, the Census Bureau is requiring mandatory filing of export information through the Automated Export System (AES) or through AESDirect for all shipments of used self-propelled vehicles and temporary exports. In addition to adopting new export reporting requirements and modifying the postdeparture filing program, the Census Bureau is making remedial changes to the FTR to improve clarity and to correct errors.

This final rule (``rule'') sets forth procedures and criteria United States Trustees shall use when determining whether applicants seeking to become and remain approved nonprofit budget and credit counseling agencies (``credit counseling agencies'' or ``agencies'') satisfy all prerequisites of the United States Code, as implemented under this rule. Under the current law, an individual may not be a debtor under title 11 of the United States Code, unless during the 180- day period preceding the date of filing a bankruptcy petition, the individual receives adequate counseling from a credit counseling agency that is approved by the United States Trustee. The current law enumerates mandatory prerequisites and minimum standards applicants seeking to become approved credit counseling agencies must meet. Under this rule, United States Trustees will approve applicants for inclusion on publicly available agency lists in one or more federal judicial districts if an applicant establishes it meets all the requirements of the United States Code, as implemented under this rule. After obtaining such approval, a credit counseling agency shall be authorized to provide credit counseling in a federal judicial district during the time the agency remains approved. EOUST intends to add to its regulations governing credit counseling agencies, two new provisions not previously included in the proposed rule on this subject. A new section 58.17(c)(11) will require agencies to notify the United States Trustee of certain actions pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 111(g)(2) or other consumer protection statutes, such as an entry of judgment or mediation award, or the agency's entry into a settlement order, consent decree, or assurance of voluntary compliance. The second provision will amend section 58.20(j) to require an agency to assist an individual with limited English proficiency by expeditiously directing the individual to an agency that can provide counseling in the language of the individual's choice. Because these provisions were not discussed in the proposed rule published on February 1, 2008, EOUST will publish another Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requesting public comment with respect to these two provisions.