Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program: Election Opportunities for Pathways Participants, 530-531 [2013-31505]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 3 / Monday, January 6, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
The Office of Management and Budget
has reviewed this rule in accordance
with E.O. 13563 and 12866.
List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 550
Administrative practice and
procedure, Claims, Government
employees, Wages.
Accordingly, OPM is amending 5 CFR
part 550 as follows:
PART 550—PAY ADMINISTRATION
(GENERAL)
Subpart K—Collection by Offset From
Indebted Government Employees
1. The authority citation for subpart K
of part 550 continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5514; sec. 8(1) of E.O.
11609; redesignated in sec. 2–1 of E.O.
12107.
2. In § 550.1102, revise paragraph
(b)(1) and add a new paragraph (b)(3) to
read as follows:
■
Scope.
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with RULES
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(b) * * *
(1) Excluded debts. The procedures
contained in this subpart do not apply
to—
(i) Debts arising under the Internal
Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 1 et seq.);
(ii) Debts arising under the tariff laws
of the United States;
(iii) Any case where collection of a
debt by salary offset is explicitly
provided for or prohibited by another
statute (e.g., travel advances in 5 U.S.C.
5705 and employee training expenses in
5 U.S.C. 4108); or
(iv) Any other debt excluded by the
FCCS or 31 CFR part 285.
*
*
*
*
*
(3) Compromise, suspension, or
termination of collection actions. This
subpart does not preclude the
compromise, suspension, or termination
of collection actions, where appropriate,
as provided in the FCCS (31 CFR 900.4)
or the use of alternative dispute
resolution methods if they are not
inconsistent with agency-specific laws
and regulations.
3. In § 550.1103, revise the definition
of ‘‘FCCS’’ to read as follows:
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§ 550.1103
Definitions.
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as provided in paragraphs (1) and (m) of
this section.
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■ 5. Revise § 550.1106 to read as
follows:
Agencies may initiate salary offset to
collect a debt without time limitations
on any debt outstanding after the
Government’s right to collect the debt
first accrued. (See § 550.1108 for
requirement when debts are delinquent
over 180 days.)
Agency regulations.
*
U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Katherine Archuleta,
Director.
§ 550.1102
FCCS means the Federal Claims
Collections Standards published in 31
CFR parts 900 through 904.
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■ 4. In § 550.1104, revise paragraph (d)
introductory text and paragraphs (d)(3),
(i), and (j) to read as follows:
§ 550.1104
Executive Order 13563 and Executive
Order 12866
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(d) Notification before deductions
begin. Provide for notification before
deductions begin. Except as provided in
paragraph (c) of this section, deductions
under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 5514
must not be made unless the head of the
creditor agency (or authorized designee)
provides the employee a written notice
at least 30 days before any deduction
begins. (For debts outstanding more
than 10 years on or before June 11, 2009,
see also 31 CFR 285.7(d) for additional
notification requirements.) The written
notice must state at a minimum:
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(3) The frequency and amount of the
intended deduction (stated as a fixed
dollar amount or as a percentage of pay,
not to exceed 15 percent of disposable
pay except as provided in paragraph (i)
of this section) and the intention to
continue the deductions until the debt
is paid in full or otherwise resolved;
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(i) Limitation on amount of
deductions. Prescribe the limitations on
the amount of the deduction.
Ordinarily, the size of installment
deductions must bear a reasonable
relationship to the size of the debt and
the employee’s ability to pay (see the
FCCS at 31 CFR 901.8). However, the
amount deducted for any period under
this subpart may not exceed 15 percent
of the disposable pay from which the
deduction is made, unless the employee
has agreed in writing to the deduction
of a greater amount or a higher
deduction has been ordered by a court
under section 124 of Public Law 97–276
(96 Stat.1195).
(j) Duration of deductions. Prescribe
the duration of deductions under this
subpart. Ordinarily, debts must be
collected in one lump sum where
possible. However, if the employee is
financially unable to pay in one lump
sum or the amount of the debt exceeds
15 percent of disposable pay (or other
applicable limitation as provided in
paragraph (i) of this section) for an
officially established pay interval,
collection must be made in installments.
Such installment deductions must be
made over a period not greater than the
anticipated period of active duty or
employment, as the case may be, except
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§ 550.1106
debts.
Time limit on collection of
[FR Doc. 2013–31508 Filed 1–3–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325–39–P
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL
MANAGEMENT
5 CFR Part 870
RIN 3206–AM98
Federal Employees’ Group Life
Insurance Program: Election
Opportunities for Pathways
Participants
U.S. Office of Personnel
Management.
ACTION: Interim Final Rule with request
for comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Personnel
Management (OPM) is issuing an
interim final regulation to update the
Federal Employees’ Group Life
Insurance (FEGLI) regulations to reflect
updated election opportunities for
participants in the Pathways Programs,
which were designed to promote
employment for students and recent
graduates in the Federal workforce
through internships with Federal
agencies.
This interim final rule is
effective February 5, 2014. Comments
are due on or before March 7, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ronald Brown, Policy Analyst,
(202)606–0004, or by email to
Ronald.Brown@opm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OPM is
issuing an interim final regulation to
reflect the FEGLI election opportunities
authorized by Executive Order (E.O.)
13562 signed by the President on
December 27, 2010. E.O. 13562
established the Internship Program and
the Recent Graduates Program, which,
along with the Presidential Management
Fellows Program, as modified therein,
became the Pathways Programs. This
interim final rule updates 5 CFR
870.302(b)(2) to allow FEGLI election
opportunities for participants in the
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\06JAR1.SGM
06JAR1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 3 / Monday, January 6, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
Pathways Programs as authorized by the
final rule: ‘‘Excepted Service, Career
and Career-Conditional Employment;
and Pathways Programs,’’ 77 FR 28193
(May 11, 2012).
U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Katherine Archuleta,
Director.
Changes
PART 870—FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’
GROUP LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAM
Students hired under an Internship
Program, Recent Graduate Program, or
Presidential Management Fellows (PMF)
Program, collectively known as the
Pathways Programs, and who are
employed in an appointment for a
period expected to last longer than 1
year are eligible for life insurance
coverage, as long as they are expected to
be in a pay status for at least one-third
of the total period of time from the date
of their initial appointment to the date
of the completion of the Program. The
regulations are being changed to reflect
this enrollment opportunity. This
change can be found in section
870.302(b)(2).
Accordingly, OPM is amending 5 CFR
part 870 as follows:
1. The authority citation for 5 CFR
part 870 is revised to read as follows:
■
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8716; Subpart J also
issued under section 599C of Pub. L. 101–
513, 104 Stat. 2064, as amended; Sec.
870.302(a)(3)(ii) also issued under section
153 of Pub. L. 104–134, 110 Stat. 1321; Sec.
870.302(a)(3) also issued under sections
11202(f), 11232(e), and 11246(b) and (c) of
Pub. L. 105–33, 111 Stat. 251, and section
7(e) of Pub. L. 105–274, 112 Stat. 2419; Sec.
870.302(a)(3) also issued under section 145 of
Pub. L. 106–522, 114 Stat. 2472; Secs.
870.302(b)(8), 870.601(a), and 870.602(b) also
issued under Pub. L. 110–279, 122 Stat. 2604.
Subpart C—Eligibility
2. Section 870.302(b)(2) is revised to
read as follows:
■
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking
OPM has determined that it would be
impracticable, unnecessary, and
contrary to the public interest to delay
putting the provisions of this interim
final regulation in place until a public
notice and comment process has been
completed. Under section 553(b) of the
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) a general notice of
proposed rulemaking is not required
when an agency, for good cause, finds
that notice and public comment thereon
are impracticable, unnecessary, or
contrary to the public interest. The
FEGLI elections authorized by E.O.
13562 for students and recent graduates
require immediate implementation to
protect available election opportunities
for enrollees and their eligible
dependents.
§ 870.302
Regulatory Flexibility Act
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL
MANAGEMENT
I certify that this regulation will not
have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities
because the regulation only affects life
insurance benefits of Federal employees
and retirees.
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Executive Order 12866, Regulatory
Review
This rule has been reviewed by the
Office of Management and Budget in
accordance with Executive Order 12866.
Exclusions.
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*
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*
(b) * * *
(2) An employee who is employed for
an uncertain or purely temporary
period, who is employed for brief
periods or intervals, or who is expected
to work less than 6 months in each year.
Exception: an employee who receives an
appointment of at least 1 year’s duration
as an Intern under § 213.3402(a) of this
chapter and who is expected to be in a
pay status for at least one-third of the
total period of time from the date of the
first appointment to the completion of
the work-study program.
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[FR Doc. 2013–31505 Filed 1–3–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325–39–P
5 CFR Parts 890 and 894
RIN 3206–AM97
Federal Employees Health Benefits
Program and Federal Employees
Dental and Vision Insurance Program:
Eligibility for Pathways Programs
Participants
List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 870
U.S. Office of Personnel
Management.
ACTION: Interim Final Rule with request
for comments.
Administrative practice and
procedure, Government employees, Life
insurance, Retirement.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Personnel
Management (OPM) is issuing an
interim final regulation to update the
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:04 Jan 03, 2014
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AGENCY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
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531
Federal Employees Health Benefits
Program (FEHBP) and the Federal
Employees Dental and Vision Insurance
Program (FEDVIP) regulations to reflect
updated election opportunities for
participants in the Pathways Programs.
The Pathways Programs were created by
Executive Order (E.O.) 13562, signed by
the President on December 27, 2010,
and are designed to enable the Federal
Government to compete effectively for
students and recent graduates by
improving its recruitment efforts
through internships and similar
programs with Federal agencies. This
interim final rule furthers these
recruitment and retention efforts by
providing health insurance, as well as
dental and vision benefits, to eligible
program participants and their families.
DATES: This interim final rule is
effective February 5, 2014. Comments
are due on or before March 7, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ronald Brown, Policy Analyst,
(202)606–0004, or by email to
Ronald.Brown@opm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Pathways Programs offer clear paths to
civil service careers for recent graduates
and provide meaningful training,
mentoring, and career-development
opportunities through internships and
similar programs with Federal
Government agencies. This interim final
rule updates 5 CFR 890.303 and 5 CFR
894.302 to allow election opportunities
for participants in these programs as
authorized by the final rule: ‘‘Excepted
Service, Career and Career-Conditional
Employment; and Pathways Programs,’’
77 FR 28193 (May 11, 2012).
Accordingly, to provide essential
healthcare benefits, and dental and
vision benefits, and to further the
recruitment and retention of talent by
Federal agencies, OPM is issuing this
rule to allow Pathways Programs
participants to elect FEHBP and FEDVIP
benefits.
Changes
(1) Executive Order 13562, Recruiting
and Hiring Students and Recent
Graduates, and implementing
regulations provide employee benefits
to eligible participants in the Federal
Government internships known as the
Pathways Programs. The Federal
Employee Dental and Vision Insurance
Program (FEDVIP), signed into law on
December 23, 2004, established a dental
benefits and vision benefits program for
Federal employees, annuitants, and
their eligible family members. The
FEDVIP benefit is available to all
eligible Federal employees and is a
valuable tool to recruit and retain
E:\FR\FM\06JAR1.SGM
06JAR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 3 (Monday, January 6, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 530-531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31505]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
5 CFR Part 870
RIN 3206-AM98
Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program: Election
Opportunities for Pathways Participants
AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
ACTION: Interim Final Rule with request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing an
interim final regulation to update the Federal Employees' Group Life
Insurance (FEGLI) regulations to reflect updated election opportunities
for participants in the Pathways Programs, which were designed to
promote employment for students and recent graduates in the Federal
workforce through internships with Federal agencies.
DATES: This interim final rule is effective February 5, 2014. Comments
are due on or before March 7, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald Brown, Policy Analyst,
(202)606-0004, or by email to Ronald.Brown@opm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OPM is issuing an interim final regulation
to reflect the FEGLI election opportunities authorized by Executive
Order (E.O.) 13562 signed by the President on December 27, 2010. E.O.
13562 established the Internship Program and the Recent Graduates
Program, which, along with the Presidential Management Fellows Program,
as modified therein, became the Pathways Programs. This interim final
rule updates 5 CFR 870.302(b)(2) to allow FEGLI election opportunities
for participants in the
[[Page 531]]
Pathways Programs as authorized by the final rule: ``Excepted Service,
Career and Career-Conditional Employment; and Pathways Programs,'' 77
FR 28193 (May 11, 2012).
Changes
Students hired under an Internship Program, Recent Graduate
Program, or Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program, collectively
known as the Pathways Programs, and who are employed in an appointment
for a period expected to last longer than 1 year are eligible for life
insurance coverage, as long as they are expected to be in a pay status
for at least one-third of the total period of time from the date of
their initial appointment to the date of the completion of the Program.
The regulations are being changed to reflect this enrollment
opportunity. This change can be found in section 870.302(b)(2).
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking
OPM has determined that it would be impracticable, unnecessary, and
contrary to the public interest to delay putting the provisions of this
interim final regulation in place until a public notice and comment
process has been completed. Under section 553(b) of the Administrative
Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.) a general notice of proposed
rulemaking is not required when an agency, for good cause, finds that
notice and public comment thereon are impracticable, unnecessary, or
contrary to the public interest. The FEGLI elections authorized by E.O.
13562 for students and recent graduates require immediate
implementation to protect available election opportunities for
enrollees and their eligible dependents.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
I certify that this regulation will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities because the regulation
only affects life insurance benefits of Federal employees and retirees.
Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Review
This rule has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget
in accordance with Executive Order 12866.
List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 870
Administrative practice and procedure, Government employees, Life
insurance, Retirement.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Katherine Archuleta,
Director.
Accordingly, OPM is amending 5 CFR part 870 as follows:
PART 870--FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAM
0
1. The authority citation for 5 CFR part 870 is revised to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8716; Subpart J also issued under section
599C of Pub. L. 101-513, 104 Stat. 2064, as amended; Sec.
870.302(a)(3)(ii) also issued under section 153 of Pub. L. 104-134,
110 Stat. 1321; Sec. 870.302(a)(3) also issued under sections
11202(f), 11232(e), and 11246(b) and (c) of Pub. L. 105-33, 111
Stat. 251, and section 7(e) of Pub. L. 105-274, 112 Stat. 2419; Sec.
870.302(a)(3) also issued under section 145 of Pub. L. 106-522, 114
Stat. 2472; Secs. 870.302(b)(8), 870.601(a), and 870.602(b) also
issued under Pub. L. 110-279, 122 Stat. 2604.
Subpart C--Eligibility
0
2. Section 870.302(b)(2) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 870.302 Exclusions.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(2) An employee who is employed for an uncertain or purely
temporary period, who is employed for brief periods or intervals, or
who is expected to work less than 6 months in each year. Exception: an
employee who receives an appointment of at least 1 year's duration as
an Intern under Sec. 213.3402(a) of this chapter and who is expected
to be in a pay status for at least one-third of the total period of
time from the date of the first appointment to the completion of the
work-study program.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2013-31505 Filed 1-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-39-P
