Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program: Eligibility for Pathways Programs Participants, 531-532 [2013-31506]
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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.
*
*
*
*
*
(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.
*
*
*
*
*
[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
Jkt 232001
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
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
532
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 3 / Monday, January 6, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
students and recent graduates by
allowing talented employees to
participate in Government internships
and similar programs. Similarly,
eligibility to enroll in health benefits is
a valuable tool that can be used as part
of an overall plan to attract students and
recent graduates interested in Federal
careers and to successfully recruit and
retain them. Accordingly, OPM is
proposing to amend the existing Federal
regulations to clarify that eligible
employees in the Pathways Programs
are eligible to elect FEDVIP benefits.
Also, we are proposing to amend the
FEHBP rules to clarify that Pathways
Programs interns are eligible to elect
FEHBP enrollment pursuant to
authorities contained in Schedule D of
the excepted service, a new schedule
created by E.O. 13562 to make necessary
exceptions to the competitive hiring
rules. These changes can be found in 5
CFR 894.302(f) and 5 CFR 890.303(e)(2).
U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Katherine Archuleta,
Director.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking
Subpart C—Enrollment
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
expanded FEDVIP elections authorized
by the Pathways Programs final rule
require immediate implementation to
protect available election opportunities
for employees 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
health insurance benefits of Federal
employees and retirees.
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Executive Order 12866, Regulatory
Review
List of Subjects in 5 CFR Parts 890 and
894
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:04 Jan 03, 2014
Jkt 232001
PART 890—FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM
1. The authority citation for part 890
continues to read as follows:
[FR Doc. 2013–31506 Filed 1–3–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325–39–P
■
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8913; Sec. 890.301
also issued under sec. 311 of Pub. L. 111–3,
123 Stat. 64; Sec. 890.111 also issued under
section 1622(b) of Pub. L. 104–106, 110 Stat.
521; Sec. 890.112 also issued under section
1 of Pub. L. 110–279, 122 Stat. 2604; Sec.
890.803 also issued under 50 U.S.C. 403p, 22
U.S.C. 4069c and 4069c–1; subpart L also
issued under sec. 599C of Pub. L. 101–513,
104 Stat. 2064, as amended; Sec. 890.102 also
issued under sections 11202(f), 11232(e),
11246(b) and (c) of Pub. L. 105–33, 111 Stat.
251; and section 721 of Pub. L. 105–261, 112
Stat. 2061.
2. In § 890.303, revise paragraph (e)(2)
to read as follows:
■
§ 890.303
Continuation of enrollment.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) * * *
(2) However, in the case of an
employee who is employed under an
OPM approved career-related workstudy program under Schedule D of at
least one year’s duration and who is
expected to be in a pay status during not
less than one-third of the total period of
time from the date of the first
appointment to the completion of the
work-study program, his/her enrollment
continues while he/she is in nonpay
status so long as he/she is participating
in the work-study program.
*
*
*
*
*
PART 894—FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE
PROGRAM
3. The authority citation for part 894
is revised to read as follows:
■
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8962; 5 U.S.C. 8992;
Subpart C also issued under section 1 of Pub.
L. 110–279, 122 Stat. 2604.
Subpart C—Eligibility
This rule has been reviewed by the
Office of Management and Budget in
accordance with Executive Order 12866.
Administrative practice and
procedure, Government employees,
Health insurance, Retirement.
Accordingly, the Office of Personnel
Management is amending 5 CFR chapter
I as follows:
under § 213.3402(a) of this chapter. To
qualify, you must be 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.
*
*
*
*
*
4. In § 894.302, paragraph (f) is
revised to read as follows:
■
§ 894.302(f)
What is an excluded position?
*
*
*
*
*
(f) Expected to work fewer than six
months in each year. Exception: you are
eligible if you receive an appointment of
at least one year’s duration as an Intern
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2013–0208; Directorate
Identifier 2012–NM–204–AD; Amendment
39–17702; AD 2013–25–06]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus
Airplanes
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: We are adopting a new
airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and
A321 series airplanes. This AD was
prompted by a determination that
certain maintenance activities, such as
repairs or the accumulation of paint
layers, might cause the weight of an
elevator to exceed the certified limits.
This AD requires checking the weight of
certain elevators, and corrective action
if necessary; and re-identifying the
elevators. We are issuing this AD to
detect and correct elevators that exceed
the certified weight limits, which could
result in reduced control of the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective
February 10, 2014.
The Director of the Federal Register
approved the incorporation by reference
of certain publications listed in this AD
as of February 10, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD
on the Internet at https://
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=FAA-2013-0208; or in
person at the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M–
30, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC.
For service information identified in
this AD, contact Airbus, Airworthiness
Office—EIAS, 1 Rond Point Maurice
Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France;
telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5
61 93 44 51; email account.airwortheas@airbus.com; Internet https://
www.airbus.com. You may view this
E:\FR\FM\06JAR1.SGM
06JAR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 3 (Monday, January 6, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 531-532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31506]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
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
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 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
[[Page 532]]
students and recent graduates by allowing talented employees to
participate in Government internships and similar programs. Similarly,
eligibility to enroll in health benefits is a valuable tool that can be
used as part of an overall plan to attract students and recent
graduates interested in Federal careers and to successfully recruit and
retain them. Accordingly, OPM is proposing to amend the existing
Federal regulations to clarify that eligible employees in the Pathways
Programs are eligible to elect FEDVIP benefits. Also, we are proposing
to amend the FEHBP rules to clarify that Pathways Programs interns are
eligible to elect FEHBP enrollment pursuant to authorities contained in
Schedule D of the excepted service, a new schedule created by E.O.
13562 to make necessary exceptions to the competitive hiring rules.
These changes can be found in 5 CFR 894.302(f) and 5 CFR 890.303(e)(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 expanded FEDVIP
elections authorized by the Pathways Programs final rule require
immediate implementation to protect available election opportunities
for employees 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 health 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 Parts 890 and 894
Administrative practice and procedure, Government employees, Health
insurance, Retirement.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Katherine Archuleta,
Director.
Accordingly, the Office of Personnel Management is amending 5 CFR
chapter I as follows:
PART 890--FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM
0
1. The authority citation for part 890 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8913; Sec. 890.301 also issued under sec.
311 of Pub. L. 111-3, 123 Stat. 64; Sec. 890.111 also issued under
section 1622(b) of Pub. L. 104-106, 110 Stat. 521; Sec. 890.112 also
issued under section 1 of Pub. L. 110-279, 122 Stat. 2604; Sec.
890.803 also issued under 50 U.S.C. 403p, 22 U.S.C. 4069c and 4069c-
1; subpart L also issued under sec. 599C of Pub. L. 101-513, 104
Stat. 2064, as amended; Sec. 890.102 also issued under sections
11202(f), 11232(e), 11246(b) and (c) of Pub. L. 105-33, 111 Stat.
251; and section 721 of Pub. L. 105-261, 112 Stat. 2061.
Subpart C--Enrollment
0
2. In Sec. 890.303, revise paragraph (e)(2) to read as follows:
Sec. 890.303 Continuation of enrollment.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
(2) However, in the case of an employee who is employed under an
OPM approved career-related work-study program under Schedule D of at
least one year's duration and who is expected to be in a pay status
during not less than one-third of the total period of time from the
date of the first appointment to the completion of the work-study
program, his/her enrollment continues while he/she is in nonpay status
so long as he/she is participating in the work-study program.
* * * * *
PART 894--FEDERAL EMPLOYEES DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE PROGRAM
0
3. The authority citation for part 894 is revised to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8962; 5 U.S.C. 8992; Subpart C also issued
under section 1 of Pub. L. 110-279, 122 Stat. 2604.
Subpart C--Eligibility
0
4. In Sec. 894.302, paragraph (f) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 894.302(f) What is an excluded position?
* * * * *
(f) Expected to work fewer than six months in each year. Exception:
you are eligible if you receive an appointment of at least one year's
duration as an Intern under Sec. 213.3402(a) of this chapter. To
qualify, you must be 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. 2013-31506 Filed 1-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-39-P