Rulemaking Petition: Administrative Fines Program and Commission Forms, 16594-16595 [2015-07176]

Download as PDF 16594 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 60 / Monday, March 30, 2015 / Proposed Rules tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Background On January 2, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 6 through 13, Docket No. APHIS–2014–0018) a proposal to amend the regulations in 9 CFR subchapters B and C. We proposed to amend the regulations in part 51 of subchapter B and several parts of subchapter C to, among other things, replace references to ‘‘approved livestock facilities,’’ ‘‘approved stockyards’’ and ‘‘specifically approved stockyards’’ with the term ‘‘approved livestock marketing facilities.’’ We proposed to amend the regulations in § 71.20, which provide the conditions under which the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture may approve a livestock facility to receive livestock that are moved interstate under conditions that are afforded only to such approved facilities. The current regulations in that section require the person legally responsible for the dayto-day operations of the facility to execute an agreement with APHIS regarding the manner in which the facility will operate, if approved. The provisions of the agreement are currently set forth in the regulations. We proposed to remove the terms of the agreement from the regulations, and place them instead in a document titled ‘‘The Approved Livestock Marketing Facility Agreement,’’ which we would maintain on the Internet. We also proposed to update the terms of the agreement and to make other amendments to § 71.20 that would update and clarify the section’s content. We proposed to revise § 86.4 in order to clarify the conditions under which cattle and bison may be moved interstate to an approved livestock marketing facility without official identification. We also proposed to revise § 86.5 in order to clarify the conditions under which cattle or bison may be moved interstate to an approved livestock facility without an accompanying interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or owner-shipper statement. Comments on the proposed rule were required to be received on or before March 3, 2015. We are reopening the comment period on Docket No. APHIS– 2014–0018. The comment period will now close on April 15, 2015. We will also accept all comments received between March 4, 2015 (the day after the close of the original comment period) and the date of this notice. This action will allow interested persons VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:11 Mar 27, 2015 Jkt 235001 additional time to prepare and submit comments. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 8301–8317; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.4. Done in Washington, DC, this 24th day of March 2015. Jere L. Dick, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2015–07217 Filed 3–27–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION 11 CFR Part 111 [Notice 2015–05] Rulemaking Petition: Administrative Fines Program and Commission Forms Federal Election Commission. Rulemaking Petition: Notice of availability. AGENCY: ACTION: On January 23, 2015, the Federal Election Commission received a Petition for Rulemaking asking the Commission to expand its Administrative Fines Program and to revise and update several Commission forms and their instructions. The Commission seeks comments on this petition. SUMMARY: Comments must be submitted on or before May 29, 2015. ADDRESSES: All comments must be in writing. Commenters are encouraged to submit comments electronically via the Commission’s Web site at https:// www.fec.gov/fosers, reference REG 2015–01, or by email to FinesAndForms@fec.gov. Alternatively, commenters may submit comments in paper form, addressed to the Federal Election Commission, Attn.: Robert M. Knop, Assistant General Counsel, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463. Each commenter must provide, at a minimum, his or her first name, last name, city, state, and zip code. All properly submitted comments, including attachments, will become part of the public record, and the Commission will make comments available for public viewing on the Commission’s Web site and in the Commission’s Public Records room. Accordingly, commenters should not provide in their comments any information that they do not wish to make public, such as a home street address, personal email address, date of birth, phone number, social security number, or driver’s license number, or any information that is restricted from disclosure, such as trade secrets or DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert M. Knop, Assistant General Counsel, Mr. Neven F. Stipanovic, Attorney, or Ms. Holly Ratliff, Office of General Counsel, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463, (202) 694–1650 or (800) 424–9530. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 23, 2015, the Federal Election Commission received a Petition for Rulemaking from seven attorneys 1 (collectively ‘‘petitioners’’) regarding the Commission’s Administrative Fines Program (‘‘AFP’’) and several of the Commission’s forms and their accompanying instructions. Under the AFP, the Commission assesses civil monetary penalties for late filing and failure to file certain reports as required by 52 U.S.C. 30104(a) (formerly 2 U.S.C. 434(a)) (requiring political committee treasurers to report receipts and disbursements within certain time periods). 11 CFR 111.30; see also 52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(4)(C) (formerly 2 U.S.C. 437g(a)(4)(C)). If the Commission determines that such a violation has occurred, it may assess a civil monetary penalty according to the AFP penalty schedules at 11 CFR 111.43–.44. In December 2013, Congress authorized the Commission to expand the scope of the AFP to encompass reporting violations for reports filed under 52 U.S.C. 30104(c) (formerly 2 U.S.C. 434(c)) (certain independent expenditure reports), 52 U.S.C. 30104(e) (formerly 2 U.S.C. 434(e)) (certain federal election activity reports), 52 U.S.C. 30104(f) (formerly 2 U.S.C. 434(f)) (electioneering communications reports), 52 U.S.C. 30104(g) (formerly 2 U.S.C. 434(g)) (24- and 48-hour independent expenditure reports), 52 U.S.C. 30104(i) (formerly 2 U.S.C. 434(i)) (bundled contribution reports), and 52 U.S.C. 30105 (formerly 2 U.S.C. 437) (certain convention reports). See Public Law 113–72, 127 Stat. 1210 (2013). The petitioners ask the Commission to conduct a rulemaking to expand the scope of the AFP to these additional categories of reporting violations, using an approach that considers the criteria in the penalty schedule found at 11 CFR 111.43 (election sensitivity, level of activity, number of days late, and number of previous violations) and similar factors but eschews a strict formulaic penalty. The petitioners also ask the Commission to revise several of its 1 Messrs. Robert F. Bauer, Allen Dickerson, Benjamin L. Ginsberg, Donald F. McGahn II, Laurence E. Gold, Robert D. Lenhard, and Bradley A. Smith. E:\FR\FM\30MRP1.SGM 30MRP1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 60 / Monday, March 30, 2015 / Proposed Rules forms and their instructions. The proposals are divided into five categories, wherein the petitioners ask the Commission to: (1) Eliminate the need for ‘‘sophisticated accounting techniques’’ by ‘‘add[ing] a single, streamlined page to Form 3X for reporting all in-kind contributions’’ and ‘‘clarify[ing] that committees need only engage in best efforts to reasonably ascertain the value of expenditures subject to 24- and 48-hour reports’’; (2) revise the forms to ‘‘reflect the existence of independent-expenditure only committees’’; (3) revise the forms to ‘‘reflect the existence of Carey funds’’; (4) revise the forms to ‘‘recognize that corporations and labor organizations may make contributions to IE PACs’’; and (5) revise the forms to ‘‘confine Form 3X to nonconnected committees and separate segregated funds, create a separate reporting form for political party committees, and thoroughly redesign Form 3X.’’ The Commission seeks comments on the petition. The public may inspect the Petition for Rulemaking on the Commission’s Web site at https:// www.fec.gov/fosers, or in the Commission’s Public Records Office, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interested persons may also obtain a copy of the petition by dialing the Commission’s Faxline service at (202) 501–3413 and following its instructions. Request document #277. The Commission will not consider the petition’s merits until after the comment period closes. If the Commission decides that the petition has merit, it may begin a rulemaking proceeding. The Commission will announce any action that it takes in the Federal Register. On behalf of the Commission. Dated: March 24, 2015. Ann M. Ravel, Chair, Federal Election Commission. [FR Doc. 2015–07176 Filed 3–27–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6715–01–P FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION 11 CFR Part 115 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS [Notice 2015–06] Rulemaking Petition: Federal Contractors Federal Election Commission. Rulemaking Petition: Notice of availability. AGENCY: ACTION: On November 18, 2014, the Federal Election Commission received a SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:11 Mar 27, 2015 Jkt 235001 Petition for Rulemaking from Public Citizen. The petitioner asks the Commission to amend its regulations regarding federal contractors to include certain factors for determining whether entities of the same corporate family are distinct business entities for purposes of the prohibition on contributions by federal contractors. The Commission seeks comments on this petition. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 29, 2015. ADDRESSES: All comments must be in writing. Commenters are encouraged to submit comments electronically via the Commission’s Web site at https:// www.fec.gov/fosers, reference REG 2014–09, or by email to ContractorPetition@fec.gov. Alternatively, commenters may submit comments in paper form, addressed to the Federal Election Commission, Attn.: Amy L. Rothstein, Assistant General Counsel, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463. Each commenter must provide, at a minimum, his or her first name, last name, city, state, and zip code. All properly submitted comments, including attachments, will become part of the public record, and the Commission will make comments available for public viewing on the Commission’s Web site and in the Commission’s Public Records room. Accordingly, commenters should not provide in their comments any information that they do not wish to make public, such as a home street address, personal email address, date of birth, phone number, social security number, or driver’s license number, or any information that is restricted from disclosure, such as trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Amy L. Rothstein, Assistant General Counsel, or Mr. Neven F. Stipanovic, Attorney, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463, (202) 694–1650 or (800) 424–9530. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 18, 2014, the Commission received a Petition for Rulemaking from Public Citizen regarding part 115 of the Commission’s regulations. Part 115 prohibits federal contractors from making contributions or expenditures to any political party, political committee, or federal candidate, or to any person for any political purpose or use. 11 CFR 115.2(a); see also 52 U.S.C. 30119(a)(1) (formerly 2 U.S.C. 441c(a)(1)). Part 115 further prohibits any person from knowingly soliciting a contribution from any federal contractor. 11 CFR 115.2(c); see also 52 U.S.C. 30119(a)(2) (formerly PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 16595 2 U.S.C. 441c(a)(2)). The petitioner asks the Commission to amend 11 CFR part 115 to include certain factors for determining whether entities of the same corporate family are distinct business entities for purposes of these prohibitions. The Commission seeks comments on the petition. The public may inspect the Petition for Rulemaking on the Commission’s Web site at https://www.fec.gov/fosers, or in the Commission’s Public Records Office, 999 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20463, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interested persons may also obtain a copy of the petition by dialing the Commission’s Faxline service at (202) 501–3413 and following its instructions. Request document #276. The Commission will not consider the petition’s merits until after the comment period closes. If the Commission decides that the petition has merit, it may begin a rulemaking proceeding. The Commission will announce any action that it takes in the Federal Register. On behalf of the Commission, Dated: March 24, 2015. Ann M. Ravel, Chair, Federal Election Commission. [FR Doc. 2015–07177 Filed 3–27–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6715–01–P NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION 12 CFR Part 701 RIN 3133–AE39 Federal Credit Union Ownership of Fixed Assets National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: The NCUA Board (Board) is issuing for public comment this proposed rule (2015 proposal) to amend its regulation governing federal credit union (FCU) ownership of fixed assets. To provide regulatory relief to FCUs, the 2015 proposal eliminates a provision in the current fixed assets rule that established a five percent aggregate limit on investments in fixed assets for FCUs with $1,000,000 or more in assets. It also eliminates the provisions in the current fixed assets rule relating to waivers from the aggregate limit. Further, instead of applying the prescriptive aggregate limit provided by regulation in the current fixed assets rule, the Board proposes to oversee FCU ownership of fixed assets through the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30MRP1.SGM 30MRP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 60 (Monday, March 30, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16594-16595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07176]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

11 CFR Part 111

[Notice 2015-05]


Rulemaking Petition: Administrative Fines Program and Commission 
Forms

AGENCY: Federal Election Commission.

ACTION: Rulemaking Petition: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: On January 23, 2015, the Federal Election Commission received 
a Petition for Rulemaking asking the Commission to expand its 
Administrative Fines Program and to revise and update several 
Commission forms and their instructions. The Commission seeks comments 
on this petition.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 29, 2015.

ADDRESSES: All comments must be in writing. Commenters are encouraged 
to submit comments electronically via the Commission's Web site at 
https://www.fec.gov/fosers, reference REG 2015-01, or by email to 
FinesAndForms@fec.gov. Alternatively, commenters may submit comments in 
paper form, addressed to the Federal Election Commission, Attn.: Robert 
M. Knop, Assistant General Counsel, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 
20463.
    Each commenter must provide, at a minimum, his or her first name, 
last name, city, state, and zip code. All properly submitted comments, 
including attachments, will become part of the public record, and the 
Commission will make comments available for public viewing on the 
Commission's Web site and in the Commission's Public Records room. 
Accordingly, commenters should not provide in their comments any 
information that they do not wish to make public, such as a home street 
address, personal email address, date of birth, phone number, social 
security number, or driver's license number, or any information that is 
restricted from disclosure, such as trade secrets or commercial or 
financial information that is privileged or confidential.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert M. Knop, Assistant General 
Counsel, Mr. Neven F. Stipanovic, Attorney, or Ms. Holly Ratliff, 
Office of General Counsel, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463, 
(202) 694-1650 or (800) 424-9530.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 23, 2015, the Federal Election 
Commission received a Petition for Rulemaking from seven attorneys \1\ 
(collectively ``petitioners'') regarding the Commission's 
Administrative Fines Program (``AFP'') and several of the Commission's 
forms and their accompanying instructions. Under the AFP, the 
Commission assesses civil monetary penalties for late filing and 
failure to file certain reports as required by 52 U.S.C. 30104(a) 
(formerly 2 U.S.C. 434(a)) (requiring political committee treasurers to 
report receipts and disbursements within certain time periods). 11 CFR 
111.30; see also 52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(4)(C) (formerly 2 U.S.C. 
437g(a)(4)(C)). If the Commission determines that such a violation has 
occurred, it may assess a civil monetary penalty according to the AFP 
penalty schedules at 11 CFR 111.43-.44.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Messrs. Robert F. Bauer, Allen Dickerson, Benjamin L. 
Ginsberg, Donald F. McGahn II, Laurence E. Gold, Robert D. Lenhard, 
and Bradley A. Smith.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In December 2013, Congress authorized the Commission to expand the 
scope of the AFP to encompass reporting violations for reports filed 
under 52 U.S.C. 30104(c) (formerly 2 U.S.C. 434(c)) (certain 
independent expenditure reports), 52 U.S.C. 30104(e) (formerly 2 U.S.C. 
434(e)) (certain federal election activity reports), 52 U.S.C. 30104(f) 
(formerly 2 U.S.C. 434(f)) (electioneering communications reports), 52 
U.S.C. 30104(g) (formerly 2 U.S.C. 434(g)) (24- and 48-hour independent 
expenditure reports), 52 U.S.C. 30104(i) (formerly 2 U.S.C. 434(i)) 
(bundled contribution reports), and 52 U.S.C. 30105 (formerly 2 U.S.C. 
437) (certain convention reports). See Public Law 113-72, 127 Stat. 
1210 (2013). The petitioners ask the Commission to conduct a rulemaking 
to expand the scope of the AFP to these additional categories of 
reporting violations, using an approach that considers the criteria in 
the penalty schedule found at 11 CFR 111.43 (election sensitivity, 
level of activity, number of days late, and number of previous 
violations) and similar factors but eschews a strict formulaic penalty.
    The petitioners also ask the Commission to revise several of its

[[Page 16595]]

forms and their instructions. The proposals are divided into five 
categories, wherein the petitioners ask the Commission to: (1) 
Eliminate the need for ``sophisticated accounting techniques'' by 
``add[ing] a single, streamlined page to Form 3X for reporting all in-
kind contributions'' and ``clarify[ing] that committees need only 
engage in best efforts to reasonably ascertain the value of 
expenditures subject to 24- and 48-hour reports''; (2) revise the forms 
to ``reflect the existence of independent-expenditure only 
committees''; (3) revise the forms to ``reflect the existence of Carey 
funds''; (4) revise the forms to ``recognize that corporations and 
labor organizations may make contributions to IE PACs''; and (5) revise 
the forms to ``confine Form 3X to nonconnected committees and separate 
segregated funds, create a separate reporting form for political party 
committees, and thoroughly redesign Form 3X.''
    The Commission seeks comments on the petition. The public may 
inspect the Petition for Rulemaking on the Commission's Web site at 
https://www.fec.gov/fosers, or in the Commission's Public Records 
Office, 999 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20463, Monday through Friday, 
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interested persons may also obtain a copy of the 
petition by dialing the Commission's Faxline service at (202) 501-3413 
and following its instructions. Request document #277.
    The Commission will not consider the petition's merits until after 
the comment period closes. If the Commission decides that the petition 
has merit, it may begin a rulemaking proceeding. The Commission will 
announce any action that it takes in the Federal Register.

    On behalf of the Commission.
    Dated: March 24, 2015.
Ann M. Ravel,
Chair, Federal Election Commission.
[FR Doc. 2015-07176 Filed 3-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6715-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.