Federal Travel Regulation; Updating the Incidental Expenses Definition and the Laundry, Cleaning, and Pressing of Clothing Policy, 883-884 [2015-33147]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 5 / Friday, January 8, 2016 / Proposed Rules
List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1
Income taxes, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Withdrawal of Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking
Under the authority of 26 U.S.C. 7805,
the notice of proposed rulemaking
(REG–138344–13) that was published in
the Federal Register on September 17,
2015 (80 FR 55802) is withdrawn.
Karen M. Schiller,
Acting Deputy Commissioner for Services and
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2016–189 Filed 1–7–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
GENERAL SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION
41 CFR Parts 300–3, 301–11, 301–12,
and 301–70
[FTR Case 2015–304; Docket 2015–0017,
Sequence 1]
RIN 3090–AJ56
Federal Travel Regulation; Updating
the Incidental Expenses Definition and
the Laundry, Cleaning, and Pressing of
Clothing Policy
Office of Government-wide
Policy (OGP), General Services
Administration (GSA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
GSA is proposing to amend
the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) by
updating the definition for incidental
expenses to include ATM fees, and by
clarifying the policy for laundry,
cleaning, and pressing of clothing.
DATES: Interested parties should submit
comments to the Regulatory Secretariat
at one of the addresses shown below on
or before March 8, 2016 to be
considered in the formation of the final
rule.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments
identified by FTR Case 2015–304 by any
of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Submit comments
via the Federal eRulemaking portal by
searching for ‘‘FTR Case 2015–304.’’
Select the link ‘‘Comment Now’’ that
corresponds with ‘‘FTR Case 2015–304’’
and follow the instructions provided at
the screen. Please include your name,
company name (if any), and ‘‘FTR Case
2015–304’’ on your attached document.
• Mail: General Services
Administration, Regulatory Secretariat
(MVCB), Attn. Ms. Flowers, 1800 F
Street NW., Washington, DC 20405.
Instructions: Please submit comments
only and cite ‘‘FTR Case 2015–304’’, in
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:30 Jan 07, 2016
Jkt 238001
all correspondence related to this case.
All comments will be posted without
change to https://www.regulations.gov,
including any personal and/or business
confidential information provided. To
confirm receipt of your comment(s),
please check www.regulations.gov
approximately two to three days after
submission to verify posting (except
allow 30 days for posting of comments
submitted by mail).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
clarification of content, contact Mr. Cy
Greenidge, Program Analyst, Office of
Government-wide Policy, at 202–219–
2349. Contact the Regulatory Secretariat
(MVCB), 1800 F Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20405, 202–501–4755,
for information pertaining to status or
publication schedules. Please cite FTR
case 2015–304.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
The FTR currently lists incidental
expenses as fees and tips given to
porters, baggage carriers, hotel staff, and
staff on ships. Including ATM fees in
incidental expenses, rather than
reimbursing as a miscellaneous expense,
will increase the Government’s ability to
project travel costs, improve cost
control, and simplify rules of official
travel. Additionally, this proposed rule
removes the ambiguity on whether
reimbursement of expenses for laundry,
cleaning, and pressing of clothing for
employees who go on official travel are
subject to agency discretion.
B. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and
13563 direct agencies to assess all costs
and benefits of available regulatory
alternatives, and if regulation is
necessary, to select regulatory
approaches that maximize net benefits
(including potential economic,
environmental, public health and safety
effects, distributive impacts, and
equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the
importance of quantifying both costs
and benefits, of reducing costs, of
harmonizing rules, and of promoting
flexibility. This proposed rule is not a
significant regulatory action, and
therefore, was not subject to review
under Section 6(b) of E.O. 12866,
Regulatory Planning and Review, dated
September 30, 1993.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
This proposed rule would not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities
within the meaning of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. This
proposed rule is also exempt from the
Administrative Procedure Act pursuant
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
883
to 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2) because it applies
to agency management or personnel.
D. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act does
not apply because the proposed changes
to the FTR do not impose recordkeeping
or information collection requirements,
or the collection of information from
offerors, contractors, or members of the
public that require the approval of the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.
E. Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act
This proposed rule is also exempt
from Congressional review prescribed
under 5 U.S.C. 801. This proposed rule
is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.
List of Subjects in 41 CFR Parts 300–3,
301–11, 301–12 and 301–70
Administrative practices and
procedures, Government employees,
Travel and transportation expenses.
Dated: December 7, 2015.
Giancarlo Brizzi,
Acting Associate Administrator (M), Office
of Government-wide Policy.
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5701–
5711, GSA proposes to amend 41 CFR
parts 300–3, 301–11, 301–12, and 301–
70 as set forth below:
PART 300–3—GLOSSARY OF TERMS
1. The authority citation for 41 CFR
part 300–3 continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707; 40 U.S.C. 121(c);
49 U.S.C. 40118; 5 U.S.C. 5738; 5 U.S.C.
5741–5742; 20 U.S.C. 905(a); 31 U.S.C. 1353;
E.O 11609, as amended, 3 CFR, 1971–1975
Comp. p. 586, Office of Management and
Budget Circular No. A–126, revised May 22,
1992.
2. Amend § 300–3.1 in the definition
‘‘Per diem allowance’’ by revising
paragraph (c) to read as follows:
■
§ 300–3.1
mean?
What do the following terms
*
*
*
*
*
Per diem allowance * * *
(c) Incidental expenses—Transaction
fees for ATM services, and fees and tips
given to porters, baggage carriers, hotel
staff, and staff on ships.
*
*
*
*
*
PART 301–11—PER DIEM EXPENSES
3. The authority citation for 41 CFR
part 301–11 continues to read as
follows:
■
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707.
4. Amend § 301–11.31 by removing
the first two sentences and adding one
■
E:\FR\FM\08JAP1.SGM
08JAP1
884
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 5 / Friday, January 8, 2016 / Proposed Rules
sentence in their place to read as
follows:
§ 301–11.31 Are laundry, cleaning, and
pressing of clothing expenses
reimbursable?
Your agency may reimburse the
expenses incurred for laundry, cleaning,
and pressing of clothing as a
miscellaneous travel expense for TDY
within CONUS. * * *
RIN 0906–AB00
National Vaccine Injury Compensation
Program: Revisions to the Vaccine
Injury Table
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707.
[Amended]
6. Amend § 301–12.1 by removing
from the second column titled ‘‘Fees to
obtain money’’ the words ‘‘Transaction
fees for use of automated teller
machines (ATMs)—Government
contractor-issued charge card’’.
■
PART 301–70—INTERNAL POLICY
AND PROCEDURE REQUIREMENTS
7. The authority citation for 41 CFR
part 301–70 continues to read as
follows:
■
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707; 40 U.S.C. 121(c);
Sec. 2, Pub. L. 105–264, 112 Stat. 2350 (5
U.S.C. 5701, note), OMB Circular No. A–126,
revised May 22, 1992, and OMB Circular No.
A–123, Appendix B, revised January 15,
2009.
8. Amend § 301–70.200 by—
a. Removing from paragraph (f) the
‘‘cases and’’ and adding ‘‘cases’’ in its
place;
■ b. Removing from paragraph (g) the
period after the citation ‘‘§ 301–
11.18(c)’’ and adding ‘‘; and’’ in its
place; and
■ c. Adding paragraph (h) to read as
follows:
■
■
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
*
*
*
*
(h) Who will determine, and in what
instances, an employee will be
separately reimbursed for transaction
fees for use of automated teller
machines (ATMs) when using the
Government contractor-issued charge
card, even though this expense is part
of incidental expenses under per diem.
■ 9. Amend § 301–70.301 by revising
paragraph (c) to read as follows:
*
*
*
VerDate Sep<11>2014
*
*
20:30 Jan 07, 2016
Jkt 238001
Office of the Secretary, HHS.
Notice of public hearing.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
This document announces a
public hearing to receive information
and views on the Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) entitled ‘‘National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program:
Revisions to the Vaccine Injury Table.’’
DATES: January 14, 2016, from 11 a.m.–
12:30 p.m. (EST).
ADDRESSES: 5600 Fishers Lane,
Conference Room 08SWH01, Rockville,
Maryland 20857 (and via audio
conference call and Adobe Connect).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Melissa Houston, Director, Division of
Injury Compensation Programs, at 855–
266–2427 or by email at ahouston@
hrsa.gov.
SUMMARY:
The
Secretary proposes to amend the
Vaccine Injury Table (Table) by
regulation. These proposed regulations
will have effect only for petitions for
compensation under the National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
(VICP) filed after the final regulations
become effective. The Secretary is
seeking public comment on the
proposed revisions to the Table.
The NPRM was published in the
Federal Register, July 29, 2015, 80 FR
45132, https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/
FR-2015-07-29/pdf/2015-17503.pdf. The
public comment period closes on
January 26, 2016.
A public hearing will be held within
the 180-day public comment period.
This hearing is to provide an open
forum for the presentation of
information and views concerning all
aspects of the NPRM by interested
persons.
In preparing a final regulation, the
Secretary will consider the
administrative record of this hearing
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
§ 301–70.200 What governing policies
must we establish for authorization and
payment of per diem expenses?
§ 301–70.301 What governing policies
must we establish for payment of
miscellaneous expenses?
BILLING CODE 6820–14–P
42 CFR Part 100
5. The authority citation for 41 CFR
part 301–12 continues to read as
follows:
■
*
[FR Doc. 2015–33147 Filed 1–7–16; 8:45 am]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
PART 301–12—MISCELLANEOUS
EXPENSES
§ 301–12.1
(c) Who will determine if other
miscellaneous expenses such as
expenses for laundry, cleaning and
pressing of clothing are appropriate for
reimbursement in connection with
official travel.
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
along with all other written comments
received during the comment period
specified in the NPRM. Individuals or
representatives of interested
organizations are invited to participate
in the public hearing in accordance with
the schedule and procedures set forth
below.
The presiding officer representing the
Secretary, HHS will be Dr. Melissa
Houston, Director, Division of Injury
Compensation Programs, Healthcare
Systems Bureau (HSB), Health
Resources and Services Administration.
Persons who wish to participate are
requested to file a notice of participation
with the Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) on or before
January 11, 2016. The notice should be
mailed to Annie Herzog, Division of
Injury Compensation Programs, HSB,
5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Room
08N146B, Maryland 20857 or emailed to
aherzog@hrsa.gov. To ensure timely
handling, any outer envelope or the
subject line of an email should be
clearly marked ‘‘DICP NPRM Hearing.’’
The notice of participation should
contain the interested person’s name,
address, email address, telephone
number, any business or organizational
affiliation of the person desiring to make
a presentation, a brief summary of the
presentation, and the approximate time
requested for the presentation. Groups
that have similar interests should
consolidate their comments as part of
one presentation. Time available for the
hearing will be allocated among the
persons who properly file notices of
participation. If time permits, interested
parties attending the hearing who did
not submit notice of participation in
advance will be allowed to make an oral
presentation at the conclusion of the
hearing.
Persons who find that there is
insufficient time to submit the required
information in writing may give oral
notice of participation by contacting
Annie Herzog, Division of Injury
Compensation Programs, at (301) 443–
6634 or email at aherzog@hrsa.gov, no
later than January 11, 2016.
After reviewing the notices of
participation and accompanying
information, HHS will schedule each
appearance and notify each participant
by mail, email, or telephone of the time
allotted to the person(s) and the
approximate time the person’s oral
presentation is scheduled to begin.
Written comments and transcripts of
the hearing will be made available for
public inspection as soon as they have
been prepared, on weekdays (federal
holidays excepted) between the hours of
8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. (EDT) by
contacting Annie Herzog by mail at
E:\FR\FM\08JAP1.SGM
08JAP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 883-884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-33147]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
41 CFR Parts 300-3, 301-11, 301-12, and 301-70
[FTR Case 2015-304; Docket 2015-0017, Sequence 1]
RIN 3090-AJ56
Federal Travel Regulation; Updating the Incidental Expenses
Definition and the Laundry, Cleaning, and Pressing of Clothing Policy
AGENCY: Office of Government-wide Policy (OGP), General Services
Administration (GSA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: GSA is proposing to amend the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR)
by updating the definition for incidental expenses to include ATM fees,
and by clarifying the policy for laundry, cleaning, and pressing of
clothing.
DATES: Interested parties should submit comments to the Regulatory
Secretariat at one of the addresses shown below on or before March 8,
2016 to be considered in the formation of the final rule.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by FTR Case 2015-304 by any of
the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching for
``FTR Case 2015-304.'' Select the link ``Comment Now'' that corresponds
with ``FTR Case 2015-304'' and follow the instructions provided at the
screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and ``FTR Case
2015-304'' on your attached document.
Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory
Secretariat (MVCB), Attn. Ms. Flowers, 1800 F Street NW., Washington,
DC 20405.
Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite ``FTR Case 2015-
304'', in all correspondence related to this case. All comments will be
posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any
personal and/or business confidential information provided. To confirm
receipt of your comment(s), please check www.regulations.gov
approximately two to three days after submission to verify posting
(except allow 30 days for posting of comments submitted by mail).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For clarification of content, contact
Mr. Cy Greenidge, Program Analyst, Office of Government-wide Policy, at
202-219-2349. Contact the Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB), 1800 F Street
NW., Washington, DC 20405, 202-501-4755, for information pertaining to
status or publication schedules. Please cite FTR case 2015-304.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
The FTR currently lists incidental expenses as fees and tips given
to porters, baggage carriers, hotel staff, and staff on ships.
Including ATM fees in incidental expenses, rather than reimbursing as a
miscellaneous expense, will increase the Government's ability to
project travel costs, improve cost control, and simplify rules of
official travel. Additionally, this proposed rule removes the ambiguity
on whether reimbursement of expenses for laundry, cleaning, and
pressing of clothing for employees who go on official travel are
subject to agency discretion.
B. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess
all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives, and if
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O.
13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits,
of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility.
This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action, and
therefore, was not subject to review under Section 6(b) of E.O. 12866,
Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
This proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. This proposed rule is
also exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
553(a)(2) because it applies to agency management or personnel.
D. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the proposed
changes to the FTR do not impose recordkeeping or information
collection requirements, or the collection of information from
offerors, contractors, or members of the public that require the
approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 44 U.S.C.
3501, et seq.
E. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
This proposed rule is also exempt from Congressional review
prescribed under 5 U.S.C. 801. This proposed rule is not a major rule
under 5 U.S.C. 804.
List of Subjects in 41 CFR Parts 300-3, 301-11, 301-12 and 301-70
Administrative practices and procedures, Government employees,
Travel and transportation expenses.
Dated: December 7, 2015.
Giancarlo Brizzi,
Acting Associate Administrator (M), Office of Government-wide Policy.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
5701-5711, GSA proposes to amend 41 CFR parts 300-3, 301-11, 301-12,
and 301-70 as set forth below:
PART 300-3--GLOSSARY OF TERMS
0
1. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 300-3 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707; 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 49 U.S.C. 40118; 5
U.S.C. 5738; 5 U.S.C. 5741-5742; 20 U.S.C. 905(a); 31 U.S.C. 1353;
E.O 11609, as amended, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp. p. 586, Office of
Management and Budget Circular No. A-126, revised May 22, 1992.
0
2. Amend Sec. 300-3.1 in the definition ``Per diem allowance'' by
revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:
Sec. 300-3.1 What do the following terms mean?
* * * * *
Per diem allowance * * *
(c) Incidental expenses--Transaction fees for ATM services, and
fees and tips given to porters, baggage carriers, hotel staff, and
staff on ships.
* * * * *
PART 301-11--PER DIEM EXPENSES
0
3. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 301-11 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707.
0
4. Amend Sec. 301-11.31 by removing the first two sentences and adding
one
[[Page 884]]
sentence in their place to read as follows:
Sec. 301-11.31 Are laundry, cleaning, and pressing of clothing
expenses reimbursable?
Your agency may reimburse the expenses incurred for laundry,
cleaning, and pressing of clothing as a miscellaneous travel expense
for TDY within CONUS. * * *
PART 301-12--MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES
0
5. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 301-12 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707.
Sec. 301-12.1 [Amended]
0
6. Amend Sec. 301-12.1 by removing from the second column titled
``Fees to obtain money'' the words ``Transaction fees for use of
automated teller machines (ATMs)--Government contractor-issued charge
card''.
PART 301-70--INTERNAL POLICY AND PROCEDURE REQUIREMENTS
0
7. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 301-70 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707; 40 U.S.C. 121(c); Sec. 2, Pub. L.
105-264, 112 Stat. 2350 (5 U.S.C. 5701, note), OMB Circular No. A-
126, revised May 22, 1992, and OMB Circular No. A-123, Appendix B,
revised January 15, 2009.
0
8. Amend Sec. 301-70.200 by--
0
a. Removing from paragraph (f) the ``cases and'' and adding ``cases''
in its place;
0
b. Removing from paragraph (g) the period after the citation ``Sec.
301-11.18(c)'' and adding ``; and'' in its place; and
0
c. Adding paragraph (h) to read as follows:
Sec. 301-70.200 What governing policies must we establish for
authorization and payment of per diem expenses?
* * * * *
(h) Who will determine, and in what instances, an employee will be
separately reimbursed for transaction fees for use of automated teller
machines (ATMs) when using the Government contractor-issued charge
card, even though this expense is part of incidental expenses under per
diem.
0
9. Amend Sec. 301-70.301 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:
Sec. 301-70.301 What governing policies must we establish for payment
of miscellaneous expenses?
* * * * *
(c) Who will determine if other miscellaneous expenses such as
expenses for laundry, cleaning and pressing of clothing are appropriate
for reimbursement in connection with official travel.
[FR Doc. 2015-33147 Filed 1-7-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-14-P