Contributions Through Untraceable Electronic Payment Methods, 93224-93225 [2024-27583]

Download as PDF 93224 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 26, 2024 / Proposed Rules List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 1653 Alimony, Child support, Government employees, Pensions, Retirement. Ravindra Deo, Executive Director, Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. For the reasons stated in the preamble, the FRTIB proposes to amend 5 CFR chapter VI as follows: PART 1653—COURT ORDERS AND LEGAL PROCESSES AFFECTING THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN ACCOUNTS 1. The authority citation for part 1653 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8432d, 8435, 8436(b), 8437(e), 8439(a)(3), 8467, 8474(b)(5) and 8474(c)(1). 2. In § 1653.1, amend paragraph (b) by adding the definition of ‘‘Entitlement date’’ in alphabetical order, and revising the definition of ‘‘Payment date’’ to read as follows: ■ § 1653.1 Definitions. * * * * * (b) * * * * * * * * Entitlement date means the date determined in accordance with paragraphs (b) and (c) of section 1653.4. Payment date refers to the date on which a temporary account is established for the payee in the TSP. * * * * * ■ 3. Amend § 1653.3 by revising paragraph (f)(4)(ii) to read as follows: § 1653.3 Processing retirement benefits court orders. * * * * * (f) * * * (4) * * * (ii) The anticipated payment date; * * * * * ■ 4. Amend § 1653.4 by revising paragraphs (a), (c), (d)(2), and (f) to read as follows: lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1 § 1653.4 Calculating entitlements. (a) For purposes of computing the amount of a payee’s entitlement under this section, a participant’s TSP account balance will include any loan balance outstanding as of the entitlement date unless the court order provides otherwise. * * * * * (c) If the court order awards a percentage of an account but does not contain a specific date as of which to apply that percentage, the TSP record keeper will use the effective date of the court order. (d) * * * (1) * * * VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Nov 25, 2024 Jkt 265001 (2) The vested account balance on the payment date. * * * * * (f) The payee’s entitlement will be credited with TSP investment earnings as described: (1) The entitlement calculated under this section will not be credited with TSP investment earnings unless the court order specifically provides otherwise. The court order may not specify a rate for earnings. (2) If earnings are awarded, the TSP record keeper will calculate earnings by: (i) Identifying the beginning balance, ending balance, and the cash flows between the two balances over the period of time between the entitlement date and the payment date; (ii) Calculating the rate of return that increases (or reduces in the case of a loss) the balance at the beginning of the period, accounting for all cash flows, to equal the balance at the end of the period; and (iii) Multiplying the payee’s award amount by the resulting rate of return. * * * * * ■ 5. Amend § 1653.5 by revising paragraphs (d) and (h) to read as follows: ■ § 1653.5 BILLING CODE 6760–01–P Payment. * * * * (d) Payment will be made pro rata from the participant’s traditional and Roth balances. The distribution from the traditional balance will be further pro rated between the tax-deferred balance and tax-exempt balance. The payment from the Roth balance will be further pro rated between contributions in the Roth balance and earnings in the Roth balance. In addition, all payments will be distributed pro rata from all TSP core funds in which the participant’s account is invested. All pro rated amounts will be based on the balances in each fund or source of contributions on the payment date. The TSP record keeper will not honor provisions of a court order that require payment to be made from a specific TSP core fund, source of contributions, or balance. * * * * * (h) If the payee dies before a payment is disbursed from the TSP, payment will be made to the estate of the payee, unless otherwise specified by the court order. A distribution to the estate of a deceased court order payee will be reported as income to the decedent’s estate. If the participant dies before the payment date, the order will be honored so long as it is submitted to the TSP record keeper before the TSP account has been closed. * * * * * 6. Revise § 1653.14 to read as follows: § 1653.14 Calculating entitlements. A qualifying legal process can only require the payment of a specified dollar amount from the TSP. Payment pursuant to a qualifying legal process will be calculated in accordance with § 1653.4(a), (d), (f) and (g), except that the term ‘‘payment date’’ shall mean to the date the payment is disbursed from the TSP. ■ 7. Revise § 1653.15 to read as follows: § 1653.15 Payment. Payment pursuant to a qualifying legal process will be made in accordance with § 1653.5, except the term ‘‘payment date’’ shall mean to the date the payment is disbursed from the TSP. ■ 8. Amend § 1653.34 by revising paragraph (d)(4)(ii) to read as follows: § 1653.34 Processing Federal tax levies and criminal restitution orders. * * * * * (d) * * * (4) * * * (ii) The anticipated date of disbursement. [FR Doc. 2024–27484 Filed 11–25–24; 8:45 am] * PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION 11 CFR Part 112 [Notice 2024–25] Contributions Through Untraceable Electronic Payment Methods Federal Election Commission. Notification of availability of petition for rulemaking. AGENCY: ACTION: The Commission announces its receipt of a Petition for Rulemaking submitted by Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas. The Petition asks the Commission to amend its regulations concerning the use of credit cards to make contributions, to address the potential use of prepaid cards to circumvent contribution amount limitations and source prohibitions. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 27, 2025. ADDRESSES: All comments must be in writing. Commenters may submit comments electronically via the Commission’s website at https:// sers.fec.gov/fosers/, reference REG 2024–08. Each commenter must provide, at a minimum, his or her first name, last name, city and state. All properly submitted comments, including SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\26NOP1.SGM 26NOP1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 228 / Tuesday, November 26, 2024 / Proposed Rules attachments, will become part of the public record, and the Commission will make comments available for public viewing on the Commission’s website and in the Commission’s Public Records Office. 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: Robert M. Knop, Assistant General Counsel, or Joanna S. Waldstreicher, Attorney, 1050 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20463, (202) 694–1650 or (800) 424–9530. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 22, 2024, the Commission received a Petition for Rulemaking (‘‘Petition’’) from Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas. The Petition asks the Commission to adopt two amendments to its regulations concerning the use of credit cards to make contributions, to address the potential use of prepaid cards to circumvent contribution amount limitations and source prohibitions. The Federal Election Campaign Act (the ‘‘Act’’) limits the total amount a contributor may contribute to any given political committee.1 The Act and Commission regulations also prohibit certain persons from making contributions at all.2 The Act and Commission regulations further prohibit any person from making a contribution in the name of another person.3 In addition, the Act and Commission regulations require political committees to disclose identifying information from each contributor, including name, address, and—in some cases—the contributor’s occupation and employer.4 The Petition asserts that ‘‘there has been substantial public reporting regarding potentially fraudulent transactions on political committee online platforms. Certain platforms appear to facilitate straw donor transactions, where a contributor disguises his identity by attributing his contribution to another, unaware person.’’ 5 The Petition further states that ‘‘prepaid cards are a favorite tool of U.S.C. 30116(a); see also 11 CFR 110.1, 110.2. U.S.C. 30118, 30119, 30121; see also 11 CFR 110.4, 110.9(a), 110.14(c)(2), 114.2, 115.2, 300.10. 3 52 U.S.C. 30122; see also 11 CFR 110.4(b). 4 52 U.S.C. 30104; 11 CFR 104.3, 104.8. 5 Petition at 1. fraudsters,’’ 6 and that ‘‘specific security measures can mitigate this problem,’’ such as comparing the identifying information supplied by contributors to the name, address, and other billing information on file with the issuer of the credit card used to make the contribution.7 Accordingly, the Petition states that ‘‘new regulations governing electronic payment acceptance and related problems are critical to ensuring the integrity of campaign finance laws.’’ 8 The Petition asks the Commission to adopt two amendments to 11 CFR 104.14: • Amend 104.14(b)(5) to provide that records for contributions made by credit, debit, prepaid, or gift card must include documentation confirming that a cross-check occurred between the contributor’s self-reported identifying information with the card issuing institution’s own information on the name and billing address of the cardholder. • Amend 104.14(e) to provide that contributions cannot be accepted from prepaid or gift cards unless the information from those prepaid or gift cards can be cross-checked with the card issuing institution to confirm the name and billing address required under paragraph (b)(5) of this rule.9 The Commission seeks comment on the Petition. The public may inspect the Petition on the Commission’s website at https://www.fec.gov/fosers/ (reference REG 2024–08). 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. Dated: November 19, 2024. On behalf of the Commission, Sean J. Cooksey, Chairman, Federal Election Commission. [FR Doc. 2024–27583 Filed 11–25–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6715–01–P 1 52 2 52 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Nov 25, 2024 Jkt 265001 6 Id. 7 Petition at 3. at 1. 9 Petition at 7. 8 Petition PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 93225 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA–2024–2539; Project Identifier MCAI–2023–00971–E] RIN 2120–AA64 Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. Engines Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). AGENCY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) Model PW535E and PW535E1 engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a manufacturer design review that indicated certain flange bolts securing the gas generator case and turbine support case are susceptible to cracking at their current low-cycle fatigue (LCF) life. This proposed AD would require repetitive borescope inspections (BSI) of the gas generator case to turbine support case retaining bolts for evidence of bolt cracks, bolt fracture, missing bolts, or loose bolts and replacement, if necessary, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by January 10, 2025. ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Fax: (202) 493–2251. • Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. • Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA–2024–2539; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\26NOP1.SGM 26NOP1

Agencies

Federal Election Commission

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 93224-93225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27583]


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FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

11 CFR Part 112

[Notice 2024-25]


Contributions Through Untraceable Electronic Payment Methods

AGENCY: Federal Election Commission.

ACTION: Notification of availability of petition for rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Commission announces its receipt of a Petition for 
Rulemaking submitted by Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas. The 
Petition asks the Commission to amend its regulations concerning the 
use of credit cards to make contributions, to address the potential use 
of prepaid cards to circumvent contribution amount limitations and 
source prohibitions.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 27, 2025.

ADDRESSES: All comments must be in writing. Commenters may submit 
comments electronically via the Commission's website at https://sers.fec.gov/fosers/, reference REG 2024-08.
    Each commenter must provide, at a minimum, his or her first name, 
last name, city and state. All properly submitted comments, including

[[Page 93225]]

attachments, will become part of the public record, and the Commission 
will make comments available for public viewing on the Commission's 
website and in the Commission's Public Records Office. 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: Robert M. Knop, Assistant General 
Counsel, or Joanna S. Waldstreicher, Attorney, 1050 First Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20463, (202) 694-1650 or (800) 424-9530.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 22, 2024, the Commission received 
a Petition for Rulemaking (``Petition'') from Ken Paxton, Attorney 
General of Texas. The Petition asks the Commission to adopt two 
amendments to its regulations concerning the use of credit cards to 
make contributions, to address the potential use of prepaid cards to 
circumvent contribution amount limitations and source prohibitions.
    The Federal Election Campaign Act (the ``Act'') limits the total 
amount a contributor may contribute to any given political 
committee.\1\ The Act and Commission regulations also prohibit certain 
persons from making contributions at all.\2\ The Act and Commission 
regulations further prohibit any person from making a contribution in 
the name of another person.\3\ In addition, the Act and Commission 
regulations require political committees to disclose identifying 
information from each contributor, including name, address, and--in 
some cases--the contributor's occupation and employer.\4\
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    \1\ 52 U.S.C. 30116(a); see also 11 CFR 110.1, 110.2.
    \2\ 52 U.S.C. 30118, 30119, 30121; see also 11 CFR 110.4, 
110.9(a), 110.14(c)(2), 114.2, 115.2, 300.10.
    \3\ 52 U.S.C. 30122; see also 11 CFR 110.4(b).
    \4\ 52 U.S.C. 30104; 11 CFR 104.3, 104.8.
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    The Petition asserts that ``there has been substantial public 
reporting regarding potentially fraudulent transactions on political 
committee online platforms. Certain platforms appear to facilitate 
straw donor transactions, where a contributor disguises his identity by 
attributing his contribution to another, unaware person.'' \5\ The 
Petition further states that ``prepaid cards are a favorite tool of 
fraudsters,'' \6\ and that ``specific security measures can mitigate 
this problem,'' such as comparing the identifying information supplied 
by contributors to the name, address, and other billing information on 
file with the issuer of the credit card used to make the 
contribution.\7\
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    \5\ Petition at 1.
    \6\ Id.
    \7\ Petition at 3.
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    Accordingly, the Petition states that ``new regulations governing 
electronic payment acceptance and related problems are critical to 
ensuring the integrity of campaign finance laws.'' \8\ The Petition 
asks the Commission to adopt two amendments to 11 CFR 104.14:
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    \8\ Petition at 1.
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     Amend 104.14(b)(5) to provide that records for 
contributions made by credit, debit, prepaid, or gift card must include 
documentation confirming that a cross-check occurred between the 
contributor's self-reported identifying information with the card 
issuing institution's own information on the name and billing address 
of the cardholder.
     Amend 104.14(e) to provide that contributions cannot be 
accepted from prepaid or gift cards unless the information from those 
prepaid or gift cards can be cross-checked with the card issuing 
institution to confirm the name and billing address required under 
paragraph (b)(5) of this rule.\9\
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    \9\ Petition at 7.
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    The Commission seeks comment on the Petition. The public may 
inspect the Petition on the Commission's website at https://www.fec.gov/fosers/ (reference REG 2024-08).
    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.

    Dated: November 19, 2024.

On behalf of the Commission,
Sean J. Cooksey,
Chairman, Federal Election Commission.
[FR Doc. 2024-27583 Filed 11-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6715-01-P

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