Agencies and Commissions January 5, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is providing notice of its maximum civil money penalties as adjusted for inflation.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Regulatory Secretariat Division has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve a revision and renewal of a previously approved information collection requirement regarding presolicitation notice and response.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis of Proposed Consent Orders to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the complaint and the terms of the consent ordersembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

The No Surprises Act, enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 required the Secretary of Labor to convene an Advisory Committee of 15 members to advise on the standardized format for the voluntary reporting, by group health plans to State All Payer Claims Databases, of medical claims, pharmacy claims, dental claims, and eligibility and provider files collected from private and public payers. The Committee shall also advise the Secretary on the guidance provided to States on the process by which States may collect such data in the standardized reporting format. This Committee will be responsible for issuing a report to the Secretary of Labor and certain congressional committees within 180 days of the enactment of the Act, which shall include recommendations on the standardized format and guidance described above. The Act provides for members of this Committee to have distinguished themselves in fields of health services research, health economics, health informatics, data privacy and security, or the governance of State All Payer Claims Databases, or who represent organizations likely to submit data to or use the database, including patients, employers, employee organizations that sponsor group health plans, health care providers, health insurance issuers, or third-party administrators of group health plans. The Act gave the Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, responsibility for appointing 9 of the 15 members to include eight representatives of various agencies within the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services, as well as one representative of a State All Payer Claims Database. The Act gave the Comptroller General responsibility for appointing the remaining 6 of the committee's 15 members, including 1 representative of an employer that sponsors a group health plan; 1 representative of an employee organization that sponsors a group health plan; 1 academic researcher with expertise in health economics or health services research; 1 consumer advocate; and 2 additional members. GAO is accepting nominations of individuals for Committee appointments that will be effective in March 2021. Nominations should be sent to the email address listed below. Acknowledgement of submissions will be provided within a week of submission.

The Copyright Royalty Judges announce commencement of a proceeding to determine reasonable rates and terms for making and distributing phonorecords for the period beginning January 1, 2023, and ending December 31, 2027. The Copyright Royalty Judges also announce the date by which a party wishing to participate in the rate determination proceeding must file its Petition to Participate and the accompanying $150 filing fee.

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA or we) is amending our regulations governing how a Farm Credit bank presents information on its related associations when preparing annual bank financial statements on a stand-alone basis. The final rule provides two presentation options when disclosing related association financial information in an annual bank report: By footnote or attached in a supplement.

This final rule amends USAID's regulations to implement Executive Order (E.O.) 13891, Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents. This rule sets forth processes and procedures for USAID to issue guidance documents as defined in the E.O. in a manner consistent with the requirements of Federal law applicable to all employees involved in inherently governmental deliberative decision-making on policy and employees involved in related administrative processes.