Merit Systems Protection Board April 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB or ``the Board'') explained in its notice of Interim Regulatory Changes Regarding Department of Homeland Security Personnel System, Federal Register, 72 FR 56883, October 5, 2007, it is revising its regulations to clarify the procedures applicable to MSPB processing and adjudication of cases arising under the Department of Homeland Security's new human resources management system established pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. As is discussed below, these revisions to the Board's regulations are necessary to reconcile the Board's regulations and procedures with final regulations published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on February 1, 2005.

The Merit Systems Protection Board (``MSPB'') is issuing a revised interim rule amending several provisions of its practices and procedures regulations to improve the agency's service to its customers by facilitating the expeditious adjudication of appeals. This revised interim rule is intended to streamline MSPB case adjudication. It revises and adds to the regulatory changes undertaken in an interim rule issued by the MSPB on September 18, 2003. (68 FR 54651) This revised interim rule reflects the comments received from MSPB adjudicators and practitioners based on their experiences with the implementation of the current interim rule. The MSPB is soliciting comments concerning this revised interim rule, as well as additional comments concerning the September 18, 2003 interim rule. The MSPB will issue a final rule following the end of the comment period for this revised interim rule. All comments received during the comment period will be taken into consideration in drafting the final rule.