Personnel Management Office – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 10413, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of a new information collection. ``Request for Case Review for Enhanced Disability Annuity Benefit'' (OMB Control No. 3206-XXXX). Due to recent court orders, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must compute, or re-compute as applicable, the disability annuities for individuals who performed service as law enforcement officers, firefighters, nuclear materials carriers, Customs and Border Patrol officers, members of the Capitol and the Supreme Court police, Congressional employees, members of Congress, and air traffic controllers. Because these court orders were handed down long after some of the affected individuals retired and/or died and they are not identified in the OPM computer systems, it is necessary for these individuals to self-identify. Form RI 20-123 is needed on the OPM website so these individuals and their survivors can make the request. We estimate that we will receive 720 responses a year and the time it takes to respond is estimated to be 5 minutes. The annual burden is estimated to be 60 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Cyrus S. Benson on (202) 606- 4808, FAX (202) 606-0910 or via E-mail to Cyrus.Benson@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995 and 5 CFR 1320), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for comments on a revised information collection. This information collection, ``Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) Survivor Annuitant Express Pay Application for Death Benefits'' (OMB Control No. 3206-0233; Form RI 25-51), will be used by the Civil Service Retirement System solely to pay benefits to the widow(er) of an annuitant. This application is intended for use in immediately authorizing payments to an annuitant's widow or widower, based on the report of death, when our records show the decedent elected to provide benefits for the applicant. Approximately 34,800 RI 25-51 forms are completed annually. The form takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. The annual estimated burden is 17,400 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Cyrus S. Benson on (202) 606- 4808, FAX (202) 606-0910 or e-mail to Cyrus.Benson@opm.gov. Please include your mailing address with your request.

On behalf of the President's Pay Agent, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing interim regulations on the locality pay program for General Schedule employees. The interim regulations establish separate locality pay areas for the States of Alaska and Hawaii and extend coverage of the Rest of U.S. locality pay area to include American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Territory of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and all other U.S. possessions listed in 5 CFR 591.205, applicable on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2011.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the Affordable Care Act), Public Law 111-148, was enacted on March 23, 2010; the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (the Reconciliation Act), Public Law 111-152, was enacted on March 30, 2010. The Affordable Care Act and implementing regulations (codified in HHS interim final rules (IFR) at 45 CFR Part 147) require that non-grandfathered health insurance plans and issuers offering group and individual coverage have effective internal claims and appeals and external review processes. The effective date for these requirements is plan or policy years beginning on or after September 23, 2010. Regarding external review, the statute requires that health plans and issuers must comply with either a state external review process or a process meeting standards issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) that is ``similar to'' a state process meeting requirements in section 2719 (a ``federal external review process''). The IFR includes a transition period prior to July 1, 2011, during which time HHS will work with states to assist in making any necessary changes so that the state process will meet the minimum consumer protections identified in 45 CFR 147.136 that must be met in order for the state process to apply. During this interim period, health insurance issuers in states with external review laws in effect prior to September 23, 2010 will follow that state's external review law to the extent applicable. In states that have not passed an external review law that is in effect on September 23, 2010, a health insurance issuer must follow an interim federal external review process that will be administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The system of records will be created as OPM assists HHS by providing external reviews of adverse benefit determinations and final internal adverse benefit determinations as requested by eligible claimants and their authorized representatives (``claimants''). The system of records will include any data relevant to these external reviews, and OPM proposes to add this new system of records to its inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records maintained by the agency (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4)).

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on an extension of an already existing information collection request (ICR) 3206-0001, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35), as amended by the Clinger-Cohen Act (Pub. L. 104-106), OPM is soliciting comments for this collection on behalf of the Office of Management and Budget. The information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on June 14, 2010, at 75 FR 33657 allowing for a 60-day public comment period. One agency provided suggested changes to the form which are outside the scope of this notice. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments that:

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing a final rule to correct several minor formatting, spelling, and typographical errors in appendix D to subpart B of part 532Nonappropriated Fund (NAF) Wage and Survey Areas. This document also corrects editorial or printing errors, inconsistencies, and omissions made in previously published rules. The purpose of this rule is not to make policy changes for Federal Wage System (FWS) NAF employees but rather to ensure Appendix D accurately reflects the correct wage area definitions for NAF employees as recommended by the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC). FWS NAF employees will not be affected by the corrections in this final rule because the lead agency for FWS NAF surveys has followed FPRAC recommended wage area definitions when conducting wage surveys and publishing wage schedules. For the convenience of the reader, Appendix D is being reprinted in its entirety.

As required by section 3132(b)(4) of title 5, United States Code, this gives notice of all positions in the Senior Executive Service (SES) that were career reserved during calendar year 2009.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of a revised information collection. ``Survivor Annuity Election for a Spouse'' (OMB Control No. 3206-0174; Form RI 20-63), is used by annuitants to elect a reduced annuity with a survivor annuity for their spouse. (OMB Control No. 3206-0174; Form RI 20-116) is a cover letter for RI 20-63 giving information about the cost to elect less than the maximum survivor annuity. This letter is used to supply the information that may have been requested by the annuitant about the cost of electing less than the maximum survivor annuity. (OMB Control No. 3206-0174; RI 20-117) is a cover letter for RI 20-63 giving information about the cost to elect the maximum survivor annuity. This letter may be used to ask for more information.

The National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations is canceling its September 1, 2010 meeting and rescheduling that meeting for September 20, 2010. The meeting will start at 10 a.m. and will be held in Room 1416, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street, NW., Washington, DC. The dates for all Council meetings for the remainder of 2010 were announced in the April 30, 2010 Federal Register (75 FR 22871). Interested parties should consult the Council Website at https://www.lmrcouncil.gov for the latest information on Council activities, including changes in meeting dates.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995 and 5 CFR part 1320), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for comments on an existing information collection. ``Self-Certification of Full-Time School Attendance for the School Year'' (OMB Control No. 3206-0032; RI 25-14), is used to survey survivor annuitants who are between the ages of 18 and 22 to determine if they meet the requirements of Section 8341(a)(4)(C), and Section 8441, title 5, U.S. Code, to receive benefits as a student. ``Information and Instructions for Completing the Self-Certification of Full-Time School Attendance'' (OMB Control No. 3206-0032; RI 25-14A), provides instructions for completing the Self-Certification of Full-Time School Attendance For The School Year survey form.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for comments on a revised information collection. This information collection, ``Application for Deferred Retirement (For persons separated on or after October 1, 1956)'' (OMB Control No. 3206-0121; OPM Form 1496A), is used by eligible former Federal employees to apply for a deferred Civil Service annuity. Comments are particularly invited on: Whether this information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the Office of Personnel Management, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Approximately 2,800 OPM Form 1496A will be completed annually. We estimate it takes approximately 1 hour to complete this form. The annual burden is 2,800 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Cyrus S. Benson (202) 606- 4808, FAX (202) 606-0910 or via E-mail to Cyrus.Benson@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee is issuing this notice to cancel the June 17, 2010, public meeting scheduled to be held in Room 5A06A, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Building, 1900 E Street, NW., Washington, DC. The original Federal Register notice announcing this meeting was published Monday, April 12, 2010, at 75 FR 18552.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing final regulations to modify definitions related to family member and immediate relative in 5 CFR part 630 and to add other defined terms, for purposes of use of sick leave, funeral leave, voluntary leave transfer, voluntary leave bank, and emergency leave transfer. These changes implement Section 1 of the President's June 17, 2009, Memorandum on Federal Benefits and Non-Discrimination and help ensure that agencies consider the needs of a diverse workforce and provide employees the broadest possible support to help them balance their work, personal, and family obligations.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of a revised information collection. This information collection, ``Death Benefit Payment Rollover Election'' (OMB Control No. 3206-0218; Form RI 94-7), provides Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) surviving spouses and former spouses with the means to elect payment of FERS rollover- eligible benefits directly or to an Individual Retirement Arrangement.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has completed its annual determination of the States that qualify as Medically Underserved Areas under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program for calendar year 2011. This is necessary to comply with a provision of the FEHB law that mandates special consideration for enrollees of certain FEHB plans who receive covered health services in States with critical shortages of primary care physicians. Accordingly, for calendar year 2011, the following states are Medically Underserved Areas under the FEHB Program: Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Oklahoma has been added for the 2011 calendar year.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for comments of a revised information collection. This information collection, ``Report of Medical Examination of Person Electing Survivor Benefits Under the Civil Service Retirement System'' (OMB Control No. 3206-0162; OPM Form 1530), is used to collect information regarding an annuitant's health so that OPM can determine whether the insurable interest survivor benefit election can be allowed.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of a revised information collection. This information collection, ``Designation of Beneficiary: Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)'' (OMB Control No. 3206-0142; Standard Form 2808), is used by persons covered by CSRS to designate a beneficiary to receive the lump sum payment due from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund in the event of their death.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a final regulation to expand eligibility to apply for coverage under the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP). Under this regulation, the definition of ``qualified relative'' is expanded to cover the same-sex domestic partners of eligible Federal and U.S. Postal Service employees and annuitants.

This gives notice of OPM decisions granting authority to make appointments under Schedules A, B, and C in the excepted service as required by 5 CFR 213.103.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for comments on a revised information collection. This information collection, ``Designation of Beneficiary: Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance,'' (OMB Control No. 3206-0136; SF 2823), is used by any Federal employee or retiree covered by the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program to instruct the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance how to distribute the proceeds of his or her life insurance when the statutory order of precedence does not meet his or her needs.

This gives notice of OPM decisions granting authority to make appointments under Schedules A, B, and C in the excepted service as required by 5 CFR 213.103.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing final regulations on changes in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). We are amending the regulations to authorize retroactive enrollment changes when an enrollee has lost his or her spouse through death or divorce or the enrollee's last eligible child dies, marries, or reaches age 22. We are also amending the regulations to add that an individual may enroll 31 days before the enrollee or an eligible family member loses other dental and/or vision coverage. We are amending the regulations to clarify the reference to excluded positions in 5 U.S.C. 8901(1). We are also including in the regulations certain former Senate restaurant employees who were employees of the Architect of the Capitol as individuals who are eligible to elect to continue enrollment in FEDVIP if they are eligible and elect to continue their retirement coverage.

Federal Investigative Services (FIS), U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on an expiring information collection request (ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control No. 3206- 0182, for the Declaration for Federal Employment, Optional Form (OF) 306. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (Pub. L. 104- 13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35) as amended by the Clinger-Cohen Act (Pub. L. 104-106), OPM is soliciting comments for this collection. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is particularly interested in comments that:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of a revised information collection. This information collection, ``CSRS/ FERS Documentation in Support of Disability Retirement Application'' (OMB Control No. 3206-0228; Standard Form 3112), collects information from applicants for disability retirement so that OPM can determine whether to approve a disability retirement. The applicant will only complete Standard Forms 3112A and 3112C. Standard Forms 3112B, 3112D and 3112E will be completed by the immediate supervisor and the employing agency of the applicant.