Office of Personnel Management September 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of an expiring information collection. This information collection, ``Procedures for Submitting Compensation and Leave Claims'' (OMB Control No. 3206-0232; OPM Form 1673), is used to collect information from current and former Federal civilian employees who are submitting a claim for compensation and/or leave. OPM needs this information in order to adjudicate the claim. We received no comments on our 60-day notice on this information collection (OPM Form 1673), published in the Federal Register on June 17, 2008. Approximately 80 claims are submitted annually. It takes approximately 60 minutes to complete the form. The annual estimated burden is 80 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Margaret A. Miller by telephone at (202) 606-2699, by FAX at (202) 418-3251, or by e-mail at Margaret.Miller@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

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 6.6 and 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 review of an existing information collection. This information collection, ``Medicare Part B Certification'' (OMB Control No. 3206-0017; Form RI 78-11), collects information from annuitants, their spouses, and survivor annuitants to determine their eligibility under the Retired Federal Employees Health Benefits Program for a Government contribution toward the cost of Part B of Medicare. Comments are particularly invited on whether this collection of 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 100 RI 78-11 forms are completed annually. Each form requires approximately 10 minutes to complete. The annual estimated burden is 17 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Margaret A. Miller by telephone at (202) 606-2699, by FAX (202) 418-3251, or by e-mail to Margaret.Miller@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposes to amend its regulations governing Federal adverse actions. The proposed amendments would clarify the adverse action rules regarding reductions in pay and indefinite suspension. In addition, OPM proposes to remove unnecessary subparts pertaining to statutory requirements, make a number of technical corrections, and utilize consistent language for similar regulatory requirements. OPM also proposes various revisions to make the regulations more readable.

The Office of Personnel Management proposes to amend its regulations to implement certain training and development requirements contained in the Federal Workforce Flexibility Act of 2004.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a proposed rule to amend the Federal Employees Health Benefits Acquisition Regulations (FEHBAR). The rule clarifies the rate setting process for community rated carriers with respect to Similarly Sized Subscriber Groups (SSSG) and removes the ban on adjustments based on rate reconciliation for the final year of Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) contracts.