Office of Personnel Management 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-503), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines on the Conduct of Matching Programs (54 FR 25818 published June 19, 1989), and OMB Circular No. A-130, revised November 28, 2000, ``Management of Federal Information Resources,'' the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is publishing notice of its new computer matching program with the Social Security Administration (SSA). This notice replaces the notice placed in the Federal Register/Vol. 78, No. 5/Tuesday, January 8, 2013/Notices, page 1275.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) are issuing final regulations regarding designation of national security positions in the competitive service, and related matters. This final rule is one of a number of initiatives OPM and ODNI have undertaken to simplify and streamline the system of Federal Government investigative and adjudicative processes to make them more efficient and equitable. The purpose of this revision is to clarify the requirements and procedures agencies should observe when designating, as national security positions, positions in the competitive service, positions in the excepted service where the incumbent can be noncompetitively converted to the competitive service, and Senior Executive Service (SES) positions held by career appointees in the SES within the executive branch, pursuant to Executive Order 10450, Security Requirements for Government Employment.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing proposed regulations on behalf of the President's Pay Agent to link the definitions of General Schedule (GS) locality pay area boundaries to updated metropolitan area definitions established by the Office of Management and Budget in February 2013. Under this proposal, locations that would otherwise move to a lower-paying locality pay area due to use of the updated metropolitan area definitions in the locality pay program would remain in their current locality pay area. This proposal does not modify the current commuting and GS employment criteria used in the locality pay program to evaluate, for possible inclusion in a locality pay area, locations adjacent to the metropolitan area comprising the basic locality pay area. However, regarding calculation of commuting interchange rates used to evaluate such locations, the locality pay area definitions proposed in this document reflect use of the commuting patterns data collected as part of the American Community Survey between 2006 and 2010, as recommended by the Federal Salary Council in January 2014. Under this proposal, 13 new locality pay areas would also be established. The Federal Salary Council recommended these 13 locality pay areas after reviewing pay levels in all ``Rest of U.S.'' metropolitan statistical areas and combined statistical areas with 2,500 or more GS employees. The Federal Salary Council found that the percentage difference between GS and non-Federal pay levels for the same levels of worki.e., the pay disparityin these 13 locations was substantially greater than the ``Rest of U.S.'' pay disparity over an extended period. The President's Pay Agent has agreed to issue proposed regulations in response to the Federal Salary Council's recommendation to establish the 13 new locality pay areas. Locality pay rates for the new locality pay areas would be set by the President after the new locality pay areas would be established by regulation.

The President's Commission on White House Fellowships (PCWHF) was established by an Executive Order in 1964. The PCWHF is an advisory committee composed of Special Government Employees appointed by the President. The Advisory Committee meet in June to interview potential candidates for recommendation to become a White House Fellow. The meeting is closed. Name of Committee: President's Commission on White House Fellowships Selection Weekend. Date: June 11-14, 2015. Time: 7:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Place: St. Regis Hotel, 16th & K Street, Washington, DC 20006. Agenda: The Commission will Interview 30 National Finalists for selection of new class of White House Fellows. Location: St. Regis Hotel, 16th and K Street NW., Washington, DC 20006.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management announces the establishment of the charter for the Civil Service Retirement System Board of Actuaries. The Board shall provide independent advice and recommendations on matters relating to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF), the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS).

The National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations plans to meet on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. The meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. EDT and will be held at the General Services Administration (GSA), 1800 F Street NW., Room 1459, Washington, DC 20405. This is a change from the previous location announced in a Federal Register notice published February 2, 2015 at 80 FR 5589. Interested parties should consult the Council Web site at www.lmrcouncil.gov for the latest information on Council activities, including changes in meeting logistics. The Council is an advisory body composed of representatives of Federal employee organizations, Federal management organizations, and senior Government officials. The Council was established by E. O. 13522, entitled, ``Creating Labor-Management Forums to Improve Delivery of Government Services,'' which was signed by the President on December 9, 2009. Along with its other responsibilities, the Council assists in the implementation of Labor Management Forums throughout the Government and makes recommendations to the President on innovative ways to improve delivery of services and products to the public while cutting costs and advancing employee interests. The Council is co-chaired by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget. At its meetings, the Council will continue its work in promoting cooperative and productive relationships between labor and management in the executive branch, by carrying out the responsibilities and functions listed in section 1(b) of the E. O. The meetings are open to the public. Please contact the Office of Personnel Management at the address shown below if you wish to present material to the Council at the meeting. The manner and time prescribed for presentations may be limited, depending upon the number of parties that express interest in presenting information.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-503), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines on the Conduct of Matching Programs (54 FR 25818 published June 19, 1989), and OMB Circular No. A-130, revised November 28, 2000, ``Management of Federal Information Resources,'' the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is publishing notice of its new computer matching program with the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is providing notice of adjusted present value factors applicable to retirees who elect to provide survivor annuity benefits to a spouse based on post-retirement marriage, and to retiring employees who elect the alternative form of annuity or elect to credit certain service with nonappropriated fund instrumentalities. This notice is necessary to conform the present value factors to changes in the economic and demographic assumptions adopted by the Board of Actuaries of the Civil Service Retirement System.

Trust Funds Group of the Office of Chief Financial Officer, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on changes to the existing information collection request (ICR) 3206-0262, Standard Form 2812, Standard Form 2812-A, and OPM Form 1523. 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 information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on December 8, 2014 at Volume 79 FR 72710 allowing for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were received for this information collection. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments.

The DoD, with the approval of OPM, received authority to conduct a personnel demonstration project within DoD's civilian acquisition workforce and among those supporting personnel assigned to work directly with it. This notice announces the repeal and replacement of AcqDemo's original legal authorization and modifies the project plan to include new provisions; updates the project plan to address changes resulting from new General Schedule regulations and operational experience; announces guidelines for a formal process for interested DoD civilian acquisition organizations to use to request approval to participate in AcqDemo; and provides notice of expansion of coverage to new or realigned organizations.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a final rule to redefine the geographic boundaries of several appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas for pay-setting purposes. Based on recent reviews of Metropolitan Statistical Area boundaries in a number of wage areas, OPM is redefining the following wage areas: Washington, DC; Hagerstown-Martinsburg-Chambersburg, MD; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; Charlotte, NC; Columbia, SC, and Southwestern Wisconsin. In addition, this final rule makes three minor corrections to the Miami, FL; Columbus, GA, and Kansas City, MO, wage areas.

This notice identifies Schedule A, B, and C appointing authorities applicable to a single agency that were established or revoked from January 1, 2015, to January 31, 2015.

This notice identifies Schedule A, B, and C appointing authorities applicable to a single agency that were established or revoked from December 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014.

The President has signed an Executive order containing the 2015 pay schedules for certain Federal civilian employees. Pursuant to the President's alternative plan issued under 5 U.S.C. 5303(b) and 5304a on August 29, 2014, the Executive order authorizes a 1-percent across-the-board increase for statutory pay systems and provides that locality percentages remain at 2014 levels. This notice serves as documentation for the public record.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a final rule implementing modifications to the Multi-State Plan (MSP) Program based on the experience of the Program to date. OPM established the MSP Program pursuant to the Affordable Care Act. This rule clarifies the approach used to enforce the applicable standards of the Affordable Care Act with respect to health insurance issuers that contract with OPM to offer MSP options; amends MSP standards related to coverage area, benefits, and certain contracting provisions under section 1334 of the Affordable Care Act; and makes non-substantive technical changes.

The Retirement Services, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on an existing collection in use without an OMB control number, Assignment, Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program, RI 76-10. 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 information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on August 5, 2014 at Volume 79 FR 45499 allowing for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were received for this information collection. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments.

The Retirement Services, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on an extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection (ICR) 3206-0033, Marital Status Certification Survey. 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 information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on July 16, 2014 at Volume 79 FR 41600 allowing for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were received for this information collection. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments.

The National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations plans to meet on the following dates Wednesday, March 18, 2015. Wednesday, May 20, 2015. Wednesday, July 15, 2015. Wednesday, September 16, 2015. Wednesday, November 18, 2015. The meetings will start at 10:00 a.m. EST. The March meeting will be held at the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, 80 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20001. All other meetings will be held in Room 1350, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E Street NW., Washington, DC, 20415. Interested parties should consult the Council Web site at www.lmrcouncil.gov for the latest information on Council activities, including changes in meeting logistics. The Council is an advisory body composed of representatives of Federal employee organizations, Federal management organizations, and senior Government officials. The Council was established by Executive Order 13522, entitled, ``Creating Labor-Management Forums to Improve Delivery of Government Services,'' which was signed by the President on December 9, 2009. Along with its other responsibilities, the Council assists in the implementation of labor-management forums throughout the Government and makes recommendations to the President on innovative ways to improve delivery of services and products to the public while cutting costs and advancing employee interests. The Council is co- chaired by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget. At its meetings, the Council will continue its work in promoting cooperative and productive relationships between labor and management in the executive branch by carrying out the responsibilities and functions listed in section 1(b) of the Executive Order. The meetings are open to the public. Please contact the Office of Personnel Management at the address shown below if you wish to present material to the Council at the meeting. The manner and time prescribed for presentations may be limited, depending upon the number of parties that express interest in presenting information.

The Retirement Services, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on an extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection (ICR) 3206-0168, Alternative Annuity Election. 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 information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on July 16, 2014 at Volume 79 FR 41601 allowing for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were received for this information collection. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments.

The Retirement Services, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on an extension, without change, of a currently approved collection, 3206-0167, Financial Resources Questionnaire (RI 34-1and RI 34-17) and Notice of Amount Due Because of Annuity Overpayment (RI 34-3 and RI 34-19). 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 information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, September 17, 2014, at Volume 79 FR 55837 allowing for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were received for this information collection. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a proposed rule that would redefine the geographic boundaries of the Jacksonville, FL; Savannah, GA; Hagerstown-Martinsburg-Chambersburg, MD; Richmond, VA; and Roanoke, VA, appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas. The proposed rule would redefine Brantley, Glynn, and Pierce Counties, GA, from the Jacksonville wage area to the Savannah wage area; Greene County, VA, from the Hagerstown-Martinsburg- Chambersburg wage area to the Richmond wage area; and Nelson County, VA, from the Roanoke wage area to the Richmond wage area. These changes are based on recent consensus recommendations of the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC) to best match the counties proposed for redefinition to a nearby FWS survey area.

The Office of Personnel Management is proposing to add a new system of records to its inventory of record 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 Integrity Assurance Officer Control Files (Internal 20) system of records has been operational since February 2005 without incident. Previously, OPM has relied on preexisting Privacy Act system of records notices for the collection and maintenance of these records. In an effort to increase transparency, OPM published a separate notice for this system (Federal Register/Volume 79, No. 71/April 14, 2014/page 20931), and no comments were received. At this time we are publishing the complete text of this system of records.

The United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a proposed rule to amend the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program regulations to clarify the conditional nature of FEHB Program benefits and benefit payments under the plan's coverage as subject to a carrier's entitlement to subrogation and reimbursement recovery, and therefore, that such entitlement falls within the preemptive scope of the U.S.C. FEHB contracts must include a provision incorporating the carrier's subrogation and reimbursement rights and FEHB plan brochures must explain the carrier's subrogation and reimbursement policy.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to make changes to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Acquisition Regulation (FEHBAR). These changes would: Define which subscriber groups may be included for consideration as similarly sized subscriber groups (SSSGs); require the SSSG to be traditional community rated; establish that traditional community-rated Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plans must select only one rather than two SSSGs; and make conforming changes to FEHB contract language to account for the new medical loss ratio (MLR) standard for most community-rated FEHB plans.