Office of the Secretary May 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Defense is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) will take place. This meeting is open to the public.

This notice is to advise interested parties of amendments to a Military Health System (MHS) demonstration project entitled Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration (ACD). The purpose of the ACD is to further analyze and evaluate the appropriateness of the ABA delivery model under TRICARE in light of current and anticipated guidelines and best practices from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and other resources. The demonstration seeks to determine the appropriate provider qualifications for the proper diagnosis of ASD and the provision of ABA, refine the beneficiary cost-sharing requirements and provider reimbursement rates for the treatment of ASD, determine the appropriate patient safety and fraud prevention measures to implement regarding coverage of ABA for ASD, and develop more efficient and appropriate means of increasing access and delivering ABA services under TRICARE while creating a viable economic model and maintaining administrative simplicity. First, the Department will align all ACD cost-shares with existing TRICARE Basic Program cost-share requirements under Standard/Extra and Prime to include allowing all ABA services under the ACD to accrue to the annual catastrophic cap. In addition, under the ACD the removal of the $36,000 annual limit on the amount the government may cost-share will continue. This will establish cost-share parity for the ACD by aligning it with existing TRICARE Basic program requirements generally, while remaining consistent with the requirement set forth in 32 CFR 199.4(f) that Active Duty benefits must be greater than benefits for non-Active Duty beneficiaries. As a result of this adjustment, all TRICARE beneficiaries receiving ABA for ASD under the ACD will now be protected from excessive out of pocket costs by the applicable catastrophic cap based on their sponsor's status and TRICARE plan under which covered. Second, the Department will also adjust all ABA reimbursement rates under the ACD by implementing adjustments based on Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCI). This will align the ACD reimbursement rates with the method used to determine many current CHAMPUS Maximum Allowable Charge (CMAC) rates (which are adjusted by local wage indices or geographic regions), and with the rates of other payers (which vary by location nationwide).

This notice announces renewal of National Freight Advisory Committee's charter for a period of 1 year (NFAC), effective May 28, 2015. The NFAC will provide information, advice, and recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation on matters relating to U.S. freight transportation.

The Defense Travel Management Office is publishing Civilian Personnel Per Diem Bulletin Number 296. This bulletin lists revisions in the per diem rates prescribed for U.S. Government employees for official travel in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and Possessions of the United States when applicable. AEA changes announced in Bulletin Number 194 remain in effect. Bulletin Number 296 is being published in the Federal Register to assure that travelers are paid per diem at the most current rates.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Trust Review & Audit, Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, Department of the Interior announces the proposed collection of information and seeks public comments on the provisions thereof.

The Department of Labor is proposing guidance to assist federal agencies in the implementation of Executive Order 13673, Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces (the Order). The Order was signed by President Barack Obama on July 31, 2014, and it contains several new requirements designed to improve the federal contracting process. The Order seeks to increase efficiency and cost savings in the work performed by parties that contract with the Federal Government by ensuring that the parties are responsible and comply with labor laws. The Order requires federal contractors to report whether there has been any administrative merits determination, civil judgment, or arbitral award or decision rendered against them during the preceding three-year period for violations of any of 14 identified federal labor laws and executive orders or equivalent State laws.\1\ Contracting officers and Labor Compliance Advisors will assess these types of reported violations (considering whether the violations are serious, repeated, willful, or pervasive) as part of the determination of whether a contractor has a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics. Labor Compliance Advisors will be available to consult with contractors that report these types of violations and will coordinate assistance with the relevant enforcement agencies. Contractors will require their subcontractors to report these types of violations of the identified labor laws and will similarly assess reported violations.\2\ And to achieve further paycheck transparency for workers, contractors and subcontractors will be required to provide their workers on federal contracts with information each pay period regarding how their pay is calculated (a wage statement) and provide notice to those workers whom they treat as independent contractors.

The Department of Defense is publishing this notice to announce the following Federal advisory committee meeting of the Vietnam War Commemoration Advisory Committee. This meeting is open to the public.

The Department of the Interior is requesting public input on selected regulations as part of its plan to review significant regulations in response to the President's Executive Order on Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Employee Retirement Income Security Act Procedure 1976-1; Advisory Opinion Procedure,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

This regulatory action updates established policy, assigned responsibilities, and prescribed procedures for the rights of crime victims under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). The rule discusses notification requirements and assistance available to victims and witnesses of crime, as well as annual reporting requirements on assistance provided across the DoD to victims and witnesses of crime.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense proposes to alter a system of records, DWHS E02, entitled ``Freedom of Information Act Case Files'' in its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. Information is being collected and maintained in this system for the purpose of processing FOIA requests and administrative appeals; for participating in litigation regarding agency action on such requests and appeals; and for assisting the DoD in carrying out any other responsibilities under FOIA.

In compliance with section 3507(a)(1)(D) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and Human Services, has submitted an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR is for a new collection. Comments submitted during the first public review of this ICR will be provided to OMB. OMB will accept further comments from the public on this ICR during the review and approval period.

The Department of Defense is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the National Intelligence University Board of Visitors has been scheduled. The meeting is closed to the public.

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification. This is published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated July 21, 1996.

The Department of Defense is publishing this notice to announce an open meeting of the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). This meeting will be open to the public.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``General Inquiries to State Agency Contacts,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S. C. 3501 et se. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Defense is publishing this notice to announce a Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Uniform Formulary Beneficiary Advisory Panel (hereafter referred to as the Panel).

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification. This is published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated July 21, 1996.

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification. This is published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated July 21, 1996.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Security Service (DSS) announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Department of the Interior is proposing to amend its regulations to exempt certain records in the Indian Arts and Crafts Board system of records from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative law enforcement requirements.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense is deleting a system of records notice from its existing inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. The system of records notice is WUSU 18, Accounts Payable Records.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense is deleting a system of records notice from its existing inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. The system of records notice is WUSU 13, USUHS Civilian Employee Health Records.

The Department of Defense is publishing this notice to announce that it is amending the charter for the Defense Health Board (``the Board'').