[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 23, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64791-64792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25893]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
41 CFR Parts 301-11, 301-74, Appendix E to Chapter 301, 304-3, and
304-5
[FTR Case 2012-301; Docket 2012-0011, Sequence 1]
RIN 3090-AJ27
Federal Travel Regulation; Removal of Conference Lodging
Allowance Provisions
AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, General Services
Administration (GSA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: GSA is proposing to amend the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR)
by removing the conference lodging allowance reimbursement option for
employees on temporary duty (TDY) travel.
DATES: Interested parties should submit written comments to the
Regulatory Secretariat at one of the addresses shown below on or before
December 24, 2012 to be considered in the formation of the final rule.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by FTR Case 2012-301 by any of
the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portals: http://www.regulations.gov.
Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching for
``FTR Case 2012-301''. Select the link ``Submit a Comment'' that
corresponds with ``FTR Case 2012-301.'' Follow the instructions
provided at the ``Submit a Comment'' screen. Please include your name,
company name (if any), and ``FTR Case 2012-301'' on your attached
document.
Fax: 202-208-1398.
Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory
Secretariat (MVCB), 1275 First Street NE., 7th Floor, Attn: Hada
Flowers, Washington, DC 20417.
Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FTR case 2012-
301 in all correspondence related to this case. All comments received
will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including
any personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For clarification of content, contact
Mr. Cy Greenidge, Program Analyst, Office of Governmentwide Policy, at
202-219-2349. Please cite FTR case 2012-301. The Regulatory Secretariat
(MVCB), 1275 First Street NE., 7th Floor, Attn: Hada Flowers,
Washington, DC 20417, 202-501-4755, for information pertaining to
status or publication schedules.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
The conference lodging allowance allows travelers to exceed the
maximum lodging per diem rate by up to 25 percent when attending
conferences sponsored by a Federal agency. Unlike the actual expense
provision which mandates that an agency official must approve these
requests, there is no such mandate for allowing the use of the
conference lodging allowance. To allow agencies to get a firmer grasp
on how their travel dollars are used, GSA is proposing to remove the
conference lodging allowance provision from the FTR.
B. Executive Order 12866 and Executive Order 13563
Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess
all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives, and if
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O.
13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits,
of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility.
This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not
subject to review under Section 6(b) of Executive Order 12866,
Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This proposed
rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
This proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., because the
revisions are not considered substantive. This proposed rule is also
exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act per 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2)
because it applies to agency management or personnel. However, this
proposed rule is being published to provide transparency in the
promulgation of Federal policies.
D. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to
the FTR do not impose recordkeeping or information collection
requirements, or the collection of information from offerors,
contractors, or members of the public that require the approval of the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.
E. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
This proposed rule is also exempt from Congressional review
prescribed under 5 U.S.C. 801 since it relates solely to agency
management and personnel.
List of Subjects in 41 CFR Parts 301-11, 301-74, Appendix E to
Chapter 301, 304-3, and 304-5
Administrative practices and procedures, Government employees,
Travel and per diem expenses, Acceptance of travel and related expenses
from non-Federal sources.
Dated: June 22, 2012.
Dan Tangherlini,
Acting Administrator of General Services.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
5701-5709 and 31 U.S.C. 1353, GSA proposes to amend 41 CFR parts 301-
11, 301-74, Appendix E to Chapter 301, 304-3, and 304-5 as set forth
below:
PART 301-11--PER DIEM EXPENSES
1. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 301-11 continues to read
as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707.
Sec. 301-11.5 [Amended]
2. Amend Sec. 301-11.5 by--
a. Adding the word ``or'' at the end of paragraph (b);
b. Removing paragraph (c); and
c. Redesignating paragraph (d) as paragraph (c).
PART 301-74--CONFERENCE PLANNING
3. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 301-74 continues to read
as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707.
4. Revise Sec. 301-74.6 to read as follows:
[[Page 64792]]
Sec. 301-74.6 What can we do if we cannot find an appropriate
conference facility at the chosen locality per diem rate?
While it is always desirable to obtain lodging facilities within
the established lodging portion of the per diem rate for the chosen
locality, it may not always be possible. In those instances when
lodging is not available at the applicable per diem rate, travelers
should construct a cost comparison of all associated costs, including
round-trip ground transportation, between finding lodging at the
applicable per diem rate away from the conference locality and using
the actual expense method at the conference locality as prescribed in
Subpart D of Part 301-11 of this chapter.
Sec. Sec. 301-74.7 through 301-74.10, 301-74.12, 301.74-22, and 301-
74.23 [Removed]
5. Remove Sec. Sec. 301-74.7 through 301-74.10, 301-74.12, 301.74-
22, and 301-74.23.
Sec. Sec. 301-74.11, 301-74.13 through 301-74.19, and 301-74.24
through 301-74.26 [Redesignated as Sec. Sec. 301-74.7, 301-74.8
through 301-74.14, and 301-74.22 through 301-74.24]
6. Redesignate Sec. Sec. 301-74.11, 301-74.13 through 301-74.19,
and 301-74.24 through 301-74.26 as Sec. Sec. 301-74.7, 301-74.8
through 301-74.14, and 301-74.22 through 301-74.24, respectively. A
redesignation table is set forth below for the convenience of the
reader:
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Redesignated
Old section No. section No.
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301-74.11................................................ 301-74.7
301-74.13................................................ 301-74.8
301-74.14................................................ 301-74.9
301-74.15................................................ 301-74.10
301-74.16................................................ 301-74.11
301-74.17................................................ 301-74.12
301-74.18................................................ 301-74.13
301-74.19................................................ 301-74.14
301-74.24................................................ 301-74.22
301-74.25................................................ 301-74.23
301-74.26................................................ 301-74.24
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Sec. 301-74.9 [Amended]
7. Amend the newly redesignated Sec. 301-74.9 in the first
sentence by removing ``Sec. 301-74.15'' and adding ``Sec. 301-74.10''
in its place.
Sec. 301-74.10 [Amended]
8. Amend the heading to the newly redesignated Sec. 301-74.10 by
removing ``Sec. 301-74.14'' and adding ``Sec. 301-74.9'' in its
place.
9. Revise the newly designated Sec. 301-74.11 to read as follows:
Sec. 301-74.11 What must be included in any advertisement or
application form relating to conference attendance?
Any advertisement or application for attendance at a conference
described in 301-74.9 must include notice of the prohibition against
using a non-FEMA approved place of public accommodation for
conferences. In addition, any executive agency, as defined in 5 U.S.C.
105, shall notify all non-Federal entities to which it provides Federal
funds of this prohibition.
Sec. 301-74.12 [Amended]
10. Amend the newly redesignated Sec. 301-74.12 by removing from
the Note ``Sec. 301-74.17(a)'' and adding ``Sec. 301-74.12(a)'' in
its place.
11. Revise the newly designated Sec. 301-74.22 to read as follows:
Sec. 301-74.22 When should actual expense reimbursement be authorized
for conference attendees?
You may authorize actual expenses under Sec. 301-11.300 of this
chapter when the applicable lodging rate is inadequate.
Appendix E to Chapter 301 [Amended]
12. Amend Appendix E to Chapter 301 by--
a. Under the heading ``Terms'' by removing the paragraph
``Conference lodging allowance: The rate that is up to 25 percent above
the established lodging per diem rate.''; and
b. Under the heading ``Notification,'' subheading ``Announcement
and/or Invitations,'' by removing the paragraph ``Notice that
conference lodging allowance applies if applicable.''
PART 304-3--EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITY
13. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 304-3 continues to read
as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707; 31 U.S.C. 1353.
Sec. 304-3.11 [Amended]
14. Amend Sec. 304-3.11--
a. In the heading by removing ``(per diem, actual expense, or
conference lodging)'' and adding ``(per diem or actual expense)'' in
its place; and
b. In the introductory paragraph by removing ``(per diem, actual
expense, or conference lodging)'' and adding ``(per diem or actual
expense)'' in its place.
PART 304-5--AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES
15. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 304-5 continues to read
as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707; 31 U.S.C. 1353.
Sec. 304-5.4 [Amended]
16. Amend Sec. 304-5.4--
a. In the heading by removing ``(per diem, actual expense, or
conference lodging)'' and adding ``(per diem or actual expense)'' in
its place; and
b. In paragraph (a), in the introductory paragraph by removing
``(per diem, actual expense, or conference lodging)'' and adding ``(per
diem or actual expense)'' in its place.
[FR Doc. 2012-25893 Filed 10-22-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-14-P