[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 165 (Thursday, August 25, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58381-58382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20186]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 165 / Thursday, August 25, 2016 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 58381]]
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
5 CFR Parts 890 and 894
RIN 3206-AM97
Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and Federal Employees
Dental and Vision Insurance Program: Excepted Service and Pathways
Programs Miscellaneous Clarifications and Corrections
AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a
final rule to make technical corrections to the Federal Employees
Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and the Federal Employees Dental and
Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) regulations allowing coverage for
participants in the Pathways Programs. The Pathways Programs were
created by Executive Order (E.O.) 13562, signed by the President on
December 27, 2010, and are designed to enable the Federal Government to
compete effectively for students and recent graduates by improving its
recruitment efforts through internships and similar programs with
Federal agencies.
DATES: Effective August 25, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald Brown, Policy Analyst, (202)
606-0004, or by email to [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Pathways Programs offer clear paths to
civil service careers for recent graduates and provide meaningful
training, mentoring, and career-development opportunities through
internships and similar programs with Federal Government agencies. For
more information on the Pathways Programs see the final rule,
``Excepted Service, Career and Career-Conditional Employment; and
Pathways Programs,'' available at 77 FR 28193 (May 11, 2012) (Pathways
regulation.) On January 6, 2014, OPM published an interim final
regulation updating title 5 Code of Federal Regulations, Sec. Sec.
890.303 and 894.302, to conform with the Pathways regulation. OPM
received one comment not related to the substance of this technical
correction. Accordingly, this final regulation adopts the interim final
regulation with no changes.
Analysis of and Responses to Public Comments
We received one comment on the interim final rule relating to
agency guidance materials.
Comment: One commenter asked if OPM will issue new guidance to
Federal agencies concerning the changed scheduling authority for
Pathways Programs participants.
Response: OPM is not planning to issue guidance to Federal agencies
on this regulation as no substantive policy changes were made. The
interim final rule made technical changes to FEHBP and FEDVIP
regulations to conform with the final Pathways regulation published on
May 11, 2012 (77 FR 28194). The only change to the FEHBP regulation was
the title of the schedule appointment authority for Pathways Programs
interns. See 5 CFR 890.303(e)(2). In the FEDVIP regulation, the intern
programs were renamed. See 5 CFR 894.302(f).
Agencies should continue to refer to the supplementary information
published in the aforementioned final rule and the guidance that is on
the OPM Web site at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/students-recent-graduates/.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
I certify that this regulation will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities because the regulation
only affects health and dental and vision insurance benefits of Federal
employees and retirees.
Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Review
This rule has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget
in accordance with Executive Order 12866.
Federalism
We have examined this rule in accordance with Executive Order
13132, Federalism, and have determined that this rule will not have any
negative impact on the rights, roles and responsibilities of State,
local, or tribal governments.
List of Subjects in 5 CFR Parts 890 and 894
Administrative practice and procedure, Government employees, Health
insurance, Retirement.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Beth F. Cobert,
Acting Director.
Accordingly, OPM is amending 5 CFR chapter I as follows:
PART 890--FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM
0
1. The authority citation for part 890 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8913; Sec. 890.301 also issued under sec.
311 of Pub. L. 111-3, 123 Stat. 64; Sec. 890.111 also issued under
section 1622(b) of Pub. L. 104-106, 110 Stat. 521; Sec. 890.112 also
issued under section 1 of Pub. L. 110-279, 122 Stat. 2604; Sec.
890.803 also issued under 50 U.S.C. 403p, 22 U.S.C. 4069c and 4069c-
1; subpart L also issued under sec. 599C of Pub. L. 101-513, 104
Stat. 2064, as amended; Sec. 890.102 also issued under sections
11202(f), 11232(e), 11246(b) and (c) of Pub. L. 105-33, 111 Stat.
251; and section 721 of Pub. L. 105-261, 112 Stat. 2061; Pub. L.
111-148, as amended by Pub. L. 111-152.
Subpart C--Enrollment
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2. In Sec. 890.303, revise paragraph (e)(2) to read as follows:
Sec. 890.303 Continuation of enrollment.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
(2) However, in the case of an employee who is employed under an
OPM approved career-related work-study program under Schedule D of at
least one year's duration and who is expected to be in a pay status
during not less than one-third of the total period of time from the
date of the first appointment to the completion of the work-study
program, his/her enrollment continues while he/she is in nonpay status
so long as he/she is participating in the work-study program.
* * * * *
[[Page 58382]]
PART 894--FEDERAL EMPLOYEES DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE PROGRAM
0
3. The authority citation for part 894 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 8962; 5 U.S.C. 8992; Subpart C also issued
under section 1 of Pub. L. 110-279, 122 Stat. 2604.
Subpart C--Eligibility
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4. In Sec. 894.302, paragraph (f) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 894.302 What is an excluded position?
* * * * *
(f) Expected to work fewer than six months in each year. Exception:
you are eligible if you receive an appointment of at least one year's
duration as an Intern under Sec. 213.3402(a) of this chapter. To
qualify, you must be expected to be in a pay status for at least one-
third of the total period of time from the date of the first
appointment to the completion of the work-study program.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2016-20186 Filed 8-24-16; 8:45 am]
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