[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 24, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38363-38368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18358]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
20 CFR Part 404

RIN 0960-AE00


Miscellaneous Coverage Provisions of the Social Security 
Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994; Coverage Provisions 
of the Social Security Domestic Employment Reform Act of 1994

AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).

ACTION: Final rules.

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SUMMARY: These final regulations reflect sections 303, 305, 319 and 320 
of the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 
1994, which made several amendments to the Social Security Act (the 
Act) concerning the Social Security coverage of State and local 
government election officials and election workers effective beginning 
January 1, 1995, police officers and firefighters effective with 
respect to modifications filed under section 218 of the Act on and 
after August 16, 1994, Federal employees transferred to international 
organizations effective January 1, 1995, and nonresident aliens who 
enter the United States under a cultural exchange program effective 
October 1, 1994. These final regulations also reflect section 
1001(d)(2)(E) of the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988, 
which excludes from coverage certain services performed by certain 
nonresident aliens temporarily in the United States to pursue a 
vocational or nonacademic technical education. In addition, these final 
regulations also reflect section 2 of the Social Security Domestic 
Employment Reform Act of 1994, which concerns the coverage of domestic 
services performed in a private home of the employer.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These regulations are effective July 24, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lois Berg, Legal Assistant, Division 
of Regulations and Rulings, Social Security Administration, 3-B-1 
Operations Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235, 
(410) 965-1713 for information about these rules. For information on 
eligibility, claiming benefits, or coverage of earnings, call

[[Page 38364]]

our national toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Law 103-296, which established SSA as 
an independent agency, also made a number of miscellaneous program 
improvements. These final rules reflect sections 303, 305, 319 and 320 
of Public Law 103-296, which amended sections 210 and 218 of the Act 
with respect to the Social Security coverage of certain workers.
    Section 303 of Public Law 103-296 amended section 210(a)(7)(F)(iv) 
of the Act to provide that services performed by State and local 
government election officials and workers who earn less than $1000 in a 
calendar year for those services are excluded from the mandatory Social 
Security and Medicare coverage generally provided under section 
210(a)(7)(F) for State and local government employees who are not 
members of a State or local government retirement system. Similarly, 
section 303 amended section 210(p)(2)(E) of the Act to provide that 
services of election officials and workers who earn less than the 
$1,000 annual amount also are excluded from the mandatory Medicare only 
coverage generally provided under section 210(p)(2) for State and local 
government employees hired after March 31, 1986. Section 303 also 
amended section 218(c)(8) of the Act to provide that services of 
election officials and workers who earn less than the $1,000 annual 
amount may, at the option of the State, be excluded from a voluntary 
section 218 coverage agreement entered into by a State. Finally, 
section 303 provides that the $1,000 amount will be adjusted for all 
three exclusions beginning in calendar year 2000 to reflect changes in 
wages in the economy. Prior to these statutory amendments, these three 
exclusions applied to election officials and workers who earned less 
than $100 in a calendar year, rather than $1,000. This increase in the 
threshold amount to $1000 for these exclusions is effective for 
services performed on or after January 1, 1995. However, the higher 
threshold for the optional exclusion from voluntary coverage under a 
section 218 agreement will apply only if the State executes a 
modification to its coverage agreement electing to take the exclusion 
with the increased $1000 based limit. We are amending 
Secs. 404.1018b(c)(1)(v), 404.1020(a)(3)(iv) and 404.1210(e) to reflect 
the statutory changes made by section 303.
    Section 305 of Public Law 103-296 amended section 218(l) of the Act 
to give all States the option to extend Social Security coverage to 
police officers and firefighters who are under the State or political 
subdivision employer's retirement system. This amendment is effective 
with respect to section 218 coverage modifications filed by States on 
or after August 16, 1994. Prior to this amendment, section 218(l) 
authorized only 23 named States to provide this coverage. We are 
amending Secs. 404.1206 (a) and (f), 404.1211(d), and 404.1212 to 
reflect this amendment and to update the terminology so that 
``policeman'' or ``policemen'' are now referred to as ``police 
officer(s)'', and ``fireman'' or ``firemen'' are now referred to as 
``firefighter(s)''.
    Section 319 of Public Law 103-296 amended section 210 of the Act by 
adding a new subsection, subsection (r), to provide for the 
continuation of Social Security coverage as employment of services 
performed by Federal civilian employees temporarily transferred to an 
international organization regardless of whether the international 
organization is within or outside the United States. Prior to this 
amendment, which is effective with respect to services performed on or 
after January 1, 1995, coverage would not continue if the services were 
performed outside the United States and it would continue as self-
employment if performed within the United States. Specifically, under 
new subsection (r), work performed in the employ of an international 
organization, pursuant to a temporary transfer from a Federal agency 
under section 3582 of title 5 of the United States Code, is covered 
employment if the individual worked in covered employment for a Federal 
agency immediately prior to the transfer and would be entitled, upon 
separation from the international organization and proper application, 
to reemployment with the Federal agency under section 3582. We are 
amending Secs. 404.1004, 404.1018, 404.1034 and 404.1068(d) to reflect 
this statutory change.
    Section 320 of Public Law 103-296 amended section 210(a)(19) of the 
Act to exclude from Social Security coverage certain services performed 
by nonresident aliens who enter the United States on a temporary basis 
as part of a cultural exchange program under a visa issued under 
section 101(A)(15)(Q) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This 
provision is effective October 1, 1994. We are revising Sec. 404.1036 
to reflect this statutory change. We also are revising Sec. 404.1036 to 
reflect section 1001(d)(2)(E) of Public Law 100-647, the Technical and 
Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988, which, effective for remuneration 
for services received after December 31, 1986, amended section 
210(a)(19) of the Act to exclude from coverage certain services 
performed by nonresident aliens temporarily in the United States as 
nonimmigrants to pursue a vocational or nonacademic technical 
education. These individuals are ``M'' visa holders under section 
101(a)(15)(M) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Finally, we are 
revising Sec. 404.1036 to reflect section 9(a)(1) of Public Law 100-525 
which in 1988 amended section 101(a)(15)(J) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act by substituting ``Director of United States Information 
Agency'' for ``Secretary of State.''
    Section 2 of Public Law 103-387, the Social Security Domestic 
Employment Reform Act of 1994, made several changes with respect to the 
coverage of domestic services which are also reflected in these final 
rules. First, section 2 amended section 209(a)(6)(B) of the Act to 
raise the threshold per employer for coverage of payments made to an 
employee for domestic services in the employer's private home from $50 
per calendar quarter to $1,000 per calendar year beginning in 1994. 
However, under a special provision for calendar year 1994, if a 
domestic employee was paid less than $1,000 by an employer, the 
employer must report the earnings on form W-2 if the services would 
have been covered under the law as it existed prior to the enactment of 
Public Law 103-387. Although payment of Social Security taxes on such 
1994 earnings is not required, the employee will receive Social 
Security coverage credit for those 1994 earnings which must be 
reported. In calendar years after 1995, the $1000 threshold will be 
subject to adjustment in $100 increments based on the formula in 
section 215(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Act to reflect changes in wages in the 
economy. We are amending Secs. 404.1042(c)(2) and 404.1057(a) to 
reflect the statutory increase in the coverage threshold for domestic 
services.
    Section 2 of Public Law 103-387 also amended section 209(a)(6)(B) 
to provide that, effective with respect to remuneration paid after 
1993, the coverage of earnings for domestic services in the private 
home of an employer on a farm operated for profit is determined in the 
same manner as earnings for any other domestic services and those 
earnings are subject to the new threshold instead of the threshold 
applicable to other agricultural labor. Prior to the statutory 
amendment, which is subject to the special provision for 1994 discussed 
above, the coverage threshold generally applicable to domestic services 
did not apply to domestic services which also

[[Page 38365]]

constituted agricultural labor under section 210(f) of the Act. We are 
amending Secs. 404.1055 and 404.1056(a)(6) to reflect this statutory 
change. In addition, we are amending Sec. 404.1055(c)(1) to provide a 
technical clarification consistent with the example currently provided 
in that paragraph. We are also amending Sec. 404.1056(a)(6) to update 
cross-references to Secs. 404.1058 and 404.1059 to reflect the fact 
that those sections were redesignated as Secs. 404.1057 and 404.1058, 
respectively, on March 1, 1990 (55 FR 7306, 7310).
    Finally, section 2 of Public Law 103-387 added a new paragraph (21) 
to section 210(a) of the Act to provide that domestic services 
performed after December 31, 1994, in the private home of the employer 
are excluded from Social Security coverage, regardless of the amount 
earned, in any year in which the employee is under age 18 if the 
domestic service is not the employee's principal occupation. We are 
adding Sec. 404.1038 to reflect this provision and we are also amending 
Secs. 404.1001(d)(2), 404.1003, 404.1004(a) and 404.1012 to provide 
cross-references to new Sec. 404.1038.

Regulatory Procedures

Justification for Final Rules

    Pursuant to section 702(a)(5) of the Act, SSA follows the 
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) rulemaking procedures specified in 5 
U.S.C. 553 in the development of its regulations. The APA provides 
exceptions to its notice and public comment procedures when an agency 
finds there is good cause for dispensing with such procedures on the 
basis that they are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the 
public interest. We have determined that, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), 
good cause exists for waiver of the notice and public comment 
procedures for these regulations. Opportunity for prior public comment 
is unnecessary because these regulations contain no discretionary 
policy and only reflect provisions in Public Law 103-296, Public Law 
103-387, and Public Law 100-647 and make nonsubstantive, technical 
changes. Therefore, we are issuing these changes to our regulations as 
final rules. Also, since these regulations reflect the statute, the 30-
day delay in effectuating regulations, as provided in 5 U.S.C. 553(d), 
does not apply.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    We certify that these regulations will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, including 
small governmental jurisdictions. Any economic impact involved in the 
regulations results directly from the statutory amendments, not from 
the regulations. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis as 
provided in Public Law 96-354, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, is not 
required.

Executive Order 12866

    We have consulted with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
and determined that these rules do not meet the criteria for a 
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866. Thus, they 
were not subject to OMB review.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    These regulations impose no reporting/recordkeeping requirements 
necessitating clearance by OMB.

    (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 96.001 
Social Security--Disability Insurance; 96.002 Social Security--
Retirement Insurance; and 96.004 Social Security--Survivors 
Insurance)

List of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 404

    Administrative practice and procedure, Blind benefits, Disability 
benefits, Old-Age, Survivors and disability insurance, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Social security.

    Dated: July 8, 1996.

    Approved:
Shirley S. Chater,
Commissioner of Social Security.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, subparts K and M of part 
404 of chapter III of title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations are 
amended as set forth below.

PART 404--FEDERAL OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS AND DISABILITY INSURANCE 
(1950-)

Subpart K--[Amended]

    1. The authority citation for subpart K of part 404 continues to 
read as follows:

    Authority: Secs. 202(v), 205(a), 209, 210, 211, 229(a), 230, 
231, and 702(a)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(v), 
405(a), 409, 410, 411, 429(a), 430, 431, and 902(a)(5)).

    2. Section 404.1001 is amended by revising paragraph (d)(2) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 404.1001   Introduction.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (2) In Secs. 404.1012 through 404.1038 we discuss various types of 
work that are not covered as employment for social security purposes.
* * * * *
    3. Section 404.1003 is amended by revising the fourth sentence to 
read as follows:


Sec. 404.1003   Employment.

    * * * Exceptions to the general rule are contained in 
Secs. 404.1012 through 404.1038 which explain the kinds of work 
excluded from employment. * * *
    4. Section 404.1004 is amended by revising the introductory text of 
paragraph (a) and by adding a new paragraph (a)(5) to read as follows:


Sec. 404.1004   What work is covered as employment.

    (a) General requirements of employment. Unless otherwise excluded 
from coverage under Secs. 404.1012 through 404.1038, the work you 
perform as an employee for your employer is covered as employment under 
social security if one of the following situations applies:
* * * * *
    (5) Your work performed after December 31, 1994, is in the employ 
of an international organization pursuant to a transfer from a Federal 
agency under section 3582 of title 5 of the United States Code and both 
the following are met:
    (i) Immediately before the transfer, your work for the Federal 
agency was covered employment; and
    (ii) You would be entitled, upon separation from the international 
organization and proper application, to reemployment with the Federal 
agency under section 3582.
* * * * *
    5. Section 404.1012 is amended by revising the second sentence to 
read as follows:


Sec. 404.1012   Work excluded from employment.

    * * * They are described in Secs. 404.1014 through 404.1038 and are 
exceptions to the general rule in Sec. 404.1004 on the kinds of work 
that are covered as employment. * * *
    6. Section 404.1018 is amended by redesignating paragraph (g) as 
paragraph (h) and by adding a new paragraph (g) to read as follows:


Sec. 404.1018   Work by civilians for the United States Government or 
its instrumentalities--wages paid after 1983.

* * * * *
    (g) Work for international organizations. Work performed for an 
international organization by an employee who was transferred from a 
Federal agency is generally covered as

[[Page 38366]]

employment if, immediately before the transfer, the employee's services 
for the Federal agency were covered. (See Sec. 404.1004(a)(5) and 
Sec. 404.1034(c).)
* * * * *
    7. Section 404.1018b is amended by revising paragraph (c)(1)(v) to 
read as follows:


Sec. 404.1018b   Medicare qualified government employment.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (v) By an election official or election worker paid less than $100 
in a calendar year for such service prior to 1995, or less than $1,000 
for service performed in any calendar year after 1994 and before 2000, 
or, for service performed in any calendar year after 1999, less than 
the $1,000 base amount, as adjusted pursuant to section 218(c)(8)(B) of 
the Social Security Act to reflect changes in wages in the economy. We 
will publish this adjustment of the $1,000 base amount in the Federal 
Register on or before November 1 preceding the year for which the 
adjustment is made.
* * * * *
    8. Section 404.1020 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(3)(iv) to 
read as follows:


Sec. 404.1020   Work for States and their political subdivisions and 
instrumentalities.

    (a) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (iv) As an election official or election worker if the remuneration 
paid in a calendar year for such service prior to 1995 is less than 
$100, or less than $1000 for service performed in any calendar year 
after 1994 and before 2000, or, for service performed in any calendar 
year after 1999, less than the $1000 base amount, as adjusted pursuant 
to section 218(c)(8)(B) of the Social Security Act to reflect changes 
in wages in the economy. We will publish this adjustment of the $1000 
base amount in the Federal Register on or before November 1 preceding 
the year for which the adjustment is made.
    9. Section 404.1034 is amended by revising the first sentence in 
the introductory text of paragraph (a), by redesignating paragraph (c) 
as paragraph (d) and revising it, and by adding a new paragraph (c) to 
read as follows:


Sec. 404.1034  Work for an international organization.

    (a) If you work as an employee of an international organization 
entitled to enjoy privileges, exemptions, and immunities as an 
international organization under the International Organizations 
Immunities Act (59 Stat. 669), your work is excluded from employment 
except as described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section. * * *
* * * * *
    (c) Your work performed after December 31, 1994 will not be 
excluded under this section if you perform service in the employ of an 
international organization pursuant to a transfer from a Federal agency 
under section 3582 of title 5 of the United States Code and
    (i) Immediately before such transfer you performed service with a 
Federal agency which was covered as employment; and
    (ii) You would be entitled, upon separation from the international 
organization and proper application, to reemployment with the Federal 
agency under section 3582.
    (d) If you are a citizen of the United States and work in the 
United States as an employee of an international organization that 
meets the conditions in paragraph (a) of this section and you are not 
subject to coverage based on paragraph (c) of this section, you are 
considered to be self-employed (Sec. 404.1068(d)).
    10. Section 404.1036 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 404.1036  Certain nonresident aliens.

    (a) Foreign students. (1) Foreign students (nonimmigrant aliens) 
may be temporarily in the United States under subparagraph (F) of 
section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to attend a 
school or other recognized place of study approved by the Attorney 
General. On-campus work or work under permission granted by the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service which is done by these students 
is excluded from employment. Other work done by these foreign students 
is not excluded from employment under this section.
    (2) Foreign students (nonimmigrant aliens) may be temporarily in 
the United States under subparagraph (M) of section 101(a)(15) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act to pursue a vocational or nonacademic 
technical education approved by the Attorney General. Work done by 
these students to carry out the purpose for which they were admitted is 
excluded from employment. Other work done by these foreign students is 
not excluded from employment under this section.
    (b) Exchange visitors. (1) Exchange visitors (nonimmigrant aliens) 
may be temporarily in the United States under subparagraph (J) of 
section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to 
participate in exchange visitor programs designated by the Director of 
the United States Information Agency. Work done by these exchange 
visitors to carry out the purpose for which they were admitted and for 
which permission has been granted by the sponsor, is excluded from 
employment. Other work done by these exchange visitors is not excluded 
from employment under this section.
    (2) Exchange visitors (nonimmigrant aliens) may be temporarily in 
the United States under subparagraph (Q) of section 101(a)(15) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act to participate in an international 
cultural exchange program approved by the Attorney General. Effective 
October 1, 1994, work done by these exchange visitors to carry out the 
purpose for which they were admitted is excluded from employment. Other 
work done by these exchange visitors is not excluded from employment 
under this section.
    (c) Spouse and children. Work done by a foreign student's or 
exchange visitor's alien spouse or minor child who is also temporarily 
in the United States under subparagraph (F), (J), (M), or (Q) of 
section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act is not 
excluded from employment under this section unless that spouse or child 
and the work that is done meets the conditions of paragraph (a) or (b) 
of this section.
    11. Section 404.1038 is added under the undesignated center heading 
``Work Excluded From Employment'' to read as follows:


Sec. 404.1038  Domestic employees under age 18.

    Domestic services you perform in a private home of your employer 
are excluded from employment, regardless of the amount earned, in any 
year in which you are under age 18 if domestic service is not your 
principal occupation. The exclusion applies to the entire year if you 
are under age 18 in any part of the year. See Sec. 404.1057.
    12. In Sec. 404.1042, paragraph (c)(2) is revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 404.1042  Wages when paid and received.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) We also apply this rule to domestic work in a private home of 
the employer, except see Sec. 404.1057(a)(1) for the applicable dollar 
amount.
* * * * *
    13. Section 404.1055 is amended by revising paragraph (a), the 
heading for paragraph (b), paragraph (b)(1), and the second sentence of 
paragraph (c)(1) to read as follows:

[[Page 38367]]

Sec. 404.1055  Payments for agricultural labor.

    (a) When cash payments are not wages. We do not include as wages 
your cash payments in a calendar year after 1987 from an employer for 
agricultural labor (see Sec. 404.1056) if your employer's total 
expenditures for agricultural labor are less than $2500 in that year 
and your employer paid you less than $150 cash remuneration in that 
year for your agricultural labor. If you perform domestic service in 
the private home of an employer on a farm operated for profit, we do 
not include as wages the cash payments for those services if they are 
less than the applicable dollar threshold described in 
Sec. 404.1057(a).
    (b) Exclusions for noncash payments and payments for seasonal 
agricultural labor. (1) Noncash payments for agricultural labor are not 
wages.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) * * * If the amounts paid are less than $150, we count only 
those amounts paid for agricultural labor in determining if the $2500 
expenditure test is met. * * *
* * * * *
    14. Section 404.1056 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(6) to 
read as follows:


Sec. 404.1056   Explanation of agricultural labor.

    (a) * * *
    (6) If you do nonbusiness work or domestic work in the private home 
of your employer, it is agricultural labor if you do the work on a farm 
operated for profit. However, if you do domestic work in the private 
home of your employer on a farm operated for profit, coverage of your 
earnings for the domestic services is determined in the same manner as 
earnings for any other domestic employee. Whether those earnings are 
covered will be determined based on the threshold described in 
Sec. 404.1057(a) and the other coverage rules applicable to domestic 
service instead of the threshold applicable to other agricultural 
employees. A farm is not operated for profit if the employer primarily 
uses it as a residence or for personal or family recreation or 
pleasure. (See Sec. 404.1057 for an explanation of domestic work and 
Sec. 404.1058(a) for an explanation of nonbusiness work.)
* * * * *
    15. Section 404.1057 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) (1), (2) 
and (3) and the last sentence in paragraph (a)(4) to read as follows:


Sec. 404.1057   Domestic service in the employer's home.

    (a) * * *
    (1) The applicable dollar threshold. We do not include as wages 
cash payments that an employer makes to you in any calendar year for 
domestic service in the employer's private home if the cash pay in that 
calendar year is less than the applicable dollar threshold. The 
threshold per employer is $1000 in calendar year 1995. In calendar 
years after 1995, this amount will be subject to adjustment in $100 
increments based on the formula in section 215(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Act 
to reflect changes in wages in the economy. Non-cash payments for 
domestic service are not counted as wages.
    (2) How evaluation is made. We apply the applicable dollar 
threshold described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section based on when 
the payments are made to you rather than when the pay is earned. To 
count toward the applicable dollar threshold, payment must be made to 
you in cash (including checks or other forms of money). We apply the 
applicable dollar threshold only to services performed as a domestic 
employee. If an employer pays you for performing other work, the cash 
pay for the nondomestic work does not count toward the applicable 
dollar threshold domestic service pay required for the remuneration to 
count as wages.
    (3) More than one domestic employer. The applicable dollar 
threshold as explained in paragraph (a)(1) of this section applies to 
each employer when you perform domestic services for more than one 
employer in a calendar year. The wages paid by more than one employer 
for domestic services may not be combined to decide whether you have 
been paid the applicable dollar threshold or more in a calendar year. 
The standard applies to each employee when an employer has two or more 
domestic employees during a calendar year.
    (4) * * * If an employer uses this method to report a cash payment 
to you for domestic services in his or her private home in a calendar 
year, he or she must use the same method to report payments to other 
employees in that year for similar services.
* * * * *
    16. Section 404.1068 is amended by revising paragraph (d) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 404.1068   Employees who are considered self-employed.

* * * * *
    (d) Employees of a foreign government, an instrumentality wholly 
owned by a foreign government, or an international organization. If you 
are a United States citizen and perform the services that are described 
in Sec. 404.1032, Sec. 404.1033(a), or Sec. 404.1034(a), you are 
engaged in a trade or business if the services are performed in the 
United States and are not covered as employment based upon 
Sec. 404.1034(c).
* * * * *

Subpart M--[Amended]

    17. The authority citation for subpart M of part 404 continues to 
read as follows:

    Authority: Secs. 205, 210, 218, and 702(a)(5) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405, 410, 418, and 902(a)(5)); sec. 12110, 
Pub. L. 99-272, 100 Stat. 287 (42 U.S.C. 418 note); sec. 9002, Pub. 
L. 99-509, 100 Stat. 1970.

    18. Section 404.1206 is amended by revising the introductory text 
of paragraph (a), paragraphs (a)(6) and (a)(7), by adding a new 
paragraph (a)(8), and by revising the last sentence in paragraph (f)(2) 
to read as follows:


Sec. 404.1206   Retirement system coverage groups.

    (a) General. Section 218(d) of the Act authorizes coverage of 
services of employees in positions under a retirement system. For 
purposes of obtaining coverage, a system may be considered a separate 
retirement system authorized by sections 218(d)(6) (A) or (B) or 218(l) 
of the Act. Under these sections of the Act a State may designate the 
positions of any one of the following groupings of employees as a 
separate retirement system:
* * * * *
    (6) The employees of each institution of higher learning, including 
junior colleges and teachers colleges;
    (7) The employees of a hospital which is an integral part of a 
political subdivision; or
    (8) The employees in police officers' positions or firefighters' 
positions, or both.
* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (2) * * * This rule also applies to the coverage of services in 
police officers' and firefighters' positions in States and interstate 
instrumentalities as discussed in Sec. 404.1212(c).
    19. Section 404.1210 is amended by revising paragraph (e) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 404.1210   Optionally excluded services.

* * * * *
    (e) For modifications executed after 1994, services performed by 
election officials or election workers if the payments for those 
services in a calendar year are less than $1000 for calendar years 
after 1994 and before 2000, or, for calendar years after 1999,

[[Page 38368]]

are less than the $1000 base amount as adjusted pursuant to section 
218(c)(8)(B) of the Act to reflect changes in wages in the economy. We 
will publish this adjustment of the $1000 base amount in the Federal 
Register on or before November 1 preceding the year for which the 
adjustment is made.
    20. Section 404.1211 is amended by revising paragraph (d) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 404.1211   Interstate instrumentalities.

* * * * *
    (d) They may provide coverage for firefighters and police officers 
in positions under a retirement system.
    21. Section 404.1212 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 404.1212   Police officers and firefighters.

    (a) General. For Social Security coverage purposes under section 
218 of the Act, a police officer's or firefighter's position is any 
position so classified under State statutes or court decisions. 
Generally, these positions are in the organized police and fire 
departments of incorporated cities, towns, and villages. In most 
States, a police officer is a member of the ``police'' which is an 
organized civil force for maintaining order, preventing and detecting 
crimes, and enforcing laws. The terms ``police officer'' and 
``firefighter'' do not include services in positions which, although 
connected with police and firefighting functions, are not police 
officer or firefighter positions.
    (b) Providing coverage. A State may provide coverage of:
    (1) Police officers' and firefighters' positions not under a 
retirement system as part of an absolute coverage group; or
    (2) Police officers' of firefighters' positions, or both, as part 
of a retirement system coverage group.
    (c) Police officers and firefighters in positions under a 
retirement system. All States and interstate instrumentalities may 
provide coverage for employees in police officers' or firefighters' 
positions, or both, which are under a retirement system by following 
the majority vote referendum procedures in Sec. 404.1206(d). In 
addition, all interstate instrumentalities and the States listed in 
Sec. 404.1207 may use the desire for coverage procedures described in 
Sec. 404.1207.

[FR Doc. 96-18358 Filed 7-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-P