[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 10, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64997-64998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31313]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Part 301-1, 301-7, 301-8, 301-11, and 301-17

[FTR Amdt. 53]
RIN 3090-AG24


Federal Travel Regulation; Repeal of the ``Approved 
Accommodations'' Data Collection and Employee Reporting Requirement

AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, GSA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule amends the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) to 
eliminate the ``approved accommodations'' data collection and reporting 
requirement. This rule implements section 1614 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 (Pub. L. No. 104-201, September 
23, 1996). The rule is intended to reduce travel management costs by 
removing an unnecessary employee reporting requirement.

DATES: This final rule is effective September 23, 1996, and applies for 
travel (including travel incident to a change of official station) 
performed on or after September 23, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert A. Clauson, Travel and 
Transportation Management Policy Division (MTT), Washington, DC 20405, 
telephone 202-501-0299.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1614 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 (``the Act'') (Pub. L. 104-201, 
September 23, 1996) repealed the ``approved accommodations'' data 
collection and employee reporting requirement imposed by the Hotel and 
Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-391,

[[Page 64998]]

September 25, 1990). The Act did not, however, repeal the Hotel and 
Motel Fire Safety Act provisions that encourage agencies to promote the 
use of ``approved accommodations'' or require, with limited exception, 
the use of ``approved accommodations'' for conferences. Agencies, 
therefore, should continue to effectuate policies encouraging employees 
to use ``approved accommodations.''
    The General Services Administration (GSA) has determined that this 
rule is not a significant regulatory action for the purposes of 
Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 1993. This final rule is not 
required to be published in the Federal Register for notice and 
comment. Therefore, the Regulatory Flexibility Act does not apply. This 
rule also is 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 301-1, 301-7, 301-8, 301-11, and 301-
17

    Government employees, Travel, Travel allowances, Travel and 
transportation expenses.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 41 CFR parts 301-1, 301-7, 
301-8, 301-11, and 301-17 are amended to read as follows:

PART 301-1--APPLICABILITY AND GENERAL RULES

    1. The authority citation for part 301-1 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707; 31 U.S.C. 1353; and 40 U.S.C. 486(c).

Subpart B--Official Government Business Travel


Sec. 301-1.101  [Amended]

    2. Section 301-1.101 is amended by removing the third and fourth 
sentences of paragraph (b)(4).

Subpart C--Pre-Employment Interview Travel


Sec. 301-1.202  [Amended]

    3. Section 301-1.202 is amended by removing the second and third 
sentences of paragraph (a)(5), and by removing the fourth and fifth 
sentences of paragraph (b)(6).


Sec. 301-1.205  [Amended]

    4. Section 301-1.205 is amended by removing paragraph (e).

PART 301-7--PER DIEM ALLOWANCES

    5. The authority citation for part 301-7 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707.

    6. Section 301-7.2 is amended by removing the second sentence of 
paragraph (a)(4), and by revising paragraph (b)(2) to read as follows:


Sec. 301-7.2  Employee and agency responsibilities.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) Fire safety responsibilities. Each agency, as defined in 
Sec. 301-17.2(a) of this chapter, is responsible for influencing its 
employees who require commercial lodging when performing official 
travel to stay at an approved accommodation as defined in Sec. 301-
17.2(c) of this chapter.

PART 301-8--REIMBURSEMENT OF ACTUAL SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES

    7. The authority citation for part 301-8 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707.


Sec. 301-8.5  [Amended]

    8. Section 301-8.5 is amended by removing the second sentence of 
paragraph (a)(4).

PART 301-11--CLAIMS FOR REIMBURSEMENT

    9. The authority citation for part 301-11 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707.


Sec. 301-11.2  [Amended]

    10. Section 301-11.2 is amended by removing and reserving paragraph 
(b).

PART 301-17--AGENCY TRAVEL DATA REQUIREMENTS

    11. The authority citation for part 301-17 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707.


Sec. 301-17.2  [Amended]

    12. Section 301-17.2 is amended by removing paragraph (d), and by 
redesignating paragraphs (e) and (f) as paragraphs (d) and (e), 
respectively.


Sec. 301-17.3 and 301-17.4  [Removed]

    13. Sections 301-17.3 and 301-17.4 are removed.
David J. Barram,
Acting Administrator of General Services.
[FR Doc. 96-31313 Filed 12-9-96; 8:45 am]
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