[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 128 (Thursday, July 3, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35969-35970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17412]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Parts 1, 3, and 9

RIN 2900-AI73


Servicemen's and Veterans' Group Life Insurance

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
regulations relating to Servicemen's and Veterans' Group Life Insurance 
(SGLI/VGLI) to conform the regulations to statutory changes. In this 
regard, the regulations are amended to reflect the merger of the 
Retired Reservist Servicemen's Group Life Insurance (RR SGLI) program 
into the VGLI program; to reflect the extension of VGLI coverage to 
members separating from the Ready Reserve; and to rename the SGLI 
program as ``Servicemembers'' Group Life Insurance.''

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 3, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanne Derrick, Attorney/Advisor, 
Insurance Program Administration and Oversight, Department of Veterans 
Affairs Regional Office and Insurance Center, P.O. Box 8079, 
Philadelphia, PA 19101; (215) 842-2000, ext. 4277.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Veterans' Insurance Reform Act of 1996, 
Pub. L. 104-275, tit. IV, 110 Stat. 3337, amended sections 1965, 1967, 
1968, 1969 and 1977 of title 38, United States Code. The amendments 
provide for the merger of the Retired Reserve Servicemen's Group Life 
Insurance (RR SGLI) program into the Veteran's Group Life Insurance 
(VGLI) program; the extension of VGLI eligibility to members separating 
from the Ready Reserve; and the renaming of the Servicemen's Group Life 
Insurance (SGLI) program to ``Servicemembers'' Group Life Insurance.'' 
VA, accordingly, hereby amends 38 CFR parts 1, 3, and 9 to reflect 
these statutory changes.
    This final rule consists of nonsubstantive changes and, therefore, 
is not subject to the notice and comment and effective date provisions 
of 5 U.S.C. 553.

[[Page 35970]]

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs hereby certifies that this final 
rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities as they are defined in the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601-612. This final rule will not 
affect any entity since it does not contain any substantive provisions. 
Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), this amendment is exempt from 
the initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis requirements of 
sections 603 and 604.
    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program number for this 
regulation is 64.103.

List of Subjects

38 CFR Part 1

    Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Courts, Freedom of 
information, Government contracts, Privacy, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

38 CFR Part 3

    Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Disability benefits, 
Health care, Pensions, Veterans, Vietnam.

38 CFR Part 9

    Life insurance, Military personnel, Veterans.

    Approved: May 19, 1997.
Jesse Brown,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 38 CFR parts 1, 3, and 9 
are amended as set forth below:

PART 1--GENERAL PROVISIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), unless otherwise noted.

    2. Part 1 is amended by removing ``Servicemen's'' wherever it 
appears, and adding, in its place, ``Servicemembers''.

PART 3--ADJUDICATION

Subpart A--Pension, Compensation, and Dependency and Indemnity 
Compensation

    3. The authority citation for part 3, subpart A continues to read 
as follows:

    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a), unless otherwise noted.

    4. Part 3 is amended by removing ``Servicemen's'' wherever it 
appears, and adding, in its place, ``Servicemembers''.

PART 9--SERVICEMEN'S GROUP LIFE INSURANCE AND VETERANS'' GROUP LIFE 
INSURANCE

    5. The authority citation for part 9 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, 1965-1979, unless otherwise noted.
    6. In Sec. 9.2, paragraphs (a) and (b)(1) are revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 9.2  Effective date; applications.

    (a) The effective date of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance will 
be in accordance with provisions set forth in 38 U.S.C. 1967.
    (b) * * *
    (1) For members whose Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage 
ceases under 38 U.S.C. 1968 (a)(1)(A) and 38 U.S.C. 1968(a)(4), the 
effective date shall be the 121st day after termination of duty. An 
application and the initial premium must be received by the 
administrative office within 120 days following termination of duty or 
separation or release from such assignment.
* * * * *


Sec. 9.8  [Amended]

    7. In Sec. 9.8, paragraph (b) is amended by removing ``38 U.S.C. 
1968 (a)(4)(B) or''.
    8. Part 9 is amended by removing ``Servicemen's'' wherever it 
appears, and adding, in its place, ``Servicemembers''.

[FR Doc. 97-17412 Filed 7-2-97; 8:45 am]
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