[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 10, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6590-6591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3222]



[[Page 6590]]

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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Part 300-80

RIN 3090-AG88
[FTR Amendment______1998 Edition]


Federal Travel Regulation; Travel and Relocation Expenses Test 
Programs

AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, GSA.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is proposing to 
amend the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) to add authority to implement 
sections of the Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 
105-264, October 19, 1998), which authorizes Federal agencies to 
conduct travel and relocation expenses test programs when determined by 
the Administrator of General Services to be in the interest of the 
Government. This change will permit agencies to test new and innovative 
methods of reimbursing travel and relocation expenses without seeking a 
waiver of current rules or authorizing legislation. It will also assist 
the Government to determine whether such innovations provide 
advantageous and effective travel and transportation costs and 
processes.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 12, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Ms. Sharon Kiser, 
Regulatory Secretariat (MVR), Office of Governmentwide Policy, General 
Services Administration, 1800 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20405. E-
mail comments may be sent to RIN.3090-AG[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Harte, Travel Team Leader, Travel 
and Transportation Management Policy Division (MTT), telephone 202-501-
0483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 19, 1998, the President signed 
into law the Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 (the Act) 
(Pub. L. 105-264). This proposed change will implement the provisions 
of the Act authorizing travel and relocation expenses test programs 
designed to enhance cost savings or other efficiencies that may accrue 
to the Government.

A. Executive Order 12866

    GSA has determined that this proposed rule is not a significant 
regulatory action for the purposes of Executive Order 12866 of 
September 30, 1993.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This proposed rule is not required to be published in the Federal 
Register for notice and comment; therefore, the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act does not apply.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the proposed 
rule does not impose recordkeeping or information collection 
requirements, or the collection of information from offerors, 
contractors, or members of the public which require the approval of the 
Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 501 et seq.

D. Small Business Regulatory Reform 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 Part 300-80

    Government employees, Travel and transportation expenses.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, it is proposed that 41 
CFR part 300-80 be added to read as follows:

PART 300-80--TRAVEL AND RELOCATION EXPENSES TEST PROGRAMS

Sec.
300-80.1  What is a travel and relocation expenses test program?
300-80.2  Who may authorize such test programs?
300-80.3  What must be done to apply for test program authority?
300-80.4  How many test programs may be authorized by GSA throughout 
the Government?
300-80.5  What factors will GSA consider in approving a request for 
a travel or relocation expenses test program?
300-80.6  May the same agency be authorized to test travel and 
relocation expenses programs at the same time?
300-80.7  What limits are there to test programs?
300-80.8  What is the maximum duration of test programs?
300-80.9  What reports are required for a test program?
300-80.10  When does the authority of GSA to authorize test programs 
expire?

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707, 5710, 5738, and 5739.


Sec. 300-80.1  What is a travel and relocation expenses test program?

    It is a program to permit agencies to test new and innovative 
methods of reimbursing travel and relocation expenses without seeking a 
waiver of current rules or authorizing legislation.


Sec. 300-80.2  Who may authorize such test programs?

    Only the Administrator of General Services may authorize an agency 
to conduct such tests when the Administrator determines such tests to 
be in the interest of the government.


Sec. 300-80.3  What must be done to apply for test program authority?

    The head of the agency or designee must design the test program to 
enhance cost savings or other efficiencies to the Government and submit 
in writing to the Administrator of General Services (Attention: MTT), 
1800 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20405:
    (a) An explanation of the test program;
    (b) Specific provisions of the FTR to be tested (travel and/or 
relocation);
    (c) An analysis of the expected costs and benefits; and
    (d) A set of criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the 
program.


Sec. 300-80.4  How many test programs may be authorized by GSA 
throughout the Government?

    No more than 10 travel expense test programs and 10 relocation 
expense test programs may be conducted at the same time.


Sec. 300-80.5  What factors will GSA consider in approving a request 
for a travel or relocation expenses test program?

    The following factors will be considered:
    (a) Potential savings to the Government;
    (b) Applicability of results to other agencies;
    (c) Feasibility of successful implementation;
    (d) Number of tests, if any, already authorized to the same 
activity;
    (e) Whether the request meets the requirements of Sec. 300-80.3;
    (f) Other agency requests under consideration at the time of 
submission; and
    (g) Uniqueness of proposed test.


Sec. 300-80.6  May the same agency be authorized to test travel and 
relocation expenses programs at the same time?

    Yes, if authorized, both test programs may be conducted by the same 
agency at the same time.


Sec. 300-80.7  What limits are there to test programs?

    None. When authorized by the Administrator of General Services, the 
agency may pay any necessary travel or relocation expenses in lieu of 
payments authorized or required under chapters 301 and 302 of this 
title.

[[Page 6591]]

Sec. 300-80.8  What is the maximum duration of test programs?

    Each test program may be continued for a period of up to 24 months 
from the date the test is authorized to begin.


Sec. 300-80.9  What reports are required for a test program?

    Two reports are required:
    (a) The Administrator of General Services must submit a copy of an 
approved test program to Congress at least 30 days before the effective 
start date of the authorized test program.
    (b) The agency authorized to conduct the test program must submit a 
report on the results of the test program to the Administrator of 
General Services and to Congress within 3 months after completion of 
the program.


Sec. 300-80.10  When does the authority of GSA to authorize test 
programs expire?

    The authority to conduct test programs expires on October 20, 2005.

    Dated: January 26, 1999.
G. Martin Wagner,
Associate Administrator, Office of Governmentwide Policy.
[FR Doc. 99-3222 Filed 2-9-99; 8:45 am]
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