[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 167 (Monday, August 30, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47111-47112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22258]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Parts 2 and 14

RIN 2900--AJ31


Delegations of Authority; Tort Claims

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
regulations regarding delegations of authority for determining and 
reconsidering claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act. We believe 
these amendments will facilitate the processing of claims. This 
document also makes miscellaneous nonsubstantive changes to various 
regulatory provisions by revising or adding authority citations, 
updating titles of positions and VA subunits, correcting typographical 
errors, and making other nonsubstantive changes for the purpose of 
clarification.

DATES: Effective Date: August 30, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E. Douglas Bradshaw, Jr., Assistant 
General Counsel (021), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont 
Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-6481.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Administrative Procedure Act

    This final rule consists of delegations of authority and 
nonsubstantive changes. Accordingly, it is exempt from the notice-and-
comment and delayed effective date provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    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, 5 U.S.C. 601-612. The final rule consists of 
delegations of authority and nonsubstantive changes that will not have 
an economic effect on entities. Accordingly, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
605(b), this rule is exempt from the initial and final regulatory 
flexibility analyses requirements of sections 603 and 604.
    There are no Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance numbers 
associated with this rule.

List of Subjects

38 CFR Part 2

    Authority delegations (Government agencies).

38 CFR Part 14

    Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Government 
employees, Lawyers, Legal services, Organization and functions 
(Government agencies).

    Approved: August 11, 1999.
Togo D. West, Jr.,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

    For the reasons stated above, 38 CFR parts 2 and 14 are amended as 
set forth below:

PART 2--DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY

    1. The authority citation for part 2 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 302, 552a; 38 U.S.C. 501, 512, 515, 1729, 
1729A, 5711; 44 U.S.C. 3702, unless otherwise noted.

    2. Sections 2.1 and 2.2 are redesignated as Secs. 2.2 and 2.3, 
respectively; and a new Sec. 2.1 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 2.1  General provisions.

    In addition to the delegations of authority in this part, numerous 
delegations of authority are set forth throughout this title.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 512)

    3. Section 2.6 is amended as follows:
    a. The introductory text of paragraph (a) is amended by removing 
``Chief Medical Director'' and adding, in its place, ``Under Secretary 
for Health'';
    b. The heading for paragraph (a), and paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(3), 
and (a)(7), are amended by removing ``Veterans Health Services and 
Research Administration'' and adding, in its place, ``Veterans Health 
Administration'';
    c. Paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(7) are amended by removing ``Deputy 
Chief Medical Director'' and adding, in its place, ``Deputy Under 
Secretary for Health'';
    d. Paragraph (e)(1) is removed and reserved; and
    e. The authority citation following paragraph (g) is revised to 
read as follows:


Sec. 2.6  Secretary's delegations of authority to certain officials (38 
U.S.C. 512).

* * * * *

(Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552a)

PART 14--LEGAL SERVICES, GENERAL COUNSEL, AND MISCELLANEOUS CLAIMS

    4. The heading for part 14 is revised to read as set forth above.
    5. The authority citation for part 14 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 28 U.S.C. 2671-2680; 38 U.S.C. 501(a), 
512, 515, 5502, 5902-5905; 28 CFR part 14, appendix to part 14, 
unless otherwise noted.

    6. Section 14.600 is revised to read as follows:

[[Page 47112]]

Sec. 14.600  Federal Tort Claims Act--general.

    (a) Federal Tort Claims Act--overview. The Federal Tort Claims Act 
(28 U.S.C. 1291, 1346, 1402, 2401, 2402, 2411, 2412, and 2671 through 
2680) prescribes a uniform procedure for handling of claims against the 
United States, for money only, on account of damage to or loss of 
property, or on account of personal injury or death, caused by the 
negligent or wrongful act or omission of a Government employee while 
acting within the scope of his or her office or employment, under 
circumstances where the United States, if a private person, would be 
liable in accordance with the law of the place where the act or 
omission occurred.
    (b) Applicable regulations. The regulations issued by the 
Department of Justice at 28 CFR part 14 are applicable to claims 
asserted under the Federal Tort Claims Act, including such claims that 
are filed with VA. The regulations in Secs. 14.600 through 14.605 of 
this part supplement the regulations at 28 CFR part 14.
    (c) Delegations of authority concerning claims. Subject to the 
limitations in 28 CFR 14.6(c), (d), and (e), authority to consider, 
ascertain, adjust, determine, compromise, and settle claims asserted 
under the Federal Tort Claims Act (including the authority to execute 
an appropriate voucher and other necessary instruments in connection 
therewith) is delegated as follows:
    (1) To the Under Secretary for Health, the Deputy Under Secretary 
for Health, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) Directors, and 
VA Medical Facility Directors; with respect to any claim for $2,500 or 
less that arises out of the operations of the Veterans Health 
Administration.
    (2) To the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, and Assistant 
General Counsel (Professional Staff Group I) with respect to any claim; 
provided that any award, compromise, or settlement in excess of 
$200,000 shall be effected only with the prior written approval of the 
Attorney General or his or her designee.
    (3) To the Regional Counsels and Deputy Assistant General Counsel 
(Professional Staff Group I) with respect to any claim; provided that:
    (i) Any award, compromise, or settlement in excess of $100,000 but 
not more than $200,000 shall be effected only with the prior written 
approval of the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, or Assistant 
General Counsel (Professional Staff Group I); and
    (ii) Any award, compromise, or settlement in excess of $200,000 
shall be effected only with the prior written approval of the General 
Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, or Assistant General Counsel 
(Professional Staff Group I) and with the prior written approval of the 
Attorney General or his or her designee.
    (d) Delegations of authority to reconsider final denial of a claim. 
Subject to the limitations in 28 CFR 14.6(c), (d), and (e), authority 
under 28 CFR 14.9 to reconsider final denials of claims under the 
Federal Tort Claims Act is delegated as follows:
    (1) To the Regional Counsel with jurisdiction over the geographic 
area where the occurrence complained of arose, with respect to any 
claim for $2,500 or less that arises out of the operations of the 
Veterans Health Administration.
    (2) To the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, and Assistant 
General Counsel (Professional Staff Group I) with respect to any claim; 
provided that any award, compromise, or settlement in excess of 
$200,000 shall be effected only with the prior written approval of the 
Attorney General or his or her designee.

    Note (1) to paragraph (c)(2): For any award, compromise, or 
settlement in excess of $100,000 but not more than $200,000 a 
memorandum fully explaining the basis for the action taken shall be 
sent to the Department of Justice.
    Note (2) to paragraph (c)(3)(i): For any award, compromise, or 
settlement under paragraph (c)(3)(i) of this section a memorandum 
fully explaining the basis for the action taken shall be sent to the 
Department of Justice.
    Note (3) to paragraph (d)(2): For any award, compromise, or 
settlement in excess of $100,000 but not more than $200,000 a 
memorandum fully explaining the basis for the action taken shall be 
sent to the Department of Justice.

(Authority: 28 U.S.C. 1291, 1346, 1402, 2401, 2402, 2411, 2412, 
2671-2680; 38 U.S.C. 512, 515; 28 CFR part 14, appendix to part 14)

    7. The undesignated center heading immediately preceding 
Sec. 14.601 is removed.
    8. Section 14.601 is amended as follows:
    a. The heading for paragraph (a) is revised,
    b. A heading for paragraph (b) is added, and
    c. An authority citation at the end of the section is added, to 
read as follows:


Sec. 14.601  Investigation and development.

    (a) Development of untoward incidents. * * *
    (b) Development of medical malpractice claims. * * *

(Authority: 28 U.S.C. 2671-2680; 38 U.S.C. 512, 515; 28 CFR part 14, 
appendix to part 14)


Sec. 14.602  [Amended]

    9. In Sec. 14.602, paragraph (a) is amended by removing ``shall 
be'' and adding, in its place, ``shall''.
    10. Section 14.604 is amended as follows:
    a. Paragraph (a) is amended by removing '', who will transmit 
forthwith to the appropriate agency'' and adding, in its place, ``for 
appropriate action in accord with 28 CFR 14.2'';
    b. Paragraph (c) is amended by removing ``(see 
Sec. 14.600(b)(1))''; and
    c. An authority citation is added at the end of the section to read 
as follows:


Sec. 14.604  Filing a claim.

* * * * *

(Authority: 28 U.S.C. 1346(b)(1), 2401(b), 2671-2680; 38 U.S.C. 512, 
515; 28 CFR part 14, appendix to part 14)

    11. The undesignated center heading immediately preceding 
Sec. 14.605 is removed.
    12. Section 14.605 is amended as follows:
    a. Paragraph (b) is amended by removing ``Veterans Health Services 
and Research Administration'' and adding, in its place, ``Veterans 
Health Administration'' and by removing ``unsolved'' and adding, in its 
place, ``involved'';
    b. Paragraph (d) is amended by removing ``employement'' and adding, 
in its place, ``employment''; and
    c. An authority citation is added at the end of the section to read 
as follows:


Sec. 14.605  Suits against Department of Veterans Affairs employees 
arising out of a wrongful act or omission or based upon medical care 
and treatment furnished in or for the Veterans Health Administration.

* * * * *

(Authority: 28 U.S.C 2671-2680; 38 U.S.C. 512, 515, 7316; 28 CFR 
part 14, appendix to part 14)

    13. In Sec. 14.615, paragraph (a) is amended by removing 
``Veterans' '' and adding, in its place, ``Veterans'', and an authority 
citation is added at the end of the section to read as follows:


Sec. 14.615  General.

* * * * *

(Authority: 28 U.S.C 2671-2680; 38 U.S.C. 512, 515, 7316; 28 CFR 
part 14, appendix to part 14)

[FR Doc. 99-22258 Filed 8-27-99; 8:45 am]
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