[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 16, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7723-7724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3388]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Justice Programs

28 CFR Part 92

[OJP(OJP)-1205f]
RIN 1121-AA50


Timing of Police Corps Reimbursements of Educational Expenses

AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs, Office of the Police Corps and Law 
Enforcement Education, Justice.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule adopts without change an interim final rule 
published by the Office of Justice Programs, Office of the Police Corps 
and Law Enforcement Education, in the Federal Register on June 21, 
1999, at 64 FR 33016-33018. The interim final rule altered the timing 
of reimbursements to Police Corps participants for eligible educational 
expenses incurred during years of college study completed before 
acceptance into the Police Corps. It provided that reimbursements would 
be paid in two equal installments at the start and conclusion of a 
participant's first year of required service as a police officer or 
sheriff's deputy. The interim final rule also permitted the Director of 
the Office of the Police Corps and Law Enforcement Education to advance 
the date of a participant's first reimbursement payment on a showing of 
good cause.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This Final Rule is effective on March 17, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ingrid Sausjord, Training Program 
Development Specialist, Office of the Police Corps and Law Enforcement 
Education at 1-888-94CORPS. This is a toll-free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The Office of Justice Programs, Office of 
the Police Corps and Law Enforcement Education (``Office of the Police 
Corps'') offers, pursuant to the Police Corps Act, 42 U.S.C. 14091 et 
seq., and through the Police Corps program, financial aid on a 
competitive basis to college students who agree to undergo rigorous 
training and serve as police in specially designated areas for at least 
four years.
    Once a participant is accepted into the Police Corps, he or she 
receives financial aid on a prospective basis through scholarship 
payments. 42 U.S.C. 14095(a). If a participant completes one or more 
years of college study before being accepted into the Police Corps, he 
or she receives reimbursements for educational expenses incurred during 
the prior years. 42 U.S.C. 14095(b). The Police Corps Act does not 
specify the timing of these reimbursements, and the reimbursements do 
not include interest.
    Prior to publication of the interim final rule, the relevant 
implementing regulation provided that reimbursements would be made 
through four equal payments, one upon completion of each of the four 
years of required service. The interim final rule changed that 
provision to accelerate reimbursements. Under the interim rule, 
participants were to be paid in two equal installments at the start and 
completion of a participant's first year of required service as a 
police officer or sheriff's deputy.
    The change enabled participants to promptly repay student loans 
and, by allowing the Director flexibility in dealing with special 
individual circumstances, enabled participants to have funds available 
to make loan payments and meet other ongoing financial obligations 
during the 16 to 24 weeks of required residential training. By reducing 
the number of payments per participant, the change also eased the 
administrative burden on both the Office of the Police Corps and state 
lead agencies.
    The interim rule requested that comments concerning the new 
provisions be submitted to the Office of the Police Corps by September 
20, 1999. The Office of the Police Corps did not receive any comments 
and is therefore adopting the interim rule as final without change.

Executive Order 12866

    This regulation has been drafted and reviewed in accordance with 
Executive Order 12866, section 1(b), Principles of Regulation. The 
Office of Justice Programs has determined that this rule is not a 
``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, section 
3(f), Regulatory Planning and Review, and accordingly this rule has not 
been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.

Executive Order 13132

    This regulation will not have substantial direct effects on the 
States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with Executive 
Order 13132, it is determined that this rule does not have sufficient 
federalism implications to warrant preparation of a Federalism 
Assessment.

[[Page 7724]]

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Office of Justice Programs, in accordance with the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed this regulation and by 
approving it certifies that this regulation will not have a significant 
economic impact upon a substantial number of small entities for the 
following reasons:
    (1) This rule provides the schedule under which eligible 
participants receive reimbursements for educational expenses under the 
Act; and
    (2) Such reimbursements impose no requirements on small business or 
on small entities.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local, and 
Tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of 
$100,000,000 or more in any one year, and it will not uniquely affect 
small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed necessary under 
the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

    This rule is not a major rule as defined by section 804 of the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This rule 
will not result in an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or 
more; a major increase in cost or prices; or significant adverse 
effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, 
innovation, or on the ability of United States-based companies to 
compete in domestic and export markets.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    There are no collection of information requirements contained in 
this regulation that would require review and approval by the Office of 
Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 92

    Colleges and universities, Education, Educational study programs, 
Educational facilities, Law enforcement officers, Schools, Student aid.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the interim final rule 
revising paragraph (b)(7) of 28 CFR Part 92.5, which was published in 
the Federal Register on June 21, 1999, at 64 FR 33016-33018, is adopted 
as a final rule without change.

    Dated: February 4, 2000.
Laurie Robinson,
Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-3388 Filed 2-15-00; 8:45 am]
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