[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6228-6229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2803]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

45 CFR Part 2553

RIN 3045-AA39


The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program; Amendments

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: These proposed amendments to the regulations governing the 
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) modify provisions 
concerning the allowability of certain volunteer expense items. The 
specific amendments are as follows: Sections 2553.43 and 2553.73(d) are 
modified to allow project funds, including the required non-federal 
share, to be used to reimburse volunteers for expenses, including 
transportation costs, incurred while performing volunteer assignments, 
and for purchase of equipment or supplies for volunteers on assignment.

DATES: Submit comments on or before March 26, 2004.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the title of the 
program, by any of the following methods:
    (1) By mail sent to: Corporation for National and Community 
Service, National Senior Service Corps; Attention Peter Boynton, 
Program Officer; 9th Floor, 1201 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20525.
    (2) By hand delivery or by courier to the Corporation's mailroom at 
Room 6010 at the mail address given in paragraph (1) above, between 9 
a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    (3) By fax to: (202) 565-2743, Attention Peter Boynton, Program 
Officer.
    (4) Electronically through the Corporation's e-mail address system: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter L. Boynton, 202-606-5000, ext. 
554.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

A. Program Description

    RSVP, one of the largest volunteer efforts in the nation, engages 
people age 55 and older in a diverse range of volunteer activities. 
Volunteers organize neighborhood watch programs, tutor children, 
renovate homes, teach English to immigrants, assist victims of natural 
disasters, and serve their communities in a myriad of other ways. 
Through RSVP, more than 480,000 volunteers serve a few hours a week to 
nearly full time at an estimated 65,000 local and national nonprofit 
groups, government agencies, and small community-based organizations, 
both faith-based and secular. Volunteers are not paid, but sponsoring 
organizations may reimburse them for some costs incurred during 
service, including meals and transportation.

B. Volunteer Expenses

    The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program regulations currently 
distinguish between volunteer expenses that may be paid or reimbursed 
with federal and required non-federal grant funds and volunteer 
expenses that must be paid by the volunteer station to which a RSVP 
volunteer is assigned. Grant funds may be used only to pay for 
volunteer stipends, insurance, transportation to and from volunteer 
assignments and official project activities, annual physical 
examinations, meals taken on assignment, and service recognition 
expenses. With the exception of certain meals, volunteer stations must 
pay for all expenses incurred while performing volunteer assignments.
    In ``Principles and Reforms for a Citizen Service Act,'' issued by 
President Bush April 9, 2002, the Administration proposed to create 
greater flexibility in the use of Federal resources by easing 
requirements that govern the activities and support of volunteers. The 
proposed amendment would allow Retired and Senior Volunteer Program 
sponsors to determine, in consultation with volunteer stations, how 
best to fund volunteer expenses. The respective responsibilities of the 
sponsor and volunteer station for volunteer expenses would be 
incorporated in the memorandum of understanding negotiated by the 
sponsor with each station. Sponsors would be free to maintain the 
current division of responsibility for volunteer expenses but have the 
flexibility to use federal and required non-federal funds to cover any 
volunteer expense when the sponsor determines that doing so would be in 
the best interest of the project. The provisions of the applicable OMB 
Cost Principles Circulars referenced in 2553.73(a)(4) would continue to 
apply to all expenses paid with federal or required non-federal funds.

Impact of Various Acts and Executive Orders

    After carefully reviewing the changes implemented by this 
amendment, and after coordination with the Office of Management and 
Budget, it was determined that:
    (1) This was a significant regulatory action under section 3(f)(4) 
of Executive Order 12866 ``Regulatory Planning and Review'', and 
required a review by the Office of Management and Budget;
    (2) The Corporation hereby certifies that the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act does not apply because there is no ``significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities'';
    (3) That the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. chapter 
25, subchapter II) does not apply because the amendment does not result 
in any annual expenditures of $100 million by State, local, Indian 
Tribal governments or the private sector;

[[Page 6229]]

    (4) That the Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the 
amendments do not impose any additional reporting or record-keeping 
requirements;
    (5) That the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 
1996 does not apply because it is not a major rule as defined by 
section 251 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
of 1996, and would not result in an annual effect on the economy of 
$100 million or more; result in an increase in cost or prices; or have 
significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, 
productivity, innovation, or on the ability of United States-based 
companies to compete with foreign-based companies in domestic and 
export markets; and
    (6) That Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism'' does not apply 
because it would not have substantial direct effects on the States or 
the relationship between the national government and the States.

List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 2553

    Aged, Grant programs--social programs, Volunteers.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Corporation for 
National and Community Service proposes to amend 45 CFR part 2553 as 
follows:

PART 2553--THE RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

    1. The authority citation for part 2553 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.

    2. In Sec. 2553.43, add a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
* * * * *
    (e) Other Volunteer Expenses. RSVP volunteers may be reimbursed for 
expenses incurred while performing their volunteer assignments provided 
these expenses are described in the Memorandum of Understanding 
negotiated with the volunteer station to which the volunteer is 
assigned.


Sec. 2553.73  [Amended]

    3. In Sec. 2553.73, remove paragraph (d) and redesignate paragraphs 
(e) through (i) as paragraphs (d) through (h).

    Dated: February 3, 2004.
Tess Scannell,
Director, National Senior Service Corps.
[FR Doc. 04-2803 Filed 2-9-04; 8:45 am]
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