[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 173 (Friday, September 7, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51373-51374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17654]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Part 300-80

[FTR Amendment 2007-04; FTR Case 2007-303; Docket 2007-0002, Sequence 
3]
RIN 3090-AI36


Federal Travel Regulation; FTR Case 2007-303, Relocation Expenses 
Test Programs

AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-
264, October 19, 1998), authorized 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. The provisions of the Act were implemented by a Federal 
Travel Regulation (FTR) amendment, and published in the Federal 
Register at 64 FR 28880, May 27, 1999. They permit agencies to test new 
and innovative methods of reimbursing travel and relocation expenses 
without seeking a waiver of current rules or authorizing legislation. 
However, the test authority for the travel and relocation programs 
expired in October 2005.
    Pub. L. 109-325, October 11, 2006, amends 5 U.S.C. 5739 by 
extending the authority for the General Services Administration (GSA) 
to approve relocation expenses test programs for an additional four 
years. In addition, the law removes the 24-month period in which an 
agency had to complete an approved relocation expense test program. The 
amendments provided by Pub. L. No. 109-325 are effective as though 
enacted as part of the Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998.
    This final rule incorporates Pub. L. 109-325 by removing the 
required period of time to complete a relocation test program and 
extends the authority to conduct relocation tests for an additional 
four years. The authority to conduct a travel test expense program was 
not renewed; accordingly, this final rule also deletes those 
provisions. The FTR and any corresponding documents may be accessed at 
GSA's website at http://www.gsa.gov/ftr.

DATES: Effective Date: September 7, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For clarification of content, contact 
Jim Harte, Program Analyst, Travel and Transportation Management Policy 
Division (MTT), telephone (202) 501-0483, email [email protected]. 
For information pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact 
the Regulatory Secretariat (VIR), Room 4035, GS Building, Washington, 
DC 20405, (202) 501-4755. Please cite FTR Amendment 2007-04; FTR case 
2007-303.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    On October 19, 1998, the President signed into law the Travel and 
Transportation Reform Act of 1998 (the Act) (Pub. L. 105-264). In 
applicable part, the Act authorized travel and relocation expenses test 
programs designed to enhance cost savings or other efficiencies that 
may accrue to the Government. The provisions of the Act were 
implemented by Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) Amendment Number 83, 
dated May 7, 1999, and published in the Federal Register on May 27, 
1999 (64 FR 28880). The provisions of the Act terminated October 2005. 
Public Law (Pub. L.) 109-325, October 11, 2006, extends the provisions 
relating to relocation test programs for an additional four years. This 
final rule implements the provisions of Pub. L. 109-325 by authorizing 
the continuance of the relocation expense test programs.
    This final rule also requires agencies having an approved test 
program to submit annual reports on the progress of the test to the 
General Services Administration, Office of Governmentwide Policy, 
Office of Travel, Transportation and Asset Management. Failure to 
submit a report may cause termination of the test program approval. In 
addition, this final rule removes the provisions of the FTR relating to 
travel test programs as there is no longer any statutory authority for 
conducting such tests.

B. Executive Order 12866

    This regulation is excepted from the definition of ``regulation'' 
or ``rule'' under Section 3(d)(3) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory 
Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993, and therefore was not 
subject to review under Section 6(b) of that executive order.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This final rule is not required to be published in the Federal 
Register for notice and comment as per the exemption specified in 5 
U.S.C. 553(a)(2); therefore, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 
601, et seq., does not apply.

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the final 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. 3501 et seq.

[[Page 51374]]

E. Small Business Regulatory Reform Act

    This final 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.

    Dated: June 5, 2007.
Lurita Doan,
Administrator of General Services.

0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 41 CFR part 300-80 is 
amended as follows:

PART 300-80--RELOCATION EXPENSES TEST PROGRAMS

0
1. The authority for 41 CFR part 300-80 is revised to read as follows:

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

0
2. The part heading for 41 CFR part 300-80 is revised to read as set 
forth above.


Sec.  300-80.1  [Amended]

0
3. Amend Sec.  300-80.1 by removing the words ``travel and'' in both 
the section heading and text.


Sec.  300-80.2  [Amended]

0
4. Amend Sec.  300-80.2 by removing the word ``such'' in both the 
section heading and text.


Sec.  300-80.3  [Amended]

0
5. Amend Sec.  300-80.3, paragraph (b) by removing ``(travel and/or 
relocation)''.


Sec.  300-80.4  [Amended]

0
6. Amend Sec.  300-80.4 by removing the words ``10 travel expense test 
programs and''.


Sec.  300-80.5  [Amended]

0
7. Amend Sec.  300-80.5 by removing the words ``travel or'' in the 
section heading.


Sec.  300-80.6  [Removed]

0
8. Remove Sec.  300-80.6.


Sec.  300-80.7  [Redesignated as Sec.  300-80.6]

0
9. Redesignate Sec.  300-80.7 as Sec.  300-80.6.

0
10. Revise newly redesignated Sec.  300-80.6 to read as follows:


Sec.  300-80.6  What limits are there to test programs?

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


Sec.  300-80.8  [Redesignated as Sec.  300-80.7]

0
11. Redesignate Sec.  300-80.8 as Sec.  300-80.7.

0
12. Revise newly redesignated Sec.  300-80.7 to read as follows:


Sec.  300-80.7  What is the maximum duration of test programs?

    The duration of a test program is 24 months from the date of 
authorization unless terminated prior to that date by the Administrator 
of General Services due to changes in law or regulation. Extensions of 
the 24 month period may be granted by the Administrator of General 
Services for up to an additional 24 months, but not beyond October 
2009, the expiration of the test authority. A request to extend the 
test program shall be submitted to the Administrator of General 
Services not later than 45 days prior to the expiration of the original 
test period.


Sec.  300-80.9  [Redesignated as Sec.  300-80.8]

0
13. Redesignate Sec.  300-80.9 as Sec.  300-80.8.

0
14. Amend newly redesignated Sec.  300-80.8 by revising paragraph (b) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  300-80.8  What reports are required for a test program?

* * * * *
    (b) The agency authorized to conduct the test program must submit 
the following reports:
    (1) An annual report on the progress of the test, submitted to the 
General Services Administration, Office of Governmentwide Policy, 
Office of Travel, Transportation and Asset Management (Attention MTT), 
Washington, DC 20405. The Administrator or designee may terminate the 
test program approval for failure to comply with these reporting 
requirements; and
    (2) A final report on the results of the test program must be 
submitted to the General Services Administration, Office of 
Governmentwide Policy, Office of Travel, Transportation and Asset 
Management (Attention MTT), Washington, DC 20405, and to the 
appropriate committees of Congress within 3 months after completion of 
the program.


Sec.  300-80.10  [Redesignated as Sec.  300-80.9]

0
15. Redesignate Sec.  300-80.10 as Sec.  300-80.9.


Sec.  300-80.9  [Amended]

0
16. Amend newly redesignated Sec.  300-80.9 by removing ``2005'' and 
adding ``2009'' in its place.
[FR Doc. E7-17654 Filed 9-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-14-S