[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 65 (Thursday, April 3, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18154-18159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6917]


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PEACE CORPS

22 CFR Part 309

RIN 0420-AA22


Debt Collection

AGENCY: Peace Corps.

ACTION: Final Rule.

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SUMMARY: The Peace Corps has revised its rules regarding debt 
collection. This final rule clarifies and simplifies Peace Corps' debt 
collection procedures and practices. It eliminates the tax refund 
offset provisions of the previous regulation, and consolidates the 
administrative and tax refund offset provisions into one section.

DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective May 5, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne B. Glasow, Associate General 
Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, 202-692-2157.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Peace Corps published a proposed rule on 
February 22, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 36) for public review and comment. 
The Peace Corps did not receive any public comments and the Agency has 
not made any further revisions. Therefore, this rule is final and will 
be effective on the date stated above.

Section-by-Section Analysis

Subpart A--General Provisions

    The subpart announces the general purpose and scope of the 
regulation, provides definitions and terms used in this regulation, and 
this regulation's interaction with other regulations and procedures. 
Charges for interest, penalties and administrative expenses are 
addressed. Procedures for installment payments are provided. Authority 
to carry out the necessary duties for debt collection is delegated to 
the Chief Financial Officer.

Subpart B--Collection Actions

    The subpart provides for aggressive collection efforts by the Peace 
Corps, and the timely turnover of past due collections to the 
Department of the Treasury. Procedures for written demand of payment 
and debtor review of the debt are provided. Methods of debt collection 
are listed.

Subpart C--Salary Offset

    The subpart provides for salary offset collection procedures. 
Coordination of salary offset of another Federal Agency is addressed. 
Notice requirements prior to salary offset are listed. Outside hearings 
prior to salary offset is addressed.

Executive Order 12866

    This regulation has been determined to be non-significant within 
the meaning of Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Peace Corps Director, in accordance with the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, (5 U.S.C. 605) has reviewed this regulation and by 
approving it certifies that this regulation will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This 
regulation pertains to the administrative collection of individual 
debts owed to the Peace Corps, and does

[[Page 18155]]

not affect acquisition, inter-Agency, or foreign claims.

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 significantly or 
uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed 
necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 
1995.

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 309

    Claims.

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, Peace Corps has revised 22 CFR 
Part 309, as set forth below.

PART 309--DEBT COLLECTION

Subpart A--General Provisions

Sec.
309.1 General purpose.
309.2 Scope.
309.3 Definitions.
309.4 Other procedures or actions.
309.5 Interest, penalties, and administrative costs.
309.6 Collection in installments.
309.7 Designation.
Subpart B--Collection Actions
309.8 Application.
309.9 Notice--written demand for payment.
309.10 Review requirements.
309.11 Collection.
Subpart C--Salary Offset
309.12 Purpose.
309.13 Scope.
309.14 Coordinating offset with another Federal agency.
309.15 Notice requirements before offset.
309.16 Review.
309.17 Procedures for salary offset.
309.18 Voluntary repayment agreements as an alternative to salary 
offset.
309.19 Waiver.
309.20 Compromise.
309.21 Suspension of collection.
309.22 Termination of collection.
309.23 Discharge.
309.24 Bankruptcy.

    Authority: 31 U.S.C. 3701-3719; 5 U.S.C. 5514; 22 U.S.C. 
2503(b); 31 U.S.C. 3720A; 31 CFR part 285; 5 CFR 550, subpart K.

Subpart A--General Provisions


Sec.  309.1  General purpose.

    This part prescribes the procedures to be used by the United States 
Peace Corps (Peace Corps) in the collection and/or disposal of non-tax 
debts owed to Peace Corps and to the United States.


Sec.  309.2  Scope.

    (a) Applicability of Federal Claims Collection Standards (FCCS). 
Peace Corps hereby adopts the provisions of the Federal Claims 
Collections Standards (31 CFR parts 900-904) and, except as set forth 
in this part or otherwise provided by law, Peace Corps will conduct 
administrative actions to collect claims (including offset, compromise, 
suspension, termination, disclosure and referral) in accordance with 
the FCCS.
    (b) This part is not applicable to:
    (1) Peace Corps claims against another Federal agency, any foreign 
country or any political subdivision thereof, or any public 
international organization.
    (2) Debts arising out of acquisitions contracts subject to the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) shall be determined, collected, 
compromised, terminated, or settled in accordance with those 
regulations (see 49 CFR part 32).
    (3) Claims where the Peace Corps Director (or designee) determines 
that the achievement of the purposes of the Peace Corps Act, as 
amended, 22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq., or any other provision of law 
administered by the Peace Corps require a different course of action.


Sec.  309.3  Definitions.

    As used in this part (except where the context clearly indicates, 
or where the term is otherwise defined elsewhere in this part) the 
following definitions shall apply:
    (a) Administrative offset means withholding funds payable by the 
United States to, or held by the United States for, a person to satisfy 
a debt owed by the person to the United States.
    (b) Administrative wage garnishment means the process by which a 
Federal agency orders a non-Federal employer to withhold amounts from 
an employee's wages to satisfy a debt the employee owes to the United 
States.
    (c) Compromise means that the creditor agency accepts less than the 
full amount of an outstanding debt in full satisfaction of the entire 
amount of the debt.
    (d) Debt or claim means an amount of money which has been 
determined by an appropriate agency official to be owed to the United 
States from any person. As used in this part, the terms debt and claim 
are synonymous.
    (e) Debtor means a person who owes the Federal Government money.
    (f) Delinquent debt means any debt, which has not been paid by the 
date specified in an agency's initial written notification or in an 
applicable agreement, unless other satisfactory payment arrangements 
have been made.
    (g) Discharge means the release of a debtor from personal liability 
for a debt. Further collection action is prohibited.
    (h) Disposable pay has the same meaning as that term is defined in 
5 CFR Sec.  550.1103.
    (i) Employee means a current employee of the Peace Corps or other 
Federal agency, including a member of the Armed Forces or Reserve of 
the Armed Forces of the United States.
    (j) FCCS means the Federal Claims Collection Standards jointly 
published by the Department of the Treasury and the Department of 
Justice at 31 CFR parts 900-904.
    (k) Person means an individual, corporation, partnership, 
association, organization, State or local government, or any other type 
of entity other than a Federal agency, foreign government, or public 
international organization.
    (l) Salary offset means the withholding of amounts from the current 
pay account of a Federal employee to satisfy a debt owed by that 
employee to the United States.
    (m) Suspension means the temporary cessation of an active debt 
collection pending the occurrence of an anticipated event.
    (n) Termination means the cessation of all active debt collection 
action for the foreseeable future.
    (o) Waiver means the decision to forgo collection of a debt owed to 
the United States as permitted or required by law.


Sec.  309.4  Other procedures or actions.

    (a) Nothing contained in this regulation is intended to require 
Peace Corps to duplicate administrative proceedings required by 
contract or other laws or regulations.
    (b) Nothing in this regulation is intended to preclude utilization 
of informal administrative actions or remedies which may be available.
    (c) Nothing contained in this regulation is intended to deter Peace 
Corps from demanding the return of specific property or from demanding 
the return of the property or the payment of its value.
    (d) The failure of Peace Corps to comply with any provision in this 
regulation shall not serve as a defense to the debt.


Sec.  309.5  Interest, penalties, and administrative costs.

    (a) Except as otherwise provided by statute, contract or excluded 
in accordance with FCCS, Peace Corps will assess:
    (1) Interest on unpaid debts in accordance with 31 CFR 901.9.
    (2) Penalty charges at a rate of 6 percent a year or such other 
rate as authorized by law on any portion of a claim that is delinquent 
for more than 90 days.

[[Page 18156]]

    (3) Administrative charges to cover the costs of processing and 
handling delinquent debts.
    (4) Late payment charges that shall be computed from the date of 
mailing or hand delivery of the notice of the claim and interest 
requirements.
    (b) When a debt is paid in partial or installment payments, amounts 
received shall be applied first to outstanding penalty and 
administrative cost charges, second to accrued interest, and then to 
outstanding principal.
    (c) Waiver. Peace Corps will consider waiver of interest, penalties 
and/or administrative costs in accordance with the FCCS, 31 CFR 
901.9(g).


Sec.  309.6  Collection in installments.

    Whenever feasible, and except as required otherwise by law, debts 
owed to the United States, together with interest, penalties, and 
administrative costs as required by this regulation, should be 
collected in one lump sum. This is true whether the debt is being 
collected under administrative offset, including salary offset, or by 
another method, including voluntary payment. However, if the debtor is 
financially unable to pay the indebtedness in one lump sum, payment may 
be accepted in regular installments. If Peace Corps agrees to accept 
payment in installments, it may require a legally enforceable written 
agreement from the debtor that specifies all of the terms of the 
arrangement and which contains a provision accelerating the debt in the 
event the debtor defaults. The size and frequency of the payments 
should bear a reasonable relation to the size of the debt and ability 
of the debtor to pay. If possible, the installment payments should be 
sufficient in size and frequency to liquidate the Government's claim 
within three years.


Sec.  309.7  Designation.

    The Chief Financial Officer is delegated authority and designated 
to perform all the duties for which the Director is responsible under 
the forgoing statutes and joint regulations.

Subpart B--Collection Actions


Sec.  309.8  Application.

    (a) Peace Corps shall aggressively collect claims and debts in 
accordance with these regulations and applicable law.
    (b) Peace Corps will transfer to the Department of the Treasury, 
Financial Management Service (FMS) any past due, legally enforceable 
non-tax debt that has been delinquent for 180 days or more so that FMS 
may take appropriate action to collect the debt or take other 
appropriate action in accordance with applicable law and regulation.
    (c) Peace Corps may transfer any past due, legally enforceable debt 
that has been delinquent for fewer than 180 days to FMS for collection 
in accordance with applicable law and regulation. (See 31 CFR part 
285.)


Sec.  309.9  Notice--written demand for payment.

    (a) Upon determination that a debt is owed to Peace Corps or the 
United States, Peace Corps shall promptly hand deliver or send by 
first-class mail (to the debtor's most current address in the records 
of Peace Corps) at least one written notice (e.g. Bill of Collection or 
demand letter) informing the debtor of the consequences of failing to 
pay or otherwise resolve a Peace Corps debt, subject to paragraph (c) 
of this section. Written demand under this subpart may be preceded by 
other appropriate actions under this part and or the FCCS, including 
but not limited to actions taken under the procedures applicable to 
administrative offset, including salary offset.
    (b) The written notice shall inform the debtor of:
    (1) The nature and amount of the debt, and the facts giving rise to 
the debt;
    (2) The date by which payment should be made to avoid the 
imposition of interest, penalties, and administrative costs, and the 
enforced collection actions described in Sec.  309.5 of this part;
    (3) The applicable standards for imposing interest, penalties and 
administrative costs to delinquent debts;
    (4) Peace Corps' willingness to discuss alternative payment 
arrangements and how the debtor may enter into a written agreement to 
repay the debt under terms acceptable to Peace Corps;
    (5) The name, address, and telephone number of a contact person or 
office within Peace Corps;
    (6) Peace Corps' intention to enforce collection if the debtor 
fails to pay or otherwise resolve the debt, by taking one or more of 
the following actions:
    (i) Offset from Federal payments otherwise due to the debtor, 
including income tax refunds, salary, certain benefit payments, 
retirement, vendor payments, travel reimbursement and advances, and 
other Federal payments;
    (ii) Referral to private collection agency;
    (iii) Report to credit bureaus;
    (iv) Administrative wage garnishment;
    (v) Referral to Department of Justice for litigation action;
    (vi) Referral to Financial Management Service of the Department of 
the Treasury for collection;
    (vii) Other actions as permitted by the FCCS and applicable law.
    (7) How the debtor may inspect and copy records related to the 
debt;
    (8) The debtor's opportunity for an internal review of Peace Corps' 
determination that the debtor owes a debt or the amount of the debt;
    (9) The debtor's right, if any, to request waiver of collection of 
certain debts, as applicable;
    (10) Requirement that the debtor advise Peace Corps of any 
bankruptcy proceeding of the debtor.
    (c) Peace Corps may omit from a notice to a debtor one or more of 
the provisions contained in paragraphs (b) (6) through (10) of this 
section if Peace Corps determines that any provision is not legally 
required given the collection remedies to be applied to a particular 
debt, or which have already been provided by prior notice, applicable 
agreement, or contract.


Sec.  309.10  Review requirements.

    (a) For purposes of this section, whenever Peace Corps is required 
to afford a debtor a review within the agency, Peace Corps shall 
provide the debtor with an opportunity for an internal review of the 
existence or the amount of the debt. For offset of current Federal 
salary under 5 U.S.C. 5514 for certain debts, debtors may also request 
an outside hearing. (See subpart C of this part)
    (b) Any request for a review must be in writing to the contact 
office by the payment due date stated in the initial notice sent under 
Sec.  309.9(b) or other applicable provision. The debtor's request 
shall state the basis for the dispute and include any relevant 
documentation in support.
    (1) Peace Corps will provide for an internal review of the debt by 
an appropriate agency official. The review may include examination of 
documents, internal discussions with relevant officials and discussion 
by letter or orally with the debtor, at Peace Corps' discretion.
    (2) An oral hearing is not required when, in Peace Corps' 
determination, the matter can be decided on the documentary record. 
Peace Corps will provide a ``paper hearing'', that is, a determination 
based upon a review of the written record unless Peace Corps makes a 
determination that a debt involves issues of credibility or veracity, 
at which point an oral hearing may be required. Unless otherwise 
required by law, such oral hearing shall not be a formal evidentiary 
hearing.

[[Page 18157]]

Sec.  309.11  Collection.

    Upon final determination of the existence and amount of a debt, 
unless other acceptable payment arrangement have been made or 
procedures under a specific statute apply, Peace Corps shall collect 
the debt by one or more of the methods described in Sec.  309.9(b) (6) 
(i-vii) or as otherwise authorized by law and regulation.
    (a) Administrative offset--(1) Payments otherwise due the debtor 
from the United States shall be offset from the debt in accordance with 
31 CFR 901.3. These may be funds under the control of Peace Corps or 
other Federal agencies. Collection may be through centralized offset by 
the Financial Management Service (FMS) of the Department of the 
Treasury.
    (2) Such payments include but are not limited to vendor payments, 
salary, retirement, lump sum payments due upon Federal employment 
separation, travel reimbursements, tax refunds, loans or other 
assistance. Offset of Federal salary payments will be in accordance 
with 5 U.S.C. 5514.
    (3) Before administrative offset is instituted by another Federal 
agency or the FMS, Peace Corps shall certify in writing to that entity 
that the debt is past due and legally enforceable and that Peace Corps 
has complied with all applicable due process and other requirements as 
described in this part and other Federal law and regulations.
    (b) Any other method authorized by law or regulation.

Subpart C--Salary Offset


Sec.  309.12  Purpose.

    This subpart provides Peace Corps' policies and procedures for the 
collection by salary offset of a Federal employee's pay to satisfy 
certain past due debts owed the United States Government.


Sec.  309.13  Scope.

    (a) The provisions of this section apply to collection by salary 
offset under 5 U.S.C. 5514 of debts owed to Peace Corps and debts owed 
to other Federal agencies by Peace Corps' employees. Peace Corps will 
make reasonable and lawful efforts to administratively collect amounts 
owed by employees prior to initiating salary offset action. This 
section does not apply to debts where collection by salary offset is 
explicitly provided for or prohibited by another statute (e.g. travel 
advances).
    (b) References. The following statutes and regulations apply to 
Peace Corps' recovery of debts due the United States by salary offset:
    (1) 5 U.S.C. 5514, as amended, governing the installment collection 
of debts;
    (2) 31 U.S.C. 3716, governing the liquidation of debts by 
administrative offset;
    (3) 5 CFR part 550, subpart K, setting forth the minimum 
requirements for executive agency regulations on salary offset; and
    (4) 31 CFR parts 900 through 904, the Federal Claims Collections 
Standards.
    (c) Nothing in this subpart precludes the compromise, suspension, 
or termination of collection actions where appropriate under the 
standards implementing the Federal Claims Collection Standards.


Sec.  309.14  Coordinating offset with another Federal agency.

    (a) When Peace Corps is owed a debt by an employee of another 
agency, the other agency shall not initiate the requested offset until 
Peace Corps provides the agency with a written certification that the 
debtor owes Peace Corps a debt (including the amount and basis of the 
debt and the due date of payment) and that Peace Corps has complied 
with these regulations.
    (b) When another agency is owed the debt, Peace Corps may use 
salary offset against one of its employees who is indebted to another 
agency, if requested to do so by that agency. Such request must be 
accompanied by a certification that the person owes the debt (including 
the amount and basis of the debt and the due date of payment) and that 
the agency has complied with its regulations as required by 5 U.S.C. 
5514 and 5 CFR part 550, subpart K.


Sec.  309.15  Notice requirements before offset.

    (a) Deductions under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 5514 shall not be 
made unless the creditor agency first provides the employee with 
written notice that he/she owes a debt to the Federal Government at 
least 30 calendar days before salary offset is to be initiated. When 
Peace Corps is the creditor agency this notice of intent to offset an 
employee's salary shall be hand-delivered or sent by certified mail to 
the most current address that is available. The written notice will 
state:
    (1) That Peace Corps has reviewed the records relating to the claim 
and has determined that a debt is owed, its origin and nature, and the 
amount of the debt;
    (2) The intention of Peace Corps to collect the debt by means of 
deduction from the employee's current disposable pay account until the 
debt and all accumulated interest is paid in full;
    (3) The amount, frequency, approximate beginning date, and duration 
of the intended deductions;
    (4) An explanation of the Peace Corps' policy concerning interest, 
penalties and administrative costs, including a statement that such 
assessments must be made unless excused in accordance with the FCCS 
(See Sec.  309.5);
    (5) The employee's right to inspect and copy all records of the 
Peace Corps pertaining to the debt claimed or to receive copies of such 
records if personal inspection is impractical;
    (6) The right to a hearing conducted by a hearing official (an 
administrative law judge, or alternatively, an individual not under the 
supervision or control of the Peace Corps) with respect to the 
existence and amount of the debt claimed, or the repayment schedule, so 
long as a petition is filed by the employee as prescribed;
    (7) If not previously provided, the opportunity (under terms 
agreeable to the Peace Corps) to establish a schedule for the voluntary 
repayment of the debt or to enter into a written agreement to establish 
a schedule for repayment of the debt in lieu of offset. The agreement 
must be in writing, signed by both the employee and the creditor 
agency, and documented in the creditor agency's files;
    (8) The name, address and telephone number of an officer or 
employee of the Peace Corps who may be contacted concerning procedures 
for requesting a hearing;
    (9) The method and time period for requesting a hearing;
    (10) That the timely filing of a petition for a hearing as 
prescribed will stay the commencement of collection proceedings;
    (11) The name and address of the office to which the petition 
should be sent;
    (12) That the Peace Corps will initiate certification procedures to 
implement a salary offset, as appropriate, (which may not exceed 15 
percent of the employee's disposable pay) not less than 30 calendar 
days from the date of delivery of the notice of debt, unless the 
employee files a timely petition for a hearing;
    (13) That a final decision on the hearing (if one is requested) 
will be issued at the earliest practical date, but not later than 60 
calendar days after the filing of the petition requesting the hearing, 
unless the employee requests and the hearing official grants a delay in 
the proceedings;
    (14) That any knowingly false or frivolous statements, 
representations or evidence may subject the employee to:

[[Page 18158]]

    (i) Disciplinary procedures appropriate under the Peace Corps Act 
or the Foreign Service Act, Peace Corps regulations, or any other 
applicable statutes or regulations;
    (ii) Penalties under the False Claims Act, Sec. Sec.  3729-3731 of 
title 31, United States Code, or any other applicable statutory 
authority; and
    (iii) Criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. sections 286, 287, 1001, 
and 1002 or any other applicable authority;
    (15) Any other rights and remedies available to the employee under 
statutes or regulations governing the program for which the collection 
is being made;
    (16) That unless there are applicable contractual or statutory 
provisions to the contrary, amounts paid on or deducted for the debt 
which are later waived or found not owed to the United States will be 
promptly refunded to the employee; and
    (17) That proceedings with respect to such debt are governed by 5 
U.S.C. 5514.
    (b) Peace Corps is not required to provide prior notice to an 
employee when the following adjustments are made by Peace Corps to a 
Peace Corps employee's pay:
    (1) Any adjustment to pay arising out of an employee's election of 
coverage or a change in coverage under a Federal benefits program 
requiring periodic deductions from pay if the amount to be recovered 
was accumulated over four pay periods or less;
    (2) A routine adjustment of pay that is made to correct an 
overpayment of pay attributable to clerical or administrative errors or 
delays in processing pay documents, if the overpayment occurred within 
the four pay periods preceding the adjustment, and, at the time of such 
adjustment, or as soon thereafter as practical, the individual is 
provided written notice of the nature and the amount of the adjustment 
and point of contact for contesting the adjustment; or
    (3) Any adjustment to collect a debt of $50 or less, if, at the 
time of such adjustment, or as soon thereafter as practical, the 
individual is provided written notice of the nature of the amount of 
the adjustment and a point of contact for contesting the adjustment.


Sec.  309.16  Review.

    (a) Request for outside hearing. Except as provided in paragraph 
(b) of this section, an employee who desires an outside hearing 
concerning the existence or amount of the debt or the proposed offset 
schedule must send a request to the office designated in the notice of 
intent. See Sec.  309.15(a) (8). The request must be received by the 
designated office not later than 20 calendar days after the date of 
delivery of the notice as provided in Sec.  309.15(a). The request must 
be signed by the employee and should identify and explain with 
reasonable specificity and brevity the facts, evidence and witnesses 
which the employee believes support his or her position. If the 
employee objects to the percentage of disposable pay to be deducted 
from each check, the request should state the objection and the reasons 
for it. The employee must also specify whether an oral hearing or a 
review of the documentary evidence is requested. If an oral hearing is 
desired, the request should explain why the matter cannot be resolved 
by review of the documentary evidence alone.
    (b) Failure to submit timely. (1) If the employee files a petition 
for a review after the expiration of the 20 calendar day period 
provided for in paragraph (a) of this section, the designated office 
may accept the request if the employee can show that the delay was the 
result of circumstances beyond his or her control, or because of a 
failure to receive the notice of the filing deadline (unless the 
employee has actual knowledge of the filing deadline).
    (2) An employee waives the right to a review, and will have his or 
her disposable pay offset in accordance with Peace Corps' offset 
schedule, if the employee fails to file a request for a hearing unless 
such failure is excused as provided in paragraph (b) (1) of this 
section.
    (3) If the employee fails to appear at an oral hearing of which he 
or she was notified, unless the hearing official determines failure to 
appear was due to circumstances beyond the employee's control, his or 
her appeal will be decided on the basis of the documents then available 
to the hearing official.
    (c) Representation at the hearing. The creditor agency may be 
represented by a representative of its choice. The employee may 
represent himself or herself or may be represented by an individual of 
his or her choice and at his or her expense.
    (d) Review of Peace Corps records related to the debt. (1) An 
employee who intends to inspect or copy creditor agency records related 
to the debt in accordance with Sec.  309.15(a) (5), must send a letter 
to the official designated in the notice of intent to offset stating 
his or her intention. The letter must be sent within 20 calendar days 
after receipt of the notice.
    (2) In response to a timely request submitted by the debtor, the 
designated official will notify the employee of the location and time 
when the employee may inspect and copy records related to the debt.
    (3) If personal inspection is impractical, copies of such records 
shall be sent to the employee.
    (e) Oral Hearing. (1) If an employee timely files a request for an 
oral hearing under Sec.  309.16(a), the matter will be conducted by a 
hearing official not under the supervision or control of Peace Corps.
    (2) Procedure. (i) After the employee requests a hearing, the 
hearing official shall notify the employee of the form of the hearing 
to be provided. If the hearing will be oral, notice shall set forth the 
date, time and location of the hearing. If the hearing will be paper, 
the employee shall be notified that he or she should submit arguments 
in writing to the hearing official by a specified date after which the 
record shall be closed. This date shall give the employee reasonable 
time to submit documentation.
    (ii) An employee who requests an oral hearing shall be provided an 
oral hearing if the hearing official determines that the matter cannot 
be resolved by review of documentary evidence alone (e.g. when an issue 
of credibility or veracity is involved). The hearing is not an 
adversarial adjudication, and need not take the form of an evidentiary 
hearing.
    (iii) If the hearing official determines that an oral hearing is 
not necessary, he or she will make a decision based upon a review of 
the available written record.
    (iv) The hearing official must maintain a summary record of any 
hearing provided by this subpart. Witnesses who provide testimony will 
do so under oath or affirmation.
    (3) Decision. The written decision shall include:
    (i) A statement of the facts presented to support the origin, 
nature, and amount of the debt;
    (ii) The hearing official's findings, analysis, and conclusions; 
and
    (iii) The terms of any repayment schedules, or the date salary 
offset will commence, if applicable.
    (4) Failure to appear. In the absence of good cause shown (e.g. 
excused illness), an employee who fails to appear at a hearing shall be 
deemed, for the purpose of this subpart, to admit the existence and 
amount of the debt as described in the notice of intent. The hearing 
official shall schedule a new hearing upon the request of the creditor 
agency representative when good cause is shown.
    (5) A hearing official's decision is considered to be an official 
certification regarding the existence and amount of the debt for 
purposes of executing salary

[[Page 18159]]

offset under 5 U.S.C. 5514 only. It does not supersede the finding by 
Peace Corps that a debt is owed and does not affect the Government's 
ability to recoup the debt through alternative collection methods under 
other appropriate methods.


Sec.  309.17  Procedures for salary offset.

    Unless otherwise provided by statute or contract, the following 
procedures apply to salary offset:
    (a) Method. Salary offset will be made by deduction at one or more 
officially established pay intervals from the current pay account of 
the employee without his or her consent.
    (b) Source. The source of salary offset is current disposable pay.
    (c) Types of collection. (1) Lump sum payment. Ordinarily debts 
will be collected by salary offset in one lump sum if possible. 
However, if the amount of the debt exceeds 15 percent of disposable pay 
for an officially established pay interval, the collection by salary 
offset must be made in installment deductions.
    (2) Installment deductions. (i) The size of installment deductions 
must bear a reasonable relation to the size of the debt and the 
employee's ability to pay. If possible, the size of the deduction will 
be that necessary to liquidate the debt in no more than 1 year. 
However, the amount deducted for any period must not exceed 15 percent 
of the disposable pay from which the deduction is made, except as 
provided by other regulations or unless the employee has agreed in 
writing to greater amount.
    (ii) Installment payments of less than $25 per pay period will be 
accepted only in the most unusual circumstances.
    (iii) Installment deductions will be made over a period of not 
greater than the anticipated period of employment.


Sec.  309.18  Voluntary repayment agreements as an alternative to 
salary offset.

    (a) In response to a notice of intent, an employee may propose a 
written agreement to repay the debt as an alternative to salary offset. 
Any employee who wishes to repay a debt without salary offset shall 
submit in writing a proposed agreement to repay the debt. The proposal 
shall admit the existence of the debt and set forth a proposed 
repayment schedule. Any proposal under this paragraph must be received 
by the official designated in that notice within 20 calendar days after 
receipt of the notice of intent.
    (b) When the Peace Corps is the creditor agency, in response to a 
timely proposal by the debtor the agency will notify the employee 
whether the employee's proposed written agreement for repayment is 
acceptable. It is within the agency's discretion to accept a repayment 
agreement instead of proceeding by offset.
    (c) If the Peace Corps decides that the proposed repayment 
agreement is unacceptable, the employee will have 15 calendar days from 
the date he or she received notice of the decision to file a petition 
for a review.
    (d) If the Peace Corps decides that the proposed repayment 
agreement is acceptable, the alternative arrangement must be in writing 
and signed by both the employee and a designated agency official.


Sec.  309.19  Waiver.

    (a) Under certain circumstances, employees may have a statutory 
right to request a waiver of indebtedness. When an employee makes a 
request under a statutory right, further collection will be stayed 
pending an administrative determination on the request.
    (b) Waiver of indebtedness is an equitable remedy and as such must 
be based on an assessment of the facts involved in the individual case 
under consideration. The burden is on the employee to demonstrate that 
the applicable waiver standard has been met.


Sec.  309.20  Compromise.

    Peace Corps may attempt to effect compromise in accordance with the 
standards set forth in the FCCS (31 CFR part 902).


Sec.  309.21  Suspension of collection.

    Suspension of collection action shall be made in accordance with 
the standards set forth in the FCCS (31 CFR 903.1-903.2).


Sec.  309.22  Termination of collection.

    Termination of collection action shall be made in accordance with 
the standards set forth in the FCCS (31 CFR 903.1 and 903.3-903.4).


Sec.  309.23  Discharge.

    Once a debt has been closed out for accounting purposes and 
collection has been terminated, the debt is discharged. Peace Corps 
will report discharged debt as income to the debtor to the Internal 
Revenue Service per 26 U.S.C. 6050P and 26 CFR 1.6050P-1.


Sec.  309.24  Bankruptcy.

    Peace Corps generally terminates collection activity on debts that 
have been discharged in bankruptcy unless otherwise provided for by 
bankruptcy law. The CFO will seek legal advice by the General Counsel's 
office if there is the belief that any claims or offset may have 
survived the discharge of a debtor.

     Dated: March 31, 2008.
Tyler S. Posey,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. E8-6917 Filed 4-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6015-01-P