[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 227 (Friday, November 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 85204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28402]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 227 / Friday, November 25, 2016 / 
Notices  

[[Page 85204]]



ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED STATES


Notice of Public Meeting of the Assembly of the Administrative 
Conference of the United States

AGENCY: Administrative Conference of the United States.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Assembly 
of the Administrative Conference of the United States will hold a 
meeting to consider four proposed recommendations and to conduct other 
business. This meeting will be open to the public.

DATES: The meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, 1:00 
p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday, December 14, 2016, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 
noon. The meeting may adjourn early if all business is finished.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street NW., Washington, 
DC 20581 (Main Conference Room).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shawne McGibbon, General Counsel 
(Designated Federal Officer), Administrative Conference of the United 
States, Suite 706 South, 1120 20th Street NW., Washington, DC 20036; 
Telephone 202-480-2088; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administrative Conference of the United 
States makes recommendations to federal agencies, the President, 
Congress, and the Judicial Conference of the United States regarding 
the improvement of administrative procedures (5 U.S.C. 594). The 
membership of the Conference, when meeting in plenary session, 
constitutes the Assembly of the Conference (5 U.S.C. 595).
    Agenda: The Assembly will consider four proposed recommendations as 
described below:
    Social Security Administration Federal Courts Analysis. This 
proposed recommendation encourages the Judicial Conference of the 
United States to develop a uniform set of procedural rules for social 
security cases commenced in federal court that involve claims for 
benefits arising under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. It 
also highlights areas in which such rules should be adopted and sets 
forth criteria for the promulgation of additional rules.
    Informal Agency Adjudication. This proposed recommendation offers 
best practices to agencies for structuring evidentiary hearings that 
are not required by the Administrative Procedure Act. It suggests ways 
to ensure the integrity of the decisionmaking process; sets forth 
recommended pre-hearing, hearing, and post-hearing practices; and urges 
agencies to describe their practices in a publicly accessible document 
and seek periodic feedback on those practices.
    The Ombudsman in Federal Agencies. This proposed recommendation 
takes account of the broad array of federal agency ombudsman offices 
that have been established since the Administrative Conference's 
adoption in 1990 of Recommendation 90-2 on the same subject, https://www.acus.gov/recommendation/ombudsman-federal-agencies. The new 
recommendation continues to urge both agencies and Congress to consider 
creating additional ombudsman offices that provide an opportunity for 
individuals to raise issues confidentially and receive assistance in 
resolving them without fear of retribution. The recommendation 
emphasizes the importance of adherence to the three core standards of 
independence, confidentiality, and impartiality, and identifies best 
practices for the operation, staffing, and evaluation of federal agency 
ombudsman offices.
    Self-Represented Parties in Administrative Hearings. This proposed 
recommendation offers best practices for agencies dealing with self-
represented parties in administrative hearings. Recommendations include 
the use of triage and diagnostic tools, development of a continuum of 
services to aid parties, and re-evaluation and simplification of 
existing hearing practices, where possible. The project builds on the 
activity of a working group on Self-Represented Parties in 
Administrative Hearings that is co-led by the Administrative Conference 
and the Department of Justice's Office for Access to Justice.
    Additional information about the proposed recommendations and the 
order of the agenda, as well as other materials related to the meeting, 
can be found at the 66th Plenary Session page on the Conference's Web 
site: https://www.acus.gov/meetings-and-events/plenary-meeting/66th-plenary-session.
    Public Participation: The Conference welcomes the attendance of the 
public at the meeting, subject to space limitations, and will make 
every effort to accommodate persons with disabilities or special needs. 
Members of the public who wish to attend in person are asked to RSVP 
online at the 66th Plenary Session Web page listed above, no later than 
Friday, December 9, 2016, in order to facilitate entry. Members of the 
public who attend the meeting may be permitted to speak only with the 
consent of the Chairman and the unanimous approval of the members of 
the Assembly. If you need special accommodations due to disability, 
please inform the Designated Federal Officer noted above no later than 
Tuesday, December 6, 2016. The public may also view the meeting through 
a live webcast, which will be available at: https://livestream.com/ACUS/66thPlenary.
    Written Comments: Persons who wish to comment on any of the 
proposed recommendations may do so by submitting a written statement 
either online by clicking ``Submit a Comment'' on the 66th Plenary 
Session Web page listed above or by mail addressed to: December 2016 
Plenary Session Comments, Administrative Conference of the United 
States, Suite 706 South, 1120 20th Street NW., Washington, DC 20036. 
Written submissions must be received no later than 10:00 a.m. (EST), 
Wednesday, December 7, to assure consideration by the Assembly.

    Dated: November 21, 2016.
Shawne McGibbon,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2016-28402 Filed 11-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6110-01-P