[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 207 (Friday, October 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 49877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23351]



[[Page 49877]]

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RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD


Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment

AGENCY: Railroad Retirement Board.

ACTION: Notice announcing updated penalty inflation adjustments for 
civil monetary penalties for 2017.

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SUMMARY: As required by Section 701 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 
2015, entitled the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act 
Improvements Act of 2015, the Railroad Retirement Board (Board) hereby 
publishes its 2017 annual adjustment of civil penalties for inflation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant 
General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, 844 North Rush Street, 
Chicago, IL 60611-2092, (312) 751-4945, TTD (312) 751-4701.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 701 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 
2015, Public Law 114-74 (Nov. 2, 2015), entitled the Federal Civil 
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (the 2015 
Act), amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 
1990 (28 U.S.C. 2461 note) (Inflation Adjustment Act) to require 
agencies to publish regulations adjusting the amount of civil monetary 
penalties provided by law within the jurisdiction of the agency not 
later than July 1, 2016, and annual adjustments thereafter. The Board 
published an interim final rule in the Federal Register in accordance 
with this requirement on May 2, 2016 (see 81 FR 26127).
    For the 2017 annual adjustment for inflation of the maximum civil 
penalty under the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act of 1986, the Board 
applies the formula provided by the 2015 Act and the Board's interim 
final rule of May 2, 2016. In accordance with the 2015 Act, the amount 
of the adjustment is based on the percent increase between the CPI-U 
for the month of October preceding the date of the adjustment and the 
CPI-U for the October one year prior to the October immediately 
preceding the date of the adjustment. If there is no increase, there is 
no adjustment of civil penalties. The percent increase between the CPI-
U for October 2016 and October 2015, as provided by Office of 
Management and Budget Memorandum M-17-11 (December 16, 2016) is 1.01636 
percent. Therefore, the new maximum penalty under the Program Fraud 
Civil Remedies Act is $10,957 (the 2016 maximum penalty of $10,781 
multiplied by 1.01636, rounded to the nearest dollar). The new minimum 
penalty under the False Claims Act is $10,957 (the 2016 minimum penalty 
of $10,781 multiplied by 1.01636, rounded to the nearest dollar), and 
the new maximum penalty is $21,916 (the 2016 maximum penalty of $21,563 
multiplied by 1.01636, rounded to the nearest dollar). The adjustments 
in penalties will be effective October 27, 2017.

    By Authority of the Board.
Martha P. Rico,
Secretary to the Board.
[FR Doc. 2017-23351 Filed 10-26-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7905-01-P