[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 185 (Monday, September 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48335-48336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20644]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Federal Bureau of Investigation

[Docket No. FBI]


FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division; User Fee 
Schedule

AGENCY: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Justice.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The FBI is authorized to establish and collect fees for 
providing fingerprint-based and name-based Criminal History Record 
Information (CHRI) checks submitted by authorized users for noncriminal 
justice purposes including employment and licensing. A portion of the 
fee is intended to reimburse the FBI for the cost of providing 
fingerprint-based and name-based CHRI checks (``cost reimbursement 
portion'' of the fee). The FBI is also authorized to charge an 
additional amount to defray expenses for the automation of fingerprint 
identification and criminal justice information services and associated 
costs (``automation portion'' of the fee). The notice explains the 
methodology used to calculate revised fees and provides the revised fee 
schedule.

APPLICABLE DATE: This revised fee schedule is effective January 1, 
2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John A. Traxler, Section Chief, 
Resources Management Section, Criminal Justice Information Services 
(CJIS) Division, FBI, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Module D-3, Clarksburg, 
WV 26306. Telephone number 304-625-3700.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: Pursuant to the authority in Public Law 101-
515, as amended, the FBI has established user fees for authorized 
agencies requesting noncriminal justice fingerprint-based and name-
based CHRI checks. In accordance with the requirements of Title 28, 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 20.31(e), the FBI 
periodically reviews the process of providing fingerprint-based and 
name-based CHRI checks to determine the proper fee amounts which should 
be collected, and the FBI publishes any resulting fee adjustments in 
the Federal Register.
    A fee study was conducted in keeping with 28 CFR 20.31(e)(2). The 
fee study results recommend an increase in the fingerprint-based CHRI 
checks from the current user fees published in the Federal Register on 
July 14, 2016, which have been in effect since October 1, 2016. The FBI 
reviewed the results of the independently conducted User Fee Study, 
compared the recommendations to the current fee schedule, and 
determined the revised fee recommendation amounts for the cost 
reimbursement portion of the fee were reasonable and in consonance with 
the underlying legal authorities.
    For the automation portion of the FBI CJIS user fee rate, the 
current methodology has been in place since 2008. This method used the 
depreciation value of select capital information technology assets as 
the basis for the calculation. Given the considerable transformation in 
the business and operational environments within the FBI CJIS Division, 
to include changes in technology and workload, the FBI conducted an 
extensive business review of the automation portion of the FBI CJIS 
user fee rate. As a result of the review, an updated methodology for 
the calculation of the automation portion of the FBI CJIS user fee rate 
has been adopted.
    The FBI is implementing a flat rate methodology for the automation 
portion of the FBI CJIS user fee rate. The initial flat rate is based 
on historical automation fund usage divided by historical volume for 
the same time period. The resulting per unit cost is rounded to the 
nearest whole dollar to arrive at a flat rate. Each time the FBI 
conducts a user fee study under 28 CFR 20.31 (e)(2), the amount of the 
flat rate will be re-evaluated to determine if an adjustment is 
warranted. In making this determination, consideration will be given to 
the following factors: Program fluctuations, available funding levels, 
and/or changes in legal authority. This methodology achieves the FBI's 
overarching objectives for program solvency, rate stability, and 
predictable revenue with regard to the automation portion of the fee.
    Pursuant to the recommendations of the study and the revised 
automation methodology, the fees for fingerprint-based CHRI checks will 
be increased and the fee for name-based CHRI checks will remain the 
same for federal agencies specifically authorized by statute, e.g., 
pursuant to the Security Clearance Information Act, Title 5, United 
States Code, Section 9101.
    The following tables detail the new fee amounts for authorized 
users requesting fingerprint-based and name-based CHRI checks for 
noncriminal justice purposes, including the difference from the fee 
schedule currently in effect.

                                          Fingerprint-Based CHRI Checks
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                                                   Fee currently
             Service               Fee currently   in effect for  Change in  fee    Revised fee     Revised fee
                                     in effect       CBSPs \1\        amount                         for CBSPs
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Fingerprint-based Submission....          $12.00          $10.00           $1.25          $13.25      \2\ $11.25
Fingerprint-based Volunteer                10.75            8.75             .50           11.25        \4\ 9.25
 Submission (See e.g., 75 FR
 18752) \3\.....................
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\1\ Centralized Billing Service Providers, see 75 FR 18753.
\2\ Cost Recovery = $5.25; Automation = $6.
\3\ Volunteers providing care for children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities.
\4\ Cost Recovery = $5.25; Automation = $4.


[[Page 48336]]


                                             Name-Based CHRI Checks
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                                                                   Fee currently  Change in  fee    Revised fee
                             Service                                 in effect        amount        (no change)
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Name-based Submission...........................................           $2.00            $.00           $2.00
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    Dated: September 14, 2018.
Christopher A. Wray,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-20644 Filed 9-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-02-P