[Federal Register: April 20, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 76)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 21039]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20ap04-1]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
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[[Page 21039]]
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
5 CFR Part 537
RIN 3206-AK37
Repayment of Student Loans
AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing final
regulations to implement provisions of the Federal Employee Student
Loan Assistance Act which increase the maximum amounts Federal agencies
are authorized to repay under the Federal student loan repayment
program.
DATES: The regulations are effective April 20, 2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene Holson by telephone at (202) 606-
2858; by fax at (202) 606-0824; or by e-mail at
pay-performance-policy@opm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing final
regulations to implement provisions of the Federal Employee Student
Loan Assistance Act (Pub. L. 108-123, Nov. 11, 2003) which increase the
maximum amounts Federal agencies are authorized to repay under the
Federal student loan repayment program. The Act amended 5 U.S.C. 5379,
which provides agencies with the authority to repay student loans on
behalf of candidates for Federal jobs or current Federal employees to
recruit and retain highly qualified personnel. The statutory amendment
increases the limitations on payments authorized by an agency from
$6,000 to $10,000 per employee in any calendar year and from $40,000 to
a total of $60,000 for any one employee. Subsequently, section 1123 of
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Pub. L.
108-136, November 24, 2003) also contained an amendment to 5 U.S.C.
5379 to increase the maximum amount Federal agencies are authorized to
repay under the Federal student loan repayment program from $6,000 to
$10,000 for any one employee in a calendar year.
Waiver of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Pursuant to section 553(b)(3)(B) of title 5 of the United States
Code, I find that good cause exists for waiving the general notice of
proposed rulemaking. Also, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), I find that
good cause exists for making this rule effective in less than 30 days.
These regulations implement Pub. L. 108-123, which became effective on
November 11, 2003. The waiver of the requirements for proposed
rulemaking and a delay in the effective date are necessary to ensure
timely implementation of the law as intended by Congress.
E.O. 12866, Regulatory Review
The Office of Management and Budget has reviewed this rule in
accordance with E.O. 12866.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
I certify that these regulations will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because they
will apply to only Federal agencies and employees.
List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 537
Administrative practice and procedure, Government employees, Wages.
Office of Personnel Management.
Kay Coles James,
Director.
0
Accordingly, OPM is amending 5 CFR part 537 as follows:
PART 537-REPAYMENT OF STUDENT LOANS
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1. The authority citation for part 537 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5379.
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2. In Sec. 537.106, paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) are revised to read
as follows:
Sec. 537.106 Procedures for making loan repayments.
* * * * *
(c) * * *
(1) $10,000 per employee per calendar year; and
(2) A total of $60,000 per employee.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 04-8939 Filed 4-19-04; 8:45 am]
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