41 CFR parts 300-3, 300-70, 300-80, 300-90, 301-10, 301-11, 301-13, 301-52, 301-70, 301-72, 301-73, 301-74, 301-75, Appendix A to Chapter 301, Appendix B to Chapter 301, Appendix E to Chapter 301, parts 302-1, 302-4, 302-5, 302-7, 302-8, 304-2, and 304-6
[FTR Case 2020-TA-01; Docket No. GSA-FTR-2020-0008, Sequence No. 1]
AGENCY:
Office of Government-wide Policy (OGP), General Services Administration (GSA).
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
GSA is amending the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) to make necessary editorial changes.
DATES:
This rule is effective August 3, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For clarification of content, contact Ms. Jill Denning, Program Analyst, Office of Government-wide Policy, at 202-208-7642. Contact the Regulatory Secretariat Division (MVCB), 1800 F Street NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20405, 202-501-4755, for information pertaining to status or publication schedules. Please cite FTR Case 2020-TA-01, Technical Amendments.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
The General Services Administration is issuing a final rule to make technical amendments to various provisions of the Federal Travel Regulation. These technical amendments correct hyperlinks in accordance with Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-15-13 “Policy to Require Secure Connections across Federal websites and Web Services” (June 5, 2015), format discrepancies, update legal citations, and make miscellaneous/editorial revisions.
B. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives, and if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O. 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. This final rule is not a significant regulatory action, and therefore, is not subject to review under section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. GSA has further determined that this final rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.
This final rule is not subject to the requirements of E.O. 13771 (82 FR 9339, February 3, 2017) because it is related to agency organization, management, or personnel and is not a significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866.
D. Regulatory Flexibility Act
This final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601,
et seq.
This final rule is also exempt from the Administrative Procedures Act pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2) because this final rule involves matters relating to agency management or personnel.
E. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to the FTR do not impose recordkeeping or information collection requirements, or the collection of information from offerors, contractors, or members of the public that require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 44 U.S.C. 3501,
et seq.
F. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
This final rule is also exempt from Congressional review prescribed under 5 U.S.C. 801. This final rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.
9. Amend § 300-80.9 by removing from paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) “Governmentwide Policy, Office of Travel, Transportation and Asset Management (Attention MTT)” and adding “Government-wide Policy, 1800 F Street, NW” in its place.
PART 300-90—TELEWORK EXPENSES TEST PROGRAMS
10. The authority citation for part 300-90 continues to read as follows:
13. Amend § 300-90.9 by removing from paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) “Office of Asset and Transportation Management (Attention: MA)” and adding “1800 F Street NW” in its place.
PART 301-10—TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES
14. The authority citation for part 301-10 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707, 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 49 U.S.C. 40118; Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-126, “Improving the Management and Use of Government Aircraft.” Revised May 22, 1992.
c. In paragraph (c) removing “, United States Information Agency, United States International Development Cooperation Agency, or the Arms Control Disarmament Agency” and adding “or the United States Agency for International Development” in its place.
18. Amend § 301-10.261 by removing from paragraph (a)(2) “from the General Services Administration, Office of Governmentwide Policy, MTA, 1800 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20405” and adding “by emailing aviationpolicy@gsa.gov
” in its place.
a. In paragraph (a), in the second row of the third column of the table, removing “Office of Governmentwide Policy, Office of Transportation and Personal Property, Travel Management Policy, and available on the internet at https://www.gsa.gov/perdiem
” and adding “Office of Government-wide Policy, and available at
https://www.gsa.gov/perdiem
” in its place;
a. In the first column of the table, removing “Office of Governmentwide
( printed page 39849)
Policy, Attn: Travel Policy (MTT)” and adding “Office of Government-wide Policy” in its place; and
b. In second row of the second column of the table, removing “4601 N Fairfax Dr., Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22203” and adding “4800 Mark Center Drive, Suite 04J325-01, Alexandria, VA 22350-9000” in its place.
What can we do to reduce travel charge card delinquencies?
* * * * *
(a) Agency travel program coordinators must be trained and aware of their responsibilities and the delinquency management tools available under your agreement with the travel charge card contractor.
Must we ensure that travel on Government aircraft is the most cost-effective alternative?
(a) * * *
(3) * * * Additional information on costs included in the cost comparison may be found in the “U.S. Government Aircraft Cost Accounting Guide,” published by the General Services Administration, Office of Government-wide Policy. To obtain a copy of the guide, please contact
aviationpolicy@gsa.gov.
What are our responsibilities for ensuring that Government aircraft are the most cost-effective alternative for travel?
* * * For guidance on how and when to calculate the cost of a trip on a Government aircraft, see the “U.S. Government Aircraft Cost Accounting Guide,” published by the General Services Administration, Office of Government-wide Policy. To obtain a copy of the guide, please contact
aviationpolicy@gsa.gov.
Must we report use of our Government aircraft to carry senior Federal officials and non-Federal travelers?
Yes, except when the trips are classified, you must report to the General Services Administration, Office of Government-wide Policy, all uses of your aircraft for travel by any senior Federal official or non-Federal traveler, by using an electronic reporting tool found at “
https://www.gsa.gov/sftr”,
unless travel is authorized under 10 U.S.C. 2648 and regulations implementing that statute.
40. Amend Note to § 301-70.907 by revising the fourth sentence and adding a fifth sentence to read as follows:
What information must we report on the use of Government aircraft to carry senior Federal officials and non-Federal travelers and when must it be reported?
* * * * *
Note to § 301-70.907:
* * * For more information on calculating costs, see the “U.S. Government Aircraft Cost Accounting Guide,” published by the General Services Administration, Office of Government-wide Policy. To obtain a copy of the guide, please contact
aviationpolicy@gsa.gov.
PART 301-72—AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO COMMON CARRIER TRANSPORTATION
41. The authority citation for part 301-72 continues to read as follows:
52. Amend Appendix E to Chapter 301, Food and Drink, Meals section, fourth bullet point, by removing “ 5 U.S.C. 4104(4)” and adding “5 U.S.C. 4109” in its place.
PART 302-1—GENERAL RULES
53. The authority citation for Part 302-1 continues to read as follows:
66. Amend § 304-2.1 by revising the last two sentences of the definition of “Travel, subsistence, and related expenses (travel expenses)” to read as follows: