2010-30041. Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY:

Department of Defense.

ACTION:

Notice of renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

SUMMARY:

Under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 1114 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, (5 U.S.C. Appendix), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b), and 41 CFR 102-3.50, the Department of Defense gives notice that it is renewing the charter for the Department of Defense Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Board of Actuaries (hereafter referred to as the “Board”).

The Board is a non-discretionary Federal advisory committee that shall provide independent advice and recommendations related to actuarial matters associated with the Department of Defense Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Fund and on matters referred by the Secretary of Defense, including that regarding;

a. Valuations of the Fund under Title 10, United States Code, Section 1115(c);

b. Recommendations for such changes as in the Board's judgment are necessary to protect the public interest and maintain the Fund on a sound actuarial basis; and

c. Advice the Secretary of Defense on all actuarial matters necessary to make determinations in order to finance liabilities of the Fund on an actuarially sound basis.

The Secretary of Defense, through the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), may act upon the Board's advice and recommendations.

The Board shall be composed of not three Board members appointed by the Secretary of Defense from among qualified professional actuaries who are members of the Society of Actuaries. Except for those member of the Board who were first appointed under Title 10, United States Code, Section, Section 1114(B), the Board members shall serve for a term of 15 years; except those Board members appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the end of the term for which the predecessor was appointed shall serve only until the end of such term. Board members may serve after the end of the term until a successor has taken office. No Board member, other than those originally appointed for less than 15-year term or a Board member appointed to fill an unexpired term may be reappointed for successive terms.

Board members shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense, and their membership shall be renewed by the Secretary of Defense on an annual basis. A member of the Board may be removed by the Secretary of Defense for misconduct or failure to perform functions vested in the Board, and for no other reason.

Board members appointed by the Secretary of Defense, who are not full-time or permanent part-time federal officers or employees, shall serve as special government employees under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109, and shall, under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 1114(a)(3), serve with compensation, to include travel and per diem for official travel, in accordance with Title 5, United States Code, Section 5703.

The Chairperson of the Board shall be designated by the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), on behalf of the Secretary of Defense.

With DoD approval, the Board is authorized to establish subcommittees, as necessary and consistent with its mission. These subcommittees shall operate under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b), and other Governing Federal statutes and regulations.

Such subcommittees shall not work independently of the chartered Board, and shall report all their recommendations and advice to the Board for full deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the chartered Board; nor can they report directly to the Department of Defense or any Federal officers or employees who are not Board members.

Subcommittee members who are not Board members, shall be appointed in the same manner as the Board members.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Jim Freeman, Deputy Advisory Committee Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-601-6128.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Board shall meet at the call of the Board's Designated Federal Officer, in consultation with the Chairperson. The estimated number of Board meetings is one per year.

The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to DoD policy, shall be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD employee, and shall be appointed in accordance with governing DoD policies and procedures. In addition, the Designated Federal Officer is required to be in attendance at all Board and subcommittee meetings; however, in the absence of the Designated Federal Officer, the Alternate Designated Federal Officer shall attend the meeting.

Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or interested organizations may submit written statements to the Department of Defense Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Board of Actuaries' membership about the Board's mission and functions. Written statements may be submitted at any time or in response to the stated agenda of planned meeting of Department of Defense Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Board of Actuaries.

All written statements shall be submitted to the Designated Federal Officer for the Department of Defense Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Board of Actuaries, and this individual will ensure that the written statements are provided to the membership for their consideration. Contact information for the Department of Defense Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Board of Actuaries Designated Federal Officer can be obtained from the GSA's FACA Database—https://www.fido.gov/​facadatabase/​public.asp.

The Designated Federal Officer, pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.150, will announce planned meetings of the Department of Defense Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Board of Actuaries. The Designated Federal Officer, at that time, may provide additional guidance on the submission of written statements that are in response to the stated agenda for the planned meeting in question.

Dated: November 18, 2010.

Morgan F. Park,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.