97-16425. Intergovernmental Personnel Act Programs; Standards for a Merit System of Personnel Administration

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 121 (Tuesday, June 24, 1997)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 33971-33972]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-16425]
    
    
    
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    Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 121 / Tuesday, June 24, 1997 / Rules 
    and Regulations
    
    [[Page 33971]]
    
    
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    OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
    
    5 CFR PART 900
    
    RIN 3206-AH90
    
    
    Intergovernmental Personnel Act Programs; Standards for a Merit 
    System of Personnel Administration
    
    AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is revising the regulations 
    on the Standards for a Merit System of Personnel Administration. The 
    revision reflects changes and revisions in laws or regulations that 
    require State and local governments to establish and maintain merit 
    systems of personnel administration. Specifically, the revised 
    regulations eliminate any implied individual right of appeal to OPM, 
    eliminate obsolete references to the Federal Personnel Manual, and 
    provide a current list of covered programs.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: July 24, 1997.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Gary L. Smith, 202-606-2980, FAX 202-606-2663.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 900.606 of Subpart F, Standards for 
    a Merit System of Personnel Administration, provided for publication of 
    procedures implementing merit requirements in the Federal Personnel 
    Manual (FPM). No procedures were ever issued under the FPM system which 
    was abolished December 31, 1993. The section was unnecessary and is 
    being withdrawn to be consistent with the sunset of the FPM. Appendix A 
    is being revised to reflect changes in laws and regulations that have 
    occurred since 1983 when the list of pertinent laws and regulations was 
    last revised.
        Our 1983 revisions (48 FR 9209) to these regulations promoted 
    flexibility and innovation at the State and local levels by eliminating 
    standardized, detailed requirements. These new revisions continue that 
    emphasis, and are consistent with the Intergovernmental Personnel Act's 
    requirement to minimize Federal intervention in State and local 
    government personnel administration. Consequently, we are modifying 
    regulations at 5 CFR 900.604(b)(3) that require the Chief Executive to 
    resolve compliance issues ``to the satisfaction of the Office of 
    Personnel Management.'' We are doing this for two reasons. First, OPM 
    has no independent authority to adjudicate individual complaints. The 
    Act restricts OPM from exercising ``authority, direction or control 
    over the selection, assignment, advancement, retention, compensation, 
    or other personnel action with respect to any individual State or local 
    employee.'' Second, the respective statutes which require State or 
    local governments to establish merit systems do so pursuant to proper 
    and efficient grants administration. We believe that issues of merit 
    systems compliance should be raised and addressed in the context of 
    State or local government performance in grants administration, and 
    that this is appropriately done by or under the direction of the 
    Federal grantor agency. Therefore, OPM's policy will be to accept 
    allegations of non-compliance with the standards only from grantor 
    agencies. As required by the Act, OPM will continue to provide, when 
    requested, interpretation, advice, and technical assistance when such 
    issues arise.
        During the review and comment period following publication of these 
    proposed regulations at 62 FR 4940, OPM received two comments from 
    grantor agencies. One comment expressed agreement with the proposed 
    changes to the regulations. The other comment recommended further 
    revisions to Appendix A for recent legislation that will become 
    effective on July 1, 1997. Those recommended revisions were 
    incorporated into this final rule. No comments were received from 
    individuals, organizations, or state and local governments.
    
    Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        I certify that this regulation will not have a significant economic 
    impact on a substantial number of small entities because it imposes no 
    new requirements on State or local governments.
    
    List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 900
    
        Administrative practice and procedure, Civil rights, Government 
    employees, Individuals with disabilities, Intergovernmental relations.
    
    Office of Personnel Management.
    James B. King,
    Director.
        Accordingly, OPM is amending part 900 of title 5, Code of Federal 
    Regulations, as follows:
    
    PART 900--INTERGOVERNMENTAL PERSONNEL ACT PROGRAMS
    
        1. The authority citation for part 900, subpart F, continues to 
    read as follows:
    
        Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4728, 4763; E.O. 11589, 3 CFR part 557 
    (1971-1975 Compilation).
    
        2. In Subpart F Sec. 900.604, paragraphs (b)(3) and (b)(4) are 
    revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 900.604  Compliance.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) * * *
        (3) When a chief executive requests the assistance of the Office of 
    Personnel Management, the Office will provide consultation and 
    technical advice to aid the State or local government in complying with 
    the Standards.
        (4) The Office of Personnel Management will advise Federal agencies 
    on application of the Standards in resolving compliance issues and will 
    recommend actions to carry out the purposes of the Intergovernmental 
    Personnel Act. Questions regarding interpretation of the Standards will 
    be referred to the Office of Personnel Management.
    
    
    Sec. 900.606  [Removed]
    
        3. Section 900.606 is removed.
        4. Appendix A to Subpart F is revised to read as follows:
    
    Appendix A to Subpart F--Standards for a Merit System of Personnel 
    Administration
    
        Part I: The following programs have a statutory requirement for the 
    establishment and maintenance of personnel standards on a merit basis.
    
    [[Page 33972]]
    
    Program, Legislation, and Statutory Reference
    
        Food Stamp, Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 
    2020(e)(6)(B).
        Employment Security (Unemployment Insurance and Employment 
    Services), Social Security Act (Title III), as amended by the Social 
    Security Act Amendments of 1939, Section 301, on August 10, 1939, and 
    the Wagner-Peyser Act, as amended by Pub. L. 81-775, section 2, on 
    September 8, 1950; 42 U.S.C. 503(a)(1) and 29 U.S.C. 49d(b).
        Grants to States for Old-Age Assistance for the Aged (Title I of 
    the Social Security Act); 42 U.S.C. 302(a)(5)(A).\1\
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        \1\ Public Law 92-603 repealed Titles I, X, XIV and XVI of the 
    Social Security Act effective January 1, 1974, except that ``such 
    repeal does not apply to Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin 
    Islands.''
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        Aid to Families with Dependent Children, (Title IV-A of the Social 
    Security Act); 42 U.S.C. 602(a)(5).\2\
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        \2\ Public Law 104-193 repealed the Aid to Families with 
    Dependent Children program effective July 1, 1997.
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        Grants to States for Aid to the Blind, (Title X of the Social 
    Security Act); 42 U.S.C. 1202(a)(5)(A).\1\
        Grants to States for Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled, 
    (Title XIV of the Social Security Act); 42 U.S.C. 1352(a)(5)(A).\1\
        Grants to States for Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled. (Title XVI 
    of the Social Security Act); 42 U.S.C. 1382(a)(5)(A).\1\
        Medical Assistance (Medicaid), Social Security Act (Title XIX), as 
    amended, section 1902 (a)(4)(A); 42 U.S.C. 1396(a)(4)(A).
        State and Community Programs on Aging (Older Americans), Older 
    Americans Act of 1965 (Title III), as amended by the Comprehensive 
    Older Americans Act Amendments of 1976, section 307 on October 18, 
    1978; 42 U.S.C. 3027(a)(4).
        Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance, (Title 
    IV-E of the Social Security Act); 42 U.S.C. 671(a)(5).
        Part II: The following programs have a regulatory requirement for 
    the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards on a merit 
    basis.
    
    Program, Legislation, and Regulatory Reference
    
        Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Williams-Steiger 
    Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970; Occupational Safety and 
    Health State Plans for the Development and Enforcement of State 
    Standards; Department of Labor, 29 CFR 1902.3(h).
        Occupational Safety and Health Statistics, Williams-Steiger 
    Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970; BLS Grant Application Kit, 
    May 1, 1973, Supplemental Assurance No. 15A.
        Robert T. Stafford Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief Act (42 
    U.S.C. 5196b), as amended; 44 CFR 302.4.
    
    [FR Doc. 97-16425 Filed 6-23-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6325-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
7/24/1997
Published:
06/24/1997
Department:
Personnel Management Office
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
97-16425
Dates:
July 24, 1997.
Pages:
33971-33972 (2 pages)
RINs:
3206-AH90
PDF File:
97-16425.pdf
CFR: (2)
5 CFR 900.604
5 CFR 900.606