2014-27999. Renewal of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees

AGENCY:

DoD.

ACTION:

Renewal of Federal Advisory Committee.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Defense is publishing this notice to announce that it is renewing the charter for the Department of Defense Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Board of Actuaries (“the Board”).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jim Freeman, Advisory Committee Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703-692-5952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This committee's charter is being renewed pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 1114 and in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as amended) and 41 CFR 102-3.50(a), established the Board.

The Board is a statutory Federal advisory committee that provides independent advice and recommendations related to the actuarial matters associated with the Department of Defense (DoD) Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Fund (“the Fund”) and other related matters. The Board, under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 1114, will provide independent advice and recommendations related to actuarial matters associated with the Fund on matters referred by the Secretary of Defense, including those regarding:

a. Valuation of the Fund under 10 U.S.C. § 115(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. Advising 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 Board reports to the Secretary of Defense annually on the actuarial status of the Fund and shall furnish its advice and opinion on matters referred to it by the Secretary. The Board shall periodically, but not less than once every four years, report to the President and the Congress on the status of the Fund and will include 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.

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

The members are selected from among qualified professional actuaries who are members of the Society of Actuaries. The Board members will serve for a term of 15 years with annual renewals; except those Board members appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the end of the term for which the predecessor was appointed and serve only until the end of such term. Board members may serve after the end of the term until a successor has taken the oath of office. The Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense appoints the Board members. The Board's chair will be designated by the USD(P&R), on behalf of the Secretary of Defense. Board members who are not full-time or permanent part-time Federal employees, will be appointed as experts or consultants pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 3109 to serve as special government employee (SGE) members and will, 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 5 U.S.C. § 5703. Board members who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal officers or employees shall be appointed pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.130(a) to serve as regular government employee (RGE) members.

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.

DoD, when necessary and consistent with the Board's mission and DoD policies and procedures, may establish subcommittees, task forces, or working groups to support the Board.

Establishment of subcommittees will be based upon a written determination, to include terms of reference, by the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, or USD(P&R), as the Board's Sponsor.

Such subcommittees shall not work independently of the Board, and shall report all of their recommendations and advice solely to the Board for full and open deliberation and discussion. Subcommittees, task forces, or working groups have no authority to make decisions and recommendations, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the Board. No subcommittee or any of its members can update or report, verbally or in writing, on behalf of the Board, directly to the DoD or any Federal officer or employee.

All subcommittee members must be appointed by the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense to a term of service of one-to-four years, with annual renewals, even if the member in question is already a member of the Board, and no subcommittee members will serve more than two consecutive terms of service, unless authorized by the Secretary of Defense or Deputy Secretary of Defense. Subcommittee members who are full-time or permanent part-time Federal employees, will be appointed as experts or consultants pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.130(a), to serve as regular government employee (RGE) members. Subcommittee members, who are not full-time or permanent part-time Federal employees, shall be appointed pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3109 to serve as special government employee (SGE) members. With the exception of reimbursement of official travel and per diem related to the Board or its subcommittees, subcommittee members will serve without compensation.

All subcommittees operate under the provisions of FACA, the Sunshine Act, governing Federal statutes and regulations, and established DoD policies and procedures.

The Board's Designated Federal Officer (DFO) must be a full-time or permanent part-time DoD employee, appointed in accordance with established DoD policies and procedures.

The Board's DFO is required to be in attendance at all meetings of the Board and any subcommittees for the entire duration of each and every meeting. However, in the absence of the Board's DFO, a properly approved Alternate DFO, duly appointed to the Board according to established DoD policies and procedures, must attend the entire duration of all meetings of the Board and its subcommittees.

The DFO, or the Alternate DFO, calls all meetings of the Board and its subcommittees; prepares and approves all meeting agendas; and adjourns any meeting when the DFO, or the Alternate DFO, determines adjournment to be in the public interest or required by governing regulations or DoD policies and procedures; and chairs meetings when directed to do so by the official to whom the Board reports.

Pursuant to 41 CFR 102-3.105(j) and 102-3.140, the public or interested organizations may submit written statements to 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 the Department of Defense Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Care Board of Actuaries.

All written statements shall be submitted to the DFO 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 DFO can be obtained from the GSA's FACA Database—http://www.facadatabase.gov/​.

The DFO, 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 DFO, 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 21, 2014.

Aaron Siegel,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.