[Federal Register: February 10, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 27)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 6225-6227]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10fe04-39]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
45 CFR Part 2551
RIN 3045-AA39
The Senior Companion Program; Amendments
AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: These proposed amendments to the regulations governing the
Senior Companion Program (SCP) modify provisions concerning deductions
for medical expenses and the allowability of certain volunteer expense
items. The specific amendments are as follows:
Section 2551.42(c) is modified to increase the ceiling on medical
expenses that may be deducted for determining income for eligibility
purposes from 15 percent to 50 percent of the applicable income
guideline; and Sec.Sec. 2551.45 and 2551.93(d) are modified to allow
project funds, including the required non-federal share, to be used to
reimburse volunteers for expenses, including transportation costs,
incurred while performing volunteer assignments, and for purchase of
equipment or supplies for volunteers on assignment.
[[Page 6226]]
DATES: Submit comments on or before March 26, 2004.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the title of the
program, by any of the following methods:
(1) By mail sent to: Corporation for National and Community
Service, National Senior Service Corps; Attention Peter Boynton,
Program Officer; 9th Floor, 1201 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC
20525.
(2) By hand delivery or by courier to the Corporation's mailroom at
Room 6010 at the mail address given in paragraph (1) above, between 9
a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
(3) By fax to: (202) 565-2743, Attention Peter Boynton, Program
Officer.
(4) Electronically through the Corporation's e-mail address system:
Seniorfeedback@cns.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter L. Boynton, 202-606-5000, ext.
554.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
A. Program Description
The Senior Companion Program provides a way for limited-income
people age 60 and older to provide assistance and friendship to adults
who have difficulty with daily living tasks, such as grocery shopping
and bill paying. Senior Companions spend from 15 to 40 hours a week
helping two to four adult clients live independently in their own
homes. Senior Companions provide relief to caregivers and alert doctors
and family members to potential problems. In return for their service,
Senior Companions receive a stipend of $2.65 an hour, accident and
liability insurance and meals while on duty, reimbursement for
transportation, and monthly training. Approximately 15,000 Senior
Companions tend to the needs of more than 60,000 adults each year.
B. Medical Expenses Deduction
Income eligibility for the Senior Companion Program is determined
based on annual income from all sources after deducting medical
expenses. Currently the allowable medical expenses may not exceed 15
percent of the applicable income eligibility guideline. In order to
increase the pool of seniors eligible to serve as Senior Companions,
and in recognition that the cost of medical care and insurance have
increased significantly, the Corporation proposes to increase the
ceiling for allowable medical expenses to 50 percent of the applicable
income eligibility guideline.
C. Volunteer Expenses
The Senior Companion Program regulations currently distinguish
between volunteer expenses that may be paid or reimbursed with federal
and required non-federal grant funds and volunteer expenses that must
be paid by the volunteer station to which a Senior Companion is
assigned. Grant funds may be used only to pay for volunteer stipends,
insurance, transportation to and from volunteer assignments and
official project activities, annual physical examinations, meals taken
on assignment, and service recognition expenses. With the exception of
certain meals, volunteer stations must pay for all expenses incurred
while performing volunteer assignments.
In ``Principles and Reforms for a Citizen Service Act,'' issued by
President Bush April 9, 2002, the Administration proposed to create
greater flexibility in the use of Federal resources by easing
requirements that govern the activities and support of volunteers. The
proposed amendment would allow Senior Companion Program sponsors to
determine, in consultation with volunteer stations, how best to fund
volunteer expenses. The respective responsibilities of the sponsor and
volunteer station for volunteer expenses would be incorporated in the
memorandum of understanding negotiated by the sponsor with each
station. Sponsors would be free to maintain the current division of
responsibility for volunteer expenses but have the flexibility to use
federal and required non-federal funds to cover any volunteer expense
when the sponsor determines that doing so would be in the best interest
of the project. The provisions of the applicable OMB Cost Principles
Circulars referenced in Section 2551.93(a)(4) would continue to apply
to all expenses paid with federal or required non-federal funds.
Impact of Various Acts and Executive Orders
After carefully reviewing the changes implemented by this
amendment, and after coordination with the Office of Management and
Budget, it was determined that:
(1) This was a significant regulatory action under section 3(f)(4)
of Executive Order 12866 ``Regulatory Planning and Review'', and
required a review by the Office of Management and Budget;
(2) The Corporation hereby certifies that the Regulatory
Flexibility Act does not apply because there is no ``significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities'';
(3) That the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. chapter
25, subchapter II) does not apply because the amendment does not result
in any annual expenditures of $100 million by State, local, Indian
Tribal governments or the private sector;
(4) That the Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the
amendments do not impose any additional reporting or record-keeping
requirements;
(5) That the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of
1996 does not apply because it is not a major rule as defined by
section 251 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
of 1996, and would not result in an annual effect on the economy of
$100 million or more; result in an increase in cost or prices; or have
significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment,
productivity, innovation, or on the ability of United States-based
companies to compete with foreign-based companies in domestic and
export markets; and
(6) That Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism'' does not apply
because it would not have substantial direct effects on the States or
the relationship between the national government and the States.
List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 2551
Aged, Grant programs--social programs, Volunteers.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Corporation for
National and Community Service proposes to amend 45 CFR part 2551 as
follows:
PART 2551--THE SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM
1. The authority citation for part 2551 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.
Sec. 2551.42 [Amended]
2. In Sec. 2551.42(c), remove the words ``15 percent'' and add the
words ``50 percent'' in their place.
Sec. 2551.45 [Amended]
3. In Sec. 2551.45, add a new paragraph (f), to read as follows:
* * * * *
(f) Other Volunteer Expenses. Senior Companions may be reimbursed
for expenses incurred while performing their volunteer assignments
provided these expenses are described in the Memorandum of
Understanding negotiated with the volunteer station to which the
volunteer is assigned, and there are sufficient funds available to
cover these expenses and meet all other
[[Page 6227]]
requirements identified in the notice of grant award.
Sec. 2551.93 [Amended]
4. In Sec. 2551.93, remove paragraph (d) and redesignate paragraphs
(e) through (i) as paragraphs (d) through (h).
Dated: February 3, 2004.
Tess Scannell,
Director, National Senior Service Corps.
[FR Doc. 04-2802 Filed 2-9-04; 8:45 am]