[Federal Register: February 10, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 27)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 6228-6229]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10fe04-41]
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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
45 CFR Part 2553
RIN 3045-AA39
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program; Amendments
AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: These proposed amendments to the regulations governing the
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) modify provisions
concerning the allowability of certain volunteer expense items. The
specific amendments are as follows: Sections 2553.43 and 2553.73(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.
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
RSVP, one of the largest volunteer efforts in the nation, engages
people age 55 and older in a diverse range of volunteer activities.
Volunteers organize neighborhood watch programs, tutor children,
renovate homes, teach English to immigrants, assist victims of natural
disasters, and serve their communities in a myriad of other ways.
Through RSVP, more than 480,000 volunteers serve a few hours a week to
nearly full time at an estimated 65,000 local and national nonprofit
groups, government agencies, and small community-based organizations,
both faith-based and secular. Volunteers are not paid, but sponsoring
organizations may reimburse them for some costs incurred during
service, including meals and transportation.
B. Volunteer Expenses
The Retired and Senior Volunteer 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 RSVP
volunteer 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 Retired and Senior Volunteer 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 2553.73(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;
[[Page 6229]]
(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 2553
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 2553 as
follows:
PART 2553--THE RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
1. The authority citation for part 2553 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.
2. In Sec. 2553.43, add a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
* * * * *
(e) Other Volunteer Expenses. RSVP volunteers 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.
Sec. 2553.73 [Amended]
3. In Sec. 2553.73, 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. 04-2803 Filed 2-9-04; 8:45 am]