Search Results for keywords:"Final Rule"

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), part of the Treasury Department, issued a final rule to adjust certain civil monetary penalties based on inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990. These adjustments are calculated using a specific formula that considers changes in consumer prices, and the updated penalties will apply to violations occurring after the adjustments take effect. This rule does not require public notice or comments, as the changes are mandated by law and involve no new administrative procedures.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation issued a final rule to adjust the maximum civil penalties for certain violations, in line with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015. This adjustment is required annually to account for inflation and affects penalties under specific sections of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). For 2025, the penalty amounts have increased to $2,739 under section 4071 and $365 under section 4302. These adjustments apply to penalties assessed after January 8, 2025.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties for inflation, effective January 2, 2025. These adjustments are in line with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 and guidance from the Office of Management and Budget. This rule increases penalty amounts for violations occurring after November 2, 2015, and applies to various DHS components like the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Coast Guard. The updated penalty amounts are designed to maintain their deterrent effect and comply with mandatory legislative requirements.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has adopted a final rule to clarify the role of supervisory guidance in regulating credit unions. This rule makes clear that supervisory guidance, unlike laws or regulations, doesn't have the force of law and does not create binding obligations. The NCUA won't take enforcement actions based on supervisory guidance but will use it to communicate expectations and provide examples of best practices. The rule is intended to ensure that guidance remains a helpful tool for both examiners and credit unions without creating legal obligations.

The Corporation for National and Community Service, also known as AmeriCorps, has issued a final rule to update the civil monetary penalties in its regulations in line with inflation, following the guidelines set by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. The penalties related to Restrictions on Lobbying have been adjusted from a range of $24,497 to $244,957 to a new range of $25,133 to $251,321. Similarly, the penalty under the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act has been raised from a maximum of $13,946 to $14,308. These changes take effect immediately as of January 14, 2025, without prior public notice or comment due to the non-discretionary nature of the updates.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties for inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. This rule is meant to ensure penalties maintain their effectiveness and deterrent effect over time. The adjustments are based on inflation data and will apply to penalties assessed from January 15, 2021, onward. Different types of violations, such as those by broadcasters or common carriers, have specific maximum penalty limits outlined in the rule.

The U.S. Office of Government Ethics has issued a final rule to adjust the fines for violations of the Ethics in Government Act in 2025, as required by law to keep up with inflation. These changes, effective January 15, 2025, include increasing penalties for activities such as falsifying financial disclosure reports and misuse of public reports. The adjustments ensure that penalties remain a deterrent and are calculated based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. These updates only affect violations occurring after November 2, 2015, that are addressed after the new rule's effective date.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued a final rule to repeal a previous requirement for State departments of transportation (State DOTs) and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to establish greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets and report their progress. This decision was made because the rule was seen as unnecessary and potentially burdensome, with no clear legal backing and minimal benefits. Notably, the courts had already blocked the rule, citing legal and regulatory issues. Repealing this requirement provides clarity and aligns with recent legal decisions, but it doesn't stop State DOTs and MPOs from voluntarily tracking their own CO2 emissions.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a final rule to include Saratoga County, New York, in the Jefferson, NY, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area. This change is due to one employee working in Saratoga County and aims to address the employee's pay-setting considerations. The rule is set to take effect on January 13, 2025, and OPM anticipates minimal economic impact given the small number of employees affected. The regulation was subject to review and found to have no significant economic or federalism impact and does not impose additional record-keeping requirements.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has issued a rule to remove an outdated contract clause from the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). The clause, 252.239-7006, known as "Tariff Information," required telecommunications contractors to submit certain information, which is no longer deemed necessary. This change is expected to save costs for both the DoD and contractors. The removal simplifies compliance for contractors, including small businesses, as it eliminates a reporting requirement that was previously mandated.