Search Results for keywords:"Consumer Price Index"

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has issued a final rule to update the rules for civil money penalties by adjusting them for inflation. This adjustment is in line with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act, ensuring penalties stay current with economic changes. The new penalty amounts will be effective from January 16, 2025, and apply to violations occurring on or after January 15, 2025. The FHFA will calculate penalties on a case-by-case basis, using a formula tied to changes in the Consumer Price Index, and these updates are mandated by law.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule to adjust the maximum and minimum civil monetary penalties to keep pace with inflation, as mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 and its 2015 amendments. This move is part of an ongoing effort to maintain the deterrent impact of penalties and ensure compliance with laws. The adjustments, effective January 8, 2025, are made annually without requiring public feedback or notice and are based on a specific formula tied to the Consumer Price Index. The changes do not establish specific penalties for cases, as these are determined by the EPA considering the details of each case.

The Judicial Conference of the United States has announced that certain dollar amounts related to bankruptcy cases in the United States Code will be adjusted due to changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. These changes will take effect on April 1, 2025, and will apply to many sections of titles 11 and 28 that deal with bankruptcy law. The adjustments are based on a three-year period ending before January 1, 2025, and will be rounded to the nearest $25. Additionally, several Official Bankruptcy Forms and Director's Forms will also be updated to reflect these new dollar amounts.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued a final rule to adjust the maximum amount of civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA). This annual adjustment is required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended, and ensures that penalties maintain their deterrent effect over time. The rule applies to penalties assessed after January 15, 2021, and is based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index. This adjustment process is exempt from the typical notice and comment procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is adjusting the maximum civil monetary penalties (CMPs) according to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. These adjustments ensure that penalties for violations of the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act (PFCRA) and Restrictions on Lobbying continue to reflect inflation and maintain their deterrent effect. The new penalties are based on the Consumer Price Index and are effective for violations assessed after January 15, 2021. The inflation-adjusted penalties are now set at $11,802 for false claims under the PFCRA and range from $20,720 to $207,314 for lobbying restrictions violations.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced new civil monetary penalties for 2025, reflecting inflation adjustments in compliance with federal law. From January 15, 2025, to January 14, 2026, the fines for violating NEH’s lobbying restrictions will range from $25,132 to $251,322, while penalties for program fraud will have a maximum of $14,308. These adjustments factor in a 2.598% increase in the Consumer Price Index from October 2023 to October 2024. All updated penalties apply to violations occurring after November 2, 2015.

The Department of Transportation has introduced a new rule that clarifies rules around denied boarding compensation (DBC) and domestic baggage liability for airlines. Under the new rule, airlines are prohibited from involuntarily removing passengers from flights once their boarding passes are collected or scanned. It also raises the liability limits for denied boarding compensation from $675 to $775 and from $1,350 to $1,550, reflecting changes in the Consumer Price Index. Additionally, the rule adjusts the maximum compensation for mishandled baggage from $3,500 to $3,800. These changes aim to enhance consumer protection without significantly impacting airlines' operations.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has updated the poverty guidelines to reflect a 1.2% increase in prices from 2019 to 2020, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. These guidelines help determine eligibility for federal programs like Medicaid. In some cases, due to adjustments in the formula, the guidelines may remain the same as the previous year despite inflation changes. The guidelines are mandated by law and are published annually by HHS, not the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as some might mistakenly believe.

The General Services Administration (GSA) has finalized a rule that changes how relocation miscellaneous expenses allowances (MEA) are handled for federal employees. Previously, the lump sum amounts were listed in the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR); now, they will be published in FTR Bulletins, making it easier to update the amounts based on the Consumer Price Index. This change aims to provide more flexibility and accurate compensation for employees, but it may lead to a small increase in costs for the federal government. The rule also clarifies which expenses may or may not be reimbursed under MEA and ensures that the rules are easy to follow.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is updating the rules for civil monetary penalties under the Commodity Exchange Act to account for inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. This update adjusts the maximum fines for violations based on the change in the Consumer Price Index. The new penalties will apply to violations assessed after January 15, 2025. This rule aims to ensure penalties remain effective as deterrents over time and doesn’t require the standard notice and comment process normally needed for new regulations.