Federal Travel Regulation (FTR); Relocation Allowances-Miscellaneous Expenses Allowance
| Citation | 89 FR 4268 |
| Published date | 23 January 2024 |
| Pages | 4268-4272 |
| FR Document | 2024-01214 |
| Section | Proposed rules |
| Issuer | General Services Administration |
Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2024)
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4268-4272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01214]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
41 CFR Part 302-16
[FTR Case 2022-04 Docket No. GSA-FTR-2023-0017, Sequence No. 2]
RIN 3090-AK65
Federal Travel Regulation (FTR); Relocation Allowances--
Miscellaneous Expenses Allowance
AGENCY: Office of Government-wide Policy (OGP), General Services
Administration (GSA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The United States General Services Administration (GSA) is
proposing to amend the FTR by removing the relocation miscellaneous
expenses allowance (MEA) lump sum amounts from the FTR. These lump sum
amounts will be published in FTR Bulletins on an intermittent basis,
much like what is done for per diem and mileage rates. The relocation
MEA actual (as opposed to lump sum) amounts are unchanged and will
remain in the FTR. The proposed rule would also update the types of
expenses that may or may not be reimbursed by relocation MEA when
employees itemize under actual expense. The proposed rule would also
update and clarify other relocation MEA regulatory sections and
rearrange them into a more sequential order.
DATES: Interested parties should submit written comments to the
Regulatory Secretariat Division at the address shown below on or before
March 25, 2024 to be considered in the formation of the final rule.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in response to FTR Case 2022-04 to:
Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit comments via the
Federal eRulemaking portal by searching for ``FTR Case 2022-04''.
Select the link ``Comment Now'' that corresponds with ``FTR Case 2022-
04.'' Follow the instructions provided on the screen. Please include
your name, company name (if any), and ``FTR Case 2022-04'' on your
attached document. If your comment cannot be submitted using https://www.regulations.gov, call or email the points of contact in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate
instructions.
Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FTR Case 2022-
04, in all correspondence related to this case. Comments received
generally will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov,
including any personal and/or business confidential information
provided. To confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check
www.regulations.gov, approximately two to three days after submission
to verify posting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For clarification of content, contact
Mr. Rodney (Rick) Miller, Program Analyst, Office of Government-wide
Policy, at 202-501-3822 or [email protected]. For information
pertaining to status or publication schedules, contact the Regulatory
Secretariat Division at 202-501-4755 or [email protected]. Please cite
FTR Case 2022-04.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
A. Summary of Significant Changes
GSA is proposing to amend the FTR by removing the relocation MEA
lump sum amounts, providing that lump sum amounts will be published in
FTR Bulletins on an intermittent basis, rearranging the relocation MEA
sections into a more sequential order, clarifying and modifying
relocation MEA sections by updating employee eligibility for relocation
MEA, and updating examples of expenses for which relocation MEA may be
authorized or not.
Pursuant to 5 United States Code (U.S.C.) 5738, the Administrator
of General Services is authorized to prescribe regulations necessary to
implement laws regarding Federal employees when assigned a temporary
change of station (TCS) or when otherwise transferred in the interest
of the Government. The overall implementing authority is the FTR,
codified in title 41 of the Code of Federal Regulations, chapters 300
through 304.
GSA's OGP continually reviews and adjusts policies and regulations
under its purview to address Government relocation needs and to
incorporate best practices, where appropriate, as a part of its ongoing
mission to provide policies for travel by Federal civilian employees
and others authorized to travel at Government expense.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5724a(f) and 5737(a)(6), an employee
transferred in the interest of the Government from one official station
to another, assigned to a TCS location, or who has completed a TCS
assignment and returned to their previous official station is
authorized a relocation MEA.
The purpose of the relocation MEA is to defray some of the costs
incurred due to relocating. The allowance is related to expenses that
are common to living quarters, such as fees for disconnecting and
connecting appliances; cutting and fitting rugs, draperies, and
curtains moved from one residence to another; utility fees or deposits
that are not offset by eventual refunds; forfeiture of medical, dental,
and other non-transferrable contracts; and the cost of changing
automobile registration(s) and driver's licenses.
The FTR provides that a relocation MEA may be paid using one of two
methods: lump sum or actual expense. Under the lump sum method, the
agency pays a lump sum amount without requiring employee documentation
of expenses. Under the current regulatory language, the lump sum
amounts are ``either $650 or the equivalent of one week's basic gross
pay, whichever is the lesser amount'' for an employee without immediate
family members relocating with them, and ``$1300 or the equivalent of
two weeks' basic gross pay, whichever is the lesser amount'' for an
employee with immediate family members relocating with them.
Under the actual expense method, the agency may authorize the
employee to claim actual costs depending on the type of expenses
incurred, in an amount in excess of the prescribed lump sum amount. The
employee justifies any actual expenses by itemizing with supporting
documentation. Reimbursement is limited to one or two weeks' basic
gross pay depending on whether or not the employee has an immediate
family relocating with them, not to exceed the maximum rate payable for
a position at GS-13, Step 10, of the General Schedule (base) (see 5
U.S.C. 5332).
The proposed rule would amend the FTR by removing the relocation
MEA lump sum amounts from the FTR and directing readers to an FTR
bulletin with the relocation MEA lump sum amounts. GSA would publish
the initial FTR bulletin with the relocation MEA lump sum amounts prior
to the final rule effective date. Agencies are advised that the
relocation MEA lump sum amounts are expected to increase since they
were last updated in 2011. Moving forward, GSA will publish FTR
bulletins to update the relocation MEA lump sum amounts, as needed,
based on changes to the Consumer Price Index. The proposed rule would
also clarify in the regulatory text that ``basic gross pay'', as
referenced in FTR part 302-16,
[[Page 4269]]
does not include ``locality pay.'' See 5 U.S.C. 5302 and 5304.
This proposed rule would also update and clarify the relocation MEA
sections in the FTR and rearrange them into a more sequential order, to
include replacing the table at FTR 302-16.2 with an updated list of
examples for which the relocation MEA may be authorized, and updating
the list of examples for which the relocation MEA may not be
authorized. It would also remove the relocation MEA employee
eligibility table at FTR 302-16.3 and reformat it as an employee
eligibility listing.
B. Regulatory Impact Analysis
The following section is a list of activities related to the
regulatory compliance that GSA anticipates will occur during the first
and subsequent years after publication of the final rule. GSA estimates
this cost by multiplying the time required to conduct these activities
(publication of a proposed rule, final rule, FTR bulletin, and increase
in the relocation MEA lump sum amounts) by the estimated (rounded)
compensation. GSA calculates the estimated hourly compensation using
the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's 2023 General Schedule (GS)
Rest of United States Locality Pay Table, the full fringe benefit cost
factor of 36.25 percent,\1\ and a 12 percent \2\ overhead factor to
arrive at an overall adjustment factor of 52.6 percent.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ General Schedule (opm.gov), OMB Memo M-08-13, dated March
11, 2008, and Computing Hourly Rates of Pay Using the 2,087-Hour
Divisor (opm.gov).
\2\ See Attachment C of OMB Circular A-76 Revised, dated May 29,
2003.
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1. Government Costs
GSA estimated the total cost each year to issue a FTR bulletin with
the new relocation MEA lump sum amount, based on the number of GSA
full-time employees (FTEs), the average hourly rate for each grade
level, and the number of hours to draft the FTR bulletin by program
managers, hours to review by General Counsel, and hours to review and
approve by senior management.
GSA estimates it will take 8 GSA employees on average, with a GS-14
step 5 with an average hourly rate of $96.45/hour, 1 hour each in year
1 to draft the initial FTR bulletin with the relocation MEA lump sum
amount. Therefore, GSA estimates the total estimated cost for this part
of the rule to be $772 (= 8 x $96.45 GS-14 step 5 rate x 1 hour).
GSA estimates it will take 1 GSA employee on average, with a GS-15
step 5 with an average hourly rate of $113.46/hour, 1 hour in year 1 to
review the initial FTR bulletin with the relocation MEA lump sum
amount. Therefore, GSA estimates the total estimated cost for this part
of the rule to be $113 (= 1 x $113.46 GS-15 step 5 rate x 1 hour).
GSA estimates it will take 1 GSA General Counsel staff on average,
with a SES Level 3 with an average hourly rate of $142.59/hour, 1 hour
in year 1 to review the initial FTR bulletin with the relocation MEA
lump sum amount. Therefore, GSA estimates the total estimated cost for
this part of the rule to be $143 (= 1 x $42.59 SES Level 3 rate x 1
hour).
Therefore, GSA estimates the total estimated cost for this part of
the rule to be $1,027 for the initial FTR bulletin and each additional
year a FTR bulletin is issued for new lump sum amounts ($1,027 x 10
years = $10,270).
A relocation MEA is a mandatory relocation entitlement to those
current employees that transfer from one official duty station to
another. Agencies are advised that the relocation MEA lump sum amounts
are expected to increase since they were last updated in 2011.
Therefore, after publication of the final rule, GSA will publish a FTR
bulletin to change the relocation MEA lump sum amounts, with projected
increases, from $650 to $750 for an employee without immediate family
members relocating with them and from $1,300 to $1,500 for an employee
with immediate family members relocating with them.
GSA requires Federal agencies to track general relocation data
regarding entitlements but not the specific data regarding types of
expenses authorized within the relocation entitlement category. GSA
used data from the Business Travel and Relocation Dashboard, which only
accounts for the overall MEA claims and does not differentiate between
the types of MEA or if MEA is authorized for a single employee or an
employee with family members, to calculate average annual relocation
MEA costs per claim across Federal agencies from fiscal year 2018 to
fiscal year 2022.
GSA calculates the average relocation MEA lump sum amount between
the employees without immediate family members and employees with
immediate family members amounts to be $1,125 (= $750 + $1,500/2).
GSA assumes the average relocation MEA lump sum amount across
Federal agencies will increase to $1,125. GSA multiplied the difference
between $1,125 and the average annual relocation MEA cost per claim for
those Federal agencies with an average annual MEA cost per claim less
than $1,125 by the number of average annual MEA claims for the
respective Federal agency.
Therefore, assuming the number of relocation transfers entitled to
MEA on average will stay consistent, with the current overall agency
average at less than the current rate of $1,300, and an increase in the
MEA lump sum rate, for years 1 through 10, GSA estimates the total
overall increase in associated transfer payments to be $312,973 each
year for years 1 through 10 ($312,973 x 10 years = $3,129,730).
1. Government Savings
GSA estimated the total cost it will no longer be required to take
to issue a FTR proposed rule and final rule with new relocation MEA
lump sum amount, based on the number of GSA full time employees (FTEs),
the average hourly rate for each grade level, and the number of hours
to draft the FTR proposed and final rule by program managers, hours
reviewed by General Counsel, and hours to review and approve by senior
management.
GSA estimates it will no longer take 3 GSA employees on average,
with a GS-14 step 5 with an average hourly rate of $96.45/hour, 8 hours
each in year 1 to draft a proposed rule for relocation MEA lump sum
changes. Therefore, GSA estimates the total estimated cost savings for
this part of the rule to be $2,315 (= 3 x $96.45 GS-14 step 5 rate x 8
hours).
GSA estimates it will no longer take 3 GSA employees on average,
with a GS-15 step 5 with an average hourly rate of $113.46/hour, 8
hours each in year 1 to review a proposed rule for relocation MEA lump
sum changes. Therefore, GSA estimates the total estimated cost savings
for this part of the rule to be $2,723 (= 3 x $113.46 GS-15 step 5 rate
x 8 hours).
GSA estimates it will no longer take 4 GSA General Counsel staff on
average, with a SES Level 3 with an average hourly rate of $142.59/
hour, 8 hours each in year 1 to review a proposed rule for relocation
MEA lump sum changes. Therefore, GSA estimates the total estimated cost
savings for this part of the rule to be $4,563 (= 4 x $142.59 SES Level
3 rate x 8 hours).
These estimated costs do not account for other agencies who review
the rules prior to publication in the Federal Register. Therefore, GSA
estimates the total estimated cost savings for this part of the rule by
not issuing a proposed and final rule to increase the relocation MEA
lump sum amounts to be $8,572.
[[Page 4270]]
1. Total Government Net Impact
The total undiscounted estimated Government costs of drafting a FTR
bulletin and eliminating drafting a proposed and final rule is $1,698
over a 10-year period. The total undiscounted estimated associated
transfer payments, assuming the number of relocation transfers entitled
to MEA on average will stay consistent, the current overall agency
average is less than the current rate of $1,300, and the increase in
the MEA lump sum rate, is $3,129,730 over a 10-year period. The total
present value estimated Government costs calculated for a 10-year time
horizon at 3 percent is $438 and at 7 percent is -$798. The total
discounted estimated associated transfer payments calculated for a 10-
year horizon at 3 percent is $2,328,813 and at 7 percent is $1,590,996.
II. Executive Orders 12866, and 13563, and 14904
Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review)
directs agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available
regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select
regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential
economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive
impacts, and equity). E.O. 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory
Review) emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting
flexibility. E.O. 14094 (Modernizing Regulatory Review) supplements and
reaffirms the principles, structures, and definitions governing
contemporary regulatory review established in E.O. 12866 and E.O.
13563. OIRA has determined this is a significant regulatory action and,
therefore, was subject to review under section 6(b) of E.O. 12866,
Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993.
III. Regulatory Flexibility Act
GSA does not expect this proposed rule to have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities within the
meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq.,
because it applies only to Federal agencies and employees. Therefore,
an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis was not performed.
IV. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to
the FTR do not impose recordkeeping or information collection
requirements, or the collection of information from offerors,
contractors, or members of the public that require the approval of the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.
List of Subjects in 41 CFR Part 302-16
Government employees, Travel and Transportation expenses.
Krystal J. Brumfield,
Associate Administrator, Office of Government-wide Policy.
0
For reasons set forth in the preamble, GSA proposes to revise 41 CFR
part 302-16 as set forth below:
PART 302-16--ALLOWANCE FOR MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES
Subpart A--General Rules
Sec.
302-16.1 What is the purpose of the miscellaneous expenses allowance
(MEA)?
302-16.2 Who is and who is not eligible for a MEA?
302-16.3 Must my agency authorize payment of a MEA?
302-16.4 How will I receive the MEA?
302-16.5 May I receive an advance of funds for MEA?
302-16.6 What amount may my agency reimburse me for miscellaneous
expenses?
302-16.7 May I claim an amount in excess of that prescribed in this
part?
302-16.8 What are examples of types of costs covered by the MEA?
302-16.9 What are examples of types of cost not covered by the MEA?
302-16.10 What standard of care must I use in incurring
miscellaneous expenses?
Subpart B--Agency Responsibilities
302-16.100 What governing policies must we establish for MEA?
302-16.101 How should we administer the authorization and payment of
miscellaneous expenses?
302-16.102 Are there any restrictions to the types of costs we may
cover?
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5738; 20 U.S.C. 905(a); E.O. 11609, as
amended, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 586.
Subpart A--General Rules
Note to subpart A: Use of pronouns ``I,'' ``you,'' and their
variants throughout this subpart refers to the employee, unless
otherwise noted.
Sec. 302-16.1 What is the purpose of the miscellaneous expenses
allowance (MEA)?
The miscellaneous expenses allowance (MEA) is intended to help
defray various costs incurred due to relocation, assignment to a
temporary official station (TCS), and return to the previous official
station upon completion of a TCS assignment.
Sec. 302-16.2 Who is and who is not eligible for a MEA?
(a) You are eligible for a MEA if:
(1) Your agency authorized or approved a transfer or a TCS;
(2) You discontinued and established a residence in connection with
your transfer or TCS;
(3) You meet the applicable eligibility conditions in part 302-1 of
this chapter; and
(4) You signed a required service agreement in part 302-2 of this
chapter, if transferred.
(b) You are not eligible for a MEA if you are:
(1) A new appointee;
(2) A Senior Executive Service (SES) employee authorized ``last
move home'' benefits upon separation from Government service;
(3) Assigned under the Government Employees Training Act (5 U.S.C.
4109);
(4) Returning from an OCONUS official station to place of actual
residence for separation from Government service; or
(5) Returning from an OCONUS official station to a new CONUS
official station if relocation expenses have not been authorized to the
new CONUS official station.
Sec. 302-16.3 Must my agency authorize payment of a MEA?
Yes, if you meet the applicable eligibility conditions in Sec.
302-16.2, your agency must authorize payment of a MEA.
Sec. 302-16.4 How will I receive the MEA?
You will be reimbursed your MEA in accordance with your agency's
internal relocation policy.
Sec. 302-16.5 May I receive an advance of funds for MEA?
No, your agency may not authorize an advance of funds for MEA. MEA
may be paid after you have transferred to the new official station,
upon assignment to your TCS, or upon completion of your TCS and return
to your previous official station, as applicable.
Sec. 302-16.6 What amount may my agency reimburse me for
miscellaneous expenses?
The following amounts will be paid for miscellaneous expenses
without support or documentation of expenses:
(a) Either a lump sum amount set in an FTR bulletin or the
equivalent of one week's basic gross pay, whichever is the lesser
amount, if you have no immediate family relocating with you; or
(b) Either a lump sum amount set in an FTR bulletin or the
equivalent of two weeks' basic gross pay, whichever is the lesser
amount, if you have immediate family relocating with you.
[[Page 4271]]
Note 1 to Sec. 302-16.6: GSA publishes the lump sum amounts in
an FTR bulletin on an intermittent basis at https://gsa.gov/ftrbulletins.
Sec. 302-16.7 May I claim an amount in excess of that prescribed in
this part?
Yes, you may claim an amount in excess of that prescribed in Sec.
302-16.6 if authorized by your agency; and
(a) Supported by acceptable statements of fact, paid bills or other
acceptable evidence (documentation) justifying the amounts claimed; and
(b) The aggregate amount does not exceed your basic gross pay (at
the time you reported for duty, at your new official station) for:
(1) One week if you are relocating without an immediate family; or
(2) Two weeks if you are relocating with an immediate family.
(c) The amount authorized cannot exceed the maximum rate of grade
GS-13, Step 10 General Schedule (base) salary (excluding locality pay)
(see 5 U.S.C. 5332) at the time you reported for duty at your new
official station.
Sec. 302-16.8 What are examples of types of costs covered by the MEA?
Miscellaneous expenses are costs associated with relocating that
are not covered by other relocation benefits detailed in chapter 302.
Expenses allowable include but are not limited to the following, and
similar, items:
(a) Fees for disconnecting and connecting utilities (such as gas,
water, electricity), appliances, equipment (such as a security system
or electric vehicle charging station), or conversion of appliances for
operation on available utilities;
(b) Fees for cutting and fitting rugs, draperies, and curtains when
they are moved from one residence to another;
(c) Deposits or fees for utilities not offset by eventual refunds;
(d) Losses that cannot be recovered by transfer or refund and are
incurred due to early termination of a contract (e.g., medical, dental,
private institutional care for immediate family members with
disabilities, nonrefundable education enrollment fee, real estate
expenses connected with the cancellation of a contract when the agency
prevented the employee from completing a purchase of a residence due to
a new transfer);
(e) Automobile registration, driver's license, and use taxes
imposed when initially bringing privately-owned vehicles (POVs) into
certain jurisdictions;
(f) Reinstalling or removing automobile parts upon vehicle reentry
into the United States or entry into a foreign country, when removal or
installation of those automobile parts was required by host country
law;
(g) Post office box rental fee when rented to provide a constant
mailing address between the time an employee departs the old residence
and occupies a residence at the new official station;
(h) Rental agent fees customarily charged for securing housing in
foreign countries;
(i) Reassembly, set up, and tuning of a piano moved for relocation;
(j) Pet care (for cats and dogs only), child care, or adult care
for dependent parents or other adult dependents incapable of self-care
at home while the employee or spouse are away on a househunting trip,
or are packing or unpacking;
(k) Rental car fees while awaiting a delayed POV shipment to or
from OCONUS if the transportation service provider (TSP) has not
arranged for the employee's use of a rental car at TSP expense.
Reimbursement may be authorized starting after the shipping company
designated delivery date, shall not exceed 10 days, and does not
include the days after the POV is delivered or a new POV is purchased
at location. The rental car for the employee and immediate family
members must be the same or comparable size or model as the POV the
employee shipped;
(l) Transportation and quarantine of pets (cats and dogs only).
Costs normally associated with the transportation, quarantine fees, and
handling of dogs and cats. This includes pet-related costs due to air
carrier rules or imposed by the law of the jurisdiction of the
employee's new residence as an integral part of the process of
admissions and licensing;
(m) Professional relicensing fees required by the new official
station that are directly related to the employee's occupation, such as
fees required to take the bar exam or teaching certification; and
professional relicensing fees or business costs (including exam,
continuing education courses, business license, permit, and
registration fees) that are directly related to the immediate family
member's occupation, when the immediate family member was licensed or
certified in a profession, or owned a business, at the employee's
previous official station and is required to secure or maintain a new
professional license or certification, or business license or permit,
to engage in that profession in a new jurisdiction because of unique
licensing or certification requirements and authorities; or
(n) Specialized shipment of hazardous materials, such as lithium
batteries, when Federal, state, local, and foreign country laws or
carrier regulations prohibit commercial shipment of certain articles
not included as part of household goods, which cannot be otherwise
transported to the new official station because of shipping and
transportation restrictions.
Sec. 302-16.9 What are examples of types of costs not covered by the
MEA?
Examples of costs that are not reimbursable from the MEA are:
(a) Losses in selling or buying real and personal property and
costs related to such transactions;
(b) Cost of additional insurance on household goods while in
transit to the new official station or cost of loss or damage to such
property;
(c) Additional costs of moving household goods caused by exceeding
the maximum weight limitation;
(d) Costs of newly acquired items, such as the purchase or
installation cost of new rugs or draperies;
(e) Higher income, real estate, sales, or other taxes as the result
of establishing residence in the new locality;
(f) Fines imposed for traffic infractions while en route to the new
official station locality;
(g) Accident insurance premiums or liability costs incurred in
connection with travel to the new official station locality, or any
other liability imposed upon the employee for uninsured damages caused
by accidents for which the employee or their immediate family is held
responsible;
(h) Losses as the result of sale or disposal of items of personal
property (such as lithium batteries, gasoline, and natural gas) not
considered convenient or practicable to move;
(i) Damage or loss of clothing, luggage, or other personal effects
while traveling to the new official station locality;
(j) Subsistence, transportation, or mileage expenses in excess of
the amounts reimbursed as per diem or other allowances under this
regulation;
(k) Medical expenses due to illness or injuries while en route to
the new official station or while living in temporary quarters at
Government expense under the provisions of this chapter;
(l) Costs incurred in conjunction with structural alterations (such
as remodeling or modernizing of living quarters, garages or other
buildings to accommodate privately-owned automobiles, appliances or
equipment [e.g., a security system or electric vehicle charging
station]); or replacing or repairing worn-out or defective appliances,
or equipment shipped to the new location;
(m) Costs incurred in connection with preparing a residence for
sale or
[[Page 4272]]
purchase (e.g., maintenance, repairs, cleaning);
(n) Delivery charges or costs associated with newly-acquired items
(such as appliances, security systems, locksmith service, or new
vehicle) at the new official station for reasons of personal taste or
preference and not required because of the relocation;
(o) Costs unrelated to the quarantine, transportation, and handling
of pets. Additional costs for lodging for a second room or boarding
fees, micro-chipping, veterinary expenses (e.g., inoculations,
examinations, medical care and certification fees), routine care and
grooming of pets, and purchases of crates and tags for the pets.
Expenses for other animals (horses, fish, birds, reptiles, rodents,
etc.) are not authorized because of their size, exotic nature,
restrictions on shipping, host country restrictions, and special
handling difficulties; or
(p) Costs related to obtaining a visa, passport, immigration green
card, birth certificate or other acceptable evidence of birth when
required for official travel to foreign locations; charges for
immunization, inoculations, other disease-preventative medical
prophylaxis, including disease testing, that are required for official
travel if not obtained through the agency. The expenses in this
paragraph may be reimbursable as part of the employee's relocation en
route travel miscellaneous expenses as specified in Sec. 301-12.1 of
this chapter.
Sec. 302-16.10 What standard of care must I use in incurring
miscellaneous expenses?
You must exercise the same care in incurring expenses that a
prudent person would exercise if relocating at personal expense.
Subpart B--Agency Responsibilities
Note to subpart B: Use of pronouns ``we,'' ``you,'' and their
variants throughout this subpart refers to the agency.
Sec. 302-16.100 What governing policies must we establish for MEA?
For MEAs, you must establish policies and procedures governing:
(a) Who will determine whether payment for an amount in excess of
the lump sum MEA is appropriate; and
(b) How you will pay a MEA in accordance with Sec. Sec. 302-16.2
and 302-16.3.
Sec. 302-16.101 How should we administer the authorization and
payment of miscellaneous expenses?
You should limit payment of miscellaneous expenses to only those
expenses that are necessary.
Sec. 302-16.102 Are there any restrictions to the types of costs we
may cover?
Yes, a MEA cannot be used to reimburse:
(a) Costs or expenses incurred which exceed maximums provided by
statute or in this subtitle;
(b) Costs or expenses incurred but which are disallowed elsewhere
in this subtitle;
(c) Costs reimbursed under other provisions of law or regulations;
(d) Costs or expenses incurred for reasons of personal taste or
preference and not required because of the move;
(e) Losses covered by insurance;
(f) Fines or other penalties imposed upon the employee or members
of their immediate family;
(g) Judgments, court costs, and similar expenses growing out of
civil actions; or
(h) Any other expenses brought about by circumstances, factors, or
actions in which the move to a new official station was not the
proximate cause.
[FR Doc. 2024-01214 Filed 1-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-14-P
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Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
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Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
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Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
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Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
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Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
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Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
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Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
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Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
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Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
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Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
