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Docket ID: [Docket ID ED-2007-OS-0138]
SUBJECT CATEGORY: Demands for Testimony or Records in Legal Proceedings
DOCUMENT SUMMARY: The Secretary amends the regulations regarding the production of information pursuant to demands in judicial or administrative proceedings. The changes are intended to promote consistency in the Department's assertion of privileges and objections, and thereby prevent harm that may result from inappropriate disclosure of confidential information or inappropriate allocation of agency resources. These changes apply only where employees are subpoenaed in litigation to which the agency is not a party. Former Department employees are expressly required to seek the Secretary's approval prior to responding to subpoenas that seek nonpublic materials and information acquired during their employment at the Department.
SUMMARY: Demands for Testimony or Records in Legal Proceedings,
There are no differences between the NPRM and these final regulations.
In response to the Secretary's invitation in the NPRM, two parties submitted comments on the proposed regulations. An analysis of the comments follows.
Comment: One commenter expressed support for the proposed changes.
Discussion: We appreciate this statement of support.
Change: None.
Comment: One commenter requested that we clarify the definition of employee in Sec. 8.2 by changing the definition's structure to a listing so that former employees are a specific category under the definition.
Discussion: In the definition of employee in Sec. 8.2, we added the words ``or former'' between the words ``current'' and ``employee'' to clarify that the regulations concerning disclosure or production of agency materials or information in judicial or administrative proceedings in response to a judicially enforceable subpoena or demand apply to both current and former employees. We do not believe that a listing, within this definition, would add additional clarity.
Change: None.
We have reviewed these final regulations in accordance with Executive Order 12866. Under the terms of the order we have assessed the potential costs and benefits of this regulatory action.
The potential costs associated with the final regulations are those resulting from statutory requirements and those we have determined to be necessary for administering this program effectively and efficiently.
In assessing the potential costs and benefitsboth quantitative and qualitativeof these final regulations, we have determined that the benefits of the regulations justify the costs.
We have also determined that this regulatory action does not unduly interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the exercise of their governmental functions.
We summarized the potential costs and benefits of these final regulations in the preamble to the NPRM at 72 FR 72977 and 72978. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
These regulations do not contain any information collection requirements.
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[[Page 27748]]
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(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number does not apply.) List of Subjects in 34 CFR Part 8
Courts, Government employees, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: May 8, 2008.
Margaret Spellings,
Secretary of Education.
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Secretary amends part 8 of title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:
PART 8DEMANDS FOR TESTIMONY OR RECORDS IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
1. The authority citation for part 8 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 5 U.S.C. 552; 20 U.S.C. 3474, unless otherwise noted.
Sec. 8.1 [Amended]
2. The introductory text of Sec. 8.1(a) is amended by removing the
words ``if the Department or any departmental employee'' and adding, in
their place, the words ``when the Department or any employee of the Department''.
Sec. 8.2 [Amended]
3. The definition of ``Employee'' in Sec. 8.2 is amended by adding the
words ``or former'' between the words ``current'' and ``employee''. Sec. 8.3 [Amended]
4. Section 8.3 is amended by:
A. In the introductory text of paragraph (a), removing the words ``or former employee,''.
B. In paragraph (a)(2), removing the words ``and why the information
sought is unavailable by any other means'' and adding, in their place,
the words ``, why the information sought is unavailable by any other
means, and the reason why the release of the information would not be
contrary to an interest of the Department or the United States''.
C. In paragraph (b), removing the words ``or former employee'' each time they appear.
D. In paragraph (b), removing the words ``room 4083, FOB6,'' and
adding, in their place, the words ``room 6E300, Lyndon Baines Johnson Building,''.
E. In paragraph (c), removing the words ``or former employee''.
F. In paragraph (c), removing the words ``Records Management Branch
Chief, Office of Information Resources Management, U.S. Department of
Education, 7th and D Streets, SW., ROB3'' and adding, in their place,
the words ``Records Officer, Information Policy and Standards Team,
Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of Management, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 9161, PCP''. [FR Doc. E810775 Filed 51308; 8:45 am]
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Christine M. Rose, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6C122, Washington, DC 20202 2110. Telephone: (202) 4016700.
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14 CFR Part 39 40 CFR Part 52 14 CFR Part 71 33 CFR Part 165 50 CFR Part 679 26 CFR Part 1 40 CFR Part 180 47 CFR Part 73 50 CFR Part 17 33 CFR Part 117 44 CFR Part 67 50 CFR Part 648 14 CFR Part 97 33 CFR Part 100 40 CFR Part 63 26 CFR Part 301 50 CFR Part 622 39 CFR Part 111 40 CFR Part 300 44 CFR Part 65 50 CFR Part 660 40 CFR Part 271 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81 47 CFR Part 64 50 CFR Part 665 49 CFR Part 571 44 CFR Part 64 21 CFR Part 522 14 CFR Part 23 47 CFR Part 76