Source: http://www.federalregister.com/Browse/Document/usa/na/fr/2006/10/30/e6-18073
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 13:41:29+00:00

Document:
The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) is re-issuing and updating its rules for implementing open meetings, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552b. This rule promotes public understanding of the decisionmaking processes of the IAF, while protecting the rights of individuals and the ability of the agency to carry out its responsibilities. This action is technical and procedural in nature and is intended to provide accuracy and clarity to the agency's existing regulations.
Rebecca Verreau, Office of the General Counsel, 901 N. Stuart St., 10th Floor, Arlington, VA 22203, rverreau@iaf.gov or (703) 306-4301.
The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) is updating its rules for implementing open meetings, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552b. This final rule amends and updates existing IAF regulations in conformance with 5 U.S.C. 552b.
Because the amendments made by this document relate to management, organization, procedure, and practice, prior notice and opportunity for comment are unnecessary under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(A). In addition, prior notice and opportunity for comment are unnecessary pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) because the process of amending and updating the sections is merely technical and procedural in nature and proposes no substantive changes to which public comment could be solicited.
This final rule is made effective upon publication in the Federal Register . The IAF finds that good cause exists for this final rule to be exempt from the 30-day delayed effective date requirement of 5 U.S.C. 553(d) because a delay in effective date is unnecessary and would not be in the public interest.
The IAF has determined this action does not meet the criteria for a "significant regulatory action" as specified in Executive Order 12866. Therefore, this rule has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). We anticipate the economic impact of this rulemaking will be so minimal that a full regulatory evaluation is unnecessary.
In compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act (Pub. L. 104-121), we have evaluated the effects of this rule on small entities. Based on this evaluation, the IAF hereby certifies this action will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. No substantive changes are being made to the regulations that would affect small entities.
The IAF has determined that the requirements of Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4; 2 U.S.C. 1532) do not apply to this rulemaking.
The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities do not apply to this rulemaking.
The IAF has analyzed this action in accordance with the principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 13132 published at 64 FR 43255 (Aug. 10, 1999). The regulations amended and updated by the IAF herein do not preempt State authority or jurisdiction, or establish any conflicts with existing State roles. The IAF has therefore determined this rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a federalism assessment.
This rule will not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have takings implications under Executive Order 12630, Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights.
This action meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct, sponsor, or require through regulations. This rule contains no collection of information requirements and was not reviewed by OMB.
The IAF has analyzed this rule under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ) and determined that this rule has no environmental effects because it amends and updates regulations that are technical, editorial or procedural in nature and is therefore excluded further environmental documentation. In addition, the agency finds this action includes no extraordinary circumstances that would have any effect on the quality of the environment. Thus, the action does not require an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
Government in the Sunshine Act.
Sec. 1004.1 General policies.1004.2 Definitions.1004.3 Requirement of open meetings.1004.4 Grounds on which meetings may be closed.1004.5 Procedures for announcing meetings.1004.6 Procedures for closing meetings.1004.7 Reconsideration of opening or closing of meeting.1004.8 Transcripts, recording of closed meeting.
The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) will, in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b, provide the public with the fullest practical information regarding its decisionmaking processes while protecting the rights of individuals and its ability to carry out its responsibilities.
(a) Agency includes any executive department, military department, government corporation, government controlled corporation other establishment in the executive branch of the government (including the Executive Office of the President) or any independent regulatory agency, and is headed by a collegial body composed of two or more individual members, a majority of whom are appointed to such position by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, and any subdivision thereof authorized to act on behalf of the agency. The Inter-American Foundation is a government corporation headed by a nine-member Board of Directors, all of whom are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, and is therefore an "agency" under these terms.
(b) Meeting means the deliberation of this Board of Directors where such deliberation determines or results in the joint conduct or disposition of official IAF business, but does not include deliberations required or permitted by subsection 1004.6 or 1004.7.
(c) Member means an individual who belongs to the IAF Board of Directors.
(d) Public Observation means attendance at any meeting but does not include participation, or attempted participation, in such meeting in any matter.
§ 1004.3 Requirement of open meetings.
Members shall not jointly conduct or dispose of agency business other than in accordance with this section. Except as provided in § 1004.4 every portion of every meeting of the agency shall be open to public observation.
§ 1004.4 Grounds on which meetings may be closed.
(j) Specifically concern the IAF's issuance of subpoena, or the IAF's participation in a civil action or proceeding, an action in a foreign court or international tribunal, or an arbitration, or the initiation, conduct, or disposition by the IAF of a particular case of formal agency adjudication pursuant to the procedures in section 554 of this title or otherwise involving a determination on the record after opportunity for a hearing.
The requirements of §§ 1004.5 and 1004.6 shall not apply to any information pertaining to those meetings exempted under this section.
§ 1004.5 Procedures for announcing meetings.
(a) In the case of each meeting, the IAF shall make public, at least one week before the meeting, of the time, place and subject matter of the meeting, whether it is to be open or closed to the public, and the name and phone number of the official designated by the IAF to respond to requests for information about the meeting. Such announcement shall be made unless a majority of the Board of Directors of the IAF determines by a recorded vote that the IAF requires that such a meeting be called at an earlier date, in which case the IAF shall make public announcement of the time, place and subject matter of such meeting and whether open or closed to the public, at the earliest practical time.
(b) Immediately following the public announcement, the IAF will submit notice for publication in the Federal Register .
(c) The IAF shall also make public the announcement by other reasonable means, accessible to the public.
§ 1004.6 Procedures for closing meetings.
(1) A majority of the membership of the IAF Board votes to take such action. That vote shall determine whether or not any portion or portions of a meeting or portions of a series of meetings may be closed to public observation for any of the reasons provided in § 1004.4 and whether or not the public interest nevertheless requires that portion of the meeting or meetings remain open. A single vote may be taken with respect to a series of meetings, a portion or portions of which are proposed to be closed to the public, or with respect to any information concerning such series of meetings, so long as each meeting in such series involves the same particular matters and is scheduled to be held no more than thirty days after the initial meeting in such series. The vote of each Board member participating in such vote shall be recorded and no proxies shall be allowed.
(2) Whenever any person whose interests may be directly affected by a portion of a meeting requests that the IAF close such portion to the public for any of the reasons referred to in § 1004.4 the IAF, upon request of any one of its Board members, shall take a recorded vote, whether to close such portion of the meeting.
(b) Within one day of any vote taken pursuant to this Section, the IAF shall make publicly available a written copy of such vote reflecting the vote of each member on the question and full written explanation of its action closing the entire or portion of the meeting together with a list of persons expecting to attend the meeting and their affiliation.
(c) The IAF shall, subject to change, announce the time, place and subject matter of the meeting at least 7 days before the meeting.
(d) For every closed meeting pursuant to § 1004.4, the General Counsel of the IAF shall publicly certify prior to a Board of Directors' vote on closing the meeting, that, in his or her opinion, the meeting may be closed to the public and shall state each relevant exemptive provision. A copy of such certification, together with a statement from the presiding officer of the meeting setting forth the time and place of the meeting, and the persons present, shall be retained by the IAF.
§ 1004.7 Reconsideration of opening or closing of meeting.
The time or place of a Board meeting may be changed, without vote, following public announcement. The IAF will announce any such change at the earliest practicable time. The subject matter of a meeting, or the determination of the agency to open or close a meeting, or portion of a meeting, to the public, may be changed only if a majority of the Board of Directors determines by a recorded vote that IAF business so requires and that no earlier announcement of the change was possible, and the IAF publicly announces such change and the vote of each member upon such change at the earliest practicable time.
§ 1004.8 Transcripts, recording of closed meetings.
(a) The IAF shall maintain a complete transcript or electronic recording adequate to record fully the proceedings of each meeting, or portion of a meeting, closed to the public, except that in the case of a meeting, or portion of a meeting, closed to the public pursuant to paragraph (d), (h), or (j) of § 1004.4, the IAF shall maintain either such a transcript or recording, or a set of minutes. Such records shall fully and clearly describe all matters discussed and shall provide a full and accurate summary of any actions taken, and the reasons therefore, including a description of each of the views expressed on any item and the record of any roll call vote (reflecting the vote of each member on the question). All documents considered in connection with any action shall be identified in such records.
(b) The IAF, after review by the General Counsel shall make promptly available to the public, in a place easily accessible to the public, the transcript or electronic recording or minutes of the discussion of any time on the agenda, or any item of the testimony of any witness received at the Board meeting, except for such item or items of such discussion or testimony as the IAF determines to contain information which may be withheld under § 1004.4. Copies of such transcript, or a transcription of such recording disclosing the identity of each speaker, shall be furnished to any person at the actual cost of duplication or transcription. The IAF shall maintain a complete verbatim copy of the transcript, a complete copy of the minutes or a complete electronic recording of each meeting, or portion of a meeting, closed to the public, for a period of at least two years after such meeting, or until one year after the conclusion or any IAF proceedings with respect to which the meeting or portion was held, whichever occurs later.

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