Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2003/12/29/03-31620/standards-for-collection-compromise-suspension-or-termination-of-collection-effort-and-referral-of
Timestamp: 2017-09-21 20:18:29
Document Index: 573547637

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Federal Register :: Standards for Collection, Compromise, Suspension, or Termination of Collection Effort, and Referral of Civil Claims for Money or Property; Regional Office Committees on Waivers and Compromises; Salary Offset Provisions; Delegations of Authority
A Proposed Rule by the Veterans Affairs Department on 12/29/2003
Comments must be received on or before February 27, 2004.
74893-74907 (15 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/03-31620 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/03-31620
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to revise its current regulations concerning the collection, compromise, suspension, termination, and referral of debts owed to VA. The proposed revision clarifies and simplifies debt collection standards and reflects changes to Federal debt collection procedures under the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996. VA also proposes to revise regulations pertaining to the administration of regional office Committees on Waivers and Compromises, as well as a regulation pertaining to delegations of authority to the Assistant Secretary for Management.
Mail or hand deliver written comments to: Director, Regulations Management (00REG1), 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Room 1068, Washington, Start Printed Page 74894DC 20420; or fax comments to (202) 273-9026; or e-mail comments to OGCRegulations@mail.va.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to “RIN 2900-AK10.” All comments received will be available for public inspection in the Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Room 1063B, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Please call (202) 273-9515 for an appointment.
Peter Mulhern, Cash and Debt Management Division (047GC1), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-5570.
The “Debt Collection Improvement Act (DCIA) of 1996,” Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321, 1358 (April 26, 1996) authorizes several new methods for collecting debts and is the most significant legislation for the administrative collection of Federal debt since the Debt Collection Act of 1982, Pub. L. 97-365, 96 Stat. 1749 (October 25, 1982). The DCIA authorizes new debt collection procedures, including centralized administrative offset, the transfer or referral of delinquent debt to the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) or Treasury-designated debt collection centers for collection (cross-servicing), and administrative wage garnishment. Treasury and the Department of Justice (DOJ) subsequently issued revised Federal Claims Collection Standards (FCCS) on November 22, 2000, with an effective date of December 22, 2000. The revised FCCS are found at Title 31 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), chapter IX, parts 900 through 904 and conform with relevant statutory changes to Federal debt collection procedures under the DCIA. Additional rules concerning these new debt collection procedures have also been issued by Treasury at Title 31 of the CFR part 285.
The following major changes were incorporated into the revised FCCS:
1. The Comptroller General was removed as a co-promulgator of the FCCS and the Secretary of the Treasury was added as a co-promulgator.
2. The revised FCCS reflect the elimination of the Comptroller General's role in Federal debt collection.
3. The revised FCCS provides agencies with greater latitude to streamline and customize debt collection procedures to accommodate agency-specific requirements or unique circumstances.
4. The revised FCCS reflects the requirement that agencies use government-wide debt collection contracts for referrals to private collection contractors.
5. The revised FCCS reflects the increase in the maximum principal amount for a claim, from $20,000 to $100,000, agencies are authorized to compromise or to suspend or terminate collection activity thereon, without concurrence by DOJ. In addition, the minimum amount of a claim that may be referred to DOJ for enforced collection is increased from $600 to $2,500.
6. The revised FCCS reflects several new debt collection procedures under the DCIA, including, but not limited to:
(a) Transfer or referral of debt delinquent for more than 180 days to Treasury or Treasury-designated debt collection centers, for collection known as “cross-servicing;”
(b) Mandatory, centralized administrative offset by disbursing officials; and
(c) Mandatory prohibition against extending federal financial assistance in the form of a loan or loan guarantee to delinquent debtors.
In conjunction with the publication of the Treasury/DOJ FCCS and Treasury's debt collection regulations, VA reviewed its debt collection regulations in order to identify those regulations that required revision or could be deleted as either obsolete or duplicative of Treasury and Treasury/DOJ regulations, as well as to ensure that our regulations are consistent with statutory mandates and that they are clearly written. Consequently, VA has prepared the attached proposed amendments that will remove some debt collection regulations, add new regulations, and revise the remainder.
As part of the revision of our debt collection regulations, VA also proposes to revise its interest-charging regulation. Section 1.919 implements VA's authority to assess interest and administrative costs on debts that arise as a result of participation in a VA benefits, medical care, or home loan program. The authority for this regulation is derived from 38 U.S.C. 5315. The recent review of this regulation indicated that one portion needs to be deleted. Specifically, the current regulation states that when a debtor requests a waiver, interest and administrative costs shall not be assessed until either an initial determination is made on the request or the statutory time limit for requesting waiver has expired. We propose to amend § 1.919 by removing this portion, since it has no basis in 38 U.S.C. 5315. Likewise, there is no such language in the statutory requirement for waiver consideration of VA benefit and home loan program debts (38 U.S.C. 5302). Finally, the FCCS does not contain such a requirement in its government-wide interest regulation (31 CFR 901.9).
VA also is proposing to add two new debt collection regulations. Section 1.923, “Administrative wage garnishment,” is another collection tool derived from the DCIA and is written in accordance with Treasury's implementing regulation (31 CFR 285.11). It allows, but does not mandate, VA to request a non-Federal employer to garnish the disposable pay of an individual to collect non-tax delinquent debt owed to VA. VA may do this directly or it may request that Treasury initiate administrative garnishment procedures after VA has referred the debt to Treasury for collection. The other proposed new regulation is § 1.924, “Barring delinquent debtors from obtaining federal loans or loan insurance or guarantees.” This is also derived from the DCIA and a Treasury regulation (31 CFR 285.13), as well as the FCCS (31 CFR 901.6). This regulation states that a person owing an outstanding non-tax debt that is in delinquent status shall not be eligible for certain Federal financial assistance.
At the request of the Veterans Benefits Administration, we are proposing to amend § 1.955(c), “Regional Office Committees on Waivers and Compromises.” The amendment would continue to state that the administrative control function of the Committees remains with the fiscal officer. However, it would authorize the station director to reassign the function to another station activity when the director determines that another station activity is more appropriate. We believe this amendment would provide each regional office director with needed greater management latitude in assigning responsibility for the administrative control of that station's Committee on Waivers and Compromises.
The Office of Personnel Management has made changes to their government-wide salary offset regulations (5 CFR part 550, Subpart K) in order to comply with the DCIA, which amended 5 U.S.C. 5514. The DCIA requires that all Federal agencies, to which outstanding delinquent debts are owed, must participate in an annual computer match of their delinquent debt records with records of federal employees. In addition, agencies must notify Treasury of all non-tax debts over 180 days delinquent. Treasury will match payments to the debtors from the Federal Government, including federal salary payments, against these debts. Where a match occurs, the payment will be offset to satisfy the debt. We are Start Printed Page 74895proposing to amend VA's regulations to reflect the use of centralized administrative offset, including salary offset.
Our regulations also would be revised to reflect the fact that the DCIA amended 5 U.S.C. 5514 so that pay adjustments made to correct clerical or administrative errors or delays that resulted in overpayments occurring within the four pay periods next preceding the adjustment, are excluded from the normally required notice and hearing procedures. Collection of a debt amounting to $50 or less also would be excluded from such procedures.
Finally, the review of VA regulations also indicated a need to revise § 2.6, which delegates certain debt collection authorities to the Assistant Secretary for Management. Current internal directives redelegate these authorities directly from the Assistant Secretary to field personnel. We are proposing to revise the regulation to correspond to this delegation.
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act requires, at 2 U.S.C. 1532, that agencies prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and benefits before developing any rule that may result in an expenditure by State, local, or tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100 million or more in any given year. This proposed amendment would have no such effect on State, local, or tribal governments, or the private sector.
The Secretary hereby certifies that this proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612. This proposed rule directly affect only individuals indebted to VA, and do not affect small entities. Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), this proposed rule is exempt from the initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis requirements of sections 603 and 604.
This regulatory action has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 12866.
There is no Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number.
Approved: September 25, 2003.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, VA proposes to amend 38 CFR part 1 as follows:
2. The authority citation preceding § 1.900 is revised to read as follows:
Authority: Sections 1.900 through 1.953 are issued under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 3711 through 3720E; 38 U.S.C. 501, unless otherwise stated.
3. Section 1.900 is revised to read as follows:
§ 1.900
(a) The standards contained in §§ 1.900 through 1.953 are issued pursuant to the Federal Claims Collection Standards, issued by the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in parts 900 through 904 of 31 CFR, as well as other debt collection authority issued by Treasury in part 285 of 31 CFR 1.900 through 1.953, and apply to the collection, compromise, termination, and suspension of debts owed to VA, and the referral of such debts to Treasury (or other Federal agencies designated by Treasury) for offset and collection action and to DOJ for litigation, unless otherwise stated in this part or in other statutory or regulatory authority, or by contract.
4. Section 1.901 is revised to read as follows:
§ 1.901
Sections 1.900 through 1.953 do not create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by a party against the United States, its agencies, its officers, or any other person, nor shall the failure of VA to comply with any of the provisions of §§ 1.900 through 1.953 be available to any debtor as a defense.
5. Section 1.902 is revised to read as follows:
§ 1.902
(a) The standards in §§ 1.900 through 1.953 relating to compromise, suspension, and termination of collection activity do not apply to any debt based in whole or in part on conduct in violation of the antitrust laws or to any debt involving fraud, the presentation of a false claim, or misrepresentation on the part of the debtor or any party having an interest in the claim. Only DOJ has the authority to compromise, suspend, or terminate collection activity on such claims. The standards in §§ 1.900 through 1.953 relating to the administrative collection of claims do apply, but only to the extent authorized by DOJ in a particular case. Upon identification of a claim based in whole or in part on conduct in violation of the antitrust laws or any claim involving fraud, the presentation of a false claim, or misrepresentation on the part of the debtor or any party having an interest in the claim, VA shall promptly refer the case to DOJ. At its discretion, DOJ may return the claim to VA for further handling in accordance with the standards in §§ 1.900 through 1.953.
6. Section 1.903 is revised to read as follows:
Nothing in §§ 1.900 through 1.953 precludes VA settlement, waiver, compromise, or other disposition of any claim under statutes and implementing regulations other than subchapter II of chapter 37 of Title 31 of the United States Code (Claims of the United States Government) and the standards in Title 31 CFR, parts 900 through 904. See, for example, the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.) and applicable regulations, 28 CFR, part 43. In such cases, the laws and regulations that are specifically applicable to claims collection activities of VA generally take precedence over 31 CFR, parts 900 through 904.Start Printed Page 74896
7. Section 1.904 is revised to read as follows:
§ 1.904
8. Section 1.905 is revised to read as follows:
§ 1.905
9. Section 1.906 is revised to read as follows:
§ 1.906
(a) In applying §§ 1.900 through 1.953, VA is not required to omit, foreclose, or duplicate administrative proceedings required by contract or other laws or regulations.
(b) Nothing contained in §§ 1.900 through 1.953 is intended to foreclose the right of any debtor to an administrative proceeding, including appeals, waivers, and hearings provided by statute, contract, or VA regulation (See 38 U.S.C. 3720(a)(4) and 5302 and 42 U.S.C. 2651-2653).
10. Section 1.907 is revised to read as follows:
(a) The definitions found in the Federal Claims Collection Standards issued in § 900.2 of Title 31 of the CFR shall apply to §§ 1.900 through 1.953.
(b) As used in §§ 1.900 through 1.953, referral for litigation means referral to the Department of Justice for appropriate legal action, except in those specified instances where a case is referred to VA Regional Counsels for legal action.
(c) As used in §§ 1.900 through 1.953, VA benefit program means medical care, home loan, and benefits payment programs administered by VA under Title 38 of the United States Code, unless stated otherwise.
(Authority: 31 U.S.C. 3701, 3711 and 38 U.S.C. 5316)
11. The authority citation preceding § 1.910 is removed.
12. Section 1.910 is revised to read as follows:
§ 1.910
(6) Is exempt from this requirement based on a determination by the Secretary of the Treasury that exemption for a certain class of debt is in the best interest of the United States. VA may request that the Secretary exempt specific classes of debts.
(c) In accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3716(c)(6) and the procedures set forth in 31 CFR part 285, VA shall notify Treasury of all past due, legally enforceable non-tax debt that is over 180 days delinquent for purposes of administrative offset, including tax refund offset and federal salary offset. Procedures for referral to Treasury for tax refund offset are found at 31 CFR 285.2 and procedures for referral to Treasury for federal salary offset are found at 38 CFR 1.995 and 31 CFR 285.7.
13. Section 1.911 is amended by:
A. Revising paragraphs (a) and (b).
B. Revising paragraphs (c)(3), (d)(4) and (d)(5).
C. Adding paragraphs (d)(6) and (d)(7).
D. Revising paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(5).
§ 1.911
(a) Scope. This section applies to the collection of debts resulting from an individual's participation in a VA benefit or home loan program. It does not apply to VA's other debt collection activities. Standards for the demand for payment of all other debts owed to VA are set forth in § 1.911a. School liability debts are governed by § 21.4009 of this title.
(4) That collection may be made by offset from current or future VA benefit payments (see § 1.912a). In addition, the debtor should be advised of any policies with respect to the use of credit bureaus, debt collection centers, and collection agencies; any other remedies to enforce payment of the debt, including administrative wage garnishment, Federal salary offset, tax refund offset, and litigation; and the requirement that any debt delinquent for more than 180 days be transferred to Treasury for administrative offset or collection.
(5) That interest and administrative costs may be assessed in accordance with § 1.915, as appropriate;
(5) The assessment of interest and administrative costs, in § 1.915.
14. Section 1.911a is added to read as follows:
§ 1.911a
(a) This section is written in accordance with 31 CFR 901.2 and applies to the demand for payment of all debts, except those debts arising out of participation in a VA benefit or home loan program. Procedures for the Start Printed Page 74897demand for payment of VA benefit or home loan program debts are set forth in § 1.911.
(b) Written demand as described in paragraph (c) of this section shall be made promptly upon a debtor of VA in terms that inform the debtor of the consequences of failing to cooperate with VA to resolve the debt. Generally, one demand letter is sufficient, but subsequent letters may be issued as needed. In determining the timing of the demand letter, VA should give due regard to the need to refer debts promptly to DOJ for litigation, in accordance with §§ 1.950 through 1.953. When necessary to protect VA's interest (for example, to prevent the running of a statute of limitations), written demand may be preceded by other appropriate actions under 38 CFR 1.900 through 1.953, including immediate referral for litigation.
(d) In addition to the items listed in paragraph (c) of this section, VA should include in the demand letter such items as VA's willingness to discuss alternative methods of payment and its policies with respect to the use of credit bureaus, debt collection centers, and collection agencies. The letter should also indicate the agency's remedies to enforce payment of the debt (including assessment of interest, administrative costs and penalties, administrative garnishment, Federal salary offset, tax refund offset, administrative offset, and litigation) and the requirement that any debt delinquent for more than 180 days be transferred to Treasury for collection.
(f) Prior to referring a debt for litigation, VA should advise each person determined to be liable for the debt that, unless the debt can be collected administratively, litigation may be initiated. This notification may be given as part of a demand letter under paragraph (c) of this section or in a separate letter.
(g) When VA learns that a bankruptcy petition has been filed with respect to a debtor, before proceeding with further collection action, VA should immediately seek legal advice from either VA General Counsel or Regional Counsel concerning the impact of the Bankruptcy Code on any pending or contemplated collection activities. Unless VA determines that the automatic stay imposed at the time of filing pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 362 has been lifted or is no longer in effect, in most cases collection activity against the debtor should stop immediately.
(1) After seeking legal advice, a proof of claim should be filed in most cases with the bankruptcy court or the Trustee. VA should refer to the provisions of 11 U.S.C. 106 relating to the consequences on sovereign immunity of filing a proof of claim.
15. Section 1.912 is amended by:
A. Revising paragraphs (a), (c)(2), (d)(1), (d)(2), and (f).
§ 1.912
(a) Authority and scope. In accordance with the procedures set forth in 31 CFR 901.3, as well as 31 CFR, part 285, VA shall collect debts by administrative offset from payments made by VA to an individual indebted to VA. Also in accordance with 31 CFR 901.3(b), as well as 31 CFR part 285, VA shall refer past due, legally enforceable non-tax debts which are over 180 days delinquent to Treasury for collection by centralized administrative offset (further procedures are set forth in paragraph (g) of this section). This section does not pertain to offset from either VA benefit payments or from current salary, but does apply to offset from all other VA payments, including an employee's final salary check and lump-sum leave payment. Procedures for offset from benefit payments are found in § 1.912a. Procedures for offset from current Federal salary are found in §§ 1.980 through 1.995. NOTE: VA cannot offset, or refer for the purpose of offset, either under the authority of this section or under any other authority found in §§ 1.900 through 1.953 and §§ 1.980 through 1.995, any VA home loan program debt described in 38 U.S.C. 3726 unless the requirements set forth in that section have been met.
(2) If the debtor, within 30 days of the date of the required notification by VA, requests in writing the waiver of collection of the debt in accordance with § 1.963, § 1.963a, or § 1.964, offset shall not commence until VA has made an initial decision to deny the waiver request.
(2) If the United States has obtained a judgment against the debtor, offset may commence without the notification required by paragraph (b) of this section. However, a waiver request filed in accordance with the time limits and other requirements of § 1.963, § 1.963a, or § 1.964 will be considered, even if filed after a judgment has been obtained against the debtor. If waiver is granted, in whole or in part, refund of amounts already collected will be made in accordance with § 1.967.
(3) The procedures set forth in paragraph (b) of this section may be omitted when the debt arises under a Start Printed Page 74898contract that provides for notice and other procedural protections.
(f) When collecting multiple debts by administrative offset, VA shall apply the recovered amounts to those debts in accordance with the best interests of the United States, as determined by the facts and circumstances of the particular case, paying special attention to applicable statutes of limitation. In accordance with 31 CFR 901.3(a)(4), VA may not initiate offset to collect a debt more than 10 years after VA's right to collect the debt first accrued (with certain exceptions as specified in § 901.3(a)(4)).
(g) When VA refers delinquent debts to Treasury for centralized administrative offset in accordance with 31 CFR part 285, VA must certify that:
(1) The debts are past due and legally enforceable; and
(2) VA has complied with all due process requirements under 31 U.S.C. 3716(a) and paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section. Payments that are prohibited by law from being offset are exempt from centralized administrative offset.
(h) In accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3716(f), the Secretary of the Treasury may waive the provisions of the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988 concerning matching agreements and post-match notification and verification (5 U.S.C. 552a(o) and (p)) for centralized administrative offset upon receipt of a certification from a creditor agency that the due process requirements enumerated in 31 U.S.C. 3716(a) and paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section have been met. The certification of a debt in accordance with paragraph (g) of this section will satisfy this requirement. If such a waiver is granted, only the Data Integrity Board of the Department of the Treasury is required to oversee any matching activities, in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3716(g).
(i)(1) Unless the offset would not be in VA's best interest, or would otherwise be contrary to law, VA will comply with requests by creditor agencies to offset VA payments (except for current salary or benefit payments) made to a person indebted to the creditor agency. However, before VA may initiate offset, the creditor agency must certify in writing to VA that the debtor has been provided:
(i) Written notice of the type and amount of the debt and the intent of the creditor agency to use administrative offset to collect the debt;
(ii) The opportunity to inspect and copy agency records related to the debt;
(iii) The opportunity for review within the agency of the determination of the indebtedness; and,
(iv) The opportunity to make a written agreement to repay the debt.
(2) Procedures for current salary offset are set forth at §§ 1.980-1.995. Procedures for offset of VA benefit payments are set forth at § 1.912a.
16. Section 1.912a is amended by adding paragraph (c)(4) to read as follows:
§ 1.912a
(4) VA will pursue collection action once an adverse initial decision is reached on the debtor's request for waiver and/or the debtor's informal dispute (as described in § 1.911a(c)(1)) concerning the existence or amount of the debt, even if the debtor subsequently pursues appellate relief in accordance with parts 19 and 20 of this title.
§ 1.913
§ 1.914
§ 1.915
17. Sections 1.913, 1.914, and 1.915 are removed.
§ 1.916
[Redesignated as § 1.913]
18. Section 1.916 is redesignated as § 1.913 and is revised to read as follows:
(b) When VA learns that a bankruptcy petition has been filed with respect to a debtor, VA should seek legal advice from the VA General Counsel or Regional Counsel concerning the impact of the Bankruptcy Code, including, but not limited to, 11 U.S.C. 362, to determine the applicability of the automatic stay and the procedures for obtaining relief from such stay prior to proceeding under paragraph (a) of this section.
§ 1.917
[Redesignated as § 1.914]
19. Section 1.917 is redesignated as § 1.914 and is revised to read as follows:
§ 1.918
20. Section 1.918 is removed.
§ 1.919
[Redesignated as § 1.915]
21. Section 1.919 is redesignated as § 1.915 and is amended by:
A. Revising the heading and paragraphs (a) and (c).
B. In paragraph (d), removing “§ 1.919” and adding, in its place, “this section”.
C. Removing paragraphs (f)(2)(i) and (ii).
(1) Interest on all indebtedness to the United States arising out of participation in a VA benefit, medical Start Printed Page 74899care, or home loan program under authority of Title 38, U.S. Code.
§ 1.920
22. Section 1.920 is removed.
§ 1.921
23. Section 1.921 is removed.
§ 1.922
[Redesignated as § 1.916]
24. Section 1.922 is redesignated as § 1.916 and is amended by:
A. Revising paragraph (d)(2)(i).
(2)(i) In accordance with § 1.911 and § 1.911a, VA shall notify each individual of the right to dispute the existence and amount of the debt and to request a waiver of the debt, if applicable.
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 5701(g), (i); 31 U.S.C. 3711(e))
[Redesignated as § 1.917]
25. Section 1.923 is redesignated as § 1.917 and is amended by:
A. Revising paragraph (b) introductory text.
(c) VA shall use government-wide debt collection contracts to obtain debt collection services provided by private collection contractors. However, VA may refer debts to private collection contractors pursuant to a contract between VA and a private collection contractor only if such debts are not subject to the requirement to transfer debts to Treasury for debt collection. See 31 U.S.C. 3711(g); 31 CFR 285.12(e), and 38 CFR 1.910.
(Authority: 31 U.S.C. 3718)
[Redesignated as § 1.918]
26. Section 1.924 is redesignated as § 1.918 and is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as follows:
(a) When attempting to locate a debtor in order to compromise or collect a debt in accordance with §§ 1.900 through 1.953, VA may send a request to the Secretary of the Treasury, or his/her designee, in order to obtain the debtor's most current mailing address from the records of the Internal Revenue Service.
§ 1.925
[Redesignated as § 1.919]
27. Section 1.925 is redesignated as § 1.919 and is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (b)(3) to read as follows:
(a) Unless otherwise prohibited by law or regulation, and in accordance with 31 CFR 901.3(d), VA may request that money which is due and payable to a debtor from either the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund or FERS be administratively offset in reasonable amounts in order to collect, in one full payment or a minimal number of payments, debts that are owed to VA by the debtor. Such requests shall be made to the appropriate officials at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in accordance with such regulations prescribed by the Director of OPM. (See 5 CFR 831.1801 through 831.1808). In addition, VA may also offset against a Federal employee's final salary check and lump sum leave payment, unless such offset represents continuation of an offset against current salary initiated in accordance with §§ 1.980 through 1.995. See § 1.912 for procedures for offset against a final salary check and lump sum leave payment.
(3) VA has complied with §§ 1.911, 1.911a, 1.912, 1.912a, or 31 CFR § 901.3, including any required hearing or review.
§ 1.926
[Redesignated as § 1.920]
28. Section 1.926 is redesignated as § 1.920 and amended by:
(a) When authorized, VA may refer an uncollectible debt to another Federal or Start Printed Page 74900State agency for the purpose of collection action. Collection action may include the offsetting of the debt from any current or future payment, except salary (see paragraph (e) of this section), made by such Federal or State agency to the person indebted to VA.
(6) Other applicable notices required by §§ 1.911, 1.911a, 1.912, and 1.912a.
§ 1.927
[Redesignated as § 1.921]
29. Section 1.927 is redesignated as § 1.921 and is revised to read as follows:
§ 1.928
[Redesignated as § 1.922]
30. Section 1.928 is redesignated as § 1.922 and is revised to read as follows:
(b) This section should not be construed as prohibiting the use of §§ 1.900 through 1.953 when collecting debts owed by persons employed by agencies administering the laws cited in paragraph (a) of this section unless the debt arose under those laws.
(Authority: 31 U.S.C. 3711)
31. Section 1.923 is added to read as follows:
(a) In accordance with the procedures set forth in 31 U.S.C. 3720D and 31 CFR 285.11, VA or Treasury may request that a non-Federal employer garnish the disposable pay of an individual to collect delinquent non-tax debt owed to VA. VA may pursue wage garnishment independently in accordance with this section or garnishment may be pursued after VA refers a debt to Treasury in accordance with 31 CFR 285.12 or with § 1.910 of this title. For the purposes of this section, any reference to Treasury also includes any private collection agency under contract to Treasury.
(iii) To request a hearing in accordance with 31 CFR 285.11(f) and paragraph (c) of this section concerning the existence or amount of the debt or the terms of the proposed repayment schedule under the garnishment order. However, the debtor is not entitled to a hearing concerning the terms of the proposed repayment schedule if these terms have been established by written agreement under paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section.
(1) The hearing may be oral or written as determined by the designated hearing official. The hearing official shall provide the debtor with a reasonable opportunity for an oral hearing when the hearing official determines that the issue in dispute cannot be resolved by review of documentary evidence. The hearing official shall establish the time and place of any oral hearing. At the debtor's option, an oral hearing may be conducted either in person or by telephone conference call. A hearing is not required to be a formal, evidentiary-type hearing, but witnesses who testify in oral hearings must do so under oath or affirmation. While it is not necessary to produce a transcript of the hearing, the hearing official must maintain a summary record of the proceedings. All travel expenses incurred by the debtor in connection with an in-person hearing shall be borne by the debtor. VA or Treasury shall be responsible for all telephone expenses. In the absence of good cause shown, a debtor who fails to appear at a hearing will be deemed as not having timely filed a request for a hearing.
(i) The date and time of a telephone conference hearing; Start Printed Page 74901
(5) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(6) of this section, VA or Treasury shall have the burden of going forward to prove the existence or amount of the debt, after which the debtor must show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that no debt exists or that the amount of the debt is incorrect. In general, this means that the debtor must show that it is more likely than not that a debt does not exist or that the amount of the debt is incorrect. The debtor may also present evidence that terms of the repayment agreement are unlawful, would cause a financial hardship, or that collection of the debt may not be pursued due to operation of law.
(6) If the debtor has previously contested the existence and/or amount of the debt in accordance with § 1.911(c)(1) or § 1.911a(c)(1) of this title and VA subsequently rendered a decision upholding the existence or amount of the debt, then such decision shall be incorporated by reference and become the basis of the hearing official's decision on such matters described in paragraph (c)(7) of this section.
(7) The hearing official shall issue a written decision as soon as practicable, but not later than 60 days after the date on which the request for such hearing was received by VA or Treasury. The decision will be the final action for the purposes of judicial review under the Administrative Procedures Act (5 U.S.C. 701 et seq.). The decision shall include:
(d) In accordance with 31 CFR 285.11(g) and (h), VA or Treasury shall send a withholding order and certification form (Treasury Form SF-29) by first class mail to the debtor's employer within 30 days after the debtor fails to make a timely request for a hearing. If a timely request for a hearing has been filed by the debtor, then VA or Treasury shall send a withholding order and certification form by first class mail to the debtor's employer within 30 days after a final decision (see paragraph (c)(6) of this section) is made to proceed with the garnishment. The employer shall complete and return the certification form as described in § 285.11(h).
(f) A debtor whose wages are subject to a wage withholding order under 31 CFR 285.11 may request a review, under the procedures set forth in paragraph (k) of § 285.11, of the amount garnished. A request for review shall only be considered after garnishment has been initiated. The request must be based on materially changed circumstances such as disability, divorce, or catastrophic illness which result in financial hardship that limits the debtor's ability to provide food, housing, clothing, transportation, and medical care for himself/herself and his/her dependents.
32. Section 1.924 is added to read as follows:
(a) In accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3720B and the procedures set forth in 31 CFR 285.13 and § 901.6, a person owing an outstanding non-tax debt that is in delinquent status shall not be eligible for Federal financial assistance unless exempted under paragraph (d) or waived under paragraph (e) of this section.
(3) When balancing the factors described in paragraph (e)(1) and (e)(2) of this section, the Chief Financial Officer or Deputy Chief Financial Officer should consider:
(g) In bankruptcy cases, before advising the debtor of the intention to suspend or revoke licenses, permits, or privileges, VA should seek legal advice from the VA General Counsel or Regional Counsel concerning the impact of the Bankruptcy Code, particularly 11 U.S.C. 362 and 525, which may restrict such action.
(Authority: 31 U.S.C. 3720B)
33. The authority citation preceding § 1.930 is removed.
34. Sections 1.930 through 1.936 are revised to read as follows:
§ 1.930
(a) The standards set forth in this part apply to the compromise of debts Start Printed Page 74902pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3711. VA may exercise such compromise authority when the amount of the debt due, exclusive of interest, penalties, and administrative costs, does not exceed $100,000 or any higher amount authorized by the Attorney General.
(b) Unless otherwise provided by law, when the principal balance of a debt, exclusive of interest, penalties, and administrative costs, exceeds $100,000 or any higher amount authorized by the Attorney General, the authority to accept the compromise rests with DOJ. If VA receives an offer to compromise any debt in excess of $100,000, VA should evaluate the compromise offer using the same factors as set forth in 38 CFR 1.931. If VA believes the offer has merit, it shall refer the debt to the Civil Division or other appropriate division in DOJ using a Claims Collection Litigation Report (CCLR). The referral shall include appropriate financial information and a recommendation for the acceptance of the compromise offer. DOJ approval is not required if VA decides to reject a compromise offer.
§ 1.931
(g) To assess the merits of a compromise offer based in whole or in part on the debtor's inability to pay the full amount of a debt within a reasonable time, VA will obtain a current financial statement from the debtor showing the debtor's assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Agencies also may obtain credit reports or other financial information to assess compromise offers.
§ 1.932
§ 1.933
§ 1.934
If VA is uncertain whether to accept a firm, written, substantive compromise offer on a debt that is within its delegated compromise authority, it may refer the offer to VA General Counsel or Regional Counsel or to the Civil Division or other appropriate division in DOJ, using a CCLR accompanied by supporting data and particulars concerning the debt. DOJ may act upon such an offer or return it to the agency with instructions or advice.
§ 1.935
§ 1.936
In all appropriate instances, a compromise that is accepted by VA shall be implemented by means of a mutual release, in which the debtor is released from further non-tax liability on the compromised debt in consideration of payment in full of the Start Printed Page 74903compromise amount, and VA and its officials, past and present, are released and discharged from any and all claims and causes of action arising from the same transaction that the debtor may have. In the event a mutual release is not executed when a debt is compromised, unless prohibited by law, the debtor is still deemed to have waived any and all claims and causes of action against VA and its officials related to the transaction giving rise to the compromised debt.
§ 1.938
35. Sections 1.937 and 1.938 are removed.
36. Sections 1.940 and 1.941 are revised to read as follows:
§ 1.940
(a) The standards set forth in §§ 1.940 through 1.944 apply to the suspension or termination of collection activity pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3711 on debts that do not exceed $100,000, or such other amount as the Attorney General may direct, exclusive of interest, penalties, and administrative costs, after deducting the amount of partial payments or collections, if any. Prior to referring a debt to DOJ for litigation, VA may suspend or terminate collection under this part with respect to the debt.
(b) If, after deducting the amount of any partial payments or collections, the principal amount of a debt exceeds $100,000, or such other amount as the Attorney General may direct, exclusive of interest, penalties, and administrative costs, the authority to suspend or terminate rests solely with DOJ. If VA believes that suspension or termination of any debt in excess of $100,000 may be appropriate, it shall refer the debt to the Civil Division or other appropriate division in DOJ, using the CCLR. The referral should specify the reasons for VA's recommendation. If, prior to referral to DOJ, VA determines that a debt is plainly erroneous or clearly without legal merit, VA may terminate collection activity regardless of the amount involved without obtaining DOJ concurrence.
§ 1.941
(2) Future collection can be effected by administrative offset, notwithstanding the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations for litigation of claims, and with due regard to the 10-year limitation for administrative offset prescribed by 31 U.S.C. 3716(e)(1); or
(c) Collection action may also be suspended, in accordance with §§ 1.911, 1.911a, 1.912, and 1.912a, pending VA action on requests for administrative review of the existence or amount of the debt or a request for waiver of collection of the debt. However, collection action will be resumed once VA issues an initial decision on the administrative review or waiver request.
(d) When VA learns that a bankruptcy petition has been filed with respect to a debtor, in most cases the collection activity on a debt must be suspended, pursuant to the provisions of 11 U.S.C. 362, 1201, and 1301, unless VA can clearly establish that the automatic stay does not apply, has been lifted, or is no longer in effect. VA shall seek legal advice immediately from either the General Counsel or Regional Counsel and, if legally permitted, take the necessary steps to ensure that no funds or money are paid by VA to the debtor until relief from the automatic stay is obtained.
37. Section 1.942 is amended by adding paragraphs (g) and (h) to read as follows:
§ 1.942
38. Section 1.943 is revised and § 1.944 is added to read as follows:
§ 1.943
§ 1.944
(a) Before discharging a delinquent debt (also referred to as a close out of the debt), VA shall take all appropriate steps to collect the debt in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3711(g), including, as applicable, administrative offset, tax refund offset, Federal salary offset, referral to Treasury or Treasury-designated debt collection centers or private collection contractors, credit bureau reporting, wage garnishment, litigation, and foreclosure. Discharge of indebtedness is distinct from termination or suspension of collection activity under §§ 1.940 through 1.943 and is governed by the Internal Revenue Code. When collection action on a debt is suspended or terminated, the debt remains delinquent and further collection action may be pursued at a later date in accordance with the standards set forth in § 1.900 et seq. When VA discharges a debt in full or in part, further collection action is prohibited. Therefore, VA should make the determination that collection action is no longer warranted before discharging a debt. Before discharging a debt, VA must terminate debt collection action.
(b) Upon discharge of an indebtedness, VA must report the discharge to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in accordance with the requirements of 26 U.S.C. 6050P and 26 CFR 1.6050P-1. VA may request Start Printed Page 74904Treasury or Treasury-designated debt collection centers to file such a discharge report to the IRS on VA's behalf.
(d) 31 U.S.C. 3711(i)(2) requires agencies to sell a delinquent nontax debt upon termination of collection action if the Secretary of the Treasury determines such a sale is in the best interests of the United States. Since the discharge of a debt precludes any further collection action (including the sale of a delinquent debt), VA may not discharge a debt until the requirements of Section 3711(i)(2) have been met.
39. The authority citation preceding § 1.950 is removed.
40. Sections 1.950 through 1.953 are revised to read as follows:
§ 1.950
(a) VA shall promptly refer debts to DOJ for litigation where aggressive collection activity has been taken in accordance with §§ 1.900 et seq., and such debts cannot be compromised, or on which collection activity cannot be suspended or terminated, in accordance with parts §§ 1.930 through 1.936 and §§ 1.940 through 1.944. Debts for which the principal amount is over $1,000,000, or such other amount as the Attorney General may direct, exclusive of interest and other late payment charges, shall be referred to the Civil Division or other division responsible for litigating such debts at DOJ. Debts for which the principal amount is $1,000,000, or less, or such other amount as the Attorney General may direct, exclusive of interest or penalties, shall be referred to DOJ's Nationwide Central Intake Facility as required by the CCLR instructions. Debts should be referred as early as possible, consistent with aggressive agency collection activity and the observance of the standards contained in §§ 1.900 et seq., and, in any event, well within the period for initiating timely lawsuits against the debtors. VA shall make every effort to refer delinquent debts to DOJ for litigation within 1 year of the date such debts last became delinquent. In the case of guaranteed or insured loans, VA should make every effort to refer these delinquent debts to DOJ for litigation within 1 year from the date the loan was presented to VA for payment or reinsurance.
§ 1.951
(a) Unless excepted by Justice, VA shall complete the CCLR, accompanied by a signed Certificate of Indebtedness, to refer all administratively uncollectible claims to DOJ for litigation. VA shall complete all of the sections of the CCLR appropriate to each claim as required by the CCLR instructions and furnish such other information as may be required in specific cases.
§ 1.952
VA must take care to preserve all files and records that may be needed by DOJ to prove its claims in court. VA ordinarily should include certified copies of the documents that form the basis for the claim when referring such claims to DOJ for litigation. VA shall provide originals of such documents immediately upon request by DOJ.
§ 1.953
(a) VA shall not refer for litigation claims of less than $2,500, exclusive of interest, penalties, and administrative costs, or such other amount as the Attorney General shall from time to time prescribe. DOJ shall promptly notify referring agencies if the Attorney General changes this minimum amount.
(b) VA shall not refer claims of less than the minimum amount unless:
§ 1.954
41. Section 1.954 is removed.
42. Section 1.955 is amended by revising paragraphs (b) through (d) to read as follows: :
§ 1.955
43. Section 1.956 is amended by:
A. Revising paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and (a)(2)(ii).
E. Revising paragraphs (a)(3) and (b).
§ 1.956
(i) Debts resulting from services furnished in error (§ 17.101(a) of this chapter). Start Printed Page 74905
(ii) Debts resulting from services furnished in a medical emergency (§ 17.101(b) of this chapter).
(iii) Other claims arising in connection with transactions of the Veterans Health Administration (§ 17.103(c) of this chapter).
(3) Claims for erroneous payments of pay and allowances, and erroneous payments of travel, transportation, and relocation expenses and allowances, made to or on behalf of employees (5 U.S.C. 5584)
44. Section 1.957 is amended by:
A. Revising paragraphs (a)(1) introductory text and (a)(1)(iii).
§ 1.957
(iii) Services erroneously furnished (§ 17.101(a)).
45. Section 1.958 is revised to read as follows:
A decision by the regional office Committee, operating within the scope of its authority, denying waiver of all or part of a debt arising out of participation in a VA benefit or home loan program, is subject to appeal in accordance with 38 CFR parts 19 and 20. A denial of waiver of an erroneous payment of pay and allowances is subject to appeal in accordance with § 1.963a(a). There is no right of appeal from a decision rejecting a compromise offer.
46. Section 1.963a is revised to read as follows:
§ 1.963a
(a) The provisions applicable to VA (including refunds) concerning waiver actions relating to erroneous payments to VA employees of pay and allowances, and travel, transportation, and relocation expenses and allowances are set forth in 5 U.S.C. 5584. The members of Committees on Waivers and Compromises assigned to waiver actions under § 1.955 of this part are delegated all authority granted the Secretary under 5 U.S.C. 5584 to deny waiver or to grant waiver in whole or in part of any debt regardless of the amount of the indebtedness. Committee members also have exclusive authority to consider and render a decision on the appeal of a waiver denial or the granting of a partial waiver. However, the Chairperson of the Committee must assign the appeal to a different Committee member or members than the member or members who made the original decision that is now the subject of the appeal. The following are the only provisions of §§ 1.955 through 1.970 of this part applicable to waiver actions concerning erroneous payments of pay and allowances and travel, transportation, and relocation expenses and allowances under 5 U.S.C. 5584: §§ 1.955(a) through (e)(2), 1.956(a)(introductory text) and (a)(3), 1.959, 1.960, 1.963a, 1.965(c) and 1.967(c).
(b) Waiver may be granted under this section and 5 U.S.C. 5584 when collection would be against equity and good conscience and not in the best interest of the United States. Generally, these criteria will be met by a finding that the erroneous payment occurred through administrative error and that there is no indication of fraud, misrepresentation, fault, or lack of good faith on the part of the employee or other person having an interest in obtaining a waiver of the claim. Generally, waiver is precluded when an employee receives a significant unexplained increase in pay or allowances, or otherwise knows, or reasonably should know, that an erroneous payment has occurred, and fails to make inquiries or bring the matter to the attention of the appropriate officials. Waiver under this standard will depend upon the facts existing in each case.
(Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5584, 38 U.S.C. 501)
§ 1.965
47. Section 1.965 is amended by removing paragraph (b)(3).
§ 1.970
48. Section 1.970 is amended by removing “§§ 1.900 through 1.937” and adding, in its place, “§§ 1.930 through 1.936''.
49. Section 1.980 is amended by:
B. Redesignating paragraphs (f) and (g) as (h) and (i).
§ 1.980
(a) In accordance with 5 CFR part 550, subpart K, the provisions set forth in §§ 1.980 through 1.995 implement VA's authority for the use of salary offset to satisfy certain debts owed to VA.
(f) These regulations do not apply to a routine intra-agency adjustment of pay that is made to correct an overpayment of pay attributable to clerical or administrative errors or delays in processing pay documents, if the overpayment occurred within the four pay periods preceding the adjustment and, at the time of such adjustment, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the individual is provided written notice of the nature and amount of the adjustment and a point of contact for such adjustment.
(h) These regulations do not preclude the compromise, suspension, or termination of collection action under the FCCS (31 CFR parts 900 through 904) and VA regulations 38 CFR 1.930 through 1.953.
50. Section 1.982 is amended by revising paragraphs (a), (b), and (c)(3) to read as follows:
§ 1.982
(b) If the employee has not previously appealed the amount or existence of the debt under 38 CFR parts 19 and 20 and the time for pursuing such an appeal has not expired (§ 20.302), the Secretary or appropriate designee will provide the employee with written notice of the debt. The written notice will state that the employee may appeal the amount and existence of the debt in accordance Start Printed Page 74906with the procedures set forth in 38 CFR parts 19 and 20 and will contain the determination and information required by § 1.983(b)(1) through (5), (7), (9), (10), and (12) through (14). The notice will also state that the offset schedule under the procedures set forth in § 1.984 and such a request will stay the commencement of salary offset.
51. Section 1.983 is amended by revising paragraphs (b)(8) and (b)(13) to read as follows:
Notice requirements before salary offsets of debts not involving benefits under laws administered by VA.
(8) The VA employee's right to request an oral or paper hearing on the Secretary or appropriate designee's determination of the existence or amount of the debt, or the percentage of disposable pay to be deducted each pay period, so long as a request is filed by the employee as prescribed by the Secretary. A VA Board of Contract Appeals Administrative Judge or Hearing Examiner shall conduct such a hearing for all VA employees. A VA Board of Contract Appeals Administrative Judge or Hearing Examiner, or any other VA hearing official, may also conduct an oral or paper hearing at the request of a non-VA employee on the determination by an appropriately designated official of the employing agency of the existence or amount of the debt, or the percentage of disposable pay to be deducted each pay period, so long as a hearing request is filed by the non-VA employee as prescribed by the employing agency.
§ 1.984
52. Section 1.984 is amended by:
A. In paragraph (a), removing “20 calendar days” and adding, in its place, “30 calendar days”.
§ 1.989
53. In § 1.989 paragraph (a) is amended by removing “20 calendar days” and adding, in its place, “30 calendar days”.
§ 1.990
54. In § 1.990, paragraph (a) is amended by removing “20 calendar days” and adding, in its place, “30 calendar days”.
55. Section 1.991 is amended by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:
§ 1.991
(d) If an employee retires, resigns, or his or her employment ends before collection of the amount of the indebtedness is completed, the remaining indebtedness will be collected according to procedures for administrative offset (see 31 CFR 901.3, 38 CFR 1.912, and 5 CFR 831.1801 through 831.1808).
56. Section 1.992 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:
§ 1.992
57. Section 1.995 is added to read as follows:
§ 1.995
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 302, 552a; 38 U.S.C. 501, 512, 515, 1729, 1729A, 5711; 44 U.S.C. 3702, unless otherwise noted.
2. Section 2.6 is amended by:
A. Revising the heading of paragraph (c).
B. In paragraph (c)(1), removing the “Assistant Secretary for Finance and Information Resources Management” and adding, in its place, “Assistant Secretary for Management”.
C. In paragraph (c)(2), removing the “Assistant Secretary for Finance and Information Resources Management” each time it appears and adding, in its place, “Assistant Secretary for Management”.
(d) The Assistant Secretary for Management (Chief Financial Officer) is delegated authority to take appropriate action (other than provided for in paragraph (e)(3) and (e)(4) of this section) in connection with the collection of civil claims by VA for money or property, as authorized in § 1.900 et seq. The Assistant Secretary Start Printed Page 74907for Management (Chief Financial Officer) may redelegate such authority as he/she deems appropriate to administration heads and staff office directors.
[FR Doc. 03-31620 Filed 12-24-03; 8:45 am