Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/07/21/2017-15357/touhy-regulations
Timestamp: 2017-08-20 00:49:26
Document Index: 450225001

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 51', 'art 51', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951', '§\u200951']

A Proposed Rule by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled on 07/21/2017
This document has a comment period that ends in 31 days. (09/19/2017) Submit a formal comment
82 FR 33852
33852-33856 (5 pages)
PART 51-11—PRODUCTION OR DISCLOSURE IN FEDERAL AND STATE PROCEEDINGS
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-15357 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-15357
You may submit comments, identified by docket number and/or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) and title, to the Federal Rulemaking Portal at: http://www.regulations.gov.
Timi Kenealy, (703) 603-2100, Email: CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov.
This proposed regulation will govern the Committee's procedures for authorizing or denying such demands. In addition to updating this section for the Touhy case, the Committee is taking this opportunity to make technical corrections to include changes to the mailing address and changing “JWOD” to “AbilityOne” the operating name of the agency since 2010. Changes to this section of the CFR were last made in 1994.
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct 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, distribute impacts, and equity). Executive Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. This rule benefits the public and the United States Government by providing clear procedures for members of the public and Government employees to follow when official testimony or official documents, records, files or information are sought from the Committee or from Committee personnel in connection with legal proceedings. This rule has not been designated a significant regulatory action.
The Committee certifies this proposed rule is not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. Ch. 6) because it would not, if promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This rule will provide clarity to U.S. Government personnel and outside counsel on the proper rules and procedures to serve process on U.S. Government officials in their official capacity and to obtain official U.S. Government testimony or documents for use in legal proceedings. Therefore, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended, does not require the Committee to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis.Start Printed Page 33853
For the reasons set forth above, the Committee proposes to amend chapter 51 of title 41 by adding part 51-11 to read as follows:
51-11.1 Scope and purpose.
51-11.2 Applicability.
51-11.3 Definitions.
51-11.4 General prohibition.
51-11.5 Service of demand.
51-11.6 Filing requirements for demand for documents or testimony.
51-11.7 Factors the Committee will consider.
51-11.8 Processing demands.
51-11.9 Final determination.
51-11.10 Restrictions that apply to testimony.
51-11.11 Restrictions that apply to released records.
51-11.12 Procedure when a decision is not made prior to the time a response is required.
51-11.13 Procedure in the event of an adverse ruling.
51-11.14 Fees.
51-11.15 Penalties.
Authority: 41 U.S.C. 85039d.
§ 51-11.1
(2) In all federal and state proceedings in which the United States is not a party, when a demand pursuant to a subpoena, order or request (collectively referred to in this part as a “demand”) of a court or other authority is issued for such material, testimony, or information.
§ 51-11.2
§ 51-11.3
(3) Any individual who served or is serving in any consulting or advisory capacity to the Committee, whether formal or informal.
Records or official records and information mean all documents and materials, however stored, that is in the custody and control of the Committee, relating to information in the custody and control of the Committee, or acquired by a Committee employee in the performance of his or her official Start Printed Page 33854duties or because of his or her official status, while such individual was employed.
§ 51-11.4
(a) In any federal or state case or matter in which the United States is not a party, no employee or former employee of the Committee shall, in response to a demand, produce any record contained in the files of the Committee, or disclose any information relating to or based upon record contained in the files of the Department, or disclose any information or produce any record acquired as part of the performance of that person's official duties or because of that person's official status without prior written approval of the General Counsel in accordance with § 51-11.9.
(1) Whenever a demand is made upon an employee or former employee as described in paragraph (a) of this section, the employee shall immediately notify the General Counsel. The General Counsel shall follow procedures set forth in § 51-11.8.
(b) In any federal or state case or matter in which the United States is a party, the General Counsel is authorized to reveal and furnish to any person, including an actual or prospective witness, a grand jury, counsel, or a court, either during or preparatory to a proceeding, such testimony, and relevant unclassified material, documents, or information secured by the employee or former employee of the Committee, as the General Counsel shall deem necessary or desirable to the discharge of the attorney's official duties: Provided, Such an attorney shall consider, with respect to any disclosure, the factors set forth in § 51-11.7.
§ 51-11.5
Service of demand.
§ 51-11.6
Filing requirements for demands for documents or testimony.
§ 51-11.7
Factors the Committee will consider.
The General Counsel in his or her sole discretion, may grant an employee permission to testify on matters relating to official information, or produce Start Printed Page 33855official records and information, in response to an appropriate demand or request. Among the relevant factors that the General Counsel may consider in making this decision are whether:
§ 51-11.8
§ 51-11.9
§ 51-11.10
(2) Testify as to any information outside the scope of the General Counsel's authorization (see § 51-11.7); or
§ 51-11.11
(a) The General Counsel may impose conditions or restrictions on the release of official records and information, including the requirement that parties to the proceeding obtain a protective order or execute a confidentiality agreement to limit access and any further disclosure. The terms of the protective order or of a confidentiality agreement must be acceptable to the General Counsel. In cases where protective orders or confidentiality agreements have already been executed, the Committee may condition the release of official records and information on an amendment to the existing protective order or confidentiality agreement.
§ 51-11.12
§ 51-11.13
If the court or other competent authority fails to stay the demand, the employee upon whom the demand or request is made, unless otherwise advised by the General Counsel, will appear at the stated time and place, produce a copy of this part, state that the employee has not been authorized to provide the requested testimony or produce documents, and respectfully Start Printed Page 33856decline to comply with the demand, citing United States ex rel. Touhy v. Ragen, 340 U.S. 462 (1951). A written response may be offered to a request, or to a demand, if permitted by the court or other competent authority.
§ 51-11.14
§ 51-11.15
[FR Doc. 2017-15357 Filed 7-20-17; 8:45 am]