Allowances and Differentials

71 FR 37507Office of Personnel Management.

71 FR 37507Proposed rule with request for comments.

71 FR 37507The Office of Personnel Management is issuing proposed regulations to increase the maximum annual uniform allowance rate. When civilian Federal employees are required to wear a uniform in the performance of their duties, agencies must pay a uniform allowance or furnish a uniform. Under the proposed rule, the maximum annual uniform allowance rate would be increased from $400 to $500.

71 FR 37507Comments must be received on or before August 29, 2006.

71 FR 37507Send or deliver written comments to Jerome D. Mikowicz, Acting Deputy Associate Director for Pay and Performance Policy, Strategic Human Resources Policy Division, Office of Personnel Management, Room 7H31, 1900 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20415-8200; by fax at (202) 606-0824; or by e-mail at pay-performance-policy@opm.gov.

71 FR 37507Kevin Kitchelt, by telephone at (202) 606-2858; by fax at (202) 606-0824; or by e-mail at pay-performance-policy@opm.gov.

71 FR 37507The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is proposing to increase the maximum annual uniform allowance rate. Under 5 U.S.C. 5901(a), when civilian Federal employees are required to wear a uniform in the performance of their duties, agencies must pay a uniform allowance not to exceed $400 a year or furnish a uniform at a cost not to exceed $400. Many agencies provide uniform allowances to employees, such as police officers, firefighters, customs and border patrol officers, and medical personnel. Under 5 U.S.C. 5902, OPM may, from time to time, adjust the maximum uniform allowance granted to employees for the cost of their uniforms. The maximum uniform allowance rate has not been increased since 1991. The Producer Price Index—Commodities (Seasonally Adjusted) increased approximately 24 percent between January 1991 and January 2005. Therefore, we are proposing to revise the regulations at 5 CFR 591.103 to increase the maximum annual uniform allowance rate from $400 to $500.

71 FR 37507This rule has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget in accordance with E.O. 12866.

71 FR 37507I certify that these regulations would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because they would apply only to Federal agencies and employees.

71 FR 37507Government employees, Travel and transportation expenses, Wages. Office of Personnel Management. Accordingly, OPM is proposing to amend 5 CFR part 591 as follows:

71 FR 375071. The authority citation for subpart A of part 591 continues to read as follows:

71 FR 375075 U.S.C. 5903; E.O. 12748, 3 CFR 1991 Comp., p. 316. Source: 59 FR 43705, Aug. 25, 1994, unless otherwise noted. 2. In § 591.103, paragraphs (a) and (b) are revised to read as follows: § 591.103 Governmentwide maximum uniform allowance rate. (a) Pay an allowance for a uniform not to exceed $500 a year; or (b) Furnish a uniform at a cost not to exceed $500 a year.