Rule2021-28075
Civil Monetary Penalties Annual Inflation Adjustments
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 28, 2021
Effective
December 28, 2021
Issuing agencies
Federal Election Commission
Abstract
As required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, the Federal Election Commission is adjusting for inflation the civil monetary penalties established under the Federal Election Campaign Act, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act, and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act. The civil monetary penalties being adjusted are those negotiated by the Commission or imposed by a court for certain statutory violations, and those imposed by the Commission for late filing of or failure to file certain reports required by the Federal Election Campaign Act. The adjusted civil monetary penalties are calculated according to a statutory formula and the adjusted amounts will apply to penalties assessed after the effective date of these rules.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 246 (Tuesday, December 28, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 28, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73638-73641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28075]
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FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
11 CFR Part 111
[Notice 2021-20]
Civil Monetary Penalties Annual Inflation Adjustments
AGENCY: Federal Election Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: As required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation
Adjustment Act of 1990, the Federal Election Commission is adjusting
for inflation the civil monetary penalties established under the
Federal Election Campaign Act, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund
Act, and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act. The
civil monetary penalties being adjusted are those negotiated by the
Commission or imposed by a court for certain statutory violations, and
those imposed by the Commission for late filing of or failure to file
certain reports required by the Federal Election Campaign Act. The
adjusted civil monetary penalties are calculated according to a
statutory formula and the adjusted amounts will apply to penalties
assessed after the effective date of these rules.
DATES: The final rules are effective on December 28, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert M. Knop, Assistant General
Counsel, Mr. Joseph P. Wenzinger, Attorney, or Ms. Terrell D.
Stansbury, Paralegal, Office of General Counsel, (202) 694-1650 or
(800) 424-9530.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation
Adjustment Act of 1990 (the ``Inflation Adjustment Act''),\1\ as
amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act
Improvements Act of
[[Page 73639]]
2015 (the ``2015 Act''),\2\ requires federal agencies, including the
Commission, to adjust for inflation the civil monetary penalties within
their jurisdiction according to prescribed formulas. A civil monetary
penalty is ``any penalty, fine, or other sanction'' that (1) ``is for a
specific monetary amount'' or ``has a maximum amount'' under federal
law; and (2) that a federal agency assesses or enforces ``pursuant to
an administrative proceeding or a civil action'' in federal court.\3\
Under the Federal Election Campaign Act, 52 U.S.C. 30101 through 45
(``FECA''), the Commission may seek and assess civil monetary penalties
for violations of FECA, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act, 26
U.S.C. 9001 through 13, and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment
Account Act, 26 U.S.C. 9031 through 42.
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\1\ Public Law 101-410, 104 Stat. 890 (codified at 28 U.S.C.
2461 note), amended by Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996,
Public Law 104-134, 31001(s)(1), 110 Stat. 1321, 1321-373; Federal
Reports Elimination Act of 1998, Public Law 105-362, 1301, 112 Stat.
3280.
\2\ Public Law 114-74, section 701, 129 Stat. 584, 599.
\3\ Inflation Adjustment Act section 3(2).
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The Inflation Adjustment Act requires federal agencies to adjust
their civil penalties annually, and the adjustments must take effect no
later than January 15 of every year.\4\ Pursuant to guidance issued by
the Office of Management and Budget,\5\ the Commission is now adjusting
its civil monetary penalties for 2022.\6\
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\4\ Inflation Adjustment Act section 4(a).
\5\ See Inflation Adjustment Act Sec. 7(a) (requiring OMB to
``issue guidance to agencies on implementing the inflation
adjustments required under this Act''); see also Memorandum from
Shalanda D. Young, Acting Director, Office of Management and Budget,
to Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, M-22-07, Dec. 15,
2021, <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/M-22-07.pdf">https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/M-22-07.pdf</a> (``OMB Memorandum'').
\6\ Inflation Adjustment Act section 5.
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The Commission must adjust for inflation its civil monetary
penalties ``notwithstanding Section 553'' of the Administrative
Procedure Act (``APA'').\7\ Thus, the APA's notice-and-comment and
delayed effective date requirements in 5 U.S.C. 553(b) through (d) do
not apply because Congress has specifically exempted agencies from
these requirements.\8\
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\7\ Inflation Adjustment Act section 4(b)(2).
\8\ See, e.g., Asiana Airlines v. FAA, 134 F.3d 393, 396-99
(D.C. Cir. 1998) (finding APA ``notice and comment'' requirement not
applicable where Congress clearly expressed intent to depart from
normal APA procedures).
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Furthermore, because the inflation adjustments made through these
final rules are required by Congress and involve no Commission
discretion or policy judgments, these rules do not need to be submitted
to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives or the
President of the United States Senate under the Congressional Review
Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq. Moreover, because the APA's notice-and-
comment procedures do not apply to these final rules, the Commission is
not required to conduct a regulatory flexibility analysis under 5
U.S.C. 603 or 604. See 5 U.S.C. 601(2), 604(a). Nor is the Commission
required to submit these revisions for congressional review under FECA.
See 5 U.S.C. 30111(d)(1), (4) (providing for congressional review when
Commission ``prescribe[s]'' a ``rule of law'').
The new penalty amounts will apply to civil monetary penalties that
are assessed after the date the increase takes effect, even if the
associated violation predated the increase.\9\
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\9\ Inflation Adjustment Act section 6.
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Explanation and Justification
The Inflation Adjustment Act requires the Commission to annually
adjust its civil monetary penalties for inflation by applying a cost-
of-living-adjustment (``COLA'') ratio.\10\ The COLA ratio is the
percentage that the Consumer Price Index (``CPI'') \11\ ``for the month
of October preceding the date of the adjustment'' exceeds the CPI for
October of the previous year.\12\ To calculate the adjusted penalty,
the Commission must increase the most recent civil monetary penalty
amount by the COLA ratio.\13\ According to the Office of Management and
Budget, the COLA ratio for 2022 is 0.01622, or 1.622%; thus, to
calculate the new penalties, the Commission must multiply the most
recent civil monetary penalties in force by 1.06222.\14\
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\10\ The COLA ratio must be applied to the most recent civil
monetary penalties. Inflation Adjustment Act, section 4(a); see also
OMB Memorandum at 2.
\11\ The Inflation Adjustment Act, section 3, uses the CPI ``for
all-urban consumers published by the Department of Labor.''
\12\ Inflation Adjustment Act, section 5(b)(1).
\13\ Inflation Adjustment Act, section 5(a), (b)(1).
\14\ OMB Memorandum at 1.
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The Commission assesses two types of civil monetary penalties that
must be adjusted for inflation. First are penalties that are either
negotiated by the Commission or imposed by a court for violations of
FECA, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act, or the Presidential
Primary Matching Payment Account Act. These civil monetary penalties
are set forth at 11 CFR 111.24. Second are the civil monetary penalties
assessed through the Commission's Administrative Fines Program for late
filing or non-filing of certain reports required by FECA. See 52 U.S.C.
30109(a)(4)(C) (authorizing Administrative Fines Program), 30104(a)
(requiring political committee treasurers to report receipts and
disbursements within certain time periods). The penalty schedules for
these civil monetary penalties are set out at 11 CFR 111.43 and 111.44.
1. 11 CFR 111.24--Civil Penalties
FECA establishes the civil monetary penalties for violations of
FECA and the other statutes within the Commission's jurisdiction. See
52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(5), (6), (12). Commission regulations in 11 CFR
111.24 provide the current inflation-adjusted amount for each such
civil monetary penalty. To calculate the adjusted civil monetary
penalty, the Commission multiplies the most recent penalty amount by
the COLA ratio and rounds that figure to the nearest dollar.
The actual adjustment to each civil monetary penalty is shown in
the chart below.
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Most recent New civil
Section civil penalty COLA penalty
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11 CFR 111.24(a)(1)........................................... $20,528 1.06222 21,805
11 CFR 111.24(a)(2)(i)........................................ 43,792 1.06222 46,517
11 CFR 111.24(a)(2)(ii)....................................... 71,812 1.06222 76,280
11 CFR 111.24(b).............................................. 6,141 1.06222 6,523
11 CFR 111.24(b).............................................. 15,352 1.06222 16,307
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2. 11 CFR 111.43, 111.44--Administrative Fines
FECA authorizes the Commission to assess civil monetary penalties
for violations of the reporting requirements of 52 U.S.C. 30104(a)
according to the penalty schedules ``established and published by the
Commission.'' 52 U.S.C. 30109(a)(4)(C)(i). The Commission has
established two penalty schedules: The penalty schedule in 11 CFR
111.43(a) applies to reports that are not election sensitive, and the
penalty schedule in 11 CFR
[[Page 73640]]
111.43(b) applies to reports that are election sensitive.\15\ Each
penalty schedule contains two columns of penalties, one for late-filed
reports and one for non-filed reports, with penalties based on the
level of financial activity in the report and, if late-filed, its
lateness.\16\ In addition, 11 CFR 111.43(c) establishes a civil
monetary penalty for situations in which a committee fails to file a
report and the Commission cannot calculate the relevant level of
activity. Finally, 11 CFR 111.44 establishes a civil monetary penalty
for failure to file timely reports of contributions received less than
20 days, but more than 48 hours, before an election. See 52 U.S.C.
30104(a)(6).
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\15\ Election sensitive reports are certain reports due shortly
before an election. See 11 CFR 111.43(d)(1).
\16\ A report is considered to be ``not filed'' if it is never
filed or is filed more than a certain number of days after its due
date. See 11 CFR 111.43(e).
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To determine the adjusted civil monetary penalty amount for each
level of activity, the Commission multiplies the most recent penalty
amount by the COLA ratio and rounds that figure to the nearest dollar.
The new civil monetary penalties are shown in the schedules in the rule
text, below.
List of Subjects in 11 CFR Part 111
Administrative practice and procedures, Elections, Law enforcement,
Penalties.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Federal Election
Commission amends 11 CFR part 111 as follows:
PART 111--COMPLIANCE PROCEDURE (52 U.S.C. 30109, 30107(a))
0
1. The authority citation for part 111 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 52 U.S.C. 30102(i), 30109, 30107(a), 30111(a)(8); 28
U.S.C. 2461 nt.
Sec. 111.24 [Amended]
0
2. In Sec. 111.24, in the table below, for each paragraph indicated in
the left column, remove the number indicated in the middle column, and
add in its place the number indicated in the right column.
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Section Remove Add
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111.24(a)(1)........................................ $20,528 $21,805
111.24(a)(2)(i)..................................... 43,792 46,517
111.24(a)(2)(ii).................................... 71,812 76,280
111.24(b)........................................... 6,141 6,523
111.24(b)........................................... 15,352 16,307
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0
3. Section 111.43 is amended by revising paragraphs (a), (b), and (c)
to read as follows:
Sec. 111.43 What are the schedules of penalties?
(a) The civil money penalty for all reports that are filed late or
not filed, except election sensitive reports and pre-election reports
under 11 CFR 104.5, shall be calculated in accordance with the
following schedule of penalties:
Table 1 to Paragraph (a)
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And the report Or the report
If the level of activity in the was filed late, was not filed,
report was: the civil money the civil money
penalty is: penalty is:
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$1-4,999.99 \a\.................... [$38 + ($6 x $373 x [1 + (.25
Number of days x Number of
late)] x [1 + previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$5,000-9,999.99.................... [$74 + ($6 x $448 x [1 + (.25
Number of days x Number of
late)] x [1 + previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$10,000-24,999.99.................. [$160 + ($6 x $748 x [1 + (.25
Number of days x Number of
late)] x [1 + previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$25,000-49,999.99.................. [$317 + ($30 x $1,346 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$50,000-74,999.99.................. [$478 + ($120 x $4,292 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$75,000-99,999.99.................. [$635 + ($160 x $5,563 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$100,000-149,999.99................ [$952 + ($199 x $7,154 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$150,000-199,999.99................ [$1,274 + ($238 x $8,743 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$200,000-249,999.99................ [$1,589 + ($277 x $10,332 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$250,000-349,999.99................ [$2,385 + ($317 x $12,717 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$350,000-449,999.99................ [$3,180 + ($317 x $14,306 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$450,000-549,999.99................ [$3,974 + ($317 x $15,101 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$550,000-649,999.99................ [$4,768 + ($317 x $15,897 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$650,000-749,999.99................ [$5,563 + ($317 x $16,691 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$750,000-849,999.99................ [$6,358 + ($317 x $17,485 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$850,000-949,999.99................ [$7,154 + ($317 x $ 18,280 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$950,000 or over................... [$7,948 + ($317 x $19,075 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ The civil money penalty for a respondent who does not have any
previous violations will not exceed the level of activity in the
report.
[[Page 73641]]
(b) The civil money penalty for election sensitive reports that are
filed late or not filed shall be calculated in accordance with the
following schedule of penalties:
Table 2 to Paragraph (b)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
And the report Or the report
If the level of activity in the was filed late, was not filed,
report was: the civil money the civil money
penalty is: penalty is:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1-$4,999.99 \a\................... [$74 + ($14 x $748 x [1 + (.25
Number of days x Number of
late)] x [1 + previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$5,000-$9,999.99................... [$150 + ($14 x $897 x [1 + (.25
Number of days x Number of
late)] x [1 + previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$10,000-24,999.99.................. [$224 + ($14 x $1,346 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$25,000-49,999.99.................. [$478 + ($38 x $2,093 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$50,000-74,999.99.................. [$716 + ($120 x $4,768 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$75,000-99,999.99.................. [$952 + ($160 x $6,358 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$100,000-149,999.99................ [$1,431 + ($199 x $7,948 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$150,000-199,999.99................ [$1,908 + ($238 x $9,537 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$200,000-249,999.99................ [$2,385 + ($277 x $11,922 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$250,000-349,999.99................ [$3,576 + ($317 x $14,306 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$350,000-449,999.99................ [$4,768 + ($317 x $15,897 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$450,000-549,999.99................ [$5,961 + ($317 x $17,485 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$550,000-649,999.99................ [$7,154 + ($317 x $19,075 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$650,000-749,999.99................ [$8,346 + ($317 x $20,665 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$750,000-849,999.99................ [$9,537 + ($317 x $22,255 x [1 +
Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$850,000-949,999.99................ [$10,729 + ($317 $23,843 x [1 +
x Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
$950,000 or over................... [$11,922 + ($317 $25,434 x [1 +
x Number of days (.25 x Number
late)] x [1 + of previous
(.25 x Number of violations)].
previous
violations)].
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ The civil money penalty for a respondent who does not have any
previous violations will not exceed the level of activity in the
report.
(c) If the respondent fails to file a required report and the
Commission cannot calculate the level of activity under paragraph (d)
of this section, then the civil money penalty shall be $8,743.
* * * * *
Sec. 111.44 [Amended]
0
4. In Sec. 111.44, in paragraph (a)(1), remove ``$151'' and add in its
place ``$160''.
Dated: December 21, 2021.
On behalf of the Commission,
Ellen L. Weintraub,
Commissioner, Federal Election Commission.
[FR Doc. 2021-28075 Filed 12-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6715-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 28, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.