Rule2024-01449
Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties for Inflation
Primary source
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Published
January 25, 2024
Effective
January 25, 2024
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
The Department of Education (Department) issues these final regulations to adjust the Department's civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation. This adjustment is required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (2015 Act), which amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Inflation Adjustment Act). These final regulations provide the 2024 annual inflation adjustments being made to the penalty amounts in the Department's final regulations published in the Federal Register on January 30, 2023 (2023 final rule).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4829-4833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01449]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Parts 36 and 668
RIN 1801-AA25
Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties for Inflation
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Final regulations.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) issues these final
[[Page 4830]]
regulations to adjust the Department's civil monetary penalties (CMPs)
for inflation. This adjustment is required by the Federal Civil
Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (2015 Act),
which amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of
1990 (Inflation Adjustment Act). These final regulations provide the
2024 annual inflation adjustments being made to the penalty amounts in
the Department's final regulations published in the Federal Register on
January 30, 2023 (2023 final rule).
DATES: These regulations are effective January 25, 2024. The adjusted
CMPs established by these regulations are applicable only to civil
penalties assessed after January 25, 2024, whose associated violations
occurred after November 2, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhondalyn Primes, U.S. Department of
Education, Office of the General Counsel, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, room
6C150, Washington, DC 20202-2241. Telephone: (202) 453-6444. Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d5a7bdbabbb1b4b9acbbfba5a7bcb8b0a695b0b1fbb2baa3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e2908a8d8c86838e9b8ccc92908b8f8791a28786cc858d94">[email protected]</span></a>.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
A CMP is defined in the Inflation Adjustment Act (28 U.S.C. 2461
note) as any penalty, fine, or other sanction that is (1) for a
specific monetary amount as provided by Federal law, or has a maximum
amount provided for by Federal law; (2) assessed or enforced by an
agency pursuant to Federal law; and (3) assessed or enforced pursuant
to an administrative proceeding or a civil action in the Federal
courts.
The Inflation Adjustment Act provides for the regular evaluation of
CMPs to ensure that they continue to maintain their deterrent value.
The Inflation Adjustment Act required that each agency issue
regulations to adjust its CMPs beginning in 1996 and at least every
four years thereafter. The Department published its most recent cost
adjustment to its CMPs in the Federal Register on January 30, 2023 (88
FR 5784), and those adjustments became effective on the date of
publication.
The 2015 Act (section 701 of Pub. L. 114-74) amended the Inflation
Adjustment Act to improve the effectiveness of CMPs and to maintain
their deterrent effect.
The 2015 Act requires agencies to: (1) adjust the level of CMPs
with an initial ``catch-up'' adjustment through an interim final rule
(IFR); and (2) make subsequent annual adjustments for inflation. Catch-
up adjustments are based on the percentage change between the Consumer
Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the month of October in
the year the penalty was last adjusted by a statute other than the
Inflation Adjustment Act, and the October 2015 CPI-U. Annual inflation
adjustments are based on the percentage change between the October CPI-
U preceding the date of each statutory adjustment, and the prior year's
October CPI-U.\1\ The Department published an IFR with the initial
``catch-up'' penalty adjustment amounts on August 1, 2016 (81 FR
50321).
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\1\ If a statute that created a penalty is amended to change the
penalty amount, the Department does not adjust the penalty in the
year following the adjustment.
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In these final regulations, based on the CPI-U for the month of
October 2023, not seasonally adjusted, we are annually adjusting each
CMP amount by a multiplier for 2024 of 1.03241, as directed by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum No. M-24-07 issued on
December 19, 2023.
The Department's Civil Monetary Penalties
The following analysis calculates new CMPs for penalty statutes in
the order in which they appear in 34 CFR 36.2. The penalty amounts are
being adjusted up based on the multiplier of 1.03241 provided in OMB
Memorandum No. M-24-07.
Statute: 20 U.S.C. 1015(c)(5).
Current Regulations: The CMP for 20 U.S.C. 1015(c)(5) (section
131(c)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)), as
last set out in statute in 1998 (Pub. L. 105-244, title I, section
101(a), October 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1602), is a fine of up to $25,000
for failure by an institution of higher education (IHE) to provide
information on the cost of higher education to the Commissioner of
Education Statistics. In the 2023 final rule, we increased this amount
to $45,429.
New Regulations: The new penalty for this section is $46,901.
Reason: Using the multiplier of 1.03241 from OMB Memorandum No. M-
24-07, the new penalty is calculated as follows: $45,429 x 1.03241 =
$46,901.3552, which makes the adjusted penalty $46,901, when rounded to
the nearest dollar.
Statute: 20 U.S.C. 1022d(a)(3).
Current Regulations: The CMP for 20 U.S.C. 1022d(a)(3) (section
205(a)(3) of the HEA), as last set out in statute in 2008 (Pub. L. 110-
315, title II, section 201(2), August 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3147), is a
fine of up to $27,500 for failure by an IHE to provide information to
the State and the public regarding its teacher-preparation programs. In
the 2023 final rule, we increased this amount to $37,839.
New Regulations: The new penalty for this section is $39,065.
Reason: Using the multiplier of 1.03241 from OMB Memorandum No. M-
24-07, the new penalty is calculated as follows: $37,839 x 1.03241 =
$39,065.36, which makes the adjusted penalty $39,065, when rounded to
the nearest dollar.
Statute: 20 U.S.C. 1082(g).
Current Regulations: The CMP for 20 U.S.C. 1082(g) (section 432(g)
of the HEA), as last set out in statute in 1986 (Pub. L. 99-498, title
IV, section 402(a), October 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1401), is a fine of up
to $25,000 for violations by lenders and guaranty agencies of Title IV
of the HEA, which authorizes the Federal Family Education Loan Program.
In the 2023 final rule, we increased this amount to $67,544.
New Regulations: The new penalty for this section is $69,733.
Reason: Using the multiplier of 1.03241 from OMB Memorandum No. M-
24-07, the new penalty is calculated as follows: $67,544 x 1.03241 =
$69,733.10, which makes the adjusted penalty $69,733, when rounded to
the nearest dollar.
Statute: 20 U.S.C. 1094(c)(3)(B).
Current Regulations: The CMP for 20 U.S.C. 1094(c)(3)(B) (section
487(c)(3)(B) of the HEA), as set out in statute in 1986 (Pub. L. 99-
498, title IV, section 407(a), October 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1488), is a
fine of up to $25,000 for an IHE's violation of title IV of the HEA or
its implementing regulations. Title IV authorizes various programs of
student financial assistance. In the 2023 final rule, we increased this
amount to $67,544.
New Regulations: The new penalty for this section is $69,733.
Reason: Using the multiplier of 1.03241 from OMB Memorandum No. M-
24-07, the new penalty is calculated as follows: $67,544 x 1.03241 =
$69,733.10, which makes the adjusted penalty $69,733, when rounded to
the nearest dollar.
Statute: 20 U.S.C. 1228c(c)(2)(E).
Current Regulations: The CMP for 20 U.S.C. 1228c(c)(2)(E) (section
429 of the General Education Provisions Act), as set out in statute in
1994 (Pub. L. 103-382, title II, section 238, October 20, 1994, 108
Stat. 3918), is a fine of up to $1,000 for an educational
organization's failure to disclose certain information to minor
students and their parents. In the
[[Page 4831]]
2023 final rule, we increased this amount to $1,993.
New Regulations: The new penalty for this section is $2,058.
Reason: Using the multiplier of 1.03241 from OMB Memorandum No. M-
24-07, the new penalty is calculated as follows: $1,993 x 1.03241 =
$2,057.59, which makes the adjusted penalty $2,058, when rounded to the
nearest dollar.
Statute: 31 U.S.C. 1352(c)(1) and (c)(2)(A).
Current Regulations: The CMPs for 31 U.S.C. 1352(c)(1) and
(c)(2)(A), as set out in statute in 1989 (Pub. L. 101-121, title III,
section 319(a)(1), October 23, 1989, 103 Stat. 750), are a fine of
$10,000 to $100,000 for recipients of Government grants, contracts,
etc. that improperly lobby Congress or the executive branch with
respect to the award of Government grants and contracts. In the 2022
final rule, we increased these amounts to $23,727 to $237,268.
New Regulations: The new penalties for these sections are $24,496
to $244,958.
Reason: Using the multiplier of 1.03241 from OMB Memorandum No. M-
24-07, the new minimum penalty is calculated as follows: $23,727 x
1.03241 = $24,495.99, which makes the adjusted penalty $24,496, when
rounded to the nearest dollar. The new maximum penalty is calculated as
follows: $237,268 x 1.03241 = $244,957.85, which makes the adjusted
penalty $244,958, when rounded to the nearest dollar.
Statute: 31 U.S.C. 3802(a)(1) and (a)(2).
Current Regulations: The CMPs for 31 U.S.C. 3802(a)(1) and (a)(2),
as set out in statute in 1986 (Pub. L. 99-509, title VI, section
6103(a), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1937), are a fine of up to $5,000 for
false claims and statements made to the Government. In the 2023 final
rule, we increased this amount to $13,508.
New Regulations: The new penalty for this section is $13,946.
Reason: Using the multiplier of 1.03241 from OMB Memorandum No. M-
24-07, the new penalty is calculated as follows: $13,508 x 1.03241 =
$13,945.79, which makes the adjusted penalty $13,946 when rounded to
the nearest dollar.
Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 14094
Regulatory Impact Analysis
Under Executive Order 12866, the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) must determine whether this regulatory action is ``significant''
and, therefore, subject to the requirements of the Executive order and
subject to review by OMB. Section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, as
amended by Executive Order 14094, defines a ``significant regulatory
action'' as an action likely to result in a rule that may--
(1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $200 million or more
(adjusted every 3 years by the Administrator of OIRA for changes in
gross domestic product); or adversely affect in a material way the
economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the
environment, public health or safety, or State, local, territorial, or
Tribal governments or communities;
(2) Create serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an
action taken or planned by another agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary impacts of entitlements, grants,
user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients
thereof; or
(4) Raise legal or policy issues for which centralized review would
meaningfully further the President's priorities, or the principles set
forth in this Executive order, as specifically authorized in a timely
manner by the Administrator of OIRA in each case.
We have determined that these final regulations: (1) exclusively
implement the annual adjustment; (2) are consistent with OMB Memorandum
No. M-24-07; and (3) have an annual impact of less than $200 million.
Therefore, based on OMB Memorandum No. M-24-07, this is not a
significant regulatory action subject to review by OMB under section
3(f) of Executive Order 12866 (as amended by Executive Order 14094).
We have also reviewed these regulations under Executive Order
13563, which supplements and explicitly reaffirms the principles,
structures, and definitions governing regulatory review established in
Executive Order 12866 (as amended by Executive Order 14094). To the
extent permitted by law, Executive Order 13563 requires that an
agency--
(1) Propose or adopt regulations only upon a reasoned determination
that their benefits justify their costs (recognizing that some benefits
and costs are difficult to quantify);
(2) Tailor its regulations to impose the least burden on society,
consistent with obtaining regulatory objectives and taking into
account, among other things, and to the extent practicable, the costs
of cumulative regulations;
(3) In choosing among alternative regulatory approaches, select
those approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential
economic, environmental, public health and safety, and other
advantages; distributive impacts; and equity);
(4) To the extent feasible, specify performance objectives, rather
than the behavior or manner of compliance a regulated entity must
adopt; and
(5) Identify and assess available alternatives to direct
regulation, including economic incentives--such as user fees or
marketable permits--to encourage the desired behavior, or providing
information that enables the public to make choices.
Executive Order 13563 also requires an agency ``to use the best
available techniques to quantify anticipated present and future
benefits and costs as accurately as possible.'' The Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB has emphasized that these
techniques may include ``identifying changing future compliance costs
that might result from technological innovation or anticipated
behavioral changes.''
We are issuing these final regulations as required by statute and
in accordance with OMB Memorandum No. M-24-07. The Secretary has no
discretion to consider alternative approaches as delineated in the
Executive order. Based on this analysis and the reasons stated in the
preamble, the Department believes that these final regulations are
consistent with the principles in Executive Order 13563.
Waiver of Rulemaking and Delayed Effective Date
Under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553), the
Department generally offers interested parties the opportunity to
comment on proposed regulations. However, section 4(b)(2) of the 2015
Act (28 U.S.C. 2461 note) provides that the Secretary can adjust these
2024 penalty amounts notwithstanding the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553.
Therefore, the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553 for notice and comment and
delaying the effective date of a final rule do not apply here.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 601(2), the Regulatory Flexibility Act applies
only to rules for which an agency publishes a general notice of
proposed rulemaking. The Regulatory Flexibility Act does not apply to
this rulemaking because section 4(b)(2) of the 2015 Act (28 U.S.C. 2461
note) provides that the Secretary can adjust these 2024 penalty amounts
without publishing a general notice of proposed rulemaking.
[[Page 4832]]
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
These regulations do not contain any information collection
requirements.
Intergovernmental Review
This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and the
regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
Assessment of Educational Impact
Based on our own review, we have determined that these regulations
do not require transmission of information that any other agency or
authority of the United States gathers or makes available.
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document in an accessible format. The Department will
provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich
Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file,
braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible
format.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at <a href="http://www.govinfo.gov">www.govinfo.gov</a>. At this site you can view this
document, as well as all other documents of this Department published
in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at
the site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
List of Subjects
34 CFR Part 36
Claims, Fraud, Penalties.
34 CFR Part 668
Administrative practice and procedure, Aliens, Colleges and
universities, Consumer protection, Grant programs--education, Loan
programs--education, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements,
Selective Service System, Student aid, Vocational education.
Miguel Cardona,
Secretary of Education.
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Secretary amends
parts 36 and 668 of title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations as
follows:
PART 36--ADJUSTMENT OF CIVIL MONETARY PENALTIES FOR INFLATION
0
1. The authority citation for part 36 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3 and 3474; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, as
amended by Sec. 701 of Pub. Law 114-74, unless otherwise noted.
0
2. Section 36.2 is amended by revising the table to the section to read
as follows:
Sec. 36.2 Penalty adjustment.
* * * * *
Table 1 to Sec. 36.2--Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustments
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New maximum (and
minimum, if
Statute Description applicable)
penalty amount
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20 U.S.C. 1015(c)(5) (section Provides for a $46,901.
131(c)(5) of the Higher fine, as set by
Education Act of 1965 (HEA)). Congress in 1998,
of up to $25,000
for failure by an
institution of
higher education
(IHE) to provide
information on
the cost of
higher education
to the
Commissioner of
Education
Statistics.
20 U.S.C. 1022d(a)(3) (section Provides for a 39,065.
205(a)(3) of the HEA). fine, as set by
Congress in 2008,
of up to $27,500
for failure by an
IHE to provide
information to
the State and the
public regarding
its teacher-
preparation
programs.
20 U.S.C. 1082(g) (section Provides for a 69,733.
432(g) of the HEA). civil penalty, as
set by Congress
in 1986, of up to
$25,000 for
violations by
lenders and
guaranty agencies
of title IV of
the HEA, which
authorizes the
Federal Family
Education Loan
Program.
20 U.S.C. 1094(c)(3)(B) (section Provides for a 69,733.
487(c)(3)(B) of the HEA). civil penalty, as
set by Congress
in 1986, of up to
$25,000 for an
IHE's violation
of title IV of
the HEA, which
authorizes
various programs
of student
financial
assistance.
20 U.S.C. 1228c(c)(2)(E) Provides for a 2,058.
(section 429 of the General civil penalty, as
Education Provisions Act). set by Congress
in 1994, of up to
$1,000 for an
educational
organization's
failure to
disclose certain
information to
minor students
and their parents.
31 U.S.C. 1352(c)(1) and Provides for a $24,496 to
(c)(2)(A). civil penalty, as $244,958.
set by Congress
in 1989, of
$10,000 to
$100,000 for
recipients of
Government
grants,
contracts, etc.
that improperly
lobby Congress or
the executive
branch with
respect to the
award of
Government grants
and contracts.
31 U.S.C. 3802(a)(1) and (a)(2). Provides for a 13,946.
civil penalty, as
set by Congress
in 1986, of up to
$5,000 for false
claims and
statements made
to the Government.
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[[Page 4833]]
PART 668--STUDENT ASSISTANCE GENERAL PROVISIONS
0
3. The authority citation for part 668 continues to read in part as
follows:
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1001-1003, 1070g, 1085, 1088, 1091, 1092,
1094, 1099c, 1099c-1, and 1231a, unless otherwise noted.
Sec. 668.84 [Amended]
0
4. Section 668.84 is amended in the introductory text of paragraph
(a)(1) by removing the number ``$67,544'' and adding, in its place, the
number ``$69,733''.
[FR Doc. 2024-01449 Filed 1-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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