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AGENCY:
Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
The Department of Veterans Affairs is amending its regulations by making nonsubstantive changes to ensure consistency within its regulations regarding a nomenclature change in the title of a Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment position.
DATES:
Effective Date: This final rule is effective May 2, 2016.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
C.J. Riley, Policy Analyst, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service (28), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 461-9600. (This is not a toll-free telephone number.)
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End Preamble
Start Supplemental Information
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
In January 2000, the name of VA's program, Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling (VR&C), responsible for assisting veterans with service-connected disabilities to obtain and maintain suitable employment and achieve maximum independence in daily living was changed to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E). This change reflects the major goal of the program by focusing on employment. As outlined by VA's Office of Field Operations (OFO) in OFO Letter 20F-11-09, a National Journey-Level Counseling Psychologist (CP)/Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) Performance Plan was implemented on December 16, 2003. The performance plan described how the job duties and qualifications for a CP and VRC were the same. As a result, the position description for CP was amended to include the synonymous title of VRC. Since this change, VA has updated several regulations to include this synonymous title. To ensure consistency within the regulations, this final rule amends VA regulations to reflect this nomenclature change in the title for this VR&E position.
VA is also correcting two spelling mistakes. In 38 CFR 21.94(b), VA corrects the spelling of the word “statement.” The current text misspells “statement” as “staement.” In § 21.4232(a)(2)(i), VA corrects the spelling of “Rehabilation” to read “Rehabilitation”. No substantive changes are intended by these amendments.
Administrative Procedure Act
This final rule concerns only agency organization, procedure, or practice and, therefore, is not subject to the notice and comment provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(b). See 38 U.S.C. 553(b)(A). This final rule consists of only nonsubstantive changes that will make the regulations more accurate and less confusing to readers. For this reason, VA has also determined that there is good cause to waive the 30-day delay effective date requirement under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, when regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, and other advantages; distributive impacts; and equity). Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review) emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility. Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) defines a “significant regulatory action” requiring review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), unless OMB waives such review, as “any regulatory action that is likely to result in a rule that may: (1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more 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, or tribal governments or communities; (2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency; (3) Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or (4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in this Executive Order.”
The economic, interagency, budgetary, legal, and policy implications of this regulatory action have been examined, and it has been determined not to be a significant regulatory action under Executive Order Start Printed Page 2613112866. VA's impact analysis can be found as a supporting document at http://www.regulations.gov, usually within 48 hours after the rulemaking document is published. Additionally, a copy of the rulemaking and its impact analysis are available on VA's Web site at http://www.va.gov/orpm/, by following the link for “VA Regulations Published From FY 2004 Through Fiscal Year to Date.”
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Secretary hereby certifies that this final 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 final rule will directly affect only individuals and will not directly affect small entities. Therefore, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b), this rulemaking is exempt from the regulatory flexibility analysis requirements of section 604.
Unfunded Mandates
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires, at 2 U.S.C. 1532, that agencies prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and benefits before issuing any rule that may result in the expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more (adjusted annually for inflation) in any one year. This final rule will have no such effect on State, local, and tribal governments, or on the private sector.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This final rule contains no provisions constituting a collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521).
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number and title for the program affected by this final rule is 64.116, Vocational Rehabilitation for Disabled Veterans.
Signing Authority
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Robert D. Snyder, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this document on April 21, 2016, for publication.
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- Administrative practice and procedure
- Armed forces
- Civil rights
- Claims
- Colleges and universities
- Conflict of interests
- Education
- Employment
- Grant programs—education
- Grant programs—veterans
- Health care
- Loan programs—education
- Loan programs—veterans
- Manpower training programs
- Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
- Schools
- Travel and transportation expenses
- Veterans
- Vocational education
- Vocational rehabilitation
End List of Subjects
Start Signature
Dated: April 26, 2016.
William F. Russo,
Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
End Signature
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Department of Veterans Affairs amends 38 CFR part 21 as follows:
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PART 21—VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION
Subpart A—Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 31
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Start Amendment Part1. The authority citation for part 21, subpart A, continues to read as follows:
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Start Authority
38 U.S.C. 501(a), chs. 18, 31, and as noted in specific sections.
End Authority
Start Amendment Part2. Amend § 21.53 by:
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Start Amendment Parta. In the first sentence of paragraph (f), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
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Start Amendment Partb. In the last sentence of paragraph (f), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “CP or VRC”.
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Start Amendment Partc. In paragraph (g) introductory text, removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “CP or VRC”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Part3. Amend § 21.57(d) by removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Part4. Amend § 21.60 by:
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Start Amendment Parta. In paragraph (b)(1), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
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Start Amendment Partb. In paragraph (e)(1), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “CP or VRC”.
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Start Amendment Part5. Amend § 21.72 by:
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Start Amendment Parta. In the first sentence of paragraph (c)(1), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
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Start Amendment Partb. In the second sentence of paragraph (c)(2), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “CP or VRC”.
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Start Amendment Partc. In paragraph (d)(2), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “CP or VRC”.
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Start Amendment Part6. Amend § 21.74 by:
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Start Amendment Parta. In paragraph (c)(1), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
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Start Amendment Partb. In paragraphs (c)(2) and (c)(3), removing all references to “counseling psychologist” and adding, in each place, “CP or VRC”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Part7. Amend the first sentence of § 21.76(b) by removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Part8. Amend the first sentence of § 21.78(d) by removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Part9. Amend § 21.92 by:
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Start Amendment Parta. In paragraph (b), removing “counseling psychologist,” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
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Start Amendment Partb. In paragraph (c), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “CP or VRC”.
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Start Amendment Partc. In paragraph (d), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “CP or VRC”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Part10. Amend § 21.94 by:
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Start Amendment Parta. In paragraph (a), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP), Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC),”.
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Start Amendment Partb. In the first sentence of paragraph (b) introductory text, removing “staement” and adding, in its place, “statement”, and removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “CP or VRC”.
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Start Printed Page 26132
[Amended]
Start Amendment Part11. Amend § 21.98(b) introductory text by removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP), the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC),”.
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Start Amendment Part12. Amend § 21.100 by:
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Start Amendment Parta. In paragraph (d)(1), removing “counseling psychologists” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologists (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRC)”.
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Start Amendment Partb. In paragraph (d)(3)(ii), removing “counseling psychologists” and adding, in its place, “a CP or VRC”.
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Start Amendment Partc. In paragraph (d)(4), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “CP or VRC”.
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Start Amendment Part13. Amend the second sentence of § 21.180(c) by removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP), Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC),”.
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Start Amendment Part14. Amend § 21.274(e)(1) by removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP), Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC),”.
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Start Amendment Part15. Amend the second sentence of § 21.299(a) by removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
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Start Amendment Part16. Amend the second sentence of § 21.364(a) introductory text by removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Part17. Amend § 21.380(a)(1) by removing “Counseling psychologists” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologists (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Subpart C—Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35
Start Amendment Part18. The authority citation for part 21, subpart C, continues to read as follows:
End Amendment Part
Start Authority
38 U.S.C. 501(a), 512, 3500-3566, and as noted in specific sections.
End Authority
Start Amendment Part19. Amend § 21.3102(a) by removing “VA counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Part20. Amend § 21.3301(e) by removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Subpart D—Administration of Educational Assistance Programs
Start Amendment Part21. The authority citation for part 21, subpart D, continues to read as follows:
End Amendment Part
Start Authority
10 U.S.C. 2141 note, ch. 1606; 38 U.S.C. 501(a), chs. 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and as noted in specific sections.
End Authority
Start Amendment Part22. Amend § 21.4232 by:
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Start Amendment Parta. In paragraph (a)(2) introductory text, removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Partb. In paragraph (a)(2)(i), removing “Rehabilation” and adding, in its place, “Rehabilitation”.
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Start Amendment Partc. In paragraphs (a)(3) and (d), removing all references to “counseling psychologist” and adding, in each place, “CP or VRC”.
End Amendment Part
Subpart I—Temporary Program of Vocational Training for Certain New Pension Recipients
Start Amendment Part23. The authority citation for part 21, subpart I, continues to read as follows:
End Amendment Part
Start Authority
Pub. L. 98-543, 38 U.S.C. 501 and chapter 15, sections specifically cited, unless otherwise noted.
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Start Amendment Part24. Amend § 21.6005 by adding a paragraph (j)(10) to read as follows:
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Definitions.
* * * * *
(j) * * *
(10) Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.
Start Amendment Part25. Amend § 21.6052 by:
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Start Amendment Parta. In paragraph (b)(1), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Partb. In paragraph (c), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “CP or VRC”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Part26. Amend § 21.6056 by:
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Parta. In the last sentence of paragraph (a), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Partb. In the first sentence in paragraph (b), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “CP or VRC”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Partc. In the first sentence in paragraph (c), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “CP or VRC”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Part27. Amend § 21.6059 by:
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Parta. In paragraph (b)(1), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Partb. In paragraph (b)(2), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “CP or VRC”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Part28. Amend § 21.6070 by:
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Parta. In the first sentence in paragraph (b), removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Partb. In paragraph (e) introductory text, removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “CP or VRC”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Part29. Amend § 21.6072(d)(2) by removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Part30. Amend § 21.6080(d) introductory text by removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Subpart J—Temporary Program of Vocational Training and Rehabilitation
Start Amendment Part31. The authority citation for part 21, subpart J, continues to read as follows:
End Amendment Part
Start Authority
Pub. L. 98-543, sec. 111; 38 U.S.C. 1163; Pub. L. 100-687, sec. 1301, unless otherwise noted.
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Start Amendment Part32. Amend § 21.6509(d) by removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, “Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
Start Amendment Part33. Amend the first sentence of § 21.6515(a) by removing “counseling psychologist” and adding, in its place, Start Printed Page 26133“Counseling Psychologist (CP) or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)”.
End Amendment Part
End Supplemental Information
[FR Doc. 2016-10112 Filed 4-29-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
