Federal Register Notice of Proposed 1996 Rules of Practice and Procedure, Request for Comment

BAC2210-40

UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION

Rules of Practice and Procedure

AGENCY: United States Sentencing Commission

ACTION: Notice of proposed rules of practice and procedure. Request for public comment.


SUMMARY: Pursuant to its authority under 995(a)(1) of title 28, United States Code, the Sentencing Commission is considering the promulgation of internal rules of practice and procedure. Proposed rules were published on July 29, 1996 with comment due on November 1, 1996. 61 FR 39493-96. Pursuant to the same authority, the Commission is considering additional provisions to those rules that are set forth below. The Commission invites comment on these proposed rules.

DATES: Written comment on the previously published draft rules and these revised supplemental provisions should be submitted to Michael Courlander, Public Information Specialist, no later than December 16, 1996. It should be noted that this deadline represents an extension of time for comment on the draft rules published in July.

ADDRESS: Comments should be sent to: United States Sentencing Commission, One Columbus Circle, N.E., Suite 2-500, South Lobby, Washington, D.C. 20002-8002, Attention: Public Information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Courlander, Public Information Specialist, Telephone: (202) 273-4590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 995(a)(1) of title 28 authorizes the U.S. Sentencing Commission, an independent agency in the judicial branch of the United States Government, to establish general policies and promulgate rules and regulations for the Commission as necessary to carry out the purposes of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984.

The new provisions contained herein address moving to a two-year cycle for guideline amendments, rules for decisions on retroactivity of proposed amendments, and reconsideration of amendments. The entire set of rules of practice and procedure are designed to facilitate public understanding and participation in the work of the Sentencing Commission. For the most part, these rules do not represent a substantive change in the way the Commission has traditionally conducted its business. These rules are not intended to enlarge the rights of any person sentenced under the guidelines promulgated by the Commission or otherwise create any private right of action.

Authority: 28 U.S.C. 995(a)(1).

Richard P. Conaboy

Chairman

REVISED RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

The following are the previously published draft rules that are proposed to be modified. Changes are noted in italics.

Rule 2.2 Voting Rules for Action by the Commission

Except as otherwise provided in these rules or by law, action by the Commission requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the members at a public meeting at which a quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members then serving. Members shall be deemed "present" and may participate and vote in public meetings from remote locations by electronic means, including, but not limited to, telephone, satellite and video conference devices.

Promulgation of guidelines, policy statements, official commentary, and amendments thereto shall require the affirmative vote of at least four members at a public meeting. See 28 U.S.C. 994(a).

Publication of proposed amendments to guidelines, policy statements, or official commentary in the Federal Register to solicit public comment shall require the affirmative vote of at least three members at a public meeting. Similarly, the decision to instruct staff to prepare a retroactivity impact analysis for a proposed amendment shall require the affirmative vote of at least three members at a public meeting.

Action on miscellaneous matters may be taken without a meeting based on the affirmative vote of a majority of the members then serving by written or oral communication. Such matters may include, but are not limited to, the approval of budget requests, legal briefs, staff reports, analyses of legislation, and administrative and personnel issues.

A motion to reconsider Commission action may be made only by a Commissioner who was on the prevailing side of the vote for which reconsideration is sought, or who did not vote on the matter. Four votes are necessary to reconsider a Commission vote on any question on which a four-vote majority is required.

Rule 5.1 Promulgation of Amendments

The Commission may promulgate and submit to Congress amendments to the guidelines between the beginning of a regular session of Congress and the first day of May that year. Amendments shall be accompanied by a brief explanation or statement of reasons for the amendments. Unless otherwise specified, or unless Congress legislates to the contrary, amendments submitted for review shall take effect on the first day of November of the year in which submitted. 28 U.S.C. 994(p).

The Commission may promulgate amendments at other times pursuant to special statutory enactment (e.g., the "emergency" amendment authority under section 730 of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996).

Amendments to policy statements and commentary may be promulgated and put into effect at any time. However, to the extent practicable, the Commission shall endeavor to include amendments to policy statements and commentary in any submission of guideline amendments to Congress and put them into effect on the same November 1 date as any guideline amendments issued in the same year.

Except as necessary to implement enacted legislation or to address other matters determined by the Commission to be urgent and compelling, the Commission shall, after May 1, 1997, promulgate or amend the guidelines no more frequently than biennially. No amendments shall be issued in the annual amendment cycle beginning on May 2, 1997 except as provided in this rule.

Generally, promulgated amendments will given prospective application only. However, in those cases in which the Commission considers an amendment for retroactive application to previously sentenced, imprisoned defendants, it shall decide whether to make the amendment retroactive at the same meeting at which it decides to promulgate the amendment. Prior to final Commission action on the retroactive application of an amendment, the Commission shall review the retroactivity impact analysis prepared pursuant to Rule 2.2, supra.

Rule 5.4 Federal Register Notice of Proposed Amendments

As stated in Rule 2.2, supra, upon the affirmative vote of three voting members, the Commission may authorize publication in the Federal Register of a proposed amendment to a guideline, policy statement, or official commentary. A vote to publish shall be deemed to be a request for public comment on the proposed amendment. At the same time the Commission votes to publish proposed amendments for comment, it shall request public comment on whether to make any amendments retroactive. As stated in Rule 5.1, supra, generally, amendments will be given prospective application only.

The notice of proposed amendments also shall provide, where appropriate and practicable, reasons for consideration of amendments, a summary of or reference to information that is relevant to the issue(s), and whether the Commission possesses information on the issue(s) that is publicly available. In addition, the publication notice shall include a deadline for public comment and may include a notice of any scheduled public hearing(s) or meetings on the issue(s).

In the case of proposed amendments to guidelines or issues for comment that form the basis for possible guidelines amendments, to the extent practicable, there shall be a minimum period of public comment of at least 60 calendar days prior to final Commission action on the proposed amendments.


United States Sentencing Commission