Legal Process: Testimony by Employees and Production of Records

AGENCY:

Presidio Trust.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Presidio Trust is publishing as a final rule a regulation, limited to the Presidio Trust's organization and management, governing access to Presidio Trust information and records in connection with legal proceedings in which neither the United States nor the Presidio Trust is a party. This final rule establishes guidelines for use in determining whether Presidio Trust employees (as defined in the final rule) will provide testimony or records relating to their official duties. It also establishes procedures for requesters to follow when making demands on or requests to a Presidio Trust employee for official documents or to provide testimony. This final rule standardizes the Presidio Trust's practices, promotes uniformity in decisions, conserves the ability of the Presidio Trust to conduct official business, preserves its employee resources, protects confidential information, provides guidance to requestors, minimizes involvement in matters unrelated to the Presidio Trust's mission and programs, avoids wasteful allocation of agency resources and avoids spending public time and money for private purpose.

DATES:

The effective date of the regulation is September 25, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen A. Cook, General Counsel, Presidio Trust, 34 Graham Street, P.O. Box 29052, San Francisco, CA 94129-0052. Telephone: 415.561.5300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Presidio Trust, a wholly-owned federal government corporation, on occasion receives subpoenas and other requests for documents and requests for Presidio Trust employees (as defined in the final rule) to provide testimony or evidence in judicial, legislative or administrative proceedings in which the Presidio Trust is not a party. Sometimes these subpoenas or requests are for Presidio Trust records that are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The Presidio Trust also receives requests for Presidio Trust employees to appear as witnesses and to provide testimony relating to materials contained in the Presidio Trust's official records or to provide testimony or information acquired during the performance of the employees' official duties.

Although many other federal agencies currently have regulations in place to address these types of requests and the Presidio Trust itself has rules governing requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act, the Presidio Trust has not previously adopted regulations governing subpoenas and other information requests for document production and testimony of Presidio Trust employees in judicial, legislative or administrative proceedings in which the Presidio Trust is not a party. Issues about such requests that have arisen in recent years warrant adoption of regulations governing their submission, evaluation and processing. Responding to these requests is not only burdensome, but may also result in a significant disruption of a Presidio Trust employee's work schedule, may involve the Presidio Trust in issues unrelated to its responsibilities and may impede the Presidio Trust's accomplishment of its budgetary goals. In order to resolve these issues, many agencies have issued regulations, similar to this regulation, governing the circumstances and manner for responding to demands for testimony or for the production of documents. Establishing uniform procedures for submission, evaluation and response to such demands will ensure timely notice and will promote centralized decision making. The United States Supreme Court upheld this type of regulation in United States ex rel. Touhy v. Ragen, 340 U.S. 462 (1951).

Briefly summarized, the final rule prohibits disclosure of official records or testimony by the Presidio Trust's employees unless there is compliance with the rule. The final rule sets out the information that requesters must provide and the factors that the Presidio Trust will consider in making determinations in response to requests for testimony or the production of documents.

This final rule ensures a more efficient use of the Presidio Trust's resources, minimizes the possibility of involving the Presidio Trust in issues unrelated to its mission or responsibilities, promotes uniformity in responding to such subpoenas and similar requests, and maintains the impartiality of the Presidio Trust in matters that are in dispute between other parties. It also serves the Presidio Trust's interest in protecting sensitive, confidential and privileged information and records that are generated in fulfillment of the Presidio Trust's responsibilities.

The final rule is internal and procedural rather than substantive. It does not create a right to obtain official records or the official testimony of a Presidio Trust employee; nor does it create any additional right or privilege not already available to the Presidio Trust to deny any demand or request for testimony or documents. Failure to comply with the procedures set out in these regulations would be a basis for denying a demand or request submitted to the Presidio Trust.

This rulemaking is in compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) and follows a 30-day comment period. During this period the Presidio Trust received and considered one comment. This comment proposed that the scope of the regulation in Section 1012.1 be amended to exempt suits in which Presidio Trust board members are sued in their official capacity. The commenter believed that some such suits would not qualify for treatment under these regulations pursuant to United States ex rel. Touhy v. Ragen, 340 U.S. 462 (1951) and that the determination of whether the Presidio Trust has a direct and substantial interest in such suits against Presidio Trust board members should not be made by the Presidio Trust. The Presidio Trust considered this comment and believes that because the applicability of these regulations in any particular proceeding or circumstance is subject to judicial review, there is adequate assurance that the requirements set by the Touhy decision or other applicable law will be applied. The Presidio Trust will continue to review these regulations in the future, and if it becomes apparent that they should be modified based on changes in the law or experience with their implementation, then the Presidio Trust will do so through the rulemaking process.

Executive Order 12866—Regulatory Planning and Review

This final rule, because it is limited to the Presidio Trust's organization and management, does not fall within the definition of a “Rule” under Executive Order 12866 issued September 30, 1993 on Regulatory Planning and Review. Moreover, this final rule will not have an annual effect of $100 million or more on the economy nor adversely affect productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, nor State or local governments. This final rule will neither interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency nor raise new legal or policy issues. This final rule will not alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights and obligations of recipients of such programs. Therefore, it has been determined that this is not an economically significant rule.

Executive Order 12988—Civil Justice Reform

This final rule has been drafted and reviewed in accordance with Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, and will not unduly burden the Federal court system. This final rule has been written so as to minimize litigation and provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct, and has been reviewed carefully to eliminate drafting errors and ambiguities. Additionally, the Presidio Trust has not identified any State or local laws or regulations that are in conflict with this regulation or that would impede full implementation of this final rule. Nonetheless, in the event that such a conflict was to be identified, the final rule would preempt State or local laws or regulations found to be in conflict. However, in that case, (1) no retroactive effect would be given to this final rule; and (2) the final rule does not require the use of administration proceedings before parties may file suit in court challenging its provisions.

Executive Order 13132—Federalism

This final rule conforms with the Federalism principles set out in Executive Order 13132 and would not impose any compliance costs on the States; and would not have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the National Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, it has been determined that this final rule does not have federalism implications.

Unfunded Mandates

Pursuant to Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) as well as Executive Order 12875, the Presidio Trust has assessed the effects of this final rule on State, local, and Tribal governments and the private sector. This final rule does not compel the expenditure of $100 million or more in any one year by any State, local, or Tribal governments or anyone in the private sector. Therefore, a statement under section 202 of the Act is not required.

Executive Order 13175—Consultation With Indian Tribal Governments

Pursuant to Executive Order 13175 of November 6, 2000, the Presidio Trust has assessed the impact of this final rule on Indian Tribal governments and has determined that the final rule does not significantly or uniquely affect communities of Indian Tribal governments. The Presidio Trust has also determined that this final rule does not impose substantial direct compliance costs or Tribal implications on Indian tribal governments, and therefore advance consultation with Tribes is not required.

Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 13272—Consideration of Small Entities

This final rule has been considered in light of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 602 et seq.) and Executive Order 13272 of August 13, 2002. This final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 13272, because the final rule will not impose recordkeeping requirements on them; it will not affect their competitive position in relation to large entities; and it will not affect their cash flow, liquidity or ability to remain in the market.

Certification

The Presidio Trust certifies that this final rule is not expected to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act or Executive Order 13272.

Congressional Review Act

The Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. Because this final rule is a rule of agency organization, procedure or practice that does not substantially affect the rights or obligations of non-agency parties it is not a “Rule” as defined by the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 804(3)(C)) and is not subject to it.

Executive Order 13211—Energy Effects

This final rule is not a “significant energy action” as defined in Executive Order 13211 of May 22, 2001, because it is not likely to have a significant adverse affect on the supply, distribution or use of energy. The Presidio Trust has determined that this final rule is not likely to have any adverse energy effects.

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

This final rule contains no paperwork burdens or information collection requirements that are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Analysis of Environmental Impact

The Presidio Trust has analyzed this final rule in accordance with the criteria of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and determined that the rule does not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

Government Paperwork Elimination Act

The Presidio Trust is committed to compliance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), which requires Government agencies to provide the public the option of submitting information or transacting business electronically to the maximum extent possible. This final rule contains no paperwork burdens or information collection requirements, and is thus in compliance with the GPEA.

Executive Order 12630—No Takings Implication

This final rule has been analyzed in accordance with the principles of and criteria contained in Executive Order 12630 issued March 15, 1988, and it has been determined that the final rule does not pose a risk of a taking of constitutionally protected private property.

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Presidio Trust amends chapter X of title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

A new part 1012, consisting of § 1012.1 through § 1012.11, is added to chapter X to read as follows:

PART 1012—LEGAL PROCESS: TESTIMONY BY EMPLOYEES AND PRODUCTION OF RECORDS

General Information

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 460bb appendix; 40 U.S.C. 102; 44 U.S.C. 2901 and 3102.

General Information