The Government’s Regulatory Obligations to Public Utilities Franchise

Under the public utilities franchise system, the executive branch may transfer the task of providing public utilities services for the common good to a private party. It should undertake to regulate and prevent the private party from pursuing its own interests to the detriment of public interest while discharging its duty under the public utilities franchise. Since any public interest must be enjoyed by all individuals, we can say that the obligations owed under administrative regulations aim at the ultimate goal of increasing individual welfare. In the public utilities franchise system, regulations of this kind can be divided into six different categories: maintaining and promoting necessary market competition, ensuring the continuity of public utilities services, ensuring non-discriminatory provision of public utilities services, ensuring the quality of public utilities services, ensuring reasonable charges for public utilities services, and ensuring the conservation of energy and protection of the environment while providing public utilities services. The absence of governmental regulation of the provision of public utilities and of reforms in such services in China has harmed both public interest and the rights and interests of consumers. Some of the problems caused include chaotic market access for public utilities, no guarantee of the sustainability of public utilities, the failure of the universality of public utilities, declining quality of public utilities, sharp rise in the prices of public utilities, insufficient regulations on the conservation of energy and environmental protection, and so on. In order to achieve the effective implementation of the administrative regulations and obligations therein with respect to public utilities and the maximization of public interest, the Chinese government should enhance its consciousness of regulating public utilities, improve the legal system to regulate public utilities, perfect the regulatory system for public utilities, and establish a system of liability to compensate for failures in regulation.     

Social Security benefits; disability insurance benefits; deductions, reductions, and nonpayments of benefits--SSA. Final rules with comment period

These regulations amend the existing regulations under which Social Security benefits payable to a disabled worker and his or her family may be reduced because of the worker's concurrent entitlement to workers' compensation benefits. They provide that entitlement to certain other public disability benefits may reduce the disability benefits paid by Social Security; that the reduction applies to the first month of concurrent entitlement regardless of the month in which we are notified of entitlement to the public disability benefit; and that the reduction applies to all months of concurrent entitlement until the disabled worker attains age 65. These regulations also provide that where a public disability law or plan provides for reduction of the public disability benefit on the basis of entitlement to Social Security disability insurance benefits that provision will preclude reduction of the Social Security benefits but only if it was in effect on February 18, 1981. These regulations implement section 2208 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Pub. L. 97-35).     

Equipment acquired under public assistance programs--HHS. Final rule

This rule revises and consolidates current HHS regulations concerning Federal financial participation in the cost of equipment under HHS supported public assistance programs. The rule also revises and consolidates current regulations on the management and disposition of equipment under these programs. The rule would permit State public assistance agencies to claim the cost of most of their equipment acquired at the time of purchase rather than depreciating the equipment over its useful life as required by the current regulations. This change would allow these agencies to claim Federal financial participation in the cost of the equipment at an earlier date than under the current regulations and would simplify the accounting requirements associated with the equipment.     

上海市控烟立法背景与内容综述

备受社会关注的《上海市公共场所控制吸烟条例》于2009年12月10日获得上海市人大常委会表决通过,该条例将于2010年3月1日正式实施。本文简要介绍本次控烟立法背景,并解读本次控烟立法的主要内容。     

Proposed procedural regulations--Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Proposed regulations; request for comments

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is publishing for comment proposed procedural regulations (29 CFR Part 1626). These regulations advise the public as to the procedures the Commission proposes to follow in processing charges and issuing interpretations and opinions under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. These regulations will complement the Commission's existing procedural regulations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.     

Nondiscrimination on the basis of disability by public accommodations and in commercial facilities; Americans With Disabilities Act accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities--Department of Justice. Final rule: technical amendment

This document contains technical amendments to the regulations on nondiscrimination on the basis of disability by public accommodations and in commercial facilities, which implement title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and to appendix A to those regulations. This final rule makes some technical corrections to the regulations and amends the regulations to reference an Office and Management and Budget control number in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, as amended.     

Public inspection of exempt organization returns--Internal Revenue Service. Notice of proposed rulemaking

This document contains proposed regulations relating to the public inspection of returns of certain tax exempt organizations. The regulations clarify the rules relating to the disclosure of certain information of exempt organizations. Additionally, the regulations reflect changes made by Pub. L. 96-603 and Pub. L. 95-488.     

Grant programs for schools and hospitals and for buildings owned by units of local government and public care institutions--Department of Energy. Notice of proposed rulemaking and public hearings

The Department of Energy proposes to issue revised regulations for administration of the grant programs providing financial assistance for schools, hospitals, buildings owned by units of local government, and public care institutions for the purpose of reducing energy consumption through technical assistance and energy conservation measure projects. In so doing, the Department proposes to amend 10 CFR 455 by making revisions to regulations published in the Federal Register on April 2, 1979 (44 FR 19340) and April 17, 1979 (44 FR 22940). Written comments are requested with respect to these proposed regulations, and public hearings will be held on the dates and in the locations specified below.     

Medical use of byproduct material; proposed revision--NRC. Proposal rule

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing a revision of its regulations governing the medical use of byproduct material. The proposed rule is one component of the Commission's overall program for revising its regulatory framework for medical use. The overall goals of this program are to focus NRC's regulations on those medical procedures that pose the highest risk to workers, patients, and the public, and to structure its regulations to be risk-informed and more performance-based, consistent with the NRC's "Strategic Plan for Fiscal Year 1997-Fiscal Year 2002". A notice in this issue of the Federal Register announcing the Commission's proposed revision of its 1979 "Medical use Policy Statement" for public comment is published elsewhere.     

Eligibility determination for donors of human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring human cell, tissue, and cellular and tissue-based product (HCT/P) establishments to screen and test cell and tissue donors for risk factors for, and clinical evidence of, relevant communicable disease agents and diseases. The agency is amending the current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) and quality system (QS) regulations that apply to HCT/Ps regulated as drugs, medical devices, and/or biological products to clarify the role of the new donor-eligibility regulations in relation to existing CGMP regulations. By preventing the transmission of communicable disease by the wide spectrum of HCT/Ps that are marketed now or may be marketed in the future, the agency's action will improve protection of the public health and increase public confidence in new technologies.     

物权法中的若干行政法问题

物权法中涉及到许多行政法问题:对于公共利益的规定涉及到公权力的干预基础的讨论;行政私法的内容与“公法遁入私法”现象相关联;基层群众性自治组织对于财产的支配与间接国家行政相连;公民在物上的权利实际上为典型的主观公权利;特别牺牲和唇齿条款是征收征用补偿的前提条件;不动产登记行为显示的是公权力的介入;物权法对于行政公产的规定成为关键的阙失。     

Currently effective Indian Health Service eligibility regulations. Indian Health Service, HHS. Republication of currently effective Indian Health Service eligibility regulations

The HHS is publishing in the Federal Register, final regulations governing eligibility for services from the Indian Health Service. The eligibility regulations currently codified at 42 CFR part 36 are under a congressional moratorium. Republishing the regulations that are currently in effect while the codified regulations are under moratorium is being done for the convenience of the public and in conformance with the requirement of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(1), that the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) must contain currently effective regulations.     

对公安民警合法权益维护问题的理性思考

公安民警合法权益受侵犯的原因有不良社会风气的影响;舆论导向的失误和偏差;法律法规不完善,公安民警正当的执法活动得不到有效的法律保证;使用警力不够慎重,导致警民关系紧张;民警整体身心健康状况不佳;民警在执法活动中的安全防范意识不强等。应建立和完善公安民警权益保障机制;保障公安民警身心健康,落实从优待警政策;通过教育培训进一步加强公安队伍正规化建设;加强维护民警正当执法权益的制度和法律建设;加速公安队伍物质装备现代化建设步伐,从而维护公安民警合法权益。     

Public Health Service--Health maintenance organizations; requirements for a health maintenance organization. Final regulations

This rule amends the Public Health Service regulations by setting forth revised requirements for the organization and operation of federally qualified health maintenance organizations (HMOs). These amendments are made as a result of (1) public comments on the interim regulations published on July 18, 1979, and (2) public comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) governing relationships between federally qualified HMOs and other parties, also published on July 18, 1979.     

中国古代民间规约引论

通过对古代乡村民间规约演变过程的考察,可以看到中国古代民间规约的历史存在形态:唐代后期的社邑规约、宋明时期妁乡约、明末清初产生的民间慈善组织规约和清代晚期的乡规,以及四者之间的区别与联系。民间规约既不同于私人契约,又不同于国家法律,是民间社会组织的自治规范。民间规约是国家法律的补充,它的产生,标志着公共领域不仅为国家所独占。由于中国是一个乡土社会,民间社团组织的发展和发挥作用的空间极为有限,但民间规约在组织协调人际关系、建立稳定和谐社会秩序方面仍然具有积极意义。     

Graduate and professional study fellowships--Department of Education. Final regulations with invitation to comment

The Secretary issues final regulations for the Graduate and Professional Study Fellowships Program. The regulations, which implement Title IX, Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, have been amended to reflect the statutory changes in the Education Amendments of 1980 and to reflect changes required by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). These regulations specify the selection criteria the Secretary uses in evaluating applications for fellowships for graduate and professional study, public service education, and studies in domestic mining and mineral and mineral fuel conservation. These regulations also describe application procedures, eligibility requirements, and the terms and conditions of an award.     

Organization, functions, and authority delegations--FDA. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the regulations for delegations of authority and organization and formal evidentiary public hearing to reflect a change in the organizational structure and the name of one of its Divisions. FDA is also correcting a typographical error. This action is being taken to improve the accuracy and clarity of the regulations.     

聘任制公务员初探

聘任制是指机关通过合同选拔、任用公务员的一种人事管理制度。公务员法以国家法律形式规定对公务员职位实行聘任制,是我国公务员制度的发展和创新。虽然公务员法对公务员部分职位实行聘任制作了规定,但在实际操作中由于各地情况千差万别,不可能出现一个一成不变、放之四海而皆准的模式。因此,有必要对聘任制公务员的有关问题认真进行研究和探讨。本文就聘任制公务员的内涵、意义、适用范围、聘任程序、管理方法、纠纷解决办法等进行了探讨。     

Area health education center programs--Public Health Service. Final regulations

These regulations set forth requirements for cooperative agreements entered into by the Secretary of Health and Human Services with schools of medicine or osteopathy for the planning, development, and operation of area health education center programs. The regulations conform provisions in 42 CFR Part 57, Subpart MM--Area Health Education Center Programs to Nurse Training Amendments of 1979 Pub. L. 96-76), the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act (Pub. L. 95-224), and the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Pub. L. 97-35). Also in response to public comments to the interim final regulations published in the Federal Register on November 27, 1978, clarification of several provisions were made to the final regulations.