New regs for Thursday: Savings bonds, efficiency, truck drivers

Thursday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new savings bonds regulations, efficiency rules for ceiling fans, and exemptions for partially blind truck drivers.

Here’s what is happening:

Savings bonds: The United States Department of the Treasury is moving forward with new savings bond regulations.

{mosads}The Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service will issue new rules governing whether states can reap the benefits of savings bonds that have gone unclaimed by citizens of their state.

The new rules go into effect immediately.

Ceiling fans: The Department of Energy is moving forward with new efficiency rules for ceiling fan light kits.

The department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is finalizing the testing requirements it proposed in October.

The changes go into effect in 30 days.

Apprenticeships: The Department of Labor is delaying new equal opportunity regulations for apprenticeship programs.

The equal opportunity regulations would apply to all federally registered apprenticeship programs.

“These regulations prohibit discrimination in registered apprenticeship on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, and sex, and require that sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in such programs,” the agency wrote.

The Labor Department proposed changes to the rules in November, but is now extending the comment period to give the public more time to discuss.

The public now has until Jan. 20, 2016, to comment.

Truck drivers: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will allow partially blind truck drivers to get behind the wheel.

The FMCSA announced Wednesday it is renewing a vision requirement exemption for 120 partially blind drivers who would otherwise be prohibited from operating commercial motor vehicles.

Often times, these truck drivers are blind in one eye. Despite this, the FMCSA has determined they can safely operate a truck.

The public has 30 days to comment.