(h) (1) Any member, officer, or employee of the Commission, who by virtue of his employment or official position, has possession of, or access to, agency records which contain individually identifiable information the disclosure of which is prohibited by this section, and who knowing that disclosure of the specific material is so prohibited, willfully discloses the material in any manner to any person or agency not entitled to receive it, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than $5,000.

(2) Any person who knowingly and willfully requests or obtains any record concerning an individual from the Commission under false pretenses shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than $5,000.

SEC. 6. The Office of Management and Budget shall

(1) develop guidelines and regulations for the use of agencies in implementing the provisions of section 552a of title 5, United States Code, as added by section 3 of this Act; and

(2) provide continuing assistance to and oversight of the implementation of the provisions of such section by agencies.

SEC. 7. (a) (1) It shall be unlawful for any Federal, State or local government agency to deny to any individual any right, benefit, or privilege provided by law because of such individual's refusal to disclose his social security account number.

(2) the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply with respect to

(A) any disclosure which is required by Federal statute, or

(B) the disclosure of a social security number to any Federal, State, or local agency maintaining a system of records in existence and operating before January 1, 1975, if such disclosure was required under statute or regulation adopted prior to such date to verify the identity of an individual. (b) Any Federal, State, or local government agency which requests an individual to disclose his social security account number shall inform that individual whether that disclosure is mandatory or voluntary, by what statutory or other authority such number is solicited, and what uses will be made of it.

SEC. 8. The provisions of this Act shall be effective on and after the date of enactment, except that the amendments made by sections 3 and 4 shall become effective 270 days following the day on which this Act is enacted.

SEC. 9. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of section 5 of this Act for fiscal years 1975, 1976, and 1977 the sum of $1,500,000, except that not more than $750,000 may be expended during any such fiscal

APPENDIX D

Standard Federal Regions

Standard Federal Administrative regions were established to achieve more uniformity in the location and geographic jurisdiction of Federal field offices as a basis for promoting more systematic coordination among agencies and between Federal-State-local governments and for securing management improvements and economies through greater interagency and intergovernmental cooperation. OMB Circular A-105, Standard Federal Regions, provides further guidance on the policies and requirements governing standard administrative regions. Boundaries were drawn and regional office locations designated for 10 regions, and agencies are required to adopt the uniform system when changes are made or new offices established. A map showing the standard boundaries is printed on page 834.

The regional structures of agencies not conforming to the uniform regional system can be found in the tables accompanying their descriptions, when provided by the agency.

Regional maps for all agencies not conforming to the uniform regional system will be published as a separate part of the Federal Register this year.

Federal Regional Councils

Federal Regional Councils (FRCs) were established by Executive Order 11647 of February 10, 1972. A Council was created for each of the 10 standard Federal regions and an Under Secretaries Group for Regional Operations, chaired by the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, was established to provide policy guidance to Federal Regional Councils. The Councils were mandated to improve coordination of the categorical grant system and to develop closer working relationships among themselves, and with State and local governments. Executive Order 11731 of July 23, 1973, broadened the Federal Regional Council mandate, including coordination of direct Federal program assistance to State and local governments. Executive Order 11892 of December 31, 1975, increased the membership of the Federal Regional Council system, further expanding interagency cooperation and improving coordination of services to State and local governments.

Federal Regional Councils are composed of the principal regional officials of the Departments of Agriculture; Commerce; Health, Education, and Welfare; Housing and Urban Development; Interior; Labor; Transportation; the Community Services Administration; Environmental Protection Agency; Law Enforcement Assistance Administration; and Federal Energy Administration. The President annually designates one member of each Council to serve as Chairman.

The Under Secretaries Group for Regional Operations establishes policy with respect to Federal Regional Council matters, provides guidance to Councils, responds to their initiatives, and seeks to resolve policy issues referred to it by the Councils.

Federal Regional Council Offices

(Areas included within each region are indicated on the map on the following page.)

There are three broad missions characterizing the functions of Federal Regional Councils: intergovernmental relations, interagency program coordination, and delivery of services such as emergency aid during crisis and disaster situations. Councils also provide assistance in Government-wide efforts to decentralize Federal agency operations, increase State and local government participation in the Federal decisionmaking process, and increase the Federal awareness of State and local government problems.

Federal Regional Council activities have included: (1) acting as the State and local communications channel for information concerning the Federal budget and other Federal initiatives and programs; (2) assisting State and local governments to analyze and plan for events causing major regional changes, such as the socio-economic impact of energy development; (3) mobilizing Federal assistance to enhance the ability of States and localities to manage their affairs; (4) assisting Governors and local chief executives with integrated program and funding plans involving multiagency Federal programs; (5) mobilizing resources for new Federal initiatives such as assistance in establishment of energy field offices and assistance in the resettlement of Indochina refugees; and (6) delivering assistance in crisis and disaster situations.

Federal Executive Boards

Federal Executive Boards (FEBs) were established for the purpose of improving internal Federal management practices in major metropolitan centers of Federal activity.

Federal Executive Boards are composed of heads of Federal field offices in the metropolitan area. A Chairperson is elected annually by Board members, and other officers are appointed or elected from among the membership. Committees and task forces undertake the annual projects of the Boards. The Boards receive overall policy direction from the Office of Management and Budget.

Federal Executive Boards serve as alternative lines of communication, in addition to the primary department and agency channels, for disseminating information within the Federal Government, for training, and for discussing Federal policies and activities of special interest to the President and Federal executives in the field.

The Boards assist in mobilizing Federal field personnel in emergency situations, organize program or administrative specialists to work on management problems, and prepare special publications. The Boards also act as a focal point in concentrating Federal resources in response to community-metropolitan needs.

Currently, Federal Executive Boards are located in 26 metropolitan areas which are important centers of Federal activity. These metropolitan areas are: Albuquerque-Santa Fe, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu-Pacific, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, and the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul).