[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 249 (Thursday, December 26, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 67942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32782]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Labor-Management Standards

29 CFR Parts 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 408, and 409


Submission of Computer-Generated Labor Organization and Auxiliary 
Reports

AGENCY: Office of Labor-Management Standards, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of policy.

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SUMMARY: The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as 
amended (LMRDA), provides for the reporting and disclosure of 
information on the financial transactions and administrative practices 
of labor organizations. The statute also provides, under certain 
circumstances, for reporting and disclosure of information by labor 
organization officers and employees, employers, labor relations 
consultants, and surety companies. The Department of Labor's Office of 
Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) has begun to receive required reports 
in a variety of computer-generated formats. OLMS has developed 
standards to ensure the uniformity of computer-generated reporting 
forms to assist persons who make approximately 10,000 requests to 
examine these reports each year. This notice of policy is to inform 
those who file reports of the standards for computer-generated reports.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 26, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Geiss, Chief, Section of Reports and Disclosure, Office of Labor-
Management Standards, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Room N-5119, Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219-7353 (this is 
not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Background: While enacting the reporting provisions of the Labor-
Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, as amended (LMRDA), 
Congress expressed the belief that the labor-management process and 
union members, officers, and the public in general would benefit by 
having access to information about labor organizations, their officers 
and employees, employers, labor relations consultants, and surety 
companies. In particular, the disclosure of financial information about 
labor organizations was intended to help ensure their fiscal integrity. 
Consequently, labor organizations are required to file information 
reports, annual financial reports, and trusteeship reports. Labor 
organization officers and employees, employers, and labor relations 
consultants who engage in certain activities are required to file 
financial disclosure reports. Surety companies which issue bonds 
required by the LMRDA must file annual reports concerning their 
experience with such bonds. Section 205 of the LMRDA provides that 
these reports are public information.
    Pursuant to section 208 of the LMRDA and 29 CFR Parts 402, 403, 
404, 405, 406, 408, and 409, OLMS has prescribed and printed reporting 
forms to be used to submit the required reports. In an effort to reduce 
the paperwork and reporting burdens on those who file required reports, 
OLMS has begun to accept computer-generated reports in lieu of the 
printed OLMS forms. However, to insure the integrity of public 
disclosure for union members and others who examine and study the 
reports, computer-generated reports must meet certain standards to 
ensure uniformity and compliance with the Congressionally mandated 
reporting requirements.
    Current Actions: Computer-generated reports which are submitted to 
OLMS will be accepted only if in overall appearance and content they 
are virtually indistinguishable from the printed OLMS forms and their 
readability is equivalent to the readability of OLMS forms (Forms LM-1, 
LM-2, LM-3, LM-4, LM-10, LM-15, LM-15A, LM-16, LM-20, LM-21, LM-30, and 
S-1). For example, a form should meet the following criteria to be 
accepted as substantially identical to the corresponding printed OLMS 
form:
    * The form should be the same size (8\1/2\ by 11 inches) as the 
OLMS form.
    * The layout of each page should be the same as the layout on the 
OLMS form.
    * There should be no abbreviations or misspellings, and no 
additions or deletions of words.
    * The font-size, spacing, and boxes on the form should be 
substantially the same as those used on the OLMS form.
    Computer-generated forms which are not substantially identical to 
OLMS forms will not be accepted as complying with the reporting 
requirements of the LMRDA and will be returned to the filer.

    Dated: December 19, 1996.
John Kotch,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-32782 Filed 12-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-86-M