[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 223 (Wednesday, November 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61830-61832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30360]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Labor Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs--
Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship and Training; Comment 
Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection

[[Page 61831]]

requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the 
Employment and Training Administration is soliciting comments 
concerning the proposed revision of the collection of the information 
regarding registered apprenticeship programs under Title 29 CFR part 29 
(Labor Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs) and 
the extension of the collection of the information under CFR part 30 
(Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship and Training).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before January 20, 1998.
    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES: Anthony Swoope, Director, Bureau of Apprenticeship and 
Training, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Room 4649, Washington, DC 20210; 
E-mail Internet address: S[email protected]; Telephone number: (202) 
219-5921 (this is not a toll-free number); Fax number: (202)219-
5011(this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The National Apprenticeship Act of 1937 authorizes and directs the 
Secretary of Labor ``to formulate and promote the furtherance of labor 
standards necessary to safeguard the welfare of apprentices, to extend 
the application of such standards by encouraging the inclusion thereof 
in contracts of apprenticeship, to bring together employers and labor 
for the formulation of programs of apprenticeship, to cooperate with 
State agencies engaged in the formulation and promotion of standards of 
apprenticeship, and to cooperate with the Office of Education under the 
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare * * *. ``Section 2 of the 
Act authorizes the Secretary of Labor to ``publish information relating 
to existing and proposed labor standards of apprenticeship,'' and to 
``appoint national advisory committees * * *.'' (29 U.S.C. 50a).
    Title 29 CFR part 29 sets forth labor standards to safeguard the 
welfare of apprentices, and to extend the application of such standards 
by prescribing policies and procedures concerning registration, for 
certain Federal purposes, of acceptable apprenticeship programs with 
the U.S Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 
Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training. These labor standards, policies 
and procedures cover the registration, cancellation, and deregistration 
of apprenticeship programs and of apprenticeship agreements; the 
recognition of a State agency as the appropriate agency for registering 
local apprenticeship programs for certain Federal purposes; and matters 
relating thereto.
    Title 29 CFR part 30 sets forth policies and procedures to promote 
equality of opportunity in apprenticeship programs registered with the 
U.S. Department of Labor and recognized State apprenticeship agencies. 
These policies and procedures apply to recruitment and selection of 
apprentices, and to all conditions of employment and training during 
apprenticeship. The procedures provide for review of apprenticeship 
programs, for registering apprenticeship programs, for processing 
complaints, and for deregistering noncomplying apprenticeship programs. 
This part also provides policies and procedures for continuation or 
withdrawal of recognition of State agencies which register 
apprenticeship programs for Federal purposes.

II. Current Actions

    Recordkeeping and data collection activities regarding registered 
apprenticeship are by-products of the registration system. 
Organizations which apply for apprenticeship sponsorship enter into an 
agreement with the Federal Government or cognizant State government to 
operate their proposed programs consistent with 29 CFR parts 29 and 30. 
Apprenticeship sponsors are not required to file reports regarding 
their apprentices other than individual registration and update 
information as an apprentice moves through their program. As requested 
by the Office of Management and Budget, a revision is being made to the 
Apprenticeship Agreement Form, ETA 671, to include a statement 
regarding the voluntary disclosure of the social security number by the 
apprentice. Also, as requested by the Solicitor's Office of the U.S. 
Department of Labor, another revision to the form includes a statement 
informing the apprentice that the information contained on the 
Apprenticeship Agreement Form, is included in the Apprenticeship 
Management System. The information on this form is protected in 
accordance with the Privacy Act.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Title 29 CFR part 29, Labor Standards for the Registration 
of Apprenticeship Programs.
    OMB Number: 1205-0223 for 29 CFR part 29.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Title 29 CFR part 30, Equal Employment Opportunity in 
Apprenticeship and Training.
    OMB Number: 1205-0224 for 29 CFR part 30.
    Recordkeeping: Apprenticeship sponsors are required to keep 
accurate records on the qualifications of each applicant pertaining to 
determination of compliance with these regulations. Records must be 
retained, where appropriate, regarding affirmative action plans and 
evidence that qualification standards have been validated. State 
Apprenticeship Councils are also obligated to keep adequate records 
pertaining to determination of compliance with these regulations. All 
of the above records are required to be maintained for five years. If 
this information was not required, there would be no documentation that 
the apprenticeship programs were being operated in a nondiscriminatory 
manner. Many apprenticeship programs are 4 years or more in duration; 
therefore, it is important to maintain the records for at least 5 
years.

[[Page 61832]]



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                                             Total                                                 Total                                                
                Section                   respondents                 Frequency                  responses     Average time per response      Burden    
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                                                          Summary of Burden for 29 CFR Part 29                                                          
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Sec. 29.3.............................          94,041  1-time..............................          94,041  \1/4\ hour................          23,510
Sec. 29.6.............................          62,940  1-time..............................          62,940  \1/12\ hour...............           5,245
Sec. 29.5.............................           1,906  1-time..............................           3,600  2 hours...................           3,812
Sec. 29.7.............................              40  1-time..............................              40  \1/12\ hour...............               3
Sec. 29.12............................              30  1-time..............................              30  2 hours...................              60
Sec. 29.13............................  ..............  ....................................  ..............  ..........................  ..............
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    Total.............................  ..............  ....................................         160,651  ..........................          32,630
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                                                          Summary of Burden for 30 CFR Part 29                                                          
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Sec. 30.3.............................           1,024  1-time..............................           1,024  \1/2\ hour................             512
Sec. 30.4.............................             247  1-time..............................             247  1 hour....................             247
Sec. 30.5.............................           3,662  1-time/applicant....................           3,662  \1/2\ hour................          1,1834
Sec. 30.6.............................              50  1-time..............................              50  5 hours...................             250
Sec. 30.8.............................          35,848  1-time..............................          35,848  1 minute..................             597
Sec. 30.8.............................              30  1-time/program......................          17,924  5 minutes.................           1,494
Sec. 30.11............................          35,848  1-time..............................          35,848  Hand-out..................  ..............
ETA 9039..............................              50  1-time..............................              50  \1/2\ hour................              25
Sec. 30.15............................              30  1-time..............................           (\1\)  ..........................  ..............
Sec. 30.19............................              30  varies..............................  ..............  ..........................  ..............
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    Total.............................  ..............  ....................................          94,653  ..........................           4,959
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\1\ Completed.                                                                                                                                          

    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: November 14, 1997.
Anthony Swoope,
Director, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training.
[FR Doc. 97-30360 Filed 11-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M