[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 180 (Friday, September 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50542-50543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24265]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Labor Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs 
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 requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of the collection of the 
registered apprenticeship programs under Title 29 CFR Part 29 (Labor 
Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs). A copy of 
the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by 
contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this 
notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee's section below on or before November 16, 1999.

ADDRESSEES: Anthony Swoope, Director, Bureau of Apprenticeship and 
Training, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Room 4649, Washington, DC 20210; 
E-mail Internet address: [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 the 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.

II. Review Focus

    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.

III. 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 agreement with the Federal Government or cognizant 
State government to operate their proposed programs consistent with 29 
CFR Part 29. 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. This 
extension request includes instructions for completing Item 9., 
Apprenticeship wages, on ETA Form 671.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    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.
    OMB Number: 1205-0223 for 29 CFR Part 29.
    Agency Number: ETA Form 671.
    Recordkeeping: Apprenticeship sponsors are required to keep 
accurate records on the recruitment, selection, employment and training 
of each apprentices pertaining to determination of compliance with the 
regulation. Records must be retained, where appropriate, regarding 
affirmative action plans and evidence that qualification

[[Page 50543]]

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.
    Affected Public: Apprentices, Sponsors, State Apprenticeship 
Councils or Agencies, Tribal Government.
    ETA Form 671.
    Total Respondents: 197,278
    Frequency: 1-time basis.
    Total Responses: 197, 278.
    Average Time per Response: See Chart.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 39,200.

                                                   or chart for multiple forms/information collections
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                                              Total                                            Total
                  Sec.                     respondents              Frequency                responses       Average time per response        Burden
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29.3...................................         110,540  1-time basis...................         110,540  \1/4\ hour/app................          27,635
29.6...................................          84,435  1-time basis...................          84,435  \1/12\ hour/app...............           7,036
29.5...................................           2,263  1-time basis...................           2,263  2 hours.......................           4,526
29.7...................................              40  1-time basis...................              40  \1/12\ hr/spon................             3.3
29.12..................................              30  1-time basis...................  ..............  ..............................  ..............
29.13..................................  ..............  ...............................  ..............  ..............................  ..............
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    Totals.............................  ..............  ...............................         197,278  ..............................          39,200
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    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): 0.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request 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: September 14, 1999.
Anthony Swoope,
Director, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training.
[FR Doc. 99-24265 Filed 9-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M