[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 46 (Thursday, March 8, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14058-14059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5739]



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Part IV





Department of Labor





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Office of the Secretary



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Delegation of Authority and Assignment of Responsibility to the 
Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 46 / Thursday, March 8, 2001 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

[Secretary's Order 1-2001]


Departmental Policy to Ensure that Agency Policies and Activities 
Fully Address the Needs and Concerns of People With Disabilities; 
Delegation of Authority and Assignment of Responsibility to the 
Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy

1. Purpose

    To delegate authority and assign responsibility to the Assistant 
Secretary for Disability Employment Policy and to affirm that all 
components of the Department of Labor (DOL) have the responsibility to 
work cooperatively to ensure that their missions fully address the 
needs and concerns of people with disabilities.

2. Authority

    This Order is issued pursuant to Section 1(a)(1) of the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001 (Pub. L. 106-554) (enacting H.R. 
5656, see Title I, ``Departmental Management''); 29 U.S.C. Secs. 551 et 
seq.; 5 U.S.C. 301; and Executive Order 13187, ``The President's 
Disability Employment Partnership Board'' (PDEPB) (January 10, 2001).

3. Background

    The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has 
responsibility, under its enabling legislation (Pub. L. 106-554), for 
providing leadership, developing policy and initiatives, and awarding 
grants furthering the objective of eliminating barriers to the training 
and employment of people with disabilities.
    Under Executive Order 13187 (EO 13187), the PDEPB's general 
functions include providing advice and information to the Secretary of 
Labor about ``facilitating the employment of people with 
disabilities,'' and assisting ``in other activities that promote the 
formation of public-private partnerships, the use of economic 
incentives, the provision of technical assistance regarding 
entrepreneurship, and other actions that may enhance employment 
opportunities for people with disabilities.'' In implementing these 
general functions, the PDEPB is charged with providing reports to and 
coordinating with the ODEP. DOL, under EO 13187, is responsible for 
providing funding and appropriate support for the PDEPB; performing the 
functions of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 
amended (except that of reporting to the Congress), that are applicable 
to the PDEPB; and, to the extent permitted by law, providing the PDEPB 
with such information as it may need for purposes of carrying out its 
functions.

4. Policy

    It is the policy of the DOL that all of its activities and programs 
promote the welfare of all workers and that the needs of young people 
and adults with disabilities in the labor force are properly addressed 
in the development and implementation of DOL policy, programs, 
research, evaluation, and materials. Therefore, DOL activities and 
programs that relate to or that may affect the participation of people 
with disabilities in the Nation's work force or in the economic or 
social development of the Nation shall be coordinated with the ODEP.

5. Delegation of Authority and Assignment of Responsibility

    a. The Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy is 
delegated authority and assigned responsibility for:
    (1) Advising and assisting the Secretary of Labor in the 
development of DOL policies and programs that promote the training and 
employment of people with disabilities;
    (2) Ensuring coordination among DOL agencies on matters or programs 
related to or affecting people with disabilities;
    (3) Keeping the Secretary fully informed concerning the results of 
DOL's efforts and the status of workers with disabilities by preparing 
timely reports on critical issues;
    (4) In accordance with the policies and procedures established by 
the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (see 
Secretary's Order 4-76), awarding grants furthering the objective of 
eliminating barriers to the training and employment of people with 
disabilities; and
    (5) Acting as liaison between DOL and the PDEPB, including the 
performance of the responsibilities assigned to DOL under EO 13187 
which involve the President's functions under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act.
    b. The Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management is 
responsible for providing or assuring that appropriate administrative 
and management support is furnished, as required, for the efficient and 
effective operation of the ODEP and PDEPB.
    c. The Solicitor of Labor is delegated authority and assigned 
responsibility for providing legal advice and counsel to the Department 
and agencies on all matters arising in the administration of this 
Order.
    d. DOL Agency Heads are responsible for coordinating with the ODEP 
on policies and programs which affect or may affect people with 
disabilities. This coordination shall include (but is not limited to):
    (1) Reviewing current practices which affect the training and 
employment of people with disabilities and their participation in the 
economic and social development of the Nation and developing 
appropriate policies and programs to improve/enhance the impact of 
their agency's activities on people with disabilities in the labor 
force;
    (2) Consulting with the ODEP in the development of policy materials 
(for example, regulations, standards, and other material for 
publication in the Federal Register, proposed legislation), 
Congressional testimony, statistical surveys, publications, and similar 
items;
    (3) Consulting with the ODEP during the development of agency 
strategic plans to assure that the needs of people with disabilities in 
the labor force are addressed and that efforts are coordinated with the 
ODEP;
    (4) Providing the ODEP with up-to-date information concerning 
developments relating to policies, plans, projects, studies, 
evaluations, proposals, and programs and copies of agency publications;

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    (5) Utilizing the expertise of the ODEP in the development and 
implementation of task forces, meetings, conferences, seminars, 
training sessions, and similar activities;
    (6) Briefing their staff on a regular basis (at least annually) on 
their agency's commitment to address the needs of people with 
disabilities in the labor force and the status of workers with 
disabilities; and
    (7) Inviting ODEP participation in agency programmatic training and 
involving agency staff in ODEP training.

6. Reservation of Authority and Responsibility

    (a) The submission of reports and recommendations to the President 
and the Congress concerning the administration of statutory or 
administrative provisions is reserved to the Secretary.
    (b) This Secretary's Order does not affect the authorities or 
responsibilities of the Office of Inspector General under the Inspector 
General Act of 1978, as amended, or under Secretary's Order 2-90 
(January 31, 1990).
    (c) This Order does not affect the authorities and responsibilities 
assigned by any other secretary's order, such as the following: 4-76; 
9-78; 2-82; 6-82; 7-83; 8-83; 3-96; 5-96; and 4-2000.

7. Effective Date

    This Order is effective immediately.

    Dated: January 18 2001.
Alexis M. Herman,
Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 01-5739 Filed 3-7-01; 8:45 am]
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