[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 66669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27868]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment Standards Administration


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Employment Standards Adminstration, Labor.

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 Standards Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed collection: Work Experience and Career 
Exploration Programs (WECEP), Regulations, 29 CFR part 570.35a (Fair 
Labor Standards Act). A copy of the proposed information collection 
request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the 
addresses section of this Notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before December 31, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Patricia A. Forkel, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0339, fax (202) 693-1451, e-mail esa.gov">[email protected]esa.gov. 
Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or 
e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section (3)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes a 
minimum age of 16 for most nonagricultural employment, but allows the 
employment of 14 and 15 year olds in occupations other than 
manufacturing and mining if the Secretary of Labor determines such 
employment is confined to periods which will not interfere with their 
health and well-being. Subpart C of Regulations, 29 CFR Part 570, Child 
Labor Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation, sets forth 
the employment standards for 14 and 15 year olds (Child Labor Reg. 3). 
Section 570.35a of these regulations permits employment of 14 and 15 
year olds under conditions otherwise prohibited by Child Labor Reg. 3 
pursuant to a school-supervised and school-administered Work Experience 
and Career Exploration Program (WECEP) which meets the stated 
requirements. In order to utilize the WECEP provisions of Child Labor 
Reg. 3, section 570.35 of the regulations require a State Educational 
Agency to file an application for approval of a State WECEP program as 
one not interfering with schooling or with the health and well-being of 
the minors involved and therefore not constituting oppressive child 
labor. Section 57.35a(b)(vi) of the regulations requires each student 
participating in a WECEP to execute a written training agreement signed 
by the teacher-coordinator, the employer, and the student and signed or 
otherwise consented to by the student's parent or guardian. This 
information collection is currently approved for use through February 
28, 2003.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    [sbull] 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

    State educational agencies are required to file applications for 
WECEP which provide exceptions to the child labor regulations issued 
under the FLSA. State educational agencies are also required to 
maintain certain records with respect to approved WECEP programs. The 
Department of Labor seeks the extension of the collection of 
information in order to carry out its responsibility to determine that 
regulatory tests for approval of the program have been met, and to 
document the validity of the WECEP program as one which is structured 
to provide training for the student. There is no change in the 
substance or method of collection since the last OMB approval.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Work Experience and Career Exploration Programs (WECEP), 29 
CRF Part 570.35a.
    OMB Number: 1215-0121.
    Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal government, Individuals or 
households.
    Total Respondents/Responses: 14,014.
    Frequency: Recordkeeping, Biennial reporting.
    Average Time per Response:
    Reporting, WECEP Application--2 hours.
    Reporting, Written Training Agreement--1 hour.
    Recordkeeping, WECEP Program Information--1 hour.
    Recordkeeping, Filing of WECEP Record and Training Agreement--one-
half minute.
    Total Burden Hours: 7,145.
    Estimated Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping
    Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $2.80.
    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: October 25, 2002.
Margaret J. Sherrill
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-27868 Filed 10-31-02; 8:45 am]
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