[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 192 (Friday, October 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57489-57491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-25105]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Title 29 CFR Part 29, Labor Standards for 
the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs and Title 29 CFR Part 30, 
Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship and Training

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.

DATES: Submit comments on or before December 2, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Anthony Swoope, Administrator, Office of 
Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services, 200 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Room N-4671, Washington, DC 20210; Telephone number: (202) 
693-2796 (this is not a toll-free number); E-mail Internet address: 
[email protected] and Fax number (202) 693-2808.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Swoope, Administrator, Office 
of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room N-4671, Washington, DC 20210; Telephone 
number: (202) 693-2796 (this is not a toll-free number); E-mail 
Internet address: [email protected] and Fax number (202) 693-2808.

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 Secretary of Education * * 
*'' (29 U.S.C. 50). Section 50a 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, 
Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services 
(formerly known as the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training). These 
labor standards, policies and procedures cover registration, 
cancellation, and deregistration of apprenticeship programs and 
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. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed revision of the collection of 
information on the registered apprenticeship program under Title 29 CFR 
part 29 (Labor Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship 
Programs) and the proposed extension of the collection of information 
regarding Title 29 CFR part 30 (Equal Employment Opportunity in 
Apprenticeship and Training) to:
    [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.
    A copy of the proposed information collection requests (ICRs) can 
be obtained by contacting the office listed above in the addressee 
section of this notice.

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 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 revision 
request includes the addition of

[[Page 57490]]

Program Characteristics before the Title of the current form, 
Apprenticeship Agreement (ETA-671), to incorporate the collection of 
information on programs registered. It reinstates the voluntary 
disclosure of the apprentice's social security number. It also 
incorporates the identification by the applicant of his/her status as 
an incumbent worker prior to becoming an apprentice, the pre-apprentice 
hourly wage data 90 days or one quarter prior to registration, and 
provides instructions on those data elements that are not self-
explanatory as requested previously by the Office of Management and 
Budget.
    Type of Review: Revision for the Title 29 CFR part 29, Labor 
Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs and Extension 
for the Title 29 CFR part 30, Equal Employment Opportunity in 
Apprenticeship and Training.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Title 29 CFR part 29, Labor Standards for the Registration 
of Apprenticeship Programs and Title 29 CFR part 30, Equal Employment 
Opportunity in Apprenticeship and Training.
    OMB Number: 1205-0223 for 29 CFR part 29 and 1205-0224 for 29 CFR 
part 30.
    Agency Number: ETA Form 671 (1205-0223) and ETA Form 9039 (1205-
0224).
    Recordkeeping: Apprenticeship sponsors are required to keep 
accurate records on recruitment, selection of the applicant and/or 
apprentice and the employment and training activities related to the 
apprentice and the qualifications of each applicant/apprentice 
pertaining to determination of compliance with the regulation. 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.
    Affected Public: Applicants, Apprentices, Sponsors, State 
Apprenticeship Councils or Agencies, Tribal Government.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: 29 CFR part 29 and 29 CFR part 30.
    Total Respondents: 290,531.
    Frequency: 1-time basis.
    Total Responses: 290,531.
    Average Time per Response: See Chart.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 60,826.

                                                          Summary of Burden for 29 CFR Part 29
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                                              Total                                          Total
                  Sec.                     respondents             Frequency               responses        Average time per response     Burden (hours)
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29.3(b)................................          31,956  1-time basis.................          31,956  .33 hr./spon....................          10,546
29.3...................................         136,617  1-time basis.................         136,617  .25 hr./app.....................          34,154
29.6...................................         118,786  1-time basis.................         118,786  .083 hr./app....................           9,859
29.5...................................           1,688  1-time basis.................           1,688  2 hrs./spon.....................           3,376
                                                  1,414  1-time basis.................           1,414  2 hrs./SAC......................           2,828
29.7...................................              40  1-time basis.................              40  1/12 hr. spon...................               3
29.12..................................            (30)  1-time basis.................            (30)  0...............................               0
29.12 *................................
29.12..................................              30  1-time basis.................              30  2 hrs. SAC......................              60
29.13..................................               0  0............................               0  0...............................               0
                                        ----------------                               ----------------                                  ---------------
    Totals.............................         290,531  .............................         290,531  ................................         60,826
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* (accomplished in 1977; no new state agency expected in 2002)

    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): 0.
    ETA Form 9039.
    Total Respondents: 32,036.
    Frequency: 1-time basis.
    Total Responses: 53,235.
    Average Time per Response: See Chart.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 5,714.

                                                          Summary of Burden for 29 CFR Part 30
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               Sec.                       Total respondents                Frequency         Total responses   Average time per response  Burden (hours)
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30.3.............................  1,604..........................  1-time basis..........  1,604............  \1/2\ hr./spon...........             802
30.4.............................  84.............................  1-time basis..........  84...............  1 hr./spon...............              84
30.5.............................  5,750..........................  1-time basis..........  5,750............  \1/2\ hr./spon...........           2,875
30.6.............................  50.............................  1-time basis..........  50...............  5 hrs./spon..............             250
30.8.............................  31,956.........................  1-time/program........  31,956...........  1 min./spon..............             533
30.8.............................  30 State Agencies..............  1-time basis..........  13,741...........  5 min./spon..............           1,145
30.11............................  31,956.........................  1-time................  31,956...........  Handout..................  ..............
ETA 9039.........................  50 appl./appr..................  1-time basis..........  50...............  \1/2\ hr.................              25
30.15............................  30 State Agencies..............  1-time................  Completed........  .........................  ..............
30.19............................  30 State Agencies..............  varies................  .................  .........................  ..............
                                  ---------------------------------                        -------------------                           ---------------
    Totals.......................  32,036.........................  ......................  53,235...........  .........................           5,714
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[[Page 57491]]

    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): 0.
    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.

Emily Stover DeRocco,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-25105 Filed 10-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P