[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 231 (Tuesday, December 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67437-67439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29879]


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EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

ACTION: Notice of information collection--new: The Equal Employment 
Opportunity Commission's ``Freedom to Compete'' Award.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Commission announces its intent 
to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to 
approve a new information collection as described below.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be submitted on or before 
February 2, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to Frances M. Hart, Executive 
Officer, Executive Secretariat, Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission, 10th Floor, 1801 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20507. As a 
convenience to commentators, the Executive Secretariat will accept 
comments transmitted by facsimile (``FAX'') machine. The telephone 
number of the FAX receiver is (202)

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663-4114 (this is not a toll-free number). Only comments of six or 
fewer pages will be accepted via FAX transmittal. This limitation is 
necessary to assure access to the equipment. Receipt of FAX 
transmittals will not be acknowledged, except that the sender may 
request confirmation of receipt by calling the Executive Secretariat 
staff at (202) 663-4070 (voice) or (202) 663-4074 (TTY) (these are not 
toll-free telephone numbers). Copies of comments submitted by the 
public will be available to review at the Commission's library, Room 
6502, 1801 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20507 between the hours of 
9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Fisher, Acting Director, Office 
of Communications and Legislative Affairs, 1801 L Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20507, (202) 663-4056 (voice). This notice is available 
in the following formats: Large print, braille, audio tape and 
electronic file on computer disk. Requests for this notice in an 
alternative format should be made to the Publications Center at 1-800-
699-3362.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 
(EEOC) enforces title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal 
Pay Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Rehabilitation 
Act, title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Pregnancy 
Employment Discrimination Act. Pursuant to its authority under those 
statutes, EEOC launched the ``Freedom to Compete'' (FTC) initiative, a 
national outreach, education and coalition-building strategy designed 
to complement the agency's enforcement and litigation efforts by 
identifying EEO practices and programs worthy of emulation. The 
Commission has built and seeks to further build partnerships and 
strategic alliances with various stakeholders that can directly and 
indirectly ensure equal opportunity in the nation's workplaces. One 
component of this initiative is the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission's ``Freedom to Compete'' Award. The Award is designed to 
recognize employers, organizations and entities whose extraordinary 
efforts embody the EEOC's mission of ensuring individuals the freedom 
to compete in the workplace on a level playing field regardless of 
race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion or disability. The 
Award will be presented to entities that have demonstrated exemplary 
efforts in promoting free and unfettered access to opportunities in the 
workplace. The Award will be based on nominations received from the 
public.
    This notice concerns the nomination form which constitutes a 
collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. chapter 
35, and OMB regulation 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), the Commission solicits 
public comment on its proposed nomination form to enable it to:
    (1) 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;
    (2) 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;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) 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 
submission of responses.
    The remainder of this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section provides 
the public with information it will need to comment on the EEOC 
proposal. It contains an overview of the information collection and the 
proposed nomination form.

Overview of This Information Collection

    Collection Title: Nomination for the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission's ``Freedom to Compete'' Award.
    OMB Number: None.
    Description of Affected Public: Individuals or households; 
Businesses or other for profit, Not-for-profit institutions; State or 
local governments.
    Number of Responses: 100.
    Estimated Reporting Time Per Respondent: 10 hours.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,000 hours.
    Federal Cost: None
    Form--Nomination Form for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission's ``Freedom To Compete'' Award.
    The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's `` Freedom to 
Compete'' Award is designed to recognize organizations and individuals 
whose extraordinary efforts embody the EEOC's mission of ensuring 
individuals the freedom to compete in the workplace on a level playing 
field and to go as far as their talent and abilities will allow 
regardless of race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion or 
disability. Award winners will be given the Commission's ``Freedom to 
Compete'' Award, which will be presented by the Chair of the Commission 
at an annual ceremony in Washington, DC. All nominees will be required 
to disclose any charges and litigation involving the statutes enforced 
by the Commission. Receipt of the ``Freedom to Compete'' Award does not 
constitute a waiver by the Commission nor will it be considered with 
respect to any future charges and investigations against nominees or 
award recipients. Background: In 2002, under the leadership of Chair 
Cari M. Dominguez, EEOC launched the ``Freedom to Compete'' (FTC) 
initiative, a national outreach, education and coalition-building 
strategy designed to complement the agency's enforcement and litigation 
efforts by identifying EEO practices and programs worthy of emulation. 
The Commission has built and seeks to further build partnerships and 
strategic alliances with various stakeholders that can directly and 
indirectly influence positive change in the nation's workplaces. The 
Award will be presented to individuals and organizations that have 
demonstrated exemplary efforts in promoting free and unfettered access 
to opportunities in the workplace. The Award will be called the 
``Freedom to Compete'' Award.
    Eligibility Criteria: The following criteria apply to the Freedom 
to Compete Award Nominees:
    A. The nominees must be public or private employers, corporations, 
associations, organizations, or others whose activities exemplify the 
goals of the Chair's ``Freedom to Compete'' initiative. Nominees may 
self-nominate or be nominated by others.
    B. Nominees must have implemented a program or practice that has 
successfully removed barriers that hinder free and fair workplace 
competition and increased access, inclusion, and/or promotional 
opportunities for qualified workers. The program or practice must 
involve one or more of the following components: innovative leadership, 
outreach, education, recruitment, training/development, promotion, 
retention, and/or mentoring.
    C. Nominees must report any unresolved violations of state of 
Federal law, or any pending Federal or state enforcement actions, any 
corrective actions or consent decrees that have resulted from 
litigation under the laws enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission.

[[Page 67439]]

    D. Recipients of this Award agree to participate in programs, 
meetings, and/or other collaborative efforts with the Commission for 
the purpose of publicizing the award-winning program/effort, and agree 
to share information to assist other entities seeking to replicate the 
program/effort. Recipients agree to take part in Commission efforts to 
promote the ``Freedom to Compete'' Award and the principles of free and 
fair workplace competition that underlie the award.

Nomination Submission Requirements

    This is an essay format (1,000 words or less) application. 
Programs/activities must have been in place for at least one year and 
have measurable and demonstrable results.
    Essays should include the following:
    [sbull] A profile of your organization--its mission, size, number 
of employees, nature of work, and, if a business, a description of its 
products/services, assets and annual revenues.
    [sbull] A description of what led you to implement the program/
practice.
    [sbull] How you went about developing the program/practice. 
Describe who was involved, how it evolved, whether any major obstacles 
were encountered and how they were overcome, and how long the program/
practice has been in place.
    [sbull] A description of the program/practice. Explain the 
structure of the program/practice, how it is managed and measured, and 
who is accountable for results.
    [sbull] Describe the level of executive involvement in, and 
commitment to, the program/practice during both development and 
implementation.
    [sbull] A description of the tangible results. Explain what makes 
your program/practice effective, and how it has positively affected the 
lives of your workers. Address how the program/practice has helped to 
bring about free and fair competition in your workplace.
    [sbull] A description of the joint activities your organization and 
the EEOC could undertake to share the program/effort with other 
entities and to promote the principles of free and fair workplace 
competition in partnership. Explain why others would find your program 
valuable.
    Timing and Acceptable Methods of Submission of Nominations: 
Nomination packages must be submitted to --------, 1801 L Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20507 by ------, 2003. Any application received or 
postmarked after------ will not be considered. All applications will be 
acknowledged
    The Administrative Review Process: Nominations will be evaluated by 
EEOC staff, with final award determinations made by the EEOC Chair.
    Location: The awards ceremony will generally be held during the 
month of --------at a location to be determined by the EEOC Chair.

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice (Public Law 104-13)

    Persons are not required to respond to a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) control number. This collection of information is approved under 
OMB number------(Expiration Date: ------). The obligation to respond to 
this information collection is voluntary; however, only nomination that 
follow the nomination procedures outlined in this notice will receive 
consideration. The average time to respond to this information 
collection is estimated to be 10 hours per response; including time for 
reviewing instructions, researching existing data sources, gathering 
and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. Submit comments regarding this estimate; 
including suggestions for reducing response time to the U.S. Equal 
Employment Opportunity Commission, Office of the Chair, 1801 L Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20507. Please reference to OMB Number ------. We 
are very interested in your thoughts and suggestions about your 
experience in preparing and filing this nomination packet for the Equal 
Employment Opportunity Commission's Freedom to Compete Award. Your 
comments will be very useful to the Commission in making improvements 
in our solicitation for nominations for this award in subsequent years.

    Dated: November 21, 2003.

    For the Commission.
Cari M. Dominguez,
Chair.
[FR Doc. 03-29879 Filed 12-1-03; 8:45 am]
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