[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 189 (Thursday, September 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60534-60535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25081]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection; Apprenticeship 
Programs, Labor Standards for Registration; Extension With Revisions

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (Department), 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 (ETA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the collection of data about Title 20 
CFR part 29, Apprenticeship Programs, Labor Standards for Registration 
with an expiration date of January 31, 2012.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) 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 November 28, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to John V. Ladd, Administrator, 
Office of Apprenticeship, Room N-5311 Employment and Training 
Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. 
Telephone No.: 202-693-2796 (this is not a toll-free number). Fax: 202-
693-3799. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The National Apprenticeship Act of 1937 (the Act), Section 50 (29 
U.S.C. 50), 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 in 
accordance with Section 17 of Title 20.'' 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). On 
October 29, 2008, ETA issued a final rule in the Federal Register that 
updated Title 29, CFR part 29. The regulations were revised for the 
first time since 1977. The rule became effective on December 29, 2008 
and implemented changes to Title 29 CFR part 29 that will increase 
flexibility, enhance program quality and accountability, and promote 
apprenticeship opportunity in the 21st century, while continuing to 
safeguard the welfare of apprentices. The approved Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) collection instrument, ETA Program Registration 
(Section I), and Apprentice Registration (Section II), expires January 
31, 2012. Both sections are available electronically to facilitate the 
registration of programs and apprentices.
    The changes to the currently approved Section I (ETA Program 
Registration) consist of the following:
     Instruction Method was revised to include electronic media 
(technology-based instruction and distance learning).
     Occupation Training Approach now includes the Hybrid 
Approach.
     The Competency-Based and Hybrid Approaches are explained 
in more detail. This includes the use of Interim Credentials--
certificates that provide portable recognition of an apprentice's 
accomplishments after certain milestones are achieved during the 
training. A program sponsor who chooses to use interim credentials must 
identify and demonstrate how these credentials link to the components 
of the apprenticeable occupation, and establish a process for assessing 
an apprentice's competency. Interim Credentials are voluntarily chosen 
by the program sponsor and are based on standards applicable only to 
Competency-Based or Hybrid Occupations. The certificates are issued by 
the Registration Agency upon the program sponsor's request.
     Probation Length in hours clarifies that the probation 
period cannot exceed 25 percent of the length of the program or one 
year, whichever is shorter.
     Number of periods in the wage schedule is now based on the 
program sponsor's Training Occupation Approach. The Program 
Registration Date was revised.
     Provisional Registration, which is a one-year initial 
provisional approval for a new program, is provided to programs that 
meet the required standards for program registration. Programs may 
continue to be provisionally approved through the first training cycle 
until permanent registration is granted. Additionally, a five-year 
review must be conducted of the program to maintain its permanent 
registration.
    Section II (Apprentice Registration) was revised to be aligned with 
the changes in Section I. These changes included the Occupation 
Training Approach, the Term of the Apprenticeship, Probationary Period, 
Term Remaining, and the Wage Schedule.

II. Review Focus

    The Department 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 Federal government or cognizant State government to 
operate their proposed programs consistent with

[[Page 60535]]

29 CFR parts 29 and 30. 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. Program Registration, Section I, and Apprentice 
Registration, Section II, are used at different times, for different 
purposes, and with different individuals or entities. The information 
is not duplicative. Where necessary, this information will be 
repopulated electronically from the apprenticeship database to the 
revised Apprentice Registration--Section II, Part B: Sponsor field 
area.
    Type of Review: Extension with revisions.
    Title: Title 29 CFR Part 29, Apprenticeship Programs, Labor 
Standards for Registration.
    OMB Number: 1205-0223.
    Affected Public: Program Sponsors, State Apprenticeship Agencies, 
Applicants, Apprentices, Tribal Government.
    Form(s): ETA Form 671: Program Registration--Section I and 
Apprentice Registration--Section II.
    Total Annual Respondents: 139,466.
    Annual Frequency: 1-time basis.
    Total Annual Responses: 139,466.
    Average Time per Response: .083 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 15,193.
    Total Annual Burden Cost for Respondents: $292,349.

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                                                         Total                                     Annual                                  Annual burden
        Requirement ETA Form 671            Sec.      respondents           Frequency             response       Average response time         hours
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Section I..............................       29.3           1,000  1-time basis.............           1,000  .20 hr./Sponsor..........             200
Section II.............................       29.3          67,240  1-time basis.............          67,240  .083 hr./Apprentice......           5,581
ditto..................................       29.6          69,400  1-time basis.............          69,400  .083 hr./Apprentice......           5,760
ditto..................................       29.5           1,000  1-time basis.............           1,000  2 hrs./Sponsor...........           2,000
                                         .........             800  1-time basis.............             800  2 hrs./SAA...............           1,600
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ditto..................................      29.13    (Have sought
                                                       recognition
                                                           and are
                                                    awaiting final
                                                      recognition;
                                                      no new State
                                                            agency
                                                          expected
                                                      during 2012-
                                                             2015)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ditto..................................      29.12              26  1-time basis.............              26  2 hrs./SAA...............              52
ditto..................................      29.14               0  1-time basis.............               0  0........................               0
                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ditto..................................     Totals         139,466  .........................         139,466  .........................          15,193
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Respondents: 139,466 (2,000 sponsors + 136,640 apprentices + 
826 SACs).
    Total Burden Hours: 15,193 (2,200 sponsors + 11,341 apprentices + 
1,652 SACs).
    Burden estimates are experience-based.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the ICR; 
they will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: September 21, 2011.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.
[FR Doc. 2011-25081 Filed 9-28-11; 8:45 am]
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