[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 197 (Tuesday, October 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61471-61472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25899]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Renewal of the Native American Employment and Training Council 
(NAETC) Charter

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Renewal of the Native American Employment and Training Council 
(NAETC) Charter.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the renewal of the Workforce 
Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), section 166 Indian and Native 
American Programs Charter that is necessary and in the public interest. 
Accordingly, the U.S. Department of Labor (the Department), Employment 
and Training Administration (ETA) has renewed the NAETC Charter for two 
years with revisions. The revisions are not intended to change the 
purpose or the Council's original intent. The revisions include 
language regarding the use of proxies and changes to the membership 
balance plan. The Council Charter expired on September 9, 2015.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: Pursuant to WIOA section 166(i)(4)(C), the NAETC 
advises the Secretary on the operation and administration of the Native 
American programs authorized under section 166 of WIOA. In addition, 
the Council advises the Secretary on matters that promote the 
employment and training needs of Indian and Native Americans,

[[Page 61472]]

as well as enhance the quality of life in accordance with the Indian 
Self-Determination Act and Education Assistance Act. The Council also 
provides guidance to the Secretary on how to make DOL discretionary 
funding and other special initiatives more accessible to federally 
recognized tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Native Hawaiian 
organizations. The charter is required to be renewed every two years. 
The charter expired on September 9, 2015. The NAETC recommendations and 
accomplishments have and continue to assist ETA and the Secretary in 
making policy decisions that impact Native Americans, Alaska Natives 
and Native Hawaiian communities
    Summary of Revisions: The charter is being renewed to reference 
updates from the Workforce Investment Act to WIOA, and the following 
changes: Clarification that the Council's Designated Federal Officer 
(DFO) accepts reports on behalf of the Secretary; an increase in 
estimated annual operating costs and estimated staff years from a half 
of a full-time employee (FTE) to one FTE; a definitive range in the 
number of members; a clarification that the Council consult with the 
DFO to confirm the Department's approval for the Council to create a 
subcommittee or workgroup; and language outlining the use of proxy 
voting. All revisions are self-explanatory and/or provide clarification 
of existing procedures, with the exception of the proxy voting. The 
``Objectives and Scope of Activity'' section includes language that 
specifies the Council's purpose, focus, and mission; section 5 
clarifies that the DFO will accept reports on behalf of the Secretary; 
section 7 increased the estimated annual operating costs for the 
Council and increases the estimated staff years from .5 FTE to 1 FTE. 
Section 12 added ``Voting'' to the title of this section and includes 
language that provides a definitive range in the number of members and 
additional language that outlines the use of proxy voting. Changes to 
the language reads: ``If a member is unable to attend a meeting, he or 
she may notify the DFO in writing and request the DFO's approval to 
permit another member of the same tribe, organization, or entity to 
vote on behalf of such member on all matters coming before the Council 
during that particular meeting. Notice of a proxy's attendance must be 
given at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting. A record 
of the notification and approval will be kept, and written notice 
includes email notification. Proxies will be counted when calculating 
whether a quorum is present at the Council meeting.'' This change 
provides a process for ensuring a balanced Council in the event a 
Council member is unable to attend a meeting. The member will notify 
the DFO and request that another member of the same tribe, organization 
or entity be permitted to vote in their place; but only on the matters 
before the Council during that particular meeting. This will also 
ensure that in the event a member is unable to attend a scheduled 
Council meeting, a balanced membership is maintained for voting 
purposes. This is the first time that the Department has incorporated 
the use of proxy/alternate voting on advisory committees, and although 
it is intended to address the issue of a balanced membership, it is 
alternatively emphasized that it is important that the members who have 
been vetted and approved to serve on the Council attend the meetings if 
they are available and able to participate in person or via 
teleconference. Proxies should only be used on exceptional occasions. 
Members are also required to provide notice in writing 48 hours in 
advance of the scheduled meeting so that the Agency can ensure a 
balance will be maintained and that there are no conflicts of interest 
presented by the proxy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Athena Brown, Designated Federal 
Officer, Office of Workforce Investment, Employment and Training 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-4209, 200 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-3737, (this is 
not a toll-free number).

Portia Wu,
Assistant Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-25899 Filed 10-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-FR-P