[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 2216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00565]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Notice of a Virtual Meeting of the Task Force on Apprenticeship 
Expansion

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and its 
implementing regulations, notice is hereby given to announce a virtual 
meeting of the Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion on Tuesday, 
February 6, 2018. The Task Force will convene its second meeting 
virtually; information on how to access this meeting is provided below 
and will be prominently posted on the Task Force's homepage: https://www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/task-force.htm. The Task Force is a FACA 
committee established by Presidential Executive Order that is charged 
with identifying strategies and proposals to promote and expand 
apprenticeships, especially in sectors where apprenticeship programs 
are insufficient. The Task Force is solely advisory in nature, and will 
consider reports, comments, research, evidence, and existing practices 
as appropriate to develop recommendations for inclusion in its final 
report to the President. A virtual meeting of the Task Force provides 
cost savings to the government while still offering a venue that allows 
for public participation and transparency, as required by FACA. To 
achieve its mission, the Task Force will likely convene four meetings 
between February and May 2018; two meetings will convene virtually and 
two meetings will convene in person.

DATES: The meeting will begin at approximately 1:00 p.m. Eastern 
Standard Time on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, and adjourn at 
approximately 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will convene virtually. Any updates to the 
agenda and meeting logistics will be posted on the Task Force homepage 
at: https://www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/task-force.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Diane A. Jones, Senior Policy 
Advisor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210, Telephone: (202) 693-2700 (this is not 
a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Virtual Meeting Log-In Instructions

    In order to promote openness and increase public participation, 
webinar and audio conference technology will be used throughout the 
meeting. Webinar and audio instructions will be prominently posted on 
the Task Force homepage at: https://www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/task-force.htm.

II. Task Force Meeting Schedule

    The Task Force is charged with identifying strategies and proposals 
to promote apprenticeships, especially in sectors where apprenticeship 
programs are insufficient. Upon completion of its work, the Task Force 
shall submit to the President of the United States a final report 
detailing these strategies and proposals. To achieve its mission, the 
Task Force will likely convene four meetings between February and May 
2018. The remaining meeting dates for the 2018 calendar year will be 
posted on the Task Force homepage and subsequent Federal Register 
Notices will be published.

III. Task Force Subcommittees

    Pursuant to the Executive Order and the Task Force Charter, the 
final report must specifically address the following four topics: (1) 
Federal initiatives to promote apprenticeships; (2) administrative and 
legislative reforms that would facilitate the formation and success of 
apprenticeship programs; (3) the most effective strategies for creating 
industry-recognized apprenticeships; and (4) the most effective 
strategies for amplifying and encouraging private-sector initiatives to 
promote apprenticeships. In order to accomplish this goal, Secretary R. 
Alexander Acosta established the following four subcommittees.

1. Expanding Access, Equity and Career Awareness Subcommittee
2. Administrative and Regulatory Strategies to Expand Apprenticeship 
Subcommittee
3. Attracting Business to Apprenticeship Subcommittee
4. Education and Credentialing Subcommittee
    Interested parties can obtain further meeting details and 
subcommittee descriptions on the Task Force website: https://www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/task-force.htm.
    Notice of Intent to Attend the Meeting and Submission of a Written 
Statement:
    Interested members of the public must register for the virtual Task 
Force meeting by Thursday, January 25, 2018, via the public 
registration website using the following link: https://secure.thegateam.com/dol-aetf-reg/. Additionally, individuals with 
special needs and/or disabilities that will require special 
accommodations should send an email to [email protected] 
with the subject line ``Special Accommodations for the February 2018 
Virtual Task Force Meeting'' no later than Thursday, January 25, 2018.
    The tentative agenda for this meeting includes the following:

 Updates Since November 2017 Meeting
 Overview and Status Report on the Work of the Subcommittees
 Taking Apprenticeship to Scale
 Next Meeting and Next Steps

    Also in the interest of increasing public participation, any member 
of the public who wishes to provide a written statement should send it 
via electronic mail to [email protected], subject line 
``Public Comment February 2018 Virtual Task Force Meeting.'' The agenda 
and meeting logistics may be updated between the time of this 
publication and the scheduled date of the Task Force meeting. All 
meeting updates will be posted to the Task Force website: https://www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/task-force.htm.

Rosemary Lahasky,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Employment and Training 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-00565 Filed 1-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-FR-P