[Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions]
[Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Semiannual Regulatory Agenda
]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]


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Part XXIII





Equal Employment Opportunity Commission





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Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

[[Page 22746]]



EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION (EEOC)                         


  



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EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

29 CFR Ch. XIV

Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

AGENCY: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.

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SUMMARY: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or 
Commission) is publishing its semiannual regulatory agenda pursuant to 
Executive Order 12866, 58 FR 51735, and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 
5 U.S.C. chapter 6. The agenda lists all regulations that are scheduled 
for review or development during the next 12 months or that have been 
finalized since the publication of the last agenda.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen J. Vargyas, Legal Counsel, 
Office of Legal Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1801 
L Street NW., Washington, DC 20507; telephone (202) 663-7197.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission has identified ten current 
and projected regulations for inclusion in this regulatory agenda. Nine 
of these items are currently under development or review by Commission 
staff, and one is being withdrawn.

Signed in Washington, DC, this 19th day of February 1998.

For the Commission.

Paul M. Igasaki,

Chairman.

                                                Final Rule Stage                                                
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                                                                                                     Regulation 
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier 
  Number                                                                                               Number   
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3606         Procedures for Complaints of Employment Discrimination by Previously Exempt State and              
            Local Government Employees............................................................    3046-AA56 
3607         Regulations Interpreting Title II of the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990              
            (OWBPA)...............................................................................    3046-AA58 
3608         Procedures for Collection of Debts by Administrative Offset..........................    3046-AA65 
3609         Availability of Records..............................................................    3046-AA67 
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                                                Long-Term Actions                                               
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                                                                                                     Regulation 
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier 
  Number                                                                                               Number   
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3610         Procedures--The Age Discrimination in Employment Act.................................    3046-AA54 
3611         Federal Sector Equal Employment Opportunity..........................................    3046-AA57 
3612         Disparate Impact Under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)...............    3046-AA64 
3613         Federal Sector Equal Employment Opportunity Procedures...............................    3046-AA66 
3614         Waivers of Rights and Claims: Status of Consideration................................    3046-AA68 
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                                                Completed Actions                                               
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                                                                                                     Regulation 
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier 
  Number                                                                                               Number   
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3615         Procedures on Interagency Coordination of Equal Employment Opportunity Issuances.....    3046-AA55 
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EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION (EEOC)         Final Rule Stage


  



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3606. PROCEDURES FOR COMPLAINTS OF EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION BY 
PREVIOUSLY EXEMPT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

Priority:  Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority:  2 USC 1220, sec 321 of Government Employee Rights Act 
of 1991; 42 USC 2000e et seq, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; 29 USC 
621 et seq, Age Discrimination in Employment Act; 42 USC 12101 et seq, 
Americans with Disabilities Act

CFR Citation:  29 CFR 1603

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the ADEA and 
the ADA, certain staff members of State and local elected officials 
were exempt from protection against employment discrimination. Section 
321 of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 extends employment 
discrimination protections to the employment of persons who have been 
chosen or appointed by a State or local elected public official to 
serve on his or her personal staff, to serve the elected official on 
the policymaking level, or to serve as an immediate advisor with 
respect to the exercise of the constitutional or legal powers of the 
official's office.

[[Page 22747]]

Timetable:
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Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Interim Final Rule              04/10/97                    62 FR 17542
Interim Final Rule Comment 
Period End                      06/09/97
Final Action                    07/00/98

Small Entities Affected: Governmental Jurisdictions

Government Levels Affected: State, Local

Agency Contact: Thomas J. Schlageter, Assistant Legal Counsel, Office 
of Legal Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1801 L 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20507
Phone: 202 663-4669
TDD: 202 663-7026
Fax: 202 663-4639

RIN: 3046-AA56
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3607. REGULATIONS INTERPRETING TITLE II OF THE OLDER WORKERS BENEFIT 
PROTECTION ACT OF 1990 (OWBPA)

Priority:  Other Significant

Legal Authority:  29 USC 628

CFR Citation:  29 CFR 1625

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) was 
amended in 1990 by OWBPA. Title II of OWBPA sets forth the statutory 
requirements for a valid waiver of rights under the ADEA.
Regulations under title II would provide guidance on implementing 
OWBPA's requirements for unsupervised ADEA waivers. As part of the 
development of this regulation, the Commission engaged in regulatory 
negotiations on waivers of rights and claims under the ADEA.

Statement of Need: In 1990, Congress amended the ADEA to permit knowing 
and voluntary unsupervised waivers of rights and claims arising under 
the Act. In 1992, the Commission published a notice in the Federal 
Register seeking public comment on various ADEA issues, including the 
topic of waiver agreements. In response to the notice the Commission 
received numerous detailed comments on the waiver provisions which 
demonstrated a need for regulatory guidance. Over the ensuing years, 
representatives of employer and employee communities have expressed a 
continuing interest in receiving such guidance. Waiver agreements are 
widely used in the workplace, particularly when employers find it 
necessary to reduce the size of the workforce. Employees who sign 
waiver agreements are bargaining away important Federal rights in 
return for some form of consideration. Employers are offering 
additional benefits, sometimes quite substantial, in exchange for 
employee agreements to forgo potential recovery in age discrimination 
lawsuits. Both sides have a substantial stake in this area of the law 
and would benefit from regulatory guidance.

Summary of the Legal Basis: Section 9 of the ADEA authorizes the 
Commission to issue such rules and regulations as it may consider 
necessary or appropriate for carrying out the Act. Moreover, regulatory 
negotiation is authorized by the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990, and 
is consistent with the President's goal of involving stakeholders in 
the regulatory process.

Alternatives: The objective of a regulatory negotiation is to seek to 
obtain a consensus recommendation to the Commission. Thus, the process 
itself involved consideration of various alternatives with the affected 
parties agreeing upon proposed regulatory positions.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: Clear regulatory guidance for the use 
of waiver agreements should lead to increased voluntary resolution of 
potential employment disputes, which in turn will reduce the 
possibility of protracted and costly litigation. At the same time, 
providing clear regulatory guidance on what constitutes a valid waiver 
agreement will ensure that persons enter into such agreements only in a 
knowing and voluntary manner. It is not anticipated that any costs will 
arise from issuing regulatory guidance.

Risks: Regulatory guidance for drafting and implementing valid waiver 
agreements will lessen the risk that persons might waive important 
Federal civil rights in an unknowing or involuntary manner. The 
Commission has a substantial interest in addressing this risk. The ADEA 
is intended to implement the strong public interest in attaining a 
workplace free of age discrimination. Individual employees serving as 
private attorneys general are an integral part of the ADEA enforcement 
scheme crafted by Congress. Thus, it is of critical import that persons 
who may choose to relinquish their Federal civil rights do so 
voluntarily and with full knowledge. Moreover, other Federal civil 
rights laws enforced by the Commission, for example title VII, envision 
an important role for aggrieved individuals as private attorneys 
general. Insofar as waiver agreements may be used under statutes other 
than the ADEA, clear guidance will also lessen the risk of abuse in 
those areas.

Timetable:
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Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

ANPRM                           03/27/92                    57 FR 10626
ANPRM Comment Period End        07/27/92
Notice of Intent To Form 
Rulemaking Advisory Committee   08/31/95                    60 FR 45388
Notice of Establishment of 
Rulemaking Advisory Committee   10/20/95                    60 FR 54207
NPRM                            03/10/97                    62 FR 10787
NPRM Comment Period End         05/09/97
Final Action                    05/00/98

Small Entities Affected: Undetermined

Government Levels Affected: Undetermined

Agency Contact: Joseph N. Cleary, Assistant Legal Counsel, Office of 
Legal Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1801 L Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20507
Phone: 202 663-4690
TDD: 202 663-7026
Fax: 202 663-4639

RIN: 3046-AA58
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3608. PROCEDURES FOR COLLECTION OF DEBTS BY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFSET

Priority:  Info./Admin./Other

Legal Authority:  5 USC 5514; 31 USC 3716; 31 USC 3720A; 5 CFR 550.1101

CFR Citation:  29 CFR 1650

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: As required by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, 
the Commission is issuing regulations for the collection of debts by 
administrative offset.

Timetable:
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Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Interim Final Rule              06/17/97                    62 FR 32685

[[Page 22748]]

Interim Final Rule Comment 
Period End                      08/18/97
Final Action                    07/00/98

Small Entities Affected: None

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Thomas J. Schlageter, Assistant Legal Counsel, Office 
of Legal Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1801 L 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20507
Phone: 202 663-4669
TDD: 202 663-7026
Fax: 202 663-4639

RIN: 3046-AA65
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3609.  AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS

Priority:  Info./Admin./Other

Legal Authority:  5 USC 552; PL 105-231

CFR Citation:  29 CFR 1610

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Commission is revising its Freedom of Information Act 
regulations to comply with the Electronic Freedom of Information Act 
Amendments of 1996, to implement a delegation of Regional Attorney's 
FOIA responsibilities, to update office addresses, and to correct 
typographical errors.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Interim Final Rule              01/09/98                     63 FR 1339
Final Action                    07/00/98

Small Entities Affected: Businesses, Governmental Jurisdictions, 
Organizations

Government Levels Affected: State, Local, Tribal

Agency Contact: Thomas J. Schlageter, Assistant General Counsel, Equal 
Employment Opportunity Commission, 1801 L Street NW., Washington, DC 
20507
Phone: 202 663-4669
TDD: 202 663-7026
Fax: 202 663-4639

RIN: 3046-AA67
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EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION (EEOC)        Long-Term Actions


  



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3610. PROCEDURES--THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT

Priority:  Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority:  29 USC 628, sec 115, Civil Rights Act of 1991

CFR Citation:  29 CFR 1626

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: Section 115 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 deleted 
references to the Portal to Portal Act from the private suit provisions 
of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and replaced them 
with a requirement that suit be filed no later than 90 days after 
termination of proceedings or dismissal of a charge by EEOC. 
Accordingly, section 1626.7(a) is being deleted and section 1626.15(b) 
is being revised because they were both based upon the Portal to Portal 
Act. New sections are being added concerning termination of EEOC 
proceedings and the issuance of notices of the new 90-day limitation 
period.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            00/00/00

Small Entities Affected: Businesses, Governmental Jurisdictions, 
Organizations

Government Levels Affected: State, Local

Agency Contact: Thomas J. Schlageter, Assistant Legal Counsel, Office 
of Legal Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1801 L 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20507
Phone: 202 663-4669
TDD: 202 663-7026
Fax: 202 663-4639

RIN: 3046-AA54
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3611. FEDERAL SECTOR EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Priority:  Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority:  PL 102-569, The Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 
1992; 42 USC 2000e-16; 29 USC 633a; 29 USC 794a

CFR Citation:  29 CFR 1614

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The proposed amendments to this regulation implement the 
Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992. Those amendments provide that 
the standards used to determine if title I of the Americans With 
Disabilities Act has been violated will apply to complaints of 
nonaffirmative action employment discrimination under the 
Rehabilitation Act. The Commission may also make other changes to the 
Federal Sector complaint processing regulations as appropriate.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            00/00/00

Small Entities Affected: None

Government Levels Affected: Federal

Agency Contact: Thomas J. Schlageter, Assistant Legal Counsel, Office 
of Legal Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1801 L 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20507
Phone: 202 663-4669
TDD: 202 663-7026
Fax: 202 663-4639

RIN: 3046-AA57
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3612. DISPARATE IMPACT UNDER THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT 
(ADEA)

Priority:  Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority:  29 USC 628

CFR Citation:  29 CFR 1625.7 (Revision); 29 CFR 1625.23 (New)

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Commission proposes to issue legislative regulations to 
reaffirm and clarify its long-standing interpretive rule regarding the 
availability of the disparate impact theory under the ADEA. The 
proposed rule also would set forth the nature and order of proof in 
such disparate impact cases.

Timetable: Next Action Undetermined

[[Page 22749]]

Small Entities Affected: None

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Joseph N. Cleary, Assistant Legal Counsel, Equal 
Employment Opportunity Commission, 1801 L Street NW., Washington, DC 
20507
Phone: 202 663-4690
TDD: 202 663-7026
Fax: 202 663-4639

RIN: 3046-AA64
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3613. FEDERAL SECTOR EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY PROCEDURES

Priority:  Substantive, Nonsignificant

Reinventing Government: This rulemaking is part of the Reinventing 
Government effort. It will revise text in the CFR to reduce burden or 
duplication, or streamline requirements.

Legal Authority:  42 USC 2000e-16; 29 USC 206(d); 29 USC 633a; 29 USC 
791; 29 USC 794a

CFR Citation:  29 CFR 1614

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: Commission staff has reviewed part 1614 to assess its 
effectiveness and conformity with National Performance Review 
principles. As a result, several changes are being proposed to 
streamline the process and eliminate unnecessary layers of review.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            02/20/98                     63 FR 8594
NPRM Comment Period End         04/21/98


Next Action Undetermined

Small Entities Affected: Undetermined

Government Levels Affected: Federal

Agency Contact: Thomas J. Schlageter, Assistant Legal Counsel, Office 
of Legal Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1801 L 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20507
Phone: 202 663-4669
TDD: 202 663-7026
Fax: 202 663-4639

RIN: 3046-AA66
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3614.  WAIVERS OF RIGHTS AND CLAIMS: STATUS OF CONSIDERATION

Priority:  Substantive, Nonsignificant

Legal Authority:  5 USC 552; 29 USC 628; 42 USC 2000e; 42 USC 12101; 29 
USC 206(d)

CFR Citation:  29 CFR 1625

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: Following the United States Supreme Court's decision in Oubre 
v. Entergy Operations, Inc., No. 96-1291, 1998 WL 23157 (U.S., Jan. 26, 
1998), the Commission intends to develop guidance on the status of 
consideration paid for a waiver of rights and claims under the laws it 
enforces.

Timetable: Next Action Undetermined

Small Entities Affected: None

Government Levels Affected: State, Local, Tribal, Federal

Agency Contact: Carol R. Miaskoff, Assistant Legal Counsel, Equal 
Employment Opportunity Commission, 6th Floor, 1801 L Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20507
Phone: 202 663-4689
TDD: 202 663-7026
Fax: 202 663-4639

RIN: 3046-AA68
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EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION (EEOC)        Completed Actions


  



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3615. PROCEDURES ON INTERAGENCY COORDINATION OF EQUAL EMPLOYMENT 
OPPORTUNITY ISSUANCES

Priority:  Substantive, Nonsignificant

CFR Citation:  29 CFR 1690

Completed:
________________________________________________________________________

Reason                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Withdrawn                       02/19/98

Small Entities Affected: None

Government Levels Affected: Federal

Agency Contact: Carol R. Miaskoff
Phone: 202 663-4679
TDD: 202 663-7026
Fax: 202 663-4639

RIN: 3046-AA55
[FR Doc. 98-5151 Filed 04-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6570-01-F