2023-26920. Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Registration and Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship Programs

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor's (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, “Registration and Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship Programs.” This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

DATES:

Consideration will be given to all written comments received by February 6, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation, including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden, may be obtained free by contacting Ayesha Upshur by telephone at 202–693–2771 (this is not a toll-free number). For persons with a hearing or speech disability who need assistance to use the telephone system, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services.

Submit written comments about, or requests for a copy of, this ICR by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Apprenticeship, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room N–5311, Washington, DC 20210; by email: [e-mail]; or by fax [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ayesha Upshur by telephone at 202–693–2771 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

DOL, as part of continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information before submitting them to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for final approval. This program helps to ensure 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 can be properly assessed.

ETA is requesting an extension to a currently approved ICR pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The National Apprenticeship Act (NAA) of 1937 (29 U.S.C. 50) authorizes this information collection. If approved, this ICR will enable ETA to continue its data collection concerning the registration of apprenticeship programs and apprentices with DOL/ETA's Office of Apprenticeship and recognized State Apprenticeship Agencies, properly assess the types of sponsors that are seeking to register an apprenticeship program and the level of growth in apprenticeship, collect the data necessary to calculate national registered apprenticeship program and apprentice totals, continue to implement the requirements of the Veterans Apprenticeship and Labor Opportunity Reform (VALOR) Act (Pub. L. 115–89) and the Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116–134). This ICR will also continue to enable ETA to collect data from registered apprenticeship programs relating to equal employment opportunity, and from applicants and/or apprentices, who file a discrimination complaint. Under the NAA, the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) is charged with the establishment of labor standards designed to safeguard the welfare of apprentices and promote apprenticeship opportunity. The NAA also authorizes the Secretary to “publish information relating to existing and proposed labor standards of apprenticeship.”

ETA seeks an extension of this ICR which includes the following: ETA Form 671 (Program Registration and Apprenticeship Agreement); ETA Form 9039 (Complaint Form—Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship Programs); and the information collection instrument pertaining to state program and apprentice registration (ETA Form 9186). ETA Forms 671, 9039, and 9186 are currently set to expire on June 30, 2024.

This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless it is approved by OMB under the PRA and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid Control Number. See5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.

Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments to the contact shown in the ADDRESSES section. Comments must be written to receive consideration, and they will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval of the final ICR. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1205–0223.

Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this ICR and posted on the internet, without redaction. DOL encourages commenters not to include personally identifiable information, confidential business data, or other sensitive statements/information in any comments.

DOL is particularly interested in comments that:

• 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 submission of responses).

Agency: DOL–ETA.

Type of Review: Extension.

Title of Collection: Registration and Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship Programs.

Forms: ETA Form 671, ETA Form 9039, and ETA Form 9186.

OMB Control Number: 1205–0223.

Affected Public: Individuals/households, state/local/tribal governments, Federal government, private sector (businesses or other for-profits, and, not-for-profit institutions).

Estimated Number of Respondents: 704,577.

Frequency: Varies.

Total Estimated Annual Responses: 1,066,917.

Estimated Average Time per Response: Varies.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 522,623 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $0.

Authority:44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

Laura P. Watson,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.