2023-12655. Agency Information Collection Activities: DHS Individual Complaint of Employment Discrimination, 1610-0001

AGENCY:

Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION:

30-day notice and request for comments; generic clearance for formative data collections for evaluations, research, and evidence building.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Homeland Security, DHS will submit the following information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DHS previously published this information collection request (ICR) in the Federal Register on 03/21/2023, for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were received by DHS. The purpose of this notice is to allow additional 30-days for public comments.

DATES:

Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until July 17, 2023. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This form provides information necessary for processing formal complaints of employment discrimination in accordance with EEOC Management Directive (EEO–MD) 110, and 29 CFR part 1614. It is the policy of the Government of the United States to provide equal opportunity in employment for all persons, to prohibit discrimination in employment because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, protected genetic information, or status as a parent, and to promote the full realization of equal employment opportunity (EEO) through a continuing affirmative program in each agency.

Persons who claim to have been subjected to these types of discrimination, or to retaliation for opposing these types of discrimination or for participating in any stage of administrative or judicial proceedings relating to them, can seek a remedy under title VII of the Civil Rights Act (title VII) (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) (race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) (29 U.S.C. 621 et seq.) (age), the Equal Pay Act (29 U.S.C. 206(d)) (sex), the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 791 et seq.) (disability), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) (42 U.S.C. 2000ff et seq.) (genetic information), and Executive Order 11478 (as amended by Executive Orders 13087 and 13152) (sexual orientation or status as a parent).

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) adjudicates discrimination complaints filed by current and former DHS employees, as well as applicants for employment at DHS. The complaint adjudication process for statutory rights is outlined in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulations found at title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, part 1614, and EEOC Management Directive 110. For complaints alleging discrimination prohibited by Executive Order 11478, DHS follows procedures similar to the procedures for statutory rights, to the extent permitted by law.

The recordkeeping provisions are designed to ensure that a current employee, former employee, or applicant for employment claiming to be aggrieved or that person's attorney provide a signed statement that is sufficiently precise to identify the aggrieved individual and the agency and to describe generally the action(s) or practice(s) that form the basis of the complaint. The complaint must also contain a telephone number and address where the complainant or the representative can be contacted. The complaint form is used for original allegations of discrimination but also for amendments to underlying complaints of discrimination. The form also determines whether the person is willing to participate in mediation or other available types of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to resolve their complaint; Congress has enacted legislation to encourage the use of ADR in the Federal sector and the form ensures that such an option is considered at this preliminary stage of the EEO complaint process.

A complainant may access the complaint form on the agency website and may submit a completed complaint form electronically to the relevant Component's EEO Office. The complaint form can then be directly uploaded into the DHS EEO Enterprise Complaints Tracking System, also known as “iComplaints.”

There is no change or adjustment to the burden associated with the collection of information associated with the DHS complaint form. DHS is not proposing to make any changes to the DHS complaint form. This request is a renewal of the current ICR collection expiring in 60 days.

This is a renewal of the ICR request.

The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments which:

1. 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.

2. 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.

Based on an average of the formal EEO complaints filed at DHS during Fiscal Years 2014 through 2021, there are approximately 1,200 respondents each year. Of the 1,200 respondents, 1,064 are Federal employees who are exempt (noted below). We estimate the information collection to take approximately 30 minutes.

136 respondents × 1/2 hour = 68 hours

3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

This information collection is conducted in manner consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).

4. 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. A complainant may access the complaint form on the agency website and may submit a completed complaint form electronically to the relevant Component's EEO Office. The complaint form can then be directly uploaded into the DHS EEO Enterprise Complaints Tracking System, also known as “icomplaints.”

Analysis

Agency: Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Title: DHS Individual Complaint of Employment Discrimination.

OMB Number: 1610–0001.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: Individuals and households.

Number of Respondents: 1200.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 30 mins.

Total Burden Hours: 600 hours.

Robert Porter Dorr,

Executive Director, Business Management Directorate.