Department of Labor January 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Labor published a document in the Federal Register of December 23, 2015, inviting public comments on the Employee Retirement Income Security Act Summary Annual Report Requirement Information Collection Request (80 FR 79934). The document contained an incorrect date.

The Department of Labor published a document in the Federal Register of December 23, 2015, inviting public comments on the Unified or Combined State Plan and Plan Modifications under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Information Collection Request (80 FR 79933). The document contained an incorrect date.

The U.S. Department of Labor (Department) is proposing to issue nondiscrimination and equal opportunity regulations replacing its regulation which implemented Section 188 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Signed by President Obama on July 22, 2014, WIOA supersedes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) as the Department's primary mechanism for providing financial assistance for a comprehensive system of job training and placement services for adults and eligible youth. Section 188 of WIOA prohibits the exclusion of an individual from participation in, denial of the benefits of, discrimination in, or denial of employment in the administration of or in connection with, any programs and activities funded or otherwise financially assisted in whole or in part under Title I of WIOA because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation or belief, and for beneficiaries only, citizenship status, or participation in a program or activity that receives financial assistance under Title I of WIOA. These proposed regulations would update the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity regulation consistent with current law and address its application to current workforce development and workplace practices and issues. Most of the provisions of WIOA took effect on July 1, 2015, except where otherwise specified in the law. WIOA contains the identical provisions of Section 188 as appeared in WIA, and these WIOA provisions took effect on July 1, 2015. To ensure no regulatory gap while this proposed rulemaking progresses toward a final rule, the Department issued a final rule implementing Section 188 of WIOA, which applies until issuance of the final rule based on this NPRM. The final rule issued separately in July 2015 retains the provisions in part 37 but substitutes all references to WIA with WIOA to reflect the proper statutory authority. This NPRM revises the final rule issued in July 2015. This NPRM generally carries over the policies and procedures found in Department regulations, which implement the equal opportunity and nondiscrimination provisions of WIA and WIOA. Like the final rule issued separately in July 2015, this rule is organized by the same subparts A through E, and refers to ``changes'' or ``revisions'' made to the final rule. Certain sections in each subpart have significant revisions.

In this notice, OSHA announces the application of TUV SUD America, Inc. for expansion of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and presents the Agency's preliminary finding to grant the application.

In this notice, OSHA announces its final decision expanding the scope of recognition for SGS North America, Inc., as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). Additionally, OSHA announces its final decision to add a new test standard to the NRTL list of appropriate test standards.

The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health requests nominations for membership on NACOSH.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that 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 on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is soliciting comments concerning the proposal to extend OMB approval of the information collection: Certification by School Official (CM-981). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice.

Section 101(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 44 govern the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for modification. This notice is a summary of petitions for modification submitted to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by the parties listed below.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that 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 on respondents is properly assessed. Currently, the Department of Labor is soliciting comments concerning the collection of data about the Evaluation of the Disability Employment Initiative Round 5 and Future Rounds. A copy of the proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed in the addressee section of this notice.

The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing effort to improve the quality and use of research and evaluation, is requesting comments from the public on its 2016 Research and Evaluation Plan.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed approval for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, ``VETS' Competitive Grant Programs Reporting Data Collection.'' 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), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c) (2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that 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 on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the ``Veterans Supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS),'' to be conducted in August 2016, August 2017, and August 2018. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the Addresses section of this notice.