[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 66669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27868]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment Standards Administration
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
AGENCY: Employment Standards Adminstration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: 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 can be properly assessed.
Currently, the Employment Standards Administration is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed collection: Work Experience and Career
Exploration Programs (WECEP), Regulations, 29 CFR part 570.35a (Fair
Labor Standards Act). A copy of the proposed information collection
request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the
addresses section of this Notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addresses section below on or before December 31, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Ms. Patricia A. Forkel, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone
(202) 693-0339, fax (202) 693-1451, e-mail esa.gov">[email protected]esa.gov.
Please use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or
e-mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section (3)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes a
minimum age of 16 for most nonagricultural employment, but allows the
employment of 14 and 15 year olds in occupations other than
manufacturing and mining if the Secretary of Labor determines such
employment is confined to periods which will not interfere with their
health and well-being. Subpart C of Regulations, 29 CFR Part 570, Child
Labor Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation, sets forth
the employment standards for 14 and 15 year olds (Child Labor Reg. 3).
Section 570.35a of these regulations permits employment of 14 and 15
year olds under conditions otherwise prohibited by Child Labor Reg. 3
pursuant to a school-supervised and school-administered Work Experience
and Career Exploration Program (WECEP) which meets the stated
requirements. In order to utilize the WECEP provisions of Child Labor
Reg. 3, section 570.35 of the regulations require a State Educational
Agency to file an application for approval of a State WECEP program as
one not interfering with schooling or with the health and well-being of
the minors involved and therefore not constituting oppressive child
labor. Section 57.35a(b)(vi) of the regulations requires each student
participating in a WECEP to execute a written training agreement signed
by the teacher-coordinator, the employer, and the student and signed or
otherwise consented to by the student's parent or guardian. This
information collection is currently approved for use through February
28, 2003.
II. Review Focus
The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments
which:
[sbull] 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;
[sbull] 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;
[sbull] Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information
to be collected; and
[sbull] 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.
III. Current Actions
State educational agencies are required to file applications for
WECEP which provide exceptions to the child labor regulations issued
under the FLSA. State educational agencies are also required to
maintain certain records with respect to approved WECEP programs. The
Department of Labor seeks the extension of the collection of
information in order to carry out its responsibility to determine that
regulatory tests for approval of the program have been met, and to
document the validity of the WECEP program as one which is structured
to provide training for the student. There is no change in the
substance or method of collection since the last OMB approval.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Title: Work Experience and Career Exploration Programs (WECEP), 29
CRF Part 570.35a.
OMB Number: 1215-0121.
Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal government, Individuals or
households.
Total Respondents/Responses: 14,014.
Frequency: Recordkeeping, Biennial reporting.
Average Time per Response:
Reporting, WECEP Application--2 hours.
Reporting, Written Training Agreement--1 hour.
Recordkeeping, WECEP Program Information--1 hour.
Recordkeeping, Filing of WECEP Record and Training Agreement--one-
half minute.
Total Burden Hours: 7,145.
Estimated Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping
Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $2.80.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a
matter of public record.
Dated: October 25, 2002.
Margaret J. Sherrill
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-27868 Filed 10-31-02; 8:45 am]
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