Proposed Rule2024-31078
National Apprenticeship System Enhancements; Withdrawal
Primary source
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Published
December 27, 2024
Issuing agencies
Labor DepartmentEmployment and Training Administration
Abstract
The Department of Labor (the Department) is withdrawing its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM or proposed rule), which proposed to revise the Federal regulations implementing the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937 (NAA).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 248 (Friday, December 27, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 248 (Friday, December 27, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 105504-105505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31078]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
29 CFR Parts 29 and 30
[Docket No. ETA-2023-0004]
RIN 1205-AC13
National Apprenticeship System Enhancements; Withdrawal
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Withdrawal of proposed rule and termination of rulemaking
proceeding.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (the Department) is withdrawing its
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM or proposed rule), which proposed
to revise the Federal regulations implementing the National
Apprenticeship Act of 1937 (NAA).
DATES: The Department is withdrawing the proposed rule published on
January 17, 2024 (89 FR 3118), as of December 27, 2024.
ADDRESSES: The docket is available at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>--
Docket No. ETA-2023-0004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Paczynski, Administrator,
Office of Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Labor,
Employment and Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW,
Room N-5641, Washington, DC 20210, Telephone: 202-693-3700 (voice)
(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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The NAA (29 U.S.C. 50) authorizes the Secretary of the Department
of Labor (the Secretary) to ``formulate and promote the furtherance of
labor standards necessary to safeguard the welfare of apprentices, to
extend the application of such standards by encouraging the inclusion
thereof in contracts of apprenticeship, to bring together employers and
labor for the formulation of programs of apprenticeship, [and] to
cooperate with State agencies engaged in the formulation and promotion
of standards of apprenticeship.'' Under this authority, the Department
established the registered apprenticeship program. The Department set
forth labor standards designed to facilitate these statutory directives
through its implementing regulations at 29 CFR part 29. Those
regulations prescribe minimum quality and content requirements with
respect to a program's standards of apprenticeship and its
apprenticeship agreements; establish procedures concerning the
registration, cancellation, and deregistration of apprenticeship
programs; and set forth a mechanism for the recognition of State
Apprenticeship Agencies (SAAs) as Registration Agencies authorized to
register and
[[Page 105505]]
oversee registered apprenticeship programs in a State. A companion
regulation, at 29 CFR part 30, also implements the NAA by setting forth
minimum Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship requirements
that registered apprenticeship programs must follow to obtain and
maintain registration status.
Summary of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
On January 17, 2024, the Department published an NPRM titled
``National Apprenticeship System Enhancements'' in the Federal Register
(89 FR 3118) proposing to revise the regulations for registered
apprenticeship at 29 CFR parts 29 and 30 by enhancing worker
protections and equity, improving the quality of registered
apprenticeship programs, revising the State governance provisions, and
more clearly establishing critical pipelines to registered
apprenticeship programs, such as by creating registered career and
technical education (CTE) apprenticeships. The NPRM invited written
comments from the public concerning the proposed rulemaking through
March 18, 2024.
Summary of Comments
The Department received comment submissions from 2,115 commenters,
which included 9 form letters that accounted for 1,760 comments, and
333 unique comments (substantive and non-substantive). Additionally, 22
comments were duplicates or not related to the subject of this
rulemaking. The commenters represented a range of stakeholders from the
public, non-profit, and private sectors, and individuals, including
current and former apprentices. Among other things, commenters focused
on three primary areas: (1) the scope and nature of the proposed
program quality enhancements and worker protections, and the impact and
burdens on program sponsors and employers in making those enhancements,
(2) proposed changes to the governance structure of SAAs, and (3) the
proposal to create a new model of registered CTE apprenticeship.
Rationale for Withdrawal
The Department has considered the detailed feedback, analysis,
proposed alternatives, and dialogue generated by the publication of the
NPRM. The Department broadly notes that the breadth and diversity of
stakeholders commenting, as well as the unique perspectives provided,
is a testament to the strength and growth of the registered
apprenticeship model overall as a solution to America's workforce needs
across a wide range of industries. The Department believes that the
dialogue spurred by the NPRM demonstrates a need for a robust and
modernized approach to registered apprenticeship with more clearly
defined roles and responsibilities, more points of entry, and improved
accessibility for employers to join or register programs and for job
seekers to become apprentices in those programs.
Through this rulemaking, the Department sought to strengthen the
National Apprenticeship System and balance the needs of all
apprenticeship stakeholders. The Department engaged in stakeholder
outreach prior to the development of the proposed rule. The Department
believes that commenters have raised some ideas and concepts--
particularly regarding the impact and value of the proposed quality
enhancements, proposed SAA governance provisions, and the registered
CTE apprenticeship proposal--that would benefit from more outreach and
dialogue with interested parties and the regulated community before it
develops a new regulatory proposal updating the governing regulations
for the National Apprenticeship System and registered apprenticeship
programs. Therefore, the Department is withdrawing the proposed rule.
Conclusion
By withdrawing the proposed rule, the Department is eliminating the
pending nature of this rulemaking. The Department intends to engage
with all interested parties to discuss and consider future enhancements
and impacts for the quality and expansion of registered apprenticeship
and the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in the National
Apprenticeship System. If the Department decides to revise parts 29 and
30 at a later date, it will issue a new NPRM in the Federal Register.
Accordingly, the NPRM published in the Federal Register on January
17, 2024, at 89 FR 3118 is withdrawn.
Jos[eacute] Javier Rodr[iacute]guez,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2024-31078 Filed 12-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FR-P
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