Proposed New Information Collection; OLMS Public Submission Portal

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Department of Labor (Department) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), concerning the Office of Labor- Management Standards (OLMS) Public Submission Portal, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The Department is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of this ICR.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 200 (Monday, October 19, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 200 (Monday, October 19, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66166-66167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21345]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Labor-Management Standards


Proposed New Information Collection; OLMS Public Submission 
Portal

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
the Department of Labor (Department) is planning to submit an 
information collection request (ICR), concerning the Office of Labor-
Management Standards (OLMS) Public Submission Portal, to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The Department is 
soliciting public comments on specific aspects of this ICR.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all written comments received by 
December 18, 2026.

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 Andrew C. Hasty at (202) 693-0123 (this is not a toll-free 
number). For persons with a hearing or speech disability who need 
assistance using the telephone system, please dial 711 to access 
telecommunications relay services.
    Electronic submission: You may submit comments and attachments 
electronically at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
    Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew C. Hasty, Chief of the Division 
of Interpretations and Regulations, Office of Labor-Management 
Standards, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 
N-5609, Washington, DC 20210, by telephone at (202) 693-0123 (this is 
not a toll-free number), 711 (TTY/TDD), or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#294645445a04595c4b45404a694d4645074e465f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="117e7d7c623c6164737d787251757e7d3f767e67">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1959, Congress enacted the Labor-
Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA), 29 U.S.C. 401 et seq. 
to establish requirements for private-sector labor organizations, 
including the disclosure of financial and other information; standards 
for unions democracy, such as the election of officers and the 
establishment of trusteeships; and financial safeguards. The LMRDA also 
established reporting and disclosure requirements for employers in the 
private sector and their labor relations consultants, see 29 U.S.C. 
402(e), (m). Congress also extended LMRDA requirements to labor 
organizations composed of U.S. Postal Service employees.
    Labor organizations that represent employees of the executive 
branch agencies of the Federal Government, the Library of Congress, the 
Government Printing Office, and certain employees of the U.S. Congress 
are subject to the standards of conduct requirements of the Civil 
Service Reform Act (CSRA), 5 U.S.C. 7120, the Foreign Service Act 
(FSA), 22 U.S.C. 4117, or the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 
(CAA), 2 U.S.C. 1301. These latter Acts and the implementing 
regulations at 29 CFR 457.10-.20 provide that, in administering the 
standards of conduct, the Department will be guided by the 
interpretations and policies followed by the Department of Labor in 
applying provisions of the LMRDA. 29 CFR 458.1.
    As part of the Department's responsibilities, LMRDA section 601(a) 
provides that the Secretary of Labor has the power to investigate any 
person who has violated or is about to violate most provisions of the 
LMRDA, and may enter places, inspect records and accounts, and question 
individuals to determine the facts of an investigation. 29 U.S.C. 
521(a). In addition, LMRDA sections 304(a) and 402(b) require the 
Secretary of Labor to investigate complaints filed by members of a 
labor organization regarding violations of trusteeship or the election 
of officers. 29 U.S.C. 464, 482. The investigative and enforcement 
functions of the Secretary of Labor under the LMRDA and other relevant 
statutes have been delegated to the Office of Labor-Management 
Standards (OLMS). 77 FR 69376. Consistent with this delegation, the 
Department, through OLMS, accepts complaints, questions, and tips 
regarding the application and potential violations of the LMRDA and 
other relevant federal laws as part of conducting an investigation or 
potential enforcement action.
    In May 2024, the Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) 
issued a report to OLMS with recommendations on how to improve 
enforcement.\1\ One of these recommendations concerned the development 
of an online system to intake, track, and monitor submissions from the 
public alleging violations of the employer and labor relations 
consultant reporting requirements. At that time, a member of the public

[[Page 66167]]

attempting to submit a complaint, question, or tip to the Department 
regarding the LMRDA or other relevant federal law could do so solely 
via telephone or email, leading to potential confusion and inability to 
ensure their complaint was received and difficulty for OLMS to track 
the complaint. The OIG found that having an online complaint intake 
form is the best practice for receiving complaints and tips from the 
public concerning potential violations of the LMRDA's employer and 
consultant reporting requirements and recommended that OLMS create an 
online system through which it could receive such information from the 
public.
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    \1\ See <a href="https://www.oig.dol.gov/public/reports/oa/2024/09-24-002-16-001.pdf">https://www.oig.dol.gov/public/reports/oa/2024/09-24-002-16-001.pdf</a>.
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    To fulfill the OIG recommendation, and to ensure that members of 
the public have a clear and efficient method to contact OLMS with 
complaints, tips, or questions, the Department proposes a new 
information collection entitled, ``OLMS Public Submission Portal.'' The 
OLMS Public Submission Portal would be an online complaint, question, 
and tip system wherein any member of the public could submit 
complaints, tips, and inquiries concerning any aspect of the laws 
enforced by OLMS, specifically, the ``Persuader Tip Submission, Union 
Officer Election Complaint or Inquiry, Embezzlement/Financial 
Misconduct, LM Report Inquiries, and Public Inquiry and Complaint 
Forms,'' for review by OLMS. These forms would gather information from 
all respondents including personal contact information, the nature of 
their issue, and any details OLMS may need to best address their 
concerns. In relevant cases, an individual would be able to submit the 
form anonymously if they did not wish to be identified. Upon submission 
of the form, the respondent would receive confirmation of their 
submission. OLMS staff would then document the information in a new 
database and use the information provided on the form to review the 
issue, contact the submitter when appropriate and when contact 
information is provided, and determine whether further investigation 
into the allegations or issues raised may be required. For complaints 
whose information does not support OLMS action, complainants would be 
advised and referred to an appropriate agency, if any, for further 
assistance.
    The Department estimates that it will receive approximately 3,500 
responses on the OLMS Public Submission Portal, which is based on the 
Department's current methods of collecting complaints via email. In 
addition, the Department estimates that approximately 5 percent of 
these responses will come from respondents who have already filed a 
form on the OLMS Public Submission Portal, leading to a total of 3,325 
annual respondents. Finally, the Department estimates that, based on 
the length and relative non-complexity of the forms, each response will 
take approximately 10 minutes to complete. As a result, the Department 
estimates an annual burden hour total of 583.33 hours for this 
information collection.
    The Department invites comments on how members of the public would 
use the OLMS Public Submission Portal and the associated burden 
estimates. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be 
summarized and/or included in the submission to OMB for approval of the 
information collection request; they will also become a matter of 
public record. Commenters are encouraged not to submit sensitive 
information (e.g., confidential business information, personally 
identifiable information such as a social security number).
    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 the OMB approves it 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 
OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
    The Department seeks PRA authorization for this information 
collection for three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be 
for more than three (3) years without renewal.
    Agency: DOL-OLMS.
    Type of Review: New.
    Title of Collection: OLMS Public Submission Portal.
    OMB Control Number: 1245-0NEW.
    Affected Public: Private Sector.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,325.
    Frequency: Varies.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 3,500.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 595 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

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

Andrew C. Hasty,
Chief of the OLMS Division of Interpretations and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2026-21345 Filed 10-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-86-P


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