Title 28—Judicial Administration--Volume 1
PART 4—PROCEDURE GOVERNING APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF EXEMPTION UNDER THE LABOR-MANAGEMENT REPORTING AND DISCLOSURE ACT OF 1959, AND THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974
§ 4.1   Definitions.
As used in this part:
(a) Labor Act means the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (73 Stat. 519).
(b) Pension Act means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-406) (88 Stat. 829).
(c) Acts means both of the above statutes.
(d) Commission means the United States Parole Commission.
(e) Secretary means the Secretary of Labor or his designee.
(f) For proceedings under the “Labor Act”
(1) Employer means the labor organization, or person engaged in an industry or activity affecting commerce, or group or association of employers dealing with any labor organization, which an applicant under § 4.2 desires to serve in a capacity for which he is ineligible under section 504(a) of the “Labor Act”.
(2) All other terms used in this part shall have the same meaning as identical or comparable terms when those terms are used in the “Labor Act”.
(g) For proceedings under the “Pension Act”
(1) Employer means the employee benefit plan with which an applicant under § 4.2 desires to serve in a capacity for which he is ineligible under section 411(a) of the “Pension Act” (29 U.S.C. section 1111).
(2) All other terms used in this part shall have the same meaning as identical or comparable terms when those terms are used in the “Pension Act”.
§ 4.2   Who may apply for Certificate of Exemption.
Any person who has been convicted of any of the crimes enumerated in section 504(a) of the “Labor Act” whose service, present or prospective, as described in that section is or would be prohibited by that section because of such a conviction or a prison term resulting therefrom; or any person who has been convicted of any of the crimes enumerated in section 411(a) of the “Pension Act” (29 U.S.C. section 1111) whose service, present or prospective, as described in that section is or would be prohibited by that section because of such a conviction or a prison term resulting therefrom, may apply to the Commission for a Certificate of Exemption from such a prohibition under the applicable Act.
§ 4.3   Contents of application.
A person applying for a Certificate of Exemption shall file with the Office of General Counsel, U.S. Parole Commission, 5550 Friendship Boulevard, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815-7286, a signed application under oath, in seven copies, which shall set forth clearly and completely the following information:
(a) The name and address of the applicant and any other names used by the applicant and dates of such use.
(b) A statement of all convictions and imprisonments which prohibit the applicant's service under the provisions of the applicable Act.
(c) Whether any citizenship rights were revoked as a result of conviction or imprisonment and if so the name of the court and date of judgment thereof and the extent to which such rights have been restored.
(d) The name and location of the employer and a description of the office or paid position, including the duties thereof, for which a Certificate of Exemption is sought.
(e) A full explanation of the reasons or grounds relied upon to establish that the applicant's service in the office or employment for which a Certificate of Exemption is sought would not be contrary to the purposes of the applicable Act.
(f) A statement that the applicant does not, for the purpose of the proceeding, contest the validity of any conviction.
§ 4.4   Supporting affidavit; additional information.
(a) Each application filed with the Commission must be accompanied by a signed affidavit, in 7 copies, setting forth the following concerning the personal history of the applicant:
(1) Place and date of birth. If the applicant was not born in the United States, the time of first entry and port of entry, whether he is a citizen of the United States, and if naturalized, when, where and how he became naturalized and the number of his Certificate of Naturalization.
(2) Extent of education, including names of schools attended.
(3) History of marital and family status, including a statement as to whether any relatives by blood or marriage are currently serving in any capacity with any employee benefit plan, or labor organization, group or association of employers dealing with labor organizations or industrial labor relations group, or currently advising or representing any employer with respect to employee organizing, concerted activities, or collective bargaining activities.
(4) Present employment, including office or offices held, with a description of the duties thereof.
(5) History of employment, including military service, in chronological order.
(6) Licenses held, at the present time or at any time in the past five years, to possess or carry firearms.
(7) Veterans' Administration claim number and regional office handling claim, if any.
(8) A listing (not including traffic offenses for which a fine of not more than $25 was imposed or collateral of not more than $25 was forfeited) by date and place of all arrests, convictions for felonies, misdemeanors, or offenses and all imprisonment or jail terms resulting therefrom, together with a statement of the circumstances of each violation which led to arrest or conviction.
(9) Whether applicant was ever on probation or parole, and if so the names of the courts by which convicted and the dates of conviction.
(10) Names and locations of all employee benefit plans, labor organizations or employer groups with which the applicant has ever been associated or employed, and all employers or employee benefit plans which he has advised or represented concerning employee organizing, concerted activities, or collective bargaining activities, together with a description of the duties performed in each such employment or association.
(11) A statement of applicant's net worth, including all assets held by him or in the names of others for him, the amount of each liability owed by him or by him together with any other person and the amount and source of all income during the immediately preceding five calendar years plus income to date of application.
(12) Any other information which the applicant feels will assist the Commission in making its determination.
(b) The Commission may require of the applicant such additional information as it deems appropriate for the proper consideration and disposition of his application.
§ 4.5   Character endorsements.
Each application filed with the Commission must be accompanied by letters or other forms of statement (in three copies) from six persons addressed to the Chairman, U.S. Parole Commission, attesting to the character and reputation of the applicant. The statement as to character shall indicate the length of time the writer has known applicant, and shall describe applicant's character traits as they relate to the position for which the exemption is sought and the duties and responsibilities thereof. The statement as to reputation shall attest to applicant's reputation in his community or in his circle of business or social acquaintances. Each letter or other form of statement shall indicate that it has been submitted in compliance with procedures under the respective Act and that applicant has informed the writer of the factual basis of his application. The persons submitting letters or other forms of statement shall not include relatives by blood or marriage, prospective employers, or persons serving in any official capacity with an employee benefit plan, labor organization, group or association of employers dealing with labor organizations or industrial labor relations group.
§ 4.6   Institution of proceedings.
All applications and supporting documents received by the Commission shall be reviewed for completeness by the Office of General Counsel of the Parole Commission and if complete and fully in compliance with the regulations of this part the Office of General Counsel shall accept them for filing. Applicant and/or his representative will be notified by the Office of General Counsel of any deficiency in the application and supporting documents. The amount of time allowed for deficiencies to be remedied will be specified in said notice. In the event such deficiencies are not remedied within the specified period or any extension thereof, granted after application to the Commission in writing within the specified period, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and notice thereof shall be given to applicant.
§ 4.7   Notice of hearing; postponements.
Upon the filing of an application, the Commission shall:
(a) Set the application for a hearing on a date within a reasonable time after its filing and notify the applicant of such date by certified mail;
(b) Give notice, as required by the respective Act, to the appropriate State, County, or Federal prosecuting officials in the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which the applicant was convicted that an application for a Certificate of Exemption has been filed and the date for hearing thereon; and
(c) Notify the Secretary that an application has been filed and the date for hearing thereon and furnish him copies of the application and all supporting documents.
§ 4.8   Hearing.
The hearing on the application shall be held at the offices of the Commission in Washington, DC, or elsewhere as the Commission may direct. The hearing shall be held before the Commission, before one or more Commissioners, or before one or more administrative law judges appointed as provided by section 11 of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 3105) as the Commission by order shall determine. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with sections 7 and 8 of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 556, 557).
§ 4.9   Representation.
The applicant may be represented before the Commission by any person who is a member in good standing of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States or of the highest court of any State or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and who is not under any order of any court suspending, enjoining, restraining, or disbarring him from, or otherwise restricting him in, the practice of law. Whenever a person acting in a representative capacity appears in person or signs a paper in practice before the Commission, his personal appearance or signature shall constitute a representation to the Commission that under the provisions of this part and applicable law he is authorized and qualified to represent the particular person in whose behalf he acts. Further proof of a person's authority to act in a representative capacity may be required. When any applicant is represented by an attorney at law, any notice or other written communication required or permitted to be given to or by such applicant shall be given to or by such attorney. If an applicant is represented by more than one attorney, service by or upon any one of such attorneys shall be sufficient.
§ 4.10   Waiver of oral hearing.
The Commission upon receipt of a statement from the Secretary that he does not object, and in the absence of any request for oral hearing from the others to whom notice has been sent pursuant to § 4.7 may grant an application without receiving oral testimony with respect to it.
§ 4.11   Appearance; testimony; cross-examination.
(a) The applicant shall appear and, except as otherwise provided in § 4.10, shall testify at the hearing and may cross-examine witnesses.
(b) The Secretary and others to whom notice has been sent pursuant to § 4.7 shall be afforded an opportunity to appear and present evidence and cross-examine witnesses, at any hearing.
(c) In the discretion of the Commission or presiding officer, other witnesses may testify at the hearing.
§ 4.12   Evidence which may be excluded.
The Commission or officer presiding at the hearing may exclude irrelevant, untimely, immaterial, or unduly repetitious evidence.
§ 4.13   Record for decision. Receipt of documents comprising record; timing and extension.
(a) The application and all supporting documents, the transcript of the testimony and oral argument at the hearing, together with any exhibits received and other documents filed pursuant to these procedures and/or the Administrative Procedures Act shall be made parts of the record for decision.
(b) At the conclusion of the hearing the presiding officer shall specify the time for submission of proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law (unless waived by the parties); transcript of the hearing, and supplemental exhibits, if any. He shall set a tentative date for the recommended decision based upon the timing of these preliminary steps. Extensions of time may be requested by any party, in writing, from the Parole Commission. Failure of any party to comply with the time frame as established or extended will be deemed to be a waiver on his part of his right to submit the document in question. The adjudication will proceed and the absence of said document and reasons therefor will be noted in the record.
§ 4.14   Administrative law judge's recommended decision; exceptions thereto; oral argument before Commission.
Whenever the hearing is conducted by an administrative law judge, at the conclusion of the hearing he shall submit a recommended decision to the Commission, which shall include a statement of findings and conclusions, as well as the reasons therefor. The applicant, the Secretary and others to whom notice has been sent pursuant to § 4.7 may file with the Commission, within 10 days after having been furnished a copy of the recommended decision, exceptions thereto and reasons in support thereof. The Commission may order the taking of additional evidence and may request the applicant and others to appear before it. The Commission may invite oral argument before it on such questions as it desires.
§ 4.15   Certificate of Exemption.
The applicant, the Secretary and others to whom notice has been sent pursuant to § 4.7 shall be served a copy of the Commission's decision and order with respect to each application. Whenever the Commission decision is that the application be granted, the Commission shall issue a Certificate of Exemption to the applicant. The Certificate of Exemption shall extend only to the stated employment with the prospective employer named in the application.
§ 4.16   Rejection of application.
No application for a Certificate of Exemption shall be accepted from any person whose application for a Certificate of Exemption has been withdrawn, deemed withdrawn due to failure to remedy deficiencies in a timely manner, or denied by the Commission within the preceding 12 months.
§ 4.17   Availability of decisions.
The Commission's Decisions under both Acts are available for examination in the Office of the U.S. Parole Commission, 5550 Friendship Boulevard, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815-7286. Copies will be mailed upon written request to the Office of General Counsel, U.S. Parole Commission, at the above address at a cost of ten cents per page.