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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 [www.gpo.gov]
[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 https://www.regulations.gov--
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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