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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 121 (Friday, June 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37902-37903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13523]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 11768]

30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: COVID-19 
Vaccination Requests for Waiver

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment and submission to OMB of 
proposed collection of information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State has submitted the information 
collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for approval. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 we 
are requesting comments on this collection from all interested 
individuals and organizations. The purpose of this Notice is to allow 
30 days for public comment.

DATES: Submit comments up to July 25, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
     Title of Information Collection: COVID-19 Vaccination 
Request for Waiver.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0246.
     Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
     Originating Office: GTM.
     Form Number: DS-5158, DS-5159.
     Respondents: Employees or prospective employees at the 
Department of State who may request an exception to Executive Order 
14043 from this vaccination requirement based on a sincerely held 
religious belief or medical needs.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 100.
     Average Time per Response: 75 minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 75 hours.
     Frequency: On occasion.
     Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.
    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department.
     Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost 
burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Please note that comments submitted in response to this Notice are 
public record. Before including any detailed personal information, you 
should be aware that your comments as submitted, including your 
personal information, will be available for public review.

Abstract of Proposed Collection

    The purpose of collecting this information is to provide an avenue 
for individuals to request an exception to the vaccination requirement 
as a medical/disability or religious accommodation, and to determine 
whether the request for an exception to Executive Order 14043 is valid 
and can be accommodated.

Methodology

    For prospective employees, both forms are PDFs that must be 
printed, completed, signed, and emailed to points of contact. The 
Medical Exception form has two parts: Part 2 of the form must be 
completed by a medical professional before the entire document is 
scanned and emailed. For current employees they can find the forms 
electronically on the Department of State systems and complete them 
electronically.

A Notice Regarding Injunctions

    The vaccination requirement issued pursuant to E.O. 14043, is 
currently the subject of a nationwide injunction. While that injunction 
remains in place, the Department will not process requests for a 
medical exception from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement

[[Page 37903]]

pursuant to E.O. 14043. The Department will also not request the 
submission of any medical information related to a request for an 
exception from the vaccination requirement pursuant to E.O. 14043 while 
the injunction remains in place. But the Department may nevertheless 
receive information regarding a medical exception. That is because, if 
the Department were to receive a request for an exception from the 
COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to E.O. 14043 during the 
pendency of the injunction, the Department will accept the request, 
hold it in abeyance, and notify the employee who submitted the request 
that implementation and enforcement of the COVID-19 vaccination 
requirement pursuant to E.O. 14043 is currently enjoined and that an 
exception therefore is not necessary so long as the injunction is in 
place. In other words, during the pendency of the injunction, any 
information collection related to requests for medical exception from 
the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to E.O. 14043 is not 
undertaken to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination 
requirement.

Kevin E. Bryant,
Deputy Director, Office of Directives Management, U.S. Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2022-13523 Filed 6-23-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-15-P
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