[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 127 (Monday, July 1, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33945-33946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16704]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Labor-Management Standards


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the collection 
of information requirements of Labor Organization and Auxiliary 
Reports. A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) 
and/or the reporting forms can be obtained by contacting the office 
listed below in the addressee section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before August 30, 1996. The Department of 
Labor is particularly interested in comments which:
    <bullet> evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    <bullet> evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    <bullet> enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submissions of responses.

ADDRESSEE: John Kotch, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Labor-
Management Standards, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Room N-5605, Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219-7337 (this is 
not a toll-free number). Fax number: (202) 219-6459.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I

    Background: Congress enacted the Labor-Management Reporting and 
Disclosure Act of 1959, as amended (LMRDA), to provide for the 
disclosure of information on the financial transactions and 
administrative practices of labor organizations. The statute also 
provides, under certain circumstances, for reporting by labor 
organization officers and employees, employers, labor relations 
consultants, and surety companies. Section 208 of the LMRDA authorizes 
the Secretary to issue rules and regulations prescribing the form of 
the required reports. The reporting provisions were devised to 
implement a basic tenet of the LMRDA: the guarantee of democratic 
procedures and safeguards within labor organizations that are designed 
to protect the basic rights of union members. Section 205 of the LMRDA 
provides that the reports are public information.

II

    Current Actions: The Department of Labor is seeking extension of 
the current approval of the collection of information with the minor 
modification of reducing the total burden hours by 61 due to the 
elimination of Form LM-6 ( a signature sheet for labor organizations 
held in trusteeship). An extension is necessary because the LMRDA 
explicitly requires the reporting and establishes the frequency of the 
required filings. The information collected by OLMS is used by union 
members to help self-govern their unions, by the general public, and as 
research material for both outside researchers and within the 
Department of Labor. The information is also used to assist DOL and 
other government agencies in detecting improper practices on the part 
of labor organizations, their officers and/or representatives, and is 
used by Congress in oversight and legislative functions. OLMS receives 
approximately 800 requests per month for public disclosure of reports.

III

    Type of Review: Extension.

IV

    Agency: Office of Labor-Management Standards.

V

    Title: Labor Organization and Auxiliary Reports.

VI

    OMB Number: 1214-0001.

VII

    Agency Number: 1294.

VIII

    Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden Summary:

[[Page 33946]]



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                                            Total                                               Total                                                   
            Cite/reference               respondents                Frequency                 responses      Average time per response     Burden hours 
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Form LM-1............................             330  Annually..........................             330  55 minutes...................             302
Form LM-2............................           5,096  Annually..........................           5,096  15.25 hours..................          77,714
Form LM-3............................          16,275  Annually..........................          16,275  6.75 hours...................         109,857
Form LM-4............................          14,000  Annually..........................          14,000  .86 hours....................          12,086
Form LM-10...........................             177  Annually..........................             177  35 minutes...................             104
Form LM-15...........................             732  As Necessary......................             732  1.83 hours...................           1,342
Form LM-15A..........................              61  Semi-Annually.....................              61  22 minutes...................              22
Form LM-16...........................             224  As Necessary......................             224  21 minutes...................              78
Form LM-20...........................             168  As Necessary......................             168  22 minutes...................              61
Form LM-21...........................              50  Annually..........................              50  35 minutes...................              29
Form LM-30...........................              78  Annually..........................              78  35 minutes...................              46
Form S-1.............................             200  Annually..........................             200  35 minutes...................             117
Simplified Annual Report Format......           3,298  Annually..........................           3,298  12 minutes...................             671
                                      ----------------                                    ----------------                               ---------------
    Total............................          40,689  ..................................          40,689  .............................         202,429
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    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): There are no capital/startup 
costs. Any capital investments including computers and software are 
excluded from the regulatory definition of burden as capital 
investments which are usual and customary expenses incurred by persons 
in the normal course of their business.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): Total burden costs to 
respondents and recordkeepers is estimated to be $3,844,296. The cost 
estimates are based on wage rate data obtained from the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics for personnel employed in service industries (i.e., 
accountant, accounting clerk, attorney, personnel, manager/supervisor, 
etc.). The estimates used for labor union officials were obtained from 
the annual financial reports filed with OLMS.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and 
Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also 
become a matter of public record.

    Dated: June 25, 1996.
John Kotch,
Deputy Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-16704 Filed 6-28-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-86-P