{"abstract":"The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL or Department) is issuing this rule to modernize the equal employment opportunity regulations that implement the National Apprenticeship Act of 1937. The existing regulations prohibit discrimination in registered apprenticeship on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, and sex, and require that sponsors of registered apprenticeship programs take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in such programs. This rule updates equal opportunity standards in part 30 to include age (40 or older), genetic information, sexual orientation, and disability among the list of protected bases upon which a sponsor must not discriminate; improves and clarifies the affirmative action provisions for sponsors by detailing with specificity the actions a sponsor must take to satisfy its affirmative action obligations, including affirmative action for individuals with disabilities; revises regulations to reflect changes made in October 2008 to Labor Standards for Registration of Apprenticeship Programs, the companion regulations governing the conduct of registered apprenticeship programs; and improves the overall readability of part 30 through restructuring and clarification of the text. Wherever possible, this final rule has attempted to streamline and simplify sponsors' obligations, while maintaining broad and effective equal employment opportunity protections for apprentices and those seeking entry into apprenticeship programs. The policies and procedures of this rule promote equality of opportunity in apprenticeship programs registered with the Department and in apprenticeship programs registered with federally recognized state apprenticeship agencies.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF LABOR","name":"Labor Department","id":271,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/labor-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/271","parent_id":null,"slug":"labor-department"},{"raw_name":"Employment and Training Administration","name":"Employment and Training Administration","id":133,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/employment-and-training-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/133","parent_id":271,"slug":"employment-and-training-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2016/12/19/2016-29910.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":29,"title":29},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":30,"title":29}],"citation":"81 FR 92026","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective date: These regulations are effective January 18, 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02:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-12-19/pdf/2016-29910.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-29910.pdf?1481895928","publication_date":"2016-12-19","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2016/12/19/2016-29910.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1205-AB59":{"issue":"201610","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1205-AB59/equal-employment-opportunity-in-apprenticeship-amendment-of-regulations","title":"Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship Amendment of Regulations","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201610&RIN=1205-AB59&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["1205-AB59"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Ex parte record for 1-19-2016 - Email with Carpenters International Training Fund","document_id":"ETA-2015-0009-0083"},{"title":"Ex parte record for 1-19-2016 - Email with Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)","document_id":"ETA-2015-0009-0082"},{"title":"Ex parte record for 11-18-2015 - Phone call with Staff for Senators Murray and Hatch","document_id":"ETA-2015-0009-0081"},{"title":"Ex parte record for 11-18-2015 - Phone call with Staff for U.S. House of Representatives Education & Workforce Majority Staff","document_id":"ETA-2015-0009-0080"},{"title":"Ex parte record for 1-15-2016 - Phone call with United Assoc. of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada","document_id":"ETA-2015-0009-0079"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1205-AB59/equal-employment-opportunity-in-apprenticeship-amendment-of-regulations","title":"Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship Amendment of 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