EQUAL OPPORTUNITY DIRECTIVE 2003-04

To:            Bureau Equal Opportunity Officers

From:        E. Melodee Stith, Director, Office for Equal Opportunity

Subject:     Revised Instructions for Affirmative Employment Program for Persons with
                 Disabilities and Preparation of the Annual Report as Required by MD 713

Please find attached revised instruction for preparing Management Directive (MD) 713 "Affirmative Action for Hiring, Placement, and Advancement of Individuals with Handicaps" reports as required by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). These instructions were issued by EEOC via e-mail on November 15, 2002. The information herein is promulgated pursuant to the requirements of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, (29 U.S.C. 791) and requires all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government to develop and implement affirmative action programs for hiring, placement, and advancement of individuals with disabilities and to submit annual updates to the EEOC for approval. These requirements are also in EEOC's Regulations at 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 and in MD 712 "Comprehensive Affirmative Action Programs for Hiring, Placement, and Advancement of Individuals with Handicaps."

In accordance with MD 713, Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureaus and Offices are required to implement an affirmative employment program for individuals with disabilities. In addition, DOI Bureaus and Offices must develop affirmative methods for hiring, placement, and advancement of individuals with disabilities and submit annual updates to the Office for Equal Opportunity for approval.

Attachment

Distribution:    All Bureau/Office Equal Opportunity Officers
Inquiries:         Samuel Bowser, Assistant Director for Workforce Diversity, Departmental Office for Equal
                      Opportunity, (202) 208-5549
Expiration:      When superseded