[Federal Register: June 28, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 124)]
[Notices]               
[Page 36919-36920]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jn06-154]                         


[[Page 36919]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Part III





Department of Labor





-----------------------------------------------------------------------



Office of the Secretary



-----------------------------------------------------------------------



Department of Labor Employment of Individuals With Disabilities and 
Veterans With Disabilities; Notice


[[Page 36920]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

[Secretary's Order--15-2006]

 
Department of Labor Employment of Individuals With Disabilities 
and Veterans With Disabilities

1. Purpose

    To prescribe Department of Labor (DOL) policy and responsibilities 
with regard to employment of individuals with disabilities and veterans 
with disabilities.

2. Directives Affected

    Secretary's Order 9-78 is canceled.

3. Background

    Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Pub. L. 93-112, 
Title V), as amended (Pub. L. 93-516), requires the development and 
implementation of affirmative employment programs for the hiring, 
placement, and advancement of individuals with disabilities, as well as 
annual reports. Further, Executive Order 13164 requires Federal 
agencies to establish written procedures to facilitate the provision of 
reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities so that they 
can enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment equal to those 
enjoyed by employees without disabilities.

4. Policy

    It is the policy of the Department to encourage the use of the 
Government-wide special hiring authorities, as provided for by the 
Office of Personnel Management, to employ and advance in employment 
qualified persons with disabilities and qualified veterans with 
disabilities. The Department shall also ensure that the special needs 
of these employees are met so they may have equal access to the 
privileges and benefits of the workplace.

5. Employment of Individuals With Disabilities and Veterans With 
Disabilities

    The goal of the Department is to ensure that qualified individuals 
with disabilities, including veterans with disabilities and employees 
who become disabled, have a full measure of opportunities in hiring, 
placement, retention, and advancement in employment. This goal is an 
integral part of the ongoing personnel management program, and is to be 
accomplished by the employment of qualified persons with disabilities 
in a broad range of grade levels and in a representative variety of 
occupational series with career advancement opportunities commensurate 
with those for all employees within an organization.

6. Responsibilities

    A. The Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management has 
responsibility for the overall administration of the Department's 
programs for employment of qualified individuals with disabilities, 
including veterans with disabilities; the issuance of departmental 
directives in support of these programs; and oversight of DOL Agency 
responsibilities for effective implementation of DOL policies. 
Additionally, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration 
and Management serves as the primary reporting agency on DOL 
affirmative employment programs for qualified individuals with 
disabilities and veterans with disabilities.
    B. The Office of Disability Employment Policy is available to 
provide guidance and assistance for DOL initiatives to further 
eliminate barriers to employment of qualified persons with 
disabilities.
    C. The Veterans' Employment and Training Service is available to 
provide guidance and assistance for DOL initiatives to further 
eliminate barriers to the employment of qualified veterans with 
disabilities.
    D. DOL Agency Heads and Regional Administrators--Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management are responsible 
for effectuating affirmative employment initiatives in their respective 
Agencies; submitting statistical, evaluative, and narrative reports to 
OASAM in support of Congressionally-mandated reports; and support and 
implementation of the Department's policy within their respective 
Agencies, including but not limited to issuing policy directives to 
managers and supervisors expressing strong support for the employment 
of qualified individuals with disabilities, including veterans with 
disabilities; and conducting recruitment activities through their Human 
Resource Offices to locate qualified individuals with disabilities and 
veterans with disabilities.
    E. The Solicitor of Labor is responsible for providing legal advice 
and technical assistance to all officials of the Department who are 
responsible for implementing DOL policy regarding the employment of 
qualified persons with disabilities, including veterans with 
disabilities.

7. Effective Date

    This Order is effective immediately.

    Dated: June 20, 2006.
Elaine L. Chao,
Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 06-5741 Filed 6-27-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-23-P