The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs initiated a pre-clearance request for comments in preparation for the possible elimination of specified disability self-identification and data collection requirements under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. OFCCP will seek approval from the Office of Management and Budget only if a final rule eliminating many longstanding disability compliance requirements is issued.
If approved, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued July 1 by OFCCP would remove requirements for federal contractors to: solicit their applicants’ and employees’ disability status; conduct a disability utilization analysis; and track disability applicant hire metrics used to assess Section 503 outreach. OFCCP is soliciting comments on how the proposed revisions — including the proposed elimination of the agency’s Voluntary Self‐Identification of Disability Form (Form CC-305) — may affect the financial burdens associated with Section 503’s recordkeeping and reporting requirement. Meanwhile, all Section 503 compliance requirements remain intact. Interested parties have until October 24 to submit comments to OFCCP.
Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC), our affiliated nonprofit membership association, can read more here.