This Legal Update reports on select federal administrative agency developments which occurred through September 2015, and which are not covered in our full-length Legal Updates, such as information about agency posters, notices and agreements with agencies of states and sovereign nations.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
September 3, 2015: USCIS announced a 60-day extension of temporary immigration relief for individuals affected by Typhoon Soudelor.
September 3, 2015: USCIS announced designation of Yemen for temporary protected status effective September 3, 2015 through March 3, 2017.
August 7, 2015: USCIS announced that eligible individuals affected by damage caused by Typhoon Soudelor in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may request or apply for temporary immigration relief measures.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
September 10, 2015: US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that it launched a redesigned website for Visa Waiver Program (VWP) visitors to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to traveling to the US.
DOJ
September 9, 2015: The DOJ issued "Individual Accountability for Corporate Wrongdoing," a memorandum that discusses that companies involved in federal criminal and civil investigations will have a significantly reduced ability to protect the individuals responsible for the illegal corporate conduct.
DOL
September 16, 2015: The DOL issued a notice to announce the applicable minimum wage rate to be paid to workers performing work on or in connection with Federal contracts covered by Executive Order 13658, beginning January 1, 2016.
September 4, 2015: The DOL announced that it had signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with Hawaii's Department of Labor and Industrial Relations intended to prevent misclassification of employees as independent contractors or other non-employee statuses.
September 3, 2015: The DOL announced that it signed with the Vermont DOL a three-year Memorandum of Understanding intended to prevent misclassification of employees as independent contractors or other non-employee statuses.
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)
September 10, 2015: The OFCCP released a supplement to the "EEO is the Law" poster for use by covered federal government contractors and subcontractors as part of OFCCP's new final pay transparency rule.
OSHA
August 31, 2015: OSHA announced that it had renewed, for a duration of two years, its alliance with the Mexican Consulate in Austin to provide materials in Spanish on workers' rights and OSHA standards to Mexican nationals working in Central Texas.
August 19, 2015: OSHA announced that it had issued policies and procedures for an early resolution process, which is to be used as part of a regional alternative dispute resolution program, in relation to OSHA's enforcement of whistleblower laws.
Department of State (DOS)
September 8, 2015: The DOS issued an Interim Final Rule concerning the schedule for certain passport fees and Request for a Certificate of Loss of Nationality fees.
EEOC
September 10, 2015: The EEO-1 Joint Reporting Committee extended the deadline for all EEO-1 Report Filers from September 30, 2015 to October 30, 2015.
September 4, 2015: The EEOC announced that it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Consulate General of Mexico in Miami to establish an ongoing collaboration to provide Mexican nationals with guidance and resources on prevention of workplace discrimination regardless of immigration status.
For additional labor and employment developments, see Labor & Employment: Updates.