OMB Approves Section 503 Voluntary Self-Identification Form

On January 22, 2014, after several months of review, the Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") finally approved the voluntary self-identification form required by the Section 503 Final Rule that becomes effective on March 24, 2014.

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program ("OFCCP") designed the self-identification form to alleviate contractor concerns that collecting disability data would run afoul of the Americans with Disabilities Act and to assure employees and applicants that the self-identification requests are routine and consistent with OFCCP reporting obligations.  As a result, under the OFCCP Section 503 Final Rule, federal contractors must provide employees and applicants for employment with unaltered copies of the OMB-approved form.  Forms may be distributed electronically or in hard copy.