[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 1 (Monday, January 4, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65-66]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34819]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration

29 CFR Part 2560

RIN 1210-AA61


Public Hearing on Proposed Claims Procedures

AGENCY: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, Department of 
Labor.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this Notice is to inform interested persons 
that the Department of Labor will hold a public hearing on both 
February 17 and 18, 1999, and, if necessary, on February 19, 1999, 
regarding the adoption of regulations governing the processing of 
employee benefit plan claims under section 503 of the Employee 
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (ERISA). The 
Department published in the Federal Register proposed changes to the 
requirements governing the processing and appeal of claims by employee 
benefit plans under ERISA (63 FR 48390, September 9, 1998). The purpose 
of the public hearing is to obtain and consider further information and 
views on the proposed regulation and the effects of the proposed claim 
procedure changes on plans, plan participants, plan sponsors and 
service providers.

DATES: The public hearing is scheduled for February 17 and 18, 1999, 
and, if necessary, February 19, 1999. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. 
on each of these days. Requests to testify at the hearing should be 
received by the Department no later than January 15, 1999. Oral 
statements will be limited to 10 minutes. Individuals with 
disabilities, who need special accommodations, should contact Jeffrey 
J. Turner by February 5, 1999, at the address below.

ADDRESSES: Requests to testify at the hearing should be submitted to: 
Jeffrey J. Turner, Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Room N-
5669, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. All requests 
will be open to public inspection at the Public Documents Room, Pension 
and Welfare Benefits Administration, Room N-5638, U.S. Department of 
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210 from 8:30 
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The hearing will be held in the U.S. Department of 
Labor Auditorium, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeffrey J. Turner, Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Pension 
and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, at (202) 
219-8671. This is not a toll-free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 9, 1998, the Department of 
Labor (the Department) published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the 
Federal Register (63 FR 48390) revising the minimum requirements for 
benefit claims procedures of employee benefit plans covered under Title 
I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). In that 
notice, the Department invited interested persons to submit written 
comments concerning the proposed regulations on or before November 9, 
1998. On October 30, 1998, in response to requests from the public for 
additional time to prepare comments, the Department extended the 
comment period through December 9, 1998 (63 FR 58335). A number of 
comments submitted in response to the solicitation for public comment 
requested that the Department hold a public hearing on proposed 
regulation. Because of the complexity and importance of the issues 
involved, the Department believes that it is appropriate to hold a 
public hearing on the proposed regulation. The information obtained 
from the hearing will assist the Department in assessing whether, and 
to what extent, the

[[Page 66]]

proposed regulation should be modified in conjunction with the adoption 
of a final rule.

Notice of Public Hearing

    Notice is hereby given that a public hearing regarding the 
Department of Labor's proposed claims procedure regulations (63 FR 
48390, September 9, 1998) is scheduled for February 17 and 18, 1999, 
and, if necessary, February 19, 1999. The hearing will begin at 10:00 
a.m. on each of these days. Oral presentations will be limited to 10 
minutes, but an extended statement may be submitted for the record. 
Requests to testify should be submitted to the address identified 
above, no later than January 15, 1999. It is requested that persons 
testifying on behalf of plans, plan sponsors, and service providers be 
prepared to answer questions pertaining to specific claims processing 
procedures and practices (e.g., methods of notification, time frames, 
etc.) of their plans, their clients' plan(s) or their members' plans.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 23rd day of December, 1998.
Leslie B. Kramerich,
Deputy Assistant Secretary For Policy, Pension and Welfare Benefits 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 98-34819 Filed 12-31-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-M