[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 62 (Thursday, April 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15817-15818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7833]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

March 25, 1999.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). A copy of 
the ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by 
contacting the Department of Labor, Acting Department Clearance 
Officer, Pauline Perrow at (202) 219-5096, ext. 165 or by E-Mail at 
Perrow-P[email protected].
    Comments should be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: Desk Officer for Pension and Welfare Benefits 
Administration, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503 ((202) 395-7316) on or before May 3, 1999.
    OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other firms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.
    Title: Summary Plan Description (SPD) Requirements under the 
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
    Type: Extension of emergency clearance for provisions of the 
interim final rule relating to the disclosure requirements of the 
Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996 (NMHPA) (63 FR 
48372, September 9, 1998).
    OMB Numbers: 1210-0039.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit, Not-for-profit institutions.
    Total Respondents: 888,393.
    Total Responses: 52,115,000.
    Estimated Burden Hours, Total Annual Burden: 746,983.
    Total annual cost (operating and maintenance: $99,898,000.
    Description: NMHPA amended ERISA by adding a new section 711 
requiring group health plans to discloser to participants and 
beneficiaries new federal law restrictions on the extent to which group 
health plans and health insurance issuers may limit hospital lengths of 
stay for mothers and newborn children following delivery. Disclosure 
was required to be provided not later than 60 days after the first day 
of the first plan year beginning on or after January 1, 1998. On April 
8, 1997 the Department issued interim final rules (62 FR 16979) 
implementing provisions of section 711 by amending the existing SPD 
content rules (29 CFR 2520.102-3) by requiring group health plan SPDs 
to include specific disclosures concerning minimum hospital lengths of 
stay for mothers and newborn children following childbirth. In response 
to subsequent public comment, and in recognition of a need for further 
clarification, the Department issued an interim final rule (63 FR 
48372,

[[Page 15818]]

September 9, 1998) clarifying disclosure requirements with respect to 
an exception to the minimum length of stay requirement.
Pauline Perrow,
Acting Department Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-7833 Filed 3-31-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-M