[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 789-790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-265]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

December 30, 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 
calling the Department of Labor, Departmental Clearance Officer, Ira 
Mills ((202) 219-5096, ext. 143) or by E-Mail at Mills-I[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), within 30 days of the date of 
this publication in the Federal Register.
    OMB is particularly interested in comments which:
     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 forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    Agency: Department of Labor, Pension and Welfare Benefits 
Administration.
    Title: Summary Plan Description Requirements under ERISA.
    OMB Numbers: 1210-0039.

[[Page 790]]

    Frequency: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit; not-for-profit institutions.
    Total Respondents: 2,641,818.
    Total Responses: 160,703,000.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 576,467.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ This figure does not include estimated burden hours 
associated with PWBA's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (63 FR 4506, 
September 9, 1998) which, if finalized as proposed, would amend the 
required content of Summary Plan Descriptions under ERISA and result 
in estimated burden of 1,928,889 hours.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Annualized Capital/Start-up costs: $0.
    Total Annual Cost (Operating and Maintenance): $96,859,000.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ This figure does not include estimated costs associated with 
PWBA's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (63 FR 4506, September 9, 1998) 
which, if finalized as proposed, would amend the required content of 
Summary Plan Descriptions under ERISA and result in estimated cost 
burden of $216,316,365.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Description: Section 104(b)(1) of the Employee Retirement Security 
Act of 1974 (ERISA) requires that the administrator of an employee 
benefit plan furnish plan participants and beneficiaries with Summary 
Plan Descriptions (SPDs) which describe, in language understandable to 
an average plan participant, the benefits, rights and obligations of 
the participants in the plan. Plan administrators are required to 
furnish SPDs to participants and beneficiaries within 90 days after the 
participant is covered by the plan. The information required to be 
contained in the SPD is set forth in section 102(b) of the statute. To 
the extent that there is a material modification in the terms of the 
plan or a change in the information required to be contained in the 
SPD, section 104(b)(1) requires that the administrator furnish 
participants and beneficiaries with a summary of such changes within 
210 days following the end of the plan year in which the change was 
adopted. Regulations published at 29 CFR 2520.102-3 provide guidance on 
the required contents of the SPD.
Ira L. Mills,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-265 Filed 1-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-M