[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52445-52446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22023]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration


ERISA Section 3(40) Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee; 
Notice of Renewal

    In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the 
Secretary of Labor has renewed the charter for the ERISA Section 3(40) 
Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee (Committee).
    This Committee will advise the Department of Labor (Department) in 
connection with the Department's development of a final rule on the 
definition of a collectively bargained plan under section 3(40) of the 
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). 
The Secretary of Labor has adopted this Committee's consensus 
recommendation to issue proposed rules for a process and criteria that 
would facilitate determinations by the

[[Page 52446]]

Department, employee benefit plans and state insurance regulatory 
agencies as to whether a particular agreement is a collective 
bargaining agreement, and whether a particular plan is established or 
maintained under or pursuant to one or more collective bargaining 
agreements for purposes of section 3(40) of ERISA. This Committee will 
review the public comments on the Department's proposed regulations and 
the information that the commentors submit with their comments. It will 
advise the Department on the resolution of key issues raised in these 
comments. The final rule will assist the Department, the States and the 
public in distinguishing collectively bargained plans from multiple 
employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs), and will limit abusive insurance 
practices without interfering with the activities of legitimate 
multiemployer plans. Renewal of the Committee allows the Department to 
consult with the affected interests on the best way to craft a process 
and criteria that enhance the Department's enforcement against sham 
MEWAs.
    The Committee will meet no less than two times over a two year 
period. It will continue to be composed of 10 members, with the 
following representation: organized labor, multiemployer plans, 
entertainment industry plans, Railway Labor Act plans, the Federal 
government, States, employers and management, insurance companies, 
insurance brokers, and third-party plan administrators. None of the 
members shall be deemed to be employees of the United States.
    The Committee will continue to function solely as an advisory body 
and in compliance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act.
    Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding the 
renewal of the ERISA Section 3(40) Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory 
Committee. Such comments should be addressed to: Patricia Arzuaga, 
Regulation Attorney, Office of the Solicitor, Plan Benefits Security 
Division, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-4611, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210 (telephone (202) 219-4600; fax (202) 
219-7346). This is not a toll-free number.

    Signed at Washington, DC this 23rd day of August, 2000.
Alexis M. Herman,
Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 00-22023 Filed 8-28-00; 8:45 am]
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