[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 174 (Friday, September 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46818-46819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-22528]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 30, 2001.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection requests (ICRs) 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 
each individual ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be 
obtained by calling the Department of Labor. To obtain documentation 
contact Marlene Howze at ((202) 219-8904 or email [email protected]).
    Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for PWBA, Office of Management and 
Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 ((202) 395-7316), within 30 
days from the date of this publication in the Federal Register.
    The 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

[[Page 46819]]

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.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA).
    Title: Notice to Participants and Beneficiaries and the Federal 
Government of Electing One Percent Increased Cost Exemption.
    OMB Number: 1210-0105.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Individuals or 
households; and Not-for-profit institutions.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Respondents: 10.
    Number of Annual Responses: 10,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 333.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $5,000.
    Description: Plans may be exempted from Mental Health Parity Act of 
1996 requirements of parity between dollar limits on medical/surgical 
and mental health benefits if parity would result in an increase in 
cost of at least one percent and participants and beneficiaries and the 
federal government are notified. This ICR covers notice to participants 
and beneficiaries and to the federal government when a plan elects the 
increased cost exemption.

    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA).
    Title: Calculation and Disclosure of Documentation of Eligibility 
for Exemption.
    OMB Number: 1210-0106.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Individuals or 
households; and Not-for-profit institutions.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Number of Respondents: 10.
    Number of Annual Responses: 200.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 3 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 10.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $100.
    Description: The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 requires parity 
between the dollar limits imposed on mental health benefits and those 
imposed on medical/surgical benefits offered by group health plans and 
issuers. Upon receipt of notice that a plan claims exemption from these 
requirements, participants and beneficiaries may request a summary of 
the information on which the exemptions was based.
    The information collection request (ICR) found in the interim rules 
at 29 CFR 2590.712(f)(4) requires the plan to maintain group health 
plan claims and administrative expense records in such a way that they 
can be used to demonstrate the applicability of the one percent cost 
increase exemption as defined in the interim rules, and that a summary 
of that information can be provided at the request of participants and 
beneficiaries, or their representative at no charge.
    This ICR covers the calculation and disclosure of information on 
which the exemption was based.

    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA).
    Title: Form 5500 Annual Information Return/Report of Employee 
Benefit Plan.
    OMB Number: 1210-0110.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Individuals or 
households; Not-for-profit institutions; and Farms.
    Frequency: Annually; On Occasion.
    Number of Respondents: 863,682.
    Number of Annual Responses: 863,682.

                                        Estimated Time Per Response: \1\
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                                               Pension plans                           Welfare plans
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Large               Small               Large               Small
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Form 500........................  1 hr., 44 min.....  1 hr., 6 min......  1 hr., 38 min.....  1 hr., 5 min.
Schedule A......................  1 hr., 41 min.....  53 min............  8 hr., 10 min.....  2 hr., 11 min.
Schedule B......................  6 hr., 38 min.....  31 min.
Schedule C......................  1 hr., 17 min.....  ..................  52 min............
Schedule D......................  10 hr.............  10 hr.
Schedule E......................  3 hr., 18 min.....  3 hr., 18 min.
Schedule F......................  ..................  ..................  45 min............  26 min.
Schedule G......................  11 hr., 58 min....  ..................  6 hr., 28 min.....
Schedule H......................  7 hr., 56 min.....  ..................  3 hr., 22 min.....
Schedule I......................  ..................  1 hr., 28 min.....  ..................  1 hr., 28 min.
Schedule P......................  13 min............  2 min.
Schedule R......................  1 hr..............  30 min.
Schedule SSA....................  6 hr., 10 min.....  1 hr., 42 min.
Schedule T......................  4 hr., 40 min.....  37 min.
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\1\ The time needed to complete and file the forms listed above reflects the combined requirements of the
  Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and the Social Security
  Administration. These times will vary depending on individual circumstances.

    Total Burden Hours: 1,847,163.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $546,789,000.
    Description: Part 1 of Title I and Title IV of the Employee 
Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the Internal Revenue 
Code, require administrators of pension and welfare benefit plans 
(collectively referred to as employee benefit plans) to file return/
reports annually concerning, among other things, the financial 
condition and operation of plans. These annual reporting requirements 
are satisfied generally by filing the Form 5500.

Darrin A. King,
Acting Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-22528 Filed 9-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P