[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4174-4175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-884]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration


Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Comment Request 
National Medical Support Notice--Part B

AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (the Department), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a 
preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and 
Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and 
continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program 
helps to ensure that the data the Department collects can be provided 
in the desired format, that the reporting burden on the public (time 
and financial resources) is minimized, that the public understands the 
Department's collection instruments, and that the Department can 
accurately assess the impact of its collection requirements on 
respondents.
    Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is 
soliciting comments concerning an extension of the current approval of 
the information collections in the regulation entitled National Medical 
Support Notice--Part B. A copy of EBSA's proposed information 
collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual 
listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

DATES: Comments must be submitted to the office shown in the ADDRESSES 
section on or before March 27, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Direct all comments regarding the ICR and burden estimates 
to Susan G. Lahne, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits 
Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. Comments may be submitted in writing 
to the above address, via facsimile to (202) 219-4745, or 
electronically to the following Internet e-mail address: 
[email protected]. You may contact Ms. Lahne for further information at 
(202) 693-8410. The above-listed telephone numbers are not toll-free 
numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 609(a) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 
1974, as amended (ERISA), requires each group health plan, as defined 
in ERISA section 607(1), to provide benefits in accordance with the 
applicable requirements of any ``qualified medical child support 
order'' (QMCSO). A QMCSO is, generally, an order issued by a state 
court or other competent state authority that requires a group health 
plan to provide group health coverage to a child or children of an 
employee eligible for coverage under the plan. In accordance with 
Congressional directives contained in the Child Support Performance and 
Incentive Act of 1998, EBSA and the Federal Office of Child Support 
Enforcement (OCSE) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 
cooperated in the development of regulations to create a National 
Medical Support Notice (NMSN or Notice). The Notice simplifies the 
establishment and processing of qualified medical child support orders 
issued by state child support enforcement agencies; provides for 
standardized communication between state agencies, employers, and plan 
administrators; and creates a uniform and streamlined process for 
enforcement of medical child support obligations ordered by state child 
support enforcement agencies. The NMSN comprises two parts: Part A was 
promulgated by HHS and pertains to state child support enforcement 
agencies; Part B was promulgated by the Department and pertains to plan 
administrators pursuant to ERISA. This solicitation of public comment 
relates only to Part B of the NMSN, which was promulgated by the 
Department. In connection with promulgation of Part B of the NMSN, the 
Department submitted an ICR to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review, and OMB approved the information collections 
contained in the Part B regulation under OMB control number 1210-0113.

[[Page 4175]]

OMB's current approval of this ICR is scheduled to expire on April 30, 
2006.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    The Department is currently soliciting comments on the information 
collections contained in its regulation codified at 29 CFR 2590.609-2, 
National Medical Support Notice--Part B. The Department 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 forms of information technology, e.g., by 
permitting electronic submissions of responses.

III. Current Actions

    This notice requests comments on the extension of the ICR included 
in the regulation promulgating Part B of the National Medical Support 
Notice. The Department is not proposing or implementing changes to the 
existing ICR at this time. A summary of the ICR and the current burden 
estimates follows:
    Agency: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of 
Labor.
    Title: National Medical Support Notice--Part B.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    OMB Number: 1210-0113.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit; not-for-profit institutions.
    Respondents: 156,000.
    Responses: 770,000.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 785,000.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost (Operating and Maintenance): 
$1,100,000.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the ICR; they will 
also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: January 19, 2006.
Susan G. Lahne,
Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security 
Administration.
 [FR Doc. E6-884 Filed 1-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P