[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 184 (Thursday, September 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48780-48781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23011]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request

September 18, 2009.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) hereby announces the submission of 
the following public information collection requests (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 each ICR, with applicable supporting 
documentation; including among other things a description of the likely 
respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden 
may be obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain or by contacting Darrin King on 202-
693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number)/e-mail: [email protected].
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the 
Department of Labor--Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), 
Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, 
Telephone: 202-395-7316/Fax:

[[Page 48781]]

202-395-5806 (these are not toll-free numbers), E-mail: [email protected] within 30 days from the date of this publication 
in the Federal Register. In order to ensure the appropriate 
consideration, comments should reference the OMB Control Number (see 
below).
    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 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: Employee Benefits Security Administration.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Title of Collection: Prohibited Transaction Class Exemptions for 
Multi employer Plans & Multi employer Apprenticeship Plans, PTE 76-1, 
PTE 77-10, PTE 78-6.
    OMB Control Number: 1210-0058.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profits.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,230.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 1,052.
    Total Estimated Annual Costs Burden (excludes hourly wage costs): 
$0.
    Description: PTE 76-1 permits multiemployer employee benefit plans 
under specific conditions to negotiate with contributing employer to 
accept delinquent contributions and settle delinquencies; to make 
construction loans to contributing employers; and to lease property and 
purchase services and goods from parties in interest, including 
contributing employers and employee associations. PTE 77-10 expands the 
scope of relief provided under PTE 76-1 part C, for leasing property 
and purchasing goods and services. PTE 78-6 provides an exemption to 
multiemployer apprenticeship plans for purchasing personal property or 
leasing real property from a contributing employer. All three 
exemptions impose recordkeeping requirements on plans as a condition to 
availability of the relief. For additional information, see related 
notice published at Vol. 74 FR 31978 on July 6, 2009.

    Agency: Employee Benefits Security Administration.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Title of Collection: Request to the Department of Labor for 
Expedited Review of Denial of COBRA Premium Reduction.
    OMB Control Number: 1210-0135.
    Affected Public: Individuals of households; Businesses or other 
for-profits; and Not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,400.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 14,350.
    Total Estimated Annual Costs Burden (excludes hourly wage costs): 
$8,000.
    Description: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 
(Pub. L. 111-5) provides for premium assistance and expanded 
eligibility for health benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1986, commonly called COBRA. This premium 
assistance is not paid directly to the covered employee or the 
qualified beneficiary, but instead is in the form of a tax credit for 
the health plan, the employer, or the insurer. An individual must be an 
``assistance eligible individual'' to be eligible for the premium 
assistance. If eligible, these individuals pay only 35% of their COBRA 
premiums to the plan and the remaining 65% is paid through the tax 
credit. Eligible individuals can start getting the premium assistance 
as of the first day of coverage beginning on or after February 17, 
2009.
    If individuals request treatment as an assistance eligible 
individual and are denied such treatment because of their ineligibility 
for COBRA continuation coverage, the Secretary of Labor must make a 
determination within 15 business days after receipt of an individual's 
application for review.
    The Application to the Department of Labor for Expedited Review of 
Denial of COBRA Premium Reduction (the ``Application'') is the form 
used by individuals to file their expedited review appeals. Such 
individuals must complete all information requested on the Application 
in order to file their review requests with the Department's Employee 
Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). An Application may be denied 
if sufficient information is not provided.
    In certain situations, EBSA will have to contact plan 
administrators for additional information regarding an applicant's 
appeal of a denial of premium reduction. The ``Plan Administrator 
Information Sheet'' will be used for this purpose in cases where the 
Department has otherwise been unable to contact a plan administrator 
regarding a filed application. For additional information, see related 
notices published at Vol. 74 FR 28278 on June 15, 2009, and at Vol. 74 
FR 20503 on May 4, 2009.

Darrin A. King,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-23011 Filed 9-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P