[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 250 (Thursday, December 31, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 69363]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30995]



[[Page 69363]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Emergency Review: Comment Request

December 24, 2009.

    The Department of Labor has submitted the following information 
collection request (ICR), utilizing emergency review procedures, to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35) and 5 CFR 1320.13. OMB approval has been requested 
by December 31, 2009. A copy of this 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--EBSA, Office of Management and 
Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: 202-395-7316/Fax: 
202-395-6974 (these are not toll-free numbers), E-mail: [email protected]. Comments and questions about the ICR listed 
below should be received 5 days prior to the requested OMB approval 
date.
    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 clarify 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 submissions of responses.
    Agency: Employee Benefits Security Administration.
    Title of Collection: Notice Requirements of the Health Care 
Continuation Coverage--American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 
Revision.
    OMB Control Number: 1210-0123.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 2.7 million.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 8.5 million
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 0.
    Total Net Estimated Annual Costs Burden (other than hourly costs): 
$6.8 million.
    Description: On December 19, 2009, President Obama signed the 
Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-118), 
which extends the availability of the health care continuation coverage 
premium reduction provided for COBRA and other health care continuation 
coverage as required by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
(ARRA) of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5). Assistance eligible individuals now can 
be eligible for the subsidy if they incur an involuntary termination of 
employment triggering a COBRA election opportunity by February 28, 
2010. Before the extension, Assistance Eligible Individuals had to 
experience an involuntary termination of employment by December 31, 
2009. The length of the premium assistance period also is extended from 
9 months to 15 months.
    ARRA, as amended, retained the requirement that the Secretary of 
Labor (the Secretary), in consultation with the Secretaries of the 
Treasury and Health and Human Services, develop model notices. These 
models are for use by group health plans and other entities that, 
pursuant to ARRA, as amended, must provide notices of the availability 
of premium reductions and additional election periods for health care 
continuation coverage. The ICR relates to the issuance of the model 
notices.
    Why are we requesting Emergency Processing? If the Department were 
required to comply with standard PRA clearance procedures, it would not 
be able to publish the model notices on a timely basis.

    Dated: December 24, 2009.
Joseph S. Piacentini,
Acting PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-30995 Filed 12-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P