[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 48722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19286]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Focus Groups and Survey Regarding Pension 
Benefit Statements

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employee 
Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) sponsored information 
collection request (ICR) titled, ``Focus Groups and Survey Regarding 
Pension Benefit Statements,'' to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 9, 2013.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained free of charge 
from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr= 201305-1210-006 (this link will only become active 
on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting 
Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free 
number) or sending an email to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-EBSA, Office of 
Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 
20503, Fax: 202-395-6881 (this is not a toll-free number), email: 
[email protected]. Commenters are encouraged, but not 
required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments to the U.S. 
Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Attn: Information Management Program, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210, email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [email protected].

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 
1974 (ERISA) section 105(a) requires an ERISA-covered individual 
account plan administrator to furnish periodic benefit statements to 
participants and beneficiaries. This new ICR seeks OMB approval to 
conduct a survey and an experiment on participants in an existing 
household American Life Panel (ALP) via the Internet and to conduct 
four focus groups of non-panel members. The survey and focus groups 
would explore whether information contained in sample benefit 
statements can be presented in a way that improves recipients' 
understanding of the statements and helps them better plan for 
retirement. Specifically, the EBSA would collect data through four 
focus groups that will pretest the model benefits statements, each 
containing slightly different information, and a survey of 2,900 ALP 
respondents. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see 
the related notice published in the Federal Register on January 22, 
2013 (78 FR 4458).
    This proposed information collection is subject to the PRA. A 
Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an 
information collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA 
and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, 
notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally 
be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of 
information that does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 
1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB ICR Reference Number 201305-
1210-006. The OMB 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., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    Agency: DOL-EBSA.
    Title of Collection: Focus Groups and Survey Regarding Pension 
Benefit Statements.
    OMB ICR Reference Number: 201305-1210-006.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,950.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 2,950.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 945.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: August 1, 2013.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-19286 Filed 8-8-13; 8:45 am]
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