[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 48 (Monday, March 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17372-17374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05057]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation

[Docket No. FCIC-24-0002]


Notice of Request for Renewal and Revision of the Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Renewal and revision of the currently approved information 
collection.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces a public comment period on the information collection 
requests (ICRs) associated with the Standard Reinsurance Agreement and 
Appendices I, II and IV administered by Federal Crop Insurance 
Corporation (FCIC). Appendix III is excluded because it contains the 
Data Acceptance System requirements.

DATES: Written comments on this notice will be accepted until close of 
business May 10, 2024.

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this information 
collection request. In your comments, include the date, volume, and 
page number of this issue of the Federal Register, and the title of 
rule. You may submit comments by any of the following methods, although 
FCIC prefers that you submit comments

[[Page 17373]]

electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID FCIC-24-0002. Follow the 
online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: David L. Miller, Director, Reinsurance Services 
Division, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, United States Department 
of Agriculture (USDA), 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0801, 
Washington, DC 20250.
    All comments received, including those received by mail, will be 
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided, and can be accessed by the public. All 
comments must include the agency name and docket number or Regulatory 
Information Number (RIN) for this rule. For detailed instructions on 
submitting comments and additional information, see http://www.regulations.gov. If you are submitting comments electronically 
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal and want to attach a document, 
we ask that it be in a text-based format. If you want to attach a 
document that is a scanned Adobe PDF file, it must be scanned as text 
and not as an image, thus allowing FCIC to search and copy certain 
portions of your submissions. For questions regarding attaching a 
document that is a scanned Adobe PDF file, please contact the RMA Web 
Content Team at (816) 926-7953 or by email at [email protected].
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received for any dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review the 
complete User Notice and Privacy Notice for Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David L. Miller, Director, Risk 
Management Agency, at the address listed above, telephone (202) 590-
8522 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Standard Reinsurance Agreement; Appendices I, II and IV.
    OMB Number: 0563-0069.
    Type of Request: Renewal and Revision of current Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: The Federal Crop Insurance Act (Act), title 7 U.S.C. 
chapter 36, section 1508(k), authorizes the FCIC to provide reinsurance 
to insurers approved by FCIC that insure producers of any agricultural 
commodity under one or more plans acceptable to FCIC. The Act also 
states that the reinsurance shall be provided on such terms and 
conditions as the Board may determine to be consistent with subsections 
(b) and (c) of this section and sound reinsurance principles.
    FCIC executes the same form of reinsurance agreement, called the 
Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA), with thirteen participating 
insurers approved for the 2024 reinsurance year. Appendix I of the SRA, 
Regulatory Duties and Responsibilities, sets forth the company's 
responsibilities as required by statute. Appendix I includes: (a) 
Conflict of Interest data collection, which in addition to the 
insurance companies reinsured by FCIC, encompasses the insurance 
companies' employees and their contracted agents and loss adjusters; 
and (b) Controlled Business data collection from all employed or 
contracted agents. Appendix II of the SRA, the Plan of Operations 
(Plan), sets forth the information the insurer is required to file with 
RMA for each reinsurance year they wish to participate. The Plan's 
information enables RMA to evaluate the insurer's financial and 
operational capability to deliver the crop insurance program in 
accordance with the Act. Estimated premiums by fund by State, and 
retained percentages along with current policyholders surplus are used 
in calculations to determine whether to approve the insurer's requested 
maximum reinsurable premium volume for the reinsurance year per 7 CFR 
400 subpart L. This information has a direct effect upon the insurer's 
amount of retained premium and associated liability and is required to 
calculate the insurer's underwriting gain or loss.
    Appendix IV of the SRA, Quality Control and Program Integrity, 
establishes the minimum annual agent and loss adjuster training 
requirements, and quality control review procedures and performance 
standards required of the insurance companies. FCIC requires each 
insurer to submit, for each reinsurance year, a Quality Control Report 
to FCIC containing details of the results of their completed reviews. 
The insurance companies must also provide an annual Training and 
Performance Evaluation Report which details the evaluation of each 
agent and loss adjuster and reports of any remedial actions taken by 
the Company to correct any error or omission or ensure compliance with 
the SRA. The submission of these reports is included in Appendix II.
    FCIC is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to 
extend the approval of this information collection for an additional 3 
years.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public 
concerning the continuation of the current information collection 
activity as associated with the SRA in effect for the 2024 and 
subsequent reinsurance years. These comments will help us:
    (1) Evaluate whether the current collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the current collection of information;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
being collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, 
electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    The estimate below shows the burden that will be placed upon the 
following affected entities.

Appendix I--Regulatory Duties and Responsibilities

Conflict of Interest

    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden of employees, 
agents and loss adjusters for the Appendix I collection of Conflict of 
Interest information is estimated to average 1 hour per response.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Insurance company employees and 
their contracted agents and loss adjusters.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 22,000.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 22,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents (hours): 22,000.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden of the insurance 
companies of the Appendix I collection of Conflict of Interest 
information is estimated to average 32 hours per response.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Insurance companies reinsured by 
FCIC.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 13.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 13.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents (hours): 416.

[[Page 17374]]

Controlled Business

    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden of agents for the 
Appendix I collection of Controlled Business information is estimated 
to average 1 hour per response.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Insurance company agents.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 14,000.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 14,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents (hours): 14,000.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden of the insurance 
companies for the Appendix I collection of Controlled Business 
information is estimated to average 32 hours per response.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Insurance companies reinsured by 
FCIC.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 13.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 13.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents (hours): 416.

Appendix II--Plan of Operations

    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden of the insurance 
companies for the collection of Appendix II information is estimated to 
average 128 hours per response.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Insurance companies reinsured by 
FCIC.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 13.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 13.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents (hours): 1,664.

Appendix IV--Quality Control and Program Integrity

Quality Control and Training Plan and Report

    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden of the insurance 
companies for the collection of Appendix IV information is estimated to 
average 74 hours per response.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Insurance companies reinsured by 
FCIC.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 13.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 13.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents (hours): 962.

Agent Training Requirements

    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden of agents the 
Appendix IV training requirements is estimated to average 4 hours per 
response.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Insurance company agents.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 14,000.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 14,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents (hours): 56,000.

Loss Adjuster Training Requirements

    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden of loss adjusters 
for the Appendix IV training requirements is estimated to average 17 
hours per response.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Insurance company loss adjusters.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 6,000.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated annual number of responses: 6,000.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents (hours): 102,000.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

Marcia Bunger,
Manager, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2024-05057 Filed 3-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-08-P