99-28420. Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 209 (Friday, October 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58455-58456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28420]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration


Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, 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 helps to ensure that requested 
data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and 
financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly 
understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents 
can be properly assessed.
    Currently, the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration is 
soliciting comments concerning the information collection requests 
(ICR) incorporated in regulation pertaining to the required content of 
Summary Plan Descriptions under ERISA, 29 CFR 2520.102-3. A copy of the 
ICR may be obtained by contacting the office listed in the addressee 
section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office shown in the 
addressee section below on or before December 28, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Gerald B. Lindrew, Office of Policy and Research, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-5647, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: 
[phone]; Fax: [phone]. These are not toll-free numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 104(b)(1) of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 
(ERISA) requires that the administrator of an employee benefit plan 
furnish plan participants and beneficiaries with Summary Plan 
Description (SPDs) which describe, in language understandable to an 
average plan participants, the benefits, rights and obligations of the 
participants in the plan. Plan administrators are required to furnish 
SPDs to participants and beneficiaries within 90 days after the 
participant is covered by the plan. The information required to be 
contained in the SPD is set forth in section 102(b) of the statute. To 
the extent that there is a material modification in the terms of the 
plan or a change in the information required to be contained in the 
SPD, section 104(b)(1) requires that the administrator furnish 
participants and beneficiaries with a summary of such change within 210 
days following the end of the plan year in which the change was 
adopted. Regulations published at 29 CFR 2520.102-3 provide guidance on 
the required contents of the SPD.

Review Focus

    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., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    Current Actions: The Department is not proposing or implementing 
changes to the existing ICR at this time. Comments received in response 
to this notice will be incorporated in the submission to OMB for 
continued clearance of the ICR.
    Type of Review: Extension of currently approved collections of 
information.
    Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.
    Titles: Summary Plan Description Requirements under ERISA (SMM/
SPD).
    OMB Number: 1210-0039.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit; not-for-profit institutions.
    Respondents: 2,027,293.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Responses: 160,703,000.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,928,889.
    Total Burden Cost (Operating and Maintenance): $216,316,365.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the information 
collection

[[Page 58456]]

request; they will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: October 26, 1999.
Gerald B. Lindrew,
Deputy Director, Office of Policy and Research, Pension and Welfare 
Benefits Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-28420 Filed 10-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-26-M