[Federal Register: January 25, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 16)]
[Notices]
[Page 4174-4175]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ja06-107]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employee Benefits Security Administration
Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Comment Request
National Medical Support Notice--Part B
AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (the Department), 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 program
helps to ensure that the data the Department collects can be provided
in the desired format, that the reporting burden on the public (time
and financial resources) is minimized, that the public understands the
Department's collection instruments, and that the Department can
accurately assess the impact of its collection requirements on
respondents.
Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is
soliciting comments concerning an extension of the current approval of
the information collections in the regulation entitled National Medical
Support Notice--Part B. A copy of EBSA's proposed information
collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual
listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
DATES: Comments must be submitted to the office shown in the ADDRESSES
section on or before March 27, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Direct all comments regarding the ICR and burden estimates
to Susan G. Lahne, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits
Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. Comments may be submitted in writing
to the above address, via facsimile to (202) 219-4745, or
electronically to the following Internet e-mail address:
ebsa.opr@dol.gov. You may contact Ms. Lahne for further information at
(202) 693-8410. The above-listed telephone numbers are not toll-free
numbers.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 609(a) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended (ERISA), requires each group health plan, as defined
in ERISA section 607(1), to provide benefits in accordance with the
applicable requirements of any ``qualified medical child support
order'' (QMCSO). A QMCSO is, generally, an order issued by a state
court or other competent state authority that requires a group health
plan to provide group health coverage to a child or children of an
employee eligible for coverage under the plan. In accordance with
Congressional directives contained in the Child Support Performance and
Incentive Act of 1998, EBSA and the Federal Office of Child Support
Enforcement (OCSE) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
cooperated in the development of regulations to create a National
Medical Support Notice (NMSN or Notice). The Notice simplifies the
establishment and processing of qualified medical child support orders
issued by state child support enforcement agencies; provides for
standardized communication between state agencies, employers, and plan
administrators; and creates a uniform and streamlined process for
enforcement of medical child support obligations ordered by state child
support enforcement agencies. The NMSN comprises two parts: Part A was
promulgated by HHS and pertains to state child support enforcement
agencies; Part B was promulgated by the Department and pertains to plan
administrators pursuant to ERISA. This solicitation of public comment
relates only to Part B of the NMSN, which was promulgated by the
Department. In connection with promulgation of Part B of the NMSN, the
Department submitted an ICR to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review, and OMB approved the information collections
contained in the Part B regulation under OMB control number 1210-0113.
[[Page 4175]]
OMB's current approval of this ICR is scheduled to expire on April 30,
2006.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
The Department is currently soliciting comments on the information
collections contained in its regulation codified at 29 CFR 2590.609-2,
National Medical Support Notice--Part B. 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., by
permitting electronic submissions of responses.
III. Current Actions
This notice requests comments on the extension of the ICR included
in the regulation promulgating Part B of the National Medical Support
Notice. The Department is not proposing or implementing changes to the
existing ICR at this time. A summary of the ICR and the current burden
estimates follows:
Agency: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of
Labor.
Title: National Medical Support Notice--Part B.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection of
information.
OMB Number: 1210-0113.
Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit; not-for-profit institutions.
Respondents: 156,000.
Responses: 770,000.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 785,000.
Estimated Total Burden Cost (Operating and Maintenance):
$1,100,000.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the ICR; they will
also become a matter of public record.
Dated: January 19, 2006.
Susan G. Lahne,
Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security
Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-884 Filed 1-24-06; 8:45 am]
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