Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

June 25, 1998.

The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public

information collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). A copy of

each individual ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be

obtained by calling the Department of Labor, Departmental Clearance

Officer, Todd R. Owen ((202) 219-5096 ext. 143) or by E-Mail to Owen-

T[email protected].

Comments should be sent to Office of The Information and Regulatory

Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for BLS, DM, ESA, ETA, MSHA, OSHA,

PWBA, or VETS, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington,

DC 20503 ((202) 395-7316), within 30 days from the date of this

publication in the Federal Register.

The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:

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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: Pension Welfare Benefits Administration.

Title: Notice of Participants and Beneficiaries and the Federal

Government of Electing One Percent Increased Cost Exemption.

OMB Number: 1210-0105 (extension).

Frequency: On occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 479.

Total Responses: 94,854.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 2 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 3,162 hours.

Total annualized capital/startup costs: 0.

Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing

services): 270,000.

Description: The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 requires parity

between the dollar limits imposed on mental health benefits and those

imposed on medical/surgical benefits offered by group health plans and

group health insurance coverage offered by issuers. Plans may be

exempted from this requirement if parity would result in an increase in

cost of at least one percent and participants and beneficiaries and the

federal government are notified. This information collection request

covers notifying participants and beneficiaries and to the federal

government when a plan elects the increased cost exemption.

Title: Calculation and Disclosure of Documentation of Eligibility

for Exemption.

OMB Number: 1210-0106 (extension).

Frequency: On occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 1,364.

Total Responses: 3,527.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 2 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 118 hours.

Total annualized capital/startup costs: $2,420,000.

Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing

services): $10,000.

Description: The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 requires parity

between the dollar limits imposed on mental health benefits and those

imposed on medical/surgical benefits offered by group health plans and

group health insurance coverage offered by issuers. Plans may be

exempted from this requirement if parity would result in an increase in

cost of at least one percent and participants and beneficiaries and the

federal government are notified. Upon receipt of the notice,

participants and beneficiaries may request and receive at no charge a

summary of the information on which the exemptions were based. This

information collection request covers the calculation and disclosure of

information on which the exemption was based.

Agency: Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.

Title: Notice of Group Health Plan's Use of Transition Period, and

Posting Thereof.

OMB Number: 1210-0107 (extension).

Frequency: On occasion.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 286.

Total Responses: 286.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 2 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 10 hours.

Total annualized capital/startup costs: 0.

Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing

services): $1,200.

Description: The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 requires parity

between the dollar limits imposed on mental health benefits and those

imposed on medical/surgical benefits offered by group health plans and

group health insurance coverage offered by issuers. Plans may be

exempted from this requirement if parity would result in an increase in

cost of at least one percent and participants and beneficiaries and the

federal government are notified. Plans electing increased cost

exemption during all or part of the first quarter of 1998 under the

rule's transition provisions must notify the federal government and

post a copy of the notice in the workplace. This information collection

request covers notice and posting concerning the use of the transition

period.

Todd R. Owen,

Departmental Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 98-17347 Filed 6-29-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-29-M