Hearing on Reasonable Contracts or Arrangements Under Section 408(b)(2)-Fee Disclosure, 10405-10406 [E8-3601]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 39 / Wednesday, February 27, 2008 / Proposed Rules ebenthall on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS (c) Is there evidence concerning whether the Rule has assisted in promoting national consistency with respect to the regulation of home entertainment amplifier power rating claims? If so, please provide that evidence. (18) Are there international laws, regulations, or standards with respect to home entertainment amplifier power rating claims that the Commission should consider as it reviews the Rule? If so, what are they? Should the Rule be modified in order to harmonize with these international laws, regulations, or standards? If so, why, and how? If not, why not? (19) Do current or impending changes in technology affect whether and how the Rule should be modified? B. Specific Issues (1) Should the Rule be revised to include additional guidance regarding power ratings for multichannel ‘‘home theater’’ amplifiers? If so, why, and what guidance should be provided? If not, why not? What evidence supports your answer(s)? (2) What methods are currently used to measure the power outputs of multichannel ‘‘home theater’’ amplifiers? Does use of these methods cause consumer injury? What evidence supports your answer(s)? (3) How often during typical usage, i.e., for what percentage of usage time, are multichannel ‘‘home theater’’ amplifiers required to produce full rated output in all channels simultaneously? What evidence supports your answer? (4) How often during typical usage, i.e., for what percentage of usage time, are multichannel ‘‘home theater’’ amplifiers required to produce full rated output in the three front channels simultaneously? What evidence supports your answer? (5) What are the incremental effects on power ratings for multichannel ‘‘home theater’’ amplifiers of driving two, three, four, five, six, or more channels simultaneously? What evidence supports your answers? (6) For a given rated power output, e.g., 100 Watts per channel, what is the added cost of producing a multichannel ‘‘home theater’’ amplifier that can provide full rated power in all channels simultaneously rather than in only one channel? What evidence supports your answer? (7) Should the Rule require that any channels be designated as associated when testing the power output of multichannel ‘‘home theater’’ amplifiers? If so, which channels should be designated as associated? What evidence supports your answer? VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:19 Feb 26, 2008 Jkt 214001 (8) Should Consumer Electronics Association protocol CEA-490-A be incorporated into the Rule? Why or why not? What evidence supports your answer? (9) Do current or impending changes in technology, such as the development of self-powered wired and wireless speakers, affect whether and how the Rule should be modified regarding power rating protocols for multichannel ‘‘home theater’’ amplifiers? List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 432 Amplifiers, Home entertainment products, Trade practices. Authority: 15 U.S.C. 41-58. By direction of the Commission. Donald S. Clark, Secretary [FR Doc. E8–3715 Filed 2–26–08: 8:45 am] [BILLING CODE 6750–01–S] DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employee Benefits Security Administration 29 CFR Part 2550 Hearing on Reasonable Contracts or Arrangements Under Section 408(b)(2)—Fee Disclosure Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. ACTION: Notice of hearing. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of Labor will hold a hearing on the Department’s proposed regulation under section 408(b)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the related proposed class exemption. DATES: The hearing will be held on March 20, 2008, and March 21 (if necessary), beginning at 9 a.m., EST. ADDRESSES: The hearing will be held at the U.S. Department of Labor, Room S– 4215 A–C, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fil Williams, Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Employee Benefits Security Administration, (202) 693– 8510. This is not a toll-free number. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 13, 2007, notice was published in the Federal Register (72 FR 70988) that the Department of Labor (the Department) has under consideration a proposal to amend its regulation 29 CFR 2550.408b–2(c) under ERISA section 408(b)(2) relating to the PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 10405 provision of services to employee benefit plans. The proposed regulation would provide that a ‘‘reasonable’’ contract or arrangement under ERISA section 408(b)(2) 1 between an employee benefit plan and certain service providers must include, among other things, certain disclosures concerning service provider compensation and conflicts of interest.2 Specifically, upon adoption, the proposal would require contracts and arrangements between employee benefit plans and certain providers of services to such plans to be in writing and to include provisions to ensure certain disclosures to enable the plan fiduciary to assess the reasonableness of compensation or fees that the service provider would receive (from the plan and third parties) in connection with services rendered to the plan. The disclosures are also designed to enable the plan fiduciary to evaluate potential conflicts of interest that may affect the service provider’s performance under the contract or arrangement. In the notice of proposed regulation, the Department invited all interested persons to submit written comments on or before February 11, 2008. To date, the Department has received approximately 90 written comments on the proposal, many of which were from major industry groups and plan fiduciaries. All written comments are available to the public, without charge, online at https://www.dol.gov/ebsa and at the Public Disclosure Room, N–1513, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. In addition, the Department published in the Federal Register on December 13, 2007 (72 FR 70893), a notice of proposed class exemption that would provide relief from certain prohibited transaction restrictions of ERISA. The proposed class exemption would relieve the responsible plan fiduciary from any liability for a prohibited transaction that would result from entering into a contract or arrangement for the provision of services when the service provider failed to comply with the 1 Section 408(b)(2) of ERISA provides relief from the prohibited transaction rules for service contracts or arrangements between a plan and a party in interest if the contract or arrangement is reasonable, the services are necessary for the establishment or operation of the plan, and no more than reasonable compensation is paid for the services. Regulations issued by the Department clarify each of these conditions to the exemption. See 29 CFR § 2550.408b–2. 2 Currently, the regulation at 29 CFR § 2550.408b– 2(c) states only that a contract or arrangement is not reasonable unless it permits the plan to terminate without penalty on reasonably short notice. E:\FR\FM\27FEP1.SGM 27FEP1 ebenthall on PRODPC61 with PROPOSALS 10406 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 39 / Wednesday, February 27, 2008 / Proposed Rules proposed regulation. The Department proposed the class exemption on its own motion pursuant to section 408(a) of ERISA, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (55 FR 32836, August 10, 1990). In the notice of proposed exemption, the Department invited interested persons to submit written comments on or before February 11, 2008. The Department has received separate written comments on the proposed exemption, in addition to those comments made as part of information received from the public on the proposed regulation. In view of the importance of these initiatives and their potential for significantly affecting the provision of services to employee benefit plans, the Department has decided to hold a public hearing. The primary purpose of this hearing is to further develop the public record regarding the regulation and the class exemption and to assist the Department to understand the issues involved. The hearing will be held on March 20, 2008, and March 21, if necessary, beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m., EST, in Room S–4215 A–C of the Department of Labor, Francis Perkins Building, at 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. Persons interested in presenting testimony and answering questions at this public hearing must submit, by 3:30 p.m., EST, March 10, 2008, the following information: (1) A written request to be heard; and (2) An outline of the topics to be discussed, indicating the time allocated to each topic. To facilitate the receipt and processing of responses, EBSA encourages interested persons to submit their requests and outlines electronically by e-mail to eORI@dol.gov. Persons submitting requests and outlines electronically are encouraged not to submit paper copies. Persons submitting requests and outlines on paper should send or deliver their requests and outlines (preferably at least three copies) to the Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Attn: 408(b)(2) Hearing, Rooms N–5655, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. All requests and outlines submitted to the Department will be available to the public, without charge, online at https://www.dol.gov/ ebsa and at the Public Disclosure Room, N–1513, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. The Department will prepare an agenda indicating the order of VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:19 Feb 26, 2008 Jkt 214001 presentation of oral comments and testimony. In the absence of special circumstances, each presenter will be allotted ten (10) minutes in which to complete his or her presentation. Any individuals with disabilities who may need special accommodations should notify Fil Williams on or before March 10, 2008. Information about the agenda will be posted on https://www.dol.gov/ebsa on or after March 10, 2008, or may be obtained by contacting Fil Williams, Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, telephone (202) 693–8510 (this is not a toll-free number). Those individuals who make oral comments and testimonies at the hearing should be prepared to answer questions regarding their information and/or comments. The hearing will be transcribed. Notice of Public Hearing Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held on March 20, 2008, and March 21, if necessary, concerning the Department’s proposed regulation under section 408(b)(2) of ERISA and the related proposed class exemption. The hearing will be held beginning at 9 a.m. in Room S–4215 A–C of the U.S. Department of Labor, Francis Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. Signed at Washington, DC, this 21st day of February 2008. Bradford P. Campbell, Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. [FR Doc. E8–3601 Filed 2–26–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–29–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 55 [EPA–R01–OAR–2008–0112; A–1–FRL– 8533–7] Outer Continental Shelf Air Regulations Consistency Update for Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule-consistency update. AGENCY: SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to update a portion of the Outer Continental Shelf (‘‘OCS’’) Air Regulations. Requirements applying to OCS sources located within 25 miles of States’ seaward boundaries PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 must be updated periodically to remain consistent with the requirements of the corresponding onshore area (‘‘COA’’), as mandated by section 328(a)(1) of the Clean Air Act (‘‘the Act’’). The portion of the OCS air regulations that is being updated pertains to the requirements for OCS sources in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The intended effect of approving the OCS requirements for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is to regulate emissions from OCS sources in accordance with the requirements onshore. The change to the existing requirements discussed below is proposed to be incorporated by reference into the Code of Federal Regulations and is listed in the appendix to the OCS air regulations. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 28, 2008. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA– R01–OAR–2008–0112 by one of the following methods: 1. www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. 2. E-mail: mcdonnell.ida@epa.gov. 3. Fax: (617) 918–0653. 4. Mail: ‘‘Docket Identification Number EPA–R01–OAR–2008–0112’’, Ida McDonnell, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA New England Regional Office, One Congress Street, Suite 1100 (mail code CAP), Boston, MA 02114–2023. 5. Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver your comments to: Ida McDonnell, Air Permits, Toxics and Indoor Air Unit, Office of Ecosystem Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA New England Regional Office, One Congress Street, 11th floor, (CAP), Boston, MA 02114–2023. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Regional Office’s normal hours of operation. The Regional Office’s official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, excluding legal holidays. Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–R01–OAR–2008– 0112. EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit through www.regulations.gov, or e-mail, information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an E:\FR\FM\27FEP1.SGM 27FEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 39 (Wednesday, February 27, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10405-10406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3601]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employee Benefits Security Administration

29 CFR Part 2550


Hearing on Reasonable Contracts or Arrangements Under Section 
408(b)(2)--Fee Disclosure

AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor.

ACTION: Notice of hearing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of Labor will hold 
a hearing on the Department's proposed regulation under section 
408(b)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 
(ERISA) and the related proposed class exemption.

DATES: The hearing will be held on March 20, 2008, and March 21 (if 
necessary), beginning at 9 a.m., EST.

ADDRESSES: The hearing will be held at the U.S. Department of Labor, 
Room S-4215 A-C, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fil Williams, Office of Regulations 
and Interpretations, Employee Benefits Security Administration, (202) 
693-8510. This is not a toll-free number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 13, 2007, notice was published 
in the Federal Register (72 FR 70988) that the Department of Labor (the 
Department) has under consideration a proposal to amend its regulation 
29 CFR 2550.408b-2(c) under ERISA section 408(b)(2) relating to the 
provision of services to employee benefit plans. The proposed 
regulation would provide that a ``reasonable'' contract or arrangement 
under ERISA section 408(b)(2) \1\ between an employee benefit plan and 
certain service providers must include, among other things, certain 
disclosures concerning service provider compensation and conflicts of 
interest.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Section 408(b)(2) of ERISA provides relief from the 
prohibited transaction rules for service contracts or arrangements 
between a plan and a party in interest if the contract or 
arrangement is reasonable, the services are necessary for the 
establishment or operation of the plan, and no more than reasonable 
compensation is paid for the services. Regulations issued by the 
Department clarify each of these conditions to the exemption. See 29 
CFR Sec.  2550.408b-2.
    \2\ Currently, the regulation at 29 CFR Sec.  2550.408b-2(c) 
states only that a contract or arrangement is not reasonable unless 
it permits the plan to terminate without penalty on reasonably short 
notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Specifically, upon adoption, the proposal would require contracts 
and arrangements between employee benefit plans and certain providers 
of services to such plans to be in writing and to include provisions to 
ensure certain disclosures to enable the plan fiduciary to assess the 
reasonableness of compensation or fees that the service provider would 
receive (from the plan and third parties) in connection with services 
rendered to the plan. The disclosures are also designed to enable the 
plan fiduciary to evaluate potential conflicts of interest that may 
affect the service provider's performance under the contract or 
arrangement.
    In the notice of proposed regulation, the Department invited all 
interested persons to submit written comments on or before February 11, 
2008. To date, the Department has received approximately 90 written 
comments on the proposal, many of which were from major industry groups 
and plan fiduciaries. All written comments are available to the public, 
without charge, online at https://www.dol.gov/ebsa and at the Public 
Disclosure Room, N-1513, Employee Benefits Security Administration, 
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20210.
    In addition, the Department published in the Federal Register on 
December 13, 2007 (72 FR 70893), a notice of proposed class exemption 
that would provide relief from certain prohibited transaction 
restrictions of ERISA. The proposed class exemption would relieve the 
responsible plan fiduciary from any liability for a prohibited 
transaction that would result from entering into a contract or 
arrangement for the provision of services when the service provider 
failed to comply with the

[[Page 10406]]

proposed regulation. The Department proposed the class exemption on its 
own motion pursuant to section 408(a) of ERISA, and in accordance with 
the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 2570, subpart B (55 FR 32836, 
August 10, 1990).
    In the notice of proposed exemption, the Department invited 
interested persons to submit written comments on or before February 11, 
2008. The Department has received separate written comments on the 
proposed exemption, in addition to those comments made as part of 
information received from the public on the proposed regulation.
    In view of the importance of these initiatives and their potential 
for significantly affecting the provision of services to employee 
benefit plans, the Department has decided to hold a public hearing. The 
primary purpose of this hearing is to further develop the public record 
regarding the regulation and the class exemption and to assist the 
Department to understand the issues involved. The hearing will be held 
on March 20, 2008, and March 21, if necessary, beginning at 9 a.m. and 
ending at 5 p.m., EST, in Room S-4215 A-C of the Department of Labor, 
Francis Perkins Building, at 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20210.
    Persons interested in presenting testimony and answering questions 
at this public hearing must submit, by 3:30 p.m., EST, March 10, 2008, 
the following information: (1) A written request to be heard; and (2) 
An outline of the topics to be discussed, indicating the time allocated 
to each topic. To facilitate the receipt and processing of responses, 
EBSA encourages interested persons to submit their requests and 
outlines electronically by e-mail to e-ORI@dol.gov. Persons submitting 
requests and outlines electronically are encouraged not to submit paper 
copies. Persons submitting requests and outlines on paper should send 
or deliver their requests and outlines (preferably at least three 
copies) to the Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Employee 
Benefits Security Administration, Attn: 408(b)(2) Hearing, Rooms N-
5655, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210. All requests and outlines submitted to the 
Department will be available to the public, without charge, online at 
https://www.dol.gov/ebsa and at the Public Disclosure Room, N-1513, 
Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 
200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.
    The Department will prepare an agenda indicating the order of 
presentation of oral comments and testimony. In the absence of special 
circumstances, each presenter will be allotted ten (10) minutes in 
which to complete his or her presentation.
    Any individuals with disabilities who may need special 
accommodations should notify Fil Williams on or before March 10, 2008.
    Information about the agenda will be posted on https://www.dol.gov/
ebsa on or after March 10, 2008, or may be obtained by contacting Fil 
Williams, Office of Regulations and Interpretations, Employee Benefits 
Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, telephone (202) 693-
8510 (this is not a toll-free number).
    Those individuals who make oral comments and testimonies at the 
hearing should be prepared to answer questions regarding their 
information and/or comments. The hearing will be transcribed.

Notice of Public Hearing

    Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held on March 
20, 2008, and March 21, if necessary, concerning the Department's 
proposed regulation under section 408(b)(2) of ERISA and the related 
proposed class exemption. The hearing will be held beginning at 9 a.m. 
in Room S-4215 A-C of the U.S. Department of Labor, Francis Perkins 
Building, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 21st day of February 2008.
Bradford P. Campbell,
Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor.
 [FR Doc. E8-3601 Filed 2-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-29-P
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