Department of Labor October 13, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Labor through the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is currently soliciting comments for the second major revision of the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS), current version 2.01. The last major revision occurred in 2011. BLS is responsible for the development and publication of occupational injury, illness, and fatality data. These data are compiled by the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) programs. The OIICS is used to classify certain case characteristics associated with the nonfatal and fatal work injury cases received by the programs.

Currently, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is soliciting comments concerning the proposed collection: Report of Changes that May Affect Your Black Lung Benefits (CM-929 and CM-929P). A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this Notice. This program 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.

The Department of Labor (the Department), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the reporting burden on the public and helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration is soliciting comments on a revision of the Coverage of Certain Preventive Services under the Affordable Care ActPrivate Sector information collection request (ICR) to reflect the Executive Order signed on May 4, 2017, ``Executive Order Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty.'' The order declares, regarding ``Conscience Protections with Respect to Preventive-Care Mandate,'' that ``[t]he Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consider issuing amended regulations, consistent with applicable law, to address conscience-based objections to the preventive-care mandate promulgated under section 300gg-13(a)(4) of title 42, United States Code.'' A copy of the information collection request (ICR) may be obtained by contacting the office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

The United States has a long history of providing conscience protections in the regulation of health care for entities and individuals with objections based on religious beliefs and moral convictions. These interim final rules expand exemptions to protect religious beliefs for certain entities and individuals whose health plans are subject to a mandate of contraceptive coverage through guidance issued pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. These rules do not alter the discretion of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a component of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to maintain the guidelines requiring contraceptive coverage where no regulatorily recognized objection exists. These rules also leave the ``accommodation'' process in place as an optional process for certain exempt entities that wish to use it voluntarily. These rules do not alter multiple other Federal programs that provide free or subsidized contraceptives for women at risk of unintended pregnancy.