Employee Benefits Security Administration 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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Nondiscrimination and Wellness Programs in Health Coverage in the Group Market
This document contains final rules governing the provisions prohibiting discrimination based on a health factor for group health plans and issuers of health insurance coverage offered in connection with a group health plan. The rules contained in this document implement changes made to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Code), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) enacted as part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Proposed Revision of Annual Information Return/Reports
This document contains a proposal to make changes required by the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) to the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report filed for employee benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code (Code). The proposed changes supplement proposed revisions to the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report published, prior to the enactment of the PPA, by the Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (Agencies) in the Federal Register on July 21, 2006, at 71 FR 41616 (July 2006 Proposal). This supplemental proposal replaces the Schedule B, ``Actuarial Information,'' with separate actuarial schedules for single-employer plans (Schedule SB) and multiemployer plans (Schedule MB) to reflect PPA changes in funding and annual reporting requirements; adds new questions to the Schedule R, ``Retirement Plan Information,'' to collect additional information regarding single and multiemployer defined benefit pension plans required by the PPA; and proposes having the Form 5500-SF Annual Return/Report (Short Form 5500) included in the July 2006 Proposal serve as the simplified report required by the PPA for plans with fewer than 25 participants. The revisions are being proposed for 2008 plan year filings and would affect employee pension and welfare benefit plans, plan sponsors, administrators, and service providers to plans subject to annual reporting requirements under ERISA and the Code.
Proposed Information Collection; Request for Public Comment Health Disclosure and Claims Issues Project Survey
The Department of Labor (the Department), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information. This program 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 proposed new information collection entitled the Health Disclosure and Claims Issues Project Survey. A copy of the information collection request (ICR) can be obtained without charge by contacting the office listed below in the Addresses section of this notice.
Publication of Year 2006 Form M-1 With Electronic Filing Option, Notice
This document announces the availability of the Year 2006 Form M-1, Annual Report for Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements and Certain Entities Claiming Exception. It is substantively identical to the 2005 Form M-1. The Form M-1 may again be filed electronically over the Internet.
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 88-59, Residential Mortgage Financing Arrangements
The Department of Labor (the Department), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 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 the proposed extension of the information collection provisions of Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption (PTE) 88-59. A copy of the information collection request (ICR) may be obtained by contacting the office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; Petition for Finding Under Section 3(40) of ERISA
The Department of Labor (the Department), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information. This program helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the reporting burden on the public. It also 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 (EBSA) is soliciting comments on the proposed extension of the information collections contained in regulations pertaining to the Department's procedures to making a finding under section 3(40) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) as to whether an employee benefit plan is established and maintained pursuant to one or more collective bargaining agreements. A copy of the information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office shown in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Request for Public Comment; Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 80-83; Employee Benefit Plan Purchase of Securities Benefiting Party in Interest Issuer
The Department of Labor (the Department), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 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 (EBSA) is soliciting comments on the proposed extension of the information collection provisions of Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption (PTE) 80-83. A copy of the information collection request (ICR) may be obtained by contacting the office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 75-1; Employee Benefit Plan Security Transactions With Broker-Dealers, Reporting Dealers and Banks
The Department of Labor (the Department), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of information. This program 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 (EBSA) is soliciting comments on a proposed extension of the current approval of information collection provisions incorporated in the Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption (PTE) 75-1, pertaining to securities and other related transactions with broker-dealers, reporting dealers and banks. A copy of the information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office shown in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Prohibited Transaction Exemption for Provision of Investment Advice to Participants in Individual Account Plans
Section 601 of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the PPA) (Pub. L. 109-280) amended section 408 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) to add a prohibited transaction exemption for the provision of investment advice to participants and beneficiaries of individual account plans that permit the direction of assets in their accounts, and for certain related transactions, if the investment advice is provided under an ``eligible investment advice arrangement,'' as defined in the statute. The purpose of this notice is to request information from the public relating to the requirements in the new provisions that a computer model which serves as the basis for an eligible investment advice arrangement be certified as meeting specific criteria, and that information regarding certain fees and compensation be provided to participants and beneficiaries.
Prohibited Transaction Exemption for Provision of Investment Advice to Individual Retirement and Similar Plans
Section 601 of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the PPA) (Pub. L. 109-280) amended section 408 of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code) to add an exemption from certain prohibited transactions restrictions of ERISA and from certain taxes imposed by the Code for the provision of ``investment advice'' to participants and beneficiaries of covered employee benefit plans, and certain related transactions, if the investment advice is provided under an ``eligible investment advice arrangement.'' The exemption conditions relief upon satisfaction of a number of requirements more fully described in the statutory provisions. In particular, to be covered, the investment advice must be provided under an eligible investment advice arrangement that uses a computer model, which meets the requirements of the exemption. The purpose of this document is to solicit information from the public concerning the feasibility of the application of computer model investment advice programs for Individual Retirement Accounts and similar types of plans (hereinafter, IRAs).\1\ The PPA directs the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, to determine, based on the information received from the solicitation, whether there is any computer model investment advice program which may be utilized to provide investment advice to IRA beneficiaries.\2\
Model Notice of Pending Election of Multiemployer Plan Status
This document contains a Model Notice of Pending Election of Multiemployer Plan Status. The Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA), Public Law 109-280, permits certain plans that would otherwise be treated as multiemployer plans to elect to revoke a prior election to be treated as single-employer plans, and certain other plans to elect to be treated as multiemployer plans. The PPA requires plan administrators to provide notice of such an election to each plan participant and beneficiary, each labor organization representing such participants or beneficiaries, and each employer that has an obligation to contribute to the plan, and further requires the Secretary of Labor to prescribe a model notice.
Prohibited Transaction Exemptions 2006-17 and 2006-18; Grant of Individual Exemptions involving; D-11375, Frank D. May and D-11392, Amendment to Prohibited Transaction Exemption PTE 2001-32 Involving Development Company Funding Corporation
This document contains exemptions issued by the Department of Labor (the Department) from certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA or the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). A notice was published in the Federal Register of the pendency before the Department of a proposal to grant such exemption. The notice set forth a summary of facts and representations contained in the application for exemption and referred interested persons to the application for a complete statement of the facts and representations. The application has been available for public inspection at the Department in Washington, DC. The notice also invited interested persons to submit comments on the requested exemption to the Department. In addition the notice stated that any interested person might submit a written request that a public hearing be held (where appropriate). The applicant has represented that it has complied with the requirements of the notification to interested persons. No requests for a hearing were received by the Department. Public comments were received by the Department as described in the granted exemption. The notice of proposed exemption was issued and the exemption is being granted solely by the Department because, effective December 31, 1978, section 102 of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978, 5 U.S.C. App. 1 (1996), transferred the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to issue exemptions of the type proposed to the Secretary of Labor.
Notice of Proposed Individual Exemption Involving the Bear Stearns Companies, Inc. (BS), Bear Stearns Asset Management, Inc. (BSAM), and Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. (BSC) (collectively, the Applicants) Located in New York, NY
This document contains a notice of pendency before the Department of Labor (the Department) of a proposed individual exemption from certain prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). If granted, the proposed exemption would permit the purchase of certain securities (the Securities), by an asset management affiliate of BS from any person other than such asset management affiliate of BS or any affiliate thereof, during the existence of an underwriting or selling syndicate with respect to such Securities, where a broker-dealer affiliated with BS (the Affiliated Broker-Dealer) is a manager or member of such syndicate and the asset management affiliate of BS purchases such Securities, as a fiduciary: (a) On behalf of an employee benefit plan or employee benefit plans (Client Plan(s)); or (b) on behalf of Client Plans, and/or in-house plans (In-House Plans) which are invested in a pooled fund or in pooled funds (Pooled Fund(s)); provided certain conditions as set forth, below are satisfied (an affiliated underwriter transaction (AUT)).\1\ The proposed exemption, if granted, would affect Client Plans and In-House Plans and their participants and beneficiaries.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Announcement of OMB Approvals
The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved certain collections of information, listed in the Supplementary Information below, following EBSA's submission of requests for such approvals under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This notice describes the information collections that have been approved or re-approved, their OMB control numbers, and their current expiration dates.
Prohibited Transaction Exemption (PTE) 2006-16; Class Exemption To Permit Certain Loans of Securities by Employee Benefit Plans
This document amends and replaces Prohibited Transaction Exemption (PTE) 81-6 (46 FR 7527, January 23, 1981) and PTE 82-63 (47 FR 14804, April 6, 1982). PTE 81-6 exempts the lending of securities by employee benefit plans to certain banks and broker-dealers, and PTE 82- 63 exempts certain compensation arrangements for the provision of securities lending services by a plan fiduciary to an employee benefit plan. The final amendment incorporates the exemptions into one renumbered exemption, and expands the relief that was provided in PTEs 81-6 and 82-63 to include additional parties and additional forms of collateral subject to the specified conditions. The exemption affects participants and beneficiaries of employee benefit plans, persons who lend securities on behalf of such plans, and parties in interest who engage in securities lending transactions with such plans.
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; Summary Plan Description Requirements Under ERISA
The Department of Labor (the Department), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 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 the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting comments on a proposed extension of the current approval of information collection provisions in the regulation pertaining to summary plan description requirements under ERISA. A copy of the information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual shown in the Addresses section of this notice.
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; ERISA Investment Manager Electronic Registration
The Department of Labor (the Department), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 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 the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting comments on a proposed extension of the current approval of information collection provisions incorporated in the regulation pertaining to electronic registration of investment managers under ERISA. A copy of the information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office shown in the Addresses section of this notice.
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request; Employee Benefit Plan Claims Procedures Under ERISA
The Department of Labor (the Department), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 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 the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting comments on a proposed extension of the current approval of information collection provisions incorporated in the regulation pertaining to employee benefit plan claims procedures under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). A copy of the information collection request (ICR) may be obtained by contacting the office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request Annual Report for Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (Form M-1)
The Department of Labor (the Department), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA 95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 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 the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension of the current approval of an information collection entitled Annual Report for Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (Form M-1), contained in the Department's regulation at 29 CFR 2520.101-2, Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements and Certain Other Entities that Offer or Provide Medical Care to the Employees of Two or More Employers. A copy of the Department's information collection request (ICR) may be obtained by contacting the office listed in the addresses section of this notice.
Grant of Individual Exemption To Amend Prohibited Transaction Exemption (PTE) 95-31 Involving the Financial Institutions Retirement Fund (the Fund) and the Financial Institutions Thrift Plan (the Thrift Plan) Located in White Plains, NY
This document contains a final exemption that amends PTE 95-31 (60 FR 18619, April 12, 1995), an exemption granted to the Fund and the Thrift Plan. PTE 95-31 involves the provision of certain services, and the receipt of compensation for such services, by Pentegra Services, Inc. (Pentegra), a wholly-owned, for-profit subsidiary corporation of the Fund. These transactions are described in a notice of pendancy that was published in the Federal Register on July 3, 2002 (67 FR 44643).
Prohibited Transaction Exemption 2006-13; Grant of Individual Exemptions
This document contains an exemption issued by the Department of Labor (the Department) from certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). A notice was published in the Federal Register of the pendency before the Department of a proposal to grant such exemption. The notice set forth a summary of facts and representations contained in the application for exemption and referred interested persons to the application for a complete statement of the facts and representations. The application has been available for public inspection at the Department in Washington, DC. The notice also invited interested persons to submit comments on the requested exemption to the Department. In addition the notice stated that any interested person might submit a written request that a public hearing be held (where appropriate). The applicant has represented that it has complied with the requirements of the notification to interested persons. No requests for a hearing were received by the Department. Public comments were received by the Department as described in the granted exemption. The notice of proposed exemption was issued and the exemption is being granted solely by the Department because, effective December 31, 1978, section 102 of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978, 5 U.S.C. App. 1 (1996), transferred the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to issue exemptions of the type proposed to the Secretary of Labor.
Proposed Exemptions; Frank D. May, D.M.D., P.A. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust (the Plan)
This document contains notices of pendency before the Department of Labor (the Department) of proposed exemptions from certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA or the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code).
Default Investment Alternatives Under Participant Directed Individual Account Plans
This document contains a proposed regulation that, upon adoption, would implement recent amendments to title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) enacted as part of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Public Law 109-280, under which a participant of a participant directed individual account pension plan will be deemed to have exercised control over assets in his or her account if, in the absence of investment directions from the participant, the plan invests in a qualified default investment alternative. A fiduciary of a plan that complies with this proposed regulation will not be liable for any loss, or by reason of any breach that occurs as a result of such investments. The types of investments that qualify as default investment alternatives under section 404(c)(5) of ERISA are described in the proposal. Plan fiduciaries remain responsible for the prudent selection and monitoring of the qualified default investment alternative. The proposed regulation conditions relief upon advance notice to participants and beneficiaries describing the plan's provisions governing the circumstances under which contributions or other assets will be invested on their behalf in a qualified default investment alternative, the investment objectives of the default investment alternative, and the right of participants and beneficiaries to direct investments out of the default investment alternative without penalty. The regulation, upon adoption, will affect plan sponsors and fiduciaries of participant directed individual account plans, the participants and beneficiaries in such plans, and the service providers to such plans.
Independence of Employee Benefit Plan Accountants
This document requests information from the public concerning the advisability of amending Interpretive Bulletin 75-9 (29 CFR 2509.75-9) relating to guidelines on independence of accountants retained by employee benefit plans under section 103(a)(3)(A) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Under ERISA, unless otherwise exempt, the plan administrator is required to retain on behalf of all plan participants an ``independent qualified public accountant'' to examine the financial statements of the plan and render an opinion as to whether the financial statements and schedules required to be included in the plan's annual report are presented fairly in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The purpose of this notice is to obtain information to assist the Department of Labor in evaluating whether and to what extent Interpretive Bulletin 75-9 provides adequate guidance to meet the needs of plan administrators, other plan fiduciaries, participants and beneficiaries, accountants, and other affected parties on when a qualified public accountant is independent.
Proposed Exemptions; Notice of Proposed Individual Exemption Involving the Plumbers & Pipefitters National Pension Fund (the Fund)
This document contains notices of pendency before the Department of Labor (the Department) of proposed exemptions from certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA or the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code).
Grant of Individual Exemptions; The Southwest Gas Corporation (Southwest Gas)
This document contains exemptions issued by the Department of Labor (the Department) from certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA or the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). A notice was published in the Federal Register of the pendency before the Department of a proposal to grant such exemption. The notice set forth a summary of facts and representations contained in the application for exemption and referred interested persons to the application for a complete statement of the facts and representations. The application has been available for public inspection at the Department in Washington, DC. The notice also invited interested persons to submit comments on the requested exemption to the Department. In addition the notice stated that any interested person might submit a written request that a public hearing be held (where appropriate). The applicant has represented that it has complied with the requirements of the notification to interested persons. No requests for a hearing were received by the Department. Public comments were received by the Department as described in the granted exemption. The notice of proposed exemption was issued and the exemption is being granted solely by the Department because, effective December 31, 1978, section 102 of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978, 5 U.S.C. App. 1 (1996), transferred the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to issue exemptions of the type proposed to the Secretary of Labor.
Proposed Exemptions; The Young Men's Christian Association Retirement Fund-Retirement Plan (the Plan)
This document contains notices of pendency before the Department of Labor (the Department) of proposed exemptions from certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code).
Electronic Filing of Annual Reports
This document contains a final rule establishing an electronic filing requirement for certain annual reports required to be filed with the Department of Labor by plan administrators and other entities. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Code), and the regulations issued thereunder impose certain annual reporting obligations on pension and welfare benefit plans, as well as on certain other entities. These annual reporting obligations generally are satisfied by filing the Form 5500 ``Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan,'' including any required schedules and attachments (Form 5500). Currently, the Department of Labor (Department), the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and the Internal Revenue Service (Agencies) use an automated document processing systemthe ERISA Filing Acceptance System (EFAST)to process the Form 5500 filings. As part of the Department's efforts to update and streamline the current processing system, the regulation contained in this document requires electronic filing of all annual reports filed with the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2008, to satisfy annual reporting obligations under Part 1 of Title I of ERISA. This regulation affects employee pension and welfare benefit plans, plan sponsors, administrators, and service providers to plans subject to Title I of ERISA.
Annual Reporting and Disclosure
This document contains proposed amendments to Department of Labor (Department) regulations relating to annual reporting and disclosure requirements under Part 1 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA or Act). The proposed amendments contained in this document are necessary to conform the annual reporting and disclosure regulations to proposed revisions to the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan forms and instructions. The proposed changes to the Form 5500 and implementing regulatory amendments are intended to facilitate the transition to an electronic filing system, separately proposed at 70 FR 51542 (August 30, 2005), reduce and streamline annual reporting burdens, especially for small businesses, and update the annual reporting forms to reflect current issues and agency priorities. The regulatory amendments thus would, upon adoption, apply for the reporting year for which the electronic filing requirement is implemented. The proposed regulatory amendments will affect the financial and other information required to be reported and disclosed by employee benefit plans filing the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan under Part 1 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA.
Proposed Revision of Annual Information Return/Reports
This document contains proposed revisions to the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report forms, including a proposed new Short Form 5500, filed for employee pension and welfare benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code (Code). The Form 5500 Annual Return/Report, including its schedules and attachments (Form 5500 Annual Return/Report), is an important source of financial, funding, and other information about employee benefit plans for the Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and the Internal Revenue Service (the Agencies), as well as for plan sponsors, participants and beneficiaries, and the general public. The proposed revisions to the Form 5500 Annual Return/ Report, contained in this document, including a new Form 5500-SF short form annual return/report for certain types of small pension plans, are intended to reduce and streamline annual reporting burdens, especially for small businesses, update the annual reporting forms to reflect current issues and agency priorities, and facilitate the establishment of a wholly electronic filing system for receipt of the Form 5500 Annual Returns/Reports. The form revisions thus would, upon adoption, apply for the reporting year for which the electronic filing requirement is implemented. The proposed revisions would affect employee pension and welfare benefit plans, plan sponsors, administrators, and service providers to plans subject to annual reporting requirements under ERISA and the Code.
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Request for Public Comment Notice of Special Enrollment
The Department of Labor (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) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to ensure that the data the Department gathers 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 collection requirements on respondents. Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting comments concerning the extension of a currently approved collection of information arising from the Department's regulation at 29 CFR 2590.701-6, which requires a notice of special enrollment to be provided to employees who are offered an initial opportunity to enroll in a group health plan. A copy of the information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office shown in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Request for Public Comment Establishing Prior Creditable Coverage
The Department of Labor (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) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)((A)). This program helps to ensure that the data the Department gathers 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 collection requirements on respondents. Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting comments concerning the extension of a currently approved collection of information arising from the Department's regulation at 29 CFR 2590.701-5, which requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to furnish a written certificate suitable for establishing prior creditable coverage to participants and dependents who are or were covered under the group health plan upon the occurrence of specified events. A copy of the information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office shown in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Request for Public Comment Notice of Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion
The Department of Labor (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) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)((A)). This program helps to ensure that the data the Department gathers 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 collection requirements on respondents. Currently, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is soliciting comments concerning the extension of currently approved collections of information arising from the Department's regulation at 29 CFR 2590.701-3, which requires group health plans and insurance issuers to provide certain notices regarding the pre-existing condition exclusions imposed under such plans to all participants under the plan and to specific individuals affected by the pre-existing condition exclusions. A copy of the information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office shown in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Grant of Individual Exemptions; Harris Nesbitt Corporation (Harris Nesbitt)
This document contains exemptions issued by the Department of Labor (the Department) from certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). A notice was published in the Federal Register of the pendency before the Department of a proposal to grant such exemption. The notice set forth a summary of facts and representations contained in the application for exemption and referred interested persons to the application for a complete statement of the facts and representations. The application has been available for public inspection at the Department in Washington, DC. The notice also invited interested persons to submit comments on the requested exemption to the Department. In addition the notice stated that any interested person might submit a written request that a public hearing be held (where appropriate). The applicant has represented that it has complied with the requirements of the notification to interested persons. No requests for a hearing were received by the Department. Public comments were received by the Department as described in the granted exemption. The notice of proposed exemption was issued and the exemption is being granted solely by the Department because, effective December 31, 1978, section 102 of Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1978, 5 U.S.C. App. 1 (1996), transferred the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to issue exemptions of the type proposed to the Secretary of Labor.
Proposed Exemptions; Retail Clerks Welfare Trust Health and Welfare Plan (the Plan)
This document contains notices of pendency before the Department of Labor (the Department) of proposed exemptions from certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code).
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