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###### Department of Labor

###### Employee Benefits Security Administration

# AGENCY:

Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor.

# ACTION:

Notice.

# SUMMARY:

                        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 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                         *Application to the Department of Labor for Expedited Review of Denial of COBRA Premium Reduction*                         (the “Application”) and the                         *Plan Administrator Information Sheet*                         (the “Letter”). A copy of the information collection request (ICR) may be obtained by contacting the office listed in the                         **ADDRESSES**                         section of this notice.                    

# DATES:

                        Written comments must be submitted to the office shown in the                         **ADDRESSES**                         section on or before August 14, 2009.                    

# ADDRESSES:

                        Please direct all written comments regarding the information collection request and burden estimates to G. Christopher Cosby, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-5647, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-8410; Fax: (202) 219-4745. These are not toll-free numbers. Comments may also be submitted electronically to the following Internet e-mail address:                         *ebsa.opr@dol.gov*.                    

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## I. Background

                    The continuation coverage provisions of section 601 through 608 of ERISA (and parallel provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (Code)) generally require group health plans to offer qualified beneficiaries' the opportunity to elect                           ( print page 28279)                        continuation coverage following certain events that would otherwise result in the loss of coverage. Continuation coverage is a temporary extension of the qualified beneficiary's previous group health coverage. The right to elect continuation coverage allows individuals to maintain group health coverage under adverse circumstances and to bridge gaps in health coverage that otherwise could limit their access to health care.                

COBRA provides the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) with authority under section 608 of ERISA to carry out the continuation coverage provisions. The Conference Report that accompanied COBRA divided interpretive authority over the COBRA provisions between the Secretary and the Secretary of the Treasury (the Treasury) by providing that the Secretary has the authority to issue regulations implementing the notice and disclosure requirements of COBRA, while the Treasury is authorized to issue regulations defining the required continuation coverage.

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5). Section 3001(a)(5) of ARRA provides that if individuals request treatment as an assistance eligible individual and are denied such treatment because of their ineligibility for COBRA continuation coverage, the Secretary of Labor must provide for expedited review of the denial upon application to the Secretary in the form and manner the Secretary provides. The Secretary of Labor is required to act in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and must make a determination within 15 business days after receipt of an individual's application for review.

The Application is the form that will be used by individuals to file their expedited review appeals with EBSA. All of the information requested on the Application must be completed, and an Application may be denied if sufficient information is not provided. In certain situations, EBSA will have to contact plan administrators for additional information regarding an applicant's appeal of a denial of premium reduction. The Letter will be used for this purposes in cases where the Department has otherwise been unable to contact a plan administrator.

On May 20, 2009, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the Application and the Letter (OMB Control Number 1210-0135) under the emergency procedures for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) and 5 CFR 1320.13. The approval is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2009.

## II. Current Actions

This notice requests public comment pertaining to the Department's request for extension of OMB's approval of the Application. After considering comments received in response to this notice, the Department intends to submit an ICR to OMB for continuing approval. No change to the existing ICR is proposed or made at this time. The Department notes that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a valid OMB control number. A summary of the ICR and the current burden estimates follows:

*Agency:*                     Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor.                

*Title:*                     Request to the Department of Labor for Expedited Review of Denial of COBRA Premium Reduction                

*Type of Review:*                     Extension of a currently approved collection of information.                

*OMB Number:*                     1210-0135.                

*Affected Public:*                     Individuals or households; Business or other for-profit; Not-for-profit institutions.                

*Respondents:*                     593,000.                

*Frequency of Responses:*                     On occasion.                

*Responses:*                     104,500.                

*Estimated Total Burden Hours:*                     99,750.                

*Estimated Total Burden Cost (Operating and Maintenance):*                     $52,000.                

## III. Desired Focus of Comments

The Department of Labor 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.                

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the ICR for OMB approval of the extension of the information collection; they will also become a matter of public record.

Dated: June 8, 2009.

Joseph S. Piacentini,

Director, Office of Policy and Research, Employee Benefits Security Administration.

[FR Doc. E9-13995 Filed 6-12-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-29-P