The Department's regulation at 29 CFR 2520.101-2 requires annual reporting by "multiple employer welfare arrangements," as defined in section 3(40) of ERISA, and certain other entities claiming an exception from the ERISA definition of "multiple employer welfare arrangements," for the purpose of determining the extent to which such entities comply with Part 7 of ERISA. The Department provides a form (Form M-1) for the required reporting and also provides an electronic filing system through which entities may complete the required Form M-1 and file it without cost.
There have been no program changes to this information collections. The burden estimates have been revised based on recent data regarding the actual number of 2005 Form M-1 filings. In addition, the Department has corrected an error in the prior ICR which assumed that a MEWA or ECE would file a separate M-1 for each ERISA-covered employee benefit plan under which it provided benefits. These two changes result in a decrease in the number of respondents and responses from 3,718 to 515.
In addition, the Department has updated its assumptions regarding wage rates and the availability of the Form M-1 electronic filing system. These changes have also resulted in a reduction in burden estimates, from 564 hours to 78 hours annually and from $349,000 to $45,520 annually.
$9,900
No
No
Uncollected
Uncollected
Uncollected
Uncollected
Susan Lahne 202 693-8500
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.