1210-0153 Apprenticeship and Training Plan Notices ss 6-14-22

Alternative Reporting Methods for Apprenticeship and Training Plans and Top Hat Plans

OMB Number 1210-0153

Expiration Date: 08/31/2022

SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995: ALTERNATIVE REPORTING METHODS FOR APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINING PLANS AND TOP HAT PLANS

This ICR seeks approval for an extension of an existing control number.

A. JUSTIFICATION

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.

Section 29 CFR 2520.104-22 provides an exemption to the reporting and disclosure provision of Part 1 of Title I of ERISA for employee welfare benefit plans that provide exclusively apprenticeship and training benefits if the plan administrator meets the following requirements: (1) files a notice with the Secretary that provides the name of the plan, the plan sponsor’s Employer Identification Number, the plan administrator’s name, and the name and location of an office or person from whom interested individuals can obtain certain info about courses offered by the plan; and (2) take steps reasonably designed to ensure that the information required to be contained in the notice is disclosed to employees of employers contributing to the plan who may be eligible to enroll in any course of study sponsored or establish by the plan; (3) and make the notice available to employees upon request.

Under 29 CFR 2520.14-23, the Department provides an alternative method of compliance with the reporting and disclosure of Title I of ERISA for unfunded or insured plans established for a select group of management of highly compensated employees (i.e., top hat plans). In order to satisfy the alternative method of compliance, the plan administrator must file a statement with the Secretary of Labor that includes the name and address of the employer, the employer EIN, a declaration that the employer maintains a plan or plans primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees, and a statement of the number of such plans and the employees covered by each. Plan documents must be made available to the Secretary upon request, and only one statement needs to be filed for each employer maintaining one or more of the plans.

2019 Final Rule

The 2019 final rule revised the procedures for filing apprenticeship and training plan notices under 29 CFR § 2520.104-22 and top hat plan statements under § 2520.104-23 with the Secretary of Labor to require electronic submission of these notices and statements. The final rule did not change the content requirements in either of these regulations.¹ The final rule requires electronic filing with the Secretary through EBSA’s website in accordance with instructions published by the Department. EBSA’s web-based filing system is the exclusive method for filing these notices and statements; filings by mail or personal delivery are no longer be accepted. The new web-based system is designed to assist administrators by ensuring that all of the information required by the regulations is included in the notice or statement before the filing can be completed through the website. Upon submission of a completed filing, the web-based filing system sends an electronic confirmation of receipt to the administrator. The design of the filing system facilitates the requirement that plan administrators of apprenticeship and training plans make notices available to participants upon request under 29 CFR § 2520.104-22(a)(3). Filings are now available to the public on the Department’s website at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

This information collection ensures that Apprenticeship and Training plans, as well as Top Hot plans fulfill the requirements of the alternative method of compliance with the reporting and disclosure requirements of Title I of ERISA, as permitted under the regulations. These reporting and disclosure requirements constitute an integral part of the Department’s enforcement, research, and policy formulation programs. They provide a means by which the Department can effectively and efficiently identify actual and potential violations of ERISA, thereby minimizing the investigatory contacts with the vast majority of plans, and enabling the Department to make the best use of its limited resources. This information collection, through public disclosure, is intended to serve as a deterrent to non-compliance with the statutory duties imposed on plan fiduciaries.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration for using information technology to reduce burden.

Since the publication of the 2019 Final Rule, this information collection must be submitted electronically through the Department’s electronic submission system.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.

EBSA reviewed all of its currently approved information collections and determined that it does not already receive any similar information that can be used or modified for the purpose set forth in Item 2 above.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

Only identifying information that is readily available to the plan administrator is required to be included on the notices and statements, and filing them electronically will result in little burden to small businesses and entities.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

Title I of ERISA includes statutory requirements that plans make reports to the Department. This information collection is intended to serve as an alternative method of compliance to reduce burden for a subset of plans. Without this information collection, these plans will experience an increase in burden because they would be required to submit a full Form 5500 (approved under OMB Control Number 1210-0110).

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:

• requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;

• requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

• requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;

• requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years;

• in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;

• requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;

• that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or

• requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

There are no special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years -- even if the collection of information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.

The Department’s notice required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d) soliciting comments on the information collection was published in the Federal Register on March 17, 2021 (87 FR 15267) and provided the public 60 days to comment on the submission. No comments were received.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

There are no payments or gift to respondents in this information collection.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

There is no promise of confidentiality of the information.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

There are no questions of a sensitive nature in this information collection.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:

• Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. Unless directed to do so, agencies should not conduct special surveys to obtain information on which to base hour burden estimates. Consultation with a sample (fewer than 10) of potential respondents is desirable. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary widely because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of estimated hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance. Generally, estimates should not include burden hours for customary and usual business practices.

• If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens in Item 13.

• Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection activities should not be included here

The Department annually receives 49 apprenticeship and training plan notices and approximately 1,751 top hat plan statement filings. The Department estimates that each filing will require 10 minutes of a compensation and benefits manger’s time, at an equivalent cost of $121.78 per hour,² for a total of 8 hours for apprenticeship and training plan notice filings and 292 hours of top hat plan statement filings and an overall total of 300 hours of burden. The total equivalent cost for this burden is $36,534 ($995 for apprenticeship and training plan notice filings and $35,539 for top hat plan statement filings).

Estimated Annualized Respondent Cost and Hour Burden

Activity	No. of Respondents	No. of Responses per  Respondent	Total Responses	Average Burden (Hours)	Total Burden (Hours)	Hourly  Wage Rate	Total Burden Cost
Compensation and benefits manger files for apprenticeship and training plans	49	1	49	10/60	8	$121.78	$995
Compensation and benefits manger files for top hat plans	1,751	1	1,751	10/60	292	$121.78	$35,539
Total	1,800	1	1,800	10/60	300	121.78	$36,534

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record

keepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in Items 12 or 14).

• The cost estimate should be split into 2 components:  (a) a total capital and start up cost component (annualized over its expected useful life); and (b) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of service component.  The estimates should take into account costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing the information.  Include descriptions of methods used to estimate major cost factors including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, the discount rate(s), and the time period over which costs will be incurred.  Capital and start-up costs include, among other items, preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers and software; monitoring, sampling, drilling and testing equipment; and record storage facilities. 

• If cost estimates are expected to vary widely, agencies should present ranges of cost burdens and explain the reasons for the variance.  The cost of purchasing or contracting out information collection services should be a part of this cost burden estimate.  In developing cost burden estimates, agencies may consult with a sample of respondents (fewer than 10), utilize the 60-day pre-OMB submission public comment process and use existing economic or regulatory impact analysis associated with the rulemaking containing the information collection, as appropriate. 

The Department assumes that no other cost burden is associated with this ICR, because in-house staff will prepare and electronically file the notices on behalf of each plan.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information. Agencies also may aggregate cost estimates from Items 12, 13, and 14 in a single table.

The Department has contracted with Blue Mountain Data Systems to maintain the online system at a cost of approximately $3,000 per year.

The Department’s share of Federal FTE costs is estimated at approximately $11,956, which represents the agencies’ best estimate of the EBSA employee time dedicated to contract oversight and contract management. The FTE costs are based on the 2022 General Schedule for the Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia area and assume that the following employees work on the project:

(1) One GS-15, Step 5 FTE ($168,282) working at three percent at a loaded compensation rate of approximately $215,400 (approximately $6,462);

(2) One GS-14, Step 5 FTE ($143,064) working three percent at a loaded compensation rate of approximately $183,121(approximately $5,494)

Therefore, the total annual cost to the government is $14,956 for this information collection.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14.

These updated burden estimates reflect the most current data available on the number of filings and current wages. As a result of these changes, the number of respondents decreased from 1872 to 1800 and the corresponding hour burden decreased from 312 to 300 hours.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation, and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

This is not a collection of information for statistical use and there are no plans to publish the results of this collection.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

The Department will display the expiration date on the electronic filing system.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19.

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

2. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

Not applicable. The use of statistical methods is not relevant to this collection of information.

1 The web-based filing system requires filers to input an email address. Although neither regulation explicitly mentions an email address, the Department does not view this item as a content requirement of the regulations. Rather, the email address is needed for system functionality because without it the filer would not receive instantaneous confirmation of the filing.

2 Internal DOL calculation based on 2020 labor cost data. For a description of the Department’s methodology for calculating wage rates, see https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/EBSA/laws-and-regulations/rules-and-regulations/technical-appendices/labor-cost-inputs-used-in-ebsa-opr-ria-and-pra-burden-calculations-june-2019.pdf.”

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