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Release Date: 09/22/1998
Release Number:
PWBA-03
Contact Name: Gloria Della
Phone Number: 202.219.8921
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The U. S. Department of Labor today announced
appointment of the members of the newly created Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory
Committee. The advisory committee was created by the department’s Pension
and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA) to develop a proposed rule that
would establish criteria and a process for determining when an employee benefit
plan is established or maintained under a collective bargaining
agreement. |
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The committee will hold its first meeting on
October 26 and 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the department’s
headquarters at 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room C-5320 (Seminar Room 6),
Washington, D. C. Minutes of the meeting will be available through PWBA’s
Public Disclosure Facility, Room N-5638, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. Committee meetings are open to the public. |
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Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
(ERISA), plans providing welfare benefits to employees of more than one
employer — known as “multiple employer welfare arrangements”
(MEWAs) — are subject to some degree of state insurance regulation. Those
plans deemed by the department to be collectively bargained plans, however, are
exempt from state insurance regulation. The rule developed by the department
will be of particular interest to unions and state insurance
regulators. |
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Members appointed to the advisory committee
are:
- Elizabeth A. Goodman -- U. S. Department of Labor, PWBA’s
Office of Regulations and Interpretations (representing the department)
- Patricia Arzuaga, U. S. Department of Labor’s Office of
the Solicitor, Plan Benefits Security Division (representing the department)
- Benjamin W. Boley, Esq., a partner of the Washington, D.C. law
firm of Shea & Gardner (representing plans for railway labor organizations)
- Gerald Feder, Esq., a partner of Feder & Associates in
Washington, D.C (representing collectively bargained multiemployer plans)
- James Ray, Esq., a partner of the Washington, D.C. law firm
Connerton & Ray (an alternate representing multiemployer collectively
bargained plans)
- James Kernan, Esq., Associated General Contractors in Oriskany,
New York (representing employers and management)
- Kathy Krieger, Esq., member of the Washington, D.C. law firm
James & Hoffman, P.C. (representing labor organizations and participants
and beneficiaries in collectively bargained plans)
- David T. Livingston, Director of Research for the International
Corporation (TIC), in Brookfield, Wisconsin (representing third-party
administrators to multiemployer plans)
- Judith Mazo, Esq., Legal Counsel for the Segal Company in
Washington, D.C. (representing the entertainment industry multiemployer health
plans)
- R. Lucia Riddle, Vice President of Government Relations for The
Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa (representing insurance carriers
and managed care companies)
- Nancy Trenti, Esq., National Association of Health Underwriters
(NAHU) in Washington, D.C. (representing independent agents, brokers and
insurance advisors)
- Representative, National Association of Insurance Commissioners
(NAIC) (representing states which regulate and license insurance)
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The notice is scheduled to be published in the
September 22, 1998 Federal Register. |
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U.S. Department of
Labor news releases are accessible on the Internet. The information in this
news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large
print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the Central Office for Assistive
Services and Technology. Please specify which news release when placing your
request. Call 202.693.7773 or TTY 202.693.7775. |
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