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Release Date: 11/23/1998
Release Number: USDL:
99-7
Contact Name: Rita Ford
Phone Number: 202.219.8922 |
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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Advisory Committee on
Negotiated Rulemaking will hold public meetings on December 16 and 17 at the
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service at 2100 K St., N. W., Room 200, in
Washington, D.C. The committee will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
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The advisory committee was created by the department’s
Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration to develop a proposed rule that
would establish criteria and a process for determining when an employee benefit
plan is either established or maintained by a collective bargaining agreement.
The first meeting of the committee was held in October at the Labor
Department. |
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At the December meetings, the committee will discuss key issues
pertaining to guidance needed to develop and implement sec. 3(40) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act ERISA). This section of ERISA mandates
that employee benefit plans that establish or maintain benefits for employees
of more than one employer — multiple employer welfare arrangements or
MEWAs — are subject to state insurance regulation unless they meet certain
exceptions. These exceptions are only applicable to plans that offer collective
bargaining agreements. |
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The department has determined that it is necessary to distinguish
organizations that provide benefits through collectively bargained employee
representation from organizations that are primarily MEWAs. |
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Interested parties are invited to attend this public meeting, and
seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals with
disabilities who wish to attend and require special accommodations should
contact, at least four business days prior to the meeting, Patricia |
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Arzuaga, Office of the Solicitor, Plan Benefits Security Division,
U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-4611, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington,
D. C., or call (202) 219-4600., ex. 153. |
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Individuals or organizations wishing to address the committee
should forward their request to Ms. Arzuaga at the above address. Members of
the public may also file a written statement by submitting 15 copies to Ms.
Arzuaga before December 11. |
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Minutes of all public meetings and other documents of the
committee will be available in Public Documents Room, Pension and Welfare
Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-5638, 200
Constitution Ave., N. W., Washington. D.C. Any written comments on the minutes
should be directed to the ERISA 3(40) Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory
Committee. |
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Notice of this meeting is published in the Nov. 23 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 202.693.7755. |
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