Notice2025-24074
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Certification by School Official
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 31, 2025
Issuing agencies
Labor DepartmentWorkers' Compensation Programs Office
Abstract
The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, "Certification of School Official." This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 247 (Wednesday, December 31, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 31, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61421-61422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-24074]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
[OMB Control No. 1240-0031]
Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Certification by
School Official
AGENCY: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is soliciting comments
concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the
information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Certification of School
Official.'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental
efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).
DATES: All comments must be received on or before March 2, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comment as follows. Please note that late,
untimely filed comments will not be considered.
Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments in the following
way:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments for WCPO-2025-0138.
Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> will be posted to the docket, with no changes.
Because your comment will be made public, you are responsible for
ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential
information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such
as your or anyone else's Social
[[Page 61422]]
Security number or confidential business information.
<bullet> If your comment includes confidential information that you
do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a
written/paper submission and mark it confidential.
Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the
following way:
<bullet> Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit DOL-OWCP, Division of
Coal Mine Workers' Compensation, 200 Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20210.
<bullet> OWCP will post your comment as well as any attachments,
except for information submitted and marked as confidential, in the
docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anjanette Suggs, Office of Office of
Workers' Compensation Programs, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c5b6b0a2a2b6eba4abafa4aba0b1b1a085a1aaa9eba2aab3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="592a2c3e3e2a7738373338373c2d2d3c193d3635773e362f">[email protected]</span></a> (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The DOL, as part of continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to
provide the general public and Federal agencies an opportunity to
comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information before
submitting them to the OMB for final approval. This program helps to
ensure requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting
burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection
instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection
requirements can be properly assessed.
The Certification by School Official information collection
mandates that in order to qualify as an eligible dependent for black
lung benefits, a child aged 18- to 23-years must be a full-time student
as described in the Black Lung Benefits Act, 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq., and
regulations 20 CFR 725.209. A school official completes a Certification
by School Official (Form CM-981) to verify whether a Black Lung
beneficiary's dependent between the ages of 18 to 23 years qualifies as
a full-time student. Black Lung Benefits Act section 426 authorizes
this information collection. See 30 U.S.C. 936.
This information collection is being classified as an extension of
an existing collection. 30 U.S.C. 902(g); 20 CFR 725.209, 725.218
require that all relevant medical evidence be considered before a
decision can be made regarding a claimant's eligibility for benefits.
By signing the CM-981 form, the claimant authorizes physicians,
hospitals, medical facilities or organizations, and the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to release medical
information about the miner to the Department of Labor's Office of
Workers' Compensation Programs. The form contains information required
by medical institutions and private physicians to enable them to
release pertinent medical information. This information collection is
currently approved for use through June 30, 2026.
This information collection is subject to PRA. A Federal agency
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and
the public is generally not required to respond to an information
collection, unless the OMB under the PRA approves it and displays a
currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that
does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and
1320.6.
Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments to the
contact shown in the ADDRESSES section. Written comments will receive
consideration and summarized and included in the request for OMB
approval of the final ICR. In order to help ensure appropriate
consideration, comments should mention 1240-0031.
Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this
ICR and posted on the internet, without redaction. The DOL encourages
commenters not to include personally identifiable information,
confidential business data, or other sensitive statements/information
in any comments.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
OWCP is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information
collection related to the Certification by School Official. OWCP is
particularly interested in comments that:
<bullet> Evaluate whether the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information has practical utility;
<bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of OWCP's estimate of the burden
related to the information collection, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used in the estimate;
<bullet> Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected; and
<bullet> Minimize the burden of the information collection 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., permitting electronic
submission of responses.
Documents related to this information collection request are
available at <a href="https://regulations.gov">https://regulations.gov</a> and at DOL-OWCP located at 200
Constitution Avenue NW, Room S-3524, Washington, DC 20210. Questions
about the information collection requirements may be directed to the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of this notice.
III. Current Actions
This information collection request concerns Certification by
School Official. OWCP has updated the data with respect to the number
of respondents, responses, burden hours, and burden costs supporting
this information collection request from the previous information
collection request.
Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
OMB Number: 1240-0031.
Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
Number of Respondents: 195.
Number of Responses: 195.
Annual Burden Hours: 33 hours.
Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $146.00.
OWCP Forms: CM-981, Certification by School Official.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized in
the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the
proposed information collection request; they will become a matter of
public record and will be available at <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov">https://www.reginfo.gov</a>.
Anjanette Suggs,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2025-24074 Filed 12-30-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-CR-P
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