DOL Seeks Comments on School Official Certification for Black Lung Beneficiaries

Detected March 15th, 2026

Summary

The Department of Labor (DOL) is requesting comments on an information collection request (ICR) for the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) Form CM-981. This form is used by school officials to verify student status for Black Lung beneficiaries. The DOL is seeking OMB approval for this collection.

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What changed

The Department of Labor (DOL), through its Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), has submitted an information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The ICR pertains to the "Certification by School Official" form (CM-981), which is used to verify if a dependent of a Black Lung beneficiary, aged 18-23, is a full-time student. The DOL is seeking PRA authorization for this collection for three years and has provided estimates for respondents, responses, annual time burden, and costs.

Regulated entities, specifically State, Local, and Tribal Governments, are invited to submit written comments on the necessity, utility, accuracy, and clarity of this information collection. Comments should be submitted within 30 days of publication to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. The OMB will consider all comments received on or before April 10, 2026. Failure to comply with an information collection that does not display a valid OMB Control Number can result in penalties, though specific penalties for this particular ICR are not detailed beyond the general PRA provisions.

What to do next

Review DOL's information collection request for Form CM-981.
Submit written comments on the collection by April 10, 2026, via www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Ensure compliance with PRA requirements if responding to the collection once approved.

Penalties

No person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid OMB Control Number.

Source document (simplified)

Content

ACTION:

Notice of availability; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)-sponsored information collection
request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with

     the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES:

The OMB will consider all written comments that the agency receives on or before April 10, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication
of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using
the search function.

Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and cost of
the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nicole Bouchet by telephone at 202-693-0213, or by email at DOLPRAPUBLIC@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Office of Workers Compensation Programs Form CM-981 is completed by a school official to verify whether a Black Lung beneficiary's
dependent, aged 18 to 23, qualifies as a full-time student. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the
related notice published in the
Federal Register
on December 31, 2025 (90 FR 61421).

This information collection is subject to the 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 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 OMB Control Number.
See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.

DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for
more than three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes that information collection requirements submitted to the OMB for
existing ICRs receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.

Agency: DOL-OWCP.

Title of Collection: Certification by School Official.

OMB Control Number: 1240-0031.

Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 195.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 195.

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 33 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $146.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D))

Nicole Bouchet, Senior PRA Analyst. [FR Doc. 2026-04723 Filed 3-10-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-26-P