[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 70 (Monday, April 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19631-19632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08314]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Economic Analysis


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Services 
Surveys: BE-45, Quarterly Survey of Insurance Transactions by U.S. 
Insurance Companies With Foreign Persons

AGENCY: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 12, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, or via email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Christopher Stein, Chief, Services Surveys Branch BE-50 
(SSB), Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
Washington, DC 20230; phone: (202) 606-9850; fax: (202) 606-5318; or 
via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Quarterly Survey of Insurance Transactions by U.S. Insurance 
Companies with Foreign Persons (BE-45) is a survey that collects data 
on U.S. trade in insurance services. The information collected on this 
survey will be used to formulate U.S. international economic policy and 
analyze the impact of that policy, and the policies of foreign 
countries, on international trade in services. The data are used in 
estimating the insurance component of the U.S. international 
transactions accounts (ITAs) and national income and product accounts 
(NIPAs).
    The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is proposing no additions, 
modifications, or deletions to the current BE-45 survey. The effort to 
keep current reporting requirements unchanged is intended to minimize

[[Page 19632]]

respondent burden while considering the needs of data users. Existing 
language in the instructions and definitions will be reviewed and 
adjusted as necessary to clarify survey requirements.

II. Method of Collection

    Form BE-45 is a quarterly report that must be filed within 60 days 
after the end of each calendar quarter, or within 90 days after the 
close of the calendar year, and is mandatory for each U.S. insurance 
company whose covered transactions with foreign persons for any of the 
data items on the survey exceeded $8 million (positive or negative) in 
the prior calendar year, or are expected to exceed that amount during 
the current calendar year.
    BEA offers its electronic filing option, the eFile system, for use 
in reporting on Form BE-45. For more information about eFile, go to 
www.bea.gov/efile.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0608-0066.
    Form Number: BE-45.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 2,000 annually (500 filed each 
quarter; 475 reporting mandatory or voluntary data, and 25 that would 
not report data).
    Estimated Time Per Response: 8 hours is the average for those 
reporting data and 1 hour is the average for those not reporting data, 
but hours may vary considerably among respondents because of 
differences in company size and complexity.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 15,300.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $612,000.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: International Investment and Trade in Services 
Survey Act (Pub. L. 94-472, 22 U.S.C. 3101-3108, as amended).

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 7, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-08314 Filed 4-10-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-06-P