Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974

Public Law 93-406
Employee Retirement Income Security Act Of 1974 (ERISA)
by the 93rd Congress of the United States
410727Employee Retirement Income Security Act Of 1974 (ERISA) — 1974by the 93rd Congress of the United States
93RD UNITED STATES CONGRESS
2ND SESSION

An Act
To provide for pension reform.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. edit

This Act may be cited as the ``Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974´´.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section 1. Short Title and Table of Contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and declaration of policy.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Coverage.
Subtitle B — Regulatory Provisions

Part 1 — Reporting and Disclosure

Sec. 101. Duty of disclosure and reporting.
Sec. 102. Plan description and summary plan description.
Sec. 103. Annual reports.
Sec. 104. Filing with Secretary and furnishing information to participants.
Sec. 105. Reporting of participant's benefit rights.
Sec. 106. Reports made public information.
Sec. 107. Retention of records.
Sec. 108. Reliance on administrative interpretations.
Sec. 109. Forms.
Sec. 110. Alternative methods of compliance.
Sec. 111. Repeal and effective date.

Part 2 — Participation and Vesting

Sec. 201. Coverage.
Sec. 202. Minimum participation standards.
Sec. 203. Minimum vesting standards.
Sec. 204. Benefit accrual requirements.
Sec. 205. Joint and survivor annuity requirement.
Sec. 206. Other provisions relating to form and payment of benefits.
Sec. 207. Temporary variances from certain vesting requirements.
Sec. 208. Mergers and consolidations of plans or transfers of plan assets.
Sec. 209. Record keeping and reporting requirements.
Sec. 210. Plans maintained by more than one employer, predecessor plans, and employer groups.
Sec. 211. Effective dates.

Part 3 — Funding

Sec. 301. Coverage.
Sec. 302. Minimum funding standards.
Sec. 303. Variance from minimum funding standard.
Sec. 304. Extension of amortization periods.
Sec. 305. Alternative minimum funding standard.
Sec. 306. Effective dates.

Part 4 — Fiduciary Responsibility

Sec. 401. Coverage.
Sec. 402. Establishment of plan.
Sec. 403. Establishment of trust.
Sec. 404. Fiduciary duties.
Sec. 405. Liability for breach by co-fiduciary.
Sec. 406. Prohibited transactions.
Sec. 407. 10 percent limitation with respect to acquisition and holding of employer securities and employer real property by certain plans.
Sec. 408. Exemptions from prohibited transactions.
Sec. 409. Liability for breach of fiduciary duty.
Sec. 410. Exculpatory provisions; insurance.
Sec. 411. Prohibition against certain persons holding certain positions.
Sec. 412. Bonding.
Sec. 413. Limitation on actions.
Sec. 414. Effective date.

Part 5 — Administration and Enforcement

Sec. 501. Criminal penalties.
Sec. 502. Civil enforcement.
Sec. 503. Claims procedure.
Sec. 504. Investigative authority.
Sec. 505. Regulations.
Sec. 506. Other agencies and departments.
Sec. 507. Administration.
Sec. 508. Appropriations.
Sec. 509. Separability provisions.
Sec. 510. Interference with rights protected under Act.
Sec. 511. Coercive interference.
Sec. 512. Advisory Council.
Sec. 513. Research, studies, and annual report.
Sec. 514. Effect on other laws.


Sec. 1001. Amendment of Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
Subtitle A — Participation, Vesting, Funding, Administration, Etc.

Part 1 — Participation, Vesting, and Funding

Sec. 1011. Minimum participation standards.
Sec. 1012. Minimum vesting standards.
Sec. 1013. Minimum funding standards.
Sec. 1014. Collectively bargained plans.
Sec. 1015. Definitions and special rules.
Sec. 1016. Conforming and clerical amendments.
Sec. 1017. Effective dates and transitional rules.

Part 2 — Certain Other Provisions Relating to Qualified Retirement Plans

Sec. 1021. Additional plan requirements.
Sec. 1022. Miscellaneous provisions.
Sec. 1023. Retroactive changes in plan.
Sec. 1024. Effective dates.

Part 3 — Registration and Information

Sec. 1031. Registration and information.
Sec. 1032. Duties of Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.
Sec. 1033. Reports by actuaries.
Sec. 1034. Effective dates.

Part 4 — Declaratory Judgments Relating to Qualification of Certain Retirement Plans

Sec. 1041. Tax Court procedure.

Part 5 — Internal Revenue Service

Sec. 1051. Establishment of Office.
Sec. 1052. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle B — Other Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code Relating to Retirement Plans
Sec. 2001. Contributions on behalf of self-employed individuals and shareholder-employees.
Sec. 2002. Deduction for retirement savings.
Sec. 2003. Prohibited transactions.
Sec. 2004. Limitations on benefits and contributions.
Sec. 2005. Taxation of certain lump sum distributions.
Sec. 2006. Salary reduction regulations.
Sec. 2007. Rules for certain negotiated plans.
Sec. 2008. Certain armed forces survivor annuities.


TITLE III — JURISDICTION, ADMINISTRATION, ENFORCEMENT; JOINT PENSION TASK FORCE, ETC.

Subtitle A — Jurisdiction, Administration, and Enforcement
Sec. 3001. Procedures in connection with the issuance of certain determination letters by the Secretary of the Treasury.
Sec. 3002. Procedures with respect to continued compliance with requirements relating to participation, vesting, and funding standards.
Sec. 3003. Procedures in connection with prohibited transactions.
Sec. 3004. Coordination between the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Labor.
Subtitle B — Joint Pension Task Force; Studies

Part 1 — Joint Pension Task Force}}

Sec. 3021. Establishment.
Sec. 3022. Duties.

Part 2 — Other Studies

Sec. 3031. Congressional study.
Sec. 3032. Protection for employees under Federal procurement, construction, and research contracts and grants.
Subtitle C — Enrollment of Actuaries
Sec. 3041. Establishment of Joint Board for the enrollment of actuaries.
Sec. 3042. Enrollment by Joint Board.
Sec. 3043. Amendment of Internal Revenue Code.

TITLE IV — PLAN TERMINATION INSURANCE

Subtitle A — Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Sec. 4001. Definitions.
Sec. 4002. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
Sec. 4003. Investigatory authority; cooperation with other agencies; civil actions.
Sec. 4004. Temporary authority for initial period.
Sec. 4005. Establishment of pension benefit guaranty funds.
Sec. 4006. Premium rates.
Sec. 4007. Payment of premiums.
Sec. 4008. Report by the corporation.
Sec. 4009. Portability assistance.
Subtitle B — Coverage
Sec. 4021. Plans covered
Sec. 4022. Benefits guaranteed.
Sec. 4023. Contingent liability coverage.
Subtitle C — Terminations
Sec. 4041. Termination by plan administrator.
Sec. 4042. Termination by corporation.
Sec. 4043. Reportable events.
Sec. 4044. Allocation of assets.
Sec. 4045. Recapture of certain payments.
Sec. 4046. Reports to trustee.
Sec. 4047. Restoration of plans.
Sec. 4048. Date of termination.
Subtitle D — Liability
Sec. 4061. Amounts payable by the corporation.
Sec. 4062. Liability of employer.
Sec. 4063. Liability of substantial employer for withdrawal.
Sec. 4064. Liability of employers on termination of plan maintained by more than one employer.
Sec. 4065. Annual report of plan administrator.
Sec. 4066. Annual notification of substantial employers.
Sec. 4067. Recovery of employer liability for plan termination.
Sec. 4068. Lien for liability of employer.
Subtitle E — Amendments to Internal Revenue Code of 1954; Effective Dates
Sec. 4081. Amendments to Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
Sec. 4082. Effective date; special rules.


Approved September 2, 1974.


Legislative History edit

  • HOUSE REPORTS:
    • No. 93-533 (Comm. on Education and Labor )
    • No. 93-1280 (Comm. of Conference)
  • SENATE REPORTS:
    • No. 93-1090 (Comm. of Conference)
  • CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 120 (1974):
    • Feb. 28, Measure passed House, amended.
    • Mar. 4, Measure passed Senate, amended (provisions of H.R. 4200 substituted).
    • Aug. 20, House agreed to conference report.
    • Aug. 22, Senate agreed to conference report.

 

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