1. U.S. Code
  2. title 29
  3. chapter 18
  4. subchapter I
  5. subtitle B
  6. part 5
  7. § 1137

Collapse to view only § 1137. Administration

§ 1131. Criminal penalties
(a) Any person who willfully violates any provision of part 1 of this subtitle, or any regulation or order issued under any such provision, shall upon conviction be fined not more than $100,000 or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both; except that in the case of such violation by a person not an individual, the fine imposed upon such person shall be a fine not exceeding $500,000.
(b) Any person that violates section 1149 of this title shall upon conviction be imprisoned not more than 10 years or fined under title 18, or both.
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 501, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 891; Pub. L. 107–204, title IX, § 904, July 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 805; Pub. L. 111–148, title VI, § 6601(b), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 779.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1131

§ 1132. Civil enforcement
(a) Persons empowered to bring a civil actionA civil action may be brought—
(1) by a participant or beneficiary—
(A) for the relief provided for in subsection (c) of this section, or
(B) to recover benefits due to him under the terms of his plan, to enforce his rights under the terms of the plan, or to clarify his rights to future benefits under the terms of the plan;
(2) by the Secretary, or by a participant, beneficiary or fiduciary for appropriate relief under section 1109 of this title;
(3) by a participant, beneficiary, or fiduciary (A) to enjoin any act or practice which violates any provision of this subchapter or the terms of the plan, or (B) to obtain other appropriate equitable relief (i) to redress such violations or (ii) to enforce any provisions of this subchapter or the terms of the plan;
(4) by the Secretary, or by a participant, or beneficiary for appropriate relief in the case of a violation of section 1025(c) or 1032(a) of this title;
(5) except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), by the Secretary (A) to enjoin any act or practice which violates any provision of this subchapter, or (B) to obtain other appropriate equitable relief (i) to redress such violation or (ii) to enforce any provision of this subchapter;
(6) by the Secretary to collect any civil penalty under paragraph (2), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), or (9) of subsection (c) or under subsection (i) or (l);
(7) by a State to enforce compliance with a qualified medical child support order (as defined in section 1169(a)(2)(A) of this title);
(8) by the Secretary, or by an employer or other person referred to in section 1021(f)(1) of this title, (A) to enjoin any act or practice which violates subsection (f) of section 1021 of this title, or (B) to obtain appropriate equitable relief (i) to redress such violation or (ii) to enforce such subsection;
(9) in the event that the purchase of an insurance contract or insurance annuity in connection with termination of an individual’s status as a participant covered under a pension plan with respect to all or any portion of the participant’s pension benefit under such plan constitutes a violation of part 4 of this title 1
1 So in original. Probably should be “subtitle”.
or the terms of the plan, by the Secretary, by any individual who was a participant or beneficiary at the time of the alleged violation, or by a fiduciary, to obtain appropriate relief, including the posting of security if necessary, to assure receipt by the participant or beneficiary of the amounts provided or to be provided by such insurance contract or annuity, plus reasonable prejudgment interest on such amounts;
(10) in the case of a multiemployer plan that has been certified by the actuary to be in endangered or critical status under section 1085 of this title, if the plan sponsor—
(A) has not adopted a funding improvement or rehabilitation plan under that section by the deadline established in such section, or
(B) fails to update or comply with the terms of the funding improvement or rehabilitation plan in accordance with the requirements of such section,
by an employer that has an obligation to contribute with respect to the multiemployer plan or an employee organization that represents active participants in the multiemployer plan, for an order compelling the plan sponsor to adopt a funding improvement or rehabilitation plan or to update or comply with the terms of the funding improvement or rehabilitation plan in accordance with the requirements of such section and the funding improvement or rehabilitation plan; or
(11) in the case of a multiemployer plan, by an employee representative, or any employer that has an obligation to contribute to the plan, (A) to enjoin any act or practice which violates subsection (k) of section 1021 of this title (or, in the case of an employer, subsection (l) of such section), or (B) to obtain appropriate equitable relief (i) to redress such violation or (ii) to enforce such subsection.
(b) Plans qualified under Internal Revenue Code; maintenance of actions involving delinquent contributions
(1) In the case of a plan which is qualified under section 401(a), 403(a), or 405(a) 2
2 See References in Text note below.
of title 26 (or with respect to which an application to so qualify has been filed and has not been finally determined) the Secretary may exercise his authority under subsection (a)(5) with respect to a violation of, or the enforcement of, parts 2 and 3 of this subtitle (relating to participation, vesting, and funding), only if—
(A) requested by the Secretary of the Treasury, or
(B) one or more participants, beneficiaries, or fiduciaries, of such plan request in writing (in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe by regulation) that he exercise such authority on their behalf. In the case of such a request under this paragraph he may exercise such authority only if he determines that such violation affects, or such enforcement is necessary to protect, claims of participants or beneficiaries to benefits under the plan.
(2) The Secretary shall not initiate an action to enforce section 1145 of this title.
(3) Except as provided in subsections (c)(9) and (a)(6) (with respect to collecting civil penalties under subsection (c)(9)), the Secretary is not authorized to enforce under this part any requirement of part 7 against a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with a group health plan (as defined in section 1191b(a)(1) of this title). Nothing in this paragraph shall affect the authority of the Secretary to issue regulations to carry out such part.
(c) Administrator’s refusal to supply requested information; penalty for failure to provide annual report in complete form
(1) Any administrator (A) who fails to meet the requirements of paragraph (1) or (4) of section 1166 2 of this title, section 1021(e)(1) of this title, section 1021(f) of this title,,3
3 So in original.
section 1025(a) of this title, or section 1032(a) of this title with respect to a participant or beneficiary, or (B) who fails or refuses to comply with a request for any information which such administrator is required by this subchapter to furnish to a participant or beneficiary (unless such failure or refusal results from matters reasonably beyond the control of the administrator) by mailing the material requested to the last known address of the requesting participant or beneficiary within 30 days after such request may in the court’s discretion be personally liable to such participant or beneficiary in the amount of up to $100 a day from the date of such failure or refusal, and the court may in its discretion order such other relief as it deems proper. For purposes of this paragraph, each violation described in subparagraph (A) with respect to any single participant, and each violation described in subparagraph (B) with respect to any single participant or beneficiary, shall be treated as a separate violation.
(2) The Secretary may assess a civil penalty against any plan administrator of up to $1,000 a day from the date of such plan administrator’s failure or refusal to file the annual report required to be filed with the Secretary under section 1021(b)(1) of this title. For purposes of this paragraph, an annual report that has been rejected under section 1024(a)(4) of this title for failure to provide material information shall not be treated as having been filed with the Secretary.
(3) Any employer maintaining a plan who fails to meet the notice requirement of section 1021(d) of this title with respect to any participant or beneficiary or who fails to meet the requirements of section 1021(e)(2) of this title with respect to any person or who fails to meet the requirements of section 1082(d)(12)(E) 2 of this title with respect to any person may in the court’s discretion be liable to such participant or beneficiary or to such person in the amount of up to $100 a day from the date of such failure, and the court may in its discretion order such other relief as it deems proper.
(4) The Secretary may assess a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 a day for each violation by any person of subsection (j), (k), or (l) of section 1021 of this title or section 1144(e)(3) of this title.
(5) The Secretary may assess a civil penalty against any person of up to $1,000 a day from the date of the person’s failure or refusal to file the information required to be filed by such person with the Secretary under regulations prescribed pursuant to section 1021(g) of this title.
(6) If, within 30 days of a request by the Secretary to a plan administrator for documents under section 1024(a)(6) of this title, the plan administrator fails to furnish the material requested to the Secretary, the Secretary may assess a civil penalty against the plan administrator of up to $100 a day from the date of such failure (but in no event in excess of $1,000 per request). No penalty shall be imposed under this paragraph for any failure resulting from matters reasonably beyond the control of the plan administrator.
(7) The Secretary may assess a civil penalty against a plan administrator of up to $100 a day from the date of the plan administrator’s failure or refusal to provide notice to participants and beneficiaries in accordance with subsection (i) or (m) of section 1021 of this title. For purposes of this paragraph, each violation with respect to any single participant or beneficiary shall be treated as a separate violation.
(8) The Secretary may assess against any plan sponsor of a multiemployer plan a civil penalty of not more than $1,100 per day—
(A) for each violation by such sponsor of the requirement under section 1085 of this title to adopt by the deadline established in that section a funding improvement plan or rehabilitation plan with respect to a multiemployer plan which is in endangered or critical status, or
(B) in the case of a plan in endangered status which is not in seriously endangered status, for failure by the plan to meet the applicable benchmarks under section 1085 of this title by the end of the funding improvement period with respect to the plan.
(9)
(A) The Secretary may assess a civil penalty against any employer of up to $100 a day from the date of the employer’s failure to meet the notice requirement of section 1181(f)(3)(B)(i)(I) of this title. For purposes of this subparagraph, each violation with respect to any single employee shall be treated as a separate violation.
(B) The Secretary may assess a civil penalty against any plan administrator of up to $100 a day from the date of the plan administrator’s failure to timely provide to any State the information required to be disclosed under section 1181(f)(3)(B)(ii) of this title. For purposes of this subparagraph, each violation with respect to any single participant or beneficiary shall be treated as a separate violation.
(10)Secretarial enforcement authority relating to use of genetic information.—
(A)General rule.—The Secretary may impose a penalty against any plan sponsor of a group health plan, or any health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with the plan, for any failure by such sponsor or issuer to meet the requirements of subsection (a)(1)(F), (b)(3), (c), or (d) of section 1182 of this title or section 1181 or 1182(b)(1) of this title with respect to genetic information, in connection with the plan.
(B)Amount.—
(i)In general.—The amount of the penalty imposed by subparagraph (A) shall be $100 for each day in the noncompliance period with respect to each participant or beneficiary to whom such failure relates.
(ii)Noncompliance period.—For purposes of this paragraph, the term “noncompliance period” means, with respect to any failure, the period—(I) beginning on the date such failure first occurs; and(II) ending on the date the failure is corrected.
(C)Minimum penalties where failure discovered.—Notwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (D):
(i)In general.—In the case of 1 or more failures with respect to a participant or beneficiary—(I) which are not corrected before the date on which the plan receives a notice from the Secretary of such violation; and(II) which occurred or continued during the period involved;
the amount of penalty imposed by subparagraph (A) by reason of such failures with respect to such participant or beneficiary shall not be less than $2,500.
(ii)Higher minimum penalty where violations are more than de minimis.—To the extent violations for which any person is liable under this paragraph for any year are more than de minimis, clause (i) shall be applied by substituting “$15,000” for “$2,500” with respect to such person.
(D)Limitations.—
(i)Penalty not to apply where failure not discovered exercising reasonable diligence.—No penalty shall be imposed by subparagraph (A) on any failure during any period for which it is established to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the person otherwise liable for such penalty did not know, and exercising reasonable diligence would not have known, that such failure existed.
(ii)Penalty not to apply to failures corrected within certain periods.—No penalty shall be imposed by subparagraph (A) on any failure if—(I) such failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect; and(II) such failure is corrected during the 30-day period beginning on the first date the person otherwise liable for such penalty knew, or exercising reasonable diligence would have known, that such failure existed.
(iii)Overall limitation for unintentional failures.—In the case of failures which are due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, the penalty imposed by subparagraph (A) for failures shall not exceed the amount equal to the lesser of—(I) 10 percent of the aggregate amount paid or incurred by the plan sponsor (or predecessor plan sponsor) during the preceding taxable year for group health plans; or(II) $500,000.
(E)Waiver by secretary.—In the case of a failure which is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, the Secretary may waive part or all of the penalty imposed by subparagraph (A) to the extent that the payment of such penalty would be excessive relative to the failure involved.
(F)Definitions.—Terms used in this paragraph which are defined in section 1191b of this title shall have the meanings provided such terms in such section.
(11) The Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall maintain such ongoing consultation as may be necessary and appropriate to coordinate enforcement under this subsection with enforcement under section 1320b–14(c)(8) 2 of title 42.
(12) The Secretary may assess a civil penalty against any sponsor of a CSEC plan of up to $100 a day from the date of the plan sponsor’s failure to comply with the requirements of section 1085a(j)(3) of this title to establish or update a funding restoration plan.
(d) Status of employee benefit plan as entity
(1) An employee benefit plan may sue or be sued under this subchapter as an entity. Service of summons, subpena, or other legal process of a court upon a trustee or an administrator of an employee benefit plan in his capacity as such shall constitute service upon the employee benefit plan. In a case where a plan has not designated in the summary plan description of the plan an individual as agent for the service of legal process, service upon the Secretary shall constitute such service. The Secretary, not later than 15 days after receipt of service under the preceding sentence, shall notify the administrator or any trustee of the plan of receipt of such service.
(2) Any money judgment under this subchapter against an employee benefit plan shall be enforceable only against the plan as an entity and shall not be enforceable against any other person unless liability against such person is established in his individual capacity under this subchapter.
(e) Jurisdiction
(1) Except for actions under subsection (a)(1)(B) of this section, the district courts of the United States shall have exclusive jurisdiction of civil actions under this subchapter brought by the Secretary or by a participant, beneficiary, fiduciary, or any person referred to in section 1021(f)(1) of this title. State courts of competent jurisdiction and district courts of the United States shall have concurrent jurisdiction of actions under paragraphs (1)(B) and (7) of subsection (a) of this section.
(2) Where an action under this subchapter is brought in a district court of the United States, it may be brought in the district where the plan is administered, where the breach took place, or where a defendant resides or may be found, and process may be served in any other district where a defendant resides or may be found.
(f) Amount in controversy; citizenship of parties
(g) Attorney’s fees and costs; awards in actions involving delinquent contributions
(1) In any action under this subchapter (other than an action described in paragraph (2)) by a participant, beneficiary, or fiduciary, the court in its discretion may allow a reasonable attorney’s fee and costs of action to either party.
(2) In any action under this subchapter by a fiduciary for or on behalf of a plan to enforce section 1145 of this title in which a judgment in favor of the plan is awarded, the court shall award the plan—
(A) the unpaid contributions,
(B) interest on the unpaid contributions,
(C) an amount equal to the greater of—
(i) interest on the unpaid contributions, or
(ii) liquidated damages provided for under the plan in an amount not in excess of 20 percent (or such higher percentage as may be permitted under Federal or State law) of the amount determined by the court under subparagraph (A),
(D) reasonable attorney’s fees and costs of the action, to be paid by the defendant, and
(E) such other legal or equitable relief as the court deems appropriate.
For purposes of this paragraph, interest on unpaid contributions shall be determined by using the rate provided under the plan, or, if none, the rate prescribed under section 6621 of title 26.
(h) Service upon Secretary of Labor and Secretary of the Treasury
(i) Administrative assessment of civil penalty
(j) Direction and control of litigation by Attorney General
(k) Jurisdiction of actions against the Secretary of Labor
(l) Civil penalties on violations by fiduciaries
(1) In the case of—
(A) any breach of fiduciary responsibility under (or other violation of) part 4 of this subtitle by a fiduciary, or
(B) any knowing participation in such a breach or violation by any other person,
the Secretary shall assess a civil penalty against such fiduciary or other person in an amount equal to 20 percent of the applicable recovery amount.
(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “applicable recovery amount” means any amount which is recovered from a fiduciary or other person with respect to a breach or violation described in paragraph (1)—
(A) pursuant to any settlement agreement with the Secretary, or
(B) ordered by a court to be paid by such fiduciary or other person to a plan or its participants and beneficiaries in a judicial proceeding instituted by the Secretary under subsection (a)(2) or (a)(5).
(3) The Secretary may, in the Secretary’s sole discretion, waive or reduce the penalty under paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines in writing that—
(A) the fiduciary or other person acted reasonably and in good faith, or
(B) it is reasonable to expect that the fiduciary or other person will not be able to restore all losses to the plan (or to provide the relief ordered pursuant to subsection (a)(9)) without severe financial hardship unless such waiver or reduction is granted.
(4) The penalty imposed on a fiduciary or other person under this subsection with respect to any transaction shall be reduced by the amount of any penalty or tax imposed on such fiduciary or other person with respect to such transaction under subsection (i) of this section and section 4975 of title 26.
(m) Penalty for improper distribution
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 502, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 891; Pub. L. 96–364, title III, § 306(b), Sept. 26, 1980, 94 Stat. 1295; Pub. L. 99–272, title X, § 10002(b), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 231; Pub. L. 100–203, title IX, §§ 9342(c), 9344, Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–372, 1330–373; Pub. L. 101–239, title II, § 2101(a), (b), title VII, §§ 7881(b)(5)(B), (j)(2), (3), 7891(a)(1), 7894(f)(1), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2123, 2438, 2442, 2445, 2450; Pub. L. 101–508, title XII, § 12012(d)(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–573; Pub. L. 103–66, title IV, § 4301(c)(1)–(3), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 376; Pub. L. 103–401, §§ 2, 3, Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat. 4172; Pub. L. 103–465, title VII, § 761(a)(9)(B)(ii), Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 5033; Pub. L. 104–191, title I, § 101(b), (e)(2), Aug. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 1951, 1952; Pub. L. 104–204, title VI, § 603(b)(3)(E), Sept. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 2938; Pub. L. 105–34, title XV, § 1503(c)(2)(B), (d)(7), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1062; Pub. L. 107–204, title III, § 306(b)(3), July 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 783; Pub. L. 108–218, title I, §§ 102(d), 103(b), 104(a)(2), Apr. 10, 2004, 118 Stat. 602, 603, 606; Pub. L. 109–280, title I, § 103(b)(2), title II, § 202(b), (c), title V, §§ 502(a)(2), (b)(2), 507(b), 508(a)(2)(C), title IX, § 902(f)(2), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 816, 884, 885, 940, 941, 949, 951, 1039; Pub. L. 110–233, title I, § 101(e), May 21, 2008, 122 Stat. 886; Pub. L. 110–458, title I, §§ 101(c)(1)(H), 102(b)(1)(H), (I), Dec. 23, 2008, 122 Stat. 5097, 5101; Pub. L. 111–3, title III, § 311(b)(1)(E), Feb. 4, 2009, 123 Stat. 70; Pub. L. 113–97, title I, § 102(b)(6), Apr. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 1117; Pub. L. 113–235, div. O, title I, § 111(d), Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2793; Pub. L. 117–328, div. T, title III, § 342(c), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5378.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1132

§ 1133. Claims procedure
In accordance with regulations of the Secretary, every employee benefit plan shall—
(1) provide adequate notice in writing to any participant or beneficiary whose claim for benefits under the plan has been denied, setting forth the specific reasons for such denial, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the participant, and
(2) afford a reasonable opportunity to any participant whose claim for benefits has been denied for a full and fair review by the appropriate named fiduciary of the decision denying the claim.
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 503, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 893.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1133

§ 1134. Investigative authority
(a) Investigation and submission of reports, books, etc.
The Secretary shall have the power, in order to determine whether any person has violated or is about to violate any provision of this subchapter or any regulation or order thereunder—
(1) to make an investigation, and in connection therewith to require the submission of reports, books, and records, and the filing of data in support of any information required to be filed with the Secretary under this subchapter, and
(2) to enter such places, inspect such books and records and question such persons as he may deem necessary to enable him to determine the facts relative to such investigation, if he has reasonable cause to believe there may exist a violation of this subchapter or any rule or regulation issued thereunder or if the entry is pursuant to an agreement with the plan.
The Secretary may make available to any person actually affected by any matter which is the subject of an investigation under this section, and to any department or agency of the United States, information concerning any matter which may be the subject of such investigation; except that any information obtained by the Secretary pursuant to section 6103(g) of title 26 shall be made available only in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.
(b) Frequency of submission of books and records
(c) Other provisions applicable relating to attendance of witnesses and production of books, records, etc.
(d) Evidentiary privilege; confidentiality of communications
The Secretary may promulgate a regulation that provides an evidentiary privilege for, and provides for the confidentiality of communications between or among, any of the following entities or their agents, consultants, or employees:
(1) A State insurance department.
(2) A State attorney general.
(3) The National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
(4) The Department of Labor.
(5) The Department of the Treasury.
(6) The Department of Justice.
(7) The Department of Health and Human Services.
(8) Any other Federal or State authority that the Secretary determines is appropriate for the purposes of enforcing the provisions of this subchapter.
(e) Application of privilege
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 504, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 893; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7891(a)(1), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2445; Pub. L. 111–148, title VI, § 6607, Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 781.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1134

§ 1135. Regulations

Subject to subchapter II and section 1029 of this title, the Secretary may prescribe such regulations as he finds necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this subchapter. Among other things, such regulations may define accounting, technical and trade terms used in such provisions; may prescribe forms; and may provide for the keeping of books and records, and for the inspection of such books and records (subject to section 1134(a) and (b) of this title).

(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 505, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 894.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1135

§ 1136. Coordination and responsibility of agencies enforcing this subchapter and related Federal laws
(a) Coordination with other agencies and departments
(b) Responsibility for detecting and investigating civil and criminal violations of this subchapter and related Federal laws
(c) Coordination of enforcement with States with respect to certain arrangements
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 506, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 894; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 805, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2134; Pub. L. 104–191, title I, § 101(e)(3), Aug. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 1953; Pub. L. 104–204, title VI, § 603(b)(3)(F), Sept. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 2938.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1136

§ 1137. Administration
(a) Subchapter II of chapter 5, and chapter 7, of title 5 (relating to administrative procedure), shall be applicable to this subchapter.
(b) Omitted.
(c) No employee of the Department of Labor or the Department of the Treasury shall administer or enforce this subchapter or title 26 with respect to any employee benefit plan under which he is a participant or beneficiary, any employee organization of which he is a member, or any employer organization in which he has an interest. This subsection does not apply to an employee benefit plan which covers only employees of the United States.
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 507, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 894; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7891(a), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2445.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1137

§ 1138. Appropriations

There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to enable the Secretary to carry out his functions and duties under this chapter.

(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 508, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 895.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1138

§ 1139. Separability

If any provision of this chapter, or the application of such provision to any person or circumstances, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this chapter, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.

(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 509, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 895.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1139

§ 1140. Interference with protected rights

It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge, fine, suspend, expel, discipline, or discriminate against a participant or beneficiary for exercising any right to which he is entitled under the provisions of an employee benefit plan, this subchapter, section 1201 of this title, or the Welfare and Pension Plans Disclosure Act [29 U.S.C. 301 et seq.], or for the purpose of interfering with the attainment of any right to which such participant may become entitled under the plan, this subchapter, or the Welfare and Pension Plans Disclosure Act. It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge, fine, suspend, expel, or discriminate against any person because he has given information or has testified or is about to testify in any inquiry or proceeding relating to this chapter or the Welfare and Pension Plans Disclosure Act. In the case of a multiemployer plan, it shall be unlawful for the plan sponsor or any other person to discriminate against any contributing employer for exercising rights under this chapter or for giving information or testifying in any inquiry or proceeding relating to this chapter before Congress. The provisions of section 1132 of this title shall be applicable in the enforcement of this section.

(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 510, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 895; Pub. L. 109–280, title II, § 205, Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 889.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1140

§ 1141. Coercive interference

It shall be unlawful for any person through the use of fraud, force, violence, or threat of the use of force or violence, to restrain, coerce, intimidate, or attempt to restrain, coerce, or intimidate any participant or beneficiary for the purpose of interfering with or preventing the exercise of any right to which he is or may become entitled under the plan, this subchapter, section 1201 of this title, or the Welfare and Pension Plans Disclosure Act [29 U.S.C. 301 et seq.]. Any person who willfully violates this section shall be fined $100,000 or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.

(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 511, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 895; Pub. L. 109–280, title VI, § 623(a), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 979.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1141

§ 1142. Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans
(a) Establishment; membership; terms; appointment and reappointment; vacancies; quorum
(1) There is hereby established an Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Council”) consisting of fifteen members appointed by the Secretary. Not more than eight members of the Council shall be members of the same political party.
(2) Members shall be persons qualified to appraise the programs instituted under this chapter.
(3) Of the members appointed, three shall be representatives of employee organizations (at least one of whom shall be representative of any organization members of which are participants in a multiemployer plan); three shall be representatives of employers (at least one of whom shall be representative of employers maintaining or contributing to multi-employer plans); three representatives shall be appointed from the general public, one of whom shall be a person representing those receiving benefits from a pension plan; and there shall be one representative each from the fields of insurance, corporate trust, actuarial counseling, investment counseling, investment management, and the accounting field.
(4) Members shall serve for terms of three years except that of those first appointed, five shall be appointed for terms of one year, five shall be appointed for terms of two years, and five shall be appointed for terms of three years. A member may be reappointed. A member appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term. A majority of members shall constitute a quorum and action shall be taken only by a majority vote of those present and voting.
(b) Duties and functions
(c) Executive secretary; secretarial and clerical services
(d) Compensation
(1) Members of the Council shall each be entitled to receive the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade GS–18 of the General Schedule for each day (including travel time) during which they are engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in the Council.
(2) While away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for Council, 2
2 So in original. Probably should be “for the Council,”.
members of the Council shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703(b) of title 5.1
(e) Termination
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 512, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 895; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(189), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4326.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1142

§ 1143. Research, studies, and reports
(a) Authorization to undertake research and surveys
(1) The Secretary is authorized to undertake research and surveys and in connection therewith to collect, compile, analyze and publish data, information, and statistics relating to employee benefit plans, including retirement, deferred compensation, and welfare plans, and types of plans not subject to this chapter.
(2) The Secretary is authorized and directed to undertake research studies relating to pension plans, including but not limited to (A) the effects of this subchapter upon the provisions and costs of pension plans, (B) the role of private pensions in meeting the economic security needs of the Nation, and (C) the operation of private pension plans including types and levels of benefits, degree of reciprocity or portability, and financial and actuarial characteristics and practices, and methods of encouraging the growth of the private pension system.
(3) The Secretary may, as he deems appropriate or necessary, undertake other studies relating to employee benefit plans, the matters regulated by this subchapter, and the enforcement procedures provided for under this subchapter.
(4) The research, surveys, studies, and publications referred to in this subsection may be conducted directly, or indirectly through grant or contract arrangements.
(b) Omitted
(c) Cooperation with Congress
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 513, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 896.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1143

§ 1143a. Studies by Comptroller General
(1) In general
(2) Access to books, documents, etc.
For the purpose of conducting studies under this section, the Comptroller General, or any of his duly authorized representatives, shall have access to and the right to examine and copy any books, documents, papers, records, or other recorded information—
(A) within the possession or control of the administrator, sponsor, or employer of and persons providing services to any employee benefit plan, and
(B) which the Comptroller General or his representative finds, in his own judgment, pertinent to such study.
The Comptroller General shall not disclose the identity of any individual or employer in making any information obtained under this section available to the public.
(3) Definitions
(4) Effective date
(Pub. L. 99–272, title XI, § 11016(d), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 275.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1143a

§ 1144. Other laws
(a) Supersedure; effective date
(b) Construction and application
(1) This section shall not apply with respect to any cause of action which arose, or any act or omission which occurred, before January 1, 1975.
(2)
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to exempt or relieve any person from any law of any State which regulates insurance, banking, or securities.
(B) Neither an employee benefit plan described in section 1003(a) of this title, which is not exempt under section 1003(b) of this title (other than a plan established primarily for the purpose of providing death benefits), nor any trust established under such a plan, shall be deemed to be an insurance company or other insurer, bank, trust company, or investment company or to be engaged in the business of insurance or banking for purposes of any law of any State purporting to regulate insurance companies, insurance contracts, banks, trust companies, or investment companies.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit use by the Secretary of services or facilities of a State agency as permitted under
(4) Subsection (a) shall not apply to any generally applicable criminal law of a State.
(5)
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), subsection (a) shall not apply to the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act (Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 393–1 through 393–51).
(B) Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed to exempt from subsection (a)—
(i) any State tax law relating to employee benefit plans, or
(ii) any amendment of the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act enacted after September 2, 1974, to the extent it provides for more than the effective administration of such Act as in effect on such date.
(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), parts 1 and 4 of this subtitle, and the preceding sections of this part to the extent they govern matters which are governed by the provisions of such parts 1 and 4, shall supersede the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act (as in effect on or after January 14, 1983), but the Secretary may enter into cooperative arrangements under this paragraph and section 1136 of this title with officials of the State of Hawaii to assist them in effectuating the policies of provisions of such Act which are superseded by such parts 1 and 4 and the preceding sections of this part.
(6)
(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section—
(i) in the case of an employee welfare benefit plan which is a multiple employer welfare arrangement and is fully insured (or which is a multiple employer welfare arrangement subject to an exemption under subparagraph (B)), any law of any State which regulates insurance may apply to such arrangement to the extent that such law provides—(I) standards, requiring the maintenance of specified levels of reserves and specified levels of contributions, which any such plan, or any trust established under such a plan, must meet in order to be considered under such law able to pay benefits in full when due, and(II) provisions to enforce such standards, and
(ii) in the case of any other employee welfare benefit plan which is a multiple employer welfare arrangement, in addition to this subchapter, any law of any State which regulates insurance may apply to the extent not inconsistent with the preceding sections of this subchapter.
(B) The Secretary may, under regulations which may be prescribed by the Secretary, exempt from subparagraph (A)(ii), individually or by class, multiple employer welfare arrangements which are not fully insured. Any such exemption may be granted with respect to any arrangement or class of arrangements only if such arrangement or each arrangement which is a member of such class meets the requirements of section 1002(1) and section 1003 of this title necessary to be considered an employee welfare benefit plan to which this subchapter applies.
(C) Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall affect the manner or extent to which the provisions of this subchapter apply to an employee welfare benefit plan which is not a multiple employer welfare arrangement and which is a plan, fund, or program participating in, subscribing to, or otherwise using a multiple employer welfare arrangement to fund or administer benefits to such plan’s participants and beneficiaries.
(D) For purposes of this paragraph, a multiple employer welfare arrangement shall be considered fully insured only if the terms of the arrangement provide for benefits the amount of all of which the Secretary determines are guaranteed under a contract, or policy of insurance, issued by an insurance company, insurance service, or insurance organization, qualified to conduct business in a State.
(7) Subsection (a) shall not apply to qualified domestic relations orders (within the meaning of section 1056(d)(3)(B)(i) of this title), qualified medical child support orders (within the meaning of section 1169(a)(2)(A) of this title), and the provisions of law referred to in section 1169(a)(2)(B)(ii) of this title to the extent they apply to qualified medical child support orders.
(8) Subsection (a) of this section shall not be construed to preclude any State cause of action—
(A) with respect to which the State exercises its acquired rights under section 1169(b)(3) of this title with respect to a group health plan (as defined in section 1167(1) of this title), or
(B) for recoupment of payment with respect to items or services pursuant to a State plan for medical assistance approved under title XIX of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.] which would not have been payable if such acquired rights had been executed before payment with respect to such items or services by the group health plan.
(9) For additional provisions relating to group health plans, see section 1191 of this title.
(c) DefinitionsFor purposes of this section:
(1) The term “State law” includes all laws, decisions, rules, regulations, or other State action having the effect of law, of any State. A law of the United States applicable only to the District of Columbia shall be treated as a State law rather than a law of the United States.
(2) The term “State” includes a State, any political subdivisions thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of either, which purports to regulate, directly or indirectly, the terms and conditions of employee benefit plans covered by this subchapter.
(d) Alteration, amendment, modification, invalidation, impairment, or supersedure of any law of the United States prohibited
(e) Automatic contribution arrangements
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, this subchapter shall supersede any law of a State which would directly or indirectly prohibit or restrict the inclusion in any plan of an automatic contribution arrangement. The Secretary may prescribe regulations which would establish minimum standards that such an arrangement would be required to satisfy in order for this subsection to apply in the case of such arrangement.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term “automatic contribution arrangement” means an arrangement—
(A) under which a participant may elect to have the plan sponsor make payments as contributions under the plan on behalf of the participant, or to the participant directly in cash,
(B) under which a participant is treated as having elected to have the plan sponsor make such contributions in an amount equal to a uniform percentage of compensation provided under the plan until the participant specifically elects not to have such contributions made (or specifically elects to have such contributions made at a different percentage), and
(C) under which such contributions are invested in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary under section 1104(c)(5) of this title.
(3)
(A) The plan administrator of an automatic contribution arrangement shall, within a reasonable period before such plan year, provide to each participant to whom the arrangement applies for such plan year notice of the participant’s rights and obligations under the arrangement which—
(i) is sufficiently accurate and comprehensive to apprise the participant of such rights and obligations, and
(ii) is written in a manner calculated to be understood by the average participant to whom the arrangement applies.
(B) A notice shall not be treated as meeting the requirements of subparagraph (A) with respect to a participant unless—
(i) the notice includes an explanation of the participant’s right under the arrangement not to have elective contributions made on the participant’s behalf (or to elect to have such contributions made at a different percentage),
(ii) the participant has a reasonable period of time, after receipt of the notice described in clause (i) and before the first elective contribution is made, to make such election, and
(iii) the notice explains how contributions made under the arrangement will be invested in the absence of any investment election by the participant.
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 514, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 897; Pub. L. 97–473, title III, §§ 301(a), 302(b), Jan. 14, 1983, 96 Stat. 2611, 2613; Pub. L. 98–397, title I, § 104(b), Aug. 23, 1984, 98 Stat. 1436; Pub. L. 99–272, title IX, § 9503(d)(1), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 207; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7894(f)(2)(A), (3)(A), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2450, 2451; Pub. L. 103–66, title IV, § 4301(c)(4), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 377; Pub. L. 104–191, title I, § 101(f)(1), Aug. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 1953; Pub. L. 104–204, title VI, § 603(b)(3)(G), Sept. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 2938; Pub. L. 105–200, title IV, § 401(h)(2)(A)(i), (ii), July 16, 1998, 112 Stat. 668; Pub. L. 109–280, title IX, § 902(f)(1), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 1039.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1144

§ 1144a. Clarification of church welfare plan status under State insurance law
(a) In general
(b) State insurance law
A State insurance law described in this subsection is a law that—
(1) requires a church plan, or an organization described in
(2) relates solely to the solvency or insolvency of a church plan (including participation in State guaranty funds and associations).
(c) Definitions
For purposes of this section:
(1) Church plan
(2) Reimburses costs from general church assets
(3) Welfare plan
The term “welfare plan”—
(A) means any church plan to the extent that such plan provides medical, surgical, or hospital care or benefits, or benefits in the event of sickness, accident, disability, death or unemployment, or vacation benefits, apprenticeship or other training programs, or day care centers, scholarship funds, or prepaid legal services; and
(B) does not include any entity, such as a health insurance issuer described in section 9832(b)(2) of title 26 or a health maintenance organization described in section 9832(b)(3) of title 26, or any other organization that does business with the church plan or organization sponsoring or maintaining such a plan.
(d) Enforcement authority
(e) Application of section
(Pub. L. 106–244, § 2, July 10, 2000, 114 Stat. 499.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1144a

§ 1145. Delinquent contributions

Every employer who is obligated to make contributions to a multiemployer plan under the terms of the plan or under the terms of a collectively bargained agreement shall, to the extent not inconsistent with law, make such contributions in accordance with the terms and conditions of such plan or such agreement.

(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 515, as added Pub. L. 96–364, title III, § 306(a), Sept. 26, 1980, 94 Stat. 1295.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1145

§ 1146. Outreach to promote retirement income savings
(a) In general
(b) Methods
(c) Information to be made availableThe information to be made available by the Secretary as part of the program of outreach required under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) a description of the vehicles currently available to individuals and employers for creating and maintaining retirement income savings, specifically including information explaining to employers, in simple terms, the characteristics and operation of the different retirement savings vehicles, including the steps to establish each such vehicle; and
(2) information regarding matters relevant to establishing retirement income savings, such as—
(A) the forms of retirement income savings;
(B) the concept of compound interest;
(C) the importance of commencing savings early in life;
(D) savings principles;
(E) the importance of prudence and diversification in investing;
(F) the importance of the timing of investments; and
(G) the impact on retirement savings of life’s uncertainties, such as living beyond one’s life expectancy.
(d) Establishment of site on InternetThe Secretary shall establish a permanent site on the Internet concerning retirement income savings. The site shall contain at least the following information:
(1) a means for individuals to calculate their estimated retirement savings needs, based on their retirement income goal as a percentage of their preretirement income;
(2) a description in simple terms of the common types of retirement income savings arrangements available to both individuals and employers (specifically including small employers), including information on the amount of money that can be placed into a given vehicle, the tax treatment of the money, the amount of accumulation possible through different typical investment options and interest rate projections, and a directory of resources of more descriptive information;
(3) materials explaining to employers in simple terms, the characteristics and operation of the different retirement savings arrangements for their workers and what the basic legal requirements are under this chapter and title 26, including the steps to establish each such arrangement;
(4) copies of all educational materials developed by the Department of Labor, and by other Federal agencies in consultation with such Department, to promote retirement income savings by workers and employers; and
(5) links to other sites maintained on the Internet by governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations that provide additional detail on retirement income savings arrangements and related topics on savings or investing.
(e) Coordination
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 516, as added Pub. L. 105–92, § 3(a), Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2139.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1146

§ 1147. National Summit on Retirement Savings
(a) Authority to call Summit
Not later than July 15, 1998, the President shall convene a National Summit on Retirement Income Savings at the White House, to be co-hosted by the President and the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the Senate. Such a National Summit shall be convened thereafter in 2001 and 2005 on or after September 1 of each year involved. Such a National Summit shall—
(1) advance the public’s knowledge and understanding of retirement savings and its critical importance to the future well-being of American workers and their families;
(2) facilitate the development of a broad-based, public education program to encourage and enhance individual commitment to a personal retirement savings strategy;
(3) develop recommendations for additional research, reforms, and actions in the field of private pensions and individual retirement savings; and
(4) disseminate the report of, and information obtained by, the National Summit and exhibit materials and works of the National Summit.
(b) Planning and direction
(c) Purpose of National Summit
The purpose of the National Summit shall be—
(1) to increase the public awareness of the value of personal savings for retirement;
(2) to advance the public’s knowledge and understanding of retirement savings and its critical importance to the future well-being of American workers and their families;
(3) to facilitate the development of a broad-based, public education program to encourage and enhance individual commitment to a personal retirement savings strategy;
(4) to identify the problems workers have in setting aside adequate savings for retirement;
(5) to identify the barriers which employers, especially small employers, face in assisting their workers in accumulating retirement savings;
(6) to examine the impact and effectiveness of individual employers to promote personal savings for retirement among their workers and to promote participation in company savings options;
(7) to examine the impact and effectiveness of government programs at the Federal, State, and local levels to educate the public about, and to encourage, retirement income savings;
(8) to develop such specific and comprehensive recommendations for the legislative and executive branches of the Government and for private sector action as may be appropriate for promoting private pensions and individual retirement savings; and
(9) to develop recommendations for the coordination of Federal, State, and local retirement income savings initiatives among the Federal, State, and local levels of government and for the coordination of such initiatives.
(d) Scope of National Summit
(e) National Summit participants
(1) In general
To carry out the purposes of the National Summit, the National Summit shall bring together—
(A) professionals and other individuals working in the fields of employee benefits and retirement savings;
(B) Members of Congress and officials in the executive branch;
(C) representatives of State and local governments;
(D) representatives of private sector institutions, including individual employers, concerned about promoting the issue of retirement savings and facilitating savings among American workers; and
(E) representatives of the general public.
(2) Statutorily required participation
The participants in the National Summit shall include the following individuals or their designees:
(A) the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;
(B) the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the Senate;
(C) the Chairman and ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives;
(D) the Chairman and ranking Member of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate;
(E) the Chairman and ranking Member of the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate;
(F) the Chairman and ranking Member of the Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education of the Senate and House of Representatives; and
(G) the parties referred to in subsection (b).
(3) Additional participants
(A) In general
There shall be not more than 200 additional participants. Of such additional participants—
(i) one-half shall be appointed by the President, in consultation with the elected leaders of the President’s party in Congress (either the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and either the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader of the Senate; 1
1 So in original. A closing parenthesis probably should precede the semicolon.
and
(ii) one-half shall be appointed by the elected leaders of Congress of the party to which the President does not belong (one-half of that allotment to be appointed by either the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and one-half of that allotment to be appointed by either the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader of the Senate).
(B) Appointment requirements
The additional participants described in subparagraph (A) shall be—
(i) appointed not later than January 31, 1998;
(ii) selected without regard to political affiliation or past partisan activity; and
(iii) representative of the diversity of thought in the fields of employee benefits and retirement income savings.
(4) Presiding officers
(f) National Summit administration
(1) Administration
In administering this section, the Secretary shall—
(A) request the cooperation and assistance of such other Federal departments and agencies and other parties referred to in subsection (b) as may be appropriate in the carrying out of this section;
(B) furnish all reasonable assistance to State agencies, area agencies, and other appropriate organizations to enable them to organize and conduct conferences in conjunction with the National Summit;
(C) make available for public comment a proposed agenda for the National Summit that reflects to the greatest extent possible the purposes for the National Summit set out in this section;
(D) prepare and make available background materials for the use of participants in the National Summit that the Secretary considers necessary; and
(E) appoint and fix the pay of such additional personnel as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section without regard to provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
(2) Duties
The Secretary shall, in carrying out the responsibilities and functions of the Secretary under this section, and as part of the National Summit, ensure that—
(A) the National Summit shall be conducted in a manner that ensures broad participation of Federal, State, and local agencies and private organizations, professionals, and others involved in retirement income savings and provides a strong basis for assistance to be provided under paragraph (1)(B);
(B) the agenda prepared under paragraph (1)(C) for the National Summit is published in the Federal Register; and
(C) the personnel appointed under paragraph (1)(E) shall be fairly balanced in terms of points of views represented and shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation or previous partisan activities.
(3) Nonapplication of chapter 10 of title 5
(g) Report
(h) “State” defined
(i) Authorization of appropriations
(1) In general
(2) Authorization to accept private contributions
(j) Financial obligation for fiscal year 1998
The financial obligation for the Department of Labor for fiscal year 1998 shall not exceed the lesser of—
(1) one-half of the costs of the National Summit; or
(2) $250,000.
The private sector organization described in subsection (b) and contracted with by the Secretary shall be obligated for the balance of the cost of the National Summit.
(k) Contracts
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 517, as added Pub. L. 105–92, § 4(a), Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2141; amended Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(190), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4327.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1147

§ 1148. Authority to postpone certain deadlines by reason of Presidentially declared disaster or terroristic or military actions

In the case of a pension or other employee benefit plan, or any sponsor, administrator, participant, beneficiary, or other person with respect to such plan, affected by a Presidentially declared disaster (as defined in section 1033(h)(3) of title 26) 1

1 So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma.
a terroristic or military action (as defined in section 692(c)(2) of such title), or a public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to section 247d of title 42, the Secretary may, notwithstanding any other provision of law, prescribe, by notice or otherwise, a period of up to 1 year which may be disregarded in determining the date by which any action is required or permitted to be completed under this chapter. No plan shall be treated as failing to be operated in accordance with the terms of the plan solely as the result of disregarding any period by reason of the preceding sentence.

(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 518, as added Pub. L. 107–134, title I, § 112(c)(1), Jan. 23, 2002, 115 Stat. 2434; amended Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3607, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 412.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1148

§ 1149. Prohibition on false statements and representations
No person, in connection with a plan or other arrangement that is 1
1 So in original. Probably should be followed by “a”.
multiple employer welfare arrangement described in section 1002(40) of this title, shall make a false statement or false representation of fact, knowing it to be false, in connection with the marketing or sale of such plan or arrangement, to any employee, any member of an employee organization, any beneficiary, any employer, any employee organization, the Secretary, or any State, or the representative or agent of any such person, State, or the Secretary, concerning—
(1) the financial condition or solvency of such plan or arrangement;
(2) the benefits provided by such plan or arrangement;
(3) the regulatory status of such plan or other arrangement under any Federal or State law governing collective bargaining, labor management relations, or intern union affairs; or
(4) the regulatory status of such plan or other arrangement regarding exemption from state 2
2 So in original. Probably should be capitalized.
regulatory authority under this chapter.
This section shall not apply to any plan or arrangement that does not fall within the meaning of the term “multiple employer welfare arrangement” under section 1002(40)(A) of this title.
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 519, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title VI, § 6601(a), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 779.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1149

§ 1150. Applicability of State law to combat fraud and abuse

The Secretary may, for the purpose of identifying, preventing, or prosecuting fraud and abuse, adopt regulatory standards establishing, or issue an order relating to a specific person establishing, that a person engaged in the business of providing insurance through a multiple employer welfare arrangement described in section 1002(40) of this title is subject to the laws of the States in which such person operates which regulate insurance in such State, notwithstanding section 1144(b)(6) of this title or the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 [15 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.], and regardless of whether the law of the State is otherwise preempted under any of such provisions. This section shall not apply to any plan or arrangement that does not fall within the meaning of the term “multiple employer welfare arrangement” under section 1002(40)(A) of this title.

(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 520, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title VI, § 6604(a), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 780.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1150

§ 1151. Administrative summary cease and desist orders and summary seizure orders against multiple employer welfare arrangements in financially hazardous condition
(a) In general
(b) Hearing
(c) Burden of proof
(d) Determination
(e) Seizure
(f) Regulations
(g) Exception
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 521, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title VI, § 6605(a), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 780.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1151

§ 1152. Coordination of enforcement regarding violations of certain health care provider requirements; complaint process
(a) Investigating violations
(b) Complaint process
Not later than January 1, 2022, the Secretary shall ensure a process under which the Secretary—
(1) may receive complaints from participants and beneficiaries of group health plans or group health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer relating to alleged violations of the sections specified in subsection (a); and
(2) transmits such complaints to States or the Secretary of Health and Human Services (as determined appropriate by the Secretary) for potential enforcement actions.
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 522, as added Pub. L. 116–260, div. BB, title I, § 104(b)(1), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2830.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1152

§ 1153. Retirement Savings Lost and Found
(a) Establishment
(1) In generalNot later than 2 years after December 29, 2022, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall establish an online searchable database (to be managed by the Secretary in accordance with this section) to be known as the “Retirement Savings Lost and Found”. The Retirement Savings Lost and Found shall—
(A) allow an individual to search for information that enables the individual to locate the administrator of any plan described in paragraph (2) with respect to which the individual is or was a participant or beneficiary, and provide contact information for the administrator of any such plan;
(B) allow the Secretary to assist such an individual in locating any such plan of the individual; and
(C) allow the Secretary to make any necessary changes to contact information on record for the administrator based on any changes to the plan due to merger or consolidation of the plan with any other plan, division of the plan into two or more plans, bankruptcy, termination, change in name of the plan, change in name or address of the administrator, or other causes.
(2) Plans described
(b) Administration
(c) Safeguarding participant privacy and securityIn establishing the Retirement Savings Lost and Found under subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall take all necessary and proper precautions to—
(1) ensure that individuals’ plan and personal information maintained by the Retirement Savings Lost and Found is protected; and
(2) allow any individual to contact the Secretary to opt out of inclusion in the Retirement Savings Lost and Found.
(d) Definition of administrator
(e) Information collection from plansEffective with respect to plan years beginning after the second December 31 occurring after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the administrator of a plan to which the vesting standards of section 1053 of this title apply shall submit to the Secretary, at such time and in such form and manner as is prescribed in regulations—
(1) the information described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 6057(b) of title 26;
(2) the information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 6057(a)(2) of title 26;
(3) the name and taxpayer identifying number of each participant or former participant in the plan—
(A) who, during the current plan year or any previous plan year, was reported under section 6057(a)(2)(C) of title 26, and with respect to whom the benefits described in clause (ii) thereof were fully paid during the plan year;
(B) with respect to whom any amount was distributed under section 401(a)(31)(B) of title 26 during the plan year; or
(C) with respect to whom a deferred annuity contract was distributed during the plan year; and
(4) in the case of a participant or former participant to whom paragraph (3) applies—
(A) in the case of a participant described in subparagraph (B) thereof, the name and address of the designated trustee or issuer described in section 401(a)(31)(B)(i) of title 26 and the account number of the individual retirement plan to which the amount was distributed; and
(B) in the case of a participant described in subparagraph (C) thereof, the name and address of the issuer of such annuity contract and the contract or certificate number.
(f) Use of information collectedThe Secretary—
(1) may use or disclose information collected under this section only for the purpose described in subsection (a)(1)(B), and
(2) may disclose such information only to such employees of the Department of Labor whose official duties relate to the purpose described in such subsection.
(g) Program integrity auditOn an annual basis for each of the first 5 years beginning one year after the establishment of the database in subsection (a)(1) and every 5 years thereafter, the Inspector General of the Department of Labor shall—
(1) conduct an audit of the administration of the Retirement Savings Lost and Found; and
(2) submit a report on such audit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives.
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 523, as added Pub. L. 117–328, div. T, title III, § 303(a), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5339.)

CITE AS: 29 USC 1153