[11200]
August 19, 1999
TO: PENSION COMMITTEE No. 54-99
RE: DOL PROPOSES RULES ON PROVIDING REQUESTED DOCUMENTS
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The Department of Labor has published proposed rules, which implement provisions of the
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 that limit a plan administrator’s obligation to provide plan-related
documents to the Department. Specifically, the proposed regulations would implement the Taxpayer
Relief Act’s amendments to ERISA that require plan administrators to furnish the Department, upon
request, any documents relating to the plan. Civil penalties of up to $100 per day (not to exceed $1,000
per request) could be assessed for failure to provide requested documents. In addition, the proposed
regulations would establish procedures governing the Department’s assessment of civil penalties and the
adjudication of such assessments before administrative law judges.
The proposed rules also would eliminate the existing regulations that had been superseded by the
Taxpayer Relief Act. These regulations had required plan administrators to file with the Department
summary plan descriptions, summaries of material plan modifications, and plan descriptions.
Comments concerning the proposed rules must be received by October 4, 1999. A copy of the
proposed rules is attached.
Thomas T. Kim
Assistant Counsel
Attachment