[25857]
January 31, 2012
TO: TRANSFER AGENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE No. 4-12 RE: 408(B)(2) FINAL REGULATION MAY COME IN TWO PARTS
Based on the update the Department of Labor just published of its Fall 2011 Regulatory Agenda, [1] it appears that the Department intends to finalize the interim 408(b)(2) regulation by the end of January 2012 without an additional summary disclosure requirement, [2] and to issue a rule proposal in June 2012 for an additional summary disclosure requirement. [3] The revised Agenda states this proposal would amend the 408(b)(2) rule to require service providers to furnish a guide or similar tool along with the disclosures.
As you know, in December 2011, the Institute sent a letter to the Department stating that if, as anticipated, the final regulation imposes new requirements (such as a summary disclosure statement) the industry would not be able to meet the April 1, 2012 compliance date for the new requirements. [4]
Howard Bard
Associate Counsel - Pension Regulation
endnotes
[1] A copy of the Department of Labor’s Fall 2011 Statement of Regulatory Priorities is available here: http://64.78.15.115/documents2012/dol_agenda-2011-fall.pdf.
[2] The DOL Rule page regarding the 408(b)(2) regulation is available here: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201110&RIN=1210-AB08.
[3] The DOL Rule page regarding the Summary Disclosure is available here: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201110&RIN=1210-AB53.
[4] See Memorandum to Pension Committee No. 33-11, Pension Operations Advisory Committee No. 25-11 [25726], dated December 19, 2011.