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[DOCID: f:s1971is.txt]
107th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1971
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 to protect the retirement security of
American workers by ensuring that pension assets are adequately
diversified and by providing workers with adequate access to, and
information about, their pension plans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 27, 2002
Mr. Grassley introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 to protect the retirement security of
American workers by ensuring that pension assets are adequately
diversified and by providing workers with adequate access to, and
information about, their pension plans, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Employee Savings and Trust
Equity Guarantee Act''.
TITLE I--DIVERSIFICATION OF PENSION PLAN ASSETS
SEC. 101. DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE EMPLOYEES WITH
FREEDOM TO INVEST THEIR PLAN ASSETS.
(a) Amendments of Internal Revenue Code.--
(1) Qualification requirement.--Section 401(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to qualified pension,
profit-sharing, and stock bonus plans) is amended by inserting
after paragraph (34) the following new paragraph:
``(35) Diversification requirements for certain defined
contribution plans.--
``(A) In general.--A trust which is part of an
applicable defined contribution plan shall not be
treated as a qualified trust unless the plan--
``(i) provides that a participant or
beneficiary of a participant has the right at
any time to invest any elective deferrals (and
earnings thereon) contributed to his or her
account in the form of publicly traded employer
securities in any other investment option
offered under the plan,
``(ii) provides that a participant with 3
or more years of service and any beneficiary of
a participant has the right to invest any
publicly traded employer securities (and
earnings thereon) to which clause (i) does not
apply and which are allocated to his or her
account in any other investment option offered
under the plan, and
``(iii) offers at least 3 investment
options (not inconsistent with regulations
prescribed by the Secretary).
``(B) Certain restrictions and conditions not
allowed.--A plan shall not meet the requirements of
subparagraph (A) if the plan imposes restrictions or
conditions on the investment of publicly traded
employer securities which are not imposed on the
investment of other assets of the plan. This
subparagraph shall not apply to any restrictions or
conditions imposed by reason of application of
securities laws.
``(C) Applicable defined contribution plan.--For
purposes of this paragraph--
``(i) In general.--The term `applicable
defined contribution plan' means any defined
contribution plan which holds any publicly
traded employer securities.
``(ii) Exception for certain esops.--Such
term does not include an employee stock
ownership plan (within the meaning of section
4975(e)(7)) if--
``(I) there are no contributions to
such plan (or earnings thereunder)
which are held within such plan and are
subject to subsections (k)(3) or
(m)(2), and
``(II) such plan is a separate plan
(within the meaning of section 414(l))
with respect to any other defined
benefit plan or defined contribution
plan maintained by the same employer or
employers.
``(D) Other definitions.--For purposes of this
paragraph--
``(i) Publicly traded employer
securities.--The term `publicly traded employer
securities' means employer securities which are
readily tradable on an established securities
market.
``(ii) Employer securities.--The term
`employer securities' has the meaning given
such term by section 407(d)(1) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
``(iii) Year of service.--The term `year of
service' has the meaning given such term by
section 411(a)(5).''
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 401(a)(28)(B) of such
Code (relating to additional requirements relating to employee
stock ownership plans) is amended by adding at the end the
following new clause:
``(v) Exception.--This paragraph shall not
apply to an applicable defined contribution
plan (as defined in paragraph (35)(C)).''
(b) Amendment of ERISA.--Section 204 of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1054) is amended by
redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k) and by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
``(j)(1) An applicable individual account plan shall provide that--
``(A) a participant or beneficiary of a participant has the
right at any time to invest any elective deferrals (and
earnings thereon) contributed to his or her account in the form
of publicly traded employer securities in any other investment
option offered under the plan,
``(B) a participant with 3 or more years of service and any
beneficiary of a participant has the right to invest any
publicly traded employer securities (and earnings thereon) to
which subparagraph (A) does not apply and which are allocated
to his or her account in any other investment option offered
under the plan, and
``(C) offers at least 3 investment options (not
inconsistent with regulations prescribed by the Secretary).
``(2) A plan shall not meet the requirements of paragraph (1) if
the plan imposes restrictions or conditions on the investment of
publicly traded employer securities which are not imposed on the
investment of other assets of the plan.
``(3)(A) For purposes of this subsection, the term `applicable
individual account plan' means any individual account plan which holds
any pub
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licly traded employer securities.
``(B) Such term does not include an employee stock ownership plan
(within the meaning of section 4975(e)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986) if--
``(i) there are no contributions to such plan (or earnings
thereunder) which are held within such plan and subject to
subsection (k)(3) or (m)(2) of section 401 of such Code, and
``(ii) such plan is a separate plan (within the meaning of
section 414(l) of such Code) with respect to any other defined
benefit plan or defined contribution plan maintained by the
same employer or employers.
``(4) For purposes of this subsection--
``(A) the term `publicly traded employer securities' means
employer securities which are readily tradable on an
established securities market,
``(B) the term `employer security' has the meaning given
such term by section 407(d)(1), and
``(C) the term `year of service' has the meaning given such
term by section 203(b)(2).''
(c) Effective Dates.--
(1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2003.
(2) Special rule for collectively bargained agreements.--In
the case of a plan maintained pursuant to 1 or more collective
bargaining agreements between employee representatives and 1 or
more employers ratified on or before the date of the enactment
of this Act, subsection (a) shall be applied to benefits
pursuant to, and individuals covered by, any such agreement by
substituting for ``January 1, 2003'' the earlier of--
(A) the later of--
(i) January 1, 2004, or
(ii) the date on which the last of such
collective bargaining agreements terminates
(determined without regard to any extension
thereof after such date of enactment), or
(B) January 1, 2005.
TITLE II--PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEES DURING PENSION PLAN TRANSACTION
SUSPENSION PERIOD
SEC. 201. PROTECTION OF PARTICIPANTS OR BENEFICIARIES FROM SUSPENSION
OF ABILITY TO DIVERSIFY PLAN ASSETS.
(a) Notice Requirements.--
(1) Excise tax.--
(A) In general.--Chapter 43 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (relating to qualified pension, etc.,
plans) is amended by adding at the end the following
new section:
``SEC. 4980G. FAILURE OF APPLICABLE PLANS TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF
TRANSACTION SUSPENSION PERIOD.
``(a) Imposition of Tax.--There is hereby imposed a tax on the
failure of any applicable defined contribution plan to meet the
requirements of subsection (e) with respect to any participant or
beneficiary.
``(b) Amount of Tax.--
``(1) In general.--The amount of the tax imposed by
subsection (a) on any failure with respect to any participant
or beneficiary shall be $100 for each day in the noncompliance
period with respect to the failure.
``(2) Noncompliance period.--For purposes of this section,
the term `noncompliance period' means, with respect to any
failure, the period beginning on the date the failure first
occurs and ending on the date the notice to which the failure
relates is provided or the failure is otherwise corrected.
``(c) Limitations on Amount of Tax.--
``(1) Tax not to apply where failure not discovered and
reasonable diligence exercised.--No tax shall be imposed by
subsection (a) on any failure during any period for which it is
established to the satisfaction of the Secretary that any
person subject to liability for tax under subsection (d) did
not know that the failure existed and exercised reasonable
diligence to meet the requirements of subsection (e).
``(2) Tax not to apply to failures corrected as soon as
reasonably practicable.--No tax shall be imposed by subsection
(a) on any failure if--
``(A) any person subject to liability for the tax
under subsection (d) exercised reasonable diligence to
meet the requirements of subsection (e), and
``(B) such person provides the notice described in
subsection (e) as soon as reasonably practicable after
the first date such person knew, or exercising
reasonable diligence should have known, that such
failure existed.
``(3) Overall limitation for unintentional failures.--
``(A) In general.--If the person subject to
liability for tax under subsection (d) exercised
reasonable diligence to meet the requirements of
subsection (e), the tax imposed by subsection (a) for
failures during the taxable year of the employer (or,
in the case of a multiemployer plan, the taxable year
of the trust forming part of the plan) shall not exceed
$500,000. For purposes of the preceding sentence, all
multiemployer plans of which the same trust forms a
part shall be treated as 1 plan.
``(B) Taxable years in the case of certain
controlled groups.--For purposes of this paragraph, if
all persons who are treated as a single employer for
purposes of this section do not have the same taxable
year, the taxable years taken into account shall be
determined under principles similar to the principles
of section 1561.
``(4) 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 tax imposed by
subsection (a) to the extent that the payment of such tax would
be excessive or otherwise inequitable relative to the failure
involved.
``(d) Liability for Tax.--The following shall be liable for the tax
imposed by subsection (a):
``(1) In the case of a plan other than a multiemployer
plan, the employer.
``(2) In the case of a multiemployer plan, the plan.
``(e) Notice of Transaction Suspension Period.--
``(1) In general.--The plan administrator of an applicable
defined contribution plan shall provide notice of any
transaction suspension period to each participant or
beneficiary to whom the transaction suspension period applies
(and to any employee organization representing such
participants).
``(2) Notice.--The notice required by paragraph (1) shall
be written in a manner calculated to be understood by
the average plan participant and shall provide sufficient information
(as determined in accordance with rules or other guidance adopted by
the Secretary) to allow applicable individuals to understand the timing
and effect of such transaction suspension period.
``(3) Timing of notice.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), the notice required by paragraph (1)
shall be provided not later than 30 days before the
beginning of the transaction suspension period.
``(B) Exceptions to 30-day notice.--
``(i) Unplanned events.--In the case of any
transaction suspension period which is imposed
by reason of an event outside of the control of
a plan sponsor or administrator, subparagraph
(A) shall not apply and the notice shall be
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furnished as soon as reasonably possible under
the circumstances.
``(ii) Acquisitions, etc.--In the case of
any transaction suspension period--
``(I) in connection with an
acquisition or disposition to which
section 410(b)(6)(C) applies, or
``(II) due to such other
circumstances specified by the
Secretary,
the Secretary may provide that subparagraph (A)
shall not apply and the notice shall be
furnished at such time as the Secretary
specifies.
``(4) Form and manner of notice.--The notice required by
paragraph (1) shall be in writing, except that such notice may
be in electronic or other form to the extent that such form is
reasonably accessible to the applicable individual.
``(f) Definitions and Special Rules.--For purposes of this
section--
``(1) Applicable defined contribution plan.--The term
`applicable defined contribution plan' means a defined
contribution plan which--
``(A) is a qualified retirement plan (as defined in
section 4974(c)), and
``(B) permits a participant or beneficiary to
exercise control over assets in his or her account.
``(2) Transaction suspension period.--
``(A) In general.--The term `transaction suspension
period' means a temporary or indefinite period of 2 or
more consecutive business days during which there is a
substantial reduction (other than by reason of
application of securities laws) in the rights of 1 or
more participants or beneficiaries to direct
investments in a defined contribution plan.
``(B) Business day.--For purposes of this
paragraph, a day shall not be treated as a business day
to the extent that 1 or more established securities
markets for trading securities are not open.''
(B) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for
chapter 43 of such Code is amended by adding at the end
the following new item:
``Sec. 4980G. Failure of applicable plans to provide notice of
transaction suspension period.''
(2) Amendments of erisa.--
(A) In general.--Section 101 of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C.
11021) is amended by redesignating the second
subsection (h) as subsection (j) and by inserting after
the first subsection (h) the following new subsection:
``(i)(1) The plan administrator of an individual account plan which
permits a participant or beneficiary to exercise control over assets in
his or her account applies shall provide notice of any transaction
suspension period to each participant or beneficiary to whom the
transaction suspension period applies (and to any employee organization
representing such participants).
``(2) The notice required by paragraph (1) shall be written in a
manner calculated to be understood by the average plan participant and
shall provide sufficient information (as determined in accordance with
rules or other guidance adopted by the Secretary of the Treasury) to
allow applicable individuals to understand the timing and effect of
such transaction suspension period.
``(3)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the notice
required by paragraph (1) shall be provided not later than 30 days
before the beginning of the transaction suspension period.
``(B)(i) In the case of any transaction suspension period which is
imposed outside of the control of a plan sponsor or administrator,
subparagraph (A) shall not apply and the notice shall be furnished as
soon as reasonably possible under the circumstances.
``(ii) In the case of any transaction suspension period--
``(I) in connection with an acquisition or disposition to
which section 410(b)(6)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
applies, or
``(II) due to such other circumstances specified by the
Secretary of the Treasury,
the Secretary of the Treasury may provide that subparagraph (A) shall
not apply and the notice shall be furnished at such time as the
Secretary specifies.
``(4) The notice required by paragraph (1) shall be in writing,
except that such notice may be in electronic or other form to the
extent that such form is reasonably accessible to the applicable
individual.
``(5)(A) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term `transaction
suspension period' means a temporary or indefinite period of 2 or more
consecutive business days during which there is a substantial reduction
(other than by reason of application of securities laws) in the rights
of 1 or more participants or beneficiaries to direct investments in an
individual account plan.
``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, a day shall not be treated as
a business day to the extent that 1 or more established securities
markets for trading securities are not open.''
(B) Civil penalties for failure to provide
notice.--Section 502 of such Act is amended--
(i) in subsection (a)(6), by striking ``or
(6)'' and inserting ``(6), or (7)'';
(ii) by redesignating paragraph (7) of
subsection (c) as paragraph (8); and
(iii) by inserting after paragraph (6) of
subsection (c) the following new paragraph:
``(7) The Secretary may assess a civil penalty against any person
of up to $100 a day from the date of the person's failure or refusal to
provide notice to participants and beneficiaries in accordance with
section 101(i). For purposes of this paragraph, each violation with
respect to any single participant or beneficiary, shall be treated as a
separate violation.''
(b) Inapplicability of Relief From Fiduciary Liability During
Suspension of Ability of Participant or Beneficiary To Direct
Investments.--Section 404(c)(1) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1104(c)(1)) is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting before the period the
following: ``, except that this subparagraph shall not apply
for any period during which the ability of a participant or
beneficiary to direct the investment of assets in his or her
individual account is suspended by a plan sponsor or
fiduciary''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``Any limitation or restriction that may govern the frequency of
transfers between investment vehicles shall not be treated as a
suspension referred to in subparagraph (B) to the extent such
limitation or restriction is disclosed to participants or beneficiaries
through the summary plan description or materials describing specific
investment alternatives under the plan.''
``(c) Safe Harbor Guidance.--The Secretary of Labor, in
consultation with the Secretary of Treasury, shall, prior to December
31, 2002, issue final regulations providing clear guidance, including
safe harbors, on how plan sponsors or any other affected fiduciaries
can satisfy their fiduciary responsibilities during any period which
the ability of a participant or beneficiary to direct the investment of
assets in his or her individual account is suspended.''
(d) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to plan years beginning after December 31, 2002.
(2) Exceptions to 30-day notice.--The S
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ecretary of the
Treasury shall, no later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, specify the circumstances under section
4980G(e)(3)(B)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 under
which the 30-day notice rule would not apply and the time by
which the notice is required to be provided.
SEC. 202. CERTAIN SALES AND PURCHASES OF COMPANY STOCK BY CORPORATE
INSIDERS TO BE SUBJECT TO EXCISE TAX ON GOLDEN PARACHUTE
PAYMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(relating to golden parachute payments) is amended by redesignating
subsection (c) as subsection (d) and by inserting after subsection (b)
the following new subsection:
``(c) Certain Sales of Company Stock by Corporate Insiders.--
``(1) Treatment as excess parachute payment.--
``(A) In general.--For purposes of this section, if
there is a sale or exchange, or purchase, of stock in a
corporation by a corporate insider during any period in
which a transaction suspension period affecting the
ability of participants and beneficiaries to invest
stock in such corporation is in effect with respect to
a defined contribution plan--
``(i) to which section 401(a) (28) or (35)
applies, and
``(ii) which is maintained by such
corporation (or any other entity consolidated
with such corporation for purposes of reporting
to the Securities and Exchange Commission),
any amount realized by the corporate insider on such
sale or exchange (or the purchase price in the case of
a purchase) shall be treated as an excess parachute
payment.
``(B) Limitation.--Subparagraph (A) shall only
apply to stock acquired by an individual by reason of
the individual's employment with the corporation or by
reason of any other relationship with the corporation
that makes the individual a corporate insider.
``(2) Application to other instruments.--For purposes of
paragraph (1)--
``(A) any sale or exchange, or purchase, of an
option, warrant, or other derivative of stock in a
corporation,
``(B) any transaction involving the exercise of an
option, warrant, or other derivative of stock in a
corporation, or
``(C) any similar transaction,
shall be treated in the same manner as a transaction involving
the sale or exchange, or purchase, of stock.
``(3) Corporate insider.--For purposes of this subsection,
the term `corporate insider' means, with respect to a
corporation, any individual who is subject to the requirements
of section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with
respect to such corporation.
``(4) Transaction suspension period.--The term `transaction
suspension period' has the meaning given such term by section
4980G(f)(2).''
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to sales and exchanges after the 120th day after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
TITLE III--PROVIDING OF INFORMATION TO ASSIST PARTICIPANTS
SEC. 301. PERIODIC PENSION BENEFITS STATEMENTS.
(a) Excise Tax.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 43 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 (relating to qualified pension, etc., plans), as amended
by this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``SEC. 4980H. FAILURE OF CERTAIN DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS TO PROVIDE
REQUIRED QUARTERLY STATEMENTS.
``(a) Imposition of Tax.--There is hereby imposed a tax on the
failure of an applicable defined contribution plan to meet the
requirements of subsection (e) with respect to any participant or
beneficiary.
``(b) Amount of Tax.--
``(1) In general.--The amount of the tax imposed by
subsection (a) on any failure with respect to any participant
or beneficiary shall be $100 for each day in the noncompliance
period with respect to the failure.
``(2) Noncompliance period.--For purposes of this section,
the term `noncompliance period' means, with respect to any
failure, the period beginning on the date the failure first
occurs and ending on the date the statement to which the
failure relates is provided or the failure is otherwise
corrected.
``(c) Limitations on Amount of Tax.--
``(1) Tax not to apply where failure not discovered and
reasonable diligence exercised.--No tax shall be imposed by
subsection (a) on any failure during any period for which it is
established to the satisfaction of the Secretary that any
person subject to liability for tax under subsection (d) did
not know that the failure existed and exercised reasonable
diligence to meet the requirements of subsection (e).
``(2) Tax not to apply to failures corrected within 30
days.--No tax shall be imposed by subsection (a) on any failure
if--
``(A) any person subject to liability for the tax
under subsection (d) exercised reasonable diligence to
meet the requirements of subsection (e), and
``(B) such person provides the statement described
in subsection (e) during the 30-day period beginning on
the first date such person knew, or exercising
reasonable diligence should have known, that such
failure existed.
``(3) Overall limitation for unintentional failures.--
``(A) In general.--If the person subject to
liability for tax under subsection (d) exercised
reasonable diligence to meet the requirements of
subsection (e), the tax imposed by subsection (a) for
failures during the taxable year of the employer (or,
in the case of a multiemployer plan, the taxable year
of the trust forming part of the plan) shall not exceed
$500,000. For purposes of the preceding sentence, all
multiemployer plans of which the same trust forms a
part shall be treated as 1 plan.
``(B) Taxable years in the case of certain
controlled groups.--For purposes of this paragraph, if
all persons who are treated as a single employer for
purposes of this section do not have the same taxable
year, the taxable years taken into account shall be
determined under principles similar to the principles
of section 1561.
``(4) 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 tax imposed by
subsection (a) to the extent that the payment of such tax would
be excessive or otherwise inequitable relative to the failure
involved.
``(d) Liability for Tax.--The following shall be liable for the tax
imposed by subsection (a):
``(1) In the case of a plan other than a multiemployer
plan, the employer.
``(2) In the case of a multiemployer plan, the plan.
``(e) Requirement To Provide Quarterly Statements.--
``(1) In general.--The administrator of an applicable
defined contribution plan shall furnish a pension benefit
statement--
``(A) to a plan participant at least once each
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calendar quarter, and
``(B) to a plan beneficiary upon written request
but no more frequently than once during any 12-month
period.
``(2) Statement.--
``(A) In general.--A pension benefit statement
under paragraph (1) shall indicate, on the basis of the
latest available information--
``(i) the total benefits accrued, and
``(ii) the nonforfeitable pension benefits,
if any, which have accrued, or the earliest
date on which benefits will become
nonforfeitable.
``(B) Specific information.--A pension benefit
statement under paragraph (1) shall include (together
with the information required in subparagraph (A))--
``(i) the value of any assets held in the
form of employer securities, without regard to
whether such securities were contributed by the
plan sponsor or acquired at the direction of
the plan or of the participant or beneficiary,
and an explanation of any limitations or
restrictions on the right of the participant or
beneficiary to direct an investment; and
``(ii) an explanation of the importance,
for the long-term retirement security of
participants and beneficiaries, of a well-
balanced and diversified investment portfolio,
including a discussion of the risk of holding
substantial portions of a portfolio in the
security of any one entity, such as employer
securities.
``(3) Manner of statement.--A pension benefit statement
under paragraph (1)--
``(A) shall be written in a manner calculated to be
understood by the average plan participant, and
``(B) may be provided in written, electronic, or
other appropriate form.
``(f) Applicable Defined Contribution Plan.--For purposes of this
section, the term `applicable defined contribution plan' means a
defined contribution plan which--
``(1) is a qualified retirement plan (as defined in section
4974(c)), and
``(2) permits a participant or beneficiary to exercise
control over assets in his or her account.''
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for chapter
43 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following
new item:
``Sec. 4980H. Failure of certain defined contribution plans to provide
required quarterly statements.''
(b) Amendments of ERISA.--
(1) In general.--Section 105(a) of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1025(a)) is amended to
read as follows:
``(a)(1)(A) The administrator of an individual account plan shall
furnish a pension benefit statement--
``(i) to a plan participant at least once annually (each
calendar quarter in the case of an applicable individual
account plan), and
``(ii) to a plan beneficiary upon written request.
``(B) The administrator of a defined benefit plan shall furnish a
pension benefit statement--
``(i) at least once every 3 years to each participant with
a nonforfeitable accrued benefit who is employed by the
employer maintaining the plan at the time the statement is
furnished to participants, and
``(ii) to a participant or beneficiary of the plan upon
written request.
Information furnished under subparagraph (B) to a participant (other
than at the request of the participant) may be based on reasonable
estimates determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
``(2)(A) A pension benefit statement under paragraph (1)--
``(i) shall indicate, on the basis of the latest available
information--
``(I) the total benefits accrued, and
``(II) the nonforfeitable pension benefits, if any,
which have accrued, or the earliest date on which
benefits will become nonforfeitable,
``(ii) shall be written in a manner calculated to be
understood by the average plan participant, and
``(iii) may be provided in written, electronic, telephonic,
or other appropriate form.
``(B) In the case of an applicable individual account plan, the
pension benefit statement under paragraph (1) shall include (together
with the information required in subparagraph (A))--
``(i) the value of any assets held in the form of employer
securities, without regard to whether such securities were
contributed by the plan sponsor or acquired at the direction of
the plan or of the participant or beneficiary, and an
explanation of any limitations or restrictions on the right of
the participant or beneficiary to direct an investment, and
``(ii) an explanation of the importance, for the long-term
retirement security of participants and beneficiaries, of a
well-balanced and diversified investment portfolio, including a
discussion of the risk of holding substantial portions of a
portfolio in the security of any 1 entity, such as employer
securities.
``(C) For purposes of this subsection, the term `applicable
individual account plan' means an individual account plan to which
section 404(c) applies.
``(3)(A) In the case of a defined benefit plan, the requirements of
paragraph (1)(B)(i) shall be treated as met with respect to a
participant if the administrator provides the participant at least once
each year with notice of the availability of the pension benefit
statement and the ways in which the participant may obtain such
statement. Such notice shall be provided in written, electronic,
telephonic, or other appropriate form, and may be included with other
communications to the participant if done in a manner reasonably
designed to attract the attention of the participant.
``(B) The Secretary may provide that years in which no employee or
former employee benefits (within the meaning of section 410(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986) under the plan need not be taken into
account in determining the 3-year period under paragraph (1)(B)(i).''
(c) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 105 of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1025) is amended by striking subsection
(d).
(2) Section 105(b) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1025(b)) is
amended to read as follows:
``(b) In no case shall a participant or beneficiary of a plan be
entitled to more than 1 statement described in subsection (a)(1)
(A)(ii) or (B)(ii), whichever is applicable, in any 12-month period.''
(d) Model Statements.--The Secretary of Labor shall develop 1 or
more model benefit statements, written in a manner calculated to be
understood by the average plan participant, that may be used by plan
administrators in complying with the requirements of section 4980H of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and section 105 of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
(e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to plan years beginning after December 31, 2003.
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