On October 23, 2019, the DOL proposed a new rule to expand the options available to retirement plan sponsors for electronic delivery of required disclosures. The proposal followed Executive Order 13847, which instructed the DOL to determine whether regulatory actions could be taken to improve the effectiveness of participant disclosures and reduce their cost to employers. After review and consultation with other regulatory agencies, the DOL set forth a new notice and access safe harbor under which ERISA retirement plan disclosures could be made available on a website following specified notice.
As background, in 2002, the DOL issued a safe harbor that permitted electronic delivery of disclosures provided that the method was reasonably calculated to ensure actual receipt, notice and content requirements were satisfied, and participants maintained the right to request paper copies. Under this prior safe harbor, employees with integral access to the employer’s computer system at work could be defaulted to electronic delivery; all others were required to affirmatively consent to the electronic method. In recognition of technological advances and increased participant internet access, the notice and access option is offered as a new alternative to (rather than a replacement of) the existing 2002 safe harbor.
The proposed alternative permits required disclosures for retirement plans (including multi-employer plans) to be posted online following notice to covered individuals, who can then access the documents continuously using an internet connected device. Covered individuals are participants, beneficiaries, and any other individuals entitled to documents, who have provided the plan administrator (or designee) with an electronic address, such as email address or smartphone number. Alternatively, if an electronic address is assigned by an employer for this purpose, the employee is treated as if they provided the electronic address. Covered documents include all disclosures required under Title 1 of ERISA, with the exception of documents that must be furnished upon request (such as the plan document).
The new safe harbor requires plan administrators to send a notice of internet availability to each covered individual’s electronic address whenever a covered document is made available on the website. Administrators are permitted to combine certain annual disclosures, for which the notice of availability would be considered timely if furnished not later than 14 months following the date of the prior plan year’s notice.
The new safe harbor lays out specific content that must be included in the notice. The referenced website address must be sufficiently specific to provide ready access to the covered document, either by leading the covered individual directly to the covered document or to a login page that provides a prominent link to the covered document. Generally, the notice must not contain additional information or be accompanied by other documents and it must be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the average plan participant.
The proposed rule includes two significant protections for individuals who prefer to receive paper versions of covered documents. First, any covered individual has the right to request and receive a paper copy free of charge. Second, a covered individual who prefers to receive all covered documents in paper may opt out of receiving covered documents electronically. If a plan administrator becomes aware of an invalid address (for example, if an email is returned as undeliverable), the individual must be treated as if they opted out of electronic delivery.
Plan administrators who choose to use the new safe harbor must send an initial paper notification to apprise covered individuals of the new electronic delivery method and the opportunity to opt out.
The DOL has requested public comments and information regarding the proposed alternative electronic delivery method on or before November 22, 2019. The new safe harbor option will be effective 60 days following publication of a final rule. In response to the executive order's directive, the DOL is also seeking information and ideas regarding measures (in addition to the notice and access framework) that would enhance the effectiveness of ERISA disclosures for participants and beneficiaries. This second request focuses upon the design and content of the disclosures and includes specific questions upon which feedback is sought.
Employers who are seeking an alternative electronic delivery method for retirement plan disclosures may want to review the proposed rule. It is important to note that the proposed notice and access delivery method does not currently incorporate welfare benefit plan disclosures. (The DOL declined to extend the proposal to welfare benefit plans, pending review and consultation with other regulatory authorities.)
Please stay tuned to Compliance Corner for further updates on these initiatives.
Default Electronic Disclosure Rule »