Title 29—Labor--Volume 1
PART 4220—PROCEDURES FOR PBGC APPROVAL OF PLAN AMENDMENTS
§ 4220.1   Purpose and scope.
(a) General. This part establishes procedures under which a plan sponsor shall request the PBGC to approve a plan amendment under section 4220 of ERISA. This part applies to all multiemployer plans covered by title IV of ERISA that adopt amendments pursuant to the authorization of sections 4201-4219 of ERISA (except for amendments adopted pursuant to section 4211(c)(5)). (The covered amendments are set forth in paragraph (b) of this section.) The subsequent modification of a plan amendment adopted by authorization of those sections is also covered by this part. This part does not, however, cover a plan amendment that merely repeals a previously adopted amendment, returning the plan to the statutorily prescribed rule.
(b) Covered amendments. Amendments made pursuant to the following sections of ERISA are covered by this part:
(1) Section 4203 (b)(1)(B)(ii).
(2) Section 4203(c)(4).
(3) Section 4205(c)(1).
(4) Section 4205(d).
(5) Section 4209(b).
(6) Section 4210(b)(2).
(7) Section 4211(c)(1).
(8) Section 4211(c)(4)(D).
(9) Section 4211(d)(1).
(10) Section 4211(d)(2).
(11) Section 4219(c)(1)(C)(ii)(I).
(12) Section 4219(c)(1)(C)(iii).
(c) Exception. Submission of a request for approval under this part is not required for a plan amendment for which the PBGC has published a notice in the Federal Register granting class approval.
§ 4220.2   Definitions.
The following terms are defined in § 4001.2 of this chapter: employer, ERISA, IRS, multiemployer plan, PBGC, plan, and plan sponsor.
§ 4220.3   Requests for PBGC approval.
(a) Filing of request —(1) In general. A request for approval of an amendment filed with the PBGC in accordance with this section shall constitute notice to the PBGC for purposes of the 90-day period specified in section 4220 of ERISA. A request is treated as filed on the date on which a request containing all information required by paragraph (d) of this section is received by the PBGC. Subpart C of part 4000 of this chapter provides rules for determining when the PBGC receives a submission.
(2) Method of filing. The PBGC applies the rules in subpart A of part 4000 of this chapter to determine permissible methods of filing with the PBGC under this part.
(b) Who may request. The plan sponsor, or a duly authorized representative acting on behalf of a plan sponsor, shall sign and submit the request.
(c) Where to file. See § 4000.4 of this chapter for information on where to file.
(d) Information. Each request filed shall contain the following information:
(1) The name of the plan for which the amendment is being submitted, and the name, address and the telephone number of the plan sponsor or its duly authorized representative.
(2) The nine-digit Employer Identification Number (EIN) assigned by the IRS to the plan sponsor and the three-digit Plan Identification Number (PIN) assigned by the plan sponsor to the plan, and, if different, the EIN or PIN last filed with PBGC. If no EIN or PIN has been assigned, that fact must be indicated.
(3) A copy of the amendment as adopted, including its proposed effective date.
(4) A copy of the most recent actuarial valuation of the plan.
(5) A statement containing a certification that notice of the adoption of the amendment has been given to all employers who have an obligation to contribute under the plan and to all employee organizations representing employees covered by the plan.
(6) Any other information that the plan sponsor believes to be pertinent to its request.
(e) Supplemental information. The PBGC may require a plan sponsor to submit any other information that the PBGC determines to be necessary to review a request under this part. The PBGC may suspend the running of the 90-day period pursuant to § 4220.4(c), pending the submission of the supplemental information.
(f) Computation of time. The PBGC applies the rules in subpart D of part 4000 of this chapter to compute any time period under this part.
§ 4220.4   PBGC action on requests.
(a) General. Upon receipt of a complete request, the PBGC shall notify the plan sponsor in writing of the date of commencement of the 90-day period specified in section 4220 of ERISA. Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, the PBGC shall approve or disapprove a plan amendment submitted to it under this part within 90 days after receipt of a complete request for approval. If the PBGC fails to act within the 90-day period, or within that period notifies the plan sponsor that it will not disapprove the amendment, the amendment may be made effective without the approval of the PBGC.
(b) Decision on request. The PBGC's decision on a request for approval shall be in writing. If the PBGC disapproves the plan amendment, the decision shall state the reasons for the disapproval. An approval by the PBGC constitutes its finding only with respect to the issue of risk as set forth in section 4220(c) of ERISA, and not with respect to whether the amendment is otherwise properly adopted in accordance with the terms of ERISA and the plan in question.
(c) Suspension of the 90-day period. The PBGC may suspend the running of the 90-day period referred to in paragraph (a) of this section if it determines that additional information is required under § 4220.3(e). When it does so, PBGC's request for additional information will advise the plan sponsor that the running of 90-day period has been suspended. The 90-day period will resume running on the date on which the additional information is received by the PBGC, and the PBGC will notify the plan sponsor of that date upon receipt of the information.