Improving Part-Time Workers Access to Retirement Act of 2021

To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve part-time coverage for part-time workers, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Part-Time Workers Access to Retirement Act of 2021 2. Improving part-time coverage for part-time workers (a) Amendment of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (1) In general Section 202 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1052 (c) Special rule for certain part-Time employees (1) In general A pension plan that includes either a qualified cash or deferred arrangement (as defined in section 401(k) (A) the period permitted under subsection (a)(1) (determined without regard to subparagraph (B)(i) thereof); or (B) the first 24-month period— (i) consisting of 2 consecutive 12-month periods during each of which the employee has at least 500 hours of service; and (ii) by the close of which the employee has attained the age of 21. (2) Exception Paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply to any employee described in section 410(b)(3) (3) Coordination with other rules (A) In general In the case of employees who are eligible to participate in the arrangement or agreement solely by reason of paragraph (1)(B): (i) Exclusions An employer may elect to exclude such employees from the application of subsections (a)(4), (k)(3), (k)(12), (k)(13), (k)(15)(B)(i)(I), and (m)(2) of section 401 of such Code and section 410(b) of such Code. (ii) Time of participation The rules of subsection (a)(4) shall apply to such employees. (B) Top-heavy rules An employer may elect to exclude all employees who are eligible to participate in a plan maintained by the employer solely by reason of paragraph (1)(B) from the application of the vesting and benefit requirements under subsections (b) and (c) of section 416 of such Code. (4) 12-month period For purposes of this subsection, 12-month periods shall be determined in the same manner as under the last sentence of subsection (a)(3)(A), except that 12-month periods beginning before January 1, 2021, shall not be taken into account. (2) Vesting Section 203(b) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1053(a) (4) Part-time employees For purposes of determining whether an employee who is eligible to participate in a qualified cash or deferred arrangement or a salary reduction agreement under a plan solely by reason of section 202(c)(1)(B) has a nonforfeitable right to employer contributions— (A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), each 12-month period for which the employee has at least 500 hours of service shall be treated as a year of service; (B) paragraph (3) shall be applied by substituting at least 500 hours of service more than 500 hours of service (C) 12-month periods occurring before the 24-month period described in section 202(c)(1)(B) shall not be treated as years of service. For purposes of this paragraph, 12-month periods shall be determined in the same manner as under the last sentence of section 202(a)(3)(A), except that 12-month periods beginning before January 1, 2021, shall not be taken into account. . (3) Pre-2021 service Section 112(b) of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 ( 26 U.S.C. 401 section 401(k)(2)(D)(ii) paragraphs (2)(D)(ii) and (15)(B)(iii) of section 401(k) (b) Conforming amendments to Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (1) In general Section 410(a) (6) Special rule for certain part-time employees (A) In general In the case of a plan that includes either a qualified cash or deferred arrangement (as defined in section 401(k)) a trust of which such plan is a part shall not constitute a qualified trust under section 401(a) if the plan requires, as a condition of participation in the plan or arrangement, that an employee complete a period of service with the employer (or employers) maintaining the plan extending beyond the close of the earlier of— (i) the period permitted under paragraph (1) (determined without regard to subparagraph (B)(i) thereof), or (ii) the first 24-month period— (I) consisting of 2 consecutive 12-month periods during each of which the employee has at least 500 hours of service, and (II) by the close of which the employee has attained the age of 21. (B) Exception Subparagraph (A)(ii) shall not apply to any employee described in section 410(b)(3). (C) Coordination with other rules (i) In general In the case of employees who are eligible to participate in the arrangement or agreement solely by reason of subparagraph (A)(ii)— (I) Exclusions An employer may elect to exclude such employees from the application of subsection (b) and of subsections (a)(4), (k)(3), (k)(12), (k)(13), (k)(15)(B)(i)(I), and (m)(2) of section 401. (II) Time of participation The rules of paragraph (4) shall apply to such employees. (ii) Top-heavy rules An employer may elect to exclude all employees who are eligible to participate in a plan maintained by the employer solely by reason of subparagraph (A)(ii) from the application of the vesting and benefit requirements under subsections (b) and (c) of section 416. (D) 12-month period For purposes of this paragraph, 12-month periods shall be determined in the same manner as under the last sentence of paragraph (3)(A), except that 12-month periods beginning before January 1, 2021, shall not be taken into account. . (2) Vesting Section 410(a) (6) Part-time employees For purposes of determining whether an employee who is eligible to participate in a qualified cash or deferred arrangement or a salary reduction agreement under a plan solely by reason of paragraph (6)(A)(ii) has a nonforfeitable right to employer contributions— (A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), each 12-month period for which the employee has at least 500 hours of service shall be treated as a year of service, (B) section 411(a)(6) shall be applied by substituting at least 500 hours of service more than 500 hours of service (C) 12-month periods occurring before the 24-month period described in paragraph (6)(A)(ii) shall not be treated as years of service. For purposes of this paragraph, 12-month periods shall be determined in the same manner as under paragraph (6)(D). .

Summary: Improving Part-Time Workers Access to Retirement Act of 2021 This bill shortens the maximum time, from three consecutive 12-month periods of at least 500 hours of service to two such periods, that an employer may require before a part-time employee is eligible for participation in certain employer-sponsored retirement plans.