amendment that does not adversely affect the rights
of participants in a material manner.’’.
(2) SECRETARY
DIRECTED.—Not later than
December 31, 2001, the Secretary of the Treasury
is directed to issue final regulations under section
411(d)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, in-
cluding the regulations required by the amendments
made by this subsection. Such regulations shall
apply to plan years beginning after December 31,
2001, or such earlier date as is specified by the Sec-
retary of the Treasury.
SEC. 236. RATIONALIZATION OF RESTRICTIONS ON DIS-
TRIBUTIONS.
(a) MODIFICATION OF SAME DESK EXCEPTION.—
(1) SECTION 401(k).—
(A) Section 401(k)(2)(B)(i)(I) (relating to
qualified cash or deferred arrangements) is
amended by striking ‘‘separation from service’’
and inserting ‘‘severance from employment’’.
(B) 
Subparagraph 
(A) 
of 
section
401(k)(10) (relating to distributions upon ter-
mination of plan or disposition of assets or sub-
sidiary) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An event described in
this subparagraph is the termination of the
plan without establishment or maintenance of
another defined contribution plan (other than
an employee stock ownership plan as defined in
section 4975(e)(7)).’’.
(C) Section 401(k)(10) is amended—
(i) in subparagraph (B)—
(I) by striking ‘‘An event’’ in
clause (i) and inserting ‘‘A termi-
nation’’; and
(II) by striking ‘‘the event’’ in
clause (i) and inserting ‘‘the termi-
nation’’;
(ii) by striking subparagraph (C); and
(iii) by striking ‘‘OR DISPOSITION OF
ASSETS OR SUBSIDIARY’’ in the heading.
(2) SECTION 403(b).—
(A) Paragraphs (7)(A)(ii) and (11)(A) of
section 403(b) are each amended by striking
‘‘separates from service’’ and inserting ‘‘has a
severance from employment’’.
(B) The heading for paragraph (11) of
section 403(b) is amended by striking ‘‘SEPARA-
TION
FROM
SERVICE’’ and inserting ‘‘SEVER-
ANCE FROM EMPLOYMENT’’.
(3) SECTION
457.—Clause (ii) of section
457(d)(1)(A) is amended by striking ‘‘is separated
from service’’ and inserting ‘‘has a severance from
employment’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to distributions after December 31,
2000.
SEC. 237. PURCHASE OF SERVICE CREDIT IN GOVERN-
MENTAL DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS.
(a) 403(b) PLANS.—Subsection (b) of section 403 is
amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph:
‘‘(13) TRUSTEE-TO-TRUSTEE
TRANSFERS
TO
PURCHASE
PERMISSIVE
SERVICE
CREDIT.—No
amount shall be includible in gross income by reason
of a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer to a defined
benefit governmental plan (as defined in section
414(d)) if such transfer is—
‘‘(A) for the purchase of permissive service
credit (as defined in section 415(n)(3)(A))
under such plan, or
‘‘(B) a repayment to which section 415
does not apply by reason of subsection (k)(3)
thereof.’’.
(b) 457 PLANS.—
(1) Subsection (e) of section 457 is amended by
adding after paragraph (16) the following new para-
graph:
‘‘(17) TRUSTEE-TO-TRUSTEE
TRANSFERS
TO
PURCHASE
PERMISSIVE
SERVICE
CREDIT.—No
amount shall be includible in gross income by reason
of a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer to a defined
benefit governmental plan (as defined in section
414(d)) if such transfer is—
‘‘(A) for the purchase of permissive service
credit (as defined in section 415(n)(3)(A))
under such plan, or
‘‘(B) a repayment to which section 415
does not apply by reason of subsection (k)(3)
thereof.’’.
(2) Section 457(b)(2) is amended by striking
‘‘(other than rollover amounts)’’ and inserting
‘‘(other than rollover amounts and amounts received
in a transfer referred to in subsection (e)(17))’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to trustee-to-trustee transfers after
December 31, 2000.
SEC. 238. EMPLOYERS MAY DISREGARD ROLLOVERS FOR
PURPOSES OF CASH-OUT AMOUNTS.
(a) QUALIFIED PLANS.—Section 411(a)(11) (relating
to restrictions on certain mandatory distributions) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(D) SPECIAL RULE FOR ROLLOVER CON-
TRIBUTIONS.—A plan shall not fail to meet the
requirements of this paragraph if, under the
terms of the plan, the present value of the non-
forfeitable accrued benefit is determined with-
out regard to that portion of such benefit which
is attributable to rollover contributions (and
earnings allocable thereto). For purposes of this
subparagraph, the term ‘rollover contributions’
means any rollover contribution under sections
402(c), 403(a)(4), 403(b)(8), 408(d)(3)(A)(ii),
and 457(e)(16).’’.
(b) ELIGIBLE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS.—
Clause (i) of section 457(e)(9)(A) is amended by striking
‘‘such amount’’ and inserting ‘‘the portion of such amount
which is not attributable to rollover contributions (as de-
fined in section 411(a)(11)(D))’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to distributions after December 31,
2000.
SEC. 239. MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION AND INCLUSION RE-
QUIREMENTS FOR SECTION 457 PLANS.
(a) MINIMUM
DISTRIBUTION
REQUIREMENTS.—
Paragraph (2) of section 457(d) (relating to distribution
requirements) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(2) 
MINIMUM
DISTRIBUTION
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—A plan meets the minimum distribution re-
quirements of this paragraph if such plan meets the
requirements of section 401(a)(9).’’.
(b) INCLUSION IN GROSS INCOME.—
(1) YEAR
OF
INCLUSION.—Subsection (a) of
section 457 (relating to year of inclusion in gross in-
come) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(a) YEAR OF INCLUSION IN GROSS INCOME.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any amount of compensa-
tion deferred under an eligible deferred compensa-
tion plan, and any income attributable to the
amounts so deferred, shall be includible in gross in-
come only for the taxable year in which such com-
pensation or other income—
‘‘(A) is paid to the participant or other
beneficiary, in the case of a plan of an eligible
employer described in subsection (e)(1)(A), and
‘‘(B) is paid or otherwise made available to
the participant or other beneficiary, in the case
of a plan of an eligible employer described in
subsection (e)(1)(B).
‘‘(2) 
SPECIAL
RULE
FOR
ROLLOVER
AMOUNTS.—To the extent provided in section
72(t)(9), section 72(t) shall apply to any amount in-
cludible in gross income under this subsection.’’.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(A) So much of paragraph (9) of section
457(e) as precedes subparagraph (A) is amend-
ed to read as follows:
‘‘(9) BENEFITS OF TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION
PLANS NOT TREATED AS MADE AVAILABLE BY REA-
SON OF CERTAIN ELECTIONS, ETC.—In the case of
an eligible deferred compensation plan of an em-
ployer described in subsection (e)(1)(B)—’’.
(B) Section 457(d) is amended by adding
at the end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(3) SPECIAL RULE FOR GOVERNMENT PLAN.—
An eligible deferred compensation plan of an em-
ployer described in subsection (e)(1)(A) shall not be
treated as failing to meet the requirements of this
subsection solely by reason of making a distribution
described in subsection (e)(9)(A).’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to distributions after December 31,
2000.
Subtitle D—Strengthening Pension
Security and Enforcement
SEC. 241. REPEAL OF 150 PERCENT OF CURRENT LIABILITY
FUNDING LIMIT.
(a) AMENDMENT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF
1986.—Section 412(c)(7) (relating to full-funding limita-
tion) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘the applicable percentage’’ in
subparagraph (A)(i)(I) and inserting ‘‘in the case of
plan years beginning before January 1, 2004, the
applicable percentage’’; and
(2) by amending subparagraph (F) to read as
follows:
‘‘(F) 
APPLICABLE
PERCENTAGE.—For
purposes of subparagraph (A)(i)(I), the applica-
ble percentage shall be determined in accord-
ance with the following table:
‘‘In the case of any plan year
The applicable
beginning in—
percentage is—
2001 .............................................................................
160
2002 .............................................................................
165
2003 .............................................................................
170.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to plan years beginning after De-
cember 31, 2000.
SEC. 242. MAXIMUM CONTRIBUTION DEDUCTION RULES
MODIFIED AND APPLIED TO ALL DEFINED
BENEFIT PLANS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subparagraph (D) of section
404(a)(1) (relating to special rule in case of certain plans)
is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(D) SPECIAL RULE IN CASE OF CERTAIN
PLANS.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In the case of any
defined benefit plan, except as provided in
regulations, the maximum amount deduct-
ible under the limitations of this paragraph
shall not be less than the unfunded termi-
nation liability (determined as if the pro-
posed termination date referred to in sec-
tion 4041(b)(2)(A)(i)(II) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
were the last day of the plan year).
‘‘(ii) PLANS
WITH
LESS
THAN
100
PARTICIPANTS.—For purposes of this sub-
paragraph, in the case of a plan which has
less than 100 participants for the plan
year, termination liability shall not include
the liability attributable to benefit in-
creases for highly compensated employees
(as defined in section 414(q)) resulting
from a plan amendment which is made or
becomes effective, whichever is later, within
the last 2 years before the termination
date.
‘‘(iii) RULE FOR DETERMINING NUM-
BER OF PARTICIPANTS.—For purposes of
determining whether a plan has more than
100 participants, all defined benefit plans
maintained by the same employer (or any
member of such employer’s controlled
group (within the meaning of section
412(l)(8)(C))) shall be treated as one plan,
but only employees of such member or em-
ployer shall be taken into account.
‘‘(iv) PLANS ESTABLISHED AND MAIN-
TAIN BY PROFESSIONAL SERVICE EMPLOY-
ERS.—Clause (i) shall not apply to a plan
described in section 4021(b)(13) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Paragraph (6) of
section 4972(c) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(6) EXCEPTIONS.—In determining the amount
of nondeductible contributions for any taxable year,
there shall not be taken into account so much of the
contributions to one or more defined contribution
plans which are not deductible when contributed
solely because of section 404(a)(7) as does not ex-
ceed the greater of—
‘‘(A) the amount of contributions not in
excess of 6 percent of compensation (within the
meaning of section 404(a)) paid or accrued
(during the taxable year for which the contribu-
tions were made) to beneficiaries under the
plans, or
‘‘(B) the sum of—
‘‘(i) the amount of contributions de-
scribed in section 401(m)(4)(A), plus
‘‘(ii) the amount of contributions de-
scribed in section 402(g)(3)(A).
For purposes of this paragraph, the deductible limits
under section 404(a)(7) shall first be applied to
amounts contributed to a defined benefit plan and
then to amounts described in subparagraph (B).’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to plan years beginning after De-
cember 31, 2000.
SEC. 243. EXCISE TAX RELIEF FOR SOUND PENSION FUND-
ING.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (c) of section 4972
(relating to nondeductible contributions) is amended by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(7) DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN EXCEPTION.—In
determining the amount of nondeductible contribu-
tions for any taxable year, an employer may elect for
such year not to take into account any contributions
to a defined benefit plan except to the extent that
such contributions exceed the full-funding limitation
(as defined in section 412(c)(7), determined without
regard to subparagraph (A)(i)(I) thereof). For pur-
poses of this paragraph, the deductible limits under
section 404(a)(7) shall first be applied to amounts
contributed to defined contribution plans and then
to amounts described in this paragraph. If an em-
ployer makes an election under this paragraph for a
taxable year, paragraph (6) shall not apply to such
employer for such taxable year.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to years beginning after December
31, 2000.
SEC. 244. EXCISE TAX ON FAILURE TO PROVIDE NOTICE BY
DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS SIGNIFICANTLY
REDUCING FUTURE BENEFIT ACCRUALS.
(a) AMENDMENT TO 1986 CODE.—Chapter 43 (relat-
ing to qualified pension, etc., plans) is amended by adding
at the end the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 4980F. FAILURE OF APPLICABLE PLANS REDUCING
BENEFIT ACCRUALS TO SATISFY NOTICE RE-
QUIREMENTS.
‘‘(a) IMPOSITION OF TAX.—There is hereby imposed
a tax on the failure of any applicable pension plan to meet
the requirements of subsection (e) with respect to any ap-
plicable individual.
‘‘(b) AMOUNT OF TAX.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The amount of the tax im-
posed by subsection (a) on any failure with respect
to any applicable individual shall be $100 for each
day in the noncompliance period with respect to such
failure.
‘‘(2) NONCOMPLIANCE PERIOD.—For purposes
of this section, the term ‘noncompliance period’
means, with respect to any failure, the period begin-
ning on the date the failure first occurs and ending
on the date the failure is corrected.
‘‘(c) LIMITATIONS ON AMOUNT OF TAX.—
‘‘(1) OVERALL
LIMITATION
FOR
UNINTEN-
TIONAL FAILURES.—In the case of failures that are
due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect,
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 multiem-
ployer plans of which the same trust forms a part
shall be treated as one plan. For purposes of this
paragraph, if not all persons who are treated as a
single employer for purposes of this section have the
same taxable year, the taxable years taken into ac-
count shall be determined under principles similar to
the principles of section 1561.
‘‘(2) 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 rel-
ative to the failure involved.
‘‘(d) LIABILITY FOR TAX.—The following shall be lia-
ble for the tax imposed by subsection (a):
‘‘(1) In the case of a plan other than a multi-
employer plan, the employer.
‘‘(2) In the case of a multiemployer plan, the
plan.
‘‘(e) NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR PLANS SIGNIFI-
CANTLY REDUCING BENEFIT ACCRUALS.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—If an applicable pension
plan is amended to provide for a significant reduc-
tion in the rate of future benefit accrual, the plan
administrator shall provide written notice to each
applicable individual (and to each employee organi-
zation representing applicable individuals).
‘‘(2) NOTICE.—The notice required by para-
graph (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 regulations prescribed by the
Secretary) to allow applicable individuals to under-
stand the effect of the plan amendment.
‘‘(3) TIMING OF NOTICE.—Except as provided
in regulations, the notice required by paragraph (1)
shall be provided within a reasonable time before the
effective date of the plan amendment.
‘‘(4) DESIGNEES.—Any notice under paragraph
(1) may be provided to a person designated, in writ-
ing, by the person to which it would otherwise be
provided.
‘‘(5) NOTICE
BEFORE
ADOPTION
OF
AMEND-
MENT.—A plan shall not be treated as failing to
meet the requirements of paragraph (1) merely be-
cause notice is provided before the adoption of the
plan amendment if no material modification of the
amendment occurs before the amendment is adopt-
ed.
‘‘(f) APPLICABLE INDIVIDUAL; APPLICABLE PEN-
SION PLAN.—For purposes of this section—
‘‘(1) APPLICABLE INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘ap-
plicable individual’ means, with respect to any plan
amendment—
‘‘(A) any participant in the plan, and
‘‘(B) any beneficiary who is an alternate
payee (within the meaning of section 414(p)(8))
under an applicable qualified domestic relations
order 
(within 
the 
meaning 
of 
section
414(p)(1)(A)),
who may reasonably be expected to be affected by
such plan amendment.
‘‘(2) APPLICABLE
PENSION
PLAN.—The term
‘applicable pension plan’ means—
‘‘(A) any defined benefit plan, or
‘‘(B) an individual account plan which is
subject to the funding standards of section 412,
which had 100 or more participants who had ac-
crued a benefit, or with respect to whom contribu-
tions were made, under the plan (whether or not
vested) as of the last day of the plan year preceding
the plan year in which the plan amendment becomes
effective. Such term shall not include a governmental
plan (within the meaning of section 414(d)) or a
church plan (within the meaning of section 414(e))
with respect to which the election provided by sec-
tion 410(d) has not been made.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections
for chapter 43 is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new item:
‘‘Sec. 4980F. Failure of applicable plans reducing benefit accruals
to satisfy notice requirements.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to plan amendments taking
effect on or after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(2) TRANSITION.—Until such time as the Sec-
retary of the Treasury issues regulations under sec-
tions 4980F(e)(2) and (3) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (as added by the amendments made
by this section), a plan shall be treated as meeting
the requirements of such sections if it makes a good
faith effort to comply with such requirements.
(3) SPECIAL RULE.—The period for providing
any notice required by the amendments made by this
section shall not end before the date which is 3
months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 245. TREATMENT OF MULTIEMPLOYER PLANS UNDER
SECTION 415.
(a) COMPENSATION LIMIT.—Paragraph (11) of sec-
tion 415(b) (relating to limitation for defined benefit
plans) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(11) SPECIAL LIMITATION RULE FOR GOVERN-
MENTAL AND MULTIEMPLOYER PLANS.—In the case
of a governmental plan (as defined in section
414(d)) or a multiemployer plan (as defined in sec-
tion 414(f)), subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1)
shall not apply.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
this section shall apply to years beginning after December
31, 2000.
Subtitle E—Reducing Regulatory
Burdens
SEC. 261. MODIFICATION OF TIMING OF PLAN VALUATIONS.
(a) 
AMENDMENTS
TO
1986 
CODE.—Section
412(c)(9) (relating to annual valuation) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘For purposes’’ and inserting
the following:
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(B) ELECTION
TO
USE
PRIOR
YEAR
VALUATION.—
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Except as pro-
vided in clause (ii), if, for any plan year—
‘‘(I) an election is in effect under
this subparagraph with respect to a
plan, and
‘‘(II) the assets of the plan are
not less than 125 percent of the
plan’s current liability (as defined in
paragraph (7)(B)), determined as of
the valuation date for the preceding
plan year,
then this section shall be applied using the
information available as of such valuation
date.
‘‘(ii) EXCEPTIONS.—
‘‘(I) ACTUAL VALUATION EVERY
3 YEARS.—Clause (i) shall not apply
for more than 2 consecutive plan
years and valuation shall be under
subparagraph (A) with respect to any
plan year to which clause (i) does not
apply by reason of this subclause.
‘‘(II) REGULATIONS.—Clause (i)
shall not apply to the extent that
more frequent valuations are required
under the regulations under subpara-
graph (A).
‘‘(iii) 
ADJUSTMENTS.—Information
under clause (i) shall, in accordance with
regulations, be actuarially adjusted to re-
flect significant differences in participants.
‘‘(iv) ELECTION.—An election under
this subparagraph, once made, shall be ir-
revocable without the consent of the Sec-
retary.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to plan years beginning after De-
cember 31, 2000.
SEC. 262. ESOP DIVIDENDS MAY BE REINVESTED WITHOUT
LOSS OF DIVIDEND DEDUCTION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 404(k)(2)(A) (defining
applicable dividends) is amended by striking ‘‘or’’ at the
end of clause (ii), by redesignating clause (iii) as clause
(iv), and by inserting after clause (ii) the following new
clause:
‘‘(iii) is, at the election of such par-
ticipants or their beneficiaries—
‘‘(I) payable as provided in clause
(i) or (ii), or
‘‘(II) paid to the plan and rein-
vested in qualifying employer securi-
ties, or’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 2000.
SEC. 263. REPEAL OF TRANSITION RULE RELATING TO CER-
TAIN HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (4) of section 1114(c)
of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 is hereby repealed.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The repeal made by sub-
section (a) shall apply to plan years beginning after De-
cember 31, 2000.
SEC. 264. EMPLOYEES OF TAX-EXEMPT ENTITIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treasury
shall modify Treasury Regulations section 1.410(b)–6(g)
to provide that employees of an organization described in
section 403(b)(1)(A)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 who are eligible to make contributions under section
403(b) of such Code pursuant to a salary reduction agree-
ment may be treated as excludable with respect to a plan
under section 401(k) or (m) of such Code that is provided
under the same general arrangement as a plan under such
section 401(k), if—
(1) no employee of an organization described in
section 403(b)(1)(A)(i) of such Code is eligible to
participate in such section 401(k) plan or section
401(m) plan; and
(2) 95 percent of the employees who are not
employees of an organization described in section
403(b)(1)(A)(i) of such Code are eligible to partici-
pate in such plan under such section 401(k) or (m).
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The modification required by
subsection (a) shall apply as of the same date set forth
in section 1426(b) of the Small Business Job Protection
Act of 1996.
SEC. 265. CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF EMPLOYER-
PROVIDED RETIREMENT ADVICE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 132 (re-
lating to exclusion from gross income) is amended by
striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of paragraph (5), by striking the
period at the end of paragraph (6) and inserting ‘‘, or’’,
and by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(7) qualified retirement planning services.’’.
100
(b) QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANNING SERVICES
DEFINED.—Section 132 is amended by redesignating sub-
section (m) as subsection (n) and by inserting after sub-
section (l) the following:
‘‘(m) QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANNING SERV-
ICES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, the term ‘qualified retirement planning serv-
ices’ means any retirement planning service provided
to an employee and his spouse by an employer main-
taining a qualified employer plan.
‘‘(2) NONDISCRIMINATION
RULE.—Subsection
(a)(7) shall apply in the case of highly compensated
employees only if such services are available on sub-
stantially the same terms to each member of the
group of employees normally provided education and
information regarding the employer’s qualified em-
ployer plan.
‘‘(3) QUALIFIED EMPLOYER PLAN.—For pur-
poses of this subsection, the term ‘qualified employer
plan’ means a plan, contract, pension, or account de-
scribed in section 219(g)(5).’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to years beginning after December
31, 2000.
101
SEC. 266. REPORTING SIMPLIFICATION.
(a) SIMPLIFIED ANNUAL FILING REQUIREMENT FOR
OWNERS AND THEIR SPOUSES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treas-
ury shall modify the requirements for filing annual
returns with respect to one-participant retirement
plans to ensure that such plans with assets of
$250,000 or less as of the close of the plan year
need not file a return for that year.
(2) ONE-PARTICIPANT RETIREMENT PLAN DE-
FINED.—For purposes of this subsection, the term
‘‘one-participant retirement plan’’ means a retire-
ment plan that—
(A) on the first day of the plan year—
(i) covered only the employer (and the
employer’s spouse) and the employer
owned the entire business (whether or not
incorporated); or
(ii) covered only one or more partners
(and their spouses) in a business partner-
ship (including partners in an S or C cor-
poration);
(B) meets the minimum coverage require-
ments of section 410(b) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 without being combined with any
102
other plan of the business that covers the em-
ployees of the business;
(C) does not provide benefits to anyone ex-
cept the employer (and the employer’s spouse)
or the partners (and their spouses);
(D) does not cover a business that is a
member of an affiliated service group, a con-
trolled group of corporations, or a group of
businesses under common control; and
(E) does not cover a business that leases
employees.
(3) OTHER DEFINITIONS.—Terms used in para-
graph (2) which are also used in section 414 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall have the re-
spective meanings given such terms by such section.
(b) SIMPLIFIED ANNUAL FILING REQUIREMENT FOR
PLANS WITH FEWER THAN 25 EMPLOYEES.—In the case
of a retirement plan which covers less than 25 employees
on the first day of the plan year and meets the require-
ments described in subparagraphs (B), (D), and (E) of
subsection (a)(2), the Secretary of the Treasury shall pro-
vide for the filing of a simplified annual return that is
substantially similar to the annual return required to be
filed by a one-participant retirement plan.
103
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The provisions of this section
shall take effect on January 1, 2001.
SEC. 267. IMPROVEMENT OF EMPLOYEE PLANS COMPLI-
ANCE RESOLUTION SYSTEM.
The Secretary of the Treasury shall continue to up-
date and improve the Employee Plans Compliance Resolu-
tion System (or any successor program) giving special at-
tention to—
(1) increasing the awareness and knowledge of
small employers concerning the availability and use
of the program;
(2) taking into account special concerns and
circumstances that small employers face with respect
to compliance and correction of compliance failures;
(3) extending the duration of the self-correction
period under the Administrative Policy Regarding
Self-Correction for significant compliance failures;
(4) expanding the availability to correct insig-
nificant compliance failures under the Administra-
tive Policy Regarding Self-Correction during audit;
and
(5) assuring that any tax, penalty, or sanction
that is imposed by reason of a compliance failure is
not excessive and bears a reasonable relationship to
the nature, extent, and severity of the failure.
104
SEC. 268. MODIFICATION OF EXCLUSION FOR EMPLOYER
PROVIDED TRANSIT PASSES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 132(f)(3) (relating to
cash reimbursements) is amended by striking the last sen-
tence.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 2000.
SEC. 269. REPEAL OF THE MULTIPLE USE TEST.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (9) of section 401(m)
is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(9) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall pre-
scribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry
out the purposes of this subsection and subsection
(k), including regulations permitting appropriate ag-
gregation of plans and contributions.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
this section shall apply to years beginning after December
31, 2000.
SEC. 270. FLEXIBILITY IN NONDISCRIMINATION, COV-
ERAGE, AND LINE OF BUSINESS RULES.
(a) NONDISCRIMINATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treas-
ury shall, by regulation, provide that a plan shall be
deemed to satisfy the requirements of section
401(a)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 if
105
such plan satisfies the facts and circumstances test
under section 401(a)(4) of such Code, as in effect
before January 1, 1994, but only if—
(A) the plan satisfies conditions prescribed
by the Secretary to appropriately limit the
availability of such test; and
(B) the plan is submitted to the Secretary
for a determination of whether it satisfies such
test.
Subparagraph (B) shall only apply to the extent pro-
vided by the Secretary.
(2) EFFECTIVE DATES.—
(A) REGULATIONS.—The regulation re-
quired by paragraph (1) shall apply to years be-
ginning after December 31, 2000.
(B) CONDITIONS OF AVAILABILITY.—Any
condition of availability prescribed by the Sec-
retary under paragraph (1)(A) shall not apply
before the first year beginning not less than
120 days after the date on which such condition
is prescribed.
(b) COVERAGE TEST.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 410(b)(1) (relating
to minimum coverage requirements) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
106
‘‘(D) In the case that the plan fails to
meet the requirements of subparagraphs (A),
(B) and (C), the plan—
‘‘(i) satisfies subparagraph (B), as in
effect immediately before the enactment of
the Tax Reform Act of 1986,
‘‘(ii) is submitted to the Secretary for
a determination of whether it satisfies the
requirement described in clause (i), and
‘‘(iii) satisfies conditions prescribed by
the Secretary by regulation that appro-
priately limit the availability of this sub-
paragraph.
Clause (ii) shall apply only to the extent pro-
vided by the Secretary.’’.
(2) EFFECTIVE DATES.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The amendment made
by paragraph (1) shall apply to years beginning
after December 31, 2000.
(B) CONDITIONS OF AVAILABILITY.—Any
condition of availability prescribed by the Sec-
retary under regulations prescribed by the Sec-
retary under section 410(b)(1)(D) of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986 shall not apply be-
fore the first year beginning not less than 120
107
days after the date on which such condition is
prescribed.
(c) LINE OF BUSINESS RULES.—The Secretary of
the Treasury shall, on or before December 31, 2000, mod-
ify the existing regulations issued under section 414(r) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in order to expand
(to the extent that the Secretary determines appropriate)
the ability of a pension plan to demonstrate compliance
with the line of business requirements based upon the
facts and circumstances surrounding the design and oper-
ation of the plan, even though the plan is unable to satisfy
the mechanical tests currently used to determine compli-
ance.
SEC. 271. EXTENSION TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OF MORATORIUM ON APPLICATION OF CER-
TAIN NONDISCRIMINATION RULES APPLICA-
BLE TO STATE AND LOCAL PLANS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subparagraph (G) of section
401(a)(5), subparagraph (H) of section 401(a)(26), sub-
paragraph (G) of section 401(k)(3), and paragraph (2) of
section 1505(d) of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 are
each amended by inserting ‘‘or by an international organi-
zation which is described in section 414(d)’’ after ‘‘or in-
strumentality thereof)’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
109
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made
by paragraph (1) and the modifications required by
paragraph (2) shall apply to years beginning after
December 31, 2000.
(b) CONSENT REGULATION INAPPLICABLE TO CER-
TAIN DISTRIBUTIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treas-
ury shall modify the regulations under section
411(a)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to
provide that the description of a participant’s right,
if any, to defer receipt of a distribution shall also de-
scribe the consequences of failing to defer such re-
ceipt.
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The modifications re-
quired by paragraph (1) shall apply to years begin-
ning after December 31, 2000.
Subtitle F—Plan Amendments
SEC. 281. PROVISIONS RELATING TO PLAN AMENDMENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—If this section applies to any plan
or contract amendment—
(1) such plan or contract shall be treated as
being operated in accordance with the terms of the
plan during the period described in subsection
(b)(2)(A); and
110
(2) such plan shall not fail to meet the require-
ments of section 411(d)(6) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 by reason of such amendment.
(b) AMENDMENTS TO WHICH SECTION APPLIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—This section shall apply to
any amendment to any plan or annuity contract
which is made—
(A) pursuant to any amendment made by
this title, or pursuant to any regulation issued
under this title; and
(B) on or before the last day of the first
plan year beginning on or after January 1,
2003.
In the case of a governmental plan (as defined in
section 414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986), this paragraph shall be applied by sub-
stituting ‘‘2005’’ for ‘‘2003’’.
(2) CONDITIONS.—This section shall not apply
to any amendment unless—
(A) during the period—
(i) beginning on the date the legisla-
tive or regulatory amendment described in
paragraph (1)(A) takes effect (or in the
case of a plan or contract amendment not
required by such legislative or regulatory
111
amendment, the effective date specified by
the plan); and
(ii) ending on the date described in
paragraph (1)(B) (or, if earlier, the date
the plan or contract amendment is adopt-
ed),
the plan or contract is operated as if such plan
or contract amendment were in effect; and
(B) such plan or contract amendment ap-
plies retroactively for such period.
TITLE III—ESTATE TAX RELIEF
Subtitle A—Reductions of Estate
and Gift Tax Rates
SEC. 301. REDUCTIONS OF ESTATE AND GIFT TAX RATES.
(a) MAXIMUM RATE OF TAX REDUCED TO 50 PER-
CENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The table contained in sec-
tion 2001(c)(1) is amended by striking the two high-
est brackets and inserting the following:
‘‘Over $2,500,000 ..........................
$1,025,800, plus 50% of the excess
over $2,500,000.’’.
(2) PHASE-IN OF REDUCED RATE.—Subsection
(c) of section 2001 is amended by adding at the end
the following new paragraph:
‘‘(3) PHASE-IN
OF
REDUCED
RATE.—In the
case of decedents dying, and gifts made, during
112
2001, the last item in the table contained in para-
graph (1) shall be applied by substituting ‘53%’ for
‘50%’.’’.
(b) 
REPEAL
OF
PHASEOUT
OF
GRADUATED
RATES.—Subsection (c) of section 2001 is amended by
striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraph (3),
as added by subsection (a), as paragraph (2).
(c) ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS OF RATES OF TAX.—
Subsection (c) of section 2001, as so amended, is amended
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(3) PHASEDOWN OF TAX.—In the case of es-
tates of decedents dying, and gifts made, during any
calendar year after 2002—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in
subparagraph (C), the tentative tax under this
subsection shall be determined by using a table
prescribed by the Secretary (in lieu of using the
table contained in paragraph (1)) which is the
same as such table; except that—
‘‘(i) each of the rates of tax shall be
reduced by the number of percentage
points determined under subparagraph
(B), and
113
‘‘(ii) the amounts setting forth the tax
shall be adjusted to the extent necessary to
reflect the adjustments under clause (i).
‘‘(B) PERCENTAGE
POINTS
OF
REDUC-
TION.—
The number of
‘‘For calendar year:
percentage points is:
2003 .............................................................................
1.0
2004 .............................................................................
2.0.
‘‘(C) TABLE FOR YEARS AFTER 2004.—The
table applicable under this subsection to estates
of decedents dying, and gifts made, during cal-
endar year 2004 shall apply to estates of dece-
dents dying, and gifts made, after calendar year
2004.
‘‘(D) COORDINATION
WITH
CREDIT
FOR
STATE
DEATH
TAXES.—Rules similar to the
rules of subparagraph (A) shall apply to the
table contained in section 2011(b) except that
the Secretary shall prescribe percentage point
reductions which maintain the proportionate re-
lationship (as in effect before any reduction
under this paragraph) between the credit under
section 2011 and the tax rates under subsection
(c).’’.
(d) EFFECTIVE DATES.—