September 2, 1974 - 179 Pub. Law 93-406 statement in writing, under oath or otherwise as the corporation shall determine, as to all the facts and circumstances concerning the matter to be investigated. (b) For the purpose of any such investigation, or any other proceeding under this title, any member of the board of directors of the corporation, or any officer designated by the chairman, may administer oaths and affirmations, subpena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, or other records which the corporation deems relevant or material to the inquiry. (c) In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpena issued to, any person, the corporation may invoke the aid of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which such investigation or proceeding is carried on, or where such person resides or carries on business, in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, and other records. The court may issue an order requiring such person to appear before the corporation, or member or officer designated by the corporation, and to produce records or to give testimony related to the matter under investigation or in question. Any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof. All process in any such case may be served in the judicial district in which such person is an inhabitant or may be found. (d) In order to avoid unnecessary expense and duplication of functions among government agencies, the corporation may make such arrangements or agreements for cooperation or mutual assistance in the performance of its functions under this title as is practicable and consistent with law. The corporation may utilize the facilities or services of any department, agency, or establishment of the United States or of any State or political subdivision of a State, including the services of any of its employees, with the lawful consent of such department, agency, or establishment. The head of each department, agency, or establishment of the United States shall cooperate with the corporation and, to the extent permitted by law, provide such information and facilities as it may request for its assistance in the performance of its functions under this title. The Attorney General or his representative shall receive from the corporation for appropriate action such evidence developed in the performance of its functions under this title as may be found to warrant consideration for criminal prosecution under the provisions of this or any other Federal law. (e) (1) Civil actions may be brought by the corporation for appropriate relief, legal or equitable or both, to redress violations of the provisions of this title. (2) Except as otherwise provided in this title, where such an action is brought in a district court of the United States, it may be brought in the district where the plan is administered, where the violation took place, or where a defendant resides or may be found, and process may be served in any other district where a defendant resides or may be found. 88 STAT. 1007 (3) The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction Jurisdiction. of actions brought by the corporation under this title without regard to the amount in controversy in any such action. (4) Upon application by the corporation to a court of the United States for expedited handling of any case in which the corporation is a party, it is the duty of that court to assign such case for hearing at the earliest practical date and to cause such case to be in every way expedited. (5) In any action brought under this title, whether to collect premiums, penalties, and interest under section 4007 or for any other Post, p. 1013. 88 STAT. 1008 29 USC 1304. Post, p. 1021. Ante, p. 832. Pub. Law 93-406 180 September 2, 1974 purpose, the court may award to the corporation all or a portion of the costs of litigation incurred by the corporation in connection with such action. (f) Any participant, beneficiary, plan administrator, or employee adversely affected by any action of the corporation, or by a receiver or trustee appointed by the corporation, with respect to a plan in which such participant, beneficiary, plan administrator or employer has an interest, may bring an action against the corporation, receiver, or trustee in the appropriate court. For purposes of this subsection the term "appropriate court" means the United States district court before which proceedings under section 4041 or 4042 of this title are being conducted, or if no such proceedings are being conducted the United States district court for the district in which the plan has its principal office, or the United States district court for the District of Columbia. The district courts of the United States have jurisdiction of actions brought under this subsection without regard to the amount in controversy. TEMPORARY AUTHORITY FOR INITIAL PERIOD SEC. 4004. (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this title, the corporation may, upon receipt of notice that a plan is to be terminated or upon making a determination described in section 4042, appoint a receiver whose powers shall take effect immediately. The receiver shall assume control of such plan and its assets, protecting the interests of all interested persons during subsequent proceedings. (b) (1) Within a reasonable time, not exceeding 20 days, after the appointment of a receiver under subsection (a), the corporation shall apply to an appropriate United States district court for a decree approving such appointment. The court to which application is made shall issue a decree approving such appointment unless it determines that such approval would not be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan. (2) If the court to which application is made under paragraph (1) dismisses the application with prejudice, or if the corporation fails to apply for a decree under paragraph (1) within 20 days after the appointment of the receiver, the receiver shall transfer all assets and records of the plan held by him to the plan administrator within 3 business days after such dismissal or the expiration of the 20 day period. The receiver shall not be liable to the plan or to any other person for his acts as receiver other than for willful misconduct, or for conduct in violation of the provisions of part 4 of subpart B of title I of this Act (except to the extent that the provisions of section 4042 (d) (1) (A) provide otherwise). (c) The corporation is authorized, as an alternative to appointing a receiver under subsection (a), to direct a plan administrator to apply to a district court of the United States for the appointment of a receiver to assume control of the plan and its assets for the purpose of protecting the interests of all interested persons until the plan can be terminated under the provisions of this title. (d) A receiver appointed under this section has the powers of a trustee under section 4042 (d) (1) (A) and (B), and shall report to the corporation and the court on the plan from time to time as required by either the corporation or the court. As soon as practicable after his appointment, a receiver appointed under this section shall determine whether the assets of the plan are sufficient to discharge when due all obligations of the plan with respect to benefits guaranteed Post, p. 1025. under this title in accordance with the requirements of section 4044. If the determination of the receiver is approved by the corporation and the court, the receiver shall proceed as if he were a trustee appointed under section 4042. September 2, 1974 - 181 Pub. Law 93-406 (e) A receiver may not be appointed under this section more than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (f) In addition to its other powers under this title, for only the first 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act the corporation may(1) contract for printing without regard to the provisions of chapter 5 of title 44, United States Code, (2) waive any notice required under this title if the corporation finds that a waiver is necessary or appropriate, 88 STAT. 1009 44 USC 501. (3) extend the 90-day period referred to in section 4041 (a) for Post, p. 1020. an additional 90 days without the agreement of the plan administrator and without application to a court as required under section 4041(d), and (4) waive the application of the provisions of sections 4062, 4063, and 4064 to, or reduce the liability imposed under such sections on, any employer with respect to a plan terminating during that 270 day period if the corporation determines that such waiver or reduction is necessary to avoid unreasonable hardship in any case in which the employer was not able, as a practical matter, to continue the plan. ESTABLISHMENT OF PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY FUNDS Post, pp. 1029, 1030. 1018. SEC. 4005. (a) There are established on the books of the Treasury 29 USC 1305. of the United States four revolving funds to be used by the corporation in carrying out its duties under this title. One of the funds shall be used in connection with benefits guaranteed under sections 4022 and 4023 (but not non-basic benefits) with respect to plans other than Post, pp. 1016multiemployer plans, one of the funds shall be used with respect to such benefits guaranteed under such sections (other than non-basic benefits) for multiemployer plans, one of the funds shall be used with respect to non-basic benefits, if any are guaranteed by the corporation under section 4022, for plans which are not multiemployer plans, and the remaining fund shall be used with respect to non-basic benefits, if any are guaranteed by the corporation under section 4022, for multiemployer plans. Whenever in this title reference is made to the term "fund" the reference shall be considered to refer to the appropriate fund established under this subsection. (b) (1) Each fund established under this section shall be credited with the appropriate portion of— (A) funds borrowed under subsection (c), (B) premiums, penalties, interest, and charges collected under this title, (C) the value of the assets of a plan administered under section 4042 by a trustee to the extent that they exceed the liabilities of such plan, (D) the amount of any employer liability payments under subtitle D, to the extent that such payments exceed liabilities of the plan (taking into account all other plan assets), (E) earnings on investments of the fund or on assets credited to the fund under this subsection, and (F) receipts from any other operations under this title. (2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (a), each fund shall be available (A) for making such payments as the corporation determines are necessary to pay benefits guaranteed under section 4022, (B) for making such payments as the corporation determines are necessary under section 4023, 84 Stat. 830. 31 USC 757c. 29 USC 1306. Post, p. 1016. (C) to purchase assets from a plan being terminated by the corporation when the corporation determines such purchase will best protect the interests of the corporation, participants in the plan being terminated, and other insured plans, (D) to repay to the Secretary of the Treasury such sums as may be borrowed (together with interest thereon) under subsection (c), and (E) to pay the operational and administrative expenses of the corporation, including reimbursement of the expenses incurred by the Department of the Treasury in maintaining the funds, and the Comptroller General in auditing the corporation. (3) Whenever the corporation determines that the moneys of any fund are in excess of current needs, it may request the investment of such amounts as it determines advisable by the Secretary of the Treasury in obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States but, until all borrowings under subsection (c) have been repaid, the obligations in which such excess moneys are invested may not yield a rate of return in excess of the rate of interest payable on such borrowings. (c) The corporation is authorized to issue to the Secretary of the Treasury notes or other obligations in an aggregate amount of not to exceed $100,000,000, in such forms and denominations, bearing such maturities, and subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. Such notes or other obligations shall bear interest at a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, taking into consideration the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States of comparable maturities during the month preceding the issuance of such notes or other obligations of the corporation. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to purchase any notes or other obligations issued by the corporation under this subsection, and for that purpose he is authorized to use as a public debt transaction the proceeds from the sale of any securities issued under the Second Liberty Bond Act, as amended, and the purposes for which securities may be issued under that Act, as amended, are extended to include any purchase of such notes and obligations. The Secretary of the Treasury may at any time sell any of the notes or other obligations acquired by him under this subsection. All redemptions, purchases, and sales by the Secretary of the Treasury of such notes or other obligations shall be treated as public debt transactions of the United States. PREMIUM RATES SEC. 4006. (a) (1) The corporation shall prescribe such insurance (A) basic benefits guaranteed by it under section 4022 for- September 2, 1974 · 183 Pub. Law 93-406 88 STAT. 1011 (B) employers insured under section 4023 against liability Post, p. 1019. under subtitle D of this title, and (C) non-basic benefits. Except as provided in paragraph (3), the corporation may revise such schedules whenever it determines that revised rates are necessary, but a revised schedule described in subparagraph (A) shall apply only to plan years beginning more than 30 days after the date on which the Congress approves such revised schedule by a concurrent resolution. (3) Except as provided in paragraph (4), the rate for all plans for benefits guaranteed under section 4022 (other than non-basic benefits) Post, p. 1016. with respect to plan years ending no more than 35 months after the effective date of this title is (A) in the case of each plan which is not a multiemployer plan, an amount equal to one dollar for each individual who is a participant in such plan at any time during the plan year; and (B) in the case of a multiemployer plan, an amount equal to fifty cents for each individual who is a participant in such plan at any time during such plan year. The rate applicable under this paragraph to any plan the plan year of which does not begin on the date of enactment of this Act is a fraction of the rate described in the preceding sentence, the numerator of which is the number of months which end before the date on which the new plan year commences and the denominator of which is 12. The corporation is authorized to prescribe regulations under which the rate described in subparagraph (B) will not apply to the same participant in any multiemployer plan more than once for any plan year. (4) Upon notification filed with the corporation not less than 60 days after the date on which the corporation publishes the rates applicable under paragraph (5), at the election of a plan the rate applicable to that plan with respect to the second full plan year to which this section applies beginning after the date of enactment of this Act shall be the greater of (A) an alternative rate determined under paragraph (5), or (B) one-half of the rate applicable to the plan under paragraph (3). In the case of a multiemployer plan, the rate prescribed by this paragraph (at the election of a plan) for the second full plan year is also the applicable rate for plan years succeeding the second full plan year and ending before the full plan year first commencing after December 31, 1977. (5) In carrying out its authority under paragraph (1) to establish premium rates and bases for basic benefits guaranteed under section 4022 the corporation shall establish such rates and bases in coverage schedules for plan years beginning 24 months or more after the date of enactment of this Act in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph. The corporation shall publish the rate schedules first applicable under this paragraph in the Federal Register not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (A) The corporation may establish annual premiums composed of (i) a rate applicable to the excess, if any, of the present value of the basic benefits of the plan which are guaranteed over the value of the assets of the plan, not in excess of 0.1 percent for plans which are not multiemployer plans and not in excess of 0.025 percent for multiemployer plans, and (ii) an additional charge based on the rate applicable to the present value of the basic benefits of the plan which are guaranteed, determined separately for multiemployer plans and for plans which are not multiemployer plans. Publication in Federal Register. |