[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6500 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6500
To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the automatic
enrollment of new participants in the Thrift Savings Plan, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 15, 2008
Mr. Waxman (for himself, Mr. Tom Davis of Virginia, and Mr. Davis of
Illinois) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the automatic
enrollment of new participants in the Thrift Savings Plan, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Thrift Savings
Plan Enhancement Act of 2008''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Automatic enrollments.
Sec. 3. Qualified Roth contribution program.
Sec. 4. Authority to establish self-directed investment options.
Sec. 5. Reporting requirements.
Sec. 6. Acknowledgement of risk.
SEC. 2. AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENTS.
(a) Automatic Enrollment of New Participants.--
(1) In general.--Section 8432(b) of title 5, United States
Code, is amended by striking paragraphs (2) through (4) and
inserting the following:
``(2)(A) The Board shall by regulation provide for new participants
to be automatically enrolled to make contributions under subsection (a)
at the default percentage of basic pay.
``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the default percentage shall
be equal to 3 percent or such other percentage, not less than 2 percent
nor more than 5 percent, as the Board may by regulation prescribe.
``(C) The regulations shall include provisions under which any
individual who would otherwise be automatically enrolled in accordance
with subparagraph (A) may--
``(i) modify the percentage or amount to be contributed
pursuant to automatic enrollment, effective from the start of
such enrollment; or
``(ii) decline automatic enrollment altogether.
``(D) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `new participant'
means any individual participating in the Thrift Savings Plan pursuant
to an appointment or election which occurs after any regulations under
subparagraph (A) first take effect.
``(E) Sections 8351(a)(1), 8440a(a)(1), 8440b(a)(1), 8440c(a)(1),
8440d(a)(1), and 8440e(a)(1) shall be applied in a manner consistent
with the purposes of this paragraph.''.
(2) Technical amendment.--Section 8432(b)(1) of title 5,
United States Code, is amended by striking the parenthetical
matter in subparagraph (B).
(b) Default Investments.--Section 8438(c)(2) of title 5, United
States Code, is amended to read as follows:
``(2) If an election has not been made with respect to any sums in
the Thrift Savings Fund which are available for investment, the
Executive Director shall invest such sums in--
``(A) the Government Securities Investment Fund; or
``(B) such alternative fund or funds (in lieu of the fund
under subparagraph (A)) as the Board may designate in
regulations.
The designation of an alternative fund by regulations under
subparagraph (B) may be made only if, in the judgment of the Board,
such designation would be in the best interests of participants. Any
decision under the preceding sentence shall be made after consultation
with the Employee Thrift Advisory Council (established under section
8473).''.
SEC. 3. QUALIFIED ROTH CONTRIBUTION PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 84 of title 5, United
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 8432c the following:
``Sec. 8432d. Qualified Roth contribution program
``(a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
``(1) the term `qualified Roth contribution program' means
a program described in paragraph (1) of section 402A(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which meets the requirements of
paragraph (2) of such section; and
``(2) the terms `designated Roth contribution' and
`elective deferral' have the meanings given such terms in
section 402A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
``(b) Authority To Establish.--The Board shall by regulation
provide for the inclusion in the Thrift Savings Plan of a qualified
Roth contribution program, under such terms and conditions as the Board
may prescribe.
``(c) Required Provisions.--The regulations under subsection (b)
shall include--
``(1) provisions under which an election to make designated
Roth contributions may be made--
``(A) by any individual who is eligible to make
contributions under section 8351, 8432(a), 8440a,
8440b, 8440c, 8440d, or 8440e; and
``(B) by any individual, not described in
subparagraph (A), who is otherwise eligible to make
elective deferrals under the Thrift Savings Plan;
``(2) any provisions which may, as a result of the
enactment of this section, be necessary in order to clarify the
meaning of any reference to an `account' made in section
8432(f), 8433, 8434(d), 8435, 8437, or any other provision of
law; and
``(3) any other provisions which may be necessary to carry
out this section.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 84 of title 5,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 8432c the following:
``8432d. Qualified Roth contribution program.''.
SEC. 4. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH SELF-DIRECTED INVESTMENT OPTIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 8438(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding after subparagraph (E) the following:
``(F) self-directed investment options, if the
Board authorizes such options under paragraph (5).''.
(b) Requirements.--Section 8438(b) of title 5, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(5)(A) The Board may authorize the addition of self-directed
investment options under the Thrift Savings Plan if the Board
determines that the addition of such options would be in the best
interests of participants.
``(B) The self-directed investment options shall be limited to--
``(i) low-cost, passively-managed index funds that offer
diversification benefits; and
``(ii) other investment options, if the Board determines
the options to be appropriate retirement investment vehicles
for participants.
``(C) The Board shall ensure that any administrative expenses
related to self-directed investment options are borne solely by the
participants who use such options.
``(D) The Board may establish such other terms and conditions for
self-directed investment options as the Board considers appropriate to
protect the interests of participants, including requirements relating
to risk disclosure.
``(E) The Board shall consult with the Employee Thrift Advisory
Council (established under section 8473) before establishing any self-
directed investment option.''.
SEC. 5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Annual Report.--The Board shall, not later than March 31 of
each year, submit to Congress an annual report on the operations of the
Thrift Savings Plan. Such report shall include, for the prior calendar
year, information on the number of participants as of the last day of
such prior calendar year, the median balance in participants' accounts
as of such last day, demographic information on participants, the
percentage allocation of amounts among investment funds or options, the
status of the development and implementation of self-directed
investment options, and such other information as the Board considers
appropriate. A copy of each annual report under this subsection shall
be made available to the public through an Internet website.
(b) Reporting of Fees and Other Information.--
(1) In general.--The Board shall include in the periodic
statements provided to participants under section 8439(c) the
amount of the investment management fees, administrative
expenses, and any other fees or expenses paid with respect to
each investment fund and option under the Thrift Savings Plan.
Any such statement shall also provide--
(A) information on the employee's estimated income
replacement rate, as determined by the Executive
Director based on the employee's most recent account
balance and rates of contributions; and
(B) a statement notifying participants as to how
they may access the annual report described in
subsection (a) as well as any other information
concerning the Thrift Savings Plan that might be
useful.
(2) Use of estimates.--For purposes of providing the
information required under this subsection, the Executive
Director may provide a reasonable and representative estimate
of any fees or expenses described in paragraph (1) and shall
indicate any such estimate as being such an estimate. Any such
estimate shall be based on the previous year's experience.
(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
(1) the term ``Board'' has the meaning given such term by
8401(5) of title 5, United States Code;
(2) the term ``participant'' has the meaning given such
term by section 8471(3) of title 5, United States Code; and
(3) the term ``account'' means an account established under
section 8439 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK.
(a) In General.--Section 8439(d) of title 5, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking the matter after ``who elects to invest
in'' and before ``shall sign an acknowledgement'' and inserting
``any investment fund or option under this chapter, other than
the Government Securities Investment Fund,''; and
(2) by striking ``either such Fund'' and inserting ``any
such fund or option''.
(b) Coordination With Provisions Relating to Investments in the
Absence of an Election.--Subsection (d) of section 8439 of title 5,
United States Code (as amended by subsection (a)) is further amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (d)(1);
and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2)(A) In the case of an investment made under section 8438(c)(2)
in any fund or option to which paragraph (1) would otherwise apply, the
participant involved shall, for purposes of this subsection, be
deemed--
``(i) to have elected to invest in such fund or option; and
``(ii) to have executed the acknowledgement required under
paragraph (1).
``(B)(i) The Executive Director shall prescribe regulations under
which written notice shall be provided to a participant whenever an
investment is made under section 8438(c)(2)(B) on behalf of such
particpant in the absence of an affirmative election described in
section 8438(c)(1).
``(ii) The regulations shall ensure that any such notice shall be
provided to the participant within 7 calendar days after the effective
date of the default election.
``(C) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `participant' has
the meaning given such term by section 8471(3).''.
(c) Coordination With Provisions Relating to Fiduciary
Responsibilities, Liabilities, and Penalties.--Section 8477(e)(1)(C) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph
(C)(i); and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) A fiduciary shall not be liable under subparagraph (A), and
no civil action may be brought against a fiduciary--
``(I) for providing for the automatic enrollment of a
participant in accordance with section 8432(b)(2)(A); or
``(II) for enrolling a participant in a default investment
fund in accordance with section 8438(c)(2)(B).''.
<all>