{"abstract":"The Department of Labor is adopting in this document a new, additional safe harbor for employee benefit plan administrators to use electronic media, as a default, to furnish information to participants and beneficiaries of plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The rule allows plan administrators who satisfy specified conditions to provide participants and beneficiaries with a notice that certain disclosures will be made available on a website, or to furnish disclosures via email. Individuals who prefer to receive disclosures on paper can request paper copies of disclosures and opt out of electronic delivery entirely. The Department expects the rule to enhance the effectiveness of ERISA disclosures and significantly reduce the costs and burden associated with furnishing many of the recurring and most costly disclosures. In addition to benefiting workers, this rule will immediately assist employers and the retirement plan industry as they face a number of economic challenges due to the COVID-19 emergency, including logistical and other impediments to compliance with ERISA's disclosure requirements.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF LABOR","name":"Labor Department","id":271,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/labor-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/271","parent_id":null,"slug":"labor-department"},{"raw_name":"Employee Benefits Security Administration","name":"Employee Benefits Security Administration","id":131,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/employee-benefits-security-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/131","parent_id":271,"slug":"employee-benefits-security-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2020/05/27/2020-10951.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":2520,"title":29},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":2560,"title":29}],"citation":"85 FR 31884","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective date: The final rule is effective on July 27, 2020.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":[],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2020-10951","effective_on":"2020-07-27","end_page":31924,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2020/05/27/2020-10951.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/05/27/2020-10951/default-electronic-disclosure-by-employee-pension-benefit-plans-under-erisa","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2020-10951?publication_date=2020-05-27","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2020-05-27/2020-10951/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":41,"page_views":{"count":38329,"last_updated":"2026-04-04 14:15:05 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-05-27/pdf/2020-10951.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-10951.pdf?1590065132","publication_date":"2020-05-27","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2020/05/27/2020-10951.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1210-AB90":{"issue":"201910","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1210-AB90/default-electronic-disclosures-by-employee-pension-benefit-plans-under-erisa","title":"Default Electronic Disclosures by Employee Pension Benefit Plans Under ERISA","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201910&RIN=1210-AB90&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Economically Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["1210-AB90"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1210-AB90/default-electronic-disclosures-by-employee-pension-benefit-plans-under-erisa","title":"Default Electronic Disclosures by Employee Pension Benefit Plans Under ERISA"},"comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=EBSA-2019-0005","supporting_documents_count":0,"docket_id":"EBSA-2019-0005","regulation_id_number":"1210-AB90","title":"Default Electronic Disclosure by Employee Pension Benefit Plans under Employee Retirement Income Security Act","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2020-05-31T09:00:08Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":31884,"subtype":null,"title":"Default Electronic Disclosure by Employee Pension Benefit Plans Under ERISA","toc_doc":null,"toc_subject":null,"topics":["Employee benefit plans","Pensions"],"type":"Rule","volume":85}