On December 18, 2007, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced a proposal regarding the assessment of civil penalties against plan administrators who fail to disclose certain documents to participants, beneficiaries and others as required under the Pension Protection Act. Section 502(c)(4) of the Act allows the DOL to assess civil monetary penalties of up to $1,000 per day against plan administrators for violating the new disclosure requirements. The proposed regulation discusses the administrative procedures for assessing and contesting such penalties.

The complete text of the proposal is available at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/regs/fedreg/proposed/12192007.htm.