Advisory Opinions

Requests for interpretations and other rulings under Title 1 of ERISA are handled by the Office of Regulations and Interpretations under the provisions established by ERISA Procedure 76-1.  The office answers inquiries from individuals and organizations in the form of advisory opinions, which apply the law to a specific set of facts, or information letters, which merely call attention to well established principles or interpretations.

Data Dictionary

1992
AO/ Date/ Reference Recipient Description of Request
01/27/1992
3(40)
514(b)(6)

Ms. Sandra Milburn 
Investigator 
Texas State Board of Insurance 
1110 San Jacinto 
Austin, Texas 78701

Whether a self-funded health benefit program sponsored by Advantage Corporate Services Inc is a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA), within the meaning of ERISA section 3(40) and, if so, whether the application of the Texas insurance laws would be inconsistent with the provisions of ERISA.

01/21/1992
3(2)

Mr. Barry S. Slevin 
Slevin & Hart, P.C. 
1625 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. 
Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20036

Whether the Food Employers Labor Relations Association and Retail Store Employees Union Severance Plan would be a severance pay plan described in Department of Labor regulation section 29 C.F.R. 2510.3-2(b) if certain described acts occur.

01/17/1992
103(a)
103(e)
401(b)

Mr. James A. Kinder
Executive Vice President
Self-Insurance Institute of America, Inc
1700 East Dyer Road, Suite 165
P.O. Box 15466
Santa Ana, California 92705

Whether a stop-loss insurance policy purchase by the employer sponsoring a welfare benefit plan that provides benefits exclusively out of the employer general assets would be assets of the plan under ERISA.

01/17/1992
104
3(1)

Gary N. Begley, Treasurer
Southern Labor Union
805 East Main Street
P.O. Box Q
Cumberland, Kentucky 40823

Whether the Emergency Relief Fund of the Southern Labor Union is an unfunded dues financed welfare plan maintained by an employee organization within the meaning of Department of Labor regulation section 29 C.F.R. 2520.104-26 and therefore exempt from filing certain reports with the Department or disclosing certain information to participants.

1991
AO/ Date/ Reference Recipient Description of Request
02/26/1991
3(33)
4(b)(2)

Mr. Robert D. Rothacker
Michael Best & Friedrich
100 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-4108

Whether several employee benefit plans of the St. Mary's Hospital, Inc. constitute church plans within the meaning of section 3(33) of title I of ERISA and, accordingly, whether the plans are excluded from the requirements of title I of ERISA by section 4(b)(2).

02/01/1991
3(40)
514(b)(6)

Ms. Jennifer Loyd
Assistant Chief Counsel
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
500 James Robertson Parkway
Volunteer Plaza Building, 5th Floor
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Whether the National Employees and Operators Association Trust is saved from such authority under the general preemption provision of section 514(a) of title I of ERISA because it is a MEWA or is subject to the applicable regulatory authority of the state of Tennessee's insurance law.

01/30/1991
3(1)

Mr. G.A. Finch
Querrey & Harrow, Ltd.
La Salle Bank Building
Suite 3600
135 South La Salle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603-4784

Whether the Construction Industry Service Corporation Trust (the CISCO Trust) is an employee welfare benefit plan within the meaning of section 3(1) of title I of ERISA.

01/22/1991
3(40)

Mark G. Heacox
Vice President
Sales & Marketing
WHP
Rubin Icot Center
14440 Myerlake Circle
Clearwater, Florida 34620

Whether the Florida Association of Blood Banks Group Insurance Trust (the Trust), created as a Voluntary Employee Benefit Association Trust, is a MEWA within the meaning of ERISA section 3(40) and subject to state regulation to the extent provided in section 514(b)(6)(A).

01/15/1991
3(1)
3(40)
514(a)
514(b)(6)

Mr. Gerald Grimes
Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner
1901 N. Walnut
P.O. Box 53808
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73158-3408

Whether Diversified Industrial Group (DIG), a self- insured or partially self- insured trust that provides health and other benefits to members of the International Union of Petroleum and Industrial Workers, is an "employee welfare benefit plan" within the meaning of ERISA section 3(1). Whether state regulation is preempted under ERISA section 514(a).

01/14/1991
3(40)
514(b)(6)

Ms. Christine Phillips
Investigator
Oregon Department of Insurance and Finance
21 Labor and Industries Building, Room 440-2
Salem, Oregon 97310

Whether the Associated General Contractors of America, Inc. (AGC) Health Benefit Trust (the Trust) is a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) within the meaning of section 3(40) of title I of ERISA and therefore subject to the applicable regulatory authority of the State of Oregon.