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

1986
AO/ Date/ Reference Recipient Description of Request
03/19/1986

Mr. Richard D. Belford
Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

Whether certain extensions of credit in connection with securities transactions involving PaineWebber, Inc. and employee benefit plans covered by Title I of ERISA, and H.R. 10 plans and individual retirement accounts which are not covered by Title I or ERISA meet the conditions of the exemption contained in of Part V of Prohibited Transaction Exemption 75-1 (40 FR 50845, October 31, 1975) (PTE 75-1)

02/27/1986

Eugene C. Pridgen, Esq.
Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman
3300 NCNB Plaza
Charlotte, NC 28280

Whether certain real estate transactions by the United Systems Employee Retirement Plan (the “Plan) or the Real Estate Fund (the “Fund”) of NCNB National Bank of North Carolina do not constitute prohibited transactions under section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)  whether certain entities are parties-in-interest, as defined in section 3(14) of ERISA, of the Plan or the Fund, and whether and that Mr. Robert L. Jones is a fiduciary within the meaning of section 3(21)(A) of ERISA.

02/18/1986

Mr. Mark S. Wintner
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan
7 Hanover Square
New York, New York 10004-2594

Whether the City Employees Union Local 237 International Brotherhood of Teamsters Training and Educational Fund is excluded from coverage under title I of ERISA by section 4(b)(1) as a "governmental plan" within the meaning of section 3(32) of title I of ERISA.

02/14/1986

Mr. Mark G. Heacox
Account Executive
Wittner Hanahan & Peck, Inc.
P.O. Box 57128
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-7128

Whether the ACE Auto Parts Company, Inc. Employee Benefit Plan meets the requirements of the limited exemption for annual reporting by unfunded and certain insured plans pursuant to 29 C.F.R. §2520.104-44.

02/03/1986

Mr. Joseph J. Jankowski
Hutt, Berkow & Jankowski
Park Professional Building
459 Amboy Avenue
P.O. Box 648
Woodbridge, New Jersey 07095

Whether the Insurance Trust of the New Jersey Builders Association is an "employee welfare benefit plan" within the meaning of section 3(1) of title I of ERISA.

02/03/1986

Mr. William Stix
Attorney at Law
230 South Bemiston Street
Suite 410
St. Louis, Missouri 63105

Whether the St. Louis Police Relief Association's program of benefits is excluded from ERISA title I coverage by ERISA section 4(b)(1) as a governmental plan defined in ERISA section 3(32).

02/03/1986

Mr. J. Paul Jacobson
Quarles & Brady
780 North Water Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-3589

Whether a benefit program provided by the Firemen Relief Association of the City of Milwaukee is a governmental plan within the meaning of section 3(32) of title I of ERISA and therefore is exempt from coverage under that title pursuant to section 4(b)(1) of title I of ERISA.

01/21/1986

Mr. Daniel B. Stone
Ivins, Phillips & Barker
1700 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006

Whether a state law relating to state and municipal taxation of "elective deferrals" of income by participants of plans qualified under section 401(K) of the Internal Revenue Code does not "relate to" an employee benefit plan within the meaning of section 514(a) of ERISA and is therefore not preempted by ERISA.

01/21/1986

Mr. John P. Gallagher
Schubert, Bellwoar, Mallon & Walheim
1330 Two Penn Center Plaza
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-1890

Whether the Retirement Income Plan for the employees of the Sisters of Mt. St. Joseph Convent, Chestnut Hill, is a church plan within the meaning of section 3(33) of title I of ERISA and, accordingly, whether it is excluded from coverage under title I of ERISA by section 4(b)(2) of title I of ERISA.

01/13/1986

Mr. John P. Gallagher
Schubert, Bellwoar, Mallon & Walheim
1330 Two Penn Center Plaza
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-1890

Whether the Merion Mercy Academy Defined Benefit Plan, which is established for for the benefit of lay employees of Merion Mercy Academy; the Convent of the Sisters of Mercy at Merion, Pennsylvania; McAuley Convent; and Waldron Academy, is a church plan within the meaning of section 3(33) of title I of ERISA and, accordingly, whether it is excluded from coverage under title I of ERISA.