La. Admin. Code tit. 32 § VII-301
Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 8, August 20, 2024
Section VII-301 - Enrollment in the PlanA. The following applies to compensation deferred under the plan. 1. A participant may not defer any compensation unless a deferral authorization providing for such deferral has been completed by the participant and is filed in good order with the administrator. Such election shall become effective no earlier than the first payroll period after the first day of the month after such new election is made, and shall continue in effect until modified, disallowed or revoked in accordance with the terms of this plan, or until the participant ceases employment with the employer. With respect to a new employee, compensation will be deferred in the payroll period during which a participant first becomes an employee if a deferral authorization providing for such deferral is executed on or before the first day on which the participant becomes an employee. Any prior employee who was a participant in the plan and either revoked their participant agreement, or is rehired by employer, may resume participation in the plan by entering into a participation agreement, which shall take effect no earlier than the first payroll period after the first day of the month after such new participation agreement is entered into by the participant and accepted by the administrator. Any distributions being taken from this plan are to be terminated prior to the resumption of deferrals under the plan. Additionally, if distributions had not begun pursuant to a prior severance from employment, any deferred commencement date elected by such employee with respect to those prior plan assets shall be null and void.2. In signing the participation agreement, the participant elects to participate in this plan and consents to the deferral by the employer of the amount specified in the participation agreement from the participant's gross compensation for each pay period. Such deferral shall continue in effect until modified, disallowed or revoked in accordance with the terms of this plan. Unless the election specifies a later effective date, a change in the amount of the deferral shall take effect as of the first payroll period after the first day of the next following month, or as soon as administratively practicable, if later.3. The minimum amount of compensation deferred under a deferral authorization shall be no less than $20 each month; provided, however, that such minimum deferral shall not apply to a participant whose deferral authorization (or similar form) in effect on October 1, 1984, permitted a smaller deferral, or to a participant who elects to defer not less than 7.5 percent of compensation (voluntary and/or involuntary contributions) in lieu of Social Security coverage (§11332 of the Social Security Act and IRC §3121). The employer retains the right to establish minimum deferral amounts per pay period and to limit the number and/or timing of enrollments into the plan in the participation agreement.4. Notwithstanding §301. A 1, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the administrator may establish procedures whereby each employee becomes a participant in the plan (automatic enrollment) and, as a term or condition of employment, elects to participate in the plan and consents to the deferral by the employer of a specified amount for any payroll period for which a participation agreement is not in effect. In the event such procedures are in place, a participant may elect to defer a different amount of compensation per payroll period, including zero, by entering into a participation agreement. a. Within a reasonable period of time before each plan year, the commission shall give to each employee to whom an automatic enrollment arrangement described in §301. A.4 applies for such year notice of the employee's rights under such arrangement.b. The notice provided for in §301. A.4.a above shall provide an explanation of the employee's rights and obligations under the arrangement, including the right to elect not to have contributions made on the employee's behalf or to have such contributions made at a different percentage. The notice shall also provide an explanation of how contributions made under the arrangement will be invested in the absence of any investment election by the employee.5. Investment Selection and Beneficiary Designationa. The participation election, or such other form as approved by the administrator, shall include the employee's designation of investment funds. Any such election shall remain in effect until a new election is filed. A change in the investment direction shall take effect as of the date provided by the administrator on a uniform basis for all employees.b. Each participant shall initially designate in the participation agreement a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any amounts, which may be distributed in the event of the death of the participant prior to the complete distribution of benefits. A participant may change the designation of beneficiaries at any time by filing with the commission a written notice on a form approved by the commission. If no such designation is in effect at the time of participant's death, or if the designated beneficiary does not survive the participant by 30 days, his beneficiary shall be his surviving spouse, if any, and then his estate.6. Information Provided by the Participant. Each employee enrolling in the plan should provide to the administrator at the time of initial enrollment, and later if there are any changes, any information necessary or advisable, in the sole discretion of the administrator, for the administrator to administer the plan, including, without limitation, whether the employee is a participant in any other eligible plan under Code §457(b)La. Admin. Code tit. 32, § VII-301
Promulgated by the Department of the Treasury, Deferred Compensation Commission, LR 24:1964 (October 1998), amended LR 28:1495 (June 2002), LR 32:119 (January 2006), LR 37:1620 (June 2011).AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with IRC §457 and R.S. 42:1301-1308.