FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

DOL - 651 - Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans	Agency Name	Department of Labor
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	651
Original Establishment Date	9/2/1974	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/about-ebsa/ab...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	15
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Executive Secretary, Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Plans
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	12/2/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Pinar
Date Of Renewal Charter	12/2/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Shapiro
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	2026938448
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	29 U.S.C. 1142	Designated Federal Officer Email*	shapiro.pinar@dol.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	9/2/1974
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans (ERISA Advisory Council or Council) represents various interest groups and advises the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) in matters relating the Secretary's responsibilities under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The committee reports to the Secretary through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). The Council holds open meetings at which the public is invited to comment. The Council submits reports to the Secretary with recommendations based on the findings.
How is membership balanced?*	The Council was established pursuant to the authority in Section 512(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Of the members appointed, three represent employee organizations, three represent employers, three represent the general public, and one each from the following fields: insurance, corporate trust, actuarial counseling, investment counseling, investment management and accounting. No more than eight members of the Advisory Council may be of the same political party. In addition, members’ selection follows a membership balance plan.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Council meets at least four times a year and at such other times as the Secretary of Labor requires, per section 512(a)(1) of ERISA of 1974. The Council's continuance is mandated by law. Typically, the Council meets five times in each Council (calendar) year. The meetings have a full agenda and are used to hear testimony and work on the issues the Council is studying each year.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The ERISA Advisory Council is required by statute. As a body, it is unique in its composition. No other organization exists that possesses the professional and technical diversification of views, philosophy, opinions, backgrounds and expertise found in the members of the Council. Therefore, information and advice might not be readily available from other sources.
Why close or partially close meetings?	N/A.
Recommendation Remarks	None.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	Yes
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	Yes
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment	The agency has updated publications in several instances along the lines of Council recommendations.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	N/A.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	N/A.	Grants Review Comment	N/A.
Number Of Recommendations*	218	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The Council has existed since 1974. Each year, the Council consults with EBSA and chooses two or three topics to study and generally makes several recommendations per topic. Since FY 2002, the Council has made 218 distinct recommendations. During 2023, the Advisory Council studied the following issues: (1) Recordkeeping in the Electronic Age; and (2) Long-Term Disability Benefits and Mental Health Disparity. During 2024, the Advisory Council studied the following topics: (1) Claims and Appeals Procedures; and (2) Qualified Default Investment Alternatives (QDIAs) - Start to Finish, Default to Payout.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	20.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	While EBSA has implemented many of the recommendations provided by the Council, the agency does not specifically track this information in this way. There are many complications involved in such a calculation, including that many of the Council’s recommendations were not for specific EBSA action but instead either stated support for actions already underway by EBSA, called for actions beyond the jurisdiction of EBSA, or necessitated statutory changes. Further, in other cases, actions recommended by the Council are currently under consideration and are in some form of completion, but have not yet been implemented. However, as mentioned above, EBSA has implemented many of the Council’s recommendations throughout the years, including the following recent examples: (1) In 2022, EBSA’s outreach and education program sought to engage underserved communities, as recommended by the 2021 ERISA Advisory Council, by conducting national webcasts on retirement security, financial literacy and financial wellness topics geared towards women, the Hispanic community (conducted in Spanish), new entrants to the workforce, and others. (2) In 2023, EBSA issued final rules on changes to its Form 5500 annual reports, updating requirements to allow for improved reporting of pooled employer plans and multiple employer plans, in response to a 2014 ERISA Advisory Council report that recommended the DOL facilitate the use of multiple employer plans and similar arrangements. (3) In 2024, EBSA updated its guidance on cybersecurity, confirming that it applies to all types of plans governed by ERISA, including health and welfare plans, and all employee retirement benefit plans. The guidance was responsive to a 2022 ERISA Advisory Council recommendation that DOL clarify that the Cybersecurity Program Best Practices and Tips for Hiring a Service Provider with Strong Cybersecurity Practices apply to health benefit plan fiduciaries.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	20.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	See statement in "% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment."	Access Other	Yes
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	Committee documents are available through the EBSA Public Disclosure Room in Room N 1515, DOL Building, at 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. Some documents are available on the ERISA Advisory Council webpage on the EBSA website.
Agency Feedback Comment*	The agency provides updates to members at the Council meetings, including information on agency actions attributable to recommendations of the Council. The Council meetings are open to the public and agency feedback provided at meetings is included in the meeting minutes.	Narrative Description*	The ERISA Advisory Council represents various interest groups and provides recommendations to the Secretary of Labor for carrying out the Secretary’s responsibilities with respect to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/13/2025 12:46 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Finance Investment Health Health Care Retirement Employee Welfare Pensions Retirement

Custom Links

Committee Level Reports