Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 14, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: New Employer Pension Plans Must Be 401(k) Plans and Not 403(b) or 457 Plans Title II: Safe Annuities and Trusts Title III: Enhanced Portability of Retirement Plans Title IV: Credit for Pension Plan Startup Costs of Small Employers Title V: Miscellaneous Improvements to Pension Plans 21st Century Retirement Savings Act - Title I: New Employer Pension Plans Must Be 401(k) Plans and Not 403(b) or 457 Plans - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require new State and local government and tax-exempt organization pension plans to be 401(k) plans. Title II: Safe Annuities and Trusts - Requires employers to establish SAFE annuities (a defined individual retirement annuity). Title III: Enhanced Portability of Retirement Plans - Permits specified rollovers. Makes other revisions concerning portability. Title IV: Credit for Pension Plan Startup Costs of Small Employers - Establishes a small employer pension plan cost startup credit. Title V: Miscellaneous Improvements to Pension Plans - Permits IRA "catch-up" contributions. Repeals the 25 percent limitation on defined contribution plans. Provides for faster vesting of employer matching contributions. Revises provisions concerning: (1) pension benefit statements; and (2) assignment and alienation. Sets penalties for pension plans failing to meet requirements.
Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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