WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 29, Labor › Chapter 18

29 U.S.C. 1132: Civil enforcement

Created in 1974 by Public Law 93-406. Changed by 20 later laws. No bill we track in this Congress changes it.

5 other sections of the Code cite this one, including 29 U.S.C. 1002, 29 U.S.C. 1085, 29 U.S.C. 1101, 29 U.S.C. 1140, 29 U.S.C. 1185o.

5 parts of federal rules cite it as their authority, written by Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor (5).

This Congress

No bill we track in the 119th Congress changes this section.

    How it got here

    2022

    • Pub. L. 117–328, §342(c)(2), substituted "section 1025(c) or 1032(a) of this title" for "1025(c) of this title". (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 117–328, §342(c)(1), substituted ", section 1025(a) of this title, or section 1032(a) of this title" for "or section 1025(a) of this title". (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023) Law text · (c)

    2014

    • Pub. L. 113–235 added par. (11). (Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 113–97 redesignated par. (10) relating to ongoing consultation by the Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services as par. (11) and added par. (12). (Cooperative and Small Employer Charity Pension Flexibility Act) Law text · (c)

    2009

    • Pub. L. 111–3, §311(b)(1)(E)(i), which directed the substitution of "(8), or (9)" for "or (8)", could not be executed because the words "or (8)" did not appear after the amendment by Pub. L. 110–233, §101(e)(1). See 2008 Amendment note below. (Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 111–3, §311(b)(1)(E)(ii), added par. (9) and redesignated former par. (9) as (10) relating to Secretarial enforcement authority relating to use of genetic information. (Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009) Law text · (c), (10)

    2008

    • Pub. L. 110–233, §101(e)(1), substituted "(7), (8), or (9)" for "(7), or (8)". (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 110–233, §101(e)(2), substituted "Except as provided in subsections (c)(9) and (a)(6) (with respect to collecting civil penalties under subsection (c)(9)), the Secretary" for "The Secretary". (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008) Law text · (b)
    • Pub. L. 110–458, §102(b)(1)(H), substituted "1021(b)(1)" for "1021(b)(4)". (Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008) Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 110–458, §101(c)(1)(H), substituted "by any person of subsection (j), (k), or (l) of section 1021 of this title or section 1144(e)(3) of this title." for "by any person of subsection (j), (k), or (l) of section 1021 of this title, section 1082(b)(7)(F)(vi) of this title, or … (Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008) Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 110–458, §102(b)(1)(I), inserted "plan" after "multiemployer". (Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008) Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 110–233, §101(e)(3), added par. (9) and redesignated former par. (9) as (10). (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008) Law text · (c), (10)

    2006

    • Pub. L. 109–280, §202(b)(1), substituted "(6), (7), or (8)" for "(6), or (7)". (Pension Protection Act of 2006) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 109–280, §202(c), amended subsec. (a) by striking out "or" at end of par. (8), substituting "; or" for period at end of par. (9), and adding par. (10). (Pension Protection Act of 2006) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 109–280, §508(a)(2)(C), substituted "section 1021(f) of this title, or section 1025(a) of this title" for "or section 1021(f) of this title". (Pension Protection Act of 2006) Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 109–280, §902(f)(2), which directed amendment of par. (4) by substituting ", section 1082(b)(7)(F)(vi) of this title, or section 1144(e)(3) of this title" for "or section 1082(b)(7)(F)(vi) of this title", was executed by making the substitution for "or 1082(b)(7)(F)(iv) of t… (Pension Protection Act of 2006) Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 109–280, §502(b)(2), which directed amendment of par. (4) by substituting "subsection (j), (k), or (l) of section 1021 of this title" for "section 1021(j) or (k) of this title", was executed by making the substitution for "subsection (j) or (k) of section 1021 of this title", to reflect the… (Pension Protection Act of 2006) Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 109–280, §502(a)(2), substituted "subsection (j) or (k) of section 1021 of this title" for "section 1021(j)". (Pension Protection Act of 2006) Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 109–280, §103(b)(2), which directed amendment of par. (4) by substituting "section 1021(j) or 1082(b)(7)(F)(iv) of this title" for "section 1082(b)(7)(F)(iv) of this title", was executed by making the substitution for "section 1082(b)(7)(F)(vi) of this title", to reflect the probable intent… (Pension Protection Act of 2006) Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 109–280, §507(b), substituted "subsection (i) or (m) of section 1021" for "section 1021(i)". (Pension Protection Act of 2006) Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 109–280, §202(b)(2), (3), added par. (8) and redesignated former par. (8) as (9). (Pension Protection Act of 2006) Law text · (c), (9)

    2004

    • Pub. L. 108–218, §103(b), substituted ", section 1021(e)(1) of this title, or section 1021(f) of this title" for "or section 1021(e)(1) of this title". (Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004) Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 108–218, §102(d), inserted "or who fails to meet the requirements of section 1082(d)(12)(E) of this title with respect to any person" after "1021(e)(2) of this title with respect to any person". (Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004) Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 108–218, §104(a)(2), amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: "The Secretary may assess a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation by any person of section 1021(f)(1) of this title." (Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004) Law text · (c)

    2002

    • Pub. L. 107–204, §306(b)(3)(A), substituted "(5), (6), or (7)" for "(5), or (6)". (Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 107–204, §306(b)(3)(B), (C), added par. (7) and redesignated former par. (7) as (8). (Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) Law text · (c), (8)

    1997

    • Pub. L. 105–34, §1503(d)(7), substituted "(5), or (6)" for "or (5)". (Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 105–34, §1503(c)(2)(B), added par. (6) and redesignated former par. (6) as (7). (Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997) Law text · (c), (7)

    1996

    • Pub. L. 104–191, §101(e)(2)(A)(i), substituted "under paragraph (2), (4), or (5) of subsection (c) or under subsection (i) or (l)" for "under subsection (c)(2) or (i) or (l) of this section". (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) Law text · (a)
    • Pub. L. 104–204 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 1191b of this title. (Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997) Law text · (b)
    • Pub. L. 104–191, §101(b), added par. (3). (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) Law text · (b)
    • Pub. L. 104–191, §101(e)(2)(B), inserted at end "For purposes of this paragraph, each violation described in subparagraph (A) with respect to any single participant, and each violation described in subparagraph (B) with respect to any single participant or beneficiary, shall be trea… (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) Law text · (c)
    • Pub. L. 104–191, §101(e)(2)(A)(ii), struck out "For purposes of this paragraph, each violation described in subparagraph (A) with respect to any single participant, and each violation described in subparagraph (B) with respect to any single participant or beneficiary, shall b… (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) Law text · (c)

    1994

    • Pub. L. 103–401, §2, added par. (9). · (a)
    • Pub. L. 103–401, §3, inserted "(or to provide the relief ordered pursuant to subsection (a)(9))" after "to restore all losses to the plan". · (l)
    • Pub. L. 103–465 added subsec. (m). · (m)

    1993

    • Pub. L. 103–66, §4301(c)(1), added pars. (7) and (8). · (a), (8)
    • Pub. L. 103–66, §4301(c)(2), added par. (4). · (c)
    • Pub. L. 103–66, §4301(c)(3), substituted in first sentence "fiduciary, or any person referred to in section 1021(f)(1) of this title" for "or fiduciary" and in second sentence "paragraphs (1)(B) and (7) of subsection (a)" for "subsection (a)(1)(B)". · (e)

    1990

    • Pub. L. 101–508, §12012(d)(2)(A), inserted "or section 1021(e)(1) of this title" after "section 1166 of this title". · (c)
    • Pub. L. 101–508, §12012(d)(2)(B), inserted "or who fails to meet the requirements of section 1021(e)(2) of this title with respect to any person" after first reference to "beneficiary" and "or to such person" after second reference to "beneficiary". · (c)

    1989

    • Pub. L. 101–239, §7881(j)(2), substituted "subsection (c)(2) or (i)" for "subsection (i)". · (a)
    • Pub. L. 101–239, §2101(b), inserted "or (l)" after "subsection (i)". · (a)
    • Pub. L. 101–239, §7894(f)(1), substituted "respect" for "respct" before "to a violation" in introductory provisions. · (b)
    • Pub. L. 101–239, §7891(a)(1), substituted "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" for "Internal Revenue Code of 1954", which for purposes of codification was translated as "title 26" thus requiring no change in text. · (b)
    • Pub. L. 101–239, §7881(j)(3), inserted "against any plan administrator" after "civil penalty" and substituted "such plan administrator's" for "a plan administrator's". · (c)
    • Pub. L. 101–239, §7881(b)(5)(B), added par. (3). · (c)
    • Pub. L. 101–239, §7891(a)(1), substituted "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" for "Internal Revenue Code of 1954", which for purposes of codification was translated as "title 26" thus requiring no change in text. · (g)
    • Pub. L. 101–239, §2101(a), added subsec. (l). · (l)

    1987

    • Pub. L. 100–203, §9342(c), designated existing provision as par. (1), redesignated as cls. (A) and (B) former cls. (1) and (2), and added par. (2). · (c)
    • Pub. L. 100–203, §9344, amended second sentence generally. Prior to amendment, second sentence read as follows: "The amount of such penalty may not exceed 5 percent of the amount involved (as defined in section 4975(f)(4) of title 26); except that if the transaction is not corrected (i… · (i)

    1986

    • Pub. L. 99–272 inserted "(1) who fails to meet the requirements of paragraph (1) or (4) of section 1166 of this title with respect to a participant or beneficiary, or (2)". · (c)

    1980

    • Pub. L. 96–364, §306(b)(1), redesignated existing provisions as par. (1)(A) and (B) and added par. (2). · (b)
    • Pub. L. 96–364, §306(b)(2), redesignated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted exception for actions under paragraph (2), and added par. (2). · (g)

    Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.