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About this Blog

Welcome to the Snell & Wilmer Benefits Blog. We will be posting about current employee benefits and executive compensation topics and issues. We invite you to contact the authors with your thoughts or questions.

SECURE 2.0 Expands Self-Correction Under EPCRS

Effective December 29, 2022, Section 305 of SECURE 2.0 expands the ability for plan sponsors to self-correct certain plan failures under the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (“EPCRS”).  Section 305 of SECURE 2.0 generally permits the self-correction of certain “eligible inadvertent failures” under EPCRS, including certain plan loan failures, provided that: (1) the failure is […]

| 2 min read

NYSE and Nasdaq File Amended Proposed Clawback-Related Listing Standards

As described in Part 4 of our 2022 end of year plan sponsor “to do” list, on October 26, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission published the final clawback rules under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”).  The clawback rules were published in the Federal Register on November 28, 2022 and become effective […]

| 2 min read
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ISS Updates its Equity Plan FAQs for 2023 Proxy Season

Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), a leading proxy advisory firm, uses a proprietary “Equity Plan Scorecard” approach to evaluate public company equity compensation plans.  For 2023, ISS has updated its Equity Plan Scorecard and the corresponding Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQs”). A full link to the ISS guidance can be found here.  Although we are well […]

| 2 min read
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COVID-19 Comes to an End(emic):  Preparing Group Health Plans for Anticipated End of COVID-19 Emergencies

The Biden Administration recently announced its plan to end both the National Emergency and Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 (together, the “COVID-19 Emergencies”) on May 11, 2023.  The end of the COVID-19 Emergencies will trigger (immediately or within specified timeframes) the end of various COVID-19 requirements and related relief for group health plans.  As further […]

| 3 min read

Proposed Rules Expand Access to Contraceptive Care as a Preventive Service

On January 30, 2023, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor (collectively “the Departments”) issued proposed rules entitled “Coverage of Certain Preventive Services under the Affordable Care Act” (the “Proposed Rules”).  The Proposed Rules reflect the Departments’ continuing efforts to ensure that women have access to contraceptive care without cost sharing through […]

| 4 min read

Tenth Circuit Allows ERISA Arbitration, So Long As There are No Limitations in Remedies

On February 9, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit refused to enforce an arbitration clause contained in an employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”) document. In a 41-page opinion, the Court held that the ESOP Plan improperly limited the ESOP beneficiaries’ rights and remedies granted under the Employee Retirement Income Securities Act […]

| 4 min read