PUBLIC LAW 98-397—AUG. 23, 1984
98 STAT. 1427
(1) MINIMUM PARTICIPATION STANDARDS.—Paragraph (4) of section 202(b) (29 U.S.C. 1052(b)(4)) is amended to read as follows: "(4)(A) For purposes of paragraph (1), in the case of a nonvested participant, years of service with the employer or employers maintaining the plan before any period of consecutive 1-year breaks in service shall not be required to be taken into account in computing the period of service if the number of consecutive 1-year breaks in service within such period equals or exceeds the greater of— "(i)5,or "(ii) the aggregate number of years of service before such period. "(B) If any years of service are not required to be taken into account by reason of a period of breaks in service to which subparagraph (A) applies, such years of service shall not be taken into account in applying subparagraph (A) to a subsequent period of breaks in service. "(C) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term 'nonvested participant' means a participant who does not have any nonforfeitable right under the plan to an accrued benefit derived from employer contributions.". (2) MINIMUM VESTING STANDARDS.—Subparagraph (D) of section 203(b)(3) (29 U.S.C. 1053(b)(3)(D)) is amended to read as follows: "(D)(i) For purposes of paragraph (1), in the case of a nonvested participant, years of service with the employer or employers maintaining the plan before any period of consecutive 1-year breaks in service shall not be required to be taken into account if the number of consecutive 1-year breaks in service within such period equals or exceeds the greater of— "(I) 5, or "(II) the aggregate number of years of service before such period. "(ii) If any years of service are not required to be taken into account by reason of a period of breaks in service to which clause (i) applies, such years of service shall not be taken into account in applying clause (i) to a subsequent period of breaks in service. "(iii) For purposes of clause (i), the term 'nonvested participant' means a participant who does not have any nonforfeitable right under the plan to an accrued benefit derived from employer contributions.". (e) CERTAIN MATERNITY OR PATERNITY ABSENCES NOT TREATED AS BREAKS IN SERVICE.— (1) MINIMUM PARTICIPATION STANDARDS.—Subsection (b) of sec-
tion 202 (29 U.S.C. 1052(b)) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph: "(5)(A) In the case of each individual who is absent from work for any period— "(i) by reason of the pregnancy of the individual, "(ii) by reason of the birth of a child of the individual, "(iii) by reason of the placement of a child with the individual in connection with the adoption of such child by such individual, or "(iv) for purposes of caring for such child for a period beginning immediately following such birth or placement, the plan shall treat as hours of service, solely for purposes of determining under this subsection whether a 1-year break in service
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