(a) Coordination with other agencies and departments In order to avoid unnecessary expense and duplication of functions among Government agencies, the Secretary may make such arrangements or agreements for cooperation or mutual assistance in the performance of his functions under this subchapter and the functions of any such agency as he may find to be practicable and consistent with law. The Secretary may utilize, on a reimbursable or other basis, the facilities or services of any department, agency, or establishment of the United States or of any State or political subdivision of a State, including the services of any of its employees, with the lawful consent of such department, agency, or establishment; and each department, agency, or establishment of the United States is authorized and directed to cooperate with the Secretary and, to the extent permitted by law, to provide such information and facilities as he may request for his assistance in the performance of his functions under this subchapter. The Attorney General or his representative shall receive from the Secretary for appropriate action such evidence developed in the performance of his functions under this subchapter as may be found to warrant consideration for criminal prosecution under the provisions of this subchapter or other Federal law.
(b) Responsibility for detecting and investigating civil and criminal violations of this subchapter and related Federal laws The Secretary shall have the responsibility and authority to detect and investigate and refer, where appropriate, civil and criminal violations related to the provisions of this subchapter and other related Federal laws, including the detection, investigation, and appropriate referrals of related violations of title 18. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to preclude other appropriate Federal agencies from detecting and investigating civil and criminal violations of this subchapter and other related Federal laws.
Source credit, amendments & notes
(Pub. L. 93–406, title I, §506, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 894; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §805, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2134.)
Amendments
1984—Pub. L. 98–473 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), added subsec. (b), and amended section catchline.
Regulations
Secretary authorized, effective Sept. 2, 1974, to promulgate regulations wherever provisions of this subchapter call for the promulgation of regulations, see section 1031 of this title.
ERISA § 506 (29 U.S.C. § 1136) — Coordination and responsibility of agencies enforcing this subchapter and related Federal laws · USC 1994 ed., current through 1995-01-04 · https://pensionresource.website/EAMain?content=EAMain.Law&id=usc29-1136&asof=1995-01-04 · printed Oct 16, 2026