1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment and Retention Act of 2019 . 2. Elective treatment of length of service award plans as eligible deferred compensation plans (a) In general Section 457(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (19) Additional special rules applicable to length of service award plans (A) In general The term eligible deferred compensation plan includes, at the election of its sponsor, any length of service award plan described in paragraph (11)(A)(ii) which meets the requirements of paragraph (11)(B). Any such election, once made, shall be irrevocable. (B) Special rules In the case of a length of service award plan whose sponsor has elected to have such plan treated as an eligible deferred compensation plan— (i) In general Such sponsor shall be treated as an eligible employer described in subsection (e)(1)(A), and, except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), such plan shall be administered in a manner consistent with the requirements of this section. (ii) Maximum deferral amount Subsection (b)(2) shall be applied by substituting the limitation on accruals in effect under paragraph (11)(B) for the lesser of— and all that follows through compensation, in subparagraph (B) thereof. (iii) Distribution requirements Subsection (d)(1)(A) shall be applied by deeming a severance from employment to have occurred for purposes of clause (ii) thereof on the payment date under the terms of the plan. . (b) Exemption from Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 For purposes of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, a length of service award plan described in section 457(e)(11)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 whose sponsor has elected under section 457(e)(19) of such Code to have such plan treated as an eligible deferred compensation plan shall not be treated as an employee pension benefit plan or a pension plan under section 3(2) of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 1002(2) ). (c)