United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Provisions Primarily Affecting Individuals and Families Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Education Subtitle C: Provisions Relating to Social Security Title II: Provisions Primarily Affecting Farming and Other Businesses Subtitle A: Increase in Expense Treatment for Small Businesses Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Farmers Subtitle C: Increase in Volume Cap on Private Activity Bonds Title III: Extension and Modification of Certain Expiring Provisions Subtitle A: Tax Provisions Subtitle B: Generalized System of Preferences Title IV: Revenue Offset Title V: Technical Corrections Title VI: American Community Renewal Act of 1998 Subtitle A: Designation and Evaluation of Renewal Subtitle B: Tax Incentives for Renewal Communities Title VII: Tax Reductions Contingent On Saving Social Security Taxpayer Relief Act of 1998 - Title I: Provisions Affecting Individuals and Families - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to: (1) make the basic standard deduction on a joint return equal to twice the deduction of a single return; (2) make the aged or blind additional deduction amounts the same for married and unmarried individuals; (3) as a general rule, exclude from gross income up to $200 ($400 in the case of a joint return) of dividends and interest received by an individual; (4) revise provisions concerning the aggregate amount of nonrefundable personal credits allowed to provide that the aggregate amount of such credits shall not exceed the sum of the taxpayer's regular tax liability and the alternative minimum tax; (5) allow for the deduction of 100 percent of the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals; (6) set forth a special rule for members of the uniformed services and foreign service in determining the exclusion of gain from the sale of a principal residence; and (7) accelerate the $1 million exemption from the estate and gift taxes. Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Education - Permits private educational institutions to maintain qualified tuition programs which are comparable to qualified State tuition programs. Modifies arbitrage rebate rules applicable to public school construction bonds. Subtitle C: Provisions Relating to Social Security - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to: (1) increase the limit on earnings before there is a reduction in benefits for individuals who have attained retirement age but who are under age 70; and (2) provide for the recomputation of benefits resulting from earnings after reaching retirement age. Title II: Provisions Primarily Affecting Farming and Other Businesses - Subtitle A: Increase in Expense Treatment for Small Businesses - Amends the IRC to accelerate the increase in the dollar limitation on the cost of property which may be expensed by businesses as depreciable assets. Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Farmers - Amends the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 to permanently extend income averaging for farmers. Amends the IRC to provide a five-year carryback period for farming losses. Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to disregard the payment option provided by the Emergency Farm Financial Relief Act. Subtitle C: Increase in Volume Cap on Private Activity Bonds - Amends IRC provisions concerning State private activity bond volume limits to repeal the adjustment for years after 1987. Title III: Extension and Modification of Certain Expiring Provisions - Subtitle A: Tax Provisions - Extends, for a limited period, the: (1) credit for increasing research activities; (2) work opportunity credit; and (3) welfare-to-work credit. Extends permanently the special rule for contributions of stock for which market quotations are readily available. Establishes rules for the public inspection of the returns of private foundations. Revises provisions concerning the special rule for income derived in the active conduct of banking, financing, or similar businesses to provide, as general rule, that foreign personal holding company income shall not include qualified banking or financing income of an eligible controlled foreign corporation. Revises the definition of insurance income and provides that, as a general rule, foreign personal holding company income shall not include qualified insurance income of a qualifying insurance company. Subtitle B: Generalized System of Preferences - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to extend the Generalized System of Preferences through February 29, 2000. Provides for the retroactive application of certain liquidations and reliquidations. Title IV: Revenue Offset - Amends IRC provisions concerning the complete liquidations of subsidiaries to provide that if a corporation receives a distribution form a regulated investment company or a real estate investment trust which is considered as being in complete liquidation of such company or trust, then such corporation shall treat as a dividend from such trust or company an amount equal to the deduction for dividends paid allowable to such company or trust by reason of such distribution. Title V: Technical Corrections - Revises provisions of the IRC, the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, the Tax Reform Act of 1984, and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. Title VI: American Community Renewal Act of 1998 - American Community Renewal Act of 1998 - Subtitle A: Designation and Evaluation of Renewal Communities - Renewing American Communities Act of 1998 - Amends the IRC to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to designate (upon local or State nomination) up to 20 renewal communities, of which at least 20 percent shall be in rural areas. Requires for nomination purposes that: (1) the area be experiencing high rates of poverty and unemployment and general distress; and (2) State and local governments enter into written contracts with community organizations to promote specified economic growth and employment activities. Treats renewal communities as labor surplus areas for all Federal law purposes. Subtitle B: Tax Incentives for Renewal Communities - Excludes from gross income capital gains on the sale or exchange of a qualified community asset (stock, business property, or partnership interest) held for more than five years. Allows a specified deduction for amounts paid into a family development account on behalf of an individual or another qualified individual who is a renewal community resident. Excludes from gross income account distributions used for qualified family development expenses (postsecondary education, first-home purchase, business capitalization, medical, and rollovers). Provides a penalty (with exceptions) in addition to inclusion as gross income for nonqualifying distributions. Provides for designation of up to 25 percent of qualifying renewal communities as matching demonstration areas eligible to receive family development account matching contributions. Authorizes: (1) designation of earned income tax credit payments for family development account deposit; (2) a commercial building revitalization tax credit; (3) increased first year expensing for renewal community businesses; (4) extension of environmental remediation cost expensing and the work opportunity credit for renewal communities; and (5) similar tax treatment of renewal communities and enterprise zones for specified youth residence requirements. Permits a deduction for contributions to a family development account whether or not a taxpayer itemizes. Makes conforming amendments to provisions respecting: (1) tax on excess contributions and prohibited transactions; (2) trust and annuity information; (3) tax exemption applications; and (4) the commercial revitalization credit. Title VII: Tax Reductions Contingent On Saving Social Security - Prohibits any provision of this Act from taking effect before the first January 1 after the date of enactment of this Act that follows a calendar year for which there is a social security solvency certification, except for specified provisions. States that there is a social security solvency certification for a calendar year if there is a certification that the social security trust funds are in actuarial balance for the 75-year period utilized in the most recent annual report of the Board of Trustees of the Social Security Trust Funds. Provides for the reservation of any social security surpluses for the sole use of the social security system.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1998
Calls upon the President to: (1) pursue enhanced enforcement of U.S. trade laws with respect to the surge of steel imports into the United States, including offsetting duties, quantitative restraints, and other authorized remedial measures; (2) pursue a more equitable sharing of the burden of accepting imports of finished steel products from Asia and the countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States; (3) establish a task force with responsibility for closely monitoring U.S. imports of steel; and (4) report to the Congress by January 5, 1999, with a comprehensive plan for responding to the import surge, including ways of limiting its deleterious effects on employment, prices, and investment in the U.S. steel industry.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1998
Capital Gains Tax Simplification Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that, if for any taxable year a non-corporate taxpayer has a net capital gain, 38 percent of such gain shall be a deduction from gross income regardless of whether or not the taxpayer itemizes other deductions. Makes such deduction inapplicable to the alternative minimum tax. Revises provisions concerning the maximum and the regular tax on net capital gain for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. Repeals the tax preference for exclusion for gains on the sale of certain small business stock. Treats, as a general rule, any gain or loss from the sale or exchange of a collectible as a short-term gain or loss without regard to the period the asset was held. Amends the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, with respect to maximum capital gains rates for individuals, to repeal the allowance of an election to recognize gain on assets held on January 1, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1998
Designates certain lands in the Valley Forge National Historical Park as the Valley Forge National Cemetery. Transfers administrative jurisdiction over such lands from the Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Assistance for Sub-Saharan Africa Title II: Worldwide Food Assistance and Agricultural Programs Subtitle A: Nonemergency Food Assistance Programs Subtitle B: Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act of 1998 Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions Africa: Seeds of Hope Act of 1998 - Declares it to be U.S. policy, consistent with title XII of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act, to support governments of sub-Saharan African countries, U.S. and African nongovernmental organizations, universities, businesses, and international agencies to help ensure the availability of basic nutrition and economic opportunities for sub-Saharan individuals, through sustainable agricultural and rural development. Title I: Assistance for Sub-Saharan Africa - Directs the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID), in providing development assistance under the Africa Food Security Initiative, or any comparable or successor program, to: (1) emphasize programs and projects that improve the food security of children, women, and food-insecure households, or that improve the agricultural productivity, incomes, and marketing of the rural poor in Africa; (2) solicit and take into consideration the views and needs of intended beneficiaries and program participants during the selection, planning, implementation, and evaluation phases of projects; and (3) ensure that programs are designed and conducted in cooperation with African and U.S. organizations and institutions (such as private and voluntary organizations, cooperatives, land-grant and other appropriate universities, and local producer-owned cooperative marketing and buying associations) that have expertise in addressing the needs of the poor, small-scale farmers, entrepreneurs, and rural workers, including women. (Sec. 101) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, if there is an increase in funding for sub-Saharan programs, the Administrator of AID should proportionately increase resources to the Africa Food Security Initiative, or any comparable or successor program, for FY 2000 and subsequent fiscal years in order to meet the needs of the countries participating in such Initiative. (Sec. 102) Directs the Administrator of AID to use, through bilateral and multilateral assistance, microenterprise assistance (including credit) to improve the capacity and efficiency of agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa of small-scale farmers and small rural entrepreneurs (specifically taking into consideration the needs of women, and using the applied research and technical assistance capabilities of U.S. land-grant universities). (Sec. 103) Authorizes the Administrator of AID to utilize foreign assistance programs and initiatives for sub-Saharan Africa to support private producer-owned cooperative marketing associations there, including rural business associations owned by farmer shareholders. (Sec. 104) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) should issue loans, guaranties, and insurance, and utilize existing equity funds and loan and insurance funds, to support private agricultural and rural development in sub-Saharan Africa (particularly intermediary organizations that directly serve the needs of small-scale farmers, small rural entrepreneurs, and rural producer-owned cooperative purchasing and marketing associations). (Sec. 105) Directs the Administrator of AID to develop a comprehensive plan to coordinate and build on the research and extension activities of U.S. land-grant universities, international agricultural research centers, and national agricultural research and extension centers in sub-Saharan Africa. Title II: Worldwide Food Assistance and Agricultural Programs - Subtitle A: Non-Emergency Food Assistance Programs - Sets forth general requirements for the administration of non-emergency assistance programs under title II of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954. Subtitle B: Bill Emerson Humanitarian International Food Security Trust Act of 1998 - Bill Emerson Humanitarian International Food Security Trust Act of 1998 - Amends the Food Security Commodity Reserve Act of 1996 and the Food Security Wheat Reserve Act of 1980 to rename specified provisions of the Food for Development Program as the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act. (Sec. 212) Includes, as part of the established trust stock of wheat, rice, corn, or sorghum used to meet emergency humanitarian food needs in developing countries, certain funds for Commodity Credit Corporation programs under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 that are available, with respect to FY 2000 and subsequent fiscal years, to acquire such eligible commodities through purchases from producers or in the market to replenish the trust. Authorizes the release of eligible commodities from the trust for emergency food assistance to developing countries, provided such release is at levels consistent with maintaining the long-term value of the trust. Makes permanent the authority for the trust. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Administrator of AID to report to the Congress on AID's plans for implementing the Africa Food Security Initiative and an estimate of all amounts expended or to be expended on related activities during the current and previous four years.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1998
Directs the Secretary of State to establish a cultural and training program for disadvantaged individuals from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Declares that the purpose of such program is to provide such individuals with the experience of living and working in a multicultural society while obtaining valuable work skills and experience. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize 60-month nonimmigrant visas for an alien having a residence in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland (which the alien has no intention of abandoning) who is coming temporarily to the United States as a participant in a United States-Northern Ireland-Republic of Ireland cultural and training program. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1998
Recognizes the importance of children and families to the future of the United States. Expresses support for the goals of National KidsDay and National Family Month, as established by KidsPeace. Encourages the people of the United States to participate in local and national activities and celebrations recognizing National KidsDay and National Family Month.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1998
Condemns the repressive policies of the Government of the former Soviet Union during the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933. Expresses the sense of the Congress: (1) in remembrance of the victims of the Famine; and (2) that any supplemental material that will assist in disseminating information about the Famine should be compiled and made available worldwide.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1998
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the Congress must assure that the fundamental protections that social security provides for American families are available for generations to come; (2) the problems facing the social security system are manageable and can be prudently addressed by making careful and modest changes; (3) hastily conceived and radical solutions, such as utilizing social security system resources to fund individual accounts, require significant reductions in guaranteed benefits, are not necessary to assure the financial solvency of the system, and should be rejected; (4) solutions to a projected shortfall should be enacted within the existing social security structure, without compromising the guaranteed nature of benefits to individuals and families under the social security system; and (5) any solutions adopted by the Congress must be nondiscriminatory and equitable to Americans of all ages and must help insure American workers and their families against the economic risks associated with disability, the death of a parent or spouse, and retirement.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1998
Drugs and Informed Consent Armed Forces Protection Act of 1998 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide that if the Secretary of Defense submits to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) a request to waive the requirement of prior informed consent with respect to the administration of a drug to members of the armed forces for investigational use, then any determination by the Secretary of Defense that obtaining such consent is not feasible or is contrary to the best interests of the members involved shall not be effective unless the President provides to the HHS Secretary a written statement concurring in that determination.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1998
Persian Gulf War Veterans Health Act of 1998 - Presumes to be service-connected (and therefore compensable or treatable under Federal veterans' benefits provisions) an illness that: (1) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines to have a positive association with a biological, chemical, or other toxic agent or environmental or wartime hazard (agent or hazard) associated with service in the southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War; and (2) becomes manifest in a veteran who was exposed to such agent or hazard by reason of such service. Presumes such exposure unless there is conclusive evidence otherwise. Directs the Secretary to contract with an independent scientific body to establish a panel for reviewing medical and scientific literature to identify those diseases and illnesses associated with exposure of humans or animals to specified pesticides, agents, compounds, particulates, radiation, and pollutants. Requires each disease or illness identified that becomes manifest in a Gulf veteran to be presumed to be service-connected. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the updating of presumed exposures. Enumerates the pesticides, agents, compounds, particulates, radiation, and pollutants to which Gulf veterans shall be presumed to have been exposed. Directs the Secretary to submit to the Congress a plan for establishing a panel to review the statistical occurrence of both diagnosed and undiagnosed illnesses and symptoms among Gulf War veterans and their families. Directs the President to submit to the Congress a plan for the establishment of a permanent expert advisory group to advise the President and the congressional defense and intelligence committees on the adequacy of current U.S. chemical, biological, and radiological defense technologies, procurement practices, and doctrine for defending U.S. forces against both the immediate and chronic consequences of acute and subacute exposures to chemical, biological, radiological, or other genotoxic battlefield materials.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1998
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal: (1) the overall limitation on itemized deductions; and (2) the phaseout of personal exemptions. Increases, by 1.59 percent, an individual's taxes if the individual's adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 (twice such amount on a joint return).
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1998
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restore and make permanent the exclusion from gross income for amounts received under qualified group legal services plans.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1998
Religious Liberty Protection Act of 1998 - Prohibits a State (or any person acting under color of State law) from placing a substantial burden upon a person's religious exercise: (1) in a State-operated program or activity that receives Federal financial assistance; or (2) in or affecting international or interstate commerce. Declares that a State (or any person acting under color of State law) may substantially burden a person's religious exercise if such burden is: (1) in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and (2) the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the United States to deny or withhold Federal financial assistance as a remedy for a violation of this Act. (Sec. 3) Places upon a State the burden of persuasion on all issues relating to an alleged violation supported by prima facie evidence of the Free Exercise Clause. Prohibits a State from imposing a land use regulation that: (1) substantially burdens religious exercise; (2) denies religious assemblies a reasonable location; or (3) excludes religious assemblies from areas in which nonreligious assemblies are permitted. Declares that this Act does not preempt State law that is equally or more protective of religious exercise. (Sec. 4) Subjects both a State and the Federal Government to liability for a violation of the Free Exercise Clause, including a civil action for money damages. (Sec. 5) Emphasizes that this Act does not: (1) authorize a State to burden any religious belief; (2) create any basis for the regulation of religious exercise or for claims against a religious organization not acting under color of law; (3) create or preclude a right of any religious organization to receive State funding or assistance; (4) authorize State regulation of the activities or policies of a person other than a government as a condition of receiving funding or other assistance; or (5) restrict any authority that may exist under other law to so regulate or affect, except as provided in this Act. (Sec. 6) Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect, interpret, or in any way address the Establishment Clause of the Constitution (prohibiting laws respecting an establishment of religion). (Sec. 7) Amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 to repeal its applicability to the States and to make it applicable only to the Federal Government, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories and possessions. Redefines exercise of religion to mean an act or refusal to act that is substantially motivated by a religious belief, whether or not the act or refusal is compulsory or central to a larger system of religious belief.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1998
Designates the U.S. Postal Service building located at 2601 North 16th Street, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the Roxanne H. Jones Post Office Building.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1998
Designates the U.S. Postal Service building located at 5209 Greene Street, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the David P. Richardson, Jr., Post Office Building.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1998
Designates the U.S. Postal Service building located at 5300 West Jefferson Street, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the Freeman Hankins Post Office Building.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1998
Designates the U.S. Postal Service building located at 658 63rd Street, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the Edgar C. Campbell, Sr., Post Office Building.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1998
Class-Size Reduction and Teacher Quality Act of 1998 - Establishes a grants program to help States and local educational agencies recruit, train, and hire 100,000 additional teachers over a seven-year period in order to: (1) reduce class sizes nationally, in grades one through three, to an average of 18 students per classroom; and (2) improve teaching in the early grades so that all students can learn to read independently and well by the end of the third grade. Makes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2008 for such program. Sets forth program requirements for: (1) allocations to States; (2) grant applications; (3) within-State allocations; (4) State-level activities; (5) uses of funds; (6) cost-sharing; (7) carryover of funds; (8) accountability; (9) participation of private school teachers; (10) evaluation; and (11) waivers.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Price Increase to Discourage Child Tobacco Use Title II: FDA Jurisdiction Over Tobacco Products Title III: Performance Objectives to Reduce Child Tobacco Use Title IV: Smoke-Free Environments Title V: Tobacco Prevention Initiatives Title VI: International Tobacco Control Title VII: Tobacco Accountability Board Title VIII: Payments to States Subtitle A: Resolution of State Actions Subtitle B: State Grants Title IX: Definitions Bipartisan NO Tobacco for Kids Act of 1998 - Title I: Price Increase to Discourage Child Tobacco Use - Requires that the funds raised by this title be used to reduce the public debt, except as provided in titles V and VIII. (Sec. 102) Requires each tobacco manufacturer (defining manufacturer, for this Act, to include importers) to make initial ($10 billion allocated by the manufacturer's share of units manufactured or imported) and annual (50 cents per unit manufactured or imported) payments. Excludes exports. (Sec. 103) Provides for injunctions and civil monetary penalties for failure to comply with regulations under this title. Title II: FDA Jurisdiction Over Tobacco Products - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to add nicotine in tobacco products to the definition of "drug" and add tobacco products to the definition of "device." (Sec. 203) Declares a tobacco product misbranded if it does not comply with section 205 requirements. Amends restricted device provisions to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, if the Secretary determines that there cannot otherwise be reasonable assurances of safety and effectiveness, to require tobacco advertising and promotion restrictions. Prohibits State and local requirements of warnings on labels and in advertising if this Act requires a warning. (Sec. 204) Requires that all provisions of specified existing tobacco regulations be considered lawful and lawfully promulgated under the FDCA. (Sec. 205) Deems, for tobacco products, an action providing appropriate protection of public health to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness. Mandates regulations, conforming to specified provisions of the Proposed Resolution between manufacturers and State attorneys general on June 20, 1997: (1) restricting tobacco marketing, advertising, and access (but prohibits restrictions on marketing or advertising that would violate the First Amendment to the Constitution); (2) requiring warnings on cigarette and smokeless tobacco labeling and advertisements; and (3) regarding tobacco product ingredients. Makes it unlawful to advertise tobacco on any electronic medium subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission. Prohibits considering the Secretary of Health and Human Services' failure to approve or disapprove an ingredient's safety within the review period to be approval. Prohibits a manufacturer from stating or implying in labeling or advertising that a product has a reduced health risk unless the Secretary has so determined. Prohibits a State from receiving a grant under subtitle B of title VIII of this Act unless the State has put into law a tobacco control program conforming to the model State program established by the Secretary. Mandates establishment of that model program, including in its requirements State retail licensure, a prohibition of tobacco purchase for resale or distribution to individuals under 18, compliance inspection conduct and frequency, State performance objectives, and violations penalties. Requires, if a State fails to implement a conforming program or fails to achieve the performance objectives, that the Secretary withhold up to 20 percent of the grant to the State under subtitle B of title VIII of this Act. Mandates a Federal retail licensing program for retailers on Federal property, retailers in a State without an effective program conforming to the model program, and others as specified by the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to order a State-licensed retailer in violation of this Act to suspend or cease tobacco sales. Treats Indian tribes and tribal organizations as a State regarding retailers operating on Indian reservations. (Sec. 206) Adds violation of any FDCA tobacco requirement to the list of FDCA prohibited acts. Authorizes the Secretary to disclose tobacco information to the public if the Secretary determines it appropriate to protect public health. (Sec. 207) Repeals the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act and the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986. Title III: Performance Objectives to Reduce Child Tobacco Use - Mandates an annual survey regarding the percentage of children using each manufacturer's tobacco product. (Sec. 302) Requires each manufacturer to have a performance objective of reducing its child tobacco use by specified percentages. Requires, if the reductions are not met, price increases and, for subsequent consecutive year failures, sales by carton minimum and packaging in black on a white background. (Sec. 306) Makes failure to comply with this title's requirements an FDCA prohibited act. (Sec. 307) Requires that the annual survey determine the use level for children of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Mandates, if use is increasing (or not decreasing at a proportionate rate) among children of a racial or ethnic background, recommendations to the Congress regarding reducing the level for those children. Title IV: Smoke-Free Environments - Requires the responsible entity for each public facility (any building in which activities substantially affecting interstate commerce occur, subject to exceptions for locations such as residential buildings, on-sale alcoholic beverage establishments, and prisons) to implement a smoke-free environment policy meeting specified requirements. Allows smoking areas meeting certain requirements. (Sec. 402) Authorizes an action to enforce this title (by injunction or civil monetary penalty) by any aggrieved person, State or local governmental agency, or the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, allowing the award of litigation costs (including attorney's and expert fees) to any prevailing party. Authorizes the court to order that the civil penalties be used for projects furthering this title. Prohibits compensatory and punitive damages. (Sec 403) Authorizes the Administrator to extend the smoke-free policy requirement to certain otherwise-exempt facilities if the Administrator determines that the extension is appropriate to protect the public health. (Sec. 405) Declares that this title does not preempt or affect any other Federal, State, or local law providing protection from environmental tobacco health hazards. Title V: Tobacco Prevention Initiatives - Requires that funds be made available (from annual manufacturer payments under section 102) to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, without fiscal year limitation, for: (1) a national public awareness campaign to discourage tobacco use; (2) the implementation of FDCA tobacco provisions, title III of this Act, and Tobacco Accountability Board provisions of this Act; (3) tobacco use cessation programs (mandating grants); (4) research on nicotine addiction, cessation, and prevention; and (5) tobacco surveillance and epidemiology research. Requires that certain programs under this title: (1) take into account the needs of minority populations; and (2) be age, culturally, and linguistically appropriate for those populations. Title VI: International Tobacco Control - Mandates regulations to prohibit domestic concerns from directly or indirectly: (1) selling or distributing tobacco in a foreign country without warning labels appropriate to protect public health; or (2) selling or distributing tobacco in a foreign country to children or advertising or promoting it in a way that appeals to children. Adds violations to the list of FDCA prohibited acts. (Sec. 602) Prohibits any U.S. officer, employee, department, or agency from: (1) promoting tobacco export or foreign sale, manufacture, promotion, distribution, or use; or (2) subject to exception, seeking the removal or reduction of foreign restrictions on tobacco importation, exportation, sale, manufacture, promotion, distribution, tariffs, or taxes. (Sec. 603) Establishes in the Treasury the International Tobacco Control Trust Fund, to be funded by payments under section 605. Provides for the use of Fund amounts for: (1) the American Center on Global Health and Tobacco; (2) grants and other assistance to foreign governments, nongovernmental organizations, and international organizations for foreign tobacco control; and (3) enforcement of any requirement regarding foreign tobacco sale, distribution, or promotion. (Sec. 604) Establishes the American Center on Global Health and Tobacco (ACT) as a private, nonprofit corporation, requiring it to assist foreign organizations to reduce and prevent tobacco use, including through public awareness campaigns and youth-oriented and community-based programs. (Sec. 605) Requires each domestic concern that manufactures tobacco in a foreign country (or controls a person who does so) to annually pay to the Fund a specified amount per unit manufactured. (Sec. 606) Mandates regulations to reduce tobacco smuggling in interstate and foreign commerce. (Sec. 607) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Government should support implementation of the International Framework Convention on Tobacco Control through all available resources. Title VII: Tobacco Accountability Board - Establishes the Tobacco Accountability Board as an independent board. Requires each tobacco manufacturer to submit to the Board all documents in the manufacturer's possession: (1) relating to tobacco health effects (including addiction), the manipulation of nicotine, or tobacco sale or marketing to children; or (2) produced or ordered to be produced in a named civil action. Requires the Board to make the documents available to the public. Exempts trade secrets from public disclosure unless the Board determines that disclosure is appropriate to protect the public health. (Sec. 703) Requires the Board to investigate all matters relating to tobacco and public health and report to the Congress annually. (Sec. 705) Empowers the Board to bring an action to enjoin a failure to comply with this title or to impose a civil monetary penalty. (Sec 707) Prohibits discrimination against an individual as a reprisal for disclosing information regarding a violation of tobacco-related law. Applies to whistleblowers existing provisions of Federal law allowing whistleblowers to receive a portion of any false claims amounts recovered. Title VIII: Payments to States - Subtitle A: Resolution of State Actions - Allows a State to elect to receive payments under section 802 instead of seeking recovery from manufacturers for health care costs attributable to tobacco use. Prohibits a State that so elects from seeking recovery from manufacturers, except for actions after enactment of this Act or for criminal prosecutions. (Sec. 802) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay to any State so electing the amount the State would have received under the Proposed Resolution between manufacturers and State attorneys general. Requires a State to pass payments through to local governments in proportion to the local government's tobacco use health care costs. Makes a State that fails to pass through payments ineligible for this section's future payments. (Sec. 803) Exempts a manufacturer from the portion of the section 102 payments that will be provided to States under this title if the manufacturer: (1) resolved tobacco-related civil actions with more than 25 States before 1998; (2) provided to all other States the opportunity to enter into substantially similar settlements; and (3) manufactures less than three percent of all cigarettes manufactured or imported in the United States. Subtitle B: State Grants - Requires that funds be made available annually from amounts paid under section 102, without fiscal year limitation, for grants to States with approved child-oriented or community-based programs to discourage tobacco use. (Sec. 812) Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to authorize payment to States for a specified percentage of the State's Medicaid expenditures for tobacco use cessation programs. Title IX: Definitions - Sets forth definitions for this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1998
Children's Hospitals Education and Research Act of 1998 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make payment as specified to each children's hospital for each hospital cost reporting period beginning during FY 1999 or 2000 for the direct and indirect expenses associated with operating approved medical residency training programs. States that such payments are in lieu of certain Medicare payments to hospitals for inpatient hospital services, but shall not affect the amounts otherwise payable to such hospitals under a State Medicaid plan. Makes appropriations for such payments for such fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1998
Reinstatement of the Medicare Rehabilitation Benefit Act of 1998 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to repeal the financial limitation on rehabilitation services under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program. Provides that for outpatient physical therapy services, outpatient occupational therapy services, and outpatient speech-language pathology services covered under Medicare and furnished on or after January 1, 2000, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall implement a new payment methodology based on the classification of individuals by diagnostic category, functional status, and prior use of services in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Requires that such payment methodology be designed so that, taking into account the increased expenditures resulting from this Act, it does not result in any increase or decrease in the expenditures under Medicare on a fiscal year basis.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1998
Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act of 1998 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to give States the option of making medical assistance for breast and cervical cancer-related treatment services available to certain low-income women without creditable coverage during a presumptive eligibility period. Provides for an enhanced match with regard to such treatment services.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1998
Amends the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act to repeal the sunset date for (and thus permanently extend) certain authority relating to self-employment assistance programs.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1998
Healthy Start Initiative Continuation Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to mandate continuance of the Healthy Start Initiative of grants to reduce infant mortality. Authorizes carrying out the Initiative on a national basis. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
Employee Pension Portability and Accountability Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to retirement savings, to: (1) require an employer, upon request from an employee, to withhold retirement savings from wages; (2) provide a credit to eligible small employers for pension plan start-up costs; (3) permit an employer to establish a Secure Money Annuity or Retirement (SMART) Trust (as defined); (4) provide for faster vesting of employer matching contributions under a plan including an accrued benefit derived from such contributions; (5) require spousal pension right-to- know provisions; (6) require one-percent employer contributions under the alternative method of meeting nondiscrimination requirements for 401(k) plans; (7) redefine the term highly compensated employee; and (8) revise multiemployer plan provisions with respect to the special limitation rule, the exemption for survivor and disability benefits, the full funding limitation, valuation, and partial termination rules.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Violence Against Women Act of 1994 Title II: Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Title III: Older Americans Act of 1965 Title IV: Public Health Service Act Title V: Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 Older Women's Protection From Violence Act of 1998 - Title I: Violence Against Women Act of 1994 - Amends the Violence against Women Act of 1994 to direct the Attorney General to: (1) make grants to law school clinical programs to fund the inclusion of cases addressing issues of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, and sexual assault against older individuals; and (2) develop curricula and provide for the offering of training programs regarding such issues for law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and relevant Federal, State, and local court officials. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Family Violence Prevention and Services Act - Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to include elder domestic abuse and adult protective services within its ambit of services, grants, and demonstration grants for community initiatives. Title III: Older Americans Act of 1965 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Aging to consider the importance of research about the sexual assault of older women when establishing research priorities for grants or contracts for research and demonstration projects on elder abuse. (Sec. 303) Authorizes appropriations without fiscal year limitation for grants to implement a State long-term care ombudsman program. (Sec. 304) Directs the Assistant Secretary, when making grants and contracts, to give special consideration to projects designed to: (1) expand access to domestic violence shelters and programs for older individuals and encourage the use of certain facilities as emergency short-term shelters; and (2) promote research on legal, organizational, or training impediments to providing services to older individuals through shelters and programs. (Sec. 305) Authorizes appropriations without fiscal year limitation for the ombudsman program and for the elder abuse prevention program. (Sec. 306) Directs the Secretary to make grants to: (1) nonprofit private organizations to support projects in local communities to coordinate activities for intervention in and prevention of elder abuse, including domestic violence and sexual assault; and (2) develop outreach programs for assisting victims of elder abuse, including some for assisting individuals in certain senior housing facilities. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 307) Directs the Secretary to develop curricula and implement continuing education training programs for certain providers of health care and social services to improve their ability to recognize and address elder abuse situations. Title IV: Public Health Service Act - Elder Abuse Identification and Referral Act of 1998 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to instruct the Secretary, when awarding grants or contracts, to give preferences to health professions schools or programs that condition the awarding of their degrees or certificates upon significant student training in specified areas of elder abuse identification and treatment. Title V: Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 - Amends the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 to permit a financial institution to report suspected financial exploitation of an older individual to law enforcement entities, or government-regulated adult protective services entities. Shields such institution from liability for making such disclosure.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Assistance for Sub-Saharan Africa Title II: Worldwide Food Assistance and Agricultural Programs Subtitle A: Non-Emergency Food Assistance Programs Subtitle B: Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act of 1998 Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions Africa: Seeds of Hope Act of 1998 - Declares it to be U.S. policy to support governments of sub-Saharan African countries, U.S. and African nongovernmental organizations, U.S. and African businesses, and international agencies to ensure secure livelihoods and adequate nutrition for all sub-Saharan individuals, through sustainable agricultural and rural development. Title I: Assistance for Sub-Saharan Africa - Directs the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID), in providing development assistance under the Africa Food Security Initiative, or any comparable or successor program, to: (1) use resources for programs and projects that improve the food security of children, women, or food-insecure households, or that improve the agricultural productivity, incomes, and marketing of the rural poor in Africa; (2) to solicit and take into consideration the views and needs of intended beneficiaries and program participants during the selection, planning, implementation, and evaluation phases of projects; and (3) ensure that program objectives and interventions are primarily developed and conducted by African and U.S. private and voluntary organizations and other such organizations, including cooperatives and local producer-owned cooperative marketing associations, that have a demonstrated expertise in addressing the needs of the poor, small-scale farmers, entrepreneurs, and rural workers, including women. (Sec. 101) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Administrator of AID should increase resources to the Africa Food Security Initiative, or any comparable or successor program, for FY 2000 and subsequent fiscal years in order to meet the needs of the countries participating in such Initiative. (Sec. 102) Directs the Administrator of AID to provide, through bilateral and multilateral assistance, microenterprise assistance (including credit) to improve the efficiency of agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa (specifically targeting the needs of women, small-scale farmers, and small rural entrepreneurs). (Sec. 103) Directs the President, acting through the Administrator of AID, to utilize foreign assistance programs and initiatives for sub-Saharan Africa to support producer-owned cooperative marketing associations there, including rural business associations that are owned by farmer shareholders. (Sec. 104) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) should: (1) issue loans, guaranties, and insurance, and utilize existing equity funds and loan and insurance funds, to support agricultural and rural development in sub-Saharan Africa (particularly intermediary organizations that directly serve the needs of women, small-scale farmers, small rural entrepreneurs, and rural producer-owned cooperative marketing associations); and (2) jointly cooperate with AID to ensure that adequate administrative funds are available to carry out such activities. (Sec. 105) Directs the Administrator of AID to develop a comprehensive plan to coordinate the activities of AID-funded international agricultural research centers, U.S. land grant universities, and national agricultural research and extension centers in order that research and extension activities will respond to the needs of small-scale farmers while developing the potential and skills of researchers, extension agents, farmers, and agribusiness persons, and increasing the agricultural productivity, in sub-Saharan Africa. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Administrator of AID: (1) has disproportionately reduced funding for international agriculture and rural development activities and the number of agricultural specialists who carry out such activities; and (2) should devote more resources and staff to such activities. Title II: Worldwide Food Assistance and Agricultural Programs - Subtitle A: Non-Emergency Food Assistance Programs - Sets forth general requirements for the administration of non-emergency assistance programs under title II of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954. Subtitle B: Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act of 1998 - Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act of 1998 - Amends the Food Security Commodity Reserve Act of 1996 to rename specified provisions of the Food for Development Program as the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act. (Sec. 212) Includes, as part of the established trust stock of wheat, rice, corn, or sorghum used to meet emergency humanitarian food needs in developing countries, certain funds for Commodity Credit Corporation programs under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 that are available to acquire such eligible commodities through purchases from producers or in the market to replenish the trust. Authorizes the release of eligible commodities from the trust for emergency food assistance to developing countries, provided such release is at levels consistent with maintaining the long-term value of the trust. Makes permanent the authority for the trust. Subtitle C: International Fund for Agricultural Development - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should maintain its leadership in support for the activities of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). (Sec. 221) Directs the Administrator of AID and the Secretary of State to review the effectiveness of the current six-year agreement between AID and the Department of State as it relates to U.S. contributions to IFAD. Directs the Administrator of AID and the Secretary to determine the extent to which the Fund has made progress toward management reforms, self-sufficiency, and poverty reduction in determining the amount of future U.S. contributions to it. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Administrator of AID to report to the Congress on AID's plans for meeting the goals and objectives of the Africa Food Security Initiative.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
Capital Gains Tax Simplification Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that, if for any taxable year a non-corporate taxpayer has a net capital gain, 40 percent of such gain shall be a deduction from gross income regardless of whether or not the taxpayer itemizes other deductions. Repeals the tax preference for exclusion for gains on the sale of certain small business stock. Amends the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, with respect to maximum capital gains rates for individuals, to repeal the allowance of an election to recognize gain on assets held on January 1, 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
Food Banks Relief Act of 1998 - Amends the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to authorize appropriations for additional commodities purchase. Obligates specified amounts for emergency feeding organizations' distribution expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
Empowerment Zone Enhancement Act of 1998 - Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act with respect to additional grants to: (1) provide for grant funding for additional empowerment zones; (2) set the amount of such grants for zones in urban ($10 million) and rural ($4 million) areas, as well as the timing of such grants (ten years of one-year grants); (3) provide funding for such grants; (4) require environmental review by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (urban areas) and the Secretary of Agriculture (rural areas); and (5) require the lead implementing entity for an empowerment zone to establish a performance measurement system.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Health Insurance Bill of Rights Subtitle A: Access to Care Subtitle B: Quality Assurance Subtitle C: Patient Information Subtitle D: Grievance and Appeals Procedures Subtitle E: Protecting the Doctor-Patient Relationship Subtitle F: Promoting Good Medical Practice Subtitle G: Definitions Title II: Application of Patient Protection Standards to Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Coverage Under Public Health Service Act Title III: Amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 Title IV: Application to Group Health Plans Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 Title V: Effective Dates; Coordination in Implementation Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 1998 - Title I: Health Insurance Bill of Rights - Subtitle A: Access to Care - Requires any group health plan, or health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer, providing emergency services benefits to cover emergency services furnished: (1) without the need for any prior authorization determination; (2) whether or not the health care provider furnishing such services is a participating health care provider; and (3) without regard to any other term or condition of such coverage (other than exclusion or coordination of benefits, or an affiliation or waiting period, permitted under the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), or the Internal Revenue Code, and other than applicable cost-sharing). Requires such coverage in a manner so that, if the emergency services are provided by a nonparticipating health care provider: (1) the participant, beneficiary, or enrollee is not liable for amounts exceeding the liability that would be incurred if the services were provided by a participating provider; and (2) the plan or issuer pays an amount that is not less than the amount paid to a participating provider for the same services. Prescribes the same coverage for maintenance care or post-stabilization care (subject to certain guidelines) by nonparticipating health care providers. (Sec. 102) Requires a plan or coverage that provides benefits only through participating providers to offer a participant the option to purchase point-of-service coverage for benefits provided by a nonparticipating provider, unless the plan offers the participant: (1) a choice of health insurance coverage through more than one health insurance issuer; or (2) two or more coverage options that differ significantly with respect to the use of participating providers or the networks of such providers that are used. (Sec. 103) Requires any plan and any health insurance issuer to permit each participant, beneficiary, and enrollee to receive: (1) primary care from any participating primary care provider available to accept such individual; and (2) (unless the plan or issuer clearly declares choice limitations) medically necessary or appropriate specialty care, pursuant to appropriate referral procedures, from any qualified participating provider available to accept such individual for such care. (Sec. 104) Requires any plan or issuer that requires or provides for designation of a participating primary care provider to permit a female participant, beneficiary, or enrollee to designate a participating physician who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology as the individual's primary care provider. Prohibits the plan or issuer, in the absence of such a designation, from requiring authorization or a referral by the individual's primary care provider or otherwise for coverage of routine gynecological care (such as preventive women's health examinations) and pregnancy-related services provided by a participating specialist in obstetrics and gynecology to the extent such care is otherwise covered. Permits a plan or issuer to treat the ordering of other gynecological care by such a participating physician as the primary care provider's authorization of such care. Requires the plan or issuer to refer to an available and accessible specialist any participant, beneficiary, or enrollee with a condition or disease of sufficient seriousness and complexity to require treatment by a specialist, and benefits for such treatment are covered. Requires a plan or issuer to refer an individual to a nonparticipating specialist: (1) only if a participating specialist is not available and accessible; and (2) only at no additional cost to the individual. Requires a plan or issuer to have a procedure by which an individual with an ongoing special condition (life-threatening, degenerative, or disabling) may be referred to a specialist who shall be responsible for and capable of providing and coordinating the individual's primary and specialty care, without referral from the individual's primary care provider. Requires standing referrals to a specialist for any condition requiring ongoing specialist care. (Sec. 105) Prescribes requirements for continuity of care for participants, beneficiaries, or enrollees in the event of a termination of a health care provider or of the contract between a plan and an issuer. (Sec. 106) Prescribes requirements for participation in approved clinical trials of individuals with life-threatening or serious illnesses for which no standard treatment is effective. Prohibits denial of participation in such trials, or discrimination against participants. Limits plan or issuer payments to routine patient costs. (Sec. 107) Requires any plan or issuer that provides prescription drug benefits limited to drugs included in a formulary to: (1) ensure participation of participating physicians and pharmacists in the development of the formulary; (2) disclose to providers, and upon request to participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees, the nature of the formulary restrictions; and (3) consistent with the standards for a utilization review program, provide for exceptions from the formulary limitation when a non-formulary alternative is medically indicated. Prohibits a plan or issuer from denying coverage of such a drug or device on the basis that the use is investigational, if certain labeling requirements are met. (Sec. 108) Requires each plan and issuer to have (in relation to the coverage) a sufficient number, distribution, and variety of qualified participating providers to ensure that all covered health care services, including specialty services, will be available and accessible in a timely manner to all participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees. Permits inclusion among such providers of federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, migrant health centers, and other essential community providers located in the service area. Requires inclusion of such providers if necessary to meet such number, distribution, and variety requirements. (Sec. 109) Prescribes nondiscrimination requirements. Subtitle B: Quality Assurance - Directs each plan and issuer to establish an ongoing, internal quality assurance and continuous quality improvement program meeting specified requirements. (Sec. 112) Requires each plan and issuer to: (1) collect uniform quality data, including a minimum uniform data set specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (2) have a written process for the selection of participating health care professionals, including minimum professional requirements; and (3) establish and maintain, as part of any internal quality assurance and continuous quality improvement program including prescription drug benefits, a drug utilization program which encourages appropriate drug use and takes appropriate action to reduce the incidence of improper drug use and adverse drug reactions and interactions. (Sec. 115) Requires each plan and issuer to conduct (or arrange for qualified outside agents to conduct) benefit utilization review activities only in accordance with a utilization review program that meets certain requirements. Prohibits a program from permitting or providing contingent compensation arrangements with its employees, agents, or contractors in a manner that: (1) provides incentives, direct or indirect, for such persons to make inappropriate review decisions; or (2) is based, directly or indirectly, on the quantity or type of adverse determinations rendered. Requires a utilization review program to make determinations and notifications concerning: (1) prior authorization services within three business days after receiving any necessary information; (2) authorization for continued or extended health care services within one business day after receipt of such information; and (3) retrospective review of services previously provided, within 30 days of such receipt. (Sec. 116) Directs the President to establish an advisory board to provide information to Congress and the administration on issues relating to quality monitoring and improvement in the health care provided under group health plans and health insurance coverage. Subtitle C: Patient Information - Specifies benefits, access, emergency coverage, prior authorization, grievance and appeals, and other pertinent information which plans and issuers shall provide to participants and beneficiaries at the time of initial coverage, annually, within a reasonable period before or after the date of significant changes, and upon request. (Sec. 122) Requires plans and issuers to establish procedures to: (1) safeguard the privacy of any individually identifiable enrollee information; (2) maintain records and information in an accurate and timely manner; and (3) assure individuals timely access to such records and information. (Sec. 123) Provides for grants to States for creation and operation of a Health Insurance Ombudsman. Requires any State receiving such a grant to contract for such an Ombudsman with a not-for-profit organization that operates independent of group health plans and health insurance issuers. Requires the Secretary to provide through such a contract for an Ombudsman in any State that does not provide for one. Makes such an Ombudsman responsible to: (1) assist consumers in choosing among health insurance coverage or among coverage options offered within group health plans; and (2) provide counseling and assistance to enrollees dissatisfied with their treatment by issuers and plans, and with respect to grievances and appeals of coverage or plan determinations. Subtitle D: Grievances and Appeals Procedures - Requires each plan and issuer to establish a system for the presentation and resolution of oral and written grievances brought by participants, beneficiaries, or enrollees, or health care providers or other individuals acting on behalf of an individual and with the individual's consent. Requires the system to include grievances regarding access to and availability of services, quality of care, choice and accessibility of providers, network adequacy, and compliance with the requirements of this title. (Sec. 132) Requires each plan and issuer to establish an internal appeals process, and provide for an external appeals process, which meet certain requirements. Specifies the appeal rights of participants, beneficiaries, and their representatives, as well as the kinds of decisions which are appealable. Subtitle E: Protecting the Doctor-Patient Relationship - Prohibits any contract or agreement between a plan or issuer and a health care provider from: (1) prohibiting or restricting the provider from engaging in medical communications with the provider's patient; or (2) containing any provision purporting to transfer to the health care provider by indemnification or otherwise any liability relating to activities, actions, or omissions of the plan, issuer, or agent (as opposed to the provider). Declares null and void any such contract or agreement provisions. (Sec. 142) Prohibits any plan or issuer from operating any physician incentive plan that does not meet certain requirements under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. (Sec. 143) Requires any plan or issuer to establish reasonable procedures relating to the participation of health care professionals, including notice of participation rules, written notice of adverse participation decisions, and a process for appealing adverse decisions. (Sec. 144) Prohibits a plan or an issuer from retaliating against a participant, beneficiary, enrollee, or health care provider based on use of, or participation in, a utilization review or a grievance process. Prohibits a plan or an issuer from retaliating or discriminating against a protected health care professional because the professional in good faith: (1) discloses information relating to the care, services, or conditions affecting one or more participants, beneficiaries, or enrollees to an appropriate public regulatory agency, private accreditation body, or management personnel of the plan or issuer; or (2) initiates, cooperates, or otherwise participates in an investigation or proceeding by such an agency with respect to such care, services, or conditions. Defines good faith action. Subtitle F: Promoting Good Medical Practice - Prohibits a plan or issuer from arbitrarily interfering with or altering the decision of the treating physician regarding the manner or setting in which particular covered services are delivered if they are medically necessary or appropriate for treatment or diagnosis. Allows a plan or issuer to limit the delivery of services to one or more providers within a network. (Sec. 152) Prescribes standards for benefits for certain breast cancer treatments. Prohibits a plan or issuer from restricting benefits for any hospital length of stay: (1) in connection with a mastectomy to less than 48 hours; or (2) in connection with a lymph node dissection for the treatment of breast cancer to less than 24 hours. Prohibits a plan or issuer from requiring a provider to obtain its authorization for prescribing any such length of stay. Permits a discharge before expiration of the minimum length of stay otherwise required, if the decision is made by the attending provider in consultation with the woman involved, or in a case involving a partial mastectomy without lymph node dissection. Prohibits a plan or issuer from: (1) denying to a woman eligibility to enroll or renew coverage solely for the purpose of avoiding the requirements of this title; (2) providing monetary payments or rebates to encourage women to accept less than the minimum protections available under this title; (3) penalizing or otherwise reducing or limiting reimbursement because an attending provider gave care to a participant or beneficiary in accordance with this title; (4) providing incentives (monetary or otherwise) to induce an attending provider to provide care to a participant or beneficiary in a manner inconsistent with this title; or (5) restricting benefits (other than imposing deductibles, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing) for any portion of a period within a required hospital length of stay in a manner less favorable than the benefits provided for any preceding portion of such stay. (Sec. 153) Requires a plan or issuer to provide coverage for reconstructive breast surgery resulting from a mastectomy, including coverage: (1) for all stages of reconstructive breast surgery performed on a nondiseased breast to establish symmetry with the diseased when reconstruction on the diseased breast is performed; and (2) of prostheses and complications of mastectomy, including lymphedema. Prohibits denial of coverage on the basis that it is for cosmetic surgery. Subtitle G: Definitions - Sets forth definitions. Title II: Application of Patient Protection Standards to Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Coverage Under Public Health Service Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require each plan and issuer to comply with the patient protection requirements of this Act. (Sec. 202) Requires each health insurance issuer to comply with such requirements with respect to individual health insurance coverage. Title III: Amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - Amends ERISA to require each plan and issuer to comply with the patient protection requirements of this Act. (Sec. 302) Provides that nothing in ERISA shall be construed to invalidate, impair, or supersede any cause of action under State law to recover damages resulting from personal injury or wrongful death against any person (except employers and other plan sponsors): (1) in connection with the provision of insurance, administrative services, or medical services by that person to or for a group health plan; or (2) that arises out of the arrangement by that person for the provision of insurance, administrative services, or medical services by other persons. Allows such an action against an employer or other plan sponsor only if it is based on the employer's or sponsor's exercise of discretionary authority to decide a claim for covered benefits, and such exercise resulted in personal injury or wrongful death. Title IV: Application to Group Health Plans Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require a group health plan to comply with this Act. Deems this Act to be incorporated into the Internal Revenue Code. Title V: Effective Dates; Coordination in Implementation - Sets forth effective dates for provisions of this Act. (Sec. 502) Amends the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 to provide for coordination in the implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1998
Medicare Home Health Equity Act of 1998 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for: (1) restoration of the per visit cost limit to 112 percent of the mean of costs with regard to payments to home health agencies under Medicare; and (2) revision of the interim payment system for home health services.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1998
New Mothers' Breastfeeding Promotion and Protection Act of 1998 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include breastfeeding or expression of milk from the breast to feed a child among those activities for which a woman may not be discriminated against in employment. (Sec. 4) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 50 percent of employer expenses for providing an appropriate environment on business premises for employed mothers to breastfeed or express milk for their children. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to put into effect a performance standard for breast pumps irrespective of the class to which the device has been classified under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, identifying those pumps appropriate for use on a regular basis in a place of employment based on the efficiency and effectiveness of the pump and on sanitation factors related to communal use. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to issue a compliance policy guide which will assure that women who want to breastfeed a child are given full and complete information about breast pumps. (Sec. 6) Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA), and Federal civil service law, to require family and medical leave for nursing mothers' breaks, if the lactating mothers are entitled to specified leave as private or public employees under such law. Directs the Secretary of Labor to promulgate regulations to implement such FMLA requirement. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary of HHS, acting through the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration and in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture and other appropriate Federal agency heads, to undertake a campaign aimed at health professionals and the general public to promote the benefits of breastfeeding for infants, mothers, and families, especially public and private health professionals providing health services under Federal programs (including those for Federal employees). (Sec. 8) Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to allow State agencies to use funds made available for food benefits (including savings from infant formula cost containment) for breastfeeding promotion and support activities under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (the WIC program).
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1998
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal to Gerald and Betty Ford in recognition of their dedicated public service and outstanding humanitarian contributions to the people of the United States. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell duplicate medals in bronze. Declares such medals to be national medals.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Continuing the Commitment of the Violence Against Women Act Subtitle A: Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grants to Combat Violence Against Women Subtitle B: National Domestic Violence Hotline Subtitle C: Battered Women's Shelters and Services Subtitle D: Community Initiatives Subtitle E: Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel Subtitle F: Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies Subtitle G: Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement Subtitle H: National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction Subtitle I: Federal Victims' Counselors Subtitle J: Education and Prevention Grants to Reduce Sexual Abuse of Runaway, Homeless, and Street Youth Subtitle K: Victims of Child Abuse Programs Title II: Limiting the Effects of Violence of Children Subtitle A: Safe Havens for Children Subtitle B: Violence Against Women Prevention Among Youth in Schools Subtitle C: Family Safety Subtitle D: Domestic Violence and Children Subtitle E: Child Welfare Worker Training on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Subtitle F: Child Abuse Accountability Title III: Sexual Assault Prevention Subtitle A: Rape Prevention Education Subtitle B: Standards, Practice and Training for Sexual Assault Examinations Subtitle C: Prevention of Custodial Sexual Assault by Correction Staff Subtitle D: Hate Crimes Prevention Title IV: Domestic Violence Prevention Subtitle A: Domestic Violence Victims' Housing Subtitle B: Full Faith and Credit for Protection Orders Subtitle C: Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Subtitle D: National Summit on Sports and Violence Subtitle E: Keeping Firearms From Intoxicated Persons Subtitle F: Access to Safety and Advocacy Subtitle G: Federal Witness Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence Title V: Violence Against Women in the Military System Subtitle A: Civil Jurisdiction for Crimes of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Subtitle B: Transitional Compensation and Health Care for Abused Dependents of Members of the Armed Forces Title VI: Preventing Violence Against Women in Traditionally Underserved Communities Subtitle A: Older Women's Protection From Violence Subtitle B: Protection Against Violence and Abuse for Women with Disabilities Subtitle C: Battered Immigrant Women Subtitle D: Conforming Amendments to the Violence Against Women Act Title VII: Violence Against Women and the Workplace Subtitle A: National Clearinghouse on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Workplace Grant Subtitle B: Victims' Employment Rights Subtitle C: Workplace Violence Against Women Prevention Tax Credit Subtitle D: Battered Women's Employment Protection Subtitle E: Education and Training Grants to Promote Responses to Violence Against Women Subtitle F: Workers' Compensation Title VIII: Educational Institutions and Violence Against Women Subtitle A: Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes Against Women on Campus Subtitle B: Student Safety Subtitle C: Violence against Women Training for Health Professions Subtitle D: Campus Hate Crimes Right to Know Title IX: Violence Against Women Intervention, Prevention, and Education Research Violence Against Women Act of 1998 - Title I: Continuing the Commitment of the Violence Against Women Act - Subtitle A: Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grants to Combat Violence Against Women - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (the Act) to authorize appropriations for grants to combat violent crimes against women. (Sec. 102) Revises grant allocation guidelines governing prosecution grants, victims' services and State court systems. Expands grant purposes to include training that addresses sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking for State, local, and tribal judicial personnel. Directs the Attorney General to deny State grant applications that fail to provide documentation of collaborative efforts with other agencies or organizations. Redefines "victims' services" to include advocacy and assistance for victims seeking legal, social, and health care services. (Sec. 103) Directs the Attorney General to make grants to State domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions for purposes of coordinating with: (1) victim services activities; and (2) Federal, State, and local entities engaged in violence-against-women activities. Subtitle B: National Domestic Violence Hotline - Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) to authorize increased appropriations for the national domestic violence hotline grant. Requires grantees to submit a grant evaluation report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the HHS Secretary) for publication and public comment as a prerequisite to a grant award or renewal. Subtitle C: Battered Women's Shelters and Services - Battered Women's Shelters and Services Act - Amends the FVPSA to authorize appropriations for State grants. Modifies guidelines governing: (1) allotment of appropriations; (2) grants for information and technical assistance centers; and (3) authorization of appropriations. (Sec. 123) Instructs the HHS Secretary to award grants for: (1) State domestic violence coalitions and local domestic violence programs providing shelter or related assistance, in order to develop model strategies to address domestic violence in underserved populations; (2) each State domestic violence coalition for an emergency assistance fund for domestic violence victims; and (3) technical assistance and training for State and local domestic violence programs. Subtitle D: Community Initiatives - Authorizes appropriations for demonstration grants for community initiatives. Subtitle E: Education and Training for Judges and Court Personnel - Amends the Equal Justice for Women in the Courts Act of 1994 to permit training grants for judges and court personnel to include: (1) child custody, visitation, and safety issues raised by domestic violence and child sexual assault; and (2) the extent to which addressing domestic violence and victim safety contributes to the efficient administration of justice. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies - Amends the Act to reauthorize appropriations to implement the functions of the Bureau of Justice Statistics. (Sec. 153) Mandates that at least five percent of appropriated funds be used for grants to Indian tribal governments to treat domestic violence as a serious violation of criminal law. Subtitle G: Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement - Amends the Safe Homes for Women Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations for rural domestic violence and child abuse enforcement. Mandates that five percent of such funds be used for grants to Indian tribal governments. Subtitle H: National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction - Amends the Safe Homes for Women Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations for grants to enter stalking and domestic violence data into crime information databases. Subtitle I: Federal Victims' Counselors - Amends the Safe Streets for Women Act of 1994 to authorize appropriations for the United States Attorneys to appoint Victim-Witness counselors for the prosecution of domestic violence and sexual assault crimes. Subtitle J: Education and Prevention Grants to Reduce Sexual Abuse of Runaway, Homeless, and Street Youth - Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations for street-based outreach and education to prevent sexual abuse and exploitation. Subtitle K: Victims of Child Abuse Programs - Amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations for: (1) the court-appointed special advocate program; and (2) child abuse training programs for judicial personnel and practitioners. (Sec. 191-3) Amends the Act to authorize appropriations for grants for closed-circuit televising of testimony of child abuse victims. Title II: Limiting the Effects of Violence on Children - Subtitle A: Safe Havens for Children - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to public or private nonprofit nongovernmental entities to establish and operate supervised visitation centers. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Violence Against Women Prevention Among Youth in Schools - Authorizes appropriations for the Secretary of Education to implement a program in primary, middle, and secondary schools to educate young people about violence against women. Subtitle C: Family Safety - Family Safety Act - Amends the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980 to include among its purposes: (1) the promotion of cooperation between State and tribal courts to protect parents and children from domestic violence or sexual assault; (2) the promotion of realistic and protective standards for interstate relocation when parents dispute custody; (3) the avoidance of jurisdictional conflicts between State courts in matters of child custody and visitation consistent with not endangering or inappropriately punishing parents who are victims of domestic violence, or children who are victims of sexual assault. (Sec. 233) Amends Federal criminal law to provide as a defense to prosecution of either a criminal custodial interference or parental abduction charge, or criminal contempt of court relating to an underlying child custody or visitation determination, that the defendant was fleeing an incident or pattern of domestic violence or sexual assault of the child, or would otherwise have a defense under the International Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act. Directs the Attorney General to issue guidelines to assist U.S. Attorneys and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine whether to initiate or terminate an action due to the potential availability of such defense. (Sec. 234) Amends the Judicial Code to declare that the intent of full faith and credit doctrine in child custody determinations is to preempt inconsistent State law. Declares that a protection order regarding custody and visitation of a minor child that is consistent with this Act shall be given full faith and credit by the courts of any State where the party who sought the order seeks enforcement. Modifies State court jurisdiction guidelines governing: (1) relocation of the child due to domestic violence or sexual assault; and (2) court authority to decline to exercise jurisdiction on behalf of parents engaged in specified conduct. Subtitle D: Domestic Violence and Children - Expresses the sense of the Congress that for purposes of determining child custody: (1) it is in the best interest of children to have a presumption that their main physical residence should be with their primary caretaker parent unless such parent is unfit; (2) child abuse and sexual abuse allegations should be fully investigated regardless of when raised, or whether the child has withdrawn the allegation; (3) States should not order specified measures if they may endanger either parent or child; and (4) States should provide training to all relevant professionals on how domestic violence and sexual assault affects determinations of custody, child support, and visitation. Subtitle E: Child Welfare Worker Training on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault - Directs the Attorney General to make grants jointly with the HHS Secretary to enable child welfare service agencies to train their staffs and modify their policies, procedures, programs, and practices in order to make them consistent with specified principles and goals. Sets forth grantee eligibility criteria. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Child Abuse Accountability - Child Abuse Accountability Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit the assignment or alienation of any pension benefit payable to a participant pursuant to a qualified child abuse order. Exempts qualified child abuse orders from preemption by ERISA. Title III: Sexual Assault Prevention - Subtitle A: Rape Prevention Education - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the use of certain State funds for rape prevention and education programs conducted by rape crisis centers and nonprofit State sexual assault coalitions for specified programs. (Sec. 301) Instructs the HHS Secretary to establish a National Resource Center on Sexual Assault to provide resource information, policy, training, and technical assistance to Federal, State, and Indian tribal agencies, State and local sexual assault coalitions and programs, and to other interested parties. Mandates that State grantors ensure that at least 25 percent of the funds are devoted to educational programs targeted for middle school, junior high, and high school aged students. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Standards, Practice, and Training for Sexual Assault Examinations - Standards, Practice, and Training for Sexual Assault Examinations Act - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) evaluate standards of training and practice for licensed health care professionals performing sexual assault forensic examinations, and develop a national recommended training standard; (2) recommend sexual assault examination training for health care students to improve recognition of injuries suggestive of rape and sexual assault; and (3) establish a mechanism for nationwide dissemination of a national protocol on sexual assault for forensic examinations. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Prevention of Custodial Sexual Assault by Correctional Staff - Prevention of Custodial Sexual Assault by Correctional Staff Act - Directs the Attorney General to establish and disseminate to the States certain guidelines regarding the prevention of custodial sexual misconduct by correctional staff. Requires withholding of specified correctional facilities funds from any State that fails to implement: (1) such guidelines; or (2) criminal penalties explicitly prohibiting custodial sexual misconduct by correctional staff against prisoners. (Sec. 335) Directs the Attorney General to create a national, confidential, toll-free telephone hotline to collect data, and to provide information and assistance to prisoners who have experienced custodial sexual misconduct by corrections staff. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: Hate Crimes Prevention - Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1998 - Amends Federal criminal law to establish criminal penalties for willfully causing bodily injury because of a person's race, color, religion, or national origin. (Sec. 345) Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to study the issue of adult recruitment of juveniles to commit hate crimes, and, where appropriate, to amend Federal sentencing guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements for adult defendants who do such recruiting. (Sec. 346) Directs the Administrator of the Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to make grants to State and local programs to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. (Sec. 347) Authorizes appropriations for the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Justice (including the Community Relations Service), to increase the number of personnel to prevent and respond to such hate crimes. Title IV: Domestic Violence Prevention - Subtitle A: Domestic Violence Victims' Housing - Domestic Violence Victims Housing Act - Authorizes appropriations under the United States Housing Act of 1937 solely for public housing agencies and qualified nonprofit organizations to provide tenant-based rental assistance for families leaving a residence due to domestic violence. Subtitle B: Full Faith and Credit for Protection Orders - Amends Federal criminal law to require the Attorney General to reduce the amount of certain grants to any State that fails to comply with Federal full faith and credit requirements for protection orders. (Sec. 412) Authorizes the Attorney General to provide grants to assist governmental entities to develop and strengthen law enforcement and recordkeeping strategies to enforce protective orders issued by other governmental entities. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection - Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act - Prohibits an insurer from denying or restricting insurance coverage on the basis that the applicant or insured (or any employee or associated person) is, has been, or may be the subject of abuse or has incurred or may incur abuse-related claims. Confers enforcement jurisdiction upon the Federal Trade Commission. Authorizes a private cause of action by an applicant or insured adversely affected by a violation of this Act. Subtitle D: National Summit on Sports and Violence - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) a national summit should be promptly convened to develop a multifaceted action plan to deter acts of violence, especially domestic violence and sexual assault; (2) the members of such summit should include sports, community, political, and media leaders, as well as Members of Congress and other governmental and community leaders with relevant expertise; and (3) summit members should assume leadership roles deterring acts of domestic violence and sexual assault. Subtitle E: Keeping Firearms from Intoxicated Persons - Amends Federal criminal law to declare unlawful the transfer of a firearm or ammunition to any person reasonably believed to be intoxicated. Subtitle F: Access to Safety and Advocacy - Access to Safety and Advocacy Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to designated grantees and services to improve legal assistance to victims of domestic violence through access to the justice system, legal advocacy, and representation. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle G: Federal Witness Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence - Amends Federal criminal law to include victims of domestic violence within the Federal Witness Protection Program. Title V: Violence Against Women in the Military System - Subtitle A: Civilian Jurisdiction for Crimes of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence - Amends Federal criminal law to declare that domestic violence and sexual assault offenses committed by persons formerly serving with, or presently employed by or accompanying the armed forces outside of the United States shall be subject to prosecution in the Federal District Court of the jurisdiction of origin of the person arrested. Provides for concurrent jurisdiction with other military tribunals and foreign governments. (Sec. 502) Amends Federal law governing separation from the armed forces to mandate that: (1) a copy of records of any penal action taken against the departing member of the armed forces be transmitted to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and (2) any member convicted by court-martial of an offense of a sexual nature provide whatever specimen is necessary to conduct DNA analysis for inclusion in the Combined DNA Identification System of the FBI. Subtitle B: Transitional Compensation and Health Care for Abused Dependents of Members of the Armed Forces - Revises Federal guidelines governing transitional compensation and health care for abused dependents of former members of the armed forces. Mandates that an abused dependent of a former member be furnished with medical, dental, and mental health care in uniformed services' facilities with the same eligibility and benefits as were applicable during the former member's active service. Title VI: Preventing Violence Against Women in Traditionally Underserved Communities - Subtitle A: Older Women's Protection From Violence - Older Women's Protection From Violence Act - Chapter 1: Violence Against Women Act of 1994 - Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to direct the Attorney General to: (1) make grants to law school clinical programs to fund the inclusion of cases addressing issues of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, and sexual assault against older individuals; and (2) develop curricula and provide for training programs in those issues for law enforcement officers and prosecutors. Authorizes appropriations. Chapter 2: Family Violence Prevention and Services Act - Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to require federally-funded State domestic violence coalitions to include within their scope of activities programs targeted to older individuals, including outreach, support groups, and counseling. (Sec. 604-3) Authorizes entities eligible for a community initiatives demonstration grant to include representatives of adult protective services entities. Chapter 3: Older Americans Act of 1965 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Aging to consider the importance of research about the sexual assault of older women when establishing research priorities for grants or contracts for research and demonstration projects on elder abuse. (Sec. 605-3) Authorizes appropriations without fiscal year limitation for grants to implement a State long-term care ombudsman program. (Sec. 605-4) Directs such Assistant Secretary to develop curricula and implement continuing education training programs to improve the ability of health care and social services providers to recognize and address instances of elder abuse. (Sec.605-5) Directs the Assistant Secretary, when making grants and contracts, to give special consideration to projects designed to: (1) expand access to domestic violence shelters and programs for older individuals and encourage the use of certain facilities as emergency short-term shelters; and (2) promote research on legal, organizational, or training impediments to providing services to older individuals through shelters and programs. (Sec. 605-6) Authorizes appropriations for the ombudsman and the elder abuse prevention program. (Sec. 605-7) Directs the HHS Secretary to make grants to: (1) nonprofit private organizations to support projects in local communities to coordinate activities for intervention in and prevention of elder abuse, including domestic violence and sexual assault; and (2) develop outreach programs for assisting victims of elder abuse, including some for assisting individuals in certain senior housing facilities. Authorizes appropriations. Chapter 4: Public Health Service Act - Elder Abuse Identification and Referral Act of 1998 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to instruct the HHS Secretary, when awarding grants or contracts, to give preferences to health professions schools or programs that condition the awarding of their degrees or certificates upon significant student training in specified areas of elder abuse identification and treatment. Subtitle B: Protection Against Violence and Abuse for Women with Disabilities - Protections Against Violence and Abuse for Women with Disabilities Act - Makes the protection of women with disabilities eligible for grants and research under the following Acts: (1) the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968; (2) Public Health and Human Services Act; (3) Family Violence Prevention and Services Act; (4) Safe Homes for Women Act of 1994; and Equal Justice for Women in the Courts Act of 1994. (Sec. 617) Authorizes the HHS Secretary to: (1) develop curricula and implement training programs to improve the ability of social service and health providers to recognize and address domestic violence directed against women with disabilities; and (2) make grants and enter into contracts for such training programs for health professionals. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 619) Directs the HHS Secretary to consider the importance of research about the sexual assault of, and violence against, women with disabilities in establishing certain research priorities. (Sec. 619-1) Authorizes the Attorney General to establish a grants program for States and nongovernmental private entities to provide education and technical assistance for information dissemination on abuse and violence against women with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Battered Immigrant Women - Battered Immigrant Women's Protection Act - Expresses the sense of the Congress that it is contrary to the law enforcement purposes of the Violence Against Women Act for State law enforcement officers, prosecutors, or judges to: (1) inquire into the immigration status of a domestic violence victim who is seeking protection from crimes of domestic violence, battering, or extreme cruelty to herself or her children; and (2) report such victims to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. (Sec. 623) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise guidelines governing a battered spouse or child with respect to: (1) cancellation of removal and adjustment of status; (2) ineligibility for visas or admission; (3) procedures for granting immigrant status; (4) general classes of deportable aliens; (5) status adjustment of nonimmigrant to that of person admitted for permanent residence; (6) removal proceedings; and (7) married persons and employees for certain nonprofit organizations. (Sec. 630) Authorizes the Attorney General to grant certain battered applicants documentation signifying authorization of employment during the pendency of their application. (Sec. 631) Amends the Privacy Act of 1974 to permit Federal agency disclosure of records to the spouse or child of a naturalized citizen or lawful permanent resident who requests information from the Immigration and Naturalization Service regarding the immigration status of their spouse or parent, or who needs to obtain documentation for an immigration case or domestic violence-related judicial procedure. Excludes from such disclosure the records of victims of battering or extreme cruelty by a spouse or parent. (Sec. 632) Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to redefine "qualified alien" to include certain battered aliens for purposes of welfare and public benefits eligibility. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980, the Social Security Act, and the United States Housing Act of 1937, to declare restrictions on the use of assisted housing inapplicable to certain battered aliens. (Sec. 633) Amends the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 to provide that requirements and restrictions placed upon Legal Services Corporation funding shall not be construed to prohibit a recipient from providing related legal assistance to certain aliens who have been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty. (Sec. 634) Amends the Act to require each branch of the U.S. military to train its supervisory military officers in domestic violence dynamics in military families, and the protections available for battered immigrant women and children. Expands the purposes of training grants to combat violent crimes against women to include: (1) training immigration and asylum officers and judges; and (2) training justice system personnel on the judicial ramifications of the Violence Against Women Act, and the potential immigration consequences for perpetrators of domestic violence. (Sec. 635) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to express the intent of the Congress that statutory constraints upon the powers of immigration personnel not be construed as discouraging crime and domestic violence victims from reporting crimes to the police, from cooperating in criminal prosecutions, or from obtaining the legal relief needed for protection from ongoing violence. Subtitle D: Conforming Amendments to the Violence Against Women Act - Amends the Act to make technical and conforming amendments with respect to law enforcement and prosecution grants. Title VII: Violence Against Women and the Workplace - Subtitle A: National Clearinghouse on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Workplace Grant - Authorizes the Attorney General to award a grant to a private non-profit entity, including one operating within the boundaries of an Indian reservation, to provide for establishment of a national clearinghouse and resource center to disseminate information and assistance to employers and labor organizations responding to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Victims' Employment Rights - Victims' Employment Rights Act - Prohibits an employer from taking any adverse job action against an employee based upon such employee's status, experience, or condition as a victim of crime, even if the crime alleged does not result in criminal prosecution or conviction. Prohibits any adverse job action for an employee's participation in related judicial proceedings requiring absence from work. Prescribes enforcement guidelines, including civil action by an affected employee for actual and treble punitive damages. Subtitle C: Workplace Violence Against Women Prevention Tax Credit - Workplace Violence Against Women Prevention Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an employer a workplace safety program tax credit for 40 percent of the costs of implementing workplace safety and education programs to combat violence against women. Subtitle D: Battered Women's Employment Protection - Battered Women's Employment Protection Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for unemployment compensation for separation from employment as a direct result of an employee's experience of domestic violence. (Sec. 743) Amends the Social Security Act to provide for the training of claims reviewers and hearing personnel in the nature and dynamics of domestic violence, and in methods of ascertaining and keeping confidential information about domestic violence experiences so that employment separations stemming from such violence are identified and adjudicated while full confidentiality is provided for the employee's claim and submitted evidence. (Sec. 744) Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and the provisions concerning Federal employees to establish an entitlement for leave resulting from certain domestic violence situations. Prescribes confidentiality guidelines for an employee's situation of domestic violence. Requires that employees, under State law, be permitted to use existing leave for domestic violence situations. Empowers the Secretary of Labor to enforce the entitlement for leave due to an employee's domestic violence situation. Subtitle E: Education and Training Grants to Promote Responses to Violence Against Women - Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to public and private nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations for the education and training of individuals who, as a result of their employment responsibilities, are likely to come into contact with victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Workers' Compensation - Expresses the sense of the Congress that State workers' compensation laws should: (1) provide benefits to eligible female victims of workplace violence, including full compensation for physical and nonphysical injuries; and (2) permit the employee to pursue an action at law (other than statutory workers' compensation benefits) against an employer's role in the act of workplace violence. Title VIII: Educational Institutions and Violence Against Women - Subtitle A: Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes Against Women on Campus - Amends the Act to authorize Department of Education grants to institutions of higher education for campus personnel and student organizations, and nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services programs to provide personnel, training, technical assistance, data collection, and other equipment for the more widespread apprehension, investigation, and adjudication of persons committing violent crimes against women on campus. (Sec. 801) Authorizes the Secretary of Education to request any Federal agency to use its authorities and resources in support of campus security, investigation, and victim services efforts. (Sec. 802) Directs the Secretary to provide for, and report to the Congress on, a national baseline study of university campus procedures when receiving a sexual assault report. Subtitle B: Student Safety - Student Safety Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to: (1) revise guidelines governing crime logs and annual statistics of criminal offenses on campus; (2) exclude from educational records open to parental review specified records of campus disciplinary proceedings or criminal activity; and (3) modify eligibility criteria for Federal student financial aid services to require institution certification of comprehensive and accurate crime statistics. (Sec. 815) Requires the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education to publish annually and transmit to certain congressional committees and the general public a report identifying model programs for improving campus safety. Subtitle C: Violence Against Women Training for Health Professions - Violence Against Women Training for Health Professions Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the HHS Secretary, when making health care grants for rural areas, to give preference to a health professions entity that requires, as a condition of receiving a degree or certificate, each student to have had significant training in identification, examination, treatment, and referral of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Subtitle D: Campus Hate Crimes Right to Know - Campus Hate Crimes Right To Know Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to mandate the separate collection and categorization of on-campus criminal offenses statistics that manifest prejudice based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or disability. Title IX: Violence Against Women Intervention, Prevention, and Education Research - Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to direct the HHS Secretary and the Attorney General to establish a multi-agency task force coordinating research on violence against women. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 901) Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to entities to: (1) support research to further the understanding of the causes of violent behavior against women; and (2) evaluate education, prevention, and intervention programs. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Departments of Health and Human Services and of Justice to make grants to domestic violence and sexual assault organizations, research organizations and academic institutions to expand knowledge about violence against women, with a particular emphasis on exploring such issues as they affect underserved communities. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to study and report to the Congress on specified aspects of domestic violence. Directs the Secretary to award grants to designated entities to gather data on the experiences of women and girls who become pregnant as a result of sexual assault within State health care, judicial, and social services systems. Authorizes appropriations. Instructs the Attorney General to conduct a national study and report to the Congress on laws regarding rape and sexual assault offenses and their effectiveness in addressing those crimes and protecting the victims. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary and the Attorney General to establish three research centers to: (1) support the development of research and training programs that focus on violence against women; (2) provide collaboration mechanisms between researchers and practitioners; and (3) provide technical assistance for integrating research into service provision. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1998
Fair Minimum Wage Act of 1998 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the Federal minimum wage (currently $5.15 per hour) to: (1) $5.65 an hour during the year 1999; and (2) $6.15 an hour during the year 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1998
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase standard deduction amounts. Establishes the deduction for a joint return or surviving spouse at twice that for: (1) an individual who is not married and not a surviving spouse or head of household; or (2) a married individual filing separately. Provides for annual inflation adjustments.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Restrictions on Levy and Other Collection Activities Title II: Application of Certain Fair Debt Collection Procedures Title III: Provisions Relating to Installment Agreements Title IV: Expansion of Judicial Remedies Title V: Miscellaneous Changes Taxpayer Protection Act of 1998 - Title I: Restrictions on Levy and Other Collection Activities - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit Government tax levy of property or property rights: (1) during Tax Court proceedings by a spouse involving liability on a joint return; (2) during court proceedings for refund of divisible tax under specified circumstances; (3) while certain offers in compromise are pending, or while an installment agreement offer is pending or in effect; or (4) while a determination of assessment validity is being made. (Sec. 104) Requires Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Chief Counsel approval for: (1) filing a notice of lien or authorizing a levy on property held by a third party; and (2) specified jeopardy and termination assessments and jeopardy levies. (Sec. 105) Requires IRS district director or assistant district director approval, or a finding of tax collection jeopardy in order to authorize a levy against: (1) a qualified employer plan pension or annuity; or (2) a life insurance, endowment, or annuity contract. (Sec. 107) Requires IRS district director or assistant district director approval (or owner waiver) prior to the immediate sale of seized perishable goods. (Sec. 108) Increases the amount of certain personal and residential property on which liens are not valid. Title II: Application of Certain Fair Debt Collection Procedures - Applies certain fair debt collection procedures to IRS-taxpayer communications. Subjects IRS violations of such procedures to existing civil damage provisions. Title III: Provisions Relating to Installment Agreements - Requires the IRS to make installment payment agreements available in certain instances where the aggregate tax liability does not exceed $10,000. Title IV: Expansion of Judicial Remedies - Revises provisions with respect to a taxpayer's motion to quash third-party summonses. (Sec. 402) Authorizes a taxpayer whose property is subject to an IRS lien to: (1) get a certificate of discharge by depositing with the IRS an amount of money or a bond equal in value to such lien; and (2) after such substitution, bring a civil action to determine if such valuation is correct, and a obtain a refund of any excess that may have been required by the IRS. (Sec. 403) Authorizes a civil action for IRS violations of certain bankruptcy procedures. Title V: Miscellaneous Changes - Permits: (1) personal delivery of penalty notice relating to failure to collect and pay over tax or attempt to evade tax; and (2) service of summons by mail to third-party recordkeepers. (Sec. 503) Increases the monetary limit on cases permitted to use Tax Court small case procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Access to Medicare Benefits for Individuals 62-to- 65 Years of Age Title II: Access to Medicare Benefits for Displaced Workers 55-to-62 Years of Age Title III: COBRA Protection for Early Retirees Subtitle A: Amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 Subtitle B: Amendments to the Public Health Service Act Subtitle C: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 Title IV: Financing Medicare Early Access Act of 1998 - Title I: Access to Medicare Benefits for Individuals 62-to-65 Years of Age - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part D (Purchase of Medicare Benefits by Certain Individuals Age 62-to-65 Years of Age). Makes eligible to enroll in Medicare during a specified period individuals between the ages of 62 and 65 who: (1) are not eligible for coverage under group health plans or Federal health insurance; but (2) would be Medicare-eligible if age 65. Requires prior notification of each individual seeking to enroll of the deferred monthly premium amount for which the individual will be liable upon attaining age 65. (Sec. 101) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to determine rates for: (1) the base monthly premium; (2) the base annual premium for individuals age 62 or older; and (3) the deferred premium for such individuals. Limits the maximum annual premium in a premium area to assure participation in all areas of the country. Directs the Secretary to provide for payment and collection of the base monthly premium. Makes the enrollee liable for the deferred monthly premium payment. Requires collection of both premiums in the same manner as for the payment of monthly premiums under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance). Creates in the Treasury the Medicare Early Access Trust Fund (Trust Fund) to hold collected premiums as well as the savings from new fraud and abuse initiatives under the Medicare Fraud and Overpayment Act of 1998 which are transferred to it out of the Medicare trust funds. Directs: (1) the Trust Fund's Board of Trustees to report annually to the Congress on the need for adjustments in the new program in order to maintain its financial solvency; and (2) the Comptroller General to report periodically to the Congress on the adequacy of program financing along with appropriate recommendations to accomplish such end. Requires: (1) individuals enrolled under the new part D program to be treated for Medicare purposes as though they were entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) and enrolled under Medicare part B; and (2) new part D program benefits to be payable under Medicare to such individuals in the same manner as if they were so entitled and enrolled. Provides that the new part D program shall not be treated as Medicare for purposes of the Medicaid program under SSA title XIX, including the provision of Medicare cost-sharing assistance, nor for purposes of COBRA continuation requirements of the Public Health Service Act. Title II: Access to Medicare Benefits for Displaced Workers 55-to-62 Years of Age - Amends SSA title XVIII part D to rename the newly established part D program the Purchase of Medicare Benefits by Certain Individuals Age 55-to-65 Years of Age. Provides for part D coverage for certain displaced workers and spouses between the ages of 55 and 62 under arrangements similar to those in title I. Directs the Secretary to provide for continued enrollment of displaced workers who attain 62 years of age. Title III: COBRA Protection for Early Retirees - Subtitle A: Amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to extend specified group health plan insurance continuation coverage under COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) to qualified retirees and their dependents, in cases of substantial reduction or termination of a retiree group health plan. Sets forth a special rule for certain dependents in case of termination or substantial reduction of retiree health coverage. Permits an increased level of premiums in the case of an individual provided continuation coverage by reason of the qualifying event. Subtitle B: Amendments to the Public Health Service Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend specified group health plan insurance continuation coverage under COBRA to qualified retirees and their dependents, in cases of substantial reduction or termination of a retiree group health plan. Sets forth a special rule for certain dependents in case of termination or substantial reduction of retiree health coverage. Permits an increased level of premiums in the case of an individual provided continuation coverage by reason of the qualifying event. Subtitle C: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend specified group health plan insurance continuation coverage under COBRA to qualified retirees and their dependents, in cases of substantial reduction or termination of a retiree group health plan. Sets forth a special rule for certain dependents in case of termination or substantial reduction of retiree health coverage. Permits an increased level of premiums in the case of an individual provided continuation coverage by reason of the qualifying event. Title IV: Financing - Requires any increase in payments under the Medicare program that results from the enactment of this Act to be offset by reductions in Medicare payments pursuant to the anti-fraud and -abuse provisions of the Medicare Fraud and Overpayment Act of 1998.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1998
Patient Safety and Health Care Whistleblower Protection Act of 1998 - Prohibits retaliation or discrimination against a health care worker because the worker disclosed information, advocated for patients, or initiated, cooperated with, or participated in any governmental investigation or proceeding regarding the care, services, or conditions of a health care entity if: (1) the information is true; and (2) the information disclosed evidences a violation of a law, rule, or professional standard or relates to matters endangering patients, workers, or the public. Prohibits contracts, policies, and procedures restricting the actions for which retaliation or discrimination is prohibited. Declares that these provisions do not protect disclosures violating confidentiality law. Prohibits disclosing the identity of the worker, subject to exception. Provides for enforcement through private civil actions and, for certain willful and repeated violations, criminal penalties. Declares that this Act does not preempt other laws and allows States to enforce laws providing equivalent or greater worker protections.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1998
Comprehensive One-Call Notification Act of 1998 - Provides for the establishment of a State one-call notification program to protect underground facilities from excavation damage. Outlines required elements of the program, including minimum standards and provisions for implementation and enforcement. Authorizes a State to maintain an alternate one-call notification program if it provides protection for public safety, the environment, or excavators that is equivalent to, or greater than, protection under a program that meets the minimum standards of this Act. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to study damage prevention practices associated with existing one-call notification systems in order to determine which systems practices appear to be the most effective in preventing damage to underground facilities and in protecting the public, the environment, excavators, and public service disruption. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to assist qualifying States in improving their one-call notification programs. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1998
Public School Modernization Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise current incentives for education zones into incentives for qualified public school modernization bonds, including (currently existing) qualified zone academy bonds and (newly established) qualified school construction bonds. Allows a limited tax credit, computed according to a specified formula, to taxpayers holding such public school modernization bonds. Raises the national zone academy bond limitation from $400 million to $1.4 billion for calendar 1999 (and 2000), and eliminates the limitation after 2000. Prescribes requirements for national qualified school construction bonds, with a national limitation of $9.7 billion each for calendar 1999 and 2000 and no limit after 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1998
Calls for the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend and the Postmaster General to issue a postage stamp to honor: (1) the 150th anniversary of the emigration of more than one million people from Ireland to the United States to escape the Irish Potato Famine; and (2) the contributions of these immigrants and their descendants to the history, society, culture, and security of the United States.
![Official portrait of Rep. Coyne, William J. [D-PA-14]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000846_200.jpg)