United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Bill Emerson English Language Empowerment Act of 1999 - Amends Federal law to declare English to be the official language of the U.S. Government. States that representatives of the Federal Government have an affirmative obligation to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language of the Federal Government. Requires such representatives to conduct official business in English. Prohibits anyone from being denied Government services because he or she communicates in English. Requires that all officials conduct all naturalization ceremonies entirely in English. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the preservation or use of Native Alaskan or Native American languages.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended by the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Appropriations Act, 1999, to include swine and muscle cuts of swine in the mandatory domestic reporting pilot investigation. Authorizes such investigation's extension beyond 12 months if necessary to collect 12 months' information on swine pricing.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Imported Meat Labeling Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to require country of origin (where an animal is raised before slaughter) labeling of imported meat or U.S.-prepared meat food products containing foreign meat.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Federal Credit Union Act to establish a privileged status for confidential supervisory information. Declares such information to be the property of the Federal banking agency that created or requested it. Prohibits the disclosure of such information without prior authorization of the appropriate Federal banking agency. Places certain State and foreign supervisory information which is subject to a domestic motion to compel production or disclosure within the same privileged status as information of Federal banking agencies. Precludes the use of subpoena or other process to obtain such information. Permits disclosure requests to the appropriate Federal banking agency. Grants Federal courts exclusive jurisdiction for actions to compel information disclosure. Prescribes judicial, rulemaking, and notice procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to prohibit the imposition of Medicaid home liens and Medicaid estate recovery for long-term care services in the case of an individual who has received benefits under a qualified long-term care insurance policy for at least three years during the five-year period ending on the date of provision of such services. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) repeal the inclusion in an employee's gross income of employer-provided coverage (through a flexible spending or similar arrangement (FSA)) of qualified long-term care services; (2) allow the carryover of amounts in excess of the maximum amount of reimbursement under an FSA; and (3) exclude from gross income the reimbursement of long-term care insurance premiums by FSAs (as well as the reimbursement of health insurance premiums during unemployment).
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Small Business and Financial Institutions Tax Relief Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit S corporation eligible shareholders to include individual retirement accounts. (Sec. 3) Excludes investment securities income held by a bank from passive income limits for purposes of S status termination. (Sec. 4) Increases the number of eligible S corporation shareholders. (Sec. 5) States that stock held by a bank director as required by banking regulations (director qualifying stock) shall not be considered a disqualifying second class of S corporation stock. (Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to modify a certain Regulation to permit an S corporation bank to charge certain bad debt deductions over a related bad debt reserve recapture period. (Sec. 7) Includes all banks within the three-year deduction preference rule.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
American Dream Tax Fairness Equity Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the three-year capital gains rate to 15 percent. Revises provisions regulating the computation of estate and gift taxes and credits, basing the taxes and credits on capital gains. Requires a trust, on the death of any individual who contributed property to the trust, to recognize gain or loss as if that property was sold for its fair market value on the death date. Provides for the treatment of contributions by partnerships or corporations.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit: (1) annual carryover of up to $500 of unused nontaxable cafeteria plan and flexible spending arrangement benefits; or (2) such carryover to be distributed as taxable income, or rolled over tax free to certain retirement plans, an education individual retirement plan, or a medical savings account.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Constitutional Amendment - Authorizes the President to disapprove any item of appropriation in any bill. Requires any item of appropriation contained in a bill approved by the President which is not disapproved to become law. Permits the Congress to reconsider any item so disapproved.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1999
Constitutional Amendment - Makes any person who has been elected for a full term: (1) two times to the Senate ineligible for election or appointment to the Senate; or (2) six times to the House ineligible for election to the House. Bars any person who has served as a: (1) Senator for more than three years of a term to which some other person was elected from being subsequently eligible for election to the Senate more than once; and (2) Representative for more than one year from being subsequently eligible for election to the House more than five times. Excludes election or service occurring before this article becomes operative when determining eligibility.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1998
Canola Pesticide Registration Harmonization Act - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should direct the United States trade representative to the United States-Canada Technical Working Group to urge the Group to harmonize registration of certain pesticides used on canola. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish domestic and import tolerances for such pesticides.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1998
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 with regard to the ban on contributions by foreign nationals to apply such ban to disbursements instead of contributions. Prohibits (soft money) disbursements by foreign nationals for political committees of political parties and for independent expenditures in campaigns for election to Federal office.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 1998
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Agriculture should: (1) analyze and report to specified congressional committees on trade between the United States and Canada with regard to beef, beef cattle, wheat, barley, dairy, poultry, and eggs; and (2) based on such analyses identify any provisions of the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT), Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that limit, inhibit, or otherwise restrict the ability of U.S. farmers and ranchers to benefit from or mitigate the economic impact of trade between the United States and Canada.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1998
Farm Income Security Act of 1998 - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to provide for: (1) a retroactive lifting of 1998 marketing assistance loan rate caps; and (2) a discretionary increased loan rate for the 1998 rice crop.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1998
Measures to Encourage Results in Teaching Act of 1998 - Amends title II (Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development Program) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a new part D (State Incentives for Teacher Testing and Merit Pay). Directs the Secretary of Education to make an award to each State that: (1) administers a test to each elementary school and secondary school teacher in the State, with respect to the subjects taught by the teacher, every three to five years; and (2) has an elementary school and secondary school teacher compensation system based on merit. Allows States to use Federal education funds for teacher testing and merit pay programs.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1998
Agricultural Trade Emergency Response Act of 1998 - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to temporarily make supplemental payments to farm owners and producers with production flexibility contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Short-Term Cash Relief Measures Title II: Trade Issues and Promotion of Value-Added Agriculture Subtitle A: Trade Issues Subtitle B: Value-Added Agriculture Subtitle C: Meat Labeling Subtitle D: Other Matters Regarding Trade Title III: Tax Provisions Family Agriculture Reinvestment and Marketing Strategy Act of 1998 - Title I: Short-Term Cash Relief Measures - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to authorize increases for production flexibility contract payments. (Sec. 102) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Risk Management Agency, to conduct a crop insurance program that allows producers to select a dollar amount of coverage per acre by crop within a designated production area. Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to repeal the existing revenue insurance pilot program. (Sec. 103) Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to provide supplemental market deficiency and indemnity payments to eligible wheat and barley producers adversely affected by trade sanctions. Title II: Trade Issues and Promotion of Value- Added Agriculture -Subtitle A: Trade Issues - Directs the President and the United States Trade Representative to take specified actions regarding trade with Canada concerning: (1) wheat imports; (2) feeder cattle; (3) wheat and feed subsidies; (4) phytosanitary inspection requirements; (4) rail system access; and (5) trade barriers. (Sec. 202) Sets forth specified trade negotiating objectives with respect to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Agriculture. (Sec. 203) Amends the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 to revise provisions with respect to the accession of countries with state trading enterprises to the general agreement on tariffs and trade (GATT) and the WTO. (Sec. 204) States that the United States shall not agree to accession of the People's Republic of China or Russia to the WTO until they take specified actions with respect to: (1) phytosanitary and veterinary standards; and (2) pork, meat, seed, and wheat imports. Subtitle B: Value-Added Agriculture - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize appropriations to encourage production and marketing of value-added agricultural commodities. (Sec. 212) Directs the Small Business Administrator to implement a low interest loan program for small businesses, farmers, and ranchers affected by low commodity prices. Subtitle C: Meat Labeling - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to: (1) define specified terms relating to beef and lamb; and (2) set forth related labeling requirements. Directs the Secretary to conduct a ground beef and ground lamb labeling study. Subtitle D: Other Matters Regarding Trade - Directs the Secretary and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to jointly conduct a study of licensing and registration procedures under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and under Canadian law. (Sec. 232) Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to direct the Secretary to conduct a pilot program requiring persons engaged in buying, selling, or marketing livestock, meat, and related products in unmanufactured form to report on prices and sale terms. Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 to prohibit packer retaliation against livestock producers. Title III: Tax Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise individual capital gains tax rates. (Sec. 302) Repeals estate and gift tax provisions. (Sec. 303) Amends the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 to make income averaging for farmers permanent.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1998
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to sell at fair market value 265 cabin sites and related appurtenances around the Canyon Ferry Reservoir, Montana. Requires: (1) a sealed bidding process for such sale; (2) a required minimum bid to be met; and (3) the Canyon Ferry Recreation Association to have the right to match the highest bid offered for such properties. Outlines other conveyance terms, including: (1) allowing individual cabin leaseholders who cannot purchase their site to continue to lease such site for two consecutive five-year periods; and (2) directing the Secretary to complete the conveyance within one year after enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to: (1) negotiate an agreement with the Broadwater County, Montana, Board of Supervisors to transfer management of the Silo's recreation area; and (2) assess the need for creating a harbor adjacent to the eastern shore of the south half of the Reservoir. Authorizes the County Commissions of Broadwater and Lewis and Clark Counties in Montana to jointly establish the Canyon Ferry Lake Trust for the deposit and use of funds for various improvements to the Reservoir and Canyon Ferry area.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1998
Declares that Members of Congress should: (1) follow the example of Jacob Chestnut and John Gibson of the U.S. Capitol Police by living lives of love, respect, and integrity every day at all times, including on the floor of the Senate and House of Representatives; and (2) deserve the title "Honorable" by setting an example so that such individuals did not die in vain.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1998
Fort Peck Paleontological Protection and Interpretation Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army (Secretary) to design, construct, and equip an interpretive center and museum, to be located on project lands of the Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Peck Dam, Montana. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer, without reimbursement, a specified parcel of real property to the Secretary's administrative jurisdiction to be administered as part of the project lands of the Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Peck Dam. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1998
Patient Privacy Act of 1998 - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act to repeal: (1) the mandate for standards for unique health identifiers for each individual, employer, health plan, and health care provider for use in the health care system; and (2) the offense of wrongful disclosure of such identifiers.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1998
Fairness in Securities Transactions Act - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to reduce by half ( from one three-hundredth of one percent to one six-hundredth of one percent) the transaction fees designed to recover the costs to the Government of securities markets oversight and enforcement.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1998
Emergency Farm Financial Relief Act - Amends the Agricultural Market Transition Act to provide that FY 1999 production flexibility contract payments shall be paid at such time or times as the owner or producer so requests as long as payment is completed by such fiscal year's end.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 Subtitle A: Patient Protections Subtitle B: Patient Access to Information Subtitle C: New Procedures and Access to Courts for Grievances Arising under Group Health Plans Subtitle D: Affordable Health Coverage for Employees of Small Businesses Title II: Amendments to Public Health Service Act Subtitle A: Patient Protections and Point of Service Coverage Requirements Subtitle B: Patient Access to Information Subtitle C: HealthMarts Subtitle D: Community Health Organizations Title III: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 Subtitle A: Patient Protections Subtitle B: Patient Access to Information Subtitle C: Medical Savings Accounts Title IV: Health Care Lawsuit Reform Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Uniform Standards for Health Care Liability Actions Title V: Confidentiality of Health Information Title VI: Medical Savings Accounts for Federal Employees Patient Protection Act of 1998 - Title I: Amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 - Subtitle A: Patient Protections - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group coverage, from imposing on a health professional any prohibition on advice provided to a participant or beneficiary. Requires a plan or issuer, if it provides benefits for: (1) emergencies, to provide benefits (without preauthorization) for emergency medical screening examinations if a prudent layperson would determine them necessary; (2) routine gynecological or obstetric specialist care, to provide those benefits without authorization or referral by a primary care provider; or (3) routine pediatric specialist care, to allow designation of a pediatric specialist as the primary provider. Subtitle B: Patient Access to Information - Requires plans to include specified information in summary plan descriptions. Mandates advance notice of exclusion from a drug formulary of a drug or biological that is used in the treatment of a chronic illness or disease. Subtitle C: New Procedures and Access to Courts for Grievance Arising Under Group Health Plans - Requires group health plans to: (1) provide written notice to participants or beneficiaries and providers of adverse coverage decisions; and (2) meet specified time limits for responding to routine, urgent, and emergency benefit payment requests, coverage advance determinations, and medical necessity determinations. Provides for initial coverage decision internal and, in certain circumstances, external review. Makes a plan's fiduciary who, after an external review recommends coverage, causes a failure to provide a benefit liable to the participant or beneficiary for a civil penalty and attorney's fees and costs. Allows assessment of a civil penalty against a fiduciary for any pattern or practice of repeated adverse coverage decisions in violation of the terms of the plan or ERISA. Allows an action before exhaustion of administrative remedies. Provides for concurrent Federal-State court jurisdiction for actions relating to certain amendments made by this Act. Subtitle D: Affordable Health Coverage for Employees of Small Businesses - Small Business Affordable Health Coverage Act of 1998 - Defines "association health plan" to mean a group health plan meeting specified requirements, including being sponsored by a trade, industry, or professional association, a chamber of commerce (or a similar business association) organized and maintained for substantial purposes other than obtaining or providing medical care. Provides for association plan certification and mandates a class certification procedure. Regulates association plans' boards of trustees and sponsors. Prohibits, for plans in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, a sponsor's affiliated members from being offered coverage unless the member: (1) was affiliated on the certification date; or (2) did not maintain or contribute to a group health plan during the 12 months before the offering of coverage. Prohibits a participating employer from providing health coverage in the individual market for any employee who is eligible for plan coverage if the exclusion from plan coverage is based on health status. Prohibits excluding an employer from an association plan if the employer and plan each meet specified requirements. Prohibits contribution rates for any participating small employers from varying on the basis of claims experience or type of business. Requires, if any plan benefit option does not consist of health coverage, that the plan have at least 1,000 participants and beneficiaries. Requires, if a benefit option consisting of health coverage is offered under the plan, that State-licensed insurance agents be used to distribute to small employers coverage that is not health coverage in a manner comparable to the manner in which those agents are used to distribute health coverage. Requires that a plan consist only of health coverage or, if the plan provides any additional benefit options, that the plan meet certain reserve and excess stop loss insurance and solvency indemnification requirements regarding the additional benefit options for which risk has not yet been transferred. Requires that all plans maintain a specified surplus. Requires association plans providing additional options to make annual payments to the Association Health Plan Fund. Requires that, when there is or will be a failure to maintain such reserves, excess stop loss insurance, and indemnification, the Secretary of Labor pay amounts as necessary to maintain the excess stop loss insurance or indemnification. Establishes the Fund. Mandates advance notice to participants and beneficiaries of certified plan termination. Requires, when a plan has failed or will fail to maintain required reserves, excess stop loss insurance, and indemnification, either corrective action or plan termination. Provides for court appointment of the Secretary as trustee to administer a plan during insolvency. Allows a State to impose a contribution tax on an association plan providing additional options if the plan began operations in the State after enactment of this Act. Sets forth special rules for church plans. Declares that the provisions of this subtitle supersede certain related State laws. (Sec. 1303) Modifies the circumstances in which two or more trades or businesses must be deemed a single employer. (Sec. 1304) Excludes from the definition of "multiple employer welfare arrangement" any arrangement: (1) established or maintained under specified Federal (or similar State) labor relations provisions; or (2) meeting certain collective bargaining and other requirements. (Sec. 1305) Imposes criminal penalties for falsely representing any benefit as: (1) being a certified association plan; or (2) having been established or maintained under certain collective bargaining agreements. (Sec. 1306) Allows a State to enter into an agreement with the Secretary for delegation to the State of some or all of the Secretary's enforcement or certification authority. Title II: Amendments to Public Health Service Act - Subtitle A: Patient Protections and Point of Service Coverage Requirements - Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group coverage, from imposing on a health professional any prohibition on advice provided to a participant or beneficiary. Requires a plan or issuer, if it provides benefits for: (1) emergencies, to provide benefits (without preauthorization) for emergency medical screening examinations if a prudent layperson would determine them necessary; (2) routine gynecological or obstetric specialist care benefits, to provide those benefits without an authorization or referral by a primary provider; or (3) routine pediatric specialist benefits, to allow designation of a pediatric specialist as the primary provider. (Sec. 2002) Requires health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that provide coverage under a group health plan only if services are furnished exclusively through members of a closed panel to make available to the plan sponsor an option covering services without regard to whether the providers are panel members. Requires HMOs, when a plan sponsor declines that option, to make optional supplemental coverage available in the individual market to each plan participant. Subtitle B: Patient Access to Information - Requires plans to include specified information in summary plan descriptions. Mandates advance notice of exclusion from a drug formulary of a drug or biological that is used in the treatment of a chronic illness or disease. (Sec. 2102) Requires the General Accounting Office to report to a specified congressional committee on the compliance of: (1) the Department of Justice and all U.S. Attorneys with a specified guideline relating to false claims and civil health care; and (2) the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services with specified protocols and best practice guidelines. Subtitle C: HealthMarts - Health Care Consumer Empowerment Act of 1998 - Requires that HealthMarts: (1) be nonprofit legal entities composed of small employers, employees of small employers, health care providers, and entities that underwrite or administer health benefits coverage; and (2) make available health coverage to all small employers and eligible employees at rates established by the insurance issuer on a policy or product specific basis. Deems HealthMarts group health plans for purposes of specified provisions of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. Requires that coverage made available to an eligible employee in a geographic area be offered to all eligible employees in the same area. Declares that the HealthMart: (1) provides coverage only through contracts with issuers and does not assume insurance risk; (2) provides administrative services for purchasers; and (3) collects and disseminates consumer information on all coverage options offered through the Healthmart. Requires that HealthMart coverage provide full portability of creditable coverage for individuals who remain members of the same HealthMart notwithstanding that they change employers. Allows HealthMart coverage to include coverage: (1) through an HMO, a preferred provider or licensed provider-sponsored organization, an insurance company, a medical savings or flexible spending account, or a community health organization; (2) that includes a point-of- service option; or (3) any combination of those coverages. Requires a HealthMart to permit any small employer to contract for coverage and prohibits varying eligibility conditions. Prohibits the purchaser from obtaining or sponsoring coverage other than through the HealthMart. Prohibits enrollment discrimination based on health. Supersedes certain related State laws. Provides for the application of: (1) certain existing ERISA and Public Health Service Act requirements; and (2) renewability requirements when the contract between a HealthMart and an issuer is terminated. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to administer this subtitle through a separate Health Care Marketplace Division. Subtitle D: Community Health Organizations - Allows a community health organization to offer health coverage in a State in spite of not being licensed in that State if the organization has received a licensure waiver from the Secretary of Health and Human Services and other requirements are met. Mandates the establishment of Federal financial solvency and capital adequacy standards. Title III: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Subtitle A: Patient Protections - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a group health plan from imposing on a health professional any prohibition on advice provided to a participant or beneficiary. Requires a plan, if it provides benefits for: (1) emergencies, to provide benefits (without preauthorization) for emergency medical screening examinations if a prudent layperson would determine the examinations necessary; or (2) routine gynecological or obstetric specialist care, to provide those benefits without an authorization or referral by a primary provider. Requires a plan or issuer, if it provides benefits for routine pediatric specialist care, to allow designation of a pediatric specialist as the primary provider. Subtitle B: Patient Access to Information - Requires plans to include specified information in summary plan descriptions. Mandates advance notice of exclusion from a drug formulary of a drug or biological that is used in the treatment of a chronic illness or disease. (Sec. 3102) Requires the General Accounting Office to report to specified congressional committees on the compliance of: (1) the Department of Justice and all U.S. Attorneys with a specified guideline relating to false claims and civil health care; and (2) the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services with specified protocols and best practice guidelines. Subtitle C: Medical Savings Accounts - Repeals provisions limiting the number of individuals having medical savings accounts. Allows all employers to offer the accounts. Modifies requirements regarding: (1) the monthly limitation on related deductions; (2) coordination with the exclusion for employer contributions; and (3) the deductible amounts that will qualify as a high deductible plan. Allows the accounts to be included in cafeteria plans. Sets forth special rules for individuals receiving immediate Federal annuities. (Sec. 3202) Allows medical savings accounts to be used by persons with incomes under a certain amount to pay for insurance offered by a community health center. Title IV: Health Care Lawsuit Reform - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Declares that this title applies to any health care liability action in any State or Federal court, except actions: (1) relating to vaccine-related injury to which title XXI (Vaccines) of the Public Health Service Act applies; or (2) under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Preempts State laws inconsistent with this title, but not that impose greater restrictions than those in this title. Excludes economic or punitive damages and attorneys' fees or costs from the determination of the amount in controversy. Subtitle B: Uniform Standards for Health Care Liability Actions - Establishes a statute of limitations for bringing a health care liability action. (Sec. 4012) Limits non-economic damages. Substitutes any different level set by a State after enactment of this Act. Makes defendants liable only for the proportion of the damages due to the defendant's fault. Allows punitive damages, to the extent permitted by State law, if the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant's conduct intended to cause harm or manifested a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of others. Prohibits punitive damages against a manufacturer or product seller of a drug or medical device where the drug or device was subject to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) premarket approval or the drug is generally recognized as safe and effective by the FDA. Prohibits punitive damages relating to packaging or labeling of a drug that is required to have tamper-resistant packaging unless the packaging or labeling is found by clear and convincing evidence to be substantially out of compliance. Prohibits requiring lump-sum payment of future economic and non-economic damages over $50,000. Allows any defendant to introduce evidence of collateral source payments. Prohibits any collateral source payments provider from recovering any amount against the claimant, receiving any lien or credit against the recovery, or being subrogated to the claimant's rights. (Sec. 4013) Requires any alternative dispute resolution used to resolve a health care liability action or claim to contain provisions consistent with this title. Title V: Confidentiality of Health Information - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act to require health care providers, health plans, employers, health or life insurers, or educational institutions to permit an individual who is the subject of protected health information to inspect and copy the information. Requires, if the individual requests addition of a supplemental statement to the information, that those parties: (1) add the statement and make reasonable efforts to inform any person to whom the information was disclosed during the preceding year; or (2) if addition of the statement is refused, allow the individual to file a statement of disagreement. Requires health care providers, health plans, health oversight agencies, public health authorities, employers, health or life insurers, health researchers, or educational institutions to maintain safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, security, accuracy, and integrity of protected health information. Requires any person who maintains protected health information to disclose the information to a health care provider or health plan to permit the provider or plan to conduct health care operations. Preempts State law provisions that: (1) are inconsistent with certain provisions of this title under Article VI (dealing with national supremacy, among other matters) of the Constitution; or (2) relate to specified matters dealt with in this title. Imposes civil fines for substantially and materially failing to comply with the above provisions of this title. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to refuse to enter into, terminate, or refuse to renew an agreement with a physician or supplier that has violated the above provisions of this title. Requires compliance with certain provisions of this title by Medicare+Choice organizations, Medicare providers, and HMOs with risk- sharing contracts. (Sec. 5002) Requires the Comptroller General to report to the Congress on the effect of State laws on health-related research subject to review by an institutional review board or institutional review committee with regard to the protection of human subjects. (Sec. 5003) Requires the Comptroller General to submit to the Congress a compilation of State laws on the confidentiality of protected health information and an analysis of the effect of those laws on the provision of, and securing payment for, health care. (Sec. 5004) Exempts information developed by a health care provider in response to a serious, adverse, patient-related event and for specified purposes (health care response information) from any disclosure requirement, in connection with a civil or administrative proceeding under Federal or State law, to the same extent as information developed by the provider regarding peer review, utilization review, quality management or improvement, quality control, risk management, or internal review to reduce mortality, morbidity, or patient care or safety. Prohibits deeming the protection of health care response information from disclosure modified by the development of such information in connection with a request or requirement of an accrediting body or the transfer of that information to an accrediting body. Title VI: Medical Savings Accounts for Federal Employees - Amends Federal law relating to Federal employees' health insurance to entitle an employee or annuitant enrolled in a high deductible health plan to have a Government contribution made to the employee's or annuitant's medical savings account, subject to exceptions and limitations. Requires that, at the employee's or annuitant's request, an amount specified by the employee or annuitant be withheld from their pay or annuity and contributed to their medical savings account. Requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to contract for a high deductible health plan with any qualified carrier that offers such a plan and offers a plan under provisions relating to Federal employees' health insurance. Allows OMB to contract for a high deductible plan with any qualified carrier that offers such a plan but does not offer a plan under those provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1998
Freedom and Privacy Restoration Act of 1998 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to repeal the provision relating to standards for Federal agency acceptance of birth certificates or driver's licenses for identification-related purposes. Prohibits a Federal agency from accepting an identification document for any identification purpose if another Federal agency accepts such document for any such purpose.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1998
Citizen's Privacy Protection Act of 1998 - Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to repeal the provision relating to standards for Federal agency acceptance of birth certificates or driver's licenses for identification-related purposes. Prohibits Federal agencies from construing Federal law as authorizing establishment of a national identification card.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1998
Amends the Public Health Service Act to waive Federal sanctions for a State that does not comply with certain block grant requirements for alcohol, drug abuse, and mental health services, if the State satisfactorily demonstrates that it has enacted for minors who purchase or possess tobacco products for personal consumption drivers'-license-related sanctions which: (1) delay by at least two months the minimum qualifying age to obtain such a license; and (2) suspend driving privileges for a period of at least two months for a minor with such a license.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1998
Skilled Nursing Facility Flexibility Act of 1998 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to change from discretionary to mandatory the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to respond to requests of skilled nursing facilities for private accreditation under the Medicare program (thus requiring such response in the same manner as for other providers of services).
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1998
Disapproves the rule submitted by the Health Care Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, on June 1, 1998, relating to surety bond requirements for home health agencies under titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act.
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
Bosnia Force Realignment Act - Prohibits the use of any funds appropriated or otherwise available to the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY 1999 or any subsequent fiscal year for the deployment of any U.S. ground combat forces in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina after June 30, 1999. Provides exceptions to such prohibition to the extent necessary to support: (1) a limited number of U.S. military personnel sufficient only to protect U.S. diplomatic facilities; or (2) non-combat military personnel sufficient only to advise the commanders of the North American Treaty Organization (NATO) peacekeeping operations there. Prohibits DOD funds from being used after June 30, 1999, for: (1) the conduct of, or support for, any law enforcement activities in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, except for the training of law enforcement personnel or to prevent imminent loss of life; (2) any activity that may jeopardize the primary mission of the NATO-led force in preventing armed conflict there; (3) the transfer of refugees within the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina that has a purpose of acquiring control by one Bosnian Entity of territory allocated to another or that may expose U.S. armed forces to substantial risk; or (4) implementation of any decision to change the legal status of any territory within the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, unless expressly agreed to by all signatories to the Dayton Peace Agreement. Requires the President to report to the Congress on the progress of the withdrawal of U.S. ground combat forces from the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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
Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to the implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 and the related responsibilities of the Environmental Protection Agency.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1998
Amends the Arms Export Control Act to exempt Department of Agriculture assistance for the purchase or other provision of food or other agricultural commodities from the prohibition against extensions of U.S. Government credit, credit guarantees, or other financial assistance to countries involved in the transfer or use of nuclear explosive devices.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1998
Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 1998 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to require the Attorney General to determine that registration of an applicant to manufacture, distribute, conduct research with, or dispense specified controlled substances or listed chemicals is inconsistent with the public interest if: (1) during the five-year period immediately preceding submission of the application, the applicant's registration was revoked; or (2) the Attorney General determines, based on clear and convincing evidence, that the applicant is applying for the registration with the intention of using such registration to violate CSA provisions. Authorizes the Attorney General to suspend or revoke a registration upon a finding that the registrant has intentionally dispensed or distributed a controlled substance with a purpose of causing, or assisting in causing, the suicide or euthanasia of any individual. Directs the Attorney General to establish the Medical Review Board on Pain Relief, which, based on a hearing, shall make findings regarding whether a particular action at issue is an appropriate means to relieve pain that does not constitute a violation of such provision.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1998
Establishes the terms and conditions under which the Secretary of the Interior shall convey to the highest bidder leaseholds to 265 cabin sites of the Bureau of Reclamation on certain properties around Canyon Ferry Reservoir, Montana. Grants the Canyon Ferry Recreation Association, Incorporated, the right to match the highest bid and purchase the property. Sets forth the rights and options of existing lessees.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1998
No Gun Tax Act of 1998 - Amends the Federal judicial code to prohibit a Federal officer, employee, or agent, including a State or local employee or officer acting on behalf of the United States (officer), from charging or collecting any fee in connection with a background check required in connection with the transfer of a firearm. Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit and set penalties for the unlawful retention, or transfer to another person, of firearms background check information by such officer or by a Federal contractor or consultant after: (1) the 24-hour period beginning with the receipt of such information on an individual who is determined not to be prohibited from receiving a firearm; and (2) the five-year period beginning with the receipt of such information on an individual who is prohibited from receiving a firearm.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Designation and Evaluation of Renewal Communities Title II: Tax Incentives for Renewal Communities Title III: Additional Provisions American Community Renewal Act of 1998 - Title I: Designation and Evaluation of Renewal Communities - Renewing American Communities Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to designate (upon local or State nomination) up to 100 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 neighborhood organizations to promote specified economic growth and employment activities. Treats renewal communities as labor surplus areas for all Federal law purposes. Title II: Tax Incentives for Renewal Communities - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude 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. (Sec. 205) 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 III: Additional Provisions - Provides for local government transfer of unoccupied and substandard Department of Housing and Urban Development multifamily and single family housing in renewal communities, with subsequent disposition priority to be given to community development corporations. (Sec. 302) Amends the Public Health Service Act to make religious organizations eligible to administer specified substance prevention and abuse programs. Sets forth program provisions. (Sec. 303) Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to provide that a financial institution's investments in community development organizations located in renewal communities may be considered in evaluations under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1998
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth provisions for: (1) a small employer (100 or fewer employees) retirement plan; (2) a credit for the expenses of establishing such a plan; and (3) a model small employer retirement plan.
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 · 1 April 1998
Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Reservation Indian Reserved Water Rights Settlement Act of 1998 - Approves and ratifies the Water Rights Compact entered into on April 14, 1997, by the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Reservation and the State of Montana, as modified by this Act. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to execute and implement the Compact. Requires the United States, the Tribe, or the State of Montana to petition the Montana Water Court to enter and approve the proposed decree agreed to by such parties. Voids the Compact if approval by the appropriate court does not become final within three years following the filing of the decree or the decree is approved but subsequently set aside. Authorizes the Secretary to extend the three-year deadline on agreement with the State and the Tribe. (Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to administer and enforce the Tribal Water Right until the approval of a tribal water code. Satisfies any entitlement to Federal Indian reserved water of any tribal member solely from the water secured to the Tribe by the Compact. Authorizes the Tribe, subject to the Secretary's approval and Compact conditions, to enter into a service contract or other agreement providing for the temporary delivery, use, or transfer of water rights confirmed to the Tribe in the Compact. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary, through the Bureau of Reclamation, to: (1) perform a municipal, rural, and industrial (MR&I) feasibility study of water and related resources in North Central Montana to evaluate alternatives for an MR&I supply for the Reservation; and (2) conduct a regional feasibility study to evaluate such water and resources to determine limitations and how resources can best be managed to serve the needs of Montana's citizens. (Sec. 8) Requires the Secretary to allocate a specified amount of stored water to the Tribe without cost. Grants the Tribe the right to devote the water to any use within or outside the Reservation. (Sec. 9) Authorizes and directs the Secretary, through the Bureau, to plan, design, and construct specified water development projects on the Reservation. Permits the Tribe, upon request, to carry out such activity subject to an agreement with the Secretary. (Sec. 10) Establishes the Chippewa Cree Indian Reserved Water Rights Settlement Trust Fund to fulfill the purposes of this Act, subject to certain restrictions on expenditures. (Sec. 11) Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 12) Describes the State contribution to the settlement. (Sec. 13) Removes the Tribe's right to withdraw as a party to the Compact. Requires the Tribe to release the United States from the following claims, the validity of which is not recognized by the United States: (1) claims to or for water rights, injuries to water rights, loss or deprivation of water rights, and failures to acquire or develop water rights for tribal lands from time immemorial to the date of Compact ratification; and (2) claims arising out of negotiation of the Compact and settlement. Entitles the United States, in the event the release does not become effective, to set off any funds transferred to the Tribe under this Act against any claim for damages.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
Child Custody Protection Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit and set penalties for transporting an individual under age 18 across a State line to obtain an abortion if the requirements of a law in the State where the individual resides, requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision, are not met before obtaining the abortion. Makes an exception if the abortion was necessary to save the life of the minor. Authorizes any parent or guardian who suffers legal harm from a violation to obtain appropriate relief in a civil action.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1998
Manufactured Housing Improvement Act - Amends the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 to revise Federal construction and safety provisions for manufactured homes based upon a consensus standards development process. Eliminates the National Manufactured Home Advisory Council.
![Official portrait of Rep. Hill, Rick [R-MT-At Large]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h000605_200.jpg)