United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1999
National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act of 1999 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (the Act) to: (1) include among permissible uses of drug control and system improvement (Byrne) grants improving the quality, timeliness, and credibility of forensic science services for criminal justice purposes; and (2) require State certification that it has established a forensic science laboratory or laboratory system or a medical examiner's office that meets specified requirements, with respect to any such grant for such purpose. Amends the Act to require a State to submit to the Attorney General: (1) a certification that the State has developed a consolidated State plan that meets specified requirements and a specific description of the manner in which the grant will be used to carry out that plan; (2) a certification that any forensic science laboratory system, medical examiner's office, or coroner's office in the State that will receive any portion of the grant amount uses generally accepted laboratory practices and procedures, established by accrediting organizations; and (3) a specific description of any new facility to be constructed as part of the program, estimated costs of that facility, and a certification that the grant will not be used to fund more than 40 percent of such facility's total costs. Prohibits the use of grant funds for any general law enforcement or non-forensic investigatory function. Limits facilities and administrative costs. Sets forth provisions regarding record-keeping (and access to records and documents) and reporting requirements. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1999
Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue one-dollar coins emblematic of the expedition of Lewis and Clark. Allocates surcharges from coin sales between the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council and the National Park Service for activities associated with the bicentennial commemoration of the expedition.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
National Uniformity for Food Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to prohibit any State or political subdivision from establishing or continuing in effect as to any food in interstate commerce any requirement for food labeling or food that is not identical to specified FDCA provisions. Prohibits any State or political subdivision from establishing or continuing in effect any notification requirement for a food that provides for a warning concerning the food's safety that is not identical to FDCA provisions. Allows a State to petition for an exemption and for a national standard regarding any requirement under the FDCA, as amended by this Act, or the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act relating to food regulation. Allows a State to establish a requirement that would otherwise violate FDCA provisions relating to national uniform nutrition labeling or this paragraph if the requirement is needed to address an imminent hazard to health that is likely to result in serious adverse health consequences and if other requirements are met.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Yankton Sioux Tribe and Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska Development Trust Fund Act - Establishes in the Treasury the Yankton Sioux Tribe Development Trust Fund and the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska Development Trust Fund. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) deposit a specified amount into each Fund; (2) invest such amounts and deposit resulting interest in the Funds; and (3) withdraw the aggregate amount of interest deposited into the Funds each fiscal year and transfer that amount to the Secretary of the Interior to use for making payments to the Yankton Sioux Tribe and the Santee Sioux Tribe, as requested by each Tribe pursuant to tribal resolution, for carrying out projects and programs under each Tribe's Tribal Plan. Permits each Tribe to enter into an agreement under which it pledges future payments as security for a loan or other financial transaction, but only in connection with the purchase of land or other capital assets, and only for an amount less than 40 percent of any payment for that year. Directs the tribal council of each Tribe to prepare a Tribal Plan for using payments for carrying out projects and programs to promote: (1) economic development; (2) infrastructure development; or (3) the educational, health, recreational, and social welfare objectives of the Tribe and its members. Prohibits any payment made to either Tribe pursuant to this Act from: (1) resulting in the reduction or denial of any service or program to which the Tribe or any member of the Tribe is otherwise entitled because of federally recognized status; (2) being subject to any Federal or State income tax; or (3) affecting Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin power rates. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Blunt Reservoir and Pierre Canal Land Conveyance Act of 1999 - Deauthorizes the Blunt Reservoir feature of the Oahe Irrigation Project authorized as part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin Program. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, to convey all of the preferential lease parcels to the Commission of Schools and Public Lands of South Dakota, on the condition that the Commission honor the purchase option provided to preferential leaseholders under this Act. Requires a preferential leaseholder to have an option to purchase from the Commission the preferential lease parcel that is the subject of the lease. Permits a preferential leaseholder to elect to purchase a parcel on one of the following terms: (1) cash purchase for the amount that is equal to the value of the parcel minus ten percent of that value; or (2) installment purchase, with 20 percent of the value of the parcel to be paid on the purchase date and the remainder to be paid over no more than 30 years at three percent annual interest. Provides that if the value of the parcel is under $10,000, the purchase shall be made on a cash basis. Provides for such leaseholders to have until ten years after the date of the conveyance to exercise such option. Requires the Commission, if a preferential leaseholder fails to purchase a parcel within such period, to convey the parcel to the State of South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks to be used for mitigating the wildlife habitat that was lost as a result of the development of the Pick-Sloan project. Sets forth the uses of proceeds from such land sales. Directs the Secretary, through the Commissioner, to convey to the Department the nonpreferential leased parcels and unleased parcels of the Blunt Reservoir and Pierre Canal to be used for the purpose of mitigating the wildlife habitat that was lost as a result of the development of the Pick-Sloan project. Authorizes the Commission, with the Department's concurrence, to allow a person to exchange land that the person owns elsewhere in South Dakota for a nonpreferential lease parcel or unleased parcel at Blunt Reservoir or Pierre Canal. Requires a preferential leaseholder that purchases land at Pierre Canal or exchanges land for land at the Canal to allow the State of South Dakota to retain an easement on the land for an irrigation pipe.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Physical Education for Progress Act - Amends title X (Programs of National Significance) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to, and enter into contracts with, local educational agencies (LEAs) to initiate, expand, and improve physical education programs for all kindergarten through 12th grade students. Requires such grants and contracts to be used for: (1) providing equipment and support to enable students to actively participate in physical education activities; (2) developing or enhancing physical education curricula to meet national goals for physical education developed by the Secretary in consultation with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education; and (3) providing funds for staff and teacher training and education. Requires LEA applications for such assistance to contain plans for school physical education programs that meet specified requirements, including: (1) curricula providing students with at least 150 minutes per week of instructional physical education per week, along with certain types of instructional contents; (2) physical education teachers with baccalaureate degrees qualifying them as physical education specialists; and (3) professional development opportunities for physical education teachers. Prohibits extracurricular activities such as team sports and Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program activities from being considered as part of the curriculum of a physical education program assisted under this Act. Sets forth requirements relating to: (1) proportionality of awards; (2) private school students and home-schooled students; (3) LEA reports for continued funding; (4) the Secretary's report to the Congress; (5) administrative costs; and (6) Federal share. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Rural Telecommunications Improvement Act of 1999 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to establish within the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the Office of Rural Advocacy, to be headed by the Rural Advocate of the FCC, to: (1) promote access to advanced telecommunications service for rural populations; and (2) undertake related functions and activities. Requires: (1) annual reports (and other reports as needed) from the Rural Advocate to Congress, the President, and the FCC; and (2) an initial report from the Advocate to Congress on actions taken to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1999
Amends the Poultry Products Inspection Act to include within the definition of poultry birds of the order Ratitae (ostriches, emus, rheas) that are raised for commercial distribution as human food.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1999
Expresses the sense of Congress that In Memory Day should be observed on the third Monday in April each year, the day on which Patriots Day is also observed, in honor of the men and women of the United States whose deaths had a basis in their service in Vietnam during the Vietnam War and who are thereby true examples to the Nation of patriotism and sacrifice.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1999
Bear Protection Act of 1999 - Prohibits any person from: (1) importing bear viscera into, or exporting it from, the United States; or (2) selling bear viscera, bartering, offering it for sale or barter, or purchasing, possessing, transporting, delivering, or receiving it in interstate or foreign commerce. Subjects persons who violate such prohibitions to specified penalties. Waives such prohibition for wildlife law enforcement purposes where a valid permit has been issued. Requires the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of State to discuss issues involving such trade with the appropriate representatives of countries that are the leading importers, exporters, or consumers of such products. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to report to Congress on the progress of efforts to end illegal trade in bear viscera.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1999
Trade Injury Compensation Act of 1999 - Establishes in the Treasury a Trade Injury Compensation Trust Fund consisting of proceeds from additional duties on products on a retaliation list. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to invest Fund amounts in interest-bearing U.S. obligations. Directs: (1) the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture Fund amounts resulting from items on a retaliation list because of injury to producers of agricultural commodities; and (2) the Secretary of Agriculture to distribute a portion of such amounts to each injured producer of an agricultural commodity for promotion and development of their products. Provides for the distribution of Fund amounts to nonagricultural producers who have been similarly injured. Prohibits a payment made to an injured producer or an injured agricultural commodity producer from resulting in the reduction or denial of any service or assistance with respect to which such producers would otherwise be entitled.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1999
Pediatric Research Initiative Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to mandate establishment, in the National Institutes of Health, of a Pediatric Research Initiative. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make available within the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development enhanced support for extramural activities relating to the training and career development of pediatric researchers. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude distributions from an individual retirement account from inclusion in gross income to the extent that such distributions are used for charitable purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1999
Telecommunications Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 1999 - Title I: Slamming - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prescribe a Code of Subscriber Protection Practices governing changes in a subscriber's selection of a provider of telephone exchange or toll service. States that a telecommunications carrier electing to be covered under the Code: (1) may not use negative option marketing; (2) shall verify a subscriber's selection under Code procedures; (3) may not use unfair or deceptive acts or practices when soliciting subscriber changes; (4) shall provide timely and accurate notification to the subscriber of any changes made; and (5) must follow procedures for recordkeeping, quality control, and audits. Requires carriers electing to comply with the Code to notify the FCC within 20 days after Code adoption. Allows a carrier to elect to not comply with such Code, but to instead comply with provisions of this Act requiring such carriers to: (1) affirm that the subscriber is authorized to effect such election; (2) acknowledge the type of service to be changed; (3) affirm the subscriber's intent to select such provider; (4) acknowledge that such selection will result in a change of service provider; and (5) provide other information as considered appropriate by the FCC for the subscriber's protection. Outlines additional requirements, including a prohibition against negative option marketing and certain provider change verification procedures. Requires a carrier, if a subscriber alleges a violation of such requirements, to: (1) immediately restore the previous provider; (2) credit the subscriber's account for any provider change charges; and (3) recover from the provider costs of executing the change to restore the previous provider. Provides similar obligations for carriers who do not use an executing carrier to conduct subscriber billing. Directs the FCC to establish a procedure for rendering determinations with respect to subscribers or carriers for alleged violations under this Act. Provides civil remedies. Requires each complaint filed to be resolved within six months. Directs the FCC to require each executing carrier to maintain and report monthly to the FCC information regarding each alleged violation of which such carrier has been notified. Provides civil penalties for carrier violations. Makes this Act inapplicable to a provider of commercial mobile service. Requires the FCC, every six months, to compile and publish a report ranking carriers by the percentage of verified complaints, and to investigate the carrier practices of those listed among the five worst performers. Authorizes the FCC to impose civil penalties against carriers found to be in Code violation or willfully and repeatedly changing subscriber's selections. Requires the FCC, every two years, to review the Code to ensure adequate subscriber protection. Allows a State, either through its attorney general or other authorized officials, to bring a civil action in the appropriate U.S. district court on behalf of its residents for violations of the Code or requirements of this Act. States that nothing in this Act shall preempt any State law that imposes more restrictive requirements or regulations. Directs the FCC to prescribe rules to prevent the marketing or provision in an unfair or deceptive manner of an option protecting a subscriber's provider choice from being switched without the subscriber's express consent. States that the initiation of original toll service to a subscriber shall be treated as a change in selection for purposes of protections afforded under this Act. Prohibits a carrier from being found in violation of this Act solely on the basis of a violation by an unaffiliated reseller of such carrier's services or facilities. Requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to report to specified congressional committees on the feasibility and desirability of establishing a neutral third-party administration system to prevent illegal changes in telephone carrier selections.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1999
Adoption Equality Act of 1999 - Amends title IV part E (Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to revise adoption assistance eligibility guidelines for children with special needs. Makes eligible for such assistance only children with special needs who before termination of parental rights and the initiation of adoption proceedings were: (1) in the care of a public or licensed private child care agency or Indian tribal organization, either pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement or as a result of a judicial determination to the effect that continuation in the home would be contrary to the child's safety and welfare; or (2) residing in a foster family home or child care institution with the child's minor parent. Requires a State to consider such special needs, together with the circumstances of the adopting parents, in determining the amount of Federal adoption subsidies paid to them. Prohibits assistance with respect to any child who is not a U.S. citizen or resident and who was adopted outside the United States or was brought into it for adoption purposes. Revises the criteria for determining a child with special needs to: (1) specify that State criteria for determining that a child cannot or should not be returned to the home of his parents need not include a judicial determination; and (2) allow, in the alternative, that the child meets all medical or disability requirements for benefits under SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income).
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1999
Early Childhood Development Act of 1999 - Title I: Assistance for Young Children - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make allotments to eligible States to pay for the Federal share of the cost of enabling them to make competitive grants to local collaboratives for young child assistance activities. Requires the Governor of each State to establish or designate a State Early Learning Coordinating Board to make such grants. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Child Care for Families - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to establish a Zero-to-Six program of formula payments to States for child care assistance on behalf of children under six years of age. Makes appropriations for such grants. Title III: Amendments to the Head Start Act - Amends the Head Start Act to extend the authorization of appropriations and revise requirements for allotment of funds.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1999
Declares that it is the sense of Congress that: (1) treatment by means of manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation is a uniquely chiropractic service that Congress recognized in 1972 as a benefit under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act; (2) it is the unequivocal intent of Congress to ensure that every individual enrolled in a Medicare+Choice plan under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice) has access to all covered services under Medicare part B; and (3) as a covered service under Medicare part B treatment by means of manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation provided by a doctor of chiropractic is a covered service for individuals enrolled in a Medicare+Choice plan.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1999
Digital Education Act of 1999 - Amends title III (Technology for Education) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide for digital education partnerships. (Sec. 2) Renames and revises ESEA title III part C as Ready-to-Learn Digital Television (currently Ready-to-Learn Television). Directs the Secretary of Education to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible public telecommunications entities to: (1) develop educational programming, and related support materials and services, for preschool and elementary school children; (2) develop programming and digital content designed for nationwide distribution over public television stations' digital broadcasting channels and the Internet, containing Ready-to-Learn-based children's programming and resources for parents and caregivers; and (3) disseminate and distribute such programs to the widest possible appropriate audience by the most appropriate distribution technologies. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 3) Establishes the New Century Program for Distributed Teacher Professional Development as ESEA title III part D. (Replaces current part D provisions for a Technology Demonstration Project for Mathematics Project.) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to a nonprofit telecommunications entity, or partnership of such entities for a national telecommunications-based program to improve teaching in core curriculum areas. Requires such program to be designed to assist elementary school and secondary school teachers in preparing all students for achieving State content standards. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 4) Establishes a Digital Education Content Collaborative as a new part F of ESEA title III. Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive matching grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, eligible local public television communications entities to develop, produce, and distribute educational and instructional video programming designed for use by kindergarten through grade 12 schools and based on State standards. Requires such eligible entities to enter into multiyear content development collaborative arrangements with State educational agencies, local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, businesses, or other agencies and organizations. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1999
Eliminate Colorectal Cancer Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require coverage of colorectal cancer screening according to certain guidelines by a group health plan, a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage, and a health insurance issuer in the individual market. Directs the Secretaries of Labor and of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure coordination in the implementation and enforcement of this Act. Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) all Americans should be educated about the risks, prevention, screening, and treatment of colorectal cancer; and (2) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and HHS should track the impact of their coordinated education campaign on colorectal cancer and make information on its progress available to Members of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1999
Motor Vehicle Franchise Contract Arbitration Fairness Act of 1999 - Provides that each party to a motor vehicle franchise contract providing for the use of arbitration to resolve a controversy arising out of or relating to the contract shall have the option, after the controversy arises and before both parties commence an arbitration proceeding, to reject arbitration as the means of settling the controversy. Requires that any such rejection be in writing. Requires the arbitrator, whenever a party elects arbitration, to provide the parties with a written explanation of the factual and legal basis for the award.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1999
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 1999 - Provides collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or local governments. (Sec. 4) Directs the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to determine whether State law provides specified rights and responsibilities for public safety officers, including: (1) granting public safety employees the right to form and join a labor organization which excludes management and supervisory employees, and which is, or seeks to be, recognized as the exclusive bargaining agent for such employees; and (2) requiring public safety employers to recognize and agree to bargain with the employees' labor organization. (Sec. 5) Requires the FLRA to issue regulations establishing collective bargaining procedures for public safety employers and employees in States that do not substantially provide for such public safety employee rights and responsibilities. Directs the FLRA, in such cases, to: (1) determine the appropriateness of units for labor organization representation; (2) supervise or conduct elections to determine whether a labor organization has been selected as an exclusive representative by a majority of the employees in an appropriate unit; (3) resolve issues relating to the duty to bargain in good faith; (4) conduct hearings and resolve complaints of unfair labor practices; and (5) resolve exceptions to arbitrator's awards. Grants a public safety employer, employee, or labor organization the right to seek enforcement of such FLRA regulations and authority through appropriate State courts. (Sec. 6) Prohibits public safety employers, employees, and labor organizations from engaging in lockouts or strikes. (Sec. 7) Provides that existing collective bargaining units and agreements shall not be invalidated by this Act. (Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1999
Online Investor Protection Act of 1999 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to: (1) mandate that each online broker or dealer make available on an interactive computer service on a quarterly basis specified online trading disclosures required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including system outages and loss limitation information; and (2) maintain a readily accessible electronic process to receive inquiries regarding disciplinary actions and proceedings regarding its members. Amends the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to: (1) authorize the SEC to require an investment adviser to file requisite fees and documents with an SEC designee; and (2) require the SEC to require a designee to establish and maintain a readily accessible electronic process to receive inquiries regarding disciplinary actions and proceedings regarding its members. Sets a deadline for brokers, dealers, investment companies, and investment advisers engaged in retail transactions to make available to retail investors through a hypertext link to an SEC website access to SEC information regarding investor education and fraud prevention. Amends the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to double the civil penalty for Internet-related violations. Directs the SEC to study and report to Congress on the market impact of online trading. Authorizes appropriations to the SEC Office of Internet Enforcement for investor protection activities.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1999
Affordable Housing Opportunity Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase, and link to the cost-of-living adjustment, the State low-income housing credit ceiling.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1999
Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 2000 to the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans' medical care. Designates such appropriations as emergency spending under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1999
Amends Federal rail safety law to direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations that require that all cars of freight, passenger, or commuter trains be equipped and, if necessary, retrofitted, with at least one highly visible marker (including reflective tape or appropriate lighting).
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1999
Promoting Health in Rural Areas Act of 1999 - Title I: Promoting Access to Health Care Services in Rural Areas Under the Medicare Program - Subtitle A: Hospital-Related Provisions - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with regard to hospital-related provisions to: (1) revise payment and geographic reclassification requirements for sole community hospitals; (2) modify the criteria for designation of a critical access hospital; (3) make certain technical amendments with regard to adjustments for graduate medical education, both indirect and direct; (4) make permanent the payment provision for the Medicare-dependent, small rural hospital program, and provide an option to base program eligibility on discharges during any of the three most recent audited cost reporting periods; and (5) provide for an all-inclusive payment rate option for outpatient critical access hospital services. (Sec. 106) Provides for: (1) exclusion of swing beds in critical access hospitals from the prospective payment system (PPS) for skilled nursing facilities; (2) exclusion of small rural providers from the PPS for hospital outpatient department services; (3) modification of disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payment adjustment requirements; (4) application of hospital geographic reclassification for inpatient services (labor costs) to all PPS-reimbursed items and services; and (5) mandatory standardization of wage levels for hospitals with respect to occupational mix before adjusting payment rates. Directs the Secretary of Labor to study and report to Congress on the feasibility and costs of having the Bureau of Labor Statistics collect data on wages that would assist the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) in determining average wage levels, at the metropolitan statistical area, statewide, and rural level by sector and the proportion of the workforce in each occupational category within each sector. Subtitle B: General Provisions - Amends Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice) to make certain adjustments to the calculation of annual capitation rates used in determining payments to Medicare+Choice organizations. (Sec. 122) Amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to convert into a permanently authorized program the current demonstration program for direct billing of Medicare, Medicaid (SSA title XIX), and other third party payors by Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Alaska Native health organizations. (Sec. 123) Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) to: (1) provide for rural representation on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) as well as additional specified duties for MEDPAC; (2) require MEDPAC to review the impact of PPS's for skilled nursing facility services, home health services, and hospital outpatient department services on access to services in rural areas, as well as review the operating margins for hospitals in rural or frontier areas; and (3) provide for Medicare coverage of qualified mental health professional services. (Sec. 125) Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the barriers that Medicare beneficiaries residing in rural areas face in obtaining quality mental health services, and on ways to reduce or eliminate such barriers. (Sec. 126) Directs the Secretary to establish a waiver process in which entities and individuals under Medicare that are located in an urban or large urban area for purposes of Medicare reimbursement may apply to be considered as located in a rural area for such purposes if the entity or individual is located in a rural area: (1) within a metropolitan county; or (2) as determined by using a census tract definition adopted by the Office of Rural Health Policy in awarding grants. (Sec. 127) Revises per-visit payment limits for rural health clinic services under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance). (Sec. 128) Amends Medicare part B to: (1) extend to physician assistant or nurse practitioner services additional payments for services furnished in health professional shortage areas; (2) provide authority for the Secretary to establish a PPS for rural health clinic (RHC) services in a rural hospital with 50 beds or more; (3) establish separate wage indexes for making adjustments to payments under the PPS's for skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies; and (4) require consideration of rural issues in establishing an ambulance service fee schedule. Title II: Additional Provisions to Address Shortages of Health Professionals in Rural Areas - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to direct the Secretary to define "frontier area" for inclusion among health professional shortage areas. Requires the Secretary to consider any pending retirements or resignations of available physicians when determining whether to designate an area as a health professional shortage area. Prohibits the Secretary from implementing any regulation establishing a new methodology for designating a health professional shortage area unless such methodology: (1) is not detrimental to underserved rural or frontier communities, including that the methodology does not result in the provision of fewer services in such communities; and (2) includes consideration of the percentage of the population over age 65 residing in an area. (Sec. 202) Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to exclude from an individual's gross income certain amounts received under the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program under PHSA. (Sec. 203) Amends Federal civil service law to provide for the designation of underserved areas under health care contracts administered by the Office of Personnel Management. (Sec. 204) Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to mandate a new PPS for federally-qualified health centers and rural health clinics under the Medicaid program. (Sec. 205) Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to revise requirements for Medicare reimbursement of telehealth services, including store-and-forward technologies among the telecommunications systems used in providing telehealth services. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary to conduct a specified study on telehealth licensure for a report to the Congress. (Sec. 207) Redesignates the Joint Working Group on Telemedicine as the Joint Working Group on Telehealth, with the chairperson being designated by the Director of the Office for the Advancement on Telehealth. Establishes the mission of the Joint Working Group, among other things, as identifying, monitoring, and coordinating Federal telehealth projects and programs. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Development of Telehealth Networks - Subtitle A: Development of Telehealth Networks - Directs the Secretary to provide specified financial assistance to eligible telehealth networks for the purpose of expanding access to health care services for individuals in rural and frontier areas through the use of such networks. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Rural Health Outreach and Network Development Grant Program - Amends PHSA to rename the Rural Health Outreach, Network Development, and Telemedicine Grant Program as the Rural Health Outreach and Network Development Grant Program, and to modify the renamed program. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the IRC with regard to the non-deductible interest expense of financial institutions allocable to tax-exempt income, and the limited exception from such non-deductibility for interest expense on certain tax-exempt small issuer obligations. Allows a small issuer, the proceeds of whose obligations are to be used to make or finance eligible loans for health care or educational purposes, to elect to apply specified current limitations on the amount of obligations by treating each borrower as the issuer of a separate issue. (Sec. 402) Requires the heads of the National Center for Health Statistics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, and the Bureau of the Census to negotiate and enter into interagency agreements with HHS agencies and offices under which they will be provided access to data sets for the intramural and extramural research they conduct or support.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1999
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act with respect to shared appreciation agreements to: (1) exclude capital improvements from the recapture value; and (2) require appraisals by appraisers whose principal place of business is in the State in which the property is located.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1999
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Act - Establishes in the Treasury the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Recovery Trust Fund. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) deposit a specified amount into the Fund out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated; (2) invest such portion of the Fund as is not required to meet current withdrawals; and (3) deposit interest resulting from such investments into the Fund. Establishes a schedule under which the Secretary shall withdraw specified amounts of interest deposited into the Fund and transfer those amounts to the Secretary of the Interior for making payments as requested by the Tribe, pursuant to tribal resolution, for promoting economic and infrastructure development and educational, health, recreational, and social welfare objectives. Authorizes the Tribe to enter into an agreement under which future payments are pledged as security for a loan or other financial transaction. Permits such agreement only in connection with the purchase of land or other capital assets and limits the pledge for any year under the agreement to 40 percent of any payment for that year. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1999
Terry Peak Land Conveyance Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain Black Hills National Forest land in South Dakota to the Terry Peak Ski Area.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1999
National Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals Act of 1999 - Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to direct the Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy to cooperate in promoting research and development of biobased industrial products. Establishes: (1) the Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals Board to coordinate Federal programs promoting the use of biobased industrial products; (2) the Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals Technical Advisory Committee; and (3) a Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals Research Initiative to provide for related grants and contracts (authorizes appropriations).
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Victim Rights Subtitle A: Amendments to Title 18, United States Code Subtitle B: Amendments to Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Subtitle C: Amendment to Federal Rules of Evidence Subtitle D: Remedies for Noncompliance Title II: Victim Assistance Initiatives Crime Victims Assistance Act - Title I: Victim Rights - Subtitle A: Amendments to Title 18, United States Code - Amends the Federal criminal code to require that, in any case involving a defendant who is arrested for an offense involving death or bodily injury to any person, a threat of death or bodily injury, or a sexual assault or attempted sexual assault (listed offenses) in which a detention hearing is scheduled: (1) the Government make a reasonable effort to notify the victim of the hearing and of the victim's right to be heard on the issue of detention; and (2) the court, at such hearing, inquire of the Government as to whether notification efforts were successful and whether the victim wishes to be heard and, if so, afford the victim such opportunity. (Sec. 102) Includes among the factors which a judge shall consider in determining whether to grant a continuance the interests of the victim (or the family of a victim who is deceased or incapacitated) in the prompt and appropriate disposition of the case, free from unreasonable delay. (Sec. 103) Requires the probation officer, prior to submitting the presentence report, to provide notice to all identified victims of their right to attend the sentencing hearing and to make a statement to the court at the sentencing hearing. (Sec. 104) Amends the Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 to require, after trial, a responsible official to provide a victim the earliest possible notice of the escape, work release, furlough, or any other form of release of an offender from a psychiatric institution or other facility that provides mental health services to offenders. (Sec. 105) Increases the scope of provisions and severity of penalties regarding witness tampering. Subtitle B: Amendments to Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure - Amends rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (FRCrP) to require that, in any case involving a defendant who is charged with a listed offense: (1) the Government, prior to a hearing at which a plea of guilty or nolo contendere is entered, make a reasonable effort to notify the victim of the date and time of the hearing and of the victim's right to attend the hearing and to address the court; and (2) if the victim attends, the court, before accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, afford the victim an opportunity to be heard on the proposed plea agreement. Authorizes the court, in cases involving more than 15 victims and after consultation with the Government and the victims, to appoint a number of victims to serve as representatives of the victims' interests. (Sec. 122) Amends FRCrP 32 and 32.1 to provide for enhanced rights of notification and allocution at sentencing and at a probation revocation hearing. Subtitle C: Amendment to Federal Rules of Evidence - Amends rule 615 of the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) to provide that such rule does not authorize exclusion of a person who is a victim of a listed offense for which a defendant is being tried in a criminal trial unless the court concludes that: (1) the testimony of the person will be materially affected by hearing the testimony of other witnesses, and the material effect of hearing the testimony of other witnesses on the testimony of that person will result in unfair prejudice to any party; or (2) due to the large number of victims or family members of victims who may be called as witnesses, permitting attendance in the courtroom itself when testimony is being heard is not feasible. Directs the Judicial Conference of the United States to submit to the Congress reports containing recommendations for amending: (1) the FRCrP to provide enhanced opportunities for victims of listed offenses to be heard on the issue of whether or not the court should accept a plea of guilty or nolo contendere and to participate during the presentencing phase of the criminal process, and to ensure that reasonable efforts are made to notify victims of such offenses of revocation hearings; and (2) the FRE to provide enhanced opportunities for victims of listed offenses to attend judicial proceedings, even if they may testify as a witness at the proceeding. Sets forth provisions regarding congressional action on such reports. Subtitle D: Remedies for Noncompliance - Specifies that any failure to comply with any amendment made by this Act shall not give rise to a claim for damages, or any other action against the United States, any employee of the United States, any court official or officer of the court, or an entity contracting with the United States, or any action seeking a rehearing or other reconsideration of action taken in connection with a defendant. Directs the Attorney General and the Chairman of the United States Parole Commission to promulgate regulations to carry out this title. Title II: Victim Assistance Initiatives - Authorizes appropriations to enable the Attorney General to: (1) hire 50 full-time or full-time equivalent employees to serve victim-witness advocates to provide assistance to victims of any criminal offense investigated by any department or agency of the Federal Government; and (2) provide grants through the Office of Victims of Crime (the Office) to qualified private entities to fund 50 victim-witness advocate positions within those organizations. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the use of sums collected under the False Claims Act to be used by the Office to make grants to States, units of local government, and qualified private entities, to provide training and information to prosecutors, judges, law enforcement officers, probation officers, and other officers and employees of Federal and State courts to assist them in responding effectively to the needs of crime victims. (Sec. 203) Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to authorize to the Office such sums as necessary for grants to State and local prosecutors' offices, State courts, county jails, State correctional institutions, and qualified private entities, to develop and implement state-of-the-art systems for notifying victims of crime of important dates and developments relating to the criminal proceedings at issue. Allows sums collected under the False Claims Act to be used for such grants. Authorizes the use of sums from the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund for such grants. (Sec. 204) Directs the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office, to establish and carry out a program to provide for pilot programs to establish and operate Victim Ombudsman Information Centers in Iowa, Massachusetts, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, and Vermont. (Sec. 205) Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to: (1) provide for the deposit into the Crime Victims Fund of any gifts, bequests, and donations from private entities or individuals; (2) direct that certain unobligated balances transferred to the judicial branch for administrative costs be returned to the Fund and be used by the Director of the Office to improve services for crime victims in the Federal criminal justice system; (3) require States that receive supplemental funding to respond to incidents of terrorism or mass violence to return to the Fund for deposit in the reserve fund, amounts subrogated to the State as a result of third-party payments to victims; (4) increase the percentage of amounts awarded by the Director to an eligible crime victim compensation program; (5) require the Director to make grants for training and technical assistance that address the significance of and effective delivery strategies for providing long-term psychological care; and (6) make funds available to the Director for fellowships and clinical internships, and to carry out programs of training and special workshops for the presentation and dissemination of information resulting from demonstrations, surveys, and special projects. (Sec. 206) Directs that a specified statute not be construed to prohibit a recipient from using funds derived from a source other than the Legal Services Corporation to provide related legal assistance to any person with whom an alien has a relationship covered by the domestic violence laws of the State in which the alien resides or in which an incidence of violence occurred. (Sec. 207) Authorizes the use of funds collected under the False Claims Act by the Office to make grants to States, units of local government, and qualified private entities for the establishment of pilot programs that implement balanced and restorative justice models. (Sec. 208) Revises the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to authorize the Director of the Office for Victims of Crime to make grants to: (1) States for eligible crime victim compensation and assistance programs for the benefit of victims of a terrorist act or mass violence, whether occurring within or outside the United States, who are U.S. citizens or employees and not eligible for compensation under title VIII of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (victims); and (2) victim service organizations, and public agencies that provide emergency or ongoing assistance to crime victims, to provide for the benefit of victims emergency relief and related victim services and emergency response training and technical assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1999
Physician Assistant Equity Act - Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management: (1) to review the classification of the position of physician assistant; (2) in conducting the review, to solicit comments from physician assistants and organizations representative of physician assistants and give specific consideration to the private sector qualifications, requirements for practice, compensation, and experience of such an assistant and the educational and practice qualifications required for the position, including national accreditation standards and State licensing requirements; (3) to reclassify the position in a professional class that is different from the class of positions that includes any nurse position or medical technician position; and (4) to make any appropriate adjustments in personnel and pay administration consistent with the review and classification conducted under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1999
Made in USA Label Defense Act of 1999 - Amends Federal law to prohibit the affixation of the "Made in the USA" label to a product of the Northern Mariana Islands. Prohibits such products from being imported into the United States free of duty or quotas.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1999
Federally Impacted School Improvement Act - Provides matching grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) for construction, renovation and repair of school facilities in areas affected by Federal activities. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of Education to distribute such funds as follows: (1) 45 percent for basic matching grants to LEAs eligible for impact aid assistance as serving children from Indian lands, if the number of such children is at least 25 percent of the total number in attendance; (2) 45 percent to the Secretary of Defense for basic matching grants to LEAs serving children from military bases, if the number of such children is at least 25 percent of the total number in attendance; and (3) ten percent for emergency non-matching grants in cases of health or safety hazards at facilities of LEAs which have a number of impact aid eligible children equal to at least 50 percent of their total attendance. Sets forth requirements for: (1) LEA eligibility; (2) basic grant awards and amount limits; (3) applications; and (4) emergency grant certifications, amounts, and priorities.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1999
Fuels Regulatory Relief Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, for purposes of regulating and listing substances anticipated to cause death or serious health or environmental effects in the case of an accidental release, from regulating non-acute toxic flammable fuels when used or stored for fuel purposes or retail sale unless the fuels are hazardous waste.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1999
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce from 39 years (life of the building) to ten years the recovery period for the depreciation (by straight line method) of any qualified leasehold improvement to an interior portion of a building which is nonresidential real property if: (1) such improvement is made under or pursuant to a lease (including a commitment to lease) by the lessee (or any sublessee) or the lessor of such portion; (2) such portion is to be occupied exclusively by the lessee (or any sublessee); and (3) such improvement is placed in service more than three years after the date the building was first placed in service. Excludes from the meaning of qualified leasehold improvement any improvement for which the expenditure is attributable to: (1) enlargement of the building; (2) any elevator or escalator; (3) any structural component benefitting a common area; and (4) the internal structural framework of the building.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1999
Amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to designate a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System under the Wilderness Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1999
Medicaid Nursing Incentive Act of 1999 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicaid coverage of State-authorized services by certified nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, regardless of whether or not such services are performed under the supervision of a physician or other health care provider. Defines "clinical nurse specialist" as an individual who: (1) is a registered nurse licensed to practice nursing in the State in which the clinical nurse specialist services are performed; and (2) holds a master's degree in a defined area of clinical nursing from an accredited educational institution.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1999
Anesthesia Services Preservation Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to revise any regulations under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act establishing conditions of participation for hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers relating to anesthesia services under Medicare to: (1) prohibit such regulations from imposing any supervisory or other related requirements on the performance of such services by certified registered nurse anesthetists; and (2) permit States to determine such requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1999
Imported Produce Labeling Act of 1999 - Requires country of origin labeling of perishable agricultural commodities imported into the United States. Authorizes fines for violations of such provision.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1999
Medicare Social Work Equity Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to exclude clinical social worker services from coverage under the Medicare skilled nursing facility prospective payment system.
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