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251 records in US in 1996
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1996
Declares the sense of the Congress that: (1) the people of the Nation should support individuals with breast cancer and their family members and other loved ones; and (2) the family members and other loved ones should support each other as well as such individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1996
Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on an insurer, health maintenance organization (HMO), or group health plan sponsor that (if it provides any inpatient childbirth benefits for a mother or newborn) fails to provide: (1) inpatient benefits for a minimum period after delivery; and (2) if the mother or newborn are discharged before the end of that period, certain post-delivery follow-up care. Prohibits an insurer, HMO, or plan from using certain types of penalties or inducements regarding mothers or providers. Declares that the provisions of this Act do not preempt provisions of State law that provide protections that are not less than the protections under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1996
Outpatient Physical Therapy Standards Act of 1996 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow Medicare reimbursement of outpatient physical and occupational therapy services performed in physicians' offices only if they meet the same current coverage standards that exist for independent practicing physical and occupational therapists.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1996
Persian Gulf Syndrome Health Benefits Extension Act of 1996 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to extend priority health care to veterans exposed to a toxic substance or environmental hazard while serving in Israel or Turkey during the Persian Gulf War.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Minimum Wage Guarantee Title II: Income Equity Title III: Worker Protection in Labor Disputes Title IV: Workforce of the Future Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Streamlining and Consolidation Subtitle C: Market Building Activities Subtitle D: One-Stop Career Centers Title V: Corporate Accountability Title VI: Health Insurance Reform Subtitle A: Health Care Access, Portability, and Renewability Subtitle B: Application and Enforcement of Standards Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Provisions Title VII: Pensions Title VIII: North American Trade Fairness Act Title IX: Commission on Retirement Income Policy Working Families Economic Security Act of 1996 - Title I: Minimum Wage Guarantee - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the Federal minimum wage to: (1) $4.70 an hour during FY 1997; and (2) $5.15 an hour during FY 1998. Provides for indexation of the minimum wage in FY 2000, and biennially thereafter, according to a formula based on a portion of an average hourly wage nationwide. Title II: Income Equity - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny employers a deduction for payments of excessive compensation (more than 25 times the lowest compensation paid any other employee). Title III: Worker Protection in Labor Disputes - Amends the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to make it an unfair labor practice for an employer to promise, threaten, or take other action to hire a permanent replacement for an employee who: (1) at the beginning of a labor dispute was in a bargaining unit in which a labor organization either was the certified or recognized exclusive representative, or was seeking to be so certified or recognized, on the basis of written authorizations by a majority of unit employees; and (2) in connection with that dispute has engaged in concerted activities for collective bargaining or other mutual aid and protection through that labor organization. (Sec. 301) Makes it also an unfair labor practice for an employer to withhold or deny any other employment right or privilege to such an employee who is working for or has unconditionally offered to return to work for the employer, out of preference for any other individual based on that individual's having performed, or indicated a willingness to perform, bargaining unit work for the employer during the dispute. (Sec. 302) Amends the Railway Labor Act to conform it to such NLRA prohibition. (Sec. 303) Amends the NLRA to require mediation and, if necessary, binding arbitration of initial contract negotiation disputes. Title IV: Workforce of the Future - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Workforce of the Future Development Act - Consolidates and revises Federal job training programs to create a workforce development system. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Streamlining and Consolidation - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) any budget savings realized through elimination or consolidation of programs under this title should be reinvested in the national job training (or workforce development) system; and (2) elimination or merging of programs should be done without reducing the Federal commitment or level of effort to improve education, employment, and earnings of all workers, particularly hard-to-serve individuals. (Sec. 412) Repeals the authority for specified employment training programs under the Food Stamp Act of 1977, Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965, Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Federal Transit Act, Displaced Homemaker Self-Sufficiency Assistance Act, Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), and Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. (Sec. 413) Repeals authority for specified for certain adult job training and employment programs under the JTPA, Wagner-Peyser Act, Trade Act of 1974, Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, and Older Americans Act of 1965. Requires any State receiving an implementation grant (to develop an integrated workforce development system) to include the components of these repealed programs and activities in such system, and allows additional programs, under certain conditions. (Sec. 414) Directs the National Workforce Development Board (established under title II) to advise on consolidation of workforce development programs and draft a joint resolution for a streamlined, integrated, federally supported workforce development system. (Sec. 415) Directs the President to establish an expedited process to consider and act on requests by States for waivers of laws and regulations for specified programs. Subtitle C: Market Building Activities - Establishes the National Workforce Development Board (the Board) to prepare annual Nation's Workforce Development Report Cards (National Report Card) assessing the U.S. workforce development system performance and evaluating all workforce development programs that receive Federal funding. Amends the JTPA to repeal the establishment of the National Commission for Employment Policy. (Sec. 423) Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make grants to applicant States: (1) to develop strategic plans for development of comprehensive statewide integrated workforce development systems; and (2) if they are leading edge States, to implement them. Requires the Board to determine whether any proposed Federal job training legislation complies with specified requirements of this Act. Makes it out of order for the Senate or House of Representatives to consider any bill or resolution concerning workforce development that would not comply with the national workforce development system, as determined by the Board. (Sec. 424) Establishes a quality assurance system. Directs the Secretaries of Labor, of Education, and of Health and Human Services to jointly develop a quality assurance system, including a placement accountability system for all federally funded workforce development programs, using program performance standards recommended by the Board and adopted by the Congress. (Sec. 431) Requires each State desiring to participate in development of an integrated and accountable workforce development system to establish an advisory State Workforce Development Council (State Council) (or use a similar existing entity that includes representatives of employers and workers). Requires the State Council to: (1) assist the Governor in preparing a biennial State Workforce Development Policy Blueprint and an annual State Workforce Development Report Card, and in certifying each local workforce development board; and (2) develop a quality assurance system. (Sec. 437) Requires States receiving implementation grants to: (1) establish unified service delivery areas (SDAs), according to State Council recommendations, to provide community-wide workforce development assistance in one-stop career centers; (2) design a unified financial and management information system, which all programs in the integrated system shall use; and (3) develop a strategy of specified services to enhance the capacity of institutions, organizations, and staff involved in State and local workforce development activities. (Sec. 441) Requires the local elected officials of each unified SDA to establish a workforce development board (local board) to administer the workforce development assistance provided by all programs in the integrated workforce development system in such area. (Sec. 444) Requires each local board to identify capacity building actions to be taken for its workforce development system with State Council funds. Subtitle D: One-Stop Career Centers - Requires each local board to develop a network of one-stop career centers to provide jobseekers, workers, and businesses universal access to a comprehensive array of quality employment, education, and training services. Title V: Corporate Accountability - Corporate Accountability Act of 1996 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that any entity entering into a contract with the Federal Government for goods or services should abide by a specified corporate code of conduct. Prescribes compliance requirements. Title VI: Health Insurance Reform - Health Insurance Reform Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Health Care Access, Portability, and Renewability - Prohibits insurers from declining to offer whole group coverage, with guaranteed renewability, to a group purchaser. (Sec. 613) Restricts the circumstances in which a plan may impose a benefit limitation or exclusion because of a preexisting condition. Mandates the crediting of previous qualifying coverage, and special enrollment periods for individuals with certain types of changes in family composition or employment status. (Sec. 620) Prohibits an insurer (for an individual in a period of previous qualifying coverage) from declining to offer coverage or denying enrollment based on health status, medical condition, or similar factors. Mandates coverage renewability for individuals. (Sec. 631) Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to modify continuation coverage requirements. (Sec. 641) Requires a State to certify health plan purchasing cooperatives meeting specified requirements. Subtitle B: Application and Enforcement of Standards - Prescribes general requirements for enforcement of standards, mandating Federal enforcement in the event of State failure. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends PHSA to allow a health maintenance organization, at a member's request, to reduce the member's basic health services payment by requiring payment of a deductible, if the member has established a medical savings account. (Sec. 661) Declares that it is the sense: (1) of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee that the establishment of medical savings accounts should be encouraged as part of any health insurance reform legislation passed; and (2) of the Senate that the Congress should take steps to further the purposes of this title. (Sec. 662) Amends ERISA to set forth rules governing litigation involving retiree health benefits. (Sec. 663) Directs the Secretary to study and report to appropriate congressional committees on: (1) mechanisms to ensure the availability of reasonably priced health coverage to employers purchasing group and individuals purchasing non-group coverage; and (2) whether standards limiting premium variation will further the purposes of this Act. (Sec. 664) Expresses the sense of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee that the Senate should take measures necessary to: (1) reform the Medicare program; (2) provide increased choice for seniors; and (3) respond to certain findings of the Public Trustees of Medicare by protecting the short-term solvency and long-term sustainability of the Medicare program. (Sec. 665) Mandates parity of treatment limitations and financial requirements for mental health services. Title VII: Pensions - Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the tax on reversion of qualified pension plan assets to employers should not be repealed or modified; and (2) the provisions allowing transfer of excess pension assets to retiree health accounts should not be expanded. Title VIII: North American Trade Fairness Act - North American Trade Fairness Act - Requires assessment of the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), further negotiation of certain NAFTA provisions, and withdrawal from NAFTA unless specified conditions are met and certified to. (Sec. 802) Sets forth conditions for continuing U.S. participation in NAFTA, to be met before the end of 1997. Requires the President to renegotiate the terms of NAFTA to correct trade deficits, currency distortions, and agricultural distortions, and to raise labor, health, and environmental standards, in specified ways. Requires certifications by certain U.S. officials of specified NAFTA-related economic, environmental, and political matters. Sets forth congressional consultation requirements. (Sec. 804) Expresses the sense of the Congress that until the conditions set by this title are met: (1) the President should not engage in negotiations to expand NAFTA to include other countries; and (2) fast-track authority should not be renewed with respect to the approval of any such NAFTA expansion. Title IX: Commission on Retirement Income Policy - Establishes the Commission on Retirement Income Policy to study and report to the President and the Congress on: (1) U.S. trends in retirement savings; (2) existing Federal incentives and programs to encourage and protect them; and (3) new Federal incentives and programs needed for such purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1996
Amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to extend the demonstration program for direct billing of Medicare, Medicaid, and other third party payors.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Construction Authorization Title II: Strategic Planning for Health Care Resources Title III: Other Matters Title I: Construction Authorization - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) carry out eight specified ambulatory care addition major medical facility projects; (2) carry out ten specified environmental improvement major medical facility projects; (3) carry out three specified seismic correction major medical facility projects; and (4) enter into six leases for specified medical facilities. (Sec. 103) Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for FY 1997 for the Construction, Major Projects, account and for the Medical Care account. (Sec. 104) Directs the Secretary to report to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees on the health care needs of veterans in east central Florida. Prohibits the obligation of funds (other than for design work) for the conversion of the former Orlando Naval Training Center Hospital in Orlando, Florida, to a nursing home care unit until 15 days after such report is submitted. Title II: Strategic Planning for Health Care Resources - Replaces an annual reporting requirement regarding operational and construction plans for VA medical facilities with a requirement that the Secretary report annually to the veterans' committees: (1) regarding long-range health planning of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including a five-year strategic plan for the provision of medical care to eligible veterans through coordinated networks of medical facilities; and (2) showing the current VA priorities (listing the top 20) for proposed major medical construction projects. (Sec. 202) Specifies additional information required to be included in a prospectus submitted by the Secretary to the veterans' committees in connection with proposed medical facilities, including data on demographics, projected workload and utilization, operating costs, funding priority, and alternatives to facility construction. (Sec. 203) Revises the definition of "major medical facility project" for purposes of provisions governing medical facility acquisition to mean a project involving a total expenditure of more than $5 million (currently, $3 million). Repeals a provision of the Veterans' Medical Programs Amendments of 1992 which makes inapplicable to projects for which funds were appropriated prior to the enactment of such Act a prohibition on the appropriation, obligation, or expenditure of funds for any major medical facility project unless funds for such project have been specifically authorized by law. Prohibits the Secretary from obligating funds in excess of $500,000 from the VA's Advance Planning Fund toward design or development of a major medical facility project until the Secretary reports to the veterans' committees. (Sec. 205) Repeals provisions setting forth required clinical services of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Requires the VHA to include the Office of the Under Secretary for Health and necessary professional and auxiliary services. Requires the Under Secretary to ensure that the Office is staffed to provide expertise in the treatment and rehabilitation of disabled veterans and in appropriate clinical care disciplines. Repeals the requirements that: (1) the Associate Deputy Under Secretary for Health be a qualified doctor of medicine; (2) such Office include Directors of Nursing Service, Pharmacy Service, Dietetic Service, Podiatric Service, and Optometric Service; and (3) one Assistant Under Secretary for Health be a qualified doctor of dental surgery or dental medicine and another be a qualified physician trained in geriatrics. Title III: Other Matters - Designates: (1) the VA medical center in Jackson, Mississippi, as the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; (2) the Mountain Home Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Johnson City, Tennessee, as the James H. Quillen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and (3) the VA nursing care center at the VA medical center in Aspinwall, Pennsylvania, as the H. John Heinz, III Department of Veterans Affairs Nursing Care Center. (Sec. 304) Restores and extends through December 31, 2000, the Secretary's authority to establish at any VA medical center a nonprofit corporation to provide for conducting approved research.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Tax-Related Provisions Title II: Federal Standards for Private Long-Term Care Insurance Contracts Long-Term Care Insurance Incentives and Consumer Protection Act of 1996 - Title I: Tax-Related Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to, as a general rule, treat: (1) a qualified long-term care insurance contract as an accident and health insurance contract; (2) amounts received under a qualified long-term care insurance contract as amounts received for personal injuries and sickness; (3) any plan of an employer providing coverage under a qualified long-term care insurance contract as an accident and health plan; (4) amounts paid for a qualified long-term care insurance contract providing specified benefits as payments made for insurance for purposes of the medical expense deduction; and (5) a qualified long-term care insurance contract as a guaranteed renewable contract. Defines a qualified long-term care insurance contract. Title II: Federal Standards for Private Long-Term Care Insurance Contracts - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new Title XXI, Federal Standards for Private Long-Term Care Insurance Contracts. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, under such title, to review, approve, and periodically reapprove State programs that certify long-term care insurance as meeting standards established under the new title.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1996
Medigap Protection Act of 1996 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the issuer of a Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy to provide for certain enrollment periods during which an individual who is enrolled in a Medicare select policy, and who would be eligible to enroll under the Medicare supplemental policy of the issuer at the time the individual became (or becomes) 65 years of age, may elect without prejudice coverage under any of the issuer's Medicare supplemental policies as a replacement for the Medicare select policy.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1996
Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that the Board of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund should submit to the Congress without further delay its annual report due on April 1, 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1996
Directs the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under which current or former military personnel who are or become entitled to hospital insurance benefits under part A of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act are offered enrollment in a Federal employees health benefits plan in lieu of receiving care in military treatment facilities or through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS). Allows such enrollment for any dependent of such individual if the dependent is entitled to health care under CHAMPUS and is or becomes entitled to hospital insurance benefits under Medicare. Outlines provisions concerning: (1) contributions for such coverage; (2) management of member participation; and (3) cancellation of coverage. Directs the Secretary and the OPM Director to report jointly to the Congress each year on the provision of such services to eligible persons during the preceding fiscal year. Requires the Secretary to offer such health benefits option no later than January 1, 1997.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1996
Patient Safety Act of 1996 - Requires providers under the Medicare program, as a condition for continued participation in the program, to make publicly available certain minimum information, in addition to information specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, regarding nurse staffing and patient outcomes. Requires the following to be made public along with its source and currency status: (1) data regarding complaints filed with the State agency with oversight over health care services, the Health Care Financing Administration, or a provider accrediting agency; (2) compliance with the standards deemed to demonstrate compliance with conditions of Medicare participation; and (3) data regarding investigations and findings as a result of those complaints and the findings of scheduled inspection visits. Allows the Secretary to waive or reduce reporting requirements in the case of a small provider for whom their imposition would be unduly burdensome. Prohibits Medicare providers from terminating or taking any other adverse action against any employee or groups of employees for certain actions, including those taken for the purpose of notifying the provider of conditions potentially dangerous or injurious to patients receiving services from the provider or to employees of the provider. Requires provider termination from participation in Medicare for taking such an adverse action. Requires any provider under Medicare that files with the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission notification of a transaction required to be reported under the Clayton Act to provide to the Secretary a report that includes: (1) the overall impact of such transaction on the health services available and readily accessible to the community; and (2) the impact of such transaction on each of various specified subjects, including the availability and accessibility of services to the poor, the uninsured, ethnic minorities, women, the disabled, and the lesbian and gay communities. Requires public availability of such reports, public hearings on their elements and any other factors related to the health, safety, and welfare of patients and the community involved, secretarial review of each such proposed transaction based on the report, hearing testimony, and any other relevant factors. Deems any provider that executes a transaction found to have a negative impact on health and safety (or that fails to file a required report) not to be in compliance with the conditions of Medicare participation. Mandates the provider's immediate suspension from program participation if it completes a transaction that poses immediate jeopardy or irreparable harm to patient health, safety, or welfare.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1996
Child Support Enforcement Improvements Act of 1996 - Prescribes guidelines under which depository institutions shall not be liable to any person for disclosing a financial record to a State child support enforcement agency attempting to establish, modify, or enforce an individual's child support obligation. Authorizes a civil action for damages for wrongful disclosure of an individual's financial records by a State officer or employee. Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to provide State child support enforcement agencies access to, and use of, consumer reports in child support cases. Amends part D of title IV (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of the Social Security Act to condition Federal approval of State plans for aid and services to needy families with children upon inclusion within State child support orders of statutorily prescribed procedures for health care coverage of the child. States that, for the incentive payments program, successful State enforcement of a support order requiring an absent parent to obtain health insurance for one or more children shall be considered the collection of support from the absent parent. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to specified congressional committees on incentives that should be provided to encourage States to enforce obligations of noncustodial parents to pay reasonable and necessary health and dental expenses of their children. Requires employers withholding wages to pay child support obligations to pay such withheld wages to the State within ten days. Imposes a penalty for late payments. Instructs the Secretary to expand the Parent Locator Service to establish a national network to provide access to specified State and Federal sources of information based on the comprehensive statewide child support enforcement systems developed by the States.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1996
Gift of Life Congressional Medal Act of 1996 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design and strike a bronze medal to commemorate organ donors and their families. Makes any organ donor, or donor's family, eligible for the medal. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to direct the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) to arrange for medal presentation to eligible individuals. Declares the medals to be national medals. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to enter into agreements with the OPTN to collect funds to offset expenditures relating to medal issuance. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit all solicited donations into the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1996
Adolescent Family Life and Abstinence Education Act of 1996 - Amends Public Health Service Act provisions relating to adolescent family life demonstration projects to include the provision of abstinence information in the definition of "necessary services." Mandates, in approving demonstration project grants, adequate representation of both urban and rural areas. Requires a simplified and expedited application process for applicants seeking less than $15,000. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the demonstration project provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1996
Reduction In Medicare Overpayment Costs Act of 1996 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide for the imposition of administrative fees for the failure of a Medicare provider to refund to the Secretary of Health and Human Services any amount by which prospective payment to the provider has exceeded actual costs by 30 percent or more (overpayment collection); and (2) require automated prepayment screening by fiscal intermediaries and the carriers of a select portion of Medicare diagnoses that Health Care Financing Administration has determined frequently result in overpayment under the program.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1996
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for continued health insurance coverage for an individual aged 55 or older after such individual leaves employment up until such individual qualifies for benefits under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1996
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to the Congress and to implement (unless disapproved) a plan for the allocation of Department of Veterans Affairs health care resources among its health care facilities so as to ensure similar access for eligible veterans having similar economic status, eligibility priority, or medical conditions, regardless of their U.S. region of residence. Requires that the plan: (1) reflect the Veterans Integrated Service Network and the Resource Planning and Management System developed to account for expected workload and to ensure fairness to facilities that provide cost-efficient health care; and (2) include procedures to identify reasons for variations in operating costs among similar facilities and ways to improve the allocation of resources among facilities so as to promote efficient use of resources and provision of quality health care.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1996
Provides for a three-year extension of certain Medicare community nursing organization demonstration projects under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1996
Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases Research Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require specified institutes of the National Institutes of Health to expand and intensify research on osteoporosis and related bone diseases. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1996
Repeals a statement of congressional purpose regarding the sharing of health care resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs with certain other entities. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to share all health care resources (currently, only specialized medical resources) with medical schools, health-care facilities and research centers (current law), as well as with any health-care provider or plan, insurer, or other entity or individual. Repeals a provision requiring reciprocal reimbursement of the cost of such shared resources, instead providing for payment to the Department under procedures which allow appropriate flexibility to negotiate a payment which is in the best interest of the Government. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an arrangement that authorizes the furnishing of services to non-veterans only if the Secretary determines that such an arrangement: (1) will not result in the denial of or delay in the provision of care to any veteran at that facility; and (2) is necessary to maintain an acceptable level and quality of service to veterans and will result in the improvement of services to eligible veterans at that facility.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Health Care Access, Portability, and Renewability Subtitle A: Group Market Rules Subtitle B: Individual Market Rules Subtitle C: COBRA Clarifications Subtitle D: Private Health Plan Purchasing Cooperatives Title II: Application and Enforcement of Standards Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions Title IV: Tax-Related Health Provisions Subtitle A: Increase in Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals Subtitle B: Long-Term Care Provisions Subtitle C: High-Risk Pools Subtitle D: Penalty-Free IRA Distributions Subtitle E: Revenue Offsets Title V: Health Care Fraud and Abuse Prevention Subtitle A: Fraud and Abuse Control Program Subtitle B: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse Subtitle C: Data Collection and Miscellaneous Provisions Subtitle D: Civil Monetary Penalties Subtitle E: Amendments to Criminal Law Title VI: Internal Revenue Code and Other Provisions Subtitle A: Foreign Trust Tax Compliance Subtitle B: Repeal of Bad Debt Reserve Method for Thrift Savings Associations Subtitle C: Other Provisions Health Insurance Reform Act of 1996 - Title I: Health Care Access, Portability, and Renewability - Subtitle A: Group Market Rules - Prohibits insurers from declining to offer whole group coverage to a group purchaser. Allows plans to establish eligibility, continuation, enrollment, or premium requirements, provided the requirements are not based on health status, medical condition, genetic information, or other factors. (Sec. 102) Mandates plan renewability, except for premium nonpayment, material misrepresentation, plan termination, or other specified reasons. (Sec. 103) Regulates the circumstances in which a plan may impose a benefit limitation or exclusion because of a preexisting condition. Mandates crediting of previous qualifying coverage. Allows State laws (unless preempted by specified provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)) that: (1) limit preexisting conditions to shorter periods than the provisions of this paragraph; (2) recognize previous qualifying coverage with a lapse period longer than provided for by the provisions of this paragraph; or (3) require issuers to have a lookback period shorter than under this Act. (Sec. 104) Mandates special enrollment periods for individuals who have certain types of changes in family composition or employment status. (Sec. 105) Regulates disclosures an insurer must make to a small employer (as defined in State law or, if not defined in State law, employers with not more than 50 employees). Amends ERISA to modify requirements regarding disclosures to plan participants and beneficiaries. Subtitle B: Individual Market Rules - Prohibits an insurer from declining to offer individual coverage or denying individual enrollment based on health status, medical condition, or other factors if the individual meets specified requirements, including having had previous group coverage and not being currently eligible for group coverage. (Sec. 111) Mandates renewability of coverage for individuals, except for nonpayment of premiums, material misrepresentation, or plan termination. (Sec. 112) Allows a State to adopt alternative public or private mechanisms designed to provide access to affordable health benefits for individuals unless the Secretary of Health and Human Services finds that the State's alternative mechanism fails to meet specified requirements of this Act. Deems a State to have met those requirements if it adopts a National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) model found by the Secretary to meet the requirements. Sets forth the circumstances in which a State high risk pool will be deemed in compliance. Subtitle C: COBRA Clarifications - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to modify continuation coverage requirements. Subtitle D: Private Health Plan Purchasing Cooperatives - Requires a State to certify health plan purchasing cooperatives (HPPCs) meeting the requirements of this section. Provides for Federal certification if a State fails to do so, but prohibits Federal certification in a State where the Secretary finds that, under State law, all small employers have a means readily available that ensures that: (1) individuals and employees have a choice of multiple, unaffiliated health plan issuers; and (2) other requirements of this Act are met. Regulates HPPC organization, duties, and activities. Preempts, for a HPPC meeting these requirements, State fictitious group laws. Specifies the circumstances in which HPPCs are required to comply with State premium rating and mandated benefit laws. Applies to HPPCs, for enforcement purposes only, the requirements of ERISA provisions relating to fiduciary responsibility and administration and enforcement. Title II: Application and Enforcement of Standards - Deems a requirement or standard under this Act imposed on a plan to be imposed on the issuer. (Sec. 202) Requires each State to enforce the standards under this Act pursuant to an enforcement plan filed by the State with the Secretary of Labor. Mandates enforcement of employee health benefit plans by the Secretary in the same manner as under specified ERISA provisions. Provides for Federal enforcement if a State fails to do so. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow a health maintenance organization, if notified by a member that a medical savings account has been established for the member and if the member requests, to reduce the basic health services payment by requiring the payment of a deductible for basic health services. Declares that it is the sense of the: (1) Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee that the establishment of medical savings accounts should be encouraged as part of any health insurance reform legislation passed; and (2) Senate that the Congress should take steps to further the purposes of this Act. (Sec. 302) Mandates studies and reports to appropriate congressional committees on: (1) mechanisms to ensure the availability of reasonably priced health coverage to employers purchasing group and individuals purchasing non-group coverage; (2) whether standards limiting premium variation will further the purposes of this Act; (3) the effectiveness of this Act; and (4) patient access to and choice of providers inside and outside of networks, the cost to insurers and the feasibility of out-of-network access, and the percent of premium dollar used for medical care and administration of the types of coverage offered. (Sec. 303) Requires the Health Care Financing Administration to complete their ongoing study of reimbursement of all telemedicine services and report to the Congress with a proposal for reimbursement for fee-for-service medicine. (Sec. 304) Declares that the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee finds that the Public Trustees of Medicare concluded in a specified report that: (1) the current Medicare program (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) is unsustainable; (2) the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be able to pay benefits for only about seven years and is severely out of long-range balance; and (3) the Fund's problems should be comprehensively addressed. (Sec. 305) Prohibits an employee health benefit plan and a health plan issuer offering a group plan or an individual health plan from imposing treatment limits or financial requirements on the coverage of mental health services if similar limits or requirements are not imposed regarding other conditions. (Sec. 306) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 to extend the termination date of and modify requirements regarding provisions relating to waivers of a requirement that aliens who came to the United States to receive graduate medical education or training return to their country of nationality for two years before applying for an immigrant visa, permanent residence, or a nonimmigrant visa. (Sec. 307) Mandates inclusion with any income tax refund of a document encouraging organ and tissue donation. (Sec. 308) Declares that it is the sense of the Senate that: (1) the issue of adequate health care for mothers and children is important to the future of the United States and the Senate should pass legislation ensuring coverage for all U.S. pregnant women and children; and (2) patients deserve to know the full range of available treatments and the Congress should examine these issues to ensure that all patients get the care they deserve. (Sec. 310) Medical Volunteer Act - Requires that a health care professional who provides a health care service to a medically underserved person without receiving compensation be regarded, for purposes of any medical malpractice claim arising in connection with the service, as a Federal employee for purposes of the Federal tort claims provisions of Federal law relating to the judiciary and judicial procedure. Deems the professional to have provided the service without compensation only if, prior to furnishing the care, the professional: (1) agrees to furnish the service without charge to any person, including any insurance or program covering the recipient; and (2) provides the recipient with notice of the limited liability. Preempts inconsistent State laws, but not State laws providing greater incentives or protections to the professional. Title IV: Tax-Related Provisions - Health Insurance and Long-term Care Affordability Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Increase in Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to annually incrementally increase the deduction for the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals so that by the year 2006, 80 percent, rather than the current 30 percent, of such costs will be deductible. Subtitle B: Long-Term Care Provisions - Chapter 1: Long-Term Care Services and Contracts - Subchapter A: General Provisions - Sets forth general rules with respect to a qualified long-term care insurance contract, including that: (1) it shall be treated as an accident and health policy; (2) amounts received under such a contract shall be treated as amounts received for personal injuries and sickness; (3) amounts paid for such a contract shall be treated as amounts paid for medical care; and (4) it shall be treated as a guaranteed renewable contract. Defines such a contract and the services it must include. Subchapter B: Consumer Protection Provisions - Requires long-term care insurance policies to meet model regulation and model Act requirements. Chapter 2: Treatment of Accelerated Death Benefits - Provides, as a general rule, that accelerated death benefits shall be treated as amounts paid because of the death of the insured. Subtitle C: High-Risk Pools - Treats as tax exempt State-sponsored organizations which provide health coverage for high-risk individuals. Subtitle D: Penalty-Free IRA Distributions - Permits penalty-free IRA distributions to pay: (1) financially devastating medical expenses; and (2) health insurance premiums for certain unemployed individuals. Subtitle E: Revenue Offsets - Chapter 1: Treatment of Individuals Who Expatriate - Sets forth the tax responsibilities of an expatriate: (1) who has had an average annual net income tax of more than $100,000 for the five year period ending before expatriation; (2) or whose net worth is $500,000 or more. Provides as a general rule that all property of a covered expatriate shall be treated as sold on the expatriation date for its fair market value. Allows an exclusion from gain of up to $600,000. Permits an expatriate to elect to continue to be taxed as a United States citizen, in which case the provisions applicable to other expatriates will not apply. Sets forth specified reporting requirements for all expatriates. Chapter 2: Company-Owned Insurance - Revises provisions prohibiting a deduction for interest on loans with respect to company-owned life insurance, including a revision which prohibits as well a deduction for interest on loans with respect to company-owned endowment or annuity contracts. Title V: Health Care Fraud and Abuse Prevention - Subtitle A: Fraud and Abuse Control Program - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the HHS Office of Inspector General (IG), and the Attorney General, to establish a program to: (1) coordinate Federal, State, and local law enforcement programs to control health care fraud and abuse; (2) conduct investigations, audits, and inspections relating to the delivery of and payment for health care; (3) facilitate enforcement of certain laws applicable to health care fraud and abuse; (4) provide for the modification and establishment of safe harbors; (5) issue interpretative rulings and special fraud alerts; and (6) provide for the reporting and disclosure of certain final adverse actions against health care providers, suppliers, or practitioners pursuant to the data collection system established by this Act. (Sec. 501) Establishes the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account in Medicare's Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund (Trust Fund) to hold the criminal fines and civil monetary penalties and assessments obtained from Federal health care cases, as well as property forfeiture proceeds from such cases, and other specified amounts for financing the fraud and abuse control program and the Medicare Integrity Program established by this Act. Makes certain appropriations to the Trust Fund and Account, earmarking specified amounts for activities of the HHS IG with respect to the SSA title XVIII (Medicare) and title XIX (Medicaid) programs. (Sec. 502) Establishes the Medicare Integrity Program to promote the integrity of the Medicare program through contracts with certain eligible private entities to: (1) review Medicare service provider activities and audit cost reports to determine whether payment should not have been made; (2) educate service providers, beneficiaries, and other persons on payment and benefit issues; and (3) develop and periodically update a list of items of durable medical equipment subject to prior authorization. Eliminates the responsibilities of fiscal intermediaries under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) and carriers under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) for certain activities to the extent they are carried out pursuant to a contract under the Medicare Integrity Program. (Sec. 503) Directs the HHS Secretary to provide an explanation of Medicare benefits with respect to each furnished item or service for which payment may be made, whether or not a deductible or coinsurance payment may be imposed on the beneficiary. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish a program to encourage individuals to: (1) report information on fraud and abuse; and (2) submit suggestions on methods to improve the efficiency of the Medicare program. Provides for the payment to such individuals of a portion of: (1) any amounts collected due to any reports of fraud or abuse; or (2) any savings resulting from any suggestions that are adopted. (Sec. 504) Amends SSA title XI to extend the application of criminal penalties for acts involving the Medicare program to similar violations of any health benefits plan or program funded directly by the Federal Government, except the Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program (Federal health care programs). (Sec. 505) Directs the HHS Secretary to publish a notice periodically in the Federal Register soliciting proposals for: (1) modifications to existing safe harbors issued under the Medicare and Medicaid Patient and Program Protection Act of 1987; (2) additional safe harbors specifying payment practices that shall not be treated as a criminal offense or exclusion; (3) interpretive rulings by the HHS IG, upon request, with regard to civil monetary and criminal penalties; and (4) special fraud alerts by the HHS IG, upon request, with regard to suspect practices under the Medicare program or a State health care program. Requires subsequent issuance of implementing regulations. Subtitle B: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse - Excludes from participation in Medicare and State health care programs any individual or entity convicted after the enactment of this Act of a felony related to: (1) fraud in connection with the delivery of a health care item or service; or (2) a controlled substance. (Sec. 512) Revises specified current sanctions involving exclusion for fraud and abuse under Medicare and State health care programs. Repeals the prerequisite that a health care practitioner or person be "unwilling or unable" to comply substantially with a corrective action plan before sanctions may be imposed (thus permitting the HHS Secretary to exclude such practitioner or person from eligibility to provide services for failure to comply with a corrective action plan, regardless of circumstances). (Sec. 515) Permits imposition of intermediate sanctions on Medicare health maintenance organizations (HMOs), in addition to the current option of termination. (Sec. 516) Excepts from anti-kickback penalties for risk-sharing arrangements any remuneration between an organization and an item or service provider under a written agreement where certain circumstances pertain. Subtitle C: Data Collection and Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the HHS Secretary to establish a national health care fraud and abuse data collection program for the reporting of final adverse actions against health care providers, suppliers, or practitioners. Requires each Government agency and health care plan to report to the Secretary any final adverse action taken against a health care provider, supplier, or practitioner. (Sec. 521) Allows the HHS Secretary, with respect to the issuance of unique identifiers for Medicare physicians, to impose appropriate fees on such physicians to cover the costs of investigation and recertification activities. Subtitle D: Civil Monetary Penalties - Revises civil monetary penalty and other related SSA title XI provisions, among other things: (1) subjecting to civil penalties certain program-excluded individuals who retain an ownership or control interest in a participating entity if they know or should know of the action constituting the basis for the exclusion at the time they violated such provisions; (2) increasing the amounts of various specified penalties and assessments, including those against health care practitioners who fail to comply with their statutory obligations; and (3) prohibiting the offering of inducements to individuals enrolled under Medicare or a State health care program, including waiver of coinsurance and deductible amounts and transfers of items or services for free or for other than fair market value. Subtitle E: Amendments to Criminal Law - Amends the Federal criminal code to cover health care fraud, obstruction of criminal investigations of Federal health care offenses, theft or embezzlement in connection with health care, and other specified matters related to health care fraud, such as the laundering of monetary instruments. (Sec. 543) Provides for injunctive relief relating to Federal health care offenses, as well as for property forfeitures. Title VI: Internal Revenue Code and Other Provisions - Subtitle A: Foreign Trust Tax Compliance - Revises the requirements regarding information that must be reported regarding certain foreign trusts. Modifies the circumstances (with regard to foreign trusts having one or more U.S. beneficiaries) in which a transferor is treated as the owner. Replaces provisions setting forth a special rule applicable to foreign grantors with provisions declaring that provisions relating to treating grantors and other as substantial owners shall apply only when that application results in an amount being currently taken into account in computing the income of a U.S. citizen or resident or a domestic corporation. Requires a United States person to report information regarding foreign gifts or bequests when the gifts' aggregate value during a taxable year exceeds $10,000. Modifies requirements regarding the interest charge on accumulation distributions from foreign trusts. Changes the circumstances in which an estate or trust is included in the definition of "United States person." Modifies the definition of "foreign estate or trust." Requires (for provisions relating to the imposition of a tax on transfers to avoid income tax) treating a trust which is not a foreign trust and which becomes a foreign trust as having transferred, immediately before becoming a foreign trust, all of its assets to a foreign trust. Subtitle B: Repeal of Bad Debt Reserve Method for Thrift Savings Associations - Repeals the bad debt reserve method, concerning reserves for losses on loans, for thrift savings associations. Subtitle C: Other Provisions - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend the secondary payor provisions. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in specified circumstances, to modify rent adjustments using an operating costs factor that increases the rent to reflect increases in operating costs in the market area. Amends the National Housing Act to remove the provision which limits foreclosure avoidance and borrower assistance to those mortgages insured under such Act which originated before October 1, 1995.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1996
Recognizes April 26, 1996, as the tenth anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. Calls upon the Government of Ukraine to continue its negotiations with the G-7 countries to implement the December 20, 1995, memorandum of understanding which calls for all nuclear reactors at Chernobyl to be shut down. Urges the President to: (1) support U.S. assistance to provide medical relief, humanitarian assistance, social impact planning, and hospital development for Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and other nations most heavily afflicted by Chernobyl's aftermath; (2) encourage national and international health organizations to expand the scope of research into the public health consequences of Chernobyl so that the global community can benefit; (3) support closing the plant; and (4) support broadening Ukraine's regional energy sources which will reduce its dependence on any individual country.
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1996
Recognizes April 26, 1996, as the tenth anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. Calls upon the Government of Ukraine to continue its negotiations with the G-7 countries to implement the December 20, 1995, memorandum of understanding which calls for all nuclear reactors at Chernobyl to be shut down. Urges the President to: (1) support U.S. assistance to provide medical relief, humanitarian assistance, social impact planning, and hospital development for Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and other nations most heavily afflicted by Chernobyl's aftermath; (2) encourage national and international health organizations to expand the scope of research into the public health consequences of Chernobyl so that the global community can benefit; (3) support closing the plant; and (4) support broadening Ukraine's regional energy sources which will reduce its dependence on any individual country.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1996
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance Act of 1996 - Prohibits insurance providers from: (1) denying or canceling health insurance coverage or varying the premiums, terms, or conditions of coverage on the basis of genetic information or on the basis that the individual or family involved has requested or received genetic services; (2) requesting or requiring insured individuals or applicants to disclose genetic information; or (3) disclosing genetic information without prior written authorization. Provides for enforcement by the Secretary of Labor regarding employee health benefit plans and by State insurance commissioners in other cases. Allows a private right of action. Allows a State to establish or enforce requirements only if they are more restrictive than this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1996
Safe Drinking Water Estrogenic Substances Screening Program Act - Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to develop and, under specified conditions, implement a screening program, using appropriate validated test systems, to determine whether certain substances (including all active and inert ingredients used in registered pesticides) may have an effect in humans that is similar to an effect produced by a naturally occurring estrogen, or such other endocrine effect as the Administrator may designate. Allows the Administrator to exempt a biologic or other substance if the Administrator determines that the substance does not have any effect in humans similar to an effect produced by a naturally occurring estrogen. Requires the Administrator to order a manufacturer of a substance for which such testing is required to conduct such testing and submit results within a certain time period. Provides for suspension of the sale or distribution of the substance if the manufacturer fails to submit required information. Requires the Administrator to: (1) take such action as is necessary to ensure the protection of public health in the case of any substance that is found to have a potential adverse effect on humans; and (2) report findings and recommendations to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1996
Federal Acupuncture Coverage Act of 1996 - Provides for coverage of acupuncturist services under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: American Family Economic Security Subtitle A: Wage Security Subtitle B: Retirement Security Subtitle C: Health Security Subtitle D: Employee Security Title II: Incentives for Lifelong Learning Title III: High-Wage Jobs for American Families Subtitle A: Business Incentives Subtitle B: Preservation of American Jobs Subtitle C: Promotion of Long-Term Investments in American Businesses Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions American Family Income and Economic Security Act of 1996 - Title I: American Family Economic Security - Subtitle A: Wage Security - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to raise the minimum wage. Subtitle B: Retirement Security - Part I: IRA Deduction - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (Code) to increase individual retirement account (IRA) income limitations. Provides inflation adjustments for deductible amounts and income limitations. Part II: Nondeductible Tax-Free IRAs - Establishes special nondeductible tax-free IRAs. Part III: Penalty-Free Distributions - Permits distributions from certain qualified retirement plans without penalty for: (1) first home purchases; (2) higher education expenses; (3) financially devastating medical expenses; or (4) certain unemployed persons. Part IV: Plan Loans - Establishes defined contribution plan loan requirements. Subtitle C: Health Security - Part I: Definitions - Defines specified terms. Part II: Health Care Access, Portability, and Renewability - Subpart A: Group Market Rules - Provides for: (1) guaranteed availability and renewability of health plan coverage; and (2) coverage portability and limitations on preexisting condition exclusions; (3) special enrollment periods; and (4) health plan disclosures. Subpart B: Individual Market Rules - Provides for: (1) individual health plan marketability; (2) guaranteed renewability; and (3) State flexibility in individual market reforms. Subpart C: COBRA Clarifications - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and the Code with respect to plan coverage periods. Subpart D: Private Health Plan Purchasing Cooperatives - Defines "health plan purchasing cooperative." Sets forth requirements and certification provisions. Part II (sic): Application and Enforcement of Standards - Subjects a health plan issuer to standards that may be imposed by a State upon its group or individual health plans. Part III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Public Health Service Act to permit health maintenance organizations (HMOs) to offer plans with deductibles to individuals with medical savings accounts. (Sec. 182) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct an health coverage availability study. (Sec. 183) Expresses the sense of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources regarding the need to reform and maintain Medicare, and to provide increased choice for seniors. Subtitle D: Employee Security - Amends the Code to permit a credit for employer expenses for certain on-site day-care facilities. (Sec. 192) Makes permanent the (employee) income exclusion for employer-provided group legal services. (Sec. 193) Expands the one-time exclusion of gain on the sale of a principal residence to include a sale when the individual or spouse is terminally ill. Title II: Incentives for Lifelong Learning - Amends the Code to establish an employee training credit. (Sec. 202) Makes the educational assistance exclusion permanent. (Sec. 203) Provides deductions for higher education tuition and fees and student loan interest. Title III: High-Wage Jobs for American Families - Subtitle A: Business Incentives - Amends the Code to exclude specified amounts (depending on holding period)of gain from the sale of stock of qualifying critical technology small businesses that create domestic jobs. (Sec. 302) Makes the research and development credit permanent. Subtitle B: Preservation of American Jobs - Amends the Code to include imported property income within a foreign base company's taxable income. (Sec. 312) Authorizes Federal contractor debarment for noncompliance with immigration-related employment provisions. (Sec. 313) Expresses the sense of the Congress that laid off workers should be given stock options upon termination. Subtitle C: Promotion of Long-Term Investments in American Businesses - Part I: Long-Term Investment, Competitiveness, Pension Protection, and Corporate Takeover Reform - Makes specified congressional findings with respect to existing securities laws. (Sec. 322) Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 with respect to: (1) long-term investments and pension protection; and (2) worker protection. (Sec. 324) Amends the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 with respect to: (1) tender offers; (2) takeover financing and financing disclosures; and (3) leveraged buyout and going private transactions. (Sec. 326) Directs appropriate Federal banking agencies to review and report on U.S. depository institutions' risk exposure and additional reserve requirements. Part II: Restrictions on Harmful Takeovers - Amends the Code to disallow deductions for merger and acquisition expenses. Part III: Other Provisions - Amends the Code to extend a specified compensation deduction limit to all employees of all corporations (other than public service corporations). Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Code to provide a deduction for local sewer and water fees.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Title II: Supplemental Security Income Subtitle A: Eligibility Restrictions Subtitle B: Benefits for Disabled Children Subtitle C: State Supplementation Programs Subtitle D: Studies Regarding Supplemental Security Income Program Subtitle E: National Commission on the Future of Disability Title III: Child Support Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders Subtitle H: Medical Support Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Non-Residential Parents Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment Title IV: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens Subtitle A: Eligibility for Federal Benefits Subtitle B: Eligibility for State and Local Public Benefits Programs Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support Subtitle D: General Provisions Subtitle E: Conforming Amendments Title V: Reductions in Federal Government Positions Title VI: Reform of Public Housing Title VII: Child Care Title VIII: Child Nutrition Programs Subtitle A: National School Lunch Act Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Act of 1966 Title IX: Food Stamp and Related Programs Title X: Miscellaneous Bipartisan Welfare Reform Act of 1996 - Title I: Block Grants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - Expresses the sense of the Congress that prevention of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and reduction in out-of-wedlock births are very important Government interests. (Sec. 103) Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program and Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program (JOBS) under, respectively, parts A and F of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with a program of block grants to the States for temporary assistance for needy families already with or expecting children (TEA program). Gives such program the stated purpose of increasing the flexibility of States in operating approved statewide programs, with: (1) certain mandatory work and education requirements (as well as penalties against adult family members on TEA who refuse to engage in various specified work activities); and (2) adult-supervised living arrangements for unmarried teenage parents to enable such families to leave the program and become self-sufficient. Includes participation in community service programs and subsidized public sector employment as TEA program work activities. Requires TEA programs to provide certain time-limited cash assistance (and thereafter vouchers) to eligible families entering into an individual responsibility plan with the State (with certain exceptions involving minor children and hardship situations), outlining their obligations in receiving TEA assistance (such as immunizing their children or finishing high school), as well as the specific services the State will provide (such as job preparation and family planning services and, at the State's option, substance abuse treatment services) to enable them to move into private sector employment. Requires State TEA programs also to: (1) establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies, with special emphasis on teenage pregnancies, over a specified ten-year period; and (2) encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. Denies TEA for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators and minor children absent from the home for a significant period. Suspends it for ten years for persons who have fraudulently misrepresented residence to obtain assistance in two or more States. Denies additional cash assistance, as a general rule, for additional children born to families already on TEA (except in cases of rape and incest), unless State law specifically exempts the State TEA program from such denial. Reduces or denies TEA for noncooperation in child support. Outlines State TEA plan contents. Provides for the State's choice of treatment of aliens and families moving interstate, and for the exchange of certain plan information about TEA applicants or recipients with law enforcement officers under prescribed conditions. Sets forth requirements for State plan approval by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), which include certifications that the State will operate a child protection and child support enforcement program under SSA title IV parts B and D (Child-Welfare Services Program and Child Support and Establishment of Paternity Program), respectively. Details TEA program grant administrative provisions: (1) determining the amounts of State grants for family assistance for FY 1996 through 2001; (2) outlining grant uses, including assistance to families in meeting home heating and cooling costs, and a State program under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990; (3) rewarding States with additional grant amounts for reductions in illegitimate births, as well as for population increases and TEA program work activities; and (4) establishing in the Treasury (and providing deposits for) a Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs for payments to certain eligible participating States. Makes necessary appropriations. Sets up a Federal loan program for certain State TEA programs for anti-fraud and other specified activities. Makes necessary appropriations. Establishes penalties for States and individual families for specified grant and program violations, respectively, through reduced grants and assistance payments. Allows States to terminate assistance payments, but prohibits assistance reduction or termination based on a refusal of an adult to work if the adult is a single custodial parent caring for a child under age six and unable to obtain needed child care for one or more specified reasons. Provides for State appeal of Federal adverse decisions with respect to State plans or imposition of penalties. Outlines specific program data collection and reporting requirements, as well as certain research, evaluation, and study requirements. Makes necessary appropriations. Provides for TEA grants to Indian tribes (with a special rule for Alaska Native tribes). Makes necessary appropriations. Directs the Bureau of the Census to expand the Survey of Income and Program Participation to obtain information enabling interested persons to evaluate the impact of this title on a random national sample of State TEA recipients and other appropriate low-income families. Makes necessary appropriations. Provides for the treatment of current and previously granted State AFDC (welfare reform) waiver projects. Retains the HHS Assistant Secretary for Family Support as the official responsible for administering SSA title IV part A and D programs. Expresses the sense of the Congress encouraging each State operating a TEA program to: (1) assign the highest priority to requiring adults in two-parent families and in single-parent families with older preschool or school-age children to engage in work activities; and (2) require non-custodial, nonsupporting parents under age 18 to fulfill community work obligations and attend appropriate parenting or money management classes after school. (Sec. 104) Allows States to contract with charitable, religious, or private organizations to provide services and administer programs established or modified by this Act, or to provide program beneficiaries with certificates, vouchers, or other forms of disbursement redeemable with such organizations. Prohibits the expenditure of financial assistance under such programs for sectarian worship, instruction, or proselytization. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to expand the data collection efforts of the Bureau of the Census to enable it to collect certain data on grandparent caregivers. (Sec. 106) Directs the HHS Secretary to report to the Congress on the status of State automated data processing systems used in administering State programs under SSA title IV part A. (Sec. 107) Requires the HHS Secretary to report to the Congress on outcomes measures for evaluating the success of the States in moving individuals out of the welfare system through employment as an alternative to the minimum participation rates under mandatory TEA work requirements. (Sec. 108) Makes conforming amendments to SSA, the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and related provisions of other specified Federal laws. (Sec. 111) Directs the Commissioner of Social Security (Commissioner) to develop a prototype of a counterfeit-resistant social security card and study and report to the Congress on different methods of improving the social security card application process. (Sec. 112) Requires any organization accepting Federal funds under this Act to disclose that fact in any communication it makes that intends to promote public support or opposition to any Federal, State, or local government policy through any broadcasting station, periodical, or other specified type of general public advertising. Makes any organization failing to make such a disclosure ineligible to receive Federal funds under this Act. (Sec. 113) Amends the Family Support Act of 1988 to remove the "demonstration" status of the Job Opportunities for Certain Low-Income Individuals (JOLI) program and give it an increased annual authorization for any fiscal year. Title II: Supplemental Security Income - Subtitle A: Eligibility Restrictions - Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to: (1) deny SSI by reason of disability to drug addicts and alcoholics for whom addiction or alcoholism would be a contributing factor material to the disability determination; (2) revise representative payee and treatment requirements; (3) deny SSI benefits for ten years to individuals found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain benefits simultaneously in two or more States; (4) deny SSI benefits for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators; and (5) outline the process for periodic review with respect to the continuing eligibility of an individual 18 years of age or older to receive certain SSI disability benefits. Provides certain supplemental funding for alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs. Subtitle B: Benefits for Disabled Children - Revises the rules with respect to childhood eligibility, with corresponding changes to childhood SSI regulations modifying the medical criteria for evaluation of mental and emotional disorders, and discontinuing the use of individualized functional assessments for children. Requires the Commissioner to redetermine the eligibility of any individual under age 18 receiving SSI benefits based on a disability as of the enactment of this Act, and whose eligibility for such benefits may terminate by reason of this Act. (Sec. 212) Provides that at least once every three years the Commissioner shall review the continued SSI eligibility of each individual who has not attained age 18 and is eligible for such benefits by reason of an impairment (or combination of impairments) which may improve (or, which is unlikely to improve, at the option of the Commissioner). Requires a parent or guardian of a recipient whose case is so reviewed to present evidence that the recipient is and has been receiving treatment of the condition which was the basis for the SSI benefits. Provides that if an individual is eligible for SSI disability benefits for the month preceding the month in which the individual attains age 18, the Commissioner shall redetermine such eligibility: (1) during the one year period beginning on the individual's 18th birthday; and (2) by applying the criteria used in determining the initial eligibility for applicants who have attained age 18. Outlines specific requirements governing: (1) continuing disability reviews for low birth weight babies; and (2) benefit payments through representative payees to eligible individuals and their spouses. (Sec. 214) Provides for a reduction in cash SSI benefits payable to institutionalized individuals whose medical costs are covered by private insurance. (Sec. 215) Reduces by specified basic needs and earned income disregard allocations the amount of parental income attributed to disabled children. Subtitle C: State Supplementation Programs - Repeals maintenance of effort requirements applicable to optional State programs for supplementation of SSI benefits. Subtitle D: Studies Regarding Supplemental Security Income Program - Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to report annually to the President and the Congress regarding the SSI program and to make arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences, or other independent entity, to study the disability determination process under SSA titles II and XVI for similar reports. (Sec. 233) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report on the: (1) impact of this title on the SSI program; and (2) extra expenses incurred by families of children receiving SSI benefits that are not covered by other Federal, State, or local programs. Subtitle E: National Commission on the Future of Disability - Establishes the National Commission on the Future of Disability to develop and report to the President and the Congress: (1) a comprehensive study of all matters related to the nature, purpose, and adequacy of all Federal programs serving individuals with disabilities, including the programs under SSA titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) and XVI; and (2) recommendations for appropriate action. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Child Support - Subtitle A: Eligibility for Services; Distribution of Payments - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to require State plans for child and spousal support to provide: (1) certain services relating to paternity establishment or enforcement of child support obligations; and (2) continuation of services for families ceasing to receive assistance under Aid to Families with Dependent Children. (Sec. 302) Revises payment distribution guidelines for support obligations collected by the State on behalf of a family. (Sec. 303) Requires State plans to establish procedural guidelines for: (1) privacy safeguards regarding paternity and child support actions; and (2) notification of State plan services applicants or recipients about all proceedings and orders affecting child support obligations. Subtitle B: Locate and Case Tracking - Mandates that single statewide automated data systems include a State case registry containing records of: (1) each case in which services are provided by the State agency; and (2) each support order established on or after a specified date. Permits the linking of local registries. (Sec. 312) Requires State plans to include a centralized, automated unit for the collection and disbursement of support payments. Permits the unit to be established by linking local disbursement units through an automated information network if the Secretary agrees that it will not cost more or take more time to establish or operate than a centralized system. (Sec. 313) Requires State plans to: (1) provide for a State-operated and automated State Directory of New Hires containing prescribed information furnished by employers on new personnel; and (2) transmit such information to the National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 314) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures: (1) for mandatory income withholding for support payments subject to enforcement; and (2) under which wages of a person with a support obligation imposed by a child support order issued before October 1, 1996, shall become subject to withholding if arrearages occur, without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing. Revises the procedural guidelines for income withholding for child support enforcement. (Sec. 315) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures to ensure that Federal and State agencies conducting income-withholding activities have access to State locator systems for motor vehicle or law enforcement purposes. (Sec. 316) Revises the Federal Parent Locator Service to provide for additional information which may be transmitted to locate individuals and assets for purposes of: (1) establishing parentage; (2) establishing, setting the amount of, modifying, or enforcing child support obligations; and (3) enforcing child custody or visitation orders. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish in the Federal Parent Locator Service an automated Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders and an automated National Directory of New Hires. (Sec. 317) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring recordation on such documents of the Social Security number of: (1) specified driver's, marriage, and occupational, and professional license applicants; (2) individuals subject to certain domestic relations orders; and (3) deceased individuals (on death records). Subtitle C: Streamlining and Uniformity of Procedures - Requires each State to have the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act in effect as of January 1, 1998. Amends the Federal judicial code to revise the procedures for the court to apply when determining which State order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and enforcement for child support orders. (Sec. 323) Requires the States to have statutorily prescribed procedures requiring: (1) expedited administrative enforcement in interstate cases and support orders; and (2) expedited administrative and judicial procedures for establishing paternity and enforcing support obligations. Subtitle D: Paternity Establishment - Revises the guidelines for State laws governing paternity establishment. Requires State procedures under which the name of the father shall be included on the birth certificate only: (1) if the mother and father have signed a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity; or (2) pursuant to a judicial or administrative order. (Sec. 333) Requires State plans for child and spousal support to provide that the State agency administering the plan will make a determination as to whether a program recipient is cooperating in good faith with State efforts to establish paternity and secure support. Subtitle E: Program Administration and Funding - Directs the Secretary to develop a new incentive system to replace the current one. Revises the guidelines for Federal performance-based incentive payments to the States for effective child support enforcement programs. (Sec. 342) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include prescribed procedures for State reviews and audits. Revises the guidelines for Federal evaluation and audit of State programs governing paternity, child and spousal support, and parent location. (Sec. 344) Revises the automated data processing requirements for State plans to mandate a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system which can perform specified tasks. (Sec. 345) Makes funds available to the Secretary for: (1) training of Federal and State staff, research and demonstration programs, and special projects of regional and national significance; and (2) operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service. Subtitle F: Establishment and Modification of Support Orders - Revises the requirements for State plan procedures for the review and adjustment of support orders. (Sec. 352) Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to authorize a consumer agency to furnish a consumer report: (1) in response to a request by a governmental child support enforcement agency; or (2) to the State administrative agency which sets child support awards. (Sec. 353) Shields a depository institution from Federal or State liability for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency. Prohibits such agency from disclosing such a financial record except for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary in, establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation. Sets forth civil penalties for any person knowingly or negligently violating such prohibition. Subtitle G: Enforcement of Support Orders - Amends Internal Revenue Code procedural guidelines for the collection of arrearages to provide that no additional fee may be assessed for adjustments to a previously certified amount. (Sec. 362) Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of SSA title IV to revise procedural guidelines for: (1) consent by the United States to income withholding, garnishment, and similar proceedings for enforcement of child support and alimony obligations of current and retired Federal employees; and (2) enforcement of child support obligations of members of the Armed Forces. (Sec. 364) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to have in effect the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act of 1981, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act of 1984, or a similar law, as well as certain procedures governing the voiding of fraudulent transfers by a child support debtor. (Sec. 365) Requires a State plan for child and spousal support to include specified procedures: (1) to ensure that persons owing past-due support work or participate in work activities the court deems appropriate; (2) to report to credit bureaus the name of the parent in arrears for child support; (3) to provide for liens against real and personal property for the support arrearages of an absent parent; and (4) to implement the restriction of driver's, professional, occupational, and recreational licenses of individuals owing support arrearages. (Sec. 370) Instructs the Secretary of State to deny a passport to any individual certified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to be in arrears of more than $5,000 for child support payments. Authorizes revocation, restriction or limitation of a previously issued passport in connection with such individuals. (Sec. 371) Authorizes the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the HHS Secretary, to declare any foreign country a reciprocating country if it has established, or undertakes to establish, procedures for the establishment and enforcement of child support obligations whose obligees are U.S. citizens. Provides for revocation of such declaration in certain circumstances. Designates the HHS Secretary as the central authority for such enforcement. (Sec. 372) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which a State agency shall enter agreements with financial institutions doing business within the State to develop and operate a data match system to provide identifying information for each noncustodial parent targeted by the State who maintains an account at the institution, and to encumber or surrender such parent's assets at the institution pursuant to a lien or levy. (Sec. 373) Requires States to have statutorily prescribed procedures under which child support orders relating to the child of minor parents, where the custodial parents are receiving assistance, are enforceable against the child's paternal or maternal grandparents. (Sec. 374) Amends Federal bankruptcy law to make nondischargeable in bankruptcy any debts owed to a State or municipality for child support. Subtitle H: Medical Support - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to include within the definition of medical child support order an order issued through a State administrative process. (Sec. 377) Amends part D of SSA title IV to mandate statutorily prescribed procedures under which all enforced child support orders shall include a provision for the health care coverage of the child. Subtitle I: Enhancing Responsibility and Opportunity for Non-Residential Parents - Amends part D of SSA title IV to prescribe guidelines under which the Administration for Children and Families shall make grants to enable States to establish and administer access and visitation programs to facilitate noncustodial parents' access to their children. Subtitle J: Effect of Enactment - Sets forth effective dates for this title. Title IV: Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliens - Subtitle A: Eligibility for Federal Benefits - Denies Federal public benefits (except certain emergency disaster relief, public health, housing, and child nutrition benefits) to non-qualified aliens. (Sec. 402) Denies SSI and food stamp eligibility to all but certain qualified aliens, who may receive only limited benefits. (Sec. 403) Makes qualified aliens ineligible (with limited exceptions) for Federal means-tested public benefits for the first five years after U.S. entry. Amends SSA and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide for reporting of certain illegal alien information to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Subtitle B: Eligibility for State and Local Public Benefits Programs - Makes an alien who is not a qualified alien, a nonimmigrant, or a parolee for less than one year ineligible for State or local benefits (except certain emergency disaster relief, public health, housing, and child nutrition benefits). (Sec. 412) Authorizes States, with certain exceptions, to determine eligibility for State means-tested public benefits for qualified aliens, nonimmigrants, or certain parolees. Subtitle C: Attribution of Income and Affidavits of Support - Deems the income and resources of any alien over age 18 (who is not pregnant) applying for Medicaid and SSA title XXI benefits to include: (1) the income and resources of any person who executed an affidavit of support on the alien's behalf; and (2) the income and resources of the person's spouse (if any). (Sec. 422) Authorizes States to make similar attributions with respect to State programs (except certain emergency disaster relief, public health, housing, and child nutrition benefits). Subtitle D: General Provisions - Sets forth definitions and requires appropriate regulations by the Attorney General for State use. Subtitle E: Conforming Amendments - Makes conforming amendments to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 and the Housing Act of 1949. Title V: Reductions in Federal Government Positions - Outlines the mechanism for various specified Federal executive agency workforce reductions, requiring submission to specified congressional committees of determinations about the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions of their respective departments by the Secretaries of Agriculture, of Education, of Labor, of Housing and Urban Development, and of HHS. Requires the Secretaries to make FTE reductions, including reductions-in-force, over the ensuing 14 months. Requires the Comptroller General to analyze and report to such committees on such determinations, with recommendations for further FTE reductions, if appropriate. (Sec. 502) Requires the HHS Secretary to reduce the Federal workforce within HHS: (1) by 75 percent of the FTE positions relating to any direct or indirect discretionary spending program converted into a block grant program by this Act (including 245 FTE positions related to the program converted into TEA block grants); and (2) by 75 percent of a proportionate number of the total FTE departmental management positions (including 60 FTE managerial positions related to the program converted into TEA block grants). (Sec. 503) Encourages the HHS Secretary to reduce personnel in the Washington, D.C., area office (agency headquarters) before reducing field personnel. Title VI: Reform of Public Housing - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to prohibit increased housing assistance (except instances of limited-time frame benefits) to a family whose benefits under other public assistance programs have been reduced because of noncompliance. (Sec. 602) States that a person whose benefits under a means-tested welfare or public assistance program have been reduced because of fraud shall not, during such reduction period, receive an income-based increase in any other means-tested assistance program. Title VII: Child Care - Child Care and Development Block Grant Amendments of 1995 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations for FY 1996 through 2002. (Sec. 703) Amends part A (TEA) of Title IV of the Social Security Act to establish a general child care assistance entitlement program funded by Federal grants to the States. Authorizes appropriations. Prescribes program parameters. (Sec. 708) Repeals the program requirement for early childhood development and before- and after-school services. Revises enforcement guidelines to require a State to reimburse the Secretary for funds improperly expended on prohibited or non-authorized purposes. (Sec. 712) Revises the Secretary's congressional reporting requirements to mandate biannual reports to the House Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities. (Sec. 713) Authorizes an Indian tribe or tribal organization to use Federal funds for the construction or renovation of child care facilities. (Sec. 715) Repeals the Child Development Associate Scholarship Assistance Act of 1985 and the State Dependent Care Development Grants Act. Repeals funding authority for certain programs of national significance, involving: (1) child care for children of at-risk students; (2) alternative programs for bilingual and special education students; and (3) rural child care centers for student parents and their children. Repeals funding authority for Native Hawaiian Family- based Education Centers. Title VIII: Child Nutrition Programs - Subtitle A: National School Lunch Act - Amends the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to repeal specified authorities and requirements for the school lunch and related programs, including: (1) State educational authority to use resources from the nutrition and education (NET) program; (2) prohibition of State imposition of teaching personnel and curriculum requirements at any school; (3) certain demonstration grants to private nonprofit organizations or educational institutions for elementary school curriculum food and nutrition projects; (4) aspects of summer food service programs, reducing payment rates and daily meals at camps, reducing the National Youth Sports Program, and revising nutritional standards compliance requirements; (5) certain commodity distribution program requirements, including State Advisory Councils; (6) expansion of the child care food program; (7) adult care food aid to adult day care centers and services for persons over 60; (8) certain pilot projects, including one for paperwork reduction; and (9) an information clearinghouse. (Sec. 807) Prohibits, in general, any waiver that will increase Federal costs. (Sec. 810) Provides for grants for State assistance to family or group day care homes. Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and of Health and Human Services to study and report to specified congressional committees on the impact of this title on adult food care program participation and family day care licensing. Subtitle B: Child Nutrition Act of 1966 - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to revise the school breakfast program: (1) eliminating Federal assistance for food preparation training and program expansion and start-up costs; (2) repealing certain authorities and requirements relating to State administrative expenses; (3) repealing the prohibition against State imposition of teaching personnel and curriculum requirements at any school; (4) repealing the program of cash grants for nutrition education. (Sec. 830) Revises the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC), among other things repealing specified requirements and changing from mandatory to optional: (1) drug abuse education; and (2) provision of WIC information in languages other than English. Makes the Nutrition and Education program discretionary rather than mandatory. Authorizes appropriations. Title IX: Food Stamp Program and Related Programs - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to: (1) increase the standard deduction from income resources for eligibility purposes; (2) treat electronic benefit transfer cards and personal identification (PIN) numbers as coupons; (3) count vendor payments for transitional housing as income; (4) increase penalties for specified program violations; (5) revise disqualification penalties and periods, and their applications to entire households, for persons refusing to comply with work requirements; (6) revise general exemptions from employment and training requirements and funding for related programs; and (7) mandate disqualification of individuals for multiple receipt of food stamp benefits, of fleeing felons, and of individuals delinquent in child support payments. (Sec. 915) Authorizes State food stamp disqualification of a household member also disqualified from another means-tested public assistance program for failure to perform an action required for such program under Federal, State, or local law. (Sec. 918) Makes it an eligibility requirement for custodial parents to cooperate with child support agencies. (Sec. 920) Prescribes additional work requirements for able-bodied food stamp recipients. Requires State agencies to implement electronic benefit transfer systems. (Sec. 924) Provides for: (1) optional combined value allotments for expedited households; and (2) allotments to individuals residing in drug or alcohol abuse treatment centers. (Sec. 925) Authorizes reduction in State food stamp benefits of a household for whom benefits are also reduced in another means-tested public assistance program for a similar failure. (Sec. 927) Authorizes regulations to establish specific authorization periods, and specific periods for prohibiting participation of stores based on lack of business integrity. (Sec. 931) Revises requirements for State agency procedures for food stamp office operation. Augments the kinds of information (including retailer information) that may be exchanged among Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. Authorizes the suspension of stores violating program requirements pending administrative and judicial review. (Sec. 939) Mandates regulations for: (1) food stamp program disqualification of retailers disqualified from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and (2) the permanent debarment of retailers who intentionally submit falsified applications. Subjects food stamp benefits to civil and criminal forfeiture for benefit violations. (Sec. 948) Authorizes States to operate simplified food stamp programs according to specified requirements. Repeals the authority to conduct specified pilot projects and the Food Bank Demonstration Project. (Sec. 949) Revises State plan requirements for the emergency food assistance program. Title X: Miscellaneous - Provides, among other things, for: (1) the expenditure of Federal funds received by a State under TEA and certain other Federal programs only in accordance with laws and procedures applicable to expenditure of the State's own revenues; (2) elimination of housing assistance with respect to fugitive felons and probation and parole violators; (3) certain options for State consideration of the resources of an ineligible household member when determining the food stamp eligibility and allotment of such individual's household; and (4) an increase in funding for abstinence education under SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services). (Sec. 1003) Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should adopt enterprise zone legislation in the 104th Congress providing for various specified incentives, regulatory reforms, and pilot projects. (Sec. 1004) Expresses the sense of the Senate that States: (1) should diligently continue their efforts to enforce child support payments by the non-custodial parent; and (2) should pursue pilot programs in which the parents of a non-adult, non-custodial parent who refuses to or is unable to pay child support must pay or contribute to the child support owed by the non-custodial parent or otherwise fulfill all financial obligations and meet all conditions imposed on the non-custodial parent, such as participation in a work program or other related activity. (Sec. 1006) Directs the HHS Secretary to: (1) implement a certain strategy for preventing out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancies and assuring that at least 25 percent of U.S. communities have teenage pregnancy prevention programs; and (2) report to the Congress on the State programs so implemented to determine their progress. (Sec. 1007) Expresses the sense of the Senate that States and local jurisdictions should aggressively enforce statutory rape laws. (Sec. 1008) Declares that States shall not be prohibited by the Federal Government from sanctioning welfare recipients who test positive for use of controlled substances. (Sec. 1010) Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to generally exempt from the required disclosures, protections, responsibilities, and authorized remedies of such Act, and any implementing regulation prescribed by the Federal Reserve Board, any electronic benefit transfer program established under State or local law or administered by a State or local government that distributes needs-tested benefits. (Sec. 1011) Amends SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to reduce the authorization of appropriations for social services block grants. (Sec. 1012) Encourages the HHS Secretary to work in coordination with State agencies to ensure the efficient use of Federal transportation funds by recipients of public assistance under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1996
Waives for contract periods beginning on or after October 1, 1991, and ending before October 1, 1999, with respect to the D.C. Chartered Health Plan, Inc., the requirement under the Social Security Act that Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries constitute less than 75 percent of the membership of a participating health maintenance organization.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1996
Pharmacist's Patients Protection Act of 1996 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the Food and Drug Administration from using any funds to implement the proposed regulation, "The Prescription Drug Product Medication Guide Requirements."
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1996
Common Sense Medicare Antibiotic Coverage Act of 1996 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand coverage under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of certain antibiotics (covered as items of durable medical equipment) parenterally administered in a home setting. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) recommend to the Congress appropriate adjustments to the payment amounts provided for Medicare items and services to take into account the reduced costs to individuals and providers resulting from Medicare part B coverage of such antibiotics; (2) adjust such payment amounts in order to ensure that aggregate Medicare payments in any fiscal year are not greater or less than those that would have been made had not such coverage been enacted; and (3) report to the Congress on any other antibiotics appropriate for coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Procurement Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Other Matters Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Title III: Operation and Maintenance Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Other Matters Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations Subtitle A: Active Forces Subtitle B: Reserve Forces Title V: Military Personnel Policy Subtitle A: Matters Relating to Reserve Components Subtitle B: Officer Education Programs Subtitle C: Other Matters Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances Subtitle B: Extension of Bonus and Incentive Pays Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances Subtitle D: Retired Pay, Survivor Benefits, and Related Matters Subtitle E: Other Matters Title VII: Health Care Provisions Title VIII: Acquisition and Related Matters Title IX: Organization and Management Subtitle A: General Matters Subtitle B: Financial Management Title X: General Provisions Subtitle A: Financial Matters Subtitle B: Civilian Personnel Subtitle C: Reporting Requirements Subtitle D: Matters Relating to Other Nations Subtitle E: Other Matters Title XXI(sic): Army Title XXII: Navy Title XXIII: Air Force Title XXIV: Defense Agencies Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations Title XXVIII: General Provisions Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes Subtitle B: Base Closure and Realignment and Environment Subtitle C: Land Conveyance Subtitle D: Other Matters National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for procurement to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for: (1) defense-wide procurement; (2) the Defense Inspector General; (3) the Defense Health Program; and (4) the chemical demilitarization program. Subtitle B: Other Matters - States that a current prohibition under a prior defense authorization Act against the new production of F-15E aircraft shall not apply to the obligation of funds authorized and appropriated for FY 1996 or to any appropriation or authorization for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY 1997. (Sec. 111) Increases the research and development and total procurement thresholds for a system to be considered a "major system" for DOD procurement purposes. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to adjust such amounts on the basis of DOD escalation rates, after notifying the Senate Armed Services and House National Security Committees. (Sec. 112) Amends the Defense Conversion, Reinvestment, and Transition Assistance Act of 1992 to require the Secretary, within 60 days after the enactment of an Act appropriating funds for DOD military functions, to: (1) identify which defense contracts under major defense programs will be terminated or substantially reduced as a result of reduced funding levels; and (2) ensure that notice of such termination or reduction is provided to each prime contractor under the contract, as well as to the Secretary of Labor. Requires subcontractors to be notified within 60 days after notification of the Secretary of Labor. Requires a contractor to notify affected employees within two weeks after receiving such notice. (Sec. 113) Strikes certain information concerning the completion status of major defense acquisition programs from information required to be contained in Selected Acquisition Reports for such programs. Requires such Reports to include procurement unit cost (currently, program acquisition unit cost). Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for the armed forces for research, development, test, and evaluation. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the Secretary to waive the live-fire survivability testing requirements with respect to V-22 aircraft. Provides for an alternative live-fire test program. Provides funding. (Sec. 203) Authorizes such live-fire test waiver with respect to the F-22 aircraft, requiring an alternative live-fire test program if the Secretary certifies that normal testing would be unreasonably expensive and impractical. Provides funding. (Sec. 204) Authorizes the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to conduct basic and applied research and advanced technology development on chemical and biological warfare defense technologies and systems, independent of any other DOD component. Title III: Operation and Maintenance - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for operation and maintenance for the armed forces and specified activities and agencies of DOD. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 to DOD for working capital and revolving funds. Subtitle B: Other Matters - Provides additional remedies for employees of defense contractors who disclose information regarding a substantial violation of law (whistle blowers). (Sec. 311) Repeals the requirement of a physical examination for members of the National Guard called into Federal service. (Sec. 312) Authorizes DOD to utilize military personnel under current agreements for the training of Federal employees in non-Government facilities and to pay in advance for such training. (Sec. 313) Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations for the sale of emission reduction credits or other incentives authorized under the Clean Air Act. (Sec. 314) Defines "capital assets" for purposes of assets in the Defense Business Operations Fund as those having a development or acquisition cost of not less than $100,000 (currently, $50,000). Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations - Subtitle A: Active Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths for active-duty forces as of the end of FY 1997. (Sec. 402) Excludes from active-duty end strength limits those members of the reserve serving on active duty for 181 days or more to perform special work in support of peacetime requirements of the active components and combatant commands. Subtitle B: Reserve Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths as of the end of FY 1997 for members of the Selected Reserve and reserve personnel on active duty in support of the reserves. Title V: Military Personnel Policy - Subtitle A: Matters Relating to Reserve Components - Provides that reserve officers in an inactive status who are required to be removed from such status: (1) shall be transferred to the Retired Reserve; or (2) may be discharged from their appointment. (Sec. 502) Provides an exception from the requirement of a baccalaureate degree for appointment to a grade above O-2 in the Naval Reserve in the case of persons appointed for service under either the Naval Aviation Cadet (current law) or Seaman to Admiral Program. (Sec. 503) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out in the United States a test program under which those reserve members eligible for commissary use will be permitted to use such stores on the same basis as members on active duty. Requires the Secretary to report test program results to the Congress. (Sec. 504) Provides an exception from the prohibition against the involuntary release or discharge of reserve personnel within two years of eligibility for retirement in the case of members who serve on active duty (other than for training) for a period of less than 180 days, as long as such member is informed of and consents to such exception prior to commencing such active duty. (Sec. 505) Requires an individual to have received his or her baccalaureate degree within eight (currently, three) years of appointment to a reserve officer position in order to meet the Selected Reserve officer education requirement. (Sec. 507) Increases the authorized activities of members of the reserve called to active duty for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the reserve components. Subtitle B: Officer Education Programs - Extends from under 25 to under 27 years old the age limit for initial appointment as a cadet or midshipman in the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps and the military service academies. (Sec. 511) Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide financial assistance to a student enrolled in an advanced educational program beyond the baccalaureate degree level, as long as such student is also a cadet or midshipman in an advanced training program. Subtitle C: Other Matters - Reduces from three to two years the minimum time in grade required before a chief warrant officer may be considered for promotion. Authorizes warrant officers below the promotion zone to be selected for promotion to the grade of chief warrant officer, W-3. (Sec. 517) Repeals Federal provisions allowing for judicial review of a determination of death of a person previously in a missing status during service in the armed forces, as well as special interest cases eligible for review. Requires the Secretary of the military department concerned (currently, the theater component commander) to transmit within ten days (currently, 48 hours) after a preliminary status assessment a recommendation that a person be placed in a missing status. Requires the Secretary concerned to perform all duties currently required of the theater component commander with respect to such persons and their status. Repeals: (1) the requirement of appointment of counsel to represent a missing person during an inquiry into the status of such person; (2) the requirement that subsequent reviews of a person's status as missing occur at least every three years (instead requiring such review upon receipt of information that may result in a change of status); (3) a provision providing civil and criminal penalties for the wrongful withholding of information concerning a person's status; (4) the requirement that certain information be submitted by a board of inquiry making a recommendation that a missing person be declared dead; and (5) the inclusion of DOD civilian and defense contractor employees as covered persons under such provisions. (Sec. 518) Makes permanent (currently ends September 30, 1996) the authority for the temporary promotion of certain Navy lieutenants. Authorizes the Secretary, when considered expeditious, to extend for up to 180 days beyond the current limit of 365 days after enlistment in a reserve component the active-duty entry date under the delayed entry program. (Sec. 520) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to accept reenlistments of active-duty personnel in the armed forces or Coast Guard: (1) for at least two but no more than six years in the case of members with less than ten years of service; and (2) for an indefinite additional period in the case of members with ten or more years of service. (Sec. 521) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with the governments of allied and other friendly nations for the exchange of military and civilian defense personnel. Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits - Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances - Waives any FY 1997 military pay increases tied to increases in the General Schedule of Compensation for Government employees. Increases by 3.0 percent, effective on January 1, 1997, the rates of basic pay, basic allowance for subsistence, and basic allowance for quarters (BAQ). (Sec. 602) Prohibits the payment of a BAQ to a member of the Ready Reserve who is serving on active duty for 15 days or less and provided government quarters, unless such member is accompanied by his or her dependents. (Sec. 603) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay a BAQ for a member who is without dependents, serving in pay grade E-5, and assigned to sea duty. Authorizes the payment of a BAQ to two members in pay grades below E-6 who are married to each other without dependents and simultaneously assigned to sea duty on ships. (Sec. 604) Repeals a provision which requires the rate of monthly cadet or midshipman pay to be adjusted in the same manner and time as the adjustment of pay to military personnel in connection with General Schedule increases. Subtitle B: Extension of Bonus and Incentive Pays - Extends through FY 1999 specified authorities currently scheduled to expire at the end of FY 1997 with respect to certain special pay and bonus programs within the regular and reserve armed forces. Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances - Allows, as part of the transportation allowance for the transport of a motor vehicle in connection with a permanent change of duty station, a monetary allowance to be paid for: (1) return travel to the old duty station; or (2) travel from the new duty station to the port of debarkation to pick up the vehicle. (Sec. 611) Authorizes the Secretary to reimburse board members of the DOD domestic dependent school system for travel and transportation expenses which include program and activity fees, when the Secretary determines that such programs and activities are reasonable and necessary for the performance of school board duties. (Sec. 612) Provides that, when a member of the armed forces is ordered to a foreign country and the laws of such country prohibit or restrict the entry of a motor vehicle, such member may elect to receive paid storage of such vehicle in lieu of the normal transportation allowance for such vehicle. (Sec. 613) Repeals a Federal provision prohibiting the payment of lodging expenses of a DOD civilian employee on official business away from home when adequate Government quarters are available. Subtitle D: Retired Pay, Survivor Benefits, and Related Matters - Makes March 1996 the effective date of an increase in military retired pay which became effective on December 1, 1995. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to repeal a provision which provides a contingent alternative effective date for the military pay increase for FY 1998. (Sec. 616) States that the dependents of members of the Selected Reserve, like the members themselves, shall be permitted the use of certain morale, welfare, and recreation facilities of DOD on the same basis as members on active duty. Makes an identical allowance for dependents of members of the armed forces who would otherwise be eligible for military retired pay but for the fact that they are under 60 years of age. (Sec. 617) Repeals a Federal provision authorizing survivors of military personnel who die as a result of injury or illness incurred while serving on active duty in support of a contingency operation to receive a payment of all leave accrued. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Authorizes the payment of retirement benefits, eligibility for placement on the temporary disability retirement list, or eligibility for separation with severance pay for active-duty personnel who are: (1) not entitled to basic pay due to participation in an educational program; and (2) unfit to perform their duties because of a disability incurred while participating in such program. (Sec. 621) Amends Federal provisions concerning the payment of military retired or retainer pay to survivors and dependents of military personnel to: (1) include facsimile or other electronic transmission as a valid service of process; (2) require a finding of proper jurisdiction before a court of one state can modify or alter an original court order from another state; and (3) provide that the effective date of the termination of retirement benefits for a person who has been sentenced by a court-martial shall be the date of discharge from the uniformed services. (Sec. 622) Requires (current law authorizes) the Secretary, and the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard, to establish a program which assists eligible former military and Coast Guard personnel to obtain certification and licensure as elementary and secondary school teachers (known as the troops-to-teachers program). Reduces from five to two school years the period a former member must be employed as such a teacher after receiving such assistance. Reduces the amount required to be paid to the educational agency involved by the Secretary concerned representing a portion of the teacher salary. Makes similar changes with respect to current teacher placement programs for eligible separated civilian DOD employees and displaced DOD contractor employees. (Sec. 623) Allows a member whose travel to a new duty station is delayed by participation in a critical operational mission to defer such travel (for which a travel or transportation allowance is authorized) for up to one year after assignment to such mission. (Sec. 624) Authorizes the Secretary to pay to civilian DOD personnel performing overseas duty the same allowances and benefits authorized for members of the Foreign Service under the Foreign Service Act of 1980. Title VII: Health Care Provisions - Amends the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) to authorize the Secretary to pay amounts for covered services which are higher than prescribed limits when enrollees in managed care programs obtain covered services (currently, covered emergency services) from nonparticipating providers. (Sec. 702) Amends Federal provisions establishing the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program to provide alternative service obligations (currently, the only authorized alternative is assignment to health professional shortage areas) for Program participants relieved of their active duty service obligation under the Program. Provides some of the alternative obligations for students participating in a similar program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. (Sec. 703) Excludes officers assigned to duty in DOD from the limitation on the maximum number of commissioned officers of the Public Health Service authorized to serve on active duty. (Sec. 704) Repeals statutory restrictions on the use of DOD funds or facilities to perform abortions. (Sec. 705) Provides CHAMPUS medical and dental care benefits for reserve personnel who incur or aggravate an injury, illness, or disease: (1) in the line of duty while performing active duty, active or inactive duty training, or full-time National Guard duty; (2) while traveling to or from such duty or training; or (3) in the line of duty while remaining overnight, between successive periods of inactive duty training, in a site beyond reasonable commuting distance from the member's residence. Authorizes the following for members described under (3), above: (1) the recovery, care, and disposition of remains; (2) eligibility for retirement pay upon separation due to disability after 30 days or less of active-duty service; (3) entitlement to basic pay; and (4) compensation for inactive-duty training. Title VIII: Acquisition and Related Matters - Repeals the defense procurement technical assistance cooperative agreement program. (Sec. 802) Authorizes the requisitioning and use of Government vehicles for the training and administration of the National Guard by the States, Territories, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. (Sec. 803) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act: (1) for Fiscal Year 1991 to extend through FY 1998 the pilot Mentor-Protege Program; and (2) for Fiscal Year 1994 to extend through FY 1999 the authority of the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to carry out prototype activities directly relevant to weapons or weapon systems proposed to be acquired or developed by DOD. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct a follow-on acquisition of any prototype or technology demonstrator developed in connection with such activities. (Sec. 805) Amends Federal provisions concerning the authority of the Secretary and the military department Secretaries to enter into transactions in order to carry out basic, applied, and advanced research projects to: (1) repeal a reporting requirement; and (2) state that certain proposals, business plans, or technical information submitted in anticipation of such projects will not be considered "agency records" for five years (and therefore will be considered confidential as proprietary data). (Sec. 806) Provides that any subdivision of appropriations made in this Act and hereafter under the heading "Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy" shall be considered to be for the same purpose as any subdivision under such heading in any prior year. (Sec. 807) Directs the Secretary to rely on the private sector for commercial or industrial type supplies and services for or beneficial to the accomplishment of authorized DOD functions, except when the Secretary determines that the function should be performed by government personnel. Empowers the Secretary to contract with private or non-government entities for the provision of such functions. Title IX: Organization and Management - Subtitle A: General Matters - Redesignates the North American Air Defense Command as the United States Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command. (Sec. 902) Authorizes civilian DOD employees to be included on ammunition storage boards. (Sec. 903) Amends the Foreign Trade Zones Act to remove the Secretary of the Army from membership on the Foreign Trade Zone Board. Subtitle B: Financial Management - Establishes in DOD and each of the military departments an Environmental Restoration Account. (Currently, there is established in DOD only the Defense Environmental Restoration Account.) (Sec. 911) Authorizes up to $2 million of DOD funds annually to be used for small meals and snacks during specified military recruiting functions. Title X: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Financial Matters - Repeals the requirement that amounts requested for the procurement of reserve equipment be set forth in a separate budget request. (Sec. 1002) Authorizes the Secretary to accept services as contributions for defense programs, projects, and activities. Directs the Secretary to establish written rules to be used as criteria for the acceptance of money, real or personal property, or services for such programs, projects, and activities. (Sec. 1003) Amends the Sikes Act to authorize the transfer to another military reservation (installation) of the wildlife conservation fees of a closed military reservation. (Sec. 1004) Authorizes a disbursing official to cash checks and other negotiable instruments and exchange U.S. currency on behalf of the United States at a U.S.-chartered Federal credit institution operating at DOD invitation in a foreign country where contractor-operated military banking facilities are not available. (Sec. 1005) Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act and the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (base closure laws) to provide for the disposition of funds arising from the disposal of real property or facilities acquired, constructed, or improved with commissary store or nonappropriated funds in connection with the closure or realignment of a military installation under a base closure law. Subtitle B: Civilian Personnel - Authorizes the Secretary to employ necessary civilian faculty personnel at the: (1) English Language Center of the Defense Language Institute; and (2) Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. (Sec. 1012) Excepts from the competitive service non-attorney positions established in a judge's chambers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. (Sec. 1013) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to repeal a provision which requires the Secretary to convert at least 10,000 military positions to civilian positions by the end of FY 1997. Subtitle C: Reporting Requirements - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to strike certain information currently required in an annual report concerning the ballistic missile defense program. (Sec. 1022) Repeals a requirement for an annual report from the Secretary to the Congress on defense contractor reimbursement costs. (Sec. 1023) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 to repeal provisions requiring certain notification to parties substantially or seriously affected by military budget reductions, the closure or realignment of military installations, or the cancellation or curtailment of major defense contracts. Subtitle D: Matters Relating to Other Nations - Includes within the provision of international demining activities the payment of travel and subsistence expenses of persons participating in such program and the costs of equipment, supplies, and services acquired to carry out such program. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Repeals the requirement that the National Defense Technology and Industrial Base Council (Council) prepare specified periodic assessments and plans. Directs the Secretary to establish a program for analysis of national technology and industrial base (NTIB) issues, policies, and programs. Repeals specified provisions concerning administration, contracting, coordination and supervision with regard to such program. Directs the Secretary (currently, the Council) to prepare annually through FY 1998 (currently, 1997) selected assessments of the NTIB in attaining national security requirements. Outlines assessment requirements, requiring its integration with DOD's overall budget, acquisition, and logistics decision-making processes. Directs the Secretary to prescribe departmental guidance appropriate to implement the national security objectives of the President. Requires a report from the Secretary to the Congress concerning such guidance. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress in 1997 and 1998 on such guidance and the addressing of technological and industrial concerns. Repeals a provision requiring the Secretary to coordinate the encouragement of technology transfer program with the Council. Empowers the Secretary (currently, the Council) to appoint members for the Military-Civilian Integration and Technology Transfer Advisory Board, as well as related authority. Repeals the requirement that the National Defense Manufacturing Technology Program be coordinated with the NTIB. (Sec. 1031) Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1988 to authorize the Secretary to transfer real property located at military installations to be closed to a military department or other entity within DOD or the Coast Guard. (Sec. 1032) Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to dispose of all U.S. rights and interest to the primate research complex at Holloman Air Force Base, as well as the colony of chimpanzees housed at or managed from the complex. (Sec. 1033) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act: (1) for Fiscal Year 1993 to require the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development, and Acquisition (currently, for Installations, Logistics and Environment) to participate in functions and meetings of State chemical demilitarization citizens advisory commissions; and (2) for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to repeal a provision which terminates at the end of FY 1997 the authority of the Secretary to transfer excess personal property to Federal and State agencies. (Sec. 1035) Authorizes Reserve and Coast Guard judge advocates and law specialists (currently, only active-duty members of such professions) to act as notaries public. (Sec. 1036) Transfers to the Secretary (currently, the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force) the authority to control U.S. transportation systems in time of war. (Sec. 1037) States that statute-of-limitations provisions of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act shall not toll the period prescribed for the filing of a request for the correction of military records. Directs the corrections board involved to consider the claimant's military service and the effect of such service on the claimant's ability to file within the authorized time period (two years after discovery of the error). (Sec. 1038) Redesignates the: (1) Naval Records and History Gift Fund as the Naval Historical Center Fund; and (2) Office of Naval Records and History as the Naval Historical Center. (Sec. 1039) Authorizes the Secretary to accept pecuniary or service contributions from foreign nations on behalf of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) authorize participation in Center programs of European or Eurasian nations, when in the national interest; and (2) waive financial disclosure requirements for dignitaries invited to serve without compensation on the Marshall Center Board of Visitors. (Sec. 1040) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to the Secretary of the Army the Arlington National Cemetery Interment Zone as well as specified lands within the Robert E. Lee Memorial Preservation Zone. (Sec. 1041) Repeals a Federal provision directing the Secretary to authorize commissary and exchange officials to negotiate directly with private carriers for the most cost-effective transportation of commissary and exchange supplies by sea without relying on the Military Sealift Command or the Military Traffic Management Command. (Sec. 1042) Authorizes the Secretary or the Secretary of a military department to enter into cooperative agreements for the preservation, management, maintenance, research, and improvement of cultural resources on military installations. (Sec. 1043) Authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to certain named individuals for extraordinary service in the Army during World War II. (Sec. 1044) Revises generally provisions authorizing the Secretary to lend material, supplies, and personnel services to the Inaugural Committee. (Sec. 1045) Withdraws specified Federal lands in Imperial County, California, utilized in the mission of the Naval Air Facility, El Centro, California, from all forms of appropriation under the public land and mining laws, but not the mineral, geothermal leasing, or mineral materials sales laws. Reserves such withdrawn lands for use by the Secretary of the Navy for defense-related purposes in accordance with the Cooperative Agreement of June 29, 1987, among the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Department of the Navy. Provides for management of the withdrawn lands by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) permitted management activities; (2) management by the Secretary of the Navy for military operations, public safety, or national security purposes; (3) a land withdrawal and reserve duration limit of 25 years (with authorized extensions after certain notice and filing requirements); (4) early relinquishment of the land withdrawal and reservation; and (5) land decontamination and environmental remediation (including authorized alternatives). Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 - Title XXI(sic): Army - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to construct or acquire family housing units, to carry out architectural planning and design activities, and to improve existing military family housing in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations to the Army for fiscal years after 1996 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Army. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXII: Navy - Provides, with respect to the Navy, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army. Title XXIII: Air Force - Provides, with respect to the Air Force, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army. Title XXIV: Defense Agencies - Authorizes the Secretary to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out architectural planning and design activities and to improve existing military family housing units, in specified amounts. (Sec. 2404) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund for appropriate uses. (Sec. 2405) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out certain energy conservation projects. (Sec. 2406) Authorizes appropriations to DOD for fiscal years after 1996 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of DOD. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program - Authorizes the Secretary to make contributions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program and authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1996 for such contributions. Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1996 for the Guard and Reserve forces for acquisition, architectural and engineering services, and construction of facilities. (Sec. 2602) Authorizes specified Army National Guard military construction projects and architectural and engineering services and construction design, using prior year appropriations. Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations - Terminates all authorizations contained in the titles XXI through XXVI of this Act on October 1, 1999, or the date of enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for FY 2000, whichever is later, with exceptions. Extends certain prior-year military construction projects. Title XXVIII: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes - Increases: (1) from $300,000 to $350,000 the active and reserve component minor construction threshold for a project the Secretary may carry out using operation and maintenance funds without prior approval from the appropriate congressional committees; and (2) from $400,000 to $1.5 million the reserve component minor construction project threshold beyond which congressional notification and a 21-day waiting period are required. (Sec. 2802) Includes major maintenance and the repair of drives within the definition of an "improvement" for purposes of authorized improvements to military family housing. Subtitle B: Base Closure and Realignment and Environment - Amends the base closure laws to authorize the Secretary to contract with local governments for the provision of certain community services at facilities on installations closed pursuant to such laws. (Sec. 2806) Authorizes the Secretary to pay from the Department of Defense Base Closure Account (Part II) up to $50,000 for stipulated environmental damages assessed against Loring Air Force Base, Maine. Subtitle C: Land Conveyance - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to convey to: (1) Richmond or Madison County, Kentucky, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky; (2) the Dublin San Ramon Services District, California, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Camp Parks, California; (3) Leavenworth, Kansas, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; (4) Pierce County, Washington, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at Fort Lewis, Washington; (5) Odenton, Maryland, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Meade, Maryland; (6) Monmouth County, New Jersey, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; and (7) Hinesville, Georgia, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at the Hunter Army Air Field, Fort Stewart, Georgia. (Sec. 2814) Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to grant an easement for rights-of-way for electric power or communication poles and lines. Subtitle D: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to enter into an agreement with a local electric utility or private company to install, operate, and maintain a new electrical distribution system at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. Provides agreement conditions. Provides funds for such system from funds authorized and appropriated for FY 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1996
Commends the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Contra Costa County, California, the Rotarians Against Substance Abuse Foundation, the Rotary Club of Concord, and the First Presbyterian Church of Concord for being instrumental in developing the Friday Night Live and Club Live programs, for creating Rotary Life Club #1, and for working to expand the Rotary Life Club concept throughout the world.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Job and Income Security Subtitle A: Most Favored Companies Subtitle B: Investment in New Technologies Subtitle C: Minimizing the Adverse Impacts of Mergers and Acquisitions Subtitle D: Corporate Restructurings Subtitle E: Expansion of Educational Opportunities for Workers Subtitle F: Elimination of Tax Incentives for Moving Jobs Overseas Subtitle G: Distressed Community Economic Development Bonds Title II: Retirement Security Title III: Severability American Workers Economic Security Act - Title I: Job and Income Security - Subtitle A: Most Favored Companies - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to provide for a 25 percent reduction in corporate tax on taxable income equaling dividends paid by Secretary of Labor-certified most favored companies which provide employees with training and education benefits (through any approved training program), health care benefits (through insurance or otherwise), pension benefits, child care, among other benefits required by the Secretary. (Sec. 102) Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to give a price evaluation preference to contract offers by most favored companies. (Sec. 103) Expresses the sense of the Senate that most favored companies should receive preference in the provision of various forms of Federal direct financial assistance. Subtitle B: Investment in New Technologies - Amends the Small Business Act to reserve specified funds for the small business technology transfer program. (Sec. 112) Amends IRC to provide for permanent extension of the tax credit for research activities. (Sec. 113) Expresses the sense of the Senate that the total level of non-defense research and development spending in the Federal budget should be increased in equal increments over a five fiscal year period to 2.77 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product. Subtitle C: Minimizing the Adverse Impacts of Mergers and Acquisitions - Amends IRC to disallow a tax deduction for certain merger and acquisition expenses. (Sec. 122) Amends the Clayton Act (antitrust law) to require submission of a plant closure and employee assistance plan to the Secretary of Labor by any person acquiring any voting securities or assets of any other person with respect to specified transactions which would result in a reduction in the overall number of employees or the shutdown of a plant or other facility. (Sec. 123) Requires a court to consider the interests of workers and local communities in determining an appropriate remedy for a specified violation of the Clayton Act, including the timing and nature of any required divestiture. Subtitle D: Corporate Restructurings - Requires each issuer of securities to submit a detailed employee impact and benefit plan to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Secretary of Labor before undertaking any restructuring that includes the involuntary termination of a significant number of the employees of the issuer. Subtitle E: Expansion of Educational Opportunities for Workers - Amends IRC to establish an employee training credit half the qualified training expenses (limited to $2,500 per employee) of the taxpayer for such taxable year for specified employee education and training programs. (Sec. 142) Allows an individual tax deduction for higher education expenses (up to $10,000) and interest on student loans for taxpayers, their spouses, or dependents. Subtitle F: Elimination of Tax Incentives for Moving Jobs Overseas - Revises the IRC with respect to an exception for inventory property and the determination of whether the source of income from certain sales of inventory property is inside or outside the United States. (Sec. 152) Provides that the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury, with respect to allocation of income and deductions among taxpayers, shall not be limited by any restriction (by any law or agreement) on the ability of such interests, organizations, trades, or businesses to transfer or receive money or other property. (Sec. 153) Treats as taxable any foreign base company manufacturing related income from runaway plants or from manufacturing operations located in a country which provides a tax holiday. (Sec. 154) Repeals the exclusion from gross income of foreign earned income. (Sec. 155) Revises specified tax rules on expatriation. Subtitle G: Distressed Community Economic Development Bonds - Makes distressed community economic development bonds qualified tax-exempt bonds. Title II: Retirement Security - Workers Pension Act of 1996 - Allows an individual tax deduction for contributions to individual pension plans. (Sec. 204) Allows penalty-free distributions from individual pension plans to pay educational expenses or for the unemployed. Amends title II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to provide for supplementary social security accounts, funded through payroll deductions by the individual and optional contributions by the individual's employer. (Sec. 205) Sets forth employer responsibilities with respect to individual pension plans. Declares that this title does not require employers, with respect to individual pension plans, to maintain a written pension plan, accept fiduciary responsibility for their employees' investments, or meet non-discrimination tests for employer pension benefits. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to designate and enter into an agreement with an organization to serve as a regional pension service center for each area of the United States, which shall receive payroll deductions for individual pension plans from employers, them to the proper qualified pension agency for deposit to the pertinent individual pension plan, and assist employees, employers, and qualified pension agencies through information and other activities. (Sec. 207) Vests in the Secretary of the Treasury to have primary responsibility for the administration of this title. Directs the Secretaries of the Treasury and of Labor to jointly insure certain employee and employer notifications are made. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, upon determining that a private market is not working well in specified respects or that available qualified pension agencies are not performing well, to contract on a competitive basis with one or more qualified pension agencies to improve service in such markets. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to set standards for individual pension plans and qualified pension agencies. Authorizes establishment of a formal advisory committee to assist in this process. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to set national standards to insure an efficient, well-functioning system for individual pension plans. Authorizes establishment of one or more advisory committees to assist in these efforts. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish annual licensing fees for qualified pension agencies designed to cover the Federal appropriation for the on-going administration of the system. (Sec. 208) Declares that this title shall preempt conflicting State laws, except when preemption is waived by the Secretary of the Treasury. Title III: Severability - Sets forth a severability provision.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Procurement Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Other Matters Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Title III: Operation and Maintenance Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations Subtitle B: Other Matters Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations Subtitle A: Active Forces Subtitle B: Reserve Forces Title V: Military Personnel Policy Subtitle A: Matters Relating to Reserve Components Subtitle B: Officer Education Programs Subtitle C: Other Matters Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances Subtitle B: Extension of Bonus and Incentive Pays Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances Subtitle D: Retired Pay, Survivor Benefits, and Related Matters Subtitle E: Other Matters Title VII: Health Care Provisions Title VIII: Acquisition and Related Matters Title IX: Organization and Management Subtitle A: General Matters Subtitle B: Financial Management Title X: General Provisions Subtitle A: Financial Matters Subtitle B: Civilian Personnel Subtitle C: Reporting Requirements Subtitle D: Matters Relating to Other Nations Subtitle E: Other Matters Title XXI(sic): Army Title XXII: Navy Title XXIII: Air Force Title XXIV: Defense Agencies Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations Title XXVIII: General Provisions Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes Subtitle B: Base Closure and Realignment and Environment Subtitle C: Land Conveyance Subtitle D: Other Matters National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997 - Title I: Procurement - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for procurement to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and other procurement. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for: (1) defense-wide procurement; (2) the Defense Inspector General; (3) the Defense Health Program; and (4) the chemical demilitarization program. Subtitle B: Other Matters - States that a current prohibition under a prior defense authorization Act against the new production of F-15E aircraft shall not apply to the obligation of funds authorized and appropriated for FY 1996 or to any appropriation or authorization for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY 1997. (Sec. 111) Increases the research and development and total procurement thresholds for a system to be considered a "major system" for DOD procurement purposes. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to adjust such amounts on the basis of DOD escalation rates, after notifying the Senate Armed Services and House National Security Committees. (Sec. 112) Strikes certain information concerning the completion status of major defense acquisition programs from information required to be contained in Selected Acquisition Reports for such programs. Requires such Reports to include procurement unit cost (currently, program acquisition unit cost). Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for the armed forces for research, development, test, and evaluation. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the Secretary to waive the live-fire survivability testing requirements with respect to V-22 aircraft. Provides for an alternative live-fire test program. Provides funding. (Sec. 203) Authorizes such live-fire test waiver with respect to the F-22 aircraft, requiring an alternative live-fire test program if the Secretary certifies that normal testing would be unreasonably expensive and impractical. Provides funding. (Sec. 204) Authorizes the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to conduct basic and applied research and advanced technology development on chemical and biological warfare defense technologies and systems, independent of any other DOD component. Title III: Operation and Maintenance - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 for operation and maintenance for the armed forces and specified activities and agencies of DOD. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 to DOD for working capital and revolving funds. Subtitle B: Other Matters - Provides additional remedies for employees of defense contractors who disclose information regarding a substantial violation of law (whistle blowers). (Sec. 311) Repeals the requirement of a physical examination for members of the National Guard called into Federal service. (Sec. 312) Defines "capital assets" for purposes of assets in the Defense Business Operations Fund as those having a development or acquisition cost of not less than $100,000 (currently, $50,000). Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations - Subtitle A: Active Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths for active-duty forces as of the end of FY 1997. (Sec. 402) Excludes from active-duty end strength limits those members of the reserve serving on active duty for 181 days or more to perform special work in support of peacetime requirements of the active components and combatant commands. Subtitle B: Reserve Forces - Sets forth the authorized end strengths as of the end of FY 1997 for members of the Selected Reserve and reserve personnel on active duty in support of the reserves. Title V: Military Personnel Policy - Subtitle A: Matters Relating to Reserve Components - Provides that reserve officers in an inactive status who are required to be removed from such status: (1) shall be transferred to the Retired Reserve; or (2) may be discharged from their appointment. (Sec. 502) Provides an exception from the requirement of a baccalaureate degree for appointment to a grade above O-2 in the Naval Reserve in the case of persons appointed for service under either the Naval Aviation Cadet (current law) or Seaman to Admiral Program. (Sec. 503) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out in the United States a test program under which those reserve members eligible for commissary use will be permitted to use such stores on the same basis as members on active duty. Requires the Secretary to report test program results to the Congress. (Sec. 504) Provides an exception from the prohibition against the involuntary release or discharge of reserve personnel within two years of eligibility for retirement in the case of members who serve on active duty (other than for training) for a period of less than 180 days, as long as such member is informed of and consents to such exception prior to commencing such active duty. (Sec. 505) Requires an individual to have received his or her baccalaureate degree within eight (currently, three) years of appointment to a reserve officer position in order to meet the Selected Reserve officer education requirement. (Sec. 507) Increases the authorized activities of members of the reserve called to active duty for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the reserve components. Subtitle B: Officer Education Programs - Extends from under 25 to under 27 years old the age limit for initial appointment as a cadet or midshipman in the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps and the military service academies. (Sec. 511) Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to provide financial assistance to a student enrolled in an advanced educational program beyond the baccalaureate degree level, as long as such student is also a cadet or midshipman in an advanced training program. Subtitle C: Other Matters - Reduces from three to two years the minimum time in grade required before a chief warrant officer may be considered for promotion. Authorizes warrant officers below the promotion zone to be selected for promotion to the grade of chief warrant officer, W-3. (Sec. 517) Repeals Federal provisions allowing for judicial review of a determination of death of a person previously in a missing status during service in the armed forces, as well as special interest cases eligible for review. Requires the Secretary of the military department concerned (currently, the theater component commander) to transmit within ten days (currently, 48 hours) after a preliminary status assessment a recommendation that a person be placed in a missing status. Requires the Secretary concerned to perform all duties currently required of the theater component commander with respect to such persons and their status. Repeals: (1) the requirement of appointment of counsel to represent a missing person during an inquiry into the status of such person; (2) the requirement that subsequent reviews of a person's status as missing occur at least every three years (instead requiring such review upon receipt of information that may result in a change of status of the missing person); (3) a provision providing civil and criminal penalties for the wrongful withholding of information concerning a person's status; (4) the requirement that certain information be submitted by a board of inquiry making a recommendation that a missing person be declared dead; and (5) the inclusion of DOD civilian and defense contractor employees as covered persons under such provisions. (Sec. 518) Makes permanent (currently ends September 30, 1996) the authority for the temporary promotion of certain Navy lieutenants. (Sec. 519) Authorizes the Secretary concerned, when considered expeditious, to extend for up to 180 days beyond the current limit of 365 days after enlistment in a reserve component the active-duty entry date under the delayed entry program. Title VI: Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits - Subtitle A: Pay and Allowances - Waives any FY 1997 military pay increases tied to increases in the General Schedule of Compensation for Government employees. Increases by 3.0 percent, effective on January 1, 1997, the rates of basic pay, basic allowance for subsistence, and basic allowance for quarters (BAQ). (Sec. 602) Prohibits the payment of a BAQ to a member of the Ready Reserve who is serving on active duty for 15 days or less and provided government quarters, unless such member is accompanied by his or her dependents. (Sec. 603) Authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay a BAQ for a member who is without dependents, serving in pay grade E-5, and assigned to sea duty. Authorizes the payment of a BAQ to two members in pay grades below E-6 who are married to each other without dependents and simultaneously assigned to sea duty on ships. (Sec. 604) Repeals a provision which requires the rate of monthly cadet or midshipman pay to be adjusted in the same manner and time as the adjustment of pay to military personnel in connection with General Schedule increases. Subtitle B: Extension of Bonus and Incentive Pays - Extends through FY 1999 specified authorities currently scheduled to expire at the end of FY 1997 with respect to certain special pay and bonus programs within the regular and reserve armed forces. Subtitle C: Travel and Transportation Allowances - Allows, as part of the transportation allowance for the transport of a motor vehicle in connection with a permanent change of duty station, a monetary allowance to be paid for: (1) return travel to the old duty station; or (2) travel from the new duty station to the port of debarkation to pick up the vehicle. (Sec. 611) Authorizes the Secretary to reimburse board members of the DOD domestic dependent school system for travel and transportation expenses which include program and activity fees, when the Secretary determines that such programs and activities are reasonable and necessary for the performance of school board duties. (Sec. 612) Provides that, when a member of the armed forces is ordered to a foreign country and the laws of such country prohibit or restrict the entry of a motor vehicle, such member may elect to receive paid storage of such vehicle in lieu of the normal transportation allowance for such vehicle. (Sec. 613) Repeals a Federal provision prohibiting the payment of lodging expenses of a DOD civilian employee on official business away from home when adequate Government quarters are available. Subtitle D: Retired Pay, Survivor Benefits, and Related Matters - Makes March 1996 the effective date of an increase in military retired pay which became effective on December 1, 1995. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to repeal a provision which provides a contingent alternative effective date for the military pay increase for FY 1998. (Sec. 616) States that the dependents of members of the Selected Reserve, like the members themselves, shall be permitted the use of certain morale, welfare, and recreation facilities of DOD on the same basis as members on active duty. Makes an identical allowance for dependents of members of the armed forces who would otherwise be eligible for military retired pay but for the fact that they are under 60 years of age. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Authorizes the payment of retirement benefits, eligibility for placement on the temporary disability retirement list, or eligibility for separation with severance pay for active-duty personnel who are: (1) not entitled to basic pay due to participation in an educational program; and (2) unfit to perform their duties because of a disability incurred while participating in such program. (Sec. 621) Amends Federal provisions concerning the payment of military retired or retainer pay to survivors and dependents of military personnel to: (1) include facsimile or other electronic transmission as a valid service of process; (2) require a finding of proper jurisdiction before a court of one state can modify or alter an original court order from another state; and (3) provide that the effective date of the termination of retirement benefits for a person who has been sentenced by a court-martial shall be the date of discharge from the uniformed services. (Sec. 622) Allows a member whose travel to a new duty station is delayed by participation in a critical operational mission to defer such travel (for which a travel or transportation allowance is authorized) for up to one year after assignment to such mission. Title VII: Health Care Provisions - Amends the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) to authorize the Secretary to pay amounts for covered services which are higher than prescribed limits when enrollees in managed care programs obtain covered services (currently, covered emergency services) from nonparticipating providers. (Sec. 702) Repeals statutory restrictions on the use of DOD funds or facilities to perform abortions. (Sec. 703) Provides CHAMPUS medical and dental care benefits for reserve personnel who incur or aggravate an injury, illness, or disease: (1) in the line of duty while performing active duty, active or inactive duty training, or full-time National Guard duty; (2) while traveling to or from such duty or training; or (3) in the line of duty while remaining overnight, between successive periods of inactive duty training, in a site beyond reasonable commuting distance from the member's residence. Authorizes the following for members described under (3), above: (1) the recovery, care, and disposition of remains; (2) eligibility for retirement pay upon separation due to disability after 30 days or less of active-duty service; (3) entitlement to basic pay; and (4) compensation for inactive-duty training. Title VIII: Acquisition and Related Matters - Repeals the defense procurement technical assistance cooperative agreement program. (Sec. 802) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act: (1) for Fiscal Year 1991 to extend through FY 1998 the pilot Mentor-Protege Program; and (2) for Fiscal Year 1994 to extend through FY 1999 the authority of the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to carry out prototype activities directly relevant to weapons or weapon systems proposed to be acquired or developed by DOD. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct a follow-on acquisition of any prototype or technology demonstrator developed in connection with such activities. (Sec. 803) Provides that any subdivision of appropriations made in this Act and hereafter under the heading "Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy" shall be considered to be for the same purpose as any subdivision under such heading in any prior year. (Sec. 805) Directs the Secretary to rely on the private sector for commercial or industrial type supplies and services for or beneficial to the accomplishment of authorized DOD functions, except when the Secretary determines that the function should be performed by government personnel. Empowers the Secretary to contract with private or non-government entities for the provision of such functions. Title IX: Organization and Management - Subtitle A: General Matters - Redesignates the North American Air Defense Command as the United States Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command. (Sec. 902) Authorizes civilian DOD employees to be included on ammunition storage boards. Subtitle B: Financial Management - Establishes in DOD and each of the military departments an Environmental Restoration Account. (Currently, there is established in DOD only the Defense Environmental Restoration Account.) (Sec. 911) Authorizes up to $2 million of DOD funds annually to be used for small meals and snacks during specified military recruiting functions. Title X: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Financial Matters - Repeals the requirement that amounts requested for the procurement of reserve equipment be set forth in a separate budget request. (Sec. 1002) Authorizes the Secretary to accept services as contributions for defense programs, projects, and activities. Directs the Secretary to establish written rules to be used as criteria for the acceptance of money, real or personal property, or services for such programs, projects, and activities. (Sec. 1003) Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act and the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (base closure laws) to provide for the disposition of funds arising from the disposal of real property or facilities acquired, constructed, or improved with commissary store or nonappropriated funds in connection with the closure or realignment of a military installation under a base closure law. Subtitle B: Civilian Personnel - Authorizes the Secretary to employ necessary civilian faculty personnel at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. (Sec. 1012) Excepts from the competitive service non-attorney positions established in a judge's chambers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. (Sec. 1013) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 to repeal a provision which requires the Secretary to convert at least 10,000 military positions to civilian positions by the end of FY 1997. Subtitle C: Reporting Requirements - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to strike certain information currently required in an annual report concerning the ballistic missile defense program. (Sec. 1022) Repeals a requirement for an annual report from the Secretary to the Congress on defense contractor reimbursement costs. (Sec. 1023) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 to repeal provisions requiring certain notification to parties substantially or seriously affected by military budget reductions, the closure or realignment of military installations, or the cancellation or curtailment of major defense contracts. Subtitle D: Matters Relating to Other Nations - Includes within the provision of international demining activities the payment of travel and subsistence expenses of persons participating in such program and the costs of equipment, supplies, and services acquired to carry out such program. Subtitle E: Other Matters - Repeals the requirement that the National Defense Technology and Industrial Base Council (Council) prepare specified periodic assessments and plans. Directs the Secretary to establish a program for analysis of national technology and industrial base (NTIB) issues, policies, and programs. Repeals specified provisions concerning administration, contracting, coordination and supervision with regard to such program. Directs the Secretary (currently, the Council) to prepare annually through FY 1998 (currently, 1997) selected assessments of the NTIB in attaining national security requirements. Outlines assessment requirements, requiring its integration with DOD's overall budget, acquisition, and logistics decision-making processes. Directs the Secretary to prescribe departmental guidance appropriate to implement the national security objectives of the President. Requires a report from the Secretary to the Congress concerning such guidance. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress in 1997 and 1998 on such guidance and the addressing of technological and industrial concerns. Repeals a provision requiring the Secretary to coordinate the encouragement of technology transfer with the Council. Empowers the Secretary (currently, the Council) with the authority to appoint members for the Military-Civilian Integration and Technology Transfer Advisory Board, as well as related authority. Repeals the requirement that the National Defense Manufacturing Technology Program be coordinated with the NTIB. (Sec. 1031) Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1988 to authorize the Secretary to transfer real property located at military installations to be closed to a military department or other entity within DOD or the Coast Guard. (Sec. 1032) Amends the National Defense Authorization Act: (1) for Fiscal Year 1993 to require the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development, and Acquisition (currently, for Installations, Logistics and Environment) to participate in functions and meetings of State chemical demilitarization citizens advisory commissions; and (2) for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to repeal a provision which terminates at the end of FY 1997 the authority of the Secretary to transfer DOD excess personal property to Federal and State agencies. (Sec. 1034) Transfers to the Secretary (currently, the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force) the authority to control U.S. transportation systems in time of war. (Sec. 1035) Redesignates the: (1) Naval Records and History Gift Fund as the Naval Historical Center Fund; and (2) Office of Naval Records and History as the Naval Historical Center. (Sec. 1036) Repeals a Federal provision directing the Secretary to authorize commissary and exchange officials to negotiate directly with private carriers for the most cost-effective transportation of commissary and exchange supplies by sea without relying on the Military Sealift Command or the Military Traffic Management Command. (Sec. 1037) Authorizes the Secretary or the Secretary of a military department to enter into cooperative agreements for the preservation, management, maintenance, research, and improvement of cultural resources on military installations. (Sec. 1038) Authorizes the President to award the Medal of Honor to certain named individuals for extraordinary service in the Army during World War II. (Sec. 1039) Revises generally provisions authorizing the Secretary to lend material, supplies, and personnel services to the Inaugural Committee. Title XXI(sic): Army - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to construct or acquire family housing units, to carry out architectural planning and design activities, and to improve existing military family housing in specified amounts. Authorizes appropriations to the Army for fiscal years after 1996 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of the Army. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXII: Navy - Provides, with respect to the Navy, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army under the previous title. Title XXIII: Air Force - Provides, with respect to the Air Force, authorizations paralleling those provided for the Army. Title XXIV: Defense Agencies - Authorizes the Secretary to acquire real property and carry out military construction projects in specified amounts at specified installations and locations. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out architectural planning and design activities and to improve existing military family housing units, in specified amounts. (Sec. 2404) Earmarks funds authorized under this title for the Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund for appropriate uses. (Sec. 2405) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out certain energy conservation projects. (Sec. 2406) Authorizes appropriations to DOD for fiscal years after 1996 for military construction, land acquisition, and military family housing functions of DOD. Limits the total cost of construction projects authorized by this title. Title XXV: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program - Authorizes the Secretary to make contributions for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program and authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1996 for such contributions. Title XXVI: Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1996 for the Guard and Reserve forces for acquisition, architectural and engineering services, and construction of facilities. (Sec. 2602) Authorizes specified Army National Guard military construction projects and architectural and engineering services and construction design, using prior year appropriations. Title XXVII: Expiration and Extension of Authorizations - Terminates all authorizations contained in the titles XXI through XXVI of this Act on October 1, 1999, or the date of enactment of an Act authorizing funds for military construction for FY 2000, whichever is later, with exceptions. Extends certain prior-year military construction projects. Title XXVIII: General Provisions - Subtitle A: Military Construction Program and Military Family Housing Changes - Increases: (1) from $300,000 to $350,000 the active and reserve component minor construction threshold for a project the Secretary may carry out using operation and maintenance funds without prior approval from the appropriate congressional committees; and (2) from $400,000 to $1.5 million the reserve component minor construction project threshold beyond which congressional notification and a 21-day waiting period are required. (Sec. 2802) Includes major maintenance and the repair of drives within the definition of an "improvement" for purposes of authorized improvements to military family housing. Subtitle B: Base Closure and Realignment and Environment - Amends the base closure laws to authorize the Secretary to contract with local governments for the provision of certain community services at facilities on installations closed pursuant to such laws. (Sec. 2806) Authorizes the Secretary to pay from the Department of Defense Base Closure Account (Part II) up to $50,000 for stipulated environmental damages assessed against Loring Air Force Base, Maine. Subtitle C: Land Conveyance - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to convey to: (1) Richmond or Madison County, Kentucky, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky; (2) the Dublin San Ramon Services District, California, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Camp Parks, California; (3) Leavenworth, Kansas, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; (4) Pierce County, Washington, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at Fort Lewis, Washington; (5) Odenton, Maryland, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Meade, Maryland; (6) Monmouth County, New Jersey, a specified water treatment and distribution system at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; and (7) Hinesville, Georgia, a specified sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system at the Hunter Army Air Field, Fort Stewart, Georgia. (Sec. 2814) Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to grant an easement for rights-of-way for electric power or communication poles and lines. Subtitle D: Other Matters - Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to enter into an agreement with a local electric utility or private company to have such utility or company install, operate, and maintain a new electrical distribution system at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. Provides agreement conditions. Provides funds for such system from funds authorized and appropriated for FY 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1996
Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to repeal denial of approval of nurse aide training programs based on reasons not associated with quality or operation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1996
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to repeal the preadmission screening and resident review requirements for mentally ill and mentally retarded individuals admitted to nursing facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Immigration Control Subtitle A: Law Enforcement Subtitle B: Other Control Measures Subtitle C: Effective Dates Title II: Financial Responsibility Subtitle A: Receipt of Certain Government Benefits Subtitle B: Miscellaneous Provisions Subtitle C: Effective Dates Immigration Control and Financial Responsibility Act of 1996 - Title I: Immigration Control - Subtitle A: Law Enforcement - Part 1: Additional Enforcement Personnel and Facilities - Directs the Attorney General to increase the number of Border Patrol agents. Authorizes the increase of Border Patrol support personnel. (Sec. 102) Authorizes appropriations to increase the number of Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) investigators. (Sec. 103) Provides for an increase in the number of land border inspectors. (Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations to increase the number of visa overstayer investigators and support personnel. (Sec. 105) Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to increase the number of wage and hour law investigators, with preference for bilingual personnel. (Sec. 106) Provides for an increase in INS detention facilities. (Sec. 107) Provides for a review of INS hiring and training standards. (Sec. 108) Directs the Attorney General to provide for fence construction and road improvements in the San Diego, California, border area. Authorizes appropriations. Part 2: Verification of Eligibility to Work and Receive Public Assistance - Subpart A: Development of New Verification System - Directs the President to develop a system to verify: (1) work eligibility; and (2) immigration status for public assistance eligibility. Sets forth: (1) system requirements; (2) remedies and penalties for unlawful disclosure; (3) employer safeguards; (4) document use restrictions; and (5) liability protections. (Sec. 112) Provides for related demonstration projects, including monitoring and reporting by the Comptroller General. Subpart B: Strengthening Existing Verification Procedures - Sets forth changes in employment-verification document provisions, including: (1) social security account information; (2) types of acceptable documents; (3) birth certificates; and (4) driver's licenses. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a National Center for Health Statistics grant fund to encourage States to develop birth and death certificate matching and related capabilities. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 119) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to increase certain employer penalties if specified labor standards violations exist. (Sec. 120) Authorizes the Attorney General to hire additional Assistant United States Attorneys to prosecute cases of unlawful employment of aliens or document fraud. Grants the Secretary of Labor and INS officers related subpoena authority. (Sec. 120B) Directs the Attorney General to establish a task force to improve public education regarding unlawful employment of aliens and unfair immigration-related employment practices. (Sec. 120C) Authorizes additional appropriations for the INS "IDENT" program (fingerprinting of apprehended aliens). Part 3: Alien Smuggling; Document Fraud - Amends Federal criminal law to: (1) authorize INS wiretaps for alien smuggling investigations; and (2) include alien smuggling and certain fraudulent document use provisions within the parameters of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute (RICO). (Sec. 123) Amends the Act to increase criminal penalties for alien smuggling. (Sec. 124) Permits deportation-related videotaped witness testimony under specified circumstances. (Sec. 125) Expands seizure and forfeiture authority for alien smuggling, document fraud violations, and unlawful employment of aliens. (Sec. 127) Revises and establishes penalty provisions for specified document-related violations. (Sec. 133) Amends Federal criminal law to increase penalties for involuntary servitude. Requires the United States Sentencing Commission to review related sentencing guidelines. Part 4: Exclusion and Deportation - Amends the Act to authorize the return of an alien arriving from a foreign territory contiguous to the United States to such territory pending further inquiry of admissibility. Authorizes the Attorney General to order the exclusion or deportation of an alien with or without referral to or from a special inquiry officer under specified circumstances, including vessel-related encounters or extraordinary migration situations (arrival of aliens in numbers of circumstances that exceed inspection capacities). Sets forth such special orders' operational and administrative provisions. (Sec. 142) Revises judicial review of orders of exclusion or deportation. (Sec. 143) Establishes civil penalties for failure to depart. Makes visa overstayers (with exceptions) ineligible for additional visas for specified time periods. (Sec. 144) Authorizes deportation proceedings by electronic means. (Sec. 145) Grants subpoena authority in exclusion or deportation proceedings. (Sec. 147) Denies visas to nationals of a country that refuses (or unduly delays) acceptance of its U.S.-deported nationals. (Sec. 148) Authorizes additional appropriations to the INS for deportation and related detention costs. (Sec. 149) Directs the Attorney General to conduct one or more pilot programs to increase deportation and exclusion efficiency. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 150) Revises suspension of deportation, status adjustment, and voluntary departure provisions. (Sec. 151) Defines "stowaway." Makes such persons excludable but with appealable rights to request asylum or withholding of deportation. Sets forth related carrier cost liability and detention requirements. (Sec. 152) Directs the Attorney General to establish pilot programs for: (1) deterrence of multiple unauthorized entries by aliens into the United States, including the use of interior or third country repatriation; and (2) use of closed military bases as deportable or excludable alien detention centers. (Sec. 154) Requires aliens seeking permanent residence to be immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases. (Sec. 155) Establishes certification requirements for aliens seeking U.S. health care employment (other than physicians). (Sec. 156) Lengthens the period of reentry ineligibility for deported or removed aliens. (Sec. 157) Eliminates "consular shopping" for visa overstayers. (Sec. 158) Makes "incitement" a basis for U.S. exclusion. Part 5: Criminal Aliens - Amends the Act to revise the definition of "aggravated felony." (Sec. 162) Makes an aggravated felon ineligible for status adjustment. Sets forth related provisions regarding: (1) deportation and enforceable rights; (2) custody release; and (3) an additional criminal penalty for unlawful U.S. reentry. (Sec. 165) Revises the categories of convicted aliens and the related procedures for U.S. district court judicial deportations. Permits State court findings of deportability under specified circumstances. Makes conforming amendments to: (1) the Immigration Act of 1990; and (2) the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. (Sec. 166) Provides for a stipulated order of exclusion or deportation. (Sec. 167) Amends Federal criminal law to authorize deportation as a condition to probation under specified circumstances. (Sec. 168) Directs the Attorney General to submit an annual report on criminal aliens. (Sec. 169) Authorizes INS to conduct undercover investigations. (Sec. 170) Provides for the President to negotiate or renegotiate bilateral (alien) prisoner transfer treaties, including provision of compensation. (Sec. 170A) Directs the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to conduct a prisoner transfer treaties study. (Sec. 170D) Authorizes the Attorney General to conduct a demonstration project for identification of illegal aliens in local prisons, including the detailing of an INS specialist to Anaheim, California, to help in such training. Part 6: Miscellaneous - Amends the Act to make Federal agencies eligible for immigration emergency fund reimbursement. Amends Federal law to provide for Federal vessel movement controls in instances of anticipated or actual mass migration of aliens to the United States. Amends the Act to authorize the Attorney General to delegate immigration enforcement authority to State and local officials under such circumstances. (Sec. 173) Provides for: (1) a joint study of automated data collection at ports of entry; and (2) development of an automated (alien) entry-exit control system. (Sec. 178) Authorizes INS: (1) use of volunteers; and (2) acquisition of Federal equipment for border use. (Sec. 180) Amends the Act to place specified limitations on: (1) court jurisdiction in legalization litigation; and (2) status adjustment. (Sec. 182) Requires the Attorney General to report on alien detention space, including an estimate of the number of released deportable or excludable aliens. (Sec. 183) Sets forth special inquiry officer (immigration judge) compensation provisions. (Sec. 184) Amends the Act to authorize the Attorney General to accept State services to carry out immigration enforcement activities. (Sec. 185) Increases the number of "witness cooperation" visas. Subtitle B: Other Control Measures - Part 1: Parole Authority - Amends the Act to make parole authority useable on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. (Sec. 191) Includes parolees in world-wide level of family-sponsored immigrants. Part 2: Asylum - Restricts asylum provisions, including work authorization. (Sec. 196) Authorizes the Attorney General, in order to reduce the asylum backlog, to temporarily: (1) use additional funds for property acquisition; and (2) hire Federal retirees. Part 3: Cuban Adjustment Act - Repeals the Cuban Adjustment Act. Subtitle C: Effective Dates - Sets forth specified effective dates. Title II: Financial Responsibility - Subtitle A: Receipt of Certain Government Benefits - Prohibits public assistance and benefits, with specified exceptions, to an alien who is not a permanent resident, a refugee, a parolee, an asylee, or an alien under withheld deportation. Prohibits unemployment benefits and benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to an alien who does not have work authorization. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to report with respect to enforcement of specified alien housing assistance restrictions. (Sec. 202) Defines "public charge" for deportation purposes. (Sec. 203) Sets forth sponsor affidavit of support requirements. (Sec. 204) Attributes a sponsor's income and resources to the sponsored alien for purposes of (such alien's) public assistance eligibility. Permits similar State and local attribution. (Sec. 205) Requires the Secretary of Education and the Commissioner of Social Security to jointly report on the Department of Education's higher education assistance eligibility matching program. (Sec. 206) Authorizes States and localities to limit assistance to aliens and distinguish among classes of aliens in providing general public assistance. (Sec. 207) Denies the earned income tax credit to individuals who are not citizens or lawful permanent resident aliens. (Sec. 208) Amends Federal criminal law to increase penalties for forging or counterfeiting a Federal agency or department seal to facilitate alien benefit fraud. (Sec. 209) Amends the Social Security Act to authorizes States to place Medicaid anti-fraud investigators in hospitals. Subtitle B: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Attorney General to reimburse States and localities for emergency medical services for specified aliens. (Sec. 213) Authorizes pilot projects for: (1) additional border crossing fees; and (2) expanded U.S.-Canadian port of entry hours and automated permit machines. Subtitle C: Effective Dates - Sets forth effective dates for provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
Consumer Involvement in Breast Cancer Research Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the National Cancer Institute, to the extent practicable, to increase the involvement of people who are accountable to, represent, and report back to organizations that represent those affected by breast cancer in decision making at the Institute regarding breast cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
Improved Patient Access to Clinical Studies Act of 1996 - Prohibits a health plan from denying, limiting, imposing additional conditions on, or discriminating against an enrollee on the basis of the enrollee's participation in an approved clinical study.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Tax Treatment of Long-Term Care Insurance Title II: Long-Term Care Insurance Standards Title III: Preventive Health Practices Promotion Family Choice in Long-Term Care Act - Title I: Tax Treatment of Long-Term Care Insurance - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) treat qualified long-term services as deductible medical care; (2) permit the offer of certain long-term care insurance contracts in certain employer (cafeteria) plans; (3) include in gross income excessive long-term care benefits; and (4) mandate that qualified long-term care insurance tax reserves be determined according to the reserve method prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or by the one-year full preliminary term method, if no reserve method has been prescribed. (Sec. 106) Allows, without the recognition of a gain or loss, for the exchange of a life insurance contract or an endowment or annuity contract for a long-term care insurance contract. (Sec. 107) Provides for the exclusion as a death benefit of any amount paid to an individual under a life insurance contract because such individual is: (1) terminally ill; or (2) chronically ill, but only if such amount is received under a rider or other provision of such contract which is treated as a long-term care insurance contract. (Sec. 108) Allows insurance companies to issue accelerated death benefit riders on life insurance contracts. (Sec. 109) Excludes from gross income certain amounts withdrawn from individual retirement accounts and certain employer cash or deferred arrangements to pay long-term care premiums. Title II: Long-Term Care Insurance Standards - Long-Term Care Insurance Standards Amendments of 1995 - Directs the Congress to appoint the National Long-Term Care Insurance Advisory Council to advise the Congress and monitor development of the long-term care insurance market. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 202) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth consumer protection provisions regarding long-term care insurance policies. Sets forth tax penalties for non-complying issuers of such policies. (Sec. 204) Declares that insurance policies deemed by a State Insurance Commissioner to be in compliance with this Act and the Internal Revenue Code shall be deemed approved for sale in any other State. Title III: Preventive Health Practices Promotion - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and distribute a summary of recommended preventive health care practices for elderly individuals entitled to benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
Medical Device Reform Act of 1996 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to set forth the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mission. (Sec. 3) Allows device approval applicants to declare a review impasse and mandates use of a dispute resolution process. (Sec. 4) Revises requirements regarding: (1) investigational devise exemptions; (2) premarket approval requirements (mandating a device review priority); (3) humanitarian device exceptions; (4) safety and effectiveness performance standards (allowing consensus standards recognition); (5) effectiveness determinations (as used in classifying devices); (6) premarket notification; (7) classification panels; and (8) premarket approval application review (allowing review by accredited persons). (Sec. 12) Mandates procedures for accrediting parties that review premarket approval applications and conduct good manufacturing practice inspections. (Sec. 13) Mandates reclassification of certain devices. (Sec. 14) Modifies requirements regarding: (1) device tracking; (2) postmarket surveillance; and (3) good manufacturing practice regulations (including foreign harmonization) and inspections (including adding references to accredited entities and post-inspection procedural requirements). (Sec. 18) Regulates the effect of the dissemination of medical texts, peer-reviewed scientific publications, displays at trade shows, and other material. (Sec. 19) Removes distributors from record keeping and reporting requirements. Declares that the failure of a device to perform as labeled or in an acceptable manner does not constitute a malfunction when caused by improper servicing. Repeals user reporting requirements. (Sec. 20) Prohibits subjecting a person to penalties if the person acted in good faith and had no reason to believe the acts violated the law. (Sec. 21) Allows using monetary penalties for violation correction. Entitles violators to reasonable discovery. (Sec. 22) Mandates an information system to track the status of each submission requesting FDA action. (Sec. 23) Prohibits actions by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the FDCA from requiring the preparation of an environmental impact statement or assessment. (Sec. 24) Prohibits the Secretary from relying on any statements not promulgated in accordance with rulemaking requirements to require any action under the FDCA. (Sec. 25) Mandates training programs for FDA employees regarding FDCA regulations and policies. Allows the FDA to conduct or contract for scientific research only if directly related to FDCA implementation. (Sec. 26) Regulates communications to non-FDA persons regarding certain matters before completion of related investigations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Coordination of Federal Enforcement Title II: Revisions to Criminal Law Title III: Anti-Fraud Initiatives Under Medicare and Medicaid Health Care Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act of 1996 - Title I: Coordination of Federal Enforcement - Requires the Inspectors General of specified Federal agencies to conduct audits, investigations, inspections, and evaluations regarding the prevention, detection, and control of health care fraud and abuse. Requires the Inspector General and the Attorney General to establish a health care fraud and abuse program that takes into account the activities of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies, Federal and State health care provider licensing and certification agencies, and certain State agencies. (Sec. 102) Mandates State designation of State agencies that conduct, supervise, and coordinate such audits, investigations, inspections, and evaluations. Allows State designation of a State agency to act as a Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Unit for purposes of this title. Sets forth Unit requirements. Requires annual payments to States. (Sec. 104) Establishes in the Treasury the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account containing: (1) fines, penalties, damages, and the proceeds of seizures and forfeitures relating to the provision of health care items and services; and (2) gifts, bequests, and devises. Makes amounts available to the Inspector General and the Attorney General for expenses under specified provisions of this Act and reimbursements to other Inspectors General and Federal, State, and local agencies. (Sec. 105) Authorizes the acceptance, use, and disposal of gifts, bequests, or devises. (Sec. 106) Requires reimbursement: (1) to Federal agencies for the expenses of carrying out provisions of this title; and (2) subject to availability of funds, to State or local law enforcement agencies that participated directly in any activity that led to Account deposits. (Sec. 107) Establishes the Account Payments Advisory Board to make recommendations regarding the equitable allocation of amounts from the Account. (Sec. 108) Mandates establishment of a data base for the reporting of final adverse actions taken by a Government agency against health care providers, suppliers, practitioners, or benefit programs. Requires each Government agency to report such actions. Makes the information in the data base available to the public, Federal and State agencies, and benefit programs. Allows disclosure fees. Title II: Revisions to Criminal Law - Amends the Federal criminal code to define "Federal health care offense" to include violation of, or conspiracy or attempt to violate, specified provisions of: (1) that code; (2) the Social Security Act (SSA); (3) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; or (4) the Anti-Kickback Act of 1986. (Sec. 202) Mandates fines or imprisonment for (in connection with a health care benefit program) defrauding or attempting to defraud, theft or embezzlement, knowing and willful false statements, bribery, certain remunerations (including kickbacks and rebates), and obstruction of a criminal investigation of a health care offense. Authorizes civil actions, civil penalties, and injunctive relief (including the freezing of assets) for health care offenses. (Sec. 210) Authorizes the Attorney General and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to issue summonses. (Sec. 211) Authorizes disclosure of grand jury information for use in a civil investigation or proceeding related to a health care offense. (Sec. 212) Includes Federal health care offenses in: (1) the definition of "specified unlawful activity" for provisions relating to money laundering; and (2) provisions allowing additional penalties for telemarketing that victimizes or targets persons over the age of 55. Authorizes the interception of wire or oral communications in cases where the interception may provide evidence of health care bribery, illegal remunerations, or fraud. Adds references to health care bribery, theft, embezzlement, and fraud to the definition of "racketeering activity" for provisions relating to racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO). Mandates forfeiture of any property constituting or derived from a Federal health care offense. Allows a reward for information on a Federal health care offense. Title III: Anti-Fraud Initiatives Under Medicare and Medicaid - Amends the SSA to allow exclusion from participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs (titles XVIII and XIX of the SSA) of an individual who has an ownership or control interest in, or who is an officer, director, agent, or managing employee of, an entity: (1) convicted of any offense under specified SSA mandatory or permissive exclusion provisions; (2) against which a civil penalty has been assessed under specified SSA provisions; or (3) that has been excluded from Medicare or Medicaid. Imposes civil fines on a person for presenting a claim for an item or service provided by the person's excluded employee or agent. Requires funds received as civil fines and assessments under certain SSA provisions and remaining after other dispositions (required by current law) to be deposited in the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account established under this Act (currently, to be deposited as miscellaneous receipts in the Treasury). (Sec. 302) Provides for the modification of existing and the establishment of new safe harbors. Makes an exception to anti-kickback prohibitions for certain discounting and managed care arrangements. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expedite implementation of certain payment adjustments based upon inherent reasonableness. (Sec. 303) Requires implementation of an initiative of December 1994 to expedite Medicare payment inherent reasonableness adjustments. (Sec. 304) Requires inclusion of information on waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare information distributed under specified provisions. (Sec. 305) Mandates a system providing for a unique identifier for each individual or entity (currently, for each physician) who furnishes items or services for which Medicare payment may be made. Prohibits the Secretary from providing a unique identifier under such system unless the individual or entity submits such documentation relating to financial solvency and fiscal integrity as the Secretary may require to ensure that such issuance will not expose the program to waste, fraud, and abuse, except that the Secretary may waive the application of this section in the case of a provider of services or an individual eligible to receive payment for items or services furnished on the basis of licensure or authorization under State law. (Sec. 306) Requires reimbursement from agencies or organizations that facilitate payment to Medicare providers, and from carriers used for the administration of Medicare benefits, for any amounts paid for a service while the provider is excluded from Medicare participation. Replaces provisions allowing payment to individuals eligible for benefits for services provided by excluded individuals or entities in certain circumstances with provisions prohibiting providers from billing or collecting for items or services provided while the provider is excluded. Makes the recipient not liable for payment of any bill submitted in violation and allows certain sanctions. (Sec. 307) Requires fiscal intermediaries and carriers to use automated data processing equipment comparable to equipment used in private insurance. (Sec. 308) Provides for nondischargeability under the Bankruptcy Code of amounts owed for Medicare overpayments.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
Drug and Biological Products Reform Act of 1996 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to set forth the mission of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and mandate an annual report to specified congressional committees. (Sec. 3) Modifies new drug requirements regarding: (1) clinical investigation commencement; (2) application contents and review; (3) effectiveness determinations; (4) the use of scientific advisory panels; and (5) marketing approval application review by accredited persons. (Sec. 8) Provides for the accreditation of persons to: (1) review applications for new drugs or for certification of insulin-containing drugs; and (2) conduct good manufacturing practice (GMP) inspections. (Sec. 9) Allows applicants to declare an impasse in a review or a submission for an investigational use exemption and mandates use of a dispute resolution process. (Sec. 10) Adds references to accredited persons to provisions relating to GMP inspections. Imposes post-inspection requirements. Deems certain chemistry, manufacturing, and controls to comply with current GMP and prohibits actions to delay or prevent the manufacture or marketing of a drug for failure to conform to GMP, subject to exception. (Sec. 12) Allows a new drug manufactured in a small facility to be used to show safety and effectiveness. (Sec. 13) Regulates changes in the manufacture of a new drug, biological product, new animal drug, blood, or blood component. (Sec. 14) Repeals provisions relating to the certification of drugs containing insulin or antibiotics. (Sec. 15) Requires that applications or petitions requesting conversion from prescription to nonprescription status and all matters relating to nonprescription drugs be reviewed by a single office in the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Allows a single scientific advisory panel to provide recommendations. (Sec. 16) Mandates an applicant-accessible information system to track applications and submissions to the FDA. (Sec. 17) Prohibits actions by the Secretary of Health and Human Services from requiring an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment. (Sec. 18) Regulates drugs compounded by a licensed pharmacist on the order of a licensed physician. (Sec. 19) Directs the Secretary to meet with foreign countries to discuss harmonization of regulatory requirements. (Sec. 20) Controls the effect of the dissemination of medical texts, peer-reviewed scientific publications, and other material. (Sec. 21) Prohibits the Secretary from relying on statements not promulgated in accordance with rulemaking requirements to require any action under the FDCA. (Sec. 22) Mandates training for FDA employees on regulations and policies under the FDCA. (Sec. 23) Regulates: (1) the delegation of authority under the FDCA; (2) judicial review of decisions regarding investigational new drugs and new drugs; and (3) communication to non-FDA persons regarding certain matters before completion of an investigation. (Sec. 26) Defines "biological product" and "human tissue." Declares that blood, a blood component, an organ, milk, or human tissue is not a drug. Prohibits subjecting computer software developed or modified by, or used in, a human tissue establishment to any premarket clearance requirement. Requires such software to be validated to demonstrate that it achieves its intended purpose before use and subjects it to the GMP requirements of the FDCA. Requires licenses to introduce biological products, blood, and blood components into interstate commerce. Regulates licensing. Allows regulation of human tissue only if the Secretary demonstrates that voluntary regulation is inadequate to protect the public health. Provides for such regulation.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Food Amendments Title II: Animal Drugs Food Amendments and the Animal Drug Availability Act of 1996 - Title I: Food Amendments - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to state the mission of the Food and Drug Administration. (Sec. 102) Modifies requirements regarding label claims of a relationship between a nutritional ingredient and a health-related condition. (Sec. 104) Prohibits construing FDCA provisions relating to misbranding or food additives to require a separate disclosure of a method of production or an ingredient other than in the statement of ingredients, unless necessary to protect the public health. (Sec. 105) Allows certain labeling and additive (including color additive) petitions to be submitted to an accredited person and deems the person's recommendation to be a decision of the Secretary of Health and Human Services unless the Secretary makes certain findings. Provides for accreditation. (Sec. 107) Allows an additive in feed for food-producing animals, and allows approval of a new animal drug, if the additive or drug presents a small risk (currently, if the additive will not adversely affect the animals and if no residue will be found in food from the animal). (Sec. 108) Prohibits States and subdivisions from having any requirement for a human food, a drug or biological product, or a cosmetic of the type authorized or required under the adulteration, misbranding, or new drug provisions of the FDCA, subject to exception and waiver. (Sec. 109) Directs the Secretary to regularly meet with other countries regarding reducing regulation and seeking reciprocal arrangements. (Sec. 110) Prohibits the Secretary from relying on statements that have not been promulgated in accordance with Federal rulemaking requirements to require any action to be taken to satisfy an FDCA requirement. (Sec. 111) Amends the FDCA and the Federal Trade Commission Act to remove or repeal provisions regulating the sale, public eating place serving, and advertising of colored oleomargarine or colored margarine. Repeals related definitions. Title II: Animal Drugs - Amends the FDCA to revise the definition (for new animal drug provisions) of "substantial evidence." Modifies requirements regarding approval of supplemental applications. Exempts use in a minor species and the minor use of a drug from provisions prohibiting approval if there is a lack of substantial evidence that the drug will have its purported effect. Revises requirements regarding combination drugs. (Sec. 202) Reduces the period for approval of new animal drug applications. (Sec. 203) Empowers applicants to declare that a review impasse exists. Sets forth a dispute resolution process. (Sec. 204) Revises requirements regarding drug residues and tolerances. (Sec. 205) Regulates animal feed drugs that are limited by approved applications to use under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian (veterinary feed directive drugs) (VFDDs). Deems animal feed with a new animal drug unsafe unless its labeling, distribution, holding, and use (currently, its labeling and use) conform to specified FDCA requirements. Allows withdrawal of approval for certain VFDD recordkeeping violations. Adds to the prohibited acts list the refusal to permit record access as required by VFDD provisions and the failure to maintain records or make reports as required by VFDD provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996 - Requires health plans and employee health benefit plans that provide maternity (including childbirth) benefits to ensure that coverage is provided for: (1) specified minimum periods after delivery; and (2) certain post-delivery care.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
Hippocratic Oath and Patient Protection Act of 1996 - Prohibits health carriers, in contracts with providers or enrollees, from: (1) preventing or limiting provider communications to a patient or the public; (2) operating an incentive plan that does not meet requirements of specified provisions of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act; or (3) including a provision to indemnify a carrier against liability from an action brought by or for an enrollee or provider for damage caused to the enrollee or provider by the carrier. Requires carriers to disclose in plain English: (1) a list of all services and benefits offered; (2) procedures used by the plan; and (3) any existing incentive plan. Mandates a civil monetary penalty and authorizes a private cause of action for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1996
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance), to make a payment adjustment for durable medical equipment based upon inherent reasonableness within one year after initially proposing such an adjustment (thus expediting their implementation).
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1996
Amends Federal provisions concerning the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) to direct the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under which covered CHAMPUS beneficiaries who are also entitled to hospital insurance benefits under Part A of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act will be permitted to enroll in a health benefits plan offered through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program in lieu of receiving care under CHAMPUS or the TRICARE program. Outlines provisions concerning: (1) required contributions for such coverage; and (2) the management of participants in the plan. Requires: (1) the Secretary to begin to offer such health benefits option no later than January 1, 1997; and (2) the Secretary and the OPM Director to report annually to the Congress describing the provision of health care services to covered beneficiaries under the plan during the preceding fiscal year.