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Bill· HRH.R. 3185 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 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 Subtitle E: Application and Enforcement of Standards Subtitle F: Miscellaneous Provisions Title II: Increase in Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals Subtitle A: Increase in Deduction For Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals Subtitle B: Revenue Offsets 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, or similar factors. (Sec. 102) Mandates plan renewability, except for premium nonpayment, material misrepresentation, plan termination, or other specified reasons. (Sec. 103) Specifies circumstances in which a plan may impose a benefit limitation or exclusion of up to 12 months because of a preexisting condition with certain exceptions. Allows (unless preempted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)) State laws that: (1) impose limitation or exclusion periods for preexisting conditions of shorter maximum periods than 12 months; or (2) recognize previous qualifying coverage for individuals experiencing a lapse period of longer than 30 days. (Sec. 104) Mandates special enrollment periods for individuals who have certain types of changes in family composition or employment status. (Sec. 105) Prescribes guidelines for 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 (for an individual in a period of previous qualifying coverage) from declining to offer coverage or denying enrollment based on health status, including: (1) medical condition; (2) claims experience; (3) receipt of health care; (4) medical history; (5) genetic information; (6) evidence of insurability (including conditions arising out of acts of domestic violence); or (7) disability. (Sec. 111) Mandates renewability of coverage for individuals, except for nonpayment of premiums, material misrepresentation, or plan termination. (Sec. 112) Requires that State law in effect on or after enactment of this Act apply in lieu of the standards of this subtitle unless the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that the State law does not achieve mandated access goals. Allows States to meet those goals by using a National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) model adopted using a consultation process the Secretary approves. Subtitle C: COBRA Clarifications - Amends the Public Health Service Act, ERISA, and the Internal Revenue Code to modify continuation coverage requirements. Subtitle D: Private Health Plan Purchasing Cooperatives - Requires a State to certify private health plan purchasing cooperatives (HPPCs) meeting certain requirements, or the Secretary of Labor to certify any a State fails to. Subtitle E: Application and Enforcement of Standards - Deems a requirement or standard imposed on a plan under this Act to be imposed on the issuer. (Sec. 202) (sic) Requires each State to mandate that each plan in the State meet the standards under this Act pursuant to an enforcement plan filed by the State with the Secretary of Labor, with employee plans enforced in the same manner as under specified ERISA provisions. Requires Federal enforcement if a State fails to do so. Subtitle F: Miscellaneous Provisions - Mandates a 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. Title II: Increase in Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals - Subtitle A: Increase in Deduction For Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the deductible percentage of the self-employed individuals' health insurance costs. Subtitle B: Revenue Offsets - Chapter 1: Treatment of Individuals Who Expatriate - Sets forth tax responsibilities relating to expatriation. Treats the expatriate's property as sold on the expatriation date, subject to an exclusion for certain gain. Sets forth reporting requirements. Chapter 2: Foreign Trust Tax Compliance - Revises or establishes provisions regarding: (1) informational filings regarding certain foreign trusts and the penalties for failing to file; (2) foreign trusts having one or more U.S. beneficiaries; (3) the circumstances in which a foreign grantor will be treated as an owner; (4) reporting gifts from foreign persons; (5) the interest charge on accumulation distributions from foreign trusts; (6) loans from foreign trusts; (7) the definitions of "United States person" (as it relates to estates or trusts), "foreign estate," and "foreign trust;" and (8) the treatment of a domestic trust that becomes a foreign trust with regard to a tax on transfers to avoid tax and a penalty for failure to file a related return. Chapter 3: Repeal of Bad Debt Reserve Method for Thrift Savings Associations - Declares that bad debt reserve banking provisions shall not apply after a specified date. Provides for the resulting accounting method change.
Bill· HRH.R. 3179 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1996
Fairness to Minority Women Health Act - Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act and the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to exempt aliens and their children from provisions attributing to the alien the income and resources of the sponsor and the sponsor's spouse if the alien is battered by, or the subject of extreme cruelty by, the person who executed the affidavit of support or similar agreement regarding the alien. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to prohibit payments to States for obstetrical or gynecological services unless the hospital, clinic, or provider has available at least one individual who is able to communicate in the predominant language used by residents of the area. Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow grants (under existing provisions) for family planning projects only if the service providers under the grant have at least one such individual. Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to prohibit making funds available under the Act unless providers of shelter or related assistance have at least one such individual. Mandates a study and report regarding domestic violence in which Latina women are the victims.
Bill· HRH.R. 3178 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Untitled Subtitle A: Breast Cancer Research Extension Act of 1996 Subtitle B: HHS Women Scientists Employment Opportunity Act Subtitle C: Women and AIDS Research Initiative Amendments of 1996 Subtitle D: Women's Cardiovascular Diseases Research and Prevention Act Subtitle E: Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases Research Act of 1996 Subtitle F: Lupus Research Amendments of 1996 Subtitle G: Ovarian Cancer Research and Information Amendments of 1996 Subtitle H: HPV Infection and Cervical Cancer Research Resolution of 1996 Subtitle I: Office for Rare Disease Research Act of 1996 Subtitle J: Federal Risk Assessment in Women's Health Act of 1996 Subtitle K: Women's Health Environmental Factors Act of 1996 Subtitle L: Consumer Involvement in Breast Cancer Research Act Subtitle M: Women and Alcohol Research Equity Act of 1996 Title II: Services Subtitle A: Women's Health Office Act of 1996 Subtitle B: Genetic Information Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance Act of 1996 Subtitle C: Improved Patient Access to Clinical Studies Act of 1996 Subtitle D: Equitable Health Care for Neurobiological Disorders Act of 1996 Subtitle E: Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act Subtitle F: Insurance Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence Act Subtitle G: Domestic Violence Victims Insurance Protection Act of 1996 Subtitle H: Fairness to Minority Women Health Act Subtitle I: Adolescent Health Demonstration Projects Act Subtitle J: Eating Disorders Information and Education Act of 1996 Subtitle K: Women's Choice and Reproductive Health Protection Act of 1996 Subtitle L: Women's Right To Know Act of 1996 Subtitle M: International Population Stabilization and Reproductive Health Act Subtitle N: Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 1996 Subtitle O: Women and HIV Outreach and Prevention Act Subtitle P: Smoking Prevention and Cessation in WIC Clinics Act Subtitle Q: Comprehensive Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Act Subtitle R: Postreproductive Health Care Act Subtitle S: Family Caregiver Support and Protection Act of 1996 Subtitle T: Medicare Mammography Enhancement Act of 1996 Subtitle U: Medicare Bone Mass Measurement Standardization Act of 1996 Subtitle V: Osteoporosis and Related Bone Disorders Resource Center Act of 1996 Subtitle W: Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 1996 Women's Health Equity Act of 1996 - Title I: Untitled - Subtitle A: Breast Cancer Research Extension Act of 1996 - Breast Cancer Research Extension Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for breast cancer research. Subtitle B: HHS Women Scientists Employment Opportunity Act - HHS Women Scientist Employment Opportunity Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) establish policies for the Department of Health and Human Services on matters relating to the employment of women scientists; and (2) monitor compliance and take appropriate action if policies have been violated. Mandates implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force on the Status of NIH (National Institutes of Health) Intramural Women Scientists. Provides for a study and report on pay equity. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Women and AIDS Research Initiative Amendments of 1996 - Women and AIDS Research Initiative Amendments of 1996 - Mandates a program to conduct biomedical and behavioral research (directly or through grants) on cases of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in women. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: Women's Cardiovascular Diseases Research and Prevention Act - Women's Cardiovascular Diseases Research and Prevention Act - Mandates expansion, intensification, and coordination of research and related activities of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute with regard to cardiovascular diseases in women. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle E: Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases Research Act of 1996 - Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases Research Act of 1996 - Requires specified institutes of the National Institutes of Health to expand and intensify research on osteoporosis and related bone diseases. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Lupus Research Amendments of 1996 - Lupus Research Amendments of 1996 - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to expand and intensify research and related activities of the Institute with respect to lupus. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle G: Ovarian Cancer Research and Information Amendments of 1996 - Ovarian Cancer Research and Information Amendments of 1996 - Authorizes appropriations for research on ovarian cancer. Subtitle H: HPV Infection and Cervical Cancer Research Resolution of 1996 - HPV Infection and Cervical Cancer Research Resolution of 1996 - Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that, in conducting cervical cancer research, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases should collaborate in sponsoring basic and clinical research on human papilloma virus diagnosis and prevention as a risk of cervical cancer and, as applicable, develop screening techniques. Subtitle I: Office for Rare Disease Research Act of 1996 - Office for Rare Disease Research Act of 1996 - Establishes, in the National Institutes of Health, the Office for Rare Disease Research. Subtitle J: Federal Risk Assessment in Women's Health Act of 1996 - Federal Risk Assessment in Women's Health Act of 1996 - Directs the Office of Science and Technology Policy to conduct a review of all Federal programs that assess or mitigate the risks to women's health from environmental exposures. Provides for a study and report to the Congress. Subtitle K: Women's Health Environmental Factors Act of 1996 - Women's Health Environmental Factors Act of 1996 - Mandates a report to the Congress: (1) summarizing the body of scientific knowledge on environmental effects on women's health; and (2) specifying an agenda for the conduct and support of research. Subtitle L: Consumer Involvement in Breast Cancer Research Act - Consumer Involvement in Breast Cancer Research Act - Requires 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. Subtitle M: Women and Alcohol Research Equity Act of 1996 - Women and Alcohol Research Equity Act of 1996 - Requires that $44 million of the first $191 million appropriated to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism be obligated for research on alcohol abuse and alcoholism among women. Authorizes appropriations (in addition to the existing authorization of appropriations for the Institute) for such research regarding women. Title II: Services - Subtitle A: Women's Health Office Act of 1996 - Women's Health Office Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish an Office of (or on) Women's Health and a related coordinating committee in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, the Health Care Resources and Services Administration, and the Office of the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Amends the PHSA to establish a related advisory committee. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Genetic Information Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance Act of 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. Subtitle C: Improved Patient Access to Clinical Studies Act of 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. Subtitle D: Equitable Health Care for Neurobiological Disorders Act of 1996 - Equitable Health Care for Neurobiological Disorders Act of 1996 - States that the standards for the nondiscriminatory and equitable treatment by employer health benefit plans of individuals with neurobiological disorders require that such plans provide for coverage of services essential to the effective treatment of such disorders in a specified manner. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a noncompliance tax of up to 25 percent. Subtitle E: Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act - Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act - Prohibits insurers and health carriers from denying, terminating, or limiting coverage on the basis that the applicant or insured is, has been, or may be the subject of abuse involving household or family members, current or former spouses, or individuals in or formerly in a sexually intimate relationship. Requires an insurer that takes any adverse action relating to any plan or policy of an abuse subject (whether applicant or insured) to advise such individual of the specific reasons for the action. Subtitle F: Insurance Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence Act - Insurance Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to create a new title prohibiting health insurers from discriminating against an individual or group because the individual or a family member is the subject of abuse. Mandates development of model standards. Provides for application the amendments made by this subtitle to specified provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Subtitle G: Domestic Violence Victims Insurance Protection Act of 1996 - Domestic Violence Victims Insurance Protection Act of 1996 - Prohibits insurers from denying or cancelling insurance coverage for individuals solely on the basis that the individual is or has been the subject of an act of domestic violence. Subtitle H: Fairness to Minority Women Health Act - Fairness to Minority Women Health Act - Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act and the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to exempt aliens and their children from provisions attributing to the alien the income and resources of the sponsor and the sponsor's spouse if the alien is battered by, or the subject of extreme cruelty by, the person who executed the affidavit of support or similar agreement regarding the alien. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to prohibit payments to States for obstetrical or gynecological services unless the hospital, clinic, or provider has available at least one individual who is able to communicate in the predominant language used by residents of the area. Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow grants (under existing provisions) for family planning projects only if the service providers under the grant have at least one such individual. Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to prohibit making funds available under the Act unless providers of shelter or related assistance have at least one such individual. Subtitle I: Adolescent Health Demonstration Projects Act - Adolescent Health Demonstration Projects Act - Mandates grants for the establishment or support of adolescent health demonstration projects. Prohibits using grant funds to perform or pay for abortions. Subtitle J: Eating Disorders Information and Education Act of 1996 - Eating Disorders Information and Education Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for a program of information and education to the public concerning the prevention and treatment of eating disorders. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle K: Women's Choice and Reproductive Health Protection Act of 1996 - Women's Choice and Reproductive Health Protection Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to authorize appropriations for population research and family planning programs. Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit any government authority from limiting the right of any individual to provide or receive nonfraudulent information about the availability of reproductive health care services. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) assure that the Food and Drug Administration evaluates the drug Mifepristone or RU 486; and (2) assess initiatives by which the Department of Health and Human Services can promote the testing, licensing, and manufacturing of the drug Mifepristone or other antiprogestins in the United States. Prohibits Federal law from being construed to prohibit health insurance providers from offering coverage for any reproductive health care services, including abortion services. Amends Federal law to provide that the performance of an abortion in a facility of the uniformed services located outside the 48 contiguous States of the United States is not prohibited, provided specific requirements are met. Subtitle L: Women's Right To Know Act of 1996 - Women's Right To Know Act of 1996 - Amends title XI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit a governmental authority, in or through any program or activity that provides health care services or information, from limiting the right of any person to provide or to receive nonfraudulent information about the availability of reproductive health care services, including family planning, prenatal care, adoption, and abortion services. Subtitle M: International Population Stabilization and Reproductive Health Act - International Population Stabilization and Reproductive Health Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to set forth population assistance authorities and requirements. Authorizes appropriations for voluntary population planning under existing provisions. Makes development assistance available on a priority basis for countries which have agreed to address specific education, literacy, and health issues. Authorizes the President to establish a grant program, to be known as the Safe Motherhood Initiative, to improve the access of girls and women to reproductive health care services. Authorizes appropriations for the Child Survival Fund, the Safe Motherhood Initiative, and for research on, and treatment and control of, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in developing countries. Subtitle N: Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 1996 - Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 1996 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit and set penalties for knowingly circumcising, excising, or infibulating any part of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris of another person who has not attained age 18, subject to medical exceptions. Subtitle O: Women and HIV Outreach and Prevention Act - Women and HIV Outreach and Prevention Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants, with regard to women (and their partners) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), for preventive health services, referrals, follow-ups, outreach, and training on the effective provision of such services. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes grants to provide HIV prevention education to women. Sets forth requirements regarding the composition of Planning Councils. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to provide: (1) substance abuse treatment to women; (2) counseling to women who engage in substance abuse on the prevention of infection with, and the transmission of, the etiologic agent for AIDS; and (3) such counseling to women who are the partners of individuals who abuse substances. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations for grants under existing provisions to provide early intervention services for women and related technical assistance. Subtitle P: Smoking Prevention and Cessation in WIC Clinics Act - Smoking Prevention and Cessation in WIC Clinics Act - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require the State agency responsible for nutrition education and drug abuse education to establish a smoking cessation demonstration program for pregnant participants. Subtitle Q: Comprehensive Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Act - Comprehensive Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish: (1) a program for the conduct and support of research and training, the dissemination of health information, and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects; and (2) the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Subtitle R: Postreproductive Health Care Act - Postreproductive Health Care Act - Mandates grants for: (1) prevention and outpatient treatment of, and counseling for, health conditions unique to, more serious, or more prevalent for women of menopausal age or older, or for which the medical risk or types of medical intervention are different; and (2) related education and training of health professionals. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle S: Family Caregiver Support and Protection Act of 1996 - Family Caregiver Support and Protection Act of 1996 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage for respite care services, defined as companion or homemaker services, personal assistance, community day services, or temporary residential care furnished on a short-term, intermittent, or emergency basis. Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to deductions for medical care to include qualified long-term care services as medical care. Subtitle T: Medicare Mammography Enhancement Act of 1996 - Medicare Mammography Enhancement Act of 1996 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise requirements regarding the coverage of mammograms. Subtitle U: Medicare Bone Mass Measurement Standardization Act of 1996 - Medicare Bone Mass Measurement Standardization Act of 1996 - Provides for Medicare coverage of bone mass measurements. Subtitle V: Osteoporosis and Related Bone Disorders Resource Center Act of 1996 - Osteoporosis and Related Bone Disorders Resource Center Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations, in addition to other authorizations of appropriations, for the establishment and operation of a clearinghouse on osteoporosis and related bone disorders. Subtitle W: Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 1996 - Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 1996 - Amends Federal law relating to veterans' benefits to include women's health services in the definition of "medical services." Sets forth requirements concerning studies and reports.
Bill· HRH.R. 3175 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1996
Women and Alcohol Research Equity Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require that $44 million of the first $191 million appropriated to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism be obligated for research on alcohol abuse and alcoholism among women. Authorizes appropriations (in addition to the existing authorization of appropriations for the Institute) for such research regarding women.
Bill· HRH.R. 3176 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1996
Women and AIDS Research Initiative Amendments of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to mandate a program to conduct biomedical and behavioral research (directly or through grants) on cases of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in women. Sets forth requirements regarding the existing Women's Interagency HIV Study. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 3174 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1996
Women and HIV Outreach and Prevention Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants, with regard to women (and their partners) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), for preventive health services, referrals, follow-ups, outreach, and training on the effective provision of such services. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes grants to provide HIV prevention education to women. Sets forth requirements regarding the composition of Planning Councils. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to provide: (1) substance abuse treatment to women; (2) counseling to women who engage in substance abuse on the prevention of infection with, and the transmission of, the etiologic agent for AIDS; and (3) such counseling to women who are the partners of individuals who abuse substances. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations for grants under existing provisions to provide early intervention services for women and related technical assistance.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 392 (104th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1996
Sets forth the modified closed rule for the consideration of H.R. 3103 (health insurance coverage, health care fraud and abuse prevention, tax-related health provisions, revenue offsets).
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 156 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1996
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases should collaborate on research on the human papillomavirus and its relation to cervical cancer.
Bill· HRH.R. 3160 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Improved Availability and Portability of Health Insurance Coverage Subtitle A: Coverage Under Group Health Plans Subtitle B: Certain Requirements for Insurers and HMOs in the Group and Individual Markets Subtitle C: Affordable and Available Health Coverage Through Multiple Employer Pooling Arrangements Subtitle D: Definitions; General Provisions Title II: Preventing Health Care Fraud and Abuse; Administrative Simplifications; Medical Liability Reform Subtitle A: Fraud and Abuse Control Program Subtitle B: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse Subtitle C: Data Collection Subtitle D: Civil Monetary Penalties Subtitle E: Revisions to Criminal Subtitle F: Administrative Simplification Subtitle G: Duplication and Coordination of Medicare-Related Plans Subtitle H: Medical Liability Reform Title III: Tax-Related Health Provisions Subtitle A: Medical Savings Accounts Subtitle B: Increase in Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals Subtitle C: Long-Term Care Services and Contracts Subtitle D: Treatment of Accelerated Death Benefits Subtitle E: High-Risk Pools Subtitle F: Organizations Subject to Section 833 Title IV: Revenue Offsets Subtitle A: Repeal of Bad Debt Reserve Method for Thrift Savings Associations Subtitle B: Reform of the Earned Income Credit Subtitle C: Treatment of Individuals Who Lose United States Citizenship Health Coverage Availability and Affordability Act of 1996 - Title I: Improved Availability and Portability of Health Insurance Coverage - Subtitle A: Coverage Under Group Health Plans - Requires a group health plan and an insurer or health maintenance organization (HMO) offering health insurance in connection with a group health plan to: (1) reduce any preexisting condition period by the aggregate period of prior coverage; and (2) limit any preexisting condition period to not more than 12 months. Prohibits: (1) preexisting condition periods for newborns and regarding certain adoptions; and (2) treating pregnancy as a preexisting condition. Allows an HMO that does not use preexisting condition limitations to: (1) impose an eligibility period; and (2) use alternative methods to address adverse selection as approved by a State authority. (Sec. 103) Prohibits coverage exclusion and premium or contribution discrimination on the basis of health status. Requires a plan to allow an otherwise-eligible employee to enroll if the employee previously declined enrollment because of other coverage and subsequently lost the other coverage. Prohibits, if a plan offers family coverage, a waiting period for a newborn, certain adopted children, or a spouse. (Sec. 104) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on any failure of a group health plan to meet certain requirements of this Act. Deems sections 101 through 103 of this subtitle and subtitle D as it is applicable to those sections to be provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Provides for civil money penalties for failure to meet a requirement of this subtitle. Subtitle B: Certain Requirements for Insurers and HMOs in the Group and Individual Markets - Part 1: Availability of Group Health Insurance Coverage - Requires each insurer or HMO that offers health insurance coverage in the small group market in a State to accept every applying small employer and every applying eligible individual. Allows minimum participation or contribution rules. (Sec. 132) Requires an insurer or HMO that offers coverage in the small or large group market to renew or continue the coverage at the option of the employer, except for nonpayment of premiums, fraud, and similar reasons. Allows uniform termination or modification of coverage. Part 2: Availability of Individual Health Insurance Coverage - Requires each insurer or HMO that issues individual health insurance to offer coverage to each individual who previously had group coverage. Prohibits declining issuance based on health status. Allows superseding State mechanisms reasonably designed to meet the goals of guaranteeing coverage to qualifying individuals and assuring that the individuals receive credit for prior coverage toward the new coverage's preexisting condition exclusion period. (Sec. 142) Mandates renewal or continuation of individual coverage, except for nonpayment of premiums, fraud, or similar matters. Part 3: Enforcement - Applies the civil money penalty provisions of section 104 of this Act to parts 1 and 2. Subtitle C: Affordable and Available Health Coverage Through Multiple Employer Pooling Arrangements - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to set forth rules regarding multiple employer health plans. Treats a multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) under which the benefits consist solely of medical care, and under which some or all benefits are not fully insured, as an employee welfare benefit plan that is a health plan. Provides for the treatment of such arrangements under preemption rules. Regulates reserves, notice regarding voluntary termination, and corrective actions and mandatory termination. (Sec. 166) Provides for the treatment of church plans. (Sec. 167) Provides for enforcement through civil monetary penalties, injunctions, and criminal penalties, as well as Federal- State cooperation in enforcement. (Sec. 169) Requires each MEWA to register before beginning operations and annually thereafter. (Sec. 170) Provides for a single annual report regarding all employers participating in a MEWA. Subtitle D: Definitions; General Provisions - Excludes church plans from the requirements of this title as they apply to group health plans. Allows governmental plans to elect not to be subject to such requirements. Requires treatment as group health plans of State Medicaid (unless a State elects otherwise) and Medicare plans and Indian Health Service programs for individual coverage certification purposes. Provides for the treatment of partnerships. Title II: Preventing Health Care Fraud and Abuse; Administrative Simplification; Medical Liability Reform - 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 provisions of SSA and other Acts applicable to health care fraud and abuse; (4) provide for the modification and establishment of safe harbors and to issue advisory opinions and special fraud alerts; and (5) 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 title. (Sec. 201) Establishes the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account (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 resulting from such cases, and other specified amounts for financing the program above and the Medicare Integrity Program established by this title. Makes certain appropriations to the Trust Fund and Account, earmarking certain amounts for activities of the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (IG) with respect to the Medicare and Medicaid programs under SSA titles XVIII and XIX. (Sec. 202) Establishes under Medicare the Medicare Integrity Program under which the HHS Secretary shall promote the integrity of the Medicare program by entering into contracts with certain eligible private entities to: (1) review the activities of service providers under Medicare and audit cost reports to determine whether payment should not have been made; (2) educate service providers, beneficiaries, and other persons with respect to payment and benefit issues; and (3) develop and periodically update a list of items of durable medical equipment which are subject to prior authorization. Prohibits fiscal intermediaries under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) and carriers under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) from carrying out certain activities to the extent the activity is carried out pursuant to a contract under the Medicare Integrity Program. (Sec. 203) 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 to an individual without regard to whether or not a deductible or coinsurance may be imposed. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish a program for encouraging individuals to: (1) report information on fraud and abuse under Medicare; 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. 204) Amends SSA title XI to require application of criminal penalties for acts involving the Medicare program to similar violations of any plan or program that provides health benefits, whether directly, through insurance, or otherwise, which is funded directly, in whole or in part, by the Federal Government, except the Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program (Federal health care programs). (Sec. 205) Directs the HHS Secretary to periodically publish a notice 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 serve as the basis for an exclusion; (3) advisory opinions by the HHS IG with regard to prohibited remuneration constituting grounds for the imposition of a sanction; 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 the Secretary to issue appropriate 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. 212) Revises specified current sanctions involving exclusion for fraud and abuse under Medicare and State health care programs, among other changes establishing minimum periods of exclusion for: (1) certain individuals and entities subject to permissive exclusion from Medicare and State health care programs; and (2) practitioners and persons failing to meet certain statutory obligations with regard to services or items. Repeals the prerequisite that a health care practitioner or person be determined "unwilling or unable" to comply substantially with a corrective action plan before sanctions may be imposed (thus permitting the 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. 215) Permits the imposition of intermediate sanctions on Medicare health maintenance organizations in addition to the current option of termination. Provides additional intermediate sanctions for miscellaneous program violations. (Sec. 216) Provides an additional exception to anti-kickback penalties for discounting and managed care arrangements. (Sec. 217) Establishes a criminal penalty for fraudulent disposition of assets in order to obtain Medicaid benefits. Subtitle C: Data Collection - 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. 221) Allows the HHS Secretary, under the system for unique identifiers for Medicare physicians, to impose appropriate fees on such physicians to cover the costs of investigation and recertification activities with respect to the issuance of the identifiers. Subtitle D: Civil Monetary Penalties - Revises civil monetary penalties, providing among other changes for: (1) the exclusion from participation in Federal and State health care programs of persons subject to penalties and assessments for applicable program violations; (2) modifications in the amounts of various specified penalties and assessments, including the sanctions against health care practitioners who violate their statutory obligations with regard to the services or items ordered or provided by them to a covered beneficiary or recipient; (3) a prohibition against offering inducements to individuals enrolled under Medicare or a State health care program; (4) subjecting to civil money penalties certain excluded individuals retaining an ownership or control interest in a participating entity if they knew or should have known of the action constituting the basis for the exclusion of such entity at the time of violation; (5) a specific definition, for such penalty purposes, for remuneration which includes the waiver of coinsurance and deductible amounts and transfers of items or services for free or for other than fair market value; and (6) a penalty for false certification for home health services. Subtitle E: Revisions to Criminal Law - Amends the Federal criminal code to define a Federal health care offense and to cover within the general purview of the code health care fraud, theft or embezzlement in connection with health care, obstruction of criminal investigations of health care offenses, and other specified matters related to health care fraud, such as the laundering of monetary instruments. (Sec. 247) Provides for injunctive relief relating to covered health care offenses, as well as for property forfeitures. Subtitle F: Administrative Simplification - Amends SSA title XI to add a new part C (Administrative Simplification) for development of an electronic system for: (1) processing health care information consistent with the goal of improving the operation of the overall health care system; and (2) reducing related administrative costs through the HHS Secretary's adoption of certain standards for information transactions (including enrollment, disenrollment, claims attachments, and coordination of benefits) and data elements as well as standards relating to security and privacy, and performance of tasks pursuant to specified requirements, assisted by the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics. (Sec. 252) Provides penalties for violations of provisions of this subtitle, including for the wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information. (Sec. 253) Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for a change in the membership and duties of the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics, including responsibility for advising the HHS Secretary and the Congress on the implementation of SSA title XI part C added above. Subtitle G: Duplication and Coordination of Medicare-Related Plans - Provides for the treatment of certain health insurance policies as nonduplicative under Medicare or Medicaid, such as policies providing for benefits which are payable to or on behalf of an individual without regard to other health benefit coverage of such individual. Subtitle H: Medical Liability Reform - Outlines various specified measures addressing health care liability issues, including changes establishing: (1) limitations for health care liability actions brought in a State or Federal court against a health care provider; (2) a limitation on the total amount of noneconomic damages which may be awarded to a claimant for losses resulting from an injury; (3) certain restrictions on punitive damage awards; and (4) standards for alternative dispute resolution used to resolve a health care liability action or claim. Title III: Tax-Related Health Provisions - Subtitle A: Medical Savings Accounts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for limited amounts paid to a medical savings account (MSA). Defines "medical savings account" as a trust for paying the account holder's medical expenses. Exempts an MSA from taxation unless it has ceased being an MSA. Provides for the treatment of distributions. Allows the MSA deduction to be taken whether or not the individual itemizes deductions. Excludes limited employer MSA contributions from employee gross income. Excludes employer MSA contributions from provisions relating to social security, railroad retirement, unemployment, and withholding taxes. Makes MSA contributions unavailable under cafeteria plans. Excludes MSAs from the value of taxable estates. Imposes a tax on excess MSA contributions. Exempts an MSA holder from prohibited transactions taxes if the MSA ceases to be an MSA. Imposes a penalty on MSA reporting failure. Exempts MSAs from the definition of "specified insurance contract" for provisions relating to capitalization of certain policy acquisition expenses. Subtitle B: Increase in Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals - Allows self-employed individuals to deduct a portion of their expenditures for medical insurance for the individual, spouse, and dependents. Subtitle C: Long-Term Care Services and Contracts - Part I: General Provisions - Requires treating: (1) a long-term care insurance as accident and health insurance and associated amounts received as received for personal injuries and sickness and as reimbursement for medical care expenses actually incurred; (2) an employer's plan providing long-term care as an accident and health plan; (3) limited amounts paid for such insurance as payments for medical care; and (4) such insurance as guaranteed renewable under specified provisions. Provides for the treatment of: (1) excess aggregate long-term care payments; and (2) long-term care coverage provided in conjunction with life insurance. Excludes long-term care from cafeteria plans. Includes in an employee's gross income employer-provided long-term care overage provided through a flexible spending arrangement. Declares that a group health plan does not fail to meet continuation requirements solely because it fails to provide long-term coverage. (Sec. 322) Amends the definition of "medical care" (for provisions allowing a deduction for medical care expenses) to include qualified long-term care services. (Sec. 323) Imposes reporting requirements on long-term care benefit payors. Part II: Consumer Protection Provisions - Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the model regulation and model Act promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; and (2) certain disclosure and nonforfeitability requirements. (Sec. 326) Imposes a tax the failure to meet requirements regarding: (1) the model regulation and model Act; (2) policy or certificate delivery; and (3) claims denials information. Subtitle D: Treatment of Accelerated Death Benefits - Treats life insurance amounts paid as an amount paid because of death if the insured is terminally or chronically ill and the amount is received under a provision that is treated as long-term care insurance. Treats the amount paid by a viatical settlement provider for a life insurance contract as an amount paid by reason of the death of the insured. (Sec. 332) Treats, for life insurance company provisions, references to life insurance contracts as including references to accelerated death benefit riders (unless a rider is treated as a long-term care contract). Subtitle E: High-Risk Pools - Exempts from taxation a State-established membership organization providing nonprofit medical care coverage to high risk individuals. Subtitle F: Organizations Subject to Section 833 - Allows (for provisions affording a special deduction) an organization that is not a blue cross or blue shield (BCBS) organization to be treated as if it were a BCBS organization if it is not for profit and meets other requirements. Title IV: Revenue Offsets - Subtitle A: Repeal of Bad Debt Reserve Method for Thrift Savings Associations - Declares that bad debt reserve banking provisions shall not apply after a specified date. Provides for the resulting accounting method change. Subtitle B: Reform of the Earned Income Credit - Requires, in order to be eligible for the earned income credit (EIC), that a taxpayer include on the return the taxpayer's (and, if married, the spouse's) social security number (SSN). Adds to the definition of "mathematical or clerical error" references to omission of a SSN required by EIC provisions. Subtitle C: Treatment of Individuals Who Lose United States Citizenship - Requires that individuals who lose U.S. citizenship and who meet specified criteria be treated (for income, estate, and gift tax provisions) as having a principal purpose to avoid taxes. Requires, for these purposes, treating long-term U.S. residents who cease being permanent U.S. residents or begin being the resident of a foreign country as if they were U.S. citizens who lost U.S. citizenship. (Sec. 422) Requires a person who loses U.S. citizenship or ceases to be a long-term U.S. resident to provide a statement with specified contents. (Sec. 423) Mandates a report to specified congressional committees on income tax compliance by citizens and lawful permanent U.S. residents residing outside the United States.
Bill· SS. 1639 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996
Requires the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary) to enter into an agreement to carry out a demonstration project under which the HHS Secretary reimburses the Secretary on a capitated basis, from the Medicare Program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, for certain health care services provided by the Secretary to Medicare-eligible military beneficiaries through the TRICARE Program (a managed health care program of the Department of Defense). Outlines project requirements. Requires annual joint reports from the Secretaries to the Congress on the demonstration project. Directs the Comptroller General, at the end of each year in which the project is carried out, to determine and submit to the Congress a report on the extent, if any, to which the costs of the Secretary under the TRICARE Program and the HHS Secretary under the Medicare Program have increased as a result of the project.
Bill· HRH.R. 3142 (104th)reported
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996
Uniformed Services Medicare Subvention Demonstration Project Act - Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Health and Human Services (HHS) to jointly establish a demonstration project (project) to provide the Department of Defense (DOD) with reimbursement, under provisions of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, for health services provided through DOD to certain Medicare-eligible covered military beneficiaries. Requires the project to be conducted in one or more regions in which the TRICARE program (a DOD managed health care program) has been implemented. Allows such project to be conducted for up to two years. Requires such Secretaries to jointly submit to the Congress a first annual report and a final report containing specified information concerning project participants and such project's effects on military medical care access, readiness, and training. Directs the HHS Secretary to make monthly payments to DOD from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund (HHS trust funds) representing appropriate reimbursement amounts. Provides for the determination of such amounts. Directs such Secretaries to jointly: (1) establish a base level of TRICARE coverage required in a geographic region for eligibility under the project; (2) determine baseline costs of such care and coverage; and (3) establish upper reimbursement limits. Directs the Secretary of Defense to waive the enrollment fee for individuals enrolled in a TRICARE program participating in the project. Establishes in the Treasury the Medicare Subvention Fund (Fund) for providing payments to the HHS Secretary for reimbursement of the HHS trust funds and for the payment of all expenses related to the participation of Medicare-eligible covered military beneficiaries in excess of the base level established under this Act, as well as administrative expenses. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1997 and 1998 for deposit into the Fund to carry out the purposes of this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 3145 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996
Insurance Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to create a new title prohibiting health insurers from: (1) discriminating against an individual or group because the individual or a family member is the subject of domestic violence; or (2) disclosing or being compelled (subject to exception) to disclose information concerning the status of an individual as a victim of domestic violence. Mandates development of model standards. Requires each State to report on its implementation actions and, where States fail to act, provides for Federal enforcement involving civil fines against insurers and a Federal private right of action. Provides for application of this Act to specified provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
Bill· HRH.R. 3151 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996
Medicare Subvention Fairness Act - Requires the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary) to enter into an agreement to carry out a demonstration project under which the HHS Secretary reimburses the Secretary on a capitated basis, from the Medicare Program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, for certain health care services provided by the Secretary to Medicare-eligible military beneficiaries through the TRICARE Program (a managed health care program of the Department of Defense). Outlines project requirements. Requires annual joint reports from the Secretaries to the Congress on the demonstration project. Directs the Comptroller General, at the end of each year in which the project is carried out, to determine and submit to the Congress a report on the extent, if any, to which the costs of the Secretary under the TRICARE Program and the HHS Secretary under the Medicare Program have increased as a result of the project.
Bill· HRH.R. 3149 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996
Terminally Ill Access to Treatment Act of 1996 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to approve, for treating the terminally ill only, drugs and devices that have not received final approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and that have not been shown to be unsafe. Declares that it is not illegal for a health care practitioner to administer a drug or device approved under this Act to a terminally ill patient if the practitioner has notified the patient that the drug or device is not FDA-approved and is experimental and if the practitioner has received written approval from the patient or the patient's representative. Requires a practitioner to report acute harm done by such a drug or device. Requires the Secretary to give public notice of the benefits and harm caused by such a drug or device.
Bill· HRH.R. 3148 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996
Mandates a payment to the State of New Jersey to cover New Jersey's expenditures: (1) establishing and operating a program to track residents of Toms River, New Jersey, to determine the number of cancer cases associated with that area; and (2) conducting an epidemiological study on the cancer incidence in Toms River. Limits the total dollar amount of payments. Prohibits payments two years after enactment of this Act.
Law· HRH.R. 3136 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Social Security Earnings Limitation Amendments Title II: Line Item Veto Title III: Small Business Regulatory Fairness Subtitle A: Regulatory Compliance Simplification Subtitle B: Regulatory Enforcement Reforms Subtitle C: Strengthening Regulatory Flexibility Subtitle D: Congressional Review Title IV: Public Debt Limit Contract with America Advancement Act of 1996 - Title I: Social Security Earnings Limitation Amendments - Senior Citizens' Right to Work Act of 1996 - Amends title II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to provide, through adjustments in the monthly exempt amount, for increases in the amounts of allowable earnings under the Social Security earnings limit for individuals who have attained retirement age. Retains the current limit on substantial gainful activity earnings applicable to individuals under age 65 who are eligible for disability benefits based on blindness. (Sec. 103) Authorizes making funds available from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund (OASI Fund) and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (DI Fund) for continuing disability reviews. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to regulate adjustments, new budget authority, and additional outlays related to the disability reviews. Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to mandate actions by the Budget Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives regarding adjustments and additional outlays related to the disability reviews. Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to ensure that continuing disability review funds are used to maximize savings in the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance, supplemental security income, and Medicare and Medicaid (titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act) programs. Directs the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration (SSA) to estimate annually the present value of savings to the OASI Fund, the DI Fund, the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund (HI Fund), and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund (SMI Fund) from cessation of benefit payments resulting from continuing disability reviews. Modifies the information required to be included in a specified annual report regarding amounts transferred to the Continuing Disability Review Administration Revolving Account in the DI Fund. Terminates the Continuing Disability Review Administration Revolving Account at the end of FY 2002, requiring that any balance in the Account revert to the DI Fund. Provides for appointment by the Commissioner of a Chief Actuary in the SSA. (Sec. 104) Bases entitlement of stepchildren to child's insurance benefits solely on their actual dependency on stepparent support. Repeals the requirement that the stepchild actually be living with the stepparent. Requires termination of any child's insurance benefits based on the wages and self-employment income of the stepparent after the natural parent's divorce from the stepparent becomes final. (Sec. 105) Provides that an individual shall not be considered to be disabled for OASDI purposes, or for supplemental security income (SSI) purposes under title XVI of the Act (thus denying them benefits), if alcoholism or drug addiction would be a contributing factor material to the determination of disability. (Continues disability benefits based on a separate disabling condition to individuals also disabled by drug addiction or alcoholism.) Requires the payment of OASDI or SSI benefits based on disability to a representative payee if such payment would serve the interest of an individual who also has an alcoholism or drug addiction condition and the individual is incapable of managing the benefits. Requires the Commissioner to refer such individual to the appropriate State agency administering the approved State plan for substance abuse treatment services. Appropriates additional specified amounts to supplement State and Tribal alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs funded under the Public Health Service Act. Requires State or Tribal governments receiving such an allotment to consider as priorities activities relating to the treatment of the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. (Sec. 106) Mandates a pilot study regarding providing individualized information to benefit recipients designed to promote better understanding of their contributions and benefits. (Sec. 107) Prohibits any U.S. officer or employee, with regard to the OASI, DI, HI and SMI Funds, from delaying any deposit or credit, refraining from investment in public debt obligations, or redeeming prior to maturity amounts invested in public debt obligations. (Sec. 108) Mandates appointment of three professional staff members of the Social Security Advisory Board, requiring that one of the three be appointed from individuals approved by Board members who are not members of the political party represented by the majority of the Board. Title II: Line Item Veto - Line Item Veto Act - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to cancel in whole any: (1) dollar amount of discretionary budget authority; (2) item of new direct spending; or (3) limited tax benefit. Requires the President to notify the Congress within five days. Makes the cancellation effective on Congressional receipt of the message. Requires the Office of Management and Budget to take certain actions: (1) for each dollar amount of discretionary budget authority and new direct spending cancelled regarding certain estimates and discretionary spending limits; (2) for each item of new direct spending or limited tax benefit cancelled regarding certain estimates; and (3) regarding providing estimates to the Budget Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Mandates a congressional review period of 30 days on which both Houses of the Congress are in session. Regulates procedures for consideration of disapproval bills. Requires the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) to review any revenue or reconciliation bill or joint resolution that includes any amendment to the Internal Revenue Code that is being prepared for filing by a conference committee and to provide the conference committee a statement identifying those benefits or declaring that the bill or resolution does not contain any such benefits. Allows the bill or resolution, as reported from the conference committee, to include in a separate section the information in that statement. Limits, if that section is included, the President's cancelling authority to any benefit identified in that section. Prohibits judicial review of the JCT statement or its inclusion. (Sec. 203) Allows any Member of Congress or any individual adversely affected by specified provisions of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to bring an action in U.S. district court for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief on the ground of unconstitutionality. Makes a resulting order reviewable by appeal directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. Requires expediting by the district court and the Supreme Court. Title III: Small Business Regulatory Fairness - Small Business Growth and Fairness Act of 1996 - Subtitle A: Regulatory Compliance Simplification - States that for each rule or group of related rules for which an agency is required to prepare a final regulatory flexibility analysis, the agency shall publish one or more guides to assist small entities (businesses) in complying. Designates such publications as small entity compliance guides. Requires such guides to be provided through comprehensive sources of information. Limits judicial review with respect to the designation of such guides. (Sec. 313) Provides that, whenever appropriate, it shall be the practice of the agency to answer inquiries by small entities concerning information on and advice about compliance with statutes and regulations. Requires each agency regulating the activities of small entities to establish a program for responding to such inquiries within one year after enactment of this Act. (Sec. 314) Amends the Small Business Act to require small business development centers to provide assistance to small businesses concerning regulatory requirements and to develop informational publications, establish resource centers, and distribute compliance guides. (Sec. 315) Authorizes agencies to develop guides that fully integrate requirements of both Federal and State regulations where regulations within such agency's area of interest impact small businesses. Subtitle B: Regulatory Enforcement Reforms - Requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to designate a Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman to: (1) ensure that small businesses that receive an audit, on-site inspection, compliance assistance effort, or other enforcement action are given a means to comment on such enforcement activity; (2) establish means to receive comments from small businesses regarding enforcement actions; (3) report annually to the Congress and affected agencies on such comments; (4) provide affected agencies with an opportunity to comment on such reports; and (5) report annually to the SBA and the heads of affected agencies on activities, findings, and recommendations of the Boards. Directs the SBA to establish a Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board (Board) in each SBA regional office. Requires each Board to: (1) meet at least annually and report to the Ombudsman on instances of excessive enforcement actions taken against small businesses; (2) comment on the annual report of the Ombudsman; and (3) consist of owners, operators, or officers of small entities. (Sec. 322) Requires each agency regulating the activities of small entities to establish, within one year of enactment of this Act, a policy or program to provide for the reduction and possible waiver of civil penalties for violations by a small entity of a statutory or regulatory requirement. Provides policy or program conditions and exclusions. Requires each such agency to report to the Congress on the scope of its program or policy. Subtitle C: Strengthening Regulatory Flexibility - Revises judicial review procedures for small entities adversely affected or aggrieved by agency regulatory actions or requirements. (Sec. 332) Directs a regulatory agency, at least 30 days before publication of a general notice of proposed rulemaking, to transmit to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA a copy of the proposed rule and either: (1) a copy of the initial regulatory flexibility analysis for such rule; or (2) a determination that such an analysis is not required. Authorizes the Chief Counsel to transmit to such agency a written statement of the effect of such rule on small entities. Allows the agency to respond to such written statement. (Sec. 333) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Chief Counsel should be permitted to appear as amicus curiae in any U.S. action or case brought to review a rule. Subtitle D: Congressional Review - Provides that before a rule can take effect as a final rule, the Federal agency promulgating such rule shall submit to each House of Congress and the Comptroller General a report containing: (1) a copy of the rule; (2) a concise general statement of the rule; and (3) its proposed effective date. Requires such agency to make available to the Comptroller General and, upon request, to each House of Congress certain other relevant information, including a cost-benefit analysis of the rule. Directs the Comptroller General to report on each significant rule to the committees of jurisdiction of each House of Congress. Makes a major rule effective as a final rule on the latter of the date 60 days after: (1) the Congress receives the report on such rule; or (2) the rule is published in the Federal Register. Prohibits: (1) a rule from taking effect if the Congress passes a joint resolution of disapproval under procedures prescribed in this Act; or (2) a rejected rule from being reissued in substantially the same form. Authorizes the President to waive such a resolution if he determines, and notifies the Congress in writing, that the waiver is necessary: (1) because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency; (2) for the enforcement of criminal laws; (3) for national security; or (4) pursuant to any statute implementing an international trade agreement. Outlines the procedure for the congressional treatment of rules issued 60 days or earlier before the Congress adjourns a session. Provides transition rules for rules issued before the enactment of this title. Provides congressional rule disapproval procedures. Provides that, in the case of any deadline for or relating to any rule which does not take effect because of the enactment of a congressional joint resolution, such deadline is extended until one year after the enactment date of such resolution. Defines "major rule" for purposes of this section as a rule having an annual economic effect of $100 million or more, resulting in a major increase in costs or prices, or having a significant adverse effect on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S. companies to compete with foreign companies. Prohibits judicial review of determinations made under this title. States that the congressional review procedures of this title shall not apply to rules that concern monetary policy proposed or implemented by the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Open Market Committee. Allows the promulgating Federal agency to determine the effective date for any rule that establishes, modifies, opens, closes, or conducts a regulatory program for a commercial, recreational, or subsistence activity related to hunting, fishing, or camping. Title IV: Public Debt Limit - Amends Federal law to increase the public debt limit to $5.5 trillion.
Bill· HRH.R. 3138 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1996
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the time limitation on benefits for immunosuppressive drugs under the Medicare program.
Bill· SS. 1630 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act - Prohibits insurers and health carriers from engaging in specified acts (such as denying, terminating, or limiting coverage) on the basis that the applicant or insured (or any person with whom the applicant or insured is associated) is, has been, or may be the subject of abuse involving household or family members, current or former spouses, or individuals in or formerly in a sexually intimate relationship. Prohibits insurers from using, disclosing, or transferring information about an applicant's or insured's abuse status or abuse-related medical condition for any purpose unrelated to the direct provision of health care unless required by an order of an insurance regulatory entity, a court order, or abuse reporting laws. Requires an insurer that takes any adverse action relating to any plan or policy of an abuse subject (whether applicant or insured) to advise such individual of the specific reasons for the action. Regulates subrogation of claims resulting from abuse. Empowers the Federal Trade Commission to examine and investigate any insurer regarding compliance with this Act. Provides for a private cause of action against the insurer in Federal or State court by an abuse subject applicant or insured claiming to be adversely affected by an act or practice of the insurer.
Law· HRH.R. 3118 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide hospital care and medical services to, among others, any veteran: (1) with a compensable service-connected disability (currently, for any service-connected disability, regardless of compensation); or (2) who is unable to defray the expenses of necessary medical care and services. Authorizes the Secretary, with respect to veterans not otherwise eligible for such care and services, to furnish hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care which the Secretary determines is needed. (Sec. 3) Repeals the requirement that veterans be eligible to receive hospital care through the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to receive surgical, dental, optometric, and podiatric services, but requires such eligibility before receiving certain prosthetic appliances as well as special clothing necessitated by the wearing of such appliances. (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary, in managing the provision of hospital care and medical services, to establish and operate a system of annual patient enrollment, with specified priorities relating to the degree of disability of a veteran and related factors. Requires the Secretary to design, establish, and manage Department health care programs so as to promote cost-effective delivery of health care services in the most clinically appropriate setting. Authorizes the Secretary to contract out when Department medical facilities are not capable of economically furnishing such care and services. Requires the Department to maintain its capacity to provide for the specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans, with at least the same capacity to provide such services as in existence on the date of enactment of this Act. (Sec. 5) Repeals a provision of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 which terminates on October 1, 1996, the authority of the Secretary to enter into agreements with the Secretary of Defense for the sharing of medical facilities and resources. Empowers the United States to collect from primary health providers of covered beneficiaries the charges for care or services covered under the primary health-plan contract which are provided through the Department. (Sec. 6) Repeals a statement of congressional purpose with respect to entering into health care resources sharing agreements with medical schools, health-care facilities, and medical research centers. Makes eligible as additional parties to such agreements health-care plans and providers, insurers, and other entities or individuals. Repeals a requirement of reciprocal reimbursement under such agreements. Allows the provision of services under such agreements to non-veterans only if the Secretary determines that such an arrangement will not result in the denial of or delay in the provision of care to any veteran in that facility and either: (1) is necessary to maintain an acceptable level and quality of service to veterans at that facility; or (2) will result in the improvement of services to eligible veterans there. (Sec. 7) Exempts from inclusion under full-time equivalent position limitations in the Department the number of positions held by persons providing health-care resources under resource sharing agreements.
Law· HRH.R. 3121 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Defense and Security Assistance Chapter 1: Military and Related Assistance Chapter 2: International Military Education and Training Chapter 3: Antiterrorism Assistance Chapter 4: Narcotics Control Assistance Chapter 5: Other Provisions Title II: Transfer of Naval Vessels to Certain Foreign Countries Title I: Defense and Security Assistance - Chapter 1: Military and Related Assistance - Amends the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) to: (1) require loans made under the Foreign Military Financing Program to be provided at interest rates that are not less than the current average market yield of outstanding U.S. marketable obligations of comparable maturities; (2) authorize the President, with respect to the Government of Israel (currently, only to member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), to provide quality assurance, inspection, and contract audit services under contracts for defense articles entered into with such nation; (3) direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct audits of private firms that have contracted with foreign governments for the procurement of defense articles or services or design and construction services; (4) require notification to specified congressional committees for each country and international organization that has been approved for cash flow financing for the procurement of such articles or services valued in excess of $100 million that is to be financed under AECA or the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA); (5) limit to $100 million the fiscal year funds to be made available to countries other than Israel and Egypt for financing such articles or services that are not sold by the U.S. Government under AECA; and (6) include in a required annual arms sales estimate and justification made by the President to the Congress a detailed accounting of all articles, services, credits, guarantees, or other assistance furnished to each country and international organization during the preceding fiscal year for the detection and clearing of landmines, as well as an analysis of de- mining activities. (Sec. 103) Amends FAA to authorize the President, under certain emergency conditions, to direct the drawdown of defense articles and services from the inventory and resources of any Federal agency (currently, only from the Department of Defense (DOD)). Provides additional authorized purposes for the use of such authority. Increases from $75 million to $150 million the fiscal year limit on such drawdown authority, with a limit of $75 million from DOD and $75 million from other Federal agencies. Requires notification to specified congressional committees at least 15 days in advance of the use of such authority. (Sec. 104) Authorizes the President to transfer excess defense articles to any country (currently, limited to certain NATO countries) for which receipt of such articles is justified under certain military assistance programs or for which receipt was separately justified to the Congress for such fiscal year. Provides transfer limitations and terms. Waives the requirement that DOD be reimbursed by recipient countries for its transfer costs. Prohibits DOD funds from being expended for transfer transportation costs, with a waiver by the President for national interest reasons (with certain other limitations). Requires the President to notify specified congressional committees at least 15 days in advance of the transfer of excess defense articles that are significant military equipment or valued at $7 million or more. Limits to $350 million the aggregate value of excess defense articles that may be transferred in a fiscal year. Requires documents justifying such transfers to include specified information as to transfer value and costs. (Sec. 105) Authorizes DOD, during FY 1996 and 1997, to expend funds for crating, packing, handling, and transportation of excess defense articles for transfer to countries that are eligible: (1) to participate in the Partnership for Peace; and (2) for assistance under the Support for East European Democracy Act of 1989. Chapter 2: International Military Education and Training - Allows funds made available for FY 1996 and 1997 for military training and education purposes to be obligated for Indonesia only for expanded military and education training that meets specified requirements under FAA. (Sec. 112) Allows individuals who are not members of the government of a foreign country to receive military education and training assistance under FAA. Authorizes the President to provide for the attendance of foreign military and civilian defense personnel at flight training schools and programs in the United States without charge under such training and education program, with specified conditions. Prohibits the availability of such funds on a grant basis for high-income foreign countries (Austria, Finland, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Spain) for the military education and training of military and related civilian personnel of such countries. Chapter 3: Antiterrorism Assistance - Repeals a provision of FAA which: (1) authorizes antiterrorism assistance to eligible foreign countries, subject to reimbursement for the value of such assistance; (2) limits the provision of training services outside the United States; and (3) requires U.S. personnel providing antiterrorism assistance to carry out such activities within the United States. Prohibits the use of funds for the procurement of weapons and ammunition, with an exception for arms and ammunition integrally and directly related to antiterrorism training. Repeals the requirement of a report from the President to specified congressional leaders whenever such assistance is provided to a country. (Sec. 122) Authorizes funds made available in FY 1996 and 1997 under FAA for antiterrorism assistance to be made available to the Technical Support Working Group of the Department of State for research and development expenses related to contraband detection technologies or for field demonstration of such technologies. Chapter 4: Narcotics Control Assistance - Adds to the authorized uses of narcotics control assistance under FAA the policing of international criminal activities that endanger political and economic stability and democratic development. Authorizes the President to accept contributions from foreign governments to carry out narcotics control programs for the benefit of such countries. Requires a detailed report from the President to specified congressional committees on contributions received and used. Authorizes the President to provide such assistance on a reimbursable basis. Authorizes the Secretary of State to receive nonlethal excess property from any Federal agency and, in turn, provide such property to a foreign government for narcotics control law enforcement assistance activities. (Sec. 132) Provides that certain national drug control authority described under the National Narcotics Control Leadership Act of 1988 may be exercised with respect to funds authorized under FAA and with respect to State Department personnel only to the extent that the appropriate congressional committees have been notified 15 days in advance of the use of such authority. (Sec. 133) Authorizes during FY 1996 and 1997 narcotics-related economic assistance to be provided under FAA to foreign countries notwithstanding any provision of law that otherwise restricts assistance to foreign countries (with exceptions), as long as the President, at least 15 days before obligating funds for such purpose, notifies the appropriate congressional committees in accordance with procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications. Chapter 5: Other Provisions - Amends AECA to direct the President, if he states in a certification for the transfer of certain defense articles or services that an emergency exists which requires that congressional consent to such transfer become effective immediately due to national security, to set forth in such certification a detailed justification for the national security determination. Provides for the consideration of congressional joint resolutions prohibiting the transfer of defense articles and services. Requires certification to be submitted to the Congress: (1) at least 15 days before consent is given for the transfer of any major defense equipment valued at $14 million or more or any defense article or service valued at $50 million or more to NATO countries, Australia, Japan, or New Zealand; and (2) at least 30 days before such consent is given in the case of a transfer to any other country. Provides an exception in both cases for emergency conditions of national security interests. Provides the same certification requirements, with respect to such equipment, articles, or services, for: (1) export licenses; and (2) commercial technical assistance or manufacturing licensing agreements. Provides joint resolution procedures in each case for the prohibition of such licenses or agreements. Requires the President to include a detailed justification of the existence of emergency national security circumstances for immediate congressional consent to the leasing to a foreign government or organization of defense articles under provisions of FAA. Provides the same time limits with respect to certifications for such leases as provided for major defense equipment, articles, and services, above. (Sec. 142) States that the consent of the President shall not be required for the transfer by a foreign country or international organization to another country of defense articles sold by the United States under AECA, as long as specified conditions are met, including that the recipient government is a NATO country, Australia, Japan, or New Zealand. (Sec. 143) Authorizes the President to assign U.S. military personnel to any foreign country (currently, only to NATO countries and the armed forces of Japan, Australia, and New Zealand) to promote rationalization, standardization, interoperability, and other defense cooperation measures. (Sec. 144) Defines "significant military equipment" for purposes of AECA as articles: (1) for which special export controls are warranted because of their substantial military utility or capability; and (2) identified on the U.S. Munitions List. (Sec. 145) Eliminates an annual reporting requirement relating to the acquisition of defense articles and services. (Sec. 146) Revises the replacement cost requirements placed on foreign countries or international organizations in the leasing of defense articles from the stocks of DOD. (Sec. 147) Directs the President to notify the Congress at least 30 days in advance of: (1) designating a country as a major non-NATO ally for purposes of FAA; or (2) terminating such a designation. Designates the following countries as such allies: Australia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and New Zealand (waiving the need of congressional notification for such countries). (Sec. 148) Increases the dollar thresholds, on or after which certification shall be required from the President to the Congress before the transfer to a foreign country, of: (1) major defense equipment, from $14 million to $25 million; (2) defense articles or services, from $50 million to $75 million; and (3) design and construction services, from $200 million to $300 million. (Sec. 149) Prohibits the use of funds under FAA or any other Act to facilitate in any way the sale of M-833 antitank shells or any comparable antitank shells containing a depleted uranium penetrating component to any country other than NATO countries, major non-NATO allies, or Taiwan. Provides a national security exception. (Sec. 150) Directs the President to establish a program for the end-use monitoring of defense articles sold, leased, or exported under AECA or FAA. Outlines program requirements. Requires annual implementation reports from the President to the Congress. (Sec. 151) Requires every person (other than an officer or employee of the United States acting in official capacity) who engages in the United States in the business of brokering activities with respect to the manufacture, export, import, or transfer of domestic or foreign defense articles or services to register with the Government and to pay a registration fee. Prohibits any person from engaging in such activities without a license (with an exception for certain activities undertaken by a Federal agency). (Sec. 152) Authorizes the President to acquire a repairable defense article from a foreign country or international organization if such article: (1) was previously transferred to such country under AECA; (2) is not an end item; and (3) will be exchanged for a defense article of the same type that is in the stocks of DOD. Outlines further acquisition limitations. Requires the government or organization receiving a new or repaired defense article in place of the repairable defense article to be charged all costs associated with such repair and replacement. Authorizes the President to accept the return of a defense article from a foreign country or organization if such article: (1) was previously transferred to such country or organization under AECA; (2) is not significant military equipment; and (3) is in fully functioning condition without need of repair or rehabilitation. Provides further limitations and provides a credit to the country or organization returning such article. (Sec. 153) Authorizes the President, in the interest of national security, to waive the reimbursement of depreciation for any defense article which has passed three-quarters of its normal service life. Title II: Transfer of Naval Vessels to Certain Foreign Countries - Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to transfer designated frigates, surveillance ships, or landing ships to: (1) Egypt; (2) Mexico; (3) New Zealand; (4) Portugal; (5) the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States; and (6) Thailand. Requires vessel recipients to pay any transfer costs. Terminates such transfer authority two years after the enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to require, as a condition of such transfers, that any necessary repair or refurbishment of such vessels be performed at a U.S. shipyard.
Bill· HRH.R. 3117 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in carrying out responsibilities with respect to the delivery of health care for veterans and their beneficiaries, to establish and operate managed health care plans through a Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility or group of such facilities or through arrangements with public or private entities. Directs the Secretary to prescribe the minimum health care benefits to be provided to veterans enrolled in the plan, which shall include at least those benefits covered under parts A and B of the Medicare Program (title XVIII of the Social Security Act). Authorizes the Secretary to establish cost-sharing requirements for veterans enrolled in such a plan, including premiums, copayments, and deductibles. Requires the director of a Department health care facility to certify, before the operation of a plan at such facility, that sufficient medical care funds have been allotted to such facility to provide the needed services. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary) to make payments during a year to a Department managed health care plan on behalf of veterans who are Medicare-eligible individuals and are enrolled in the managed health care plan, under similar terms as the HHS Secretary makes payments under Medicare to other eligible managed health care plans. Directs the Secretary to certify to the HHS Secretary each year a list of all Department managed health care plans which conform to the standards required for such payments.
Bill· HRH.R. 3119 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
Revises Federal veterans' benefits provisions to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital care, and to allow the Secretary to furnish nursing home care, to a veteran who is catastrophically disabled (a veteran whose expenditures for such care exceeded 7.5 percent of his or her gross adjusted income for the preceding year). (Sec. 2) Makes eligible for medical services on an ambulatory or outpatient basis, notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such disability may be associated with the described exposure, any disabled veteran who the Secretary finds: (1) may have been exposed to dioxin or was exposed to a toxic substance found in a herbicide or defoliant used for military purposes during the Vietnam era while serving on active duty in Vietnam; (2) was exposed while serving on active duty to ionizing radiation from the detonation of a nuclear device in connection with such veteran's participation in the test of such a device or with the American occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, from September 11, 1945, through July 1, 1946; or (3) may have been exposed to a toxic substance or environmental hazard while serving on active duty in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War. Prohibits the provision of such medical services: (1) for any disability that is found to have resulted from a cause other than the exposure described; or (2) after December 31, 1996. Repeals a provision regarding the order of priority for furnishing ambulatory or outpatient medical services for veterans. (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary to furnish nursing home, domiciliary, or long-term care to qualifying disabled veterans where necessary for medical purposes or to obviate the need for hospital care. (Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary to furnish hospital and nursing home care to any adult dependent of a veteran which the Secretary determines is needed for a disability if such dependent agrees to pay a specified amount representing a portion of the costs of care. Makes such amounts collected or received by the United States for hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care available to the Secretary for payment of the costs of such care, without fiscal year limitation. (Sec. 5) Revises the definition of covered "medical services" for purposes of veterans' benefits provisions to include: (1) primary health care services which include initial diagnostic services, treatment services, referral to specialized care or services, and long-term followup care or services for certain chronic conditions, and routine services regarding disabilities that are provided by physicians who specialize in such disabilities; and (2) medical equipment and prosthetic appliances that are prescribed by a physician based on specific medical needs. (Sec. 7) Repeals a requirement that the Secretary include in the budget documents submitted to the Congress for any fiscal year a detailed report on contract care and services furnished. Authorizes the Secretary to furnish primary health care or preventive health services to veterans who reside in locations that are more than 50 miles or one hour traveling time from a Department of Veterans Affairs facility by or through contract with non-Department facilities under specified circumstances. (Sec. 8) Modifies provisions regarding prosthetic appliances and seeing eye dogs. Directs the Secretary to furnish medical equipment or a prosthetic appliance (equipment) as well as necessary fitting and training to any veteran who is entitled to such equipment. Authorizes the Secretary to repair or replace any reasonably necessary equipment belonging to the veteran which is damaged or destroyed by an accident caused by a service-connected disability for which the veteran is in receipt of, or would, but for the receipt of retirement pay, be entitled to, disability compensation. Authorizes the Secretary to provide eligible veterans: (1) training in a Department facility or by contract, including certain travel and incidental expenses; (2) special clothing made necessary by the wearing of equipment; (3) seeing-eye or guide dogs trained to aid the blind and devices for aiding individuals in overcoming blindness, plus training, including travel expenses; and (4) devices for assisting in overcoming deafness, including telecaptioning decoding devices for television receivers. (Sec. 9) Revises provisions regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical-Care Cost Recovery Fund to make specified amounts available to the Secretary for payment of the costs of furnishing hospital care and medical services, including the costs of Department personnel salaries. (Sec. 10) Grants authority for reimbursement by Medicare of certain health care services provided by Department facilities. (Sec. 11) Directs the Secretary to ensure that the Department maintains its capacity to provide for the specialized treatment and rehabilitative needs of disabled veterans, including veterans with spinal cord dysfunction, blindness, and mental illness, in a manner that: (1) affords reasonable access to care and services for those specialized needs; and (2) ensures that overall Department capacity to provide such services is not reduced below its capacity to provide such services as of the date of enactment of this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 3130 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Assuring Availability and Continuity of Health Coverage Subtitle A: Guaranteed Access to Health Coverage Subtitle B: Provision of Benefits Subtitle C: Fair Rating Practices Subtitle D: Consumer Protections Subtitle E: Benefits Subtitle F: Standards and Certification; Enforcement; Preemption; General Provisions Subtitle G: Definitions; General Provisions Title II: Administrative Simplification Subtitle A: Standards for Data Elements and Transactions Subtitle B: Requirements with Respect to Certain Transactions and Information Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Provisions Title III: Antitrust Health Insurance Affordability Act of 1996 - Title I: Assuring Availability and Continuity of Health Coverage - Subtitle A: Guaranteed Access to Health Coverage - Requires carriers offering health coverage in the individual and small group market to make available standard and high-deductible coverage. Mandates a family option. Prohibits carriers from requiring limits based on health status, claims experience, or similar factors. (Sec. 102) Mandates acceptance of every small employer and qualifying individual. Allows financial capacity limits and provides for multiple employer welfare arrangement treatment. (Sec. 103) Prohibits denying, canceling, or refusing to renew coverage except for premium nonpayment or similar factors. (Sec. 104) Regulates preexisting condition exclusions and enrollment periods. Subtitle B: Provision of Benefits - Sets forth managed care requirements and mandates a utilization review report. Subtitle C: Fair Rating Practices - Regulates rating variations and mandates a model risk adjustment system. Subtitle D: Consumer Protections - Mandates disclosures by carriers and group plans. (Sec. 132) Regulates carrier remuneration and compensation to agents and brokers. (Sec. 133) Requires carriers and group plans to maintain written policies and procedures respecting advance directives. Subtitle E: Benefits - Regulates standard and high-deductible coverage. (Sec. 144) Mandates establishment of procedures for benefit valuation, the deductible amount for high-deductible coverage, and model benefit packages. (Sec. 145) Regulates the offering of supplemental benefits. (Sec. 146) Requires carriers to offer an option to treat children under 26 as family members. Subtitle F: Standards and Certification; Enforcement; Preemption; General Provisions - Mandates standards regarding this subtitle's requirements. Requires implementation and enforcement regarding carriers, insurance coverage, and group plans. Deems provisions of this title relating to group plans and employers to be provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on a carrier's failure to comply with this Act's requirements. (Sec. 155) Prohibits a single employer plan from offering coverage other than through a carrier unless the plan has at least 100 eligible employees. Subtitle G: Definitions; General Provisions - Sets forth definitions for this Act and effective dates for this title. Title II: Administrative Simplification - Subtitle A: Standards for Data Elements and Transactions - Mandates standards under this subtitle that are: (1) consistent with reducing health care costs; and (2) in use and generally accepted, developed, or modified by standard-setting organizations accredited by the American National Standard Institute. (Sec. 212) Requires: (1) standards regarding electronic transmission of health information data elements; (2) a standard unique identifier for each individual, employer, plan sponsor, and health provider; (3) data element code sets; (4) technical standards consistent with network privacy standards; (5) regulations regarding electronic signature transmission and authentication; (6) direct laboratory claims submission; and (7) network privacy standards. Subtitle B: Requirements with Respect to Certain Transactions and Information - Requires transactions between plan sponsors and providers to use standard data elements. (Sec. 222) Requires a certified health information security organization to make non-identifiable health information available to Federal or State agencies. (Sec. 223) Requires a procedure under which a sponsor or provider that is unable to transmit standard data elements directly may comply with this part. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Provisions - Mandates network operating standards and a network certification procedure. (Sec. 232) Prohibits requiring data elements or transmission inconsistent with this Act. Allows waivers. Requires anonymity for those reporting violations. (Sec. 233) Preempts contrary State law. Title III: Antitrust - Mandates: (1) guidelines on antitrust law application to health plan activities; and (2) a review process enabling plans to request a Federal antitrust conformity opinion.
Bill· HRH.R. 3125 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Long-Term Care Title II: Social Security Benefits Title III: Independent Commission on Medicare Title IV: Health Care Fraud Prevention Subtitle A: All-Payer Fraud and Abuse Control Program Subtitle B: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse Subtitle C: Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions Subtitle D: Civil Monetary Penalties Subtitle E: Amendments to Criminal Law Subtitle F: Payments for State Health Care Fraud Control Units Senior Citizens Bill of Rights Act of 1996 - Title I: Long-Term Care - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide for the treatment of qualified long-term care insurance as accident and health insurance for purposes of insurance company taxation; (2) exclude such insurance from cafeteria plans or flexible spending arrangements; (3) include amounts paid for qualified long-term care services as medical expenses for individual itemized deductions; (4) provide for the nonrecognition of gain or loss on the exchange of any life insurance contract or an endowment or annuity contract for a long-term care insurance contract; (5) exclude from gross income distributions from certain retirement plans for long-term care insurance; and (6) allow a $1,000 per qualified person tax credit for taxpayers who maintain a household which includes one or more qualified persons. Title II: Social Security Benefits - Amends title II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to increase the monthly exempt amount, under the earnings test, for individuals who have attained retirement age. Sets forth a schedule of monthly adjustments increasing from $1,466 for taxable year 1997 to $4,166 for taxable year 2003. (Sec. 202) Allows members of the clergy to revoke their exemption from social security coverage. Title III: Independent Commission on Medicare - Establishes the Independent Commission on Medicare to: (1) report to the Congress and the President during December of each year on certain aspects of the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act involving projected outlays and benefits; and (2) report to the Congress during July of each year specific recommendations on certain changes to ensure that total program outlays for the fiscal year involved do not exceed specified limits. Precludes such recommendations from including changes relating to the payment of payroll taxes for financing the program. (Sec. 303) Provides procedures for expedited congressional consideration of recommendations. (Sec. 305) Requires the Congress, not later than April 15 of each year, to establish, in the concurrent resolution on the budget for the fiscal year beginning on the following October 1, a limit on total outlays to be made under the Medicare program for the fiscal year. (Sec. 306) Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to provide for the enforcement of such limits through sequestration. Title IV: Health Care Fraud Prevention - Subtitle A: All-Payer Fraud and Abuse Control Program - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish: (1) an all-payer fraud and abuse control program; and (2) standards, including information standards and disclosure standards, to carry out such program. Authorizes appropriations. Establishes, for such program, the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Account (the Account), which shall consist of gifts, bequests, deposits, and transfers under certain health care offenses provisions of specified Acts. (Sec. 402) Provides for the application to any health plan of specified health anti-fraud and abuse provisions of part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act. (Sec. 403) Directs the Secretary to solicit proposals annually for modification of, and to modify, existing safe harbor rules. Permits any individual, at any time, to request a notice from the Inspector General (IG) informing the public of practices which the IG considers to be suspect or of particular concern. (Sec. 404) Directs the Secretary to establish a program through which individuals entitled to Medicare benefits may confidentially report instances of suspected fraud. Subtitle B: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse - Amends titles XI (General Provisions and Peer Review) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide for mandatory exclusion of individuals with a felony fraud conviction from participation in Medicare and State health care programs; (2) establish a minimum period of exclusion for certain individuals and entities subject to permissive exclusion from Medicare and State health care programs; (3) provide for the permissive exclusion of individuals with ownership or control interest in sanctioned activities; (4) provide for a minimum period of exclusion for practitioners and individuals failing to meet statutory obligations; and (5) intermediate sanctions for Medicare health maintenance organizations. Subtitle C: Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretary to provide for the establishment of a national health care fraud and abuse data collection program for the reporting of final adverse actions against health care providers, suppliers, or practitioners. Subtitle D: Civil Monetary Penalties - Provides, under part A of title XI of the Social Security Act, for: (1) the payment of the portion of amounts recovered under this Act into the Account; and (2) an increase in the civil monetary penalty. Subjects to such penalty an excluded individual retaining an ownership or controlling interest of five percent or more in a Medicare or State health care program. Permits the Secretary to impose a $10,000 penalty, plus a special assessment, on any individual (including any organization, but excluding a beneficiary) who knowingly violates the prohibition against illegal remunerations. Subtitle E: Amendments to Criminal Law - Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) impose a fine or imprisonment for up to ten years or both in the case of health care mail fraud; (2) provide for the forfeiture of property for certain Federal health care offenses; (3) provide for specified injunctive relief; (4) provide for fines or imprisonment or both in connection with Federal health care offenses; (5) establish a voluntary disclosure program in connection with Federal health care offenses; and (6) establish penalties for obstruction of criminal investigations of Federal health care offenses, theft or embezzlement in connection with health care, and the laundering of monetary instruments in connection with a Federal health care offense. Subtitle F: Payments for State Health Care Fraud Control Units - Directs the Governor of each State to establish and maintain a State agency to act as a State Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Unit. Provides for specified Federal payments to the States for such agencies.
Bill· HRH.R. 3132 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
Medicare Contractor Reform Amendments of 1996 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to make various specified changes in the way Medicare administers its contracts for administrative operations. Provides chiefly among such changes for: (1) augmenting the types of entities eligible to serve as carriers under the program; (2) allowing service providers their periodic choice of fiscal intermediaries; (3) repealing certain contract termination, cost reimbursement, and non-cost-effective fiscal intermediary requirements; and (4) requiring competition in cases of certain new contracts and in cases involving poor contract performance. Waives competition requirements in specified circumstances.
Bill· HRH.R. 3123 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1996
Integrity in Medical Funding Act of 1996 - Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to prohibit Federal payment under such programs for assisted suicide or euthanasia. Preempts State and Federal limits on malpractice awards in health care liability actions that arise from the provision of any medical item or service for the purpose of causing the death of any individual, or from the failure to provide any medical item or service to an individual against the direction of the individual or the individual's agent or surrogate for the purpose of causing the individual's death.
Bill· HRH.R. 3115 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1996
Alcohol Ingredient Labeling Act of 1996 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem a malt beverage, wine, or distilled spirit mislabeled unless it bears a label disclosing: (1) the alcoholic content; (2) the number of drinks (defining "drink" as .6 ounces of alcohol); (3) its ingredients and calories; (4) the common name of each ingredient, including additives; and (5) a toll-free number for help with a drinking problem. Authorizes appropriations for the toll-free number.
Law· HRH.R. 3103 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Improved Availability and Portability of Health Insurance Coverage Subtitle A: Coverage Under Group Health Plans Subtitle B: Definitions; General Provisions Title II: Preventing Health Care Fraud and Abuse; Administrative Simplification Subtitle A: Fraud and Abuse Control Program Subtitle B: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse Subtitle C: Data Collection Subtitle D: Civil Monetary Penalties Subtitle E: Revisions to Criminal Law Subtitle F: Administrative Simplification Title III: Tax-Related Health Provisions Subtitle A: Medical Savings Accounts Subtitle B: Increase in Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals Subtitle C: Long-Term Care Services and Contracts Subtitle D: Treatment of Accelerated Death Benefits Subtitle E: High-Risk Pools Title IV: Revenue Offsets Subtitle A: Repeal of Bad Debt Reserve Method for Thrift Savings Associations Subtitle B: Reform of the Earned Income Credit Health Coverage Availability and Affordability Act of 1996 - Title I: Improved Availability and Portability of Health Insurance Coverage - Subtitle A: Coverage Under Group Health Plans - Requires a group health plan and an insurer or health maintenance organization (HMO) offering health insurance in connection with a group health plan to: (1) reduce any preexisting condition period by the aggregate period of prior coverage; and (2) limit any preexisting condition period to not more than 12 months. Prohibits: (1) preexisting condition periods for newborns and regarding certain adoptions; and (2) treating pregnancy as a preexisting condition. Allows an HMO that does not use preexisting condition limitations to impose an eligibility period. (Sec. 103) Prohibits coverage exclusion on the basis of health status. Requires a plan to allow an otherwise-eligible employee to enroll if the employee previously declined enrollment because of other coverage and subsequently lost the other coverage. Prohibits, if a plan offers family coverage, a waiting period for a newborn, certain adopted children, or a spouse. (Sec. 104) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on any failure of a group health plan to meet certain requirements of this Act. Deems sections 101 through 103 of this Act to be provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Provides for civil money penalties for failure to meet a requirement of this subtitle. Subtitle B: Definitions; General Provisions - Sets forth definitions and general provisions, including: (1) excluding church plans from the requirements of this title; and (2) requiring treatment of State Medicaid (unless a State elects otherwise) and Medicare plans as a group health plan for individual coverage certification purposes. Title II: Preventing Health Care Fraud and Abuse; Administrative Simplification - Subtitle A: Fraud and Abuse Control Program - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Department of 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 provisions of title XI and other Acts applicable to health care fraud and abuse; (4) provide for the modification and establishment of safe harbors and to issue advisory opinions and special fraud alerts; and (5) 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 below. (Sec. 201) Establishes the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account (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 resulting from such cases, and other specified amounts for financing the program above and the Medicare Integrity Program established by this title. Makes certain appropriations to the Trust Fund and Account, earmarking certain amounts for activities of the Department of HHS Office of the IG with respect to the Medicare and Medicaid programs under SSA titles XVIII and XIX. (Sec. 202) Establishes the Medicare Integrity Program under which the HHS Secretary shall promote the integrity of the Medicare program by entering into contracts with certain eligible private entities to: (1) review the activities of Medicare service providers and audit cost reports to determine whether payment should not have been made; (2) educate service providers, beneficiaries, and other persons with respect to payment and benefit issues; and (3) develop and periodically update a list of items of durable medical equipment subject to prior authorization. Prohibits fiscal intermediaries under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) and carriers under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) from carrying out certain activities under Medicare to the extent the activity is carried out pursuant to a contract under the Medicare Integrity Program. (Sec. 203) 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 to an individual without regard to whether or not a deductible or coinsurance may be imposed. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish a program for encouraging individuals to: (1) report information on fraud and abuse under Medicare or other Federal or State health care programs; 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 such reports; or (2) any savings resulting from any such suggestions which are adopted. (Sec. 204) Amends SSA title XI to require application of criminal penalties for acts involving the Medicare program to similar violations of any plan or program that provides health benefits, whether directly, through insurance, or otherwise, which is funded directly, in whole or in part, by the Federal Government, except the Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program (Federal care health programs). (Sec. 205) Directs the HHS Secretary to periodically publish a notice 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 serve as the basis for an exclusion; (3) advisory opinions by the HHS IG with regard to prohibited remuneration constituting grounds for the imposition of a sanction; 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 the Secretary to issue appropriate 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. 212) Revises specified current sanctions involving exclusion for fraud and abuse under Medicare and State health care programs, among other changes establishing minimum periods of exclusion for: (1) certain individuals and entities subject to permissive exclusion from Medicare and State health care programs; and (2) practitioners and persons failing to meet certain statutory obligations with regard to services or items. Repeals the prerequisite that a health care practitioner or person be determined "unwilling or unable" to comply substantially with a corrective action plan before sanctions may be imposed (thus permitting the 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. 215) Permits the imposition of intermediate sanctions on Medicare health maintenance organizations in addition to the current option of termination. Provides additional intermediate sanctions for miscellaneous program violations. (Sec. 216) Provides an additional specified exception to anti- kickback penalties for discounting and managed care arrangements. (Sec. 217) Creates a criminal penalty under SSA title XI for fraudulent disposition of assets in order to obtain Medicaid benefits. Subtitle C: Data Collection - Directs the HHS Secretary to establish a national health care fraud and abuse data collection program for reporting final adverse actions against health care providers, suppliers, or practitioners. Requires each Government agency and health plan to report to the Secretary any final adverse action taken against such provider, supplier, or practitioner. (Sec. 221) Allows the HHS Secretary, under the system for unique identifiers for Medicare physicians, to impose appropriate fees on such physicians to cover the costs of investigation and recertification activities with respect to the issuance of the identifiers. Subtitle D: Civil Monetary Penalties - Revises civil monetary penalties, providing among other changes for: (1) the exclusion from participation in Federal and State health care programs of persons subject to penalties and assessments for applicable program violations; (2) modifications in the amounts of various specified penalties and assessments, including the sanctions against health care practitioners who violate their statutory obligations with regard to the services or items ordered or provided by them to a covered beneficiary or recipient; (3) a prohibition against offering inducements to individuals enrolled under Medicare or a State health care program; (4) subjecting to civil money penalties certain excluded individuals retaining an ownership or control interest in a participating entity if they knew or should have known of the action constituting the basis for the exclusion of such entity at the time of violation; (5) a specific definition, for such penalty purposes, for remuneration which includes the waiver of coinsurance and deductible amounts and transfers of items or services for free or for other than fair market value; and (6) a penalty for false certification for home health services. Subtitle E: Revisions to Criminal Law - Amends the Federal criminal code to define a Federal health care offense and cover within its general purview, and provide sanctions for, the commission of health care fraud, theft or embezzlement in connection with health care, obstruction of criminal investigations of Federal health care offenses, and other specified matters related to health care, such as the laundering of monetary instruments in connection with a Federal health care offense. (Sec. 247) Provides for injunctive relief relating to covered Federal health care offenses, as well as for property forfeitures. Subtitle F: Administrative Simplification - Amends SSA title XI to add a new part C (Administrative Simplification) for development of an electronic system for: (1) processing health care information consistent with the goal of improving the operation of the health care system; and (2) reducing related administrative costs through the HHS Secretary's adoption of certain standards for information transactions (including enrollment, disenrollment, claims attachments, and coordination of benefits) and data elements as well as standards relating to security and privacy, and performance of tasks pursuant to specified requirements, assisted by the newly established Health Information Advisory Committee. (Sec. 251) Provides penalties for violations of provisions of this subtitle, including for the wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information. (Sec. 261) Directs the HHS Secretary to adopt uniform coverage, administration, and payment policies for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) in accordance with a specified process. Provides that, effective for claims submitted after the expiration of a specified 90-day period, an independent laboratory may select a single carrier for the processing of all of its claims for payment under Medicare part B without regard to the location where the laboratory or the patient or provider involved resides or conducts business. Requires such election of a single carrier to be made by the clinical laboratory, and an agreement between the carrier and laboratory to be forwarded to the HHS Secretary. Title III: Tax-Related Health Provisions - Subtitle A: Medical Savings Accounts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for limited amounts paid to a medical savings account (MSA). Defines "medical savings account" as a trust for paying the account holder's medical expenses. Exempts an MSA from taxation unless it has ceased being an MSA. Provides for the treatment of distributions. Allows the MSA deduction to be taken whether or not the individual itemizes deductions. Excludes limited employer MSA contributions from employee gross income. Excludes employer MSA contributions from provisions relating to social security, railroad retirement, unemployment, and withholding taxes. Makes MSA contributions unavailable under cafeteria plans. Excludes MSAs from the value of taxable estates. Imposes a tax on excess MSA contributions. Exempts an MSA holder from prohibited transactions taxes if the MSA ceases to be an MSA. Imposes a penalty on MSA reporting failure. Exempts MSAs from the definition of "specified insurance contract" for provisions relating to capitalization of certain policy acquisition expenses. Subtitle B: Increase in Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals - Allows self-employed individuals to deduct a portion of their expenditures for medical insurance for the individual, spouse, and dependents. Subtitle C: Long-Term Care Services and Contracts - Requires treating: (1) a long-term care insurance as accident and health insurance and associated amounts received as received for personal injuries and sickness and as reimbursement for medical care expenses actually incurred; (2) an employer's plan providing long-term care as an accident and health plan; (3) limited amounts paid for such insurance as payments for medical care; and (4) such insurance as guaranteed renewable under specified provisions. Provides for the treatment of: (1) excess aggregate long-term care payments; and (2) long-term care coverage provided in conjunction with life insurance. Excludes long-term care from cafeteria plans. Includes in an employee's gross income employer-provided long-term care overage provided through a flexible spending arrangement. Declares that a group health plan does not fail to meet continuation requirements solely because it fails to provide long-term coverage. (Sec. 323) Imposes reporting requirements on long-term care benefit payors. (Sec. 325) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the model regulation and model Act promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; and (2) certain disclosure and nonforfeitability requirements. (Sec. 326) Imposes a tax the failure to meet requirements regarding: (1) the model regulation and model Act; (2) policy or certificate delivery; and (3) claims denials information. Subtitle D: Treatment of Accelerated Death Benefits - Treats life insurance amounts paid as an amount paid because of death if the insured is terminally or chronically ill and the amount is received under a provision that is treated as long-term care insurance. Treats the amount paid by a viatical settlement provider for a life insurance contract as an amount paid by reason of the death of the insured. (Sec. 332) Treats, for life insurance company provisions, references to life insurance contracts as including references to accelerated death benefit riders (unless a rider is treated as a long- term care contract). Subtitle E: High-Risk Pools - Exempts from taxation a State- established membership organization providing nonprofit medical care coverage to high risk individuals. Title IV: Revenue Offsets - Subtitle A: Repeal of Bad Debt Reserve Method for Thrift Savings Associations - Declares that bad debt reserve banking provisions shall not apply after a specified date. Provides for the resulting accounting method change. Subtitle B: Reform of the Earned Income Credit - Requires, in order to be eligible for the earned income credit (EIC), that a taxpayer include on the return the taxpayer's (and, if married, the spouse's) social security number (SSN). Adds to the definition of "mathematical or clerical error" references to omission of a SSN required by EIC provisions. (Sec. 412) Increases preparer penalties for certain failures or actions.
Bill· SS. 1618 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1996
Authorizes punitive damages to be awarded against a defendant, to the extent permitted by applicable State law, if the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that conduct carried out by the defendant with a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of others was the proximate cause of the harm that is the subject of the civil action where the claim relates to: (1) volunteer services performed by the defendant for a government entity or a not-for-profit organization organized and conducted for public benefit and operated primarily for charitable, civic, educational, religious, welfare, or health purposes; or (2) activities or services performed by such a not-for-profit organization, excluding health care providers. Limits the amount of punitive damages that may be awarded in such an action to: (1) the greater of twice the sum of the amount awarded to the claimant for economic loss and non-economic loss or $250,000, in general; and (2) the lesser of twice that sum or $250,000 in any such action against an individual whose net worth does not exceed $500,000 or against an owner of an unincorporated business or any partnership, corporation, association, congregation, unit of local government, or organization which has fewer than 25 full-time employees. Makes exceptions to such limits on punitive damages: (1) for particular categories of misconduct, such as where that misconduct constitutes a hate crime or a crime of violence or act of international terrorism for which the defendant has been convicted; and (2) where such limits would result in an award that is insufficient to punish the egregious conduct of the defendant or to deter such conduct in the future. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) consideration of punitive damages in a separate proceeding at the request of any party; and (2) inadmissibility of evidence relative only to a claim of punitive damages in a proceeding concerning compensatory damages.
Bill· HRH.R. 3084 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1996
Former Civilian Prisoners of War Benefits Act of 1996 - Entitles a former civilian prisoner of war (CPOW) to receive necessary medical care and disability benefits for any injury or disability resulting from the period of internment or hiding. Requires any presumptive medical or dental condition related to a period of internment provided for former military POWs to be extended to CPOWs and requires such condition to be considered to have been incurred in or aggravated by the period of internment or hiding regardless of the absence of any record of the injury. Requires the Secretary of Labor to facilitate the payment of any expenditures for medical treatment under this Act. Establishes the Former Civilian Prisoner of War Advisory Committee. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on Department of Labor programs and activities pertaining to CPOWs. Directs the Secretary to seek out and inform eligible individuals of the benefits available under this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 3101 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1996
Mother and Child Protection Act of 1996 - Requires an entity that offers a health plan that provides maternity benefits, including childbirth benefits, to ensure that coverage is provided for: (1) a minimum of 48 hours after an inpatient vaginal delivery and a minimum of 120 hours after an inpatient caesarean section; (2) additional inpatient care after delivery if a licensed health care practitioner finds it medically necessary for the mother or newborn; (3) one home visit within 24 hours after discharge if a mother delivers in an inpatient setting and elects to leave the setting before the 48 or 120 hours; (4) parental education (including breast or bottle feeding training); and (5) performance of any maternal or newborn clinical assessments. Mandates regulations to ensure that an entity does not penalize a practitioner for administering care consistent with these provisions. Requires coverage notice to health plan enrollees. Mandates civil money penalties for violations of this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 3081 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1996
Health Centers Consolidation Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise provisions concerning health centers (currently, community health centers), definitions relating to such centers, and the services provided by such centers. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make planning, operating, and infant mortality grants for health centers that provide required primary health services and additional health services to medically underserved and special medically underserved populations (migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, the homeless, and public housing residents). Directs the Secretary to give priority in making grants to health centers in which there is a substantial incidence of infant mortality or a significant increase in the incidence of infant mortality. Specifies that grant amounts for any fiscal year may not exceed: (1) total State, local, and other operational funding for a center; and (2) fees, premiums, and third-party reimbursements received for operations by the center in such fiscal year. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Health Resources and Services Administration to administer the rural health services outreach demonstration grant program. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 3079 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1996
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with regard to the Medicare health maintenance organization and competitive medical plans (organizations) program to require them to: (1) establish and maintain adequate arrangements with a sufficient number, mix, and distribution of health professionals in making services available and accessible under the program; and (2) provide for the full participation of all eligible physicians who graduated from either allopathic or osteopathic medical schools and have received training from programs approved by either the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association. Prohibits organizations from: (1) discriminating against a health physician or nonphysician health professional based solely on their certification or license, in participation in providing covered health services or reimbursement or indemnification for providing such services, if they may legally provide them in accordance with State law; or (2) excluding a nonphysician health professional from participation in its provider network based solely on the professional's certification or license or lack of affiliation with, or admitting privileges at, a hospital, if such lack of affiliation is due to the professional's type of license.
Bill· SS. 1609 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1996
Directs the Attorney General to: (1) transfer flunitrazepam from schedule IV to schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act; and (2) add ketamine hydrochloride to schedule II of such Act.
Bill· SS. 1607 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1996
Methamphetamine Control Act of 1996 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to provide that any chemical supply house that, after having been provided a warning within the previous ten years, sells a listed chemical to a person who uses or intends or attempts to use the listed chemical, or who causes the listed chemical to be used or attempted to be used, to manufacture or produce methamphetamine, shall: (1) be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $250,000; or (2) for a second violation, be ordered to cease the production and sale of any chemicals. Directs the Attorney General to provide a written warning to each chemical supply house that violates such provision. Requires that all amounts received from enforcement of the civil penalty be used by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for the environmental cleanup of clandestine laboratories used to manufacture methamphetamine. Increases penalties for the possession and distribution of a list I chemical. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to reflect such amendment. Adds penalties for the manufacture and possession of equipment used to make methamphetamine. Includes specified transactions involving pseudoephedrine among those constituting a "regulated transaction." Adds iodine, red phosphorous, and hydrochloric gas to the list of list I chemicals. Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to methamphetamine, including that the rise in manufacture and usage of methamphetamine is of major concern to the United States, that a substantial portion of the ephedrine used to make methamphetamine is smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border, and that all ephedrine and pseudoephedrine producing countries and Mexico should cooperate in any way possible to deter the smuggling of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine into the United States.
Bill· SS. 1606 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1996
Biological Agents Enhanced Penalties and Control Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to expand prohibitions with respect to biological weapons to include attempts, threats, and conspiracy to engage in the proscribed conduct. Authorizes the United States to obtain in a civil action an injunction against threats to engage in such conduct. Redefines: (1) "biological agent" to cover certain biological products that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology, or any naturally occurring or bioengineered component of any such microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or biological product; (2) "toxin" to include the toxic material of plants, animals, microorganisms, viruses, fungi, or infectious substances, or a recombinant molecule, including certain poisonous biological products that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology or other specified biological products; and (3) "vector" to include certain molecules, including recombinant molecules, or biological products that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology. Expands code provisions regarding the use of mass destruction weapons to include threats to use such weapons and to cover any biological agent, toxin, or vector. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and maintain a list of each biological agent that has the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety. Sets forth criteria for inclusion in the list. Requires the Secretary to provide for: (1) the establishment and enforcement of safety procedures for the transfer of listed biological agents; (2) safeguards to prevent access to such agents for use in domestic or international terrorism or for other criminal purposes; (3) the establishment of procedures to protect the public safety in the event of a transfer or potential transfer of a biological agent in violation of established safety procedures or safeguards; and (4) appropriate availability of biological agents for research, education, and other legitimate purposes. Sets forth a timetable for the Secretary to issue interim, proposed, and final rules.
Bill· HRH.R. 3063 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Improved Availability and Portability of Health Insurance Coverage Subtitle A: Coverage Under Group Health Plans Subtitle B: Definitions; General Provisions Title II: Preventing Health Care Fraud and Abuse; Administrative Simplification Subtitle A: Fraud and Abuse Control Program Subtitle B: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse Subtitle C: Data Collection Subtitle D: Civil Monetary Penalties Subtitle E: Revisions to Criminal Law Subtitle F: Administrative Simplification Title III: Tax-Related Health Provisions Subtitle A: Medical Savings Accounts Subtitle B: Increase in Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals Health Coverage Availability and Affordability Act of 1996 - Title I: Improved Availability and Portability of Health Insurance Coverage - Subtitle A: Coverage Under Group Health Plans - Requires a group health plan and an insurer or health maintenance organization (HMO) offering health insurance in connection with a group health plan to: (1) reduce any preexisting condition period by the aggregate period of prior coverage; and (2) limit any preexisting condition period to not more than 12 months. Prohibits: (1) preexisting condition periods for newborns and regarding certain adoptions; and (2) treating pregnancy as a preexisting condition. Allows an HMO that does not use preexisting condition limitations to impose an eligibility period. (Sec. 103) Prohibits coverage exclusion on the basis of health status. Requires a plan to allow an otherwise-eligible employee to enroll if the employee previously declined enrollment because of other coverage and subsequently lost the other coverage. Prohibits, if a plan offers family coverage, a waiting period for a newborn, certain adopted children, or a spouse. (Sec. 104) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on any failure of a group health plan to meet certain requirements of this Act. Deems sections 101 through 103 of this Act to be provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Provides for civil money penalties for failure to meet a requirement of this subtitle. Subtitle B: Definitions; General Provisions - Sets forth definitions and general provisions, including: (1) excluding church plans from the requirements of this title; and (2) requiring (unless a State elects otherwise) that a State plan under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act be treated as a group health plan. Title II: Preventing Health Care Fraud and Abuse; Administrative Simplification - 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 provisions of SSA and other Acts applicable to health care fraud and abuse; (4) provide for the modification and establishment of safe harbors; (5) issue advisory opinions 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 below. (Sec. 201) Establishes the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account (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 resulting from such cases, and other specified amounts for financing the program above and the Medicare Integrity Program established below. Makes certain appropriations to the Trust Fund and Account, earmarking specified amounts for activities of HHS' IG with respect to the Medicare and Medicaid programs under, respectively, SSA titles XVIII and XIX. (Sec. 202) Establishes the Medicare Integrity Program under which the HHS Secretary shall promote the integrity of the Medicare program by entering into contracts with certain eligible private entities to: (1) review the activities of Medicare service providers and audit cost reports to determine whether payment should not have been made; (2) educate service providers, beneficiaries, and other persons with respect to 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 carrying out certain activities to the extent such activities are carried out pursuant to a contract under the Medicare Integrity Program. (Sec. 203) Directs the HHS Secretary to provide an explanation of benefits under the Medicare program 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 against the individual with respect to the item or service. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish a program to encourage individuals to: (1) report information on fraud and abuse under Medicare; 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. 204) Amends SSA title XI to extend the application of criminal penalties for acts involving the Medicare program to similar violations of any plan or program that provides health benefits, whether directly, through insurance, or otherwise, which is funded directly, in whole or in part, by the Federal Government, except the Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program. (Sec. 205) Directs the HHS Secretary periodically to publish a notice 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) advisory opinions by the Secretary with regard to SSA title XI civil monetary and criminal penalty provisions; 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 any appropriate 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. 212) 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 determined "unwilling or unable" to comply substantially with a corrective action plan before sanctions may be imposed (thus permitting the 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. 215) Permits the imposition of intermediate sanctions on Medicare health maintenance organizations (HMOs), in addition to the current option of termination. (Sec. 216) Excepts from anti-kickback penalties for discounting and managed care arrangements any remuneration between an organization and an item or service provider under a written agreement if: (1) the organization is a Medicare-eligible HMO or competitive medical plan; or (2) the written agreement places the item or service provider at substantial financial risk for the cost or utilization of such items or services which it is obligated to provide, whether through a withhold, capitation, or other similar risk arrangement. (Sec. 217) Establishes a criminal penalty for fraudulent disposition of assets in order to obtain Medicaid benefits. Subtitle C: Data Collection - 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. 221) Allows the HHS Secretary, under the system for unique identifiers for Medicare physicians, to impose appropriate fees on such physicians to cover the costs of investigation and recertification activities with respect to the issuance of the identifiers. 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; (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; and (4) establishing a penalty for false certification for home health services. (Sec. 232) Requires a knowing level of intent in a violation to justify the imposition of civil money penalties. Subtitle E: Revisions to Criminal Law - Amends the Federal criminal code to define a Federal health care offense and to cover health care fraud, theft or embezzlement in connection with health care, obstruction of criminal investigations of health care offenses, and other specified matters related to health care fraud, such as the laundering of monetary instruments. (Sec. 247) Provides for injunctive relief relating to covered health care offenses, as well as for property forfeitures. Subtitle F: Administrative Simplification - Amends SSA title XI to add a new part C (Administrative Simplification) to provide for development of an electronic system for: (1) processing health care information consistent with the goal of improving the operation of the overall health care system; and (2) reducing related administrative costs through the HHS Secretary's adoption of certain standards for information transactions (including enrollment, disenrollment, claims attachments, and coordination of benefits) and data elements as well as security and privacy standards, and performance of tasks pursuant to specified requirements, assisted by a new Health Information Advisory Committee established by this Act. Establishes penalties for the wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information, among other violations of this subtitle. Title III: Tax-Related Health Provisions - Subtitle A: Medical Savings Accounts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for limited amounts paid to a medical savings account (MSA). Defines "medical savings account" as a trust for paying the account holder's medical expenses. Exempts an MSA from taxation unless it has ceased being an MSA. Provides for the treatment of distributions. Allows the MSA deduction to be taken whether or not the individual itemizes deductions. Excludes limited employer MSA contributions from employee gross income. Excludes employer MSA contributions from provisions relating to social security, railroad retirement, unemployment, and withholding taxes. Makes MSA contributions unavailable under cafeteria plans. Excludes MSAs from the value of taxable estates. Imposes a tax on excess MSA contributions. Exempts an MSA holder from prohibited transactions taxes if the MSA ceases to be an MSA. Imposes a penalty on MSA reporting failure. Exempts MSAs from the definition of "specified insurance contract" for provisions relating to capitalization of certain policy acquisition expenses. Subtitle B: Increase in Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals - Allows self-employed individuals to deduct a portion of their expenditures for medical insurance for the individual, spouse, and dependents.
Bill· HRH.R. 3070 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Improved Availability and Portability of Health Insurance Coverage Subtitle A: Coverage Under Group Health Plans Subtitle B: Certain Requirements for Insurers and HMOs in the Group and Individual Markets Subtitle C: Definitions; General Provisions Title II: Preventing Health Care Fraud and Abuse; Administrative Simplification Subtitle A: Fraud and Abuse Control Program Subtitle B: Revisions to Current Sanctions for Fraud and Abuse Subtitle C: Data Collection Subtitle D: Civil Monetary Penalties Subtitle E: Revisions to Criminal Law Subtitle F: Administrative Simplification Health Coverage Availability and Affordability Act of 1996 - Title I: Improved Availability and Portability of Health Insurance Coverage - Subtitle A: Coverage Under Group Health Plans - Requires a group health plan and an insurer or health maintenance organization (HMO) offering health insurance in connection with a group health plan to: (1) reduce any preexisting condition period by the aggregate period of prior coverage; and (2) limit any preexisting condition period to not more than 12 months. Prohibits: (1) preexisting condition periods for newborns and regarding certain adoptions; and (2) treating pregnancy as a preexisting condition. Allows an HMO that does not use preexisting condition limitations to impose an eligibility period. (Sec. 103) Prohibits coverage exclusion on the basis of health status. Requires a plan to allow an otherwise-eligible employee to enroll if the employee previously declined enrollment because of other coverage and subsequently lost the other coverage. Prohibits, if a plan offers family coverage, a waiting period for a newborn, certain adopted children, or a spouse. (Sec. 104) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on any failure of a group health plan to meet certain requirements of this Act. Deems sections 101 through 103 of this Act to be provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Provides for civil money penalties for failure to meet a requirement of this subtitle. Subtitle B: Certain Requirements for Insurers and HMOs in the Group and Individual Markets - Requires each insurer or HMO that offers health insurance coverage in the small group market in a State to accept every applying small employer and every applying eligible individual. Allows minimum participation or contribution rules. (Sec. 132) Requires an insurer or HMO that offers coverage in the small or large group market to renew or continue the coverage at the option of the employer, except for nonpayment of premiums, fraud, and similar reasons. Allows uniform termination or modification of coverage. (Sec. 141) Requires each insurer or HMO that issues individual health insurance to offer coverage to each individual who previously had group coverage. Prohibits declining issuance based on health status. Allows superseding State mechanisms reasonably designed to meet the goals of guaranteeing coverage to qualifying individuals and assuring that the individuals receive credit for prior coverage toward the new coverage's preexisting condition exclusion period. (Sec. 142) Mandates renewal or continuation of individual coverage, except for nonpayment of premiums, fraud, or similar matters. (Sec. 151) Applies the civil money penalty provisions of subtitle A to subtitle B. Subtitle C: Definitions; General Provisions - Sets forth definitions and general provisions, including: (1) excluding church plans from the requirements of this title; and (2) requiring (unless a State elects otherwise) that a State plan under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act be treated as a group health plan. Title II: Preventing Health Care Fraud and Abuse; Administrative Simplification - 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 provisions of SSA and other Acts applicable to health care fraud and abuse; (4) provide for the modification and establishment of safe harbors; (5) issue advisory opinions 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 below. (Sec. 201) Establishes the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Account (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 resulting from such cases, and other specified amounts for financing the program above and the Medicare Integrity Program established below. Makes certain appropriations to the Trust Fund and Account, earmarking specified amounts for activities of HHS' IG with respect to the Medicare and Medicaid programs under, respectively, SSA titles XVIII and XIX. (Sec. 202) Establishes the Medicare Integrity Program under which the HHS Secretary shall promote the integrity of the Medicare program by entering into contracts with certain eligible private entities to: (1) review the activities of Medicare service providers and audit cost reports to determine whether payment should not have been made; (2) educate service providers, beneficiaries, and other persons with respect to 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 carrying out certain activities to the extent such activities are carried out pursuant to a contract under the Medicare Integrity Program. (Sec. 203) Directs the HHS Secretary to provide an explanation of benefits under the Medicare program 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 against the individual with respect to the item or service. Directs the HHS Secretary to establish a program to encourage individuals to: (1) report information on fraud and abuse under Medicare; 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. 204) Amends SSA title XI to extend the application of criminal penalties for acts involving the Medicare program to similar violations of any plan or program that provides health benefits, whether directly, through insurance, or otherwise, which is funded directly, in whole or in part, by the Federal Government, except the Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program. (Sec. 205) Directs the HHS Secretary periodically to publish a notice 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) advisory opinions by the Secretary with regard to SSA title XI civil monetary and criminal penalty provisions; 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 any appropriate 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. 212) 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 determined "unwilling or unable" to comply substantially with a corrective action plan before sanctions may be imposed (thus permitting the 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. 215) Permits the imposition of intermediate sanctions on Medicare health maintenance organizations (HMOs), in addition to the current option of termination. (Sec. 216) Excepts from anti-kickback penalties for discounting and managed care arrangements any remuneration between an organization and an item or service provider under a written agreement if: (1) the organization is a Medicare-eligible HMO or competitive medical plan; or (2) the written agreement places the item or service provider at substantial financial risk for the cost or utilization of such items or services which it is obligated to provide, whether through a withhold, capitation, or other similar risk arrangement. (Sec. 217) Establishes a criminal penalty for fraudulent disposition of assets in order to obtain Medicaid benefits. Subtitle C: Data Collection - 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. 221) Allows the HHS Secretary, under the system for unique identifiers for Medicare physicians, to impose appropriate fees on such physicians to cover the costs of investigation and recertification activities with respect to the issuance of the identifiers. 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; (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; and (4) establishing a penalty for false certification for home health services. (Sec. 232) Requires a knowing level of intent in a violation to justify the imposition of civil money penalties. Subtitle E: Revisions to Criminal Law - Amends the Federal criminal code to define a Federal health care offense and to cover health care fraud, theft or embezzlement in connection with health care, obstruction of criminal investigations of health care offenses, and other specified matters related to health care fraud, such as the laundering of monetary instruments. (Sec. 247) Provides for injunctive relief relating to covered health care offenses, as well as for property forfeitures. Subtitle F: Administrative Simplification - Amends SSA title XI to add a new part C (Administrative Simplification) to provide for development of an electronic system for: (1) processing health care information consistent with the goal of improving the operation of the overall health care system; and (2) reducing related administrative costs through the HHS Secretary's adoption of certain standards for information transactions (including enrollment, disenrollment, claims attachments, and coordination of benefits) and data elements as well as security and privacy standards, and performance of tasks pursuant to specified requirements, assisted by a new Health Information Advisory Committee established by this Act. (Sec. 252) Establishes penalties for the wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information, among other violations of this subtitle.
Bill· HRH.R. 3067 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1996
Methamphetamine Control Act of 1996 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to provide that any chemical supply house that, after having been provided a warning within the previous ten years, sells a listed chemical to a person who uses or intends or attempts to use the listed chemical, or who causes the listed chemical to be used or attempted to be used, to manufacture or produce methamphetamine, shall: (1) be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $250,000; or (2) for a second violation, be ordered to cease the production and sale of any chemicals. Directs the Attorney General to provide a written warning to each chemical supply house that violates such provision. Requires that all amounts received from enforcement of the civil penalty be used by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for the environmental cleanup of clandestine laboratories used to manufacture methamphetamine. Increases penalties for the possession and distribution of a list I chemical. Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to reflect such amendment. Adds penalties for the manufacture and possession of equipment used to make methamphetamine. Includes specified transactions involving pseudoephedrine among those constituting a "regulated transaction." Adds iodine, red phosphorous, and hydrochloric gas to the list of list I chemicals. Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to methamphetamine, including that the rise in manufacture and usage of methamphetamine is of major concern to the United States, that a substantial portion of the ephedrine used to make methamphetamine is smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border, and that all ephedrine and pseudoephedrine producing countries and Mexico should cooperate in any way possible to deter the smuggling of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine into the United States.
Bill· HRH.R. 3065 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1996
Radiopharmaceutical Review Improvement Act of 1996 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to require that the safety and effectiveness of a radiopharmaceutical be determined: (1) weighing the probable health benefit against any probable risk of injury or illness; and (2) taking into account the absence or presence of pharmacological and toxicological activity of the radiopharmaceutical and the estimated absorbed dose. Allows the indications for which a radiopharmaceutical intended for diagnostic purposes is approved to refer to processes, processes common to or present in one or more disease states, or a diagnostic procedure used in the diagnosis of one or more diseases. Requires that, if a radiopharmaceutical is the primary mode of action in a combination of drugs, the persons charged with premarket review of radiopharmaceutical products have primary regulatory jurisdiction.
Bill· HRH.R. 3059 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1996
Prescription Drug Consumer Information Act of 1996 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to prepare and publish annually a consumer guide to prescription drug prices. Regulates guide contents and dissemination. Mandates (except for public libraries) a fee for providing the guide, not to exceed the costs of publication and distribution.
Bill· SS. 1600 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1996
Genetic Fairness Act of 1996 - Prohibits an insurer offering a health plan from: (1) discriminating against an individual or family member on the basis of genetic information or on the basis of an individual's or family member's request for or receipt of genetic services; or (2) requiring a genetic test or questions relating to genetic information. Requires insurers to disclose enrollee rights. Provides for enforcement by State insurance commissioners, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and private actions.
Law· HRH.R. 3056 (104th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1996
Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to permit certain county-operated health insuring organizations in California to qualify as organizations exempt from certain otherwise applicable Medicaid requirements, even though they enroll Medicaid beneficiaries residing in another county.
Bill· HRH.R. 3052 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1996
Medicare Mammography Enhancement Act of 1996 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act relating to the authorized provision of annual screening mammographies for women to: (1) prohibit payment for any screening mammography performed for a woman over 49 years of age (currently, women over 49 but under 65) within 11 months after the previous mammography was performed; (2) allow women over 64 to receive such mammograms within 23 months after the last mammography was performed; and (3) waive any required deductible or coinsurance payments with respect to such mammographies.
Bill· HRH.R. 3043 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1996
Working Families Health Access Act of 1996 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on a health insurance policy issuer (or, in the case of a self-insured plan, the sponsor) equal to a specified percentage of premiums received (or, in the case of a self-insured plan, of expenditures) under the policy or plan during the calendar year for failure to meet the standards specified in this Act. Prohibits the establishment or imposition by group health plans or carriers offering health insurance coverage in connection with a plan, or for individuals with qualifying previous coverage, of eligibility, continuation, enrollment, or contribution requirements based on factors directly related to health status, medical condition, claims experience, receipt of health care, medical history, disability, or evidence of insurability. Requires the use of preexisting condition limitations or exclusions to be limited to a three-month period before the date of enrollment during which the condition was diagnosed or treated. Limits the period of limitation or exclusion relating to treatment of the condition to no more than six months and credits periods of qualifying previous coverage to reduce that period. Makes exceptions to the limitation or exclusion period for treatment related to pregnancy, newborns, and adopted children. Permits an individual to waive the three-month limitation or six-month exclusion period. Prohibits a carrier from refusing to renew health insurance coverage except for specified reasons, including premium nonpayment or fraud by the insured. Details allowable nondiscriminatory conditions for discontinuation of coverage, geographic limitations, and minimum participation requirements. Allows States to establish, implement, or continue in effect health insurance coverage standards that are at least as stringent as those established by this Act. Directs that nothing shall be construed to preempt State laws that: (1) impose a shorter look-back period; (2) impose a limitation or exclusion of benefits for the treatment of a preexisting condition for a shorter period; or (3) allow certain individuals to be considered to be previously covered. Treats, with certain exceptions, divorce (or annulment) or separation of a covered employee from the employee's spouse, if the employee disenrolls a qualified beneficiary within the 12-month period preceding the date of such divorce or separation, as a qualifying event (allowing the election of continuation coverage) and the loss of coverage a result (and by reason) of such event. Permits the termination of COBRA continuation coverage in the case of an individual eligible for coverage as an employee for group health coverage which does not impose a preexisting condition exclusion or limitation.
Bill· SS. 1594 (104th)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1996
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Omnibus Appropriations Title I (sic): Department of Justice Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Title III: The Judiciary Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies Title V: Related Agencies Title VI: General Provisions Title VII: Rescissions Title VIII: Prison Litigation Reform Title I (sic): Fiscal Year 1996 Appropriations Title II: District of Columbia School Reform Subtitle A: District of Columbia Reform Plan Subtitle B: Public Charter Schools Subtitle C: Even Start Subtitle D: World Class Schools Task Force, Core Curriculum, Content Standards, Assessments and Promotion Gates Subtitle E: Per Capita District of Columbia Public School and Public Charter School Funding Subtitle F: School Facilities Repair and Improvement Subtitle G: Residential School Subtitle H: Progress Reports and Accountability Subtitle I: Partnerships with Business Subtitle J: Management and Fiscal Accountability Subtitle K: Personal Accountability and Preservation of School-Based Resources Subtitle L: Establishment and Organization of the Commission on Consensus Reform in the District of Columbia Public Schools Subtitle M: Parent Attendance at Parent-Teacher Conferences Title I (sic): Department of the Interior Title II: Related Agencies Title III: General Provisions Title I (sic): Department of Labor Title II: Department of Health and Human Services Title III: Department of Education Title IV: Related Agencies Title V: General Provisions Title I (sic): Department of Veterans Affairs Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development Title III: Independent Agencies Title IV: Corporations Title V: General Provisions Title II (sic): Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1996 Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions Title IV: Contingency Appropriations Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996 - Title I (sic): Omnibus Appropriations - Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I: Department of Justice - Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes FY 1996 appropriations to the Department of Justice, including funding for the Community Relations Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Federal Prison System. (Sec. 114) Revises provisions of subtitle A (Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth in Sentencing Incentive Grants) of title II (Prisons) of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Directs the Attorney General to provide grants to eligible States to build or expand: (1) correctional facilities to increase the prison bed capacity for the confinement of persons convicted of a "part 1 violent crime" (murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) or adjudicated delinquent for an act which, if committed by an adult, would be a part 1 violent crime; (2) temporary or permanent correctional facilities, including facilities on military bases, prison barges, and boot camps, for the confinement of convicted nonviolent offenders and criminal aliens for the purpose of freeing suitable existing prison space for the confinement of persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime; and (3) jails. Authorizes States to enter into regional compacts to carry out such provisions, subject to specified limitations. Specifies that an eligible State may receive either a general grant or a truth-in- sentencing incentive grant, with an exception. Sets forth general eligibility requirements. Requires a State, to be eligible for a general grant, to submit an application to the Attorney General that provides assurances that such State has, since 1993, increased the percentage of persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime sentenced to prison, the average prison time actually to be served in prison by such persons, and the average percentage of time of the sentence to be actually served in prison by persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime and sentenced to prison (with an indeterminant sentencing exception). Requires a State, to be eligible for a truth-in-sentencing incentive grant, to submit such an application providing assurances that: (1) such State has implemented truth-in-sentencing laws that require (or has enacted but has not yet implemented such laws that, within three years, will require) persons convicted of a part 1 violent crime to serve not less than 85 percent of the sentence imposed; or (2) if the State practices indeterminate sentencing, such State demonstrates that the average time served equals at least 85 percent of the sentences established for such crimes under the State's sentencing and release guidelines (with exceptions for geriatric prisoners or those whose medical condition precludes them from posing a threat to the public after a public hearing in which representatives of the public and the prisoner's victims have had an opportunity to be heard regarding a proposed release). Sets forth special rules regarding State: (1) sharing of funds with counties and other units of local government; (2) policies providing for the recognition of the rights and needs of crime victims; (3) use of funds to build or expand juvenile correctional facilities or pretrial detention facilities for juvenile offenders; and (4) use of funds for the privatization of correctional facilities. Sets forth: (1) formulas for the Attorney General to apply in determining the amount of funds that may be granted to each eligible State; and (2) accountability requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth provisions regarding the distribution, limitations on the use of, and matching requirements with respect to, grant funds. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) payments for incarceration on tribal lands; (2) payments to eligible States for incarceration of criminal aliens (and authorizes appropriations); (3) support of Federal prisoners in non-Federal institutions (and authorizes appropriations); and (4) reports by the Attorney General to the Congress. Title II: Department of Commerce and Related Agencies - Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the Department of Commerce (Department) and related agencies and activities, including: (1) the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; (2) the International Trade Commission and international trade activities; (3) export administration; (4) the Economic Development Administration; (5) minority business development; (6) economic and statistical analysis and administration; (7) the Bureau of the Census and related activities; (8) the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; (9) public broadcasting facilities, planning, and construction; (10) the Patent and Trademark Office; (11) the National Institute of Standards and Technology and related services and activities; (12) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (including a transfer of funds); (13) various government trust funds related to ocean and water resources development and activities; (14) technology policy and administration; and (15) the Office of the Inspector General. Rescinds $75 million of amounts available to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for the construction of research facilities. (Sec. 201) Allows advance payments to be made for authorized Department activities only upon certification by Department officials that such payments are in the public interest. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary or other appropriate agency head, if legislation is enacted to dismantle or reorganize the Department, to report to the appropriations committees within 90 days thereafter a plan for transferring funds provided to the Department in this Act to the appropriate successor organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to use any available funds to carry out the legislation, including voluntary separation incentives if duly authorized. (Sec. 207) Prohibits the use of funds appropriated under this title to implement specified provisions of the Endangered Species Act relating to the determination of endangered or threatened species, except to delist or reclassify species. (Sec. 208) States that the transfer of title of the Rutland City Industrial Complex to Hilinex, Vermont, shall not require compensation to the Government for its share of such property. (Sec. 209) Directs the Secretary to: (1) commence and complete a demolition of existing structures and an environmental cleanup of the Central Foundry Property in Holt, Alabama; and (2) transfer such property to the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority. (Sec. 210) Requires any costs incurred by a department or agency funded under this title resulting from personnel actions taken in response to funding reductions included in this title to be absorbed within the total budgetary resources available to such department or agency. Title III: The Judiciary - Judiciary Appropriations Act, 1996 - Appropriates FY 1996 funds for activities of the Judiciary, including: (1) the Supreme Court; (2) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; (3) the U.S. Court of International Trade; (4) the Courts of Appeals, district courts, and other judicial services; (5) the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (Administrative Office); (6) the Federal Judicial Center; (7) Judicial Retirement Funds; and (8) the United States Sentencing Commission. (Sec. 305) Revises provisions regarding judicial conferences of the circuits to allow (current law requires) the chief judge to summon judges to and preside at, and every judge to attend and remain throughout, such conferences. Title IV: Department of State and Related Agencies - Department of State and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Appropriates funds for FY 1996 for the Department of State and related agencies, activities, and programs, including: (1) diplomatic and consular programs; (2) the Capital Investment Fund; (3) the Office of the Inspector General; (4) payments to the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (5) contributions to international organizations, peacekeeping activities, conferences and commissions; (6) a grant to the Asia Foundation; (7) the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA); (8) the United States Information Agency (USIA); (9) the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Program Trust Fund; (10) the Israeli Arab Scholarship Program; (11) the American Studies Collections Endowment Fund; (12) international broadcasting operations, including broadcasting to Cuba; and (13) the National Endowment for Democracy. (Sec. 401) Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated under this Act. (Sec. 404) Requires the Secretary of State and the Directors of USIA and ACDA, within 90 days after the enactment of legislation consolidating, reorganizing, or downsizing the functions of such department and agencies, to submit to the appropriations committees a proposal for transferring or rescinding funds appropriated herein for such consolidated functions. Authorizes such officials to use any available funds to cover the consolidation costs required by such legislation, including voluntary separation incentives duly authorized. (Sec. 407) Amends the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Act to extend its Au Pair programs through FY 1999. (Sec. 408) Repeals Federal provisions limiting the use of endowment trust income under the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Act. (Sec. 409) Expresses the sense of the Senate that no funds made available under this Act should be used for the deployment of combat- equipped U.S. military personnel for any ground operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, except in specific limited circumstances. Title V: Related Agencies - Appropriates funds for FY 1996 for: (1) the Maritime Administration of the Department of Transportation; (2) the Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad; (3) the Commission on Civil Rights; (4) the Commission on Immigration Reform; (5) the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; (6) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; (7) the Federal Communications Commission; (8) the Federal Maritime Commission; (9) the Federal Trade Commission; (10) the Japan- United States Friendship Commission; (11) the Legal Services Corporation; (12) the Marine Mammal Commission; (13) the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission; (14) the Securities and Exchange Commission; (15) the Small Business Administration; (16) certain accounts and revolving funds; and (17) the State Justice Institute. (Sec. 501) Places limitations on the use of funds by the Legal Services Corporation. Directs the Corporation to: (1) implement a system of competitive awards of grants and contracts that will apply to all contracts for the delivery of legal assistance awarded by the Corporation after March 31, 1996; and (2) promulgate regulations to implement a competitive selection process for the recipients of such grants and contracts. Prohibits the Corporation from: (1) engaging in litigation that is in any way intended to or has the effect of altering or revising any legislative, judicial, or elective district; (2) attempting in any way to influence the issuance of any executive order or regulation or the passage or defeat of any legislation; (3) bringing a class action suit against the Federal Government or any State; (4) providing assistance to any alien unless the alien is lawfully present in this country or meets other specified requirements; (5) supporting or conducting programs to advocate particular public policies or encourage political activities; or (6) participating in any litigation with respect to abortion or any prisoner. Sets forth prohibited uses of funds appropriated to the Corporation. Directs the Corporation to report every 60 days to the appropriations committees setting forth the status of certain legal assistance cases and matters brought through the Corporation. Requires an audit (containing specified information) to be conducted of each person or entity receiving financial assistance from the Corporation. Allows the Corporation access to appropriate legal and financial documents for purposes of such audits, while requiring appropriate confidentiality. Requires such audits for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 1996. (Sec. 510) Provides authorized funds transfers, and transfer limits, for appropriations made to the Small Business Administration. Title VI: General Provisions - Sets forth authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 607) Expresses the sense of the Congress that equipment and products purchased with funds from this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 611) Prohibits the use of funds from this Act to provide specified amenities or personal comforts in the Federal prison system. (Sec. 614) Amends the Federal criminal code to terminate the Advisory Corrections Council. (Sec. 615) Requires costs incurred by a department or agency funded under this title resulting from personnel actions taken in response to funding reductions included in this title to be absorbed within the total budgetary resources available to such department or agency. (Sec. 616) Repeals provisions of the Balanced Budget Downpayment Act, I which, among other things: (1) appropriate necessary amounts at a rate of operations provided for in the conference report on the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996, subject to exceptions; and (2) stipulate that, notwithstanding any other provision of such Act, the rate of operations only for program administration and the continuation of grants awarded in FY 1995 and prior years may be increased up to a level of 75 percent of the final FY 1995 appropriated amount for the Advanced Technology Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Ounce of Prevention Council, Drug Courts, Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, and Cops on the Beat Program. Title VII: Rescissions - Rescinds specified funds from unobligated balances within certain accounts of: (1) the Department of Justice; (2) the State Department; and (3) USIA. Title VIII: Prison Litigation Reform - Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 - Revises Federal criminal code provisions regarding remedies for prison crowding to substitute provisions regarding remedies for prison conditions. Prohibits: (1) prospective relief in any civil action regarding prison conditions from extending further than necessary to correct the violation of the Federal right of particular plaintiffs; and (2) the court from granting or approving any such relief unless that relief is narrowly drawn, extends no further than necessary to correct the violation of the Federal right, and is the least intrusive means necessary to correct the violation. Directs the court to give substantial weight to any adverse impact on public safety or the operation of a criminal justice system caused by the relief. Prohibits the court from ordering prospective relief that requires or permits a government official to exceed his or her authority under, or that otherwise violates, State or local law, unless: (1) Federal law permits such relief to be ordered in violation of State or local law; (2) the relief is necessary to correct the violation of a Federal right; and (3) no other relief will correct the violation of the Federal right. Authorizes the court to enter a temporary restraining order or an order for preliminary injunctive relief, which shall automatically expire 90 days after its entry, with exceptions. Directs the court to give substantial weight to any adverse impact on public safety or operation of a criminal justice system caused by the preliminary relief, and to respect principles of comity in tailoring any such relief. Prohibits a prisoner release order from being entered unless: (1) a court has previously entered an order for less intrusive relief that has failed to remedy the deprivation of the Federal right and the defendant has had a reasonable amount of time to comply with the previous court orders; and (2) it is entered by a three-judge court, which finds by clear and convincing evidence that crowding is the primary cause of the violation and no other relief will remedy it. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) termination or modification of relief; (2) settlements; (3) State law remedies; (4) procedure for motions affecting prospective relief; and (5) the use of special masters. (Sec. 803) Amends the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act to require the Attorney General to personally sign any complaint filed, or any certification or motion to intervene made, to initiate a civil action under the Act. Revises provisions of the Act to prohibit any action from being brought by a prisoner with respect to prison conditions until available administrative remedies are exhausted. Specifies that the failure of a State to adopt or adhere to an administrative grievance procedure shall not constitute the basis for an action. Directs the court to dismiss any such action if satisfied that the action is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief (and authorizes the court, in such instances, to dismiss the underlying claim without first requiring exhaustion of administrative remedies). Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) limits on the award of attorney's fees; (2) limits on recovery; (3) hearings; and (4) waiver of reply. (Sec. 804) Amends the Federal judicial code to require a prisoner: (1) of a Federal, State, or local institution seeking to bring a civil action or appeal a judgment in a civil action or proceeding without prepayment of fees or security to submit a certified copy of the prisoner's trust fund account statement for the six-month period immediately preceding the filing of the complaint or notice of appeal, obtained from the appropriate official of each institution at which the prisoner is or was confined; and (2) who brings a civil action or files an appeal in forma pauperis to pay the full amount of a filing fee (and directs the court to assess and, when funds exist, to collect, as a partial payment of any court fees required by law, an initial partial filing fee of 20 percent of the greater of the average monthly deposits to the prisoner's account or the average monthly balance in the prisoner's account for such six-month period). Sets forth similar provisions regarding the payment of costs by the prisoner. Revises provisions regarding the appointment of counsel in forma pauperis proceedings to require the court to dismiss the case at any time if the allegation of poverty is untrue or if the action or appeal is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. Makes an exception to the discharge of debt in a bankruptcy proceeding for a fee imposed by a court for the filing of a case, motion, complaint, or appeal, or for other costs and expenses assessed with respect to such filing, regardless of an assertion of poverty by the debtor or the debtor's status as a prisoner. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) successive claims; (2) judicial screening of complaints in civil actions brought by prisoners against governmental entities; and (3) limits of Federal tort claims by prisoners. (Sec. 807) Requires any compensatory damages award to a prisoner in connection with a civil action brought against any Federal, State, or local correctional facility or official or agent thereof to be paid directly to satisfy any outstanding restitution orders pending against the prisoner, with the remainder forwarded to the prisoner. (Sec. 808) Provides for notice to crime victims of pending damage awards. (Sec. 809) Authorizes the court to revoke earned release credit under specified circumstances. Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) direct the Bureau of Prisons, in awarding credit towards service of sentence for satisfactory behavior, to consider whether the prisoner has earned or is making satisfactory progress toward earning a high school diploma or an equivalent degree; and (2) provide that credit awarded after the date of enactment of this Act shall vest on the date the prisoner is released from custody. Title I (sic): Fiscal Year 1996 Appropriations - District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for the District of Columbia Government for FY 1996, including funds for: (1) the Federal payment ($660 million); (2) the Federal contribution to the Police Officers and Fire Fighters', Teachers', and Judges' Retirement Funds ($52.07 million); and (3) the Federal contribution to education reform ($14.93 million). Appropriates specified sums for the District of Columbia out of the District of Columbia general fund for the current fiscal year for: (1) governmental direction and support; (2) economic development and regulation; (3) public safety and justice; (4) the public education system; (5) education reform; (6) human support services; (7) public works; (8) repayment of specified loans and interest; (9) repayment of the general fund recovery debt; (10) repayment of interest on short-term borrowing; (11) the Rainy Day Fund; (12) the incentive buyout program; (13) outplacement services; (14) capital outlay (including rescissions); (15) the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund and construction projects; (16) the Lottery and Charitable Games Enterprise Fund; (17) the Cable Television Enterprise Fund; (18) the Starplex Fund; (19) D.C. General Hospital; (20) the D.C. Retirement Board; (21) the Correctional Industries Fund; (22) the Washington Convention Center Enterprise Fund; and (23) the D.C. Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority (Authority). Prohibits the use of revenues from Federal sources to support the Statehood Commission and Statehood Compact Commission. Requires the District to operate a free, 24-hour telephone information service where residents of the area surrounding Lorton prison can obtain information about all prison disturbances. Requires the Mayor of the District to reduce appropriations and expenditures in specified amounts for: (1) nonpersonal services and personal services, including by decreasing rates of compensation for District government employees through the renegotiation of existing collective bargaining agreements and otherwise, if necessary; and (2) boards and commissions. Requires the Chief Financial Officer of the District, on behalf of the Mayor, to adjust appropriations and expenditures for personal and nonpersonal services, together with the related full-time equivalent positions, in accordance with the direction of the Authority to obtain a specified net reduction within or among one or several of the various appropriation headings in this Act. (Sec. 101) Sets forth certain uses of and restrictions on the expenditure of appropriations made by this Act. (Sec. 110) Requires that the annual budget for the District of Columbia government for FY 1997 be transmitted to the Congress by April 15, 1996, or as provided under the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995. (Sec. 123) Directs the Mayor to submit to the D.C. Council, within 30 days after the end of the first quarter of FY 1996, the FY 1996 revenue estimates. (Sec. 130) Prohibits: (1) Federal funds provided under this Act from being used by the District to provide for salaries, expenses, or other costs associated with the offices of U.S. Senator or U.S. Representatives under the District of Columbia Statehood Constitutional Convention Initiatives of 1979; (2) any funds appropriated under this from being expended for any abortion unless it is necessary to save the life of the mother or if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest; or (3) any funds made available pursuant to this Act from being used to implement or enforce the District Domestic Partner Act (also called the District of Columbia Health Care Benefits Expansion Act of 1992) or any registration system for unmarried, cohabitating couples whether they are homosexual, lesbian, or heterosexual, including registration for the extension of employment, health, or governmental benefits to such couples on the same basis that such benefits are extended to legally married couples. (Sec. 135) Amends the District of Columbia Real Property Tax Revision Act of 1974 to require the D.C. Council, if it extends the time to establish rates of taxation on real property for a tax year, to establish such rates by permanent legislation. Changes the date by which the Council should establish the rates from July 15 to October 15. Applies, during a tax year, the rates of taxation for the prior year if the rates are not established and the Council does not extend the time. Makes the real property tax rates for taxable real property in the District for FY 1996 the same rates in effect for FY 1994. Repeals provisions of the Act which require such rates to be those submitted by the Mayor or the D.C. Council. (Sec. 137) Specifies reporting requirements for: (1) the Mayor (with respect to actions to effect the directives of the Council in this Act with respect to certain spending reductions); (2) the Board of Education; and (3) the University of the District of Columbia. (Sec. 144) Prohibits an agency from filling a position wholly funded by appropriations authorized by this Act which is vacant on October 1, 1995, or which becomes vacant during FY 1996, unless the Mayor or the independent agency submits a proposed resolution of intent to fill the vacant position to the D.C. Council for approval or disapproval. Prohibits any reduction in the number of full-time equivalent positions or any reduction-in-force due to privatization or contracting out if the Authority disallows the full-time equivalent position reduction provided in this Act in meeting the specified ceiling of 35,984 for FY 1996. Allows the appropriate personnel authority to fill a vacant position with a District government employee currently occupying a position that is funded with appropriated funds. Exempts local school-based teachers, officers, teachers' aides, or certain D.C. court personnel. (Sec. 147) Precludes the use of the funds provided in this Act for the renovation of property at 227 7th Street Southeast, Washington, D.C. (commonly known as Eastern Market), except for the regular maintenance and upkeep of its current structure and grounds. (Sec. 149) Modifies D.C. reductions-in-force procedures to allow a personnel authority to establish lesser competitive areas within an agency on the basis of all or a clearly identifiable segment of an agency's mission or a division or major subdivision of an agency. Authorizes each agency head to identify positions for abolishment. Outlines procedures for abolishment of such positions for FY 1996. (Sec. 150) Prohibits the total amount appropriated in this Act under the caption "Division of Expenses" for District operating expenses for FY 1996 from exceeding $4.994 billion, of which $165.339 million shall be from intra-District funds. Allows the Mayor to accept, obligate, and expend Federal, private, and other grants received by the District government that are not reflected in the amounts appropriated in this Act. Prohibits acceptance, obligation, and expenditure of such grants until: (1) the Chief Financial Officer submits to the Authority a report setting forth detailed information regarding such grant; and (2) the Authority reviews and approves such action. Prohibits obligation or expenditure from the general fund or other funds of the District government in anticipation of approval or receipt of such grants not subject to this Act. Requires the Chief Financial Officer to report monthly to the D.C. Council and specified congressional committees on detailed information regarding all of such grants subject to this Act. (Sec. 151) Requires the District, by March 15, 1996, to develop a series of alternative plans for the use and operation of the Lorton Correctional Complex, including plans under which the Complex will be closed, will remain in operation under the District's management, or will be operated under Federal or private management (Sec. 152) Prohibits a person from joining in a petition to a District court for a decree of adoption unless the person is the petitioner's spouse. Allows an unmarried person to file a petition for adoption when no other person joins in the petition or where the co-petitioner is the natural parent of the child. (Sec. 154) Establishes in the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund: (1) the Operation and Maintenance Account to be used solely for funding the operation and maintenance of the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Facility and related waste water treatment works; and (2) an Environmental Protection Agency Grant Account to be used solely for purposes specified under the terms of the grants and appropriations involved. Title II: District of Columbia School Reform - District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995 - Subtitle A: District of Columbia Reform Plan - Requires the Superintendent of the District of Columbia public schools, with the approval of the Board of Education, to submit a long-term reform plan for the District's school system to the Mayor, the D.C. Council, the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority, the Commission on Consensus Reform in the District of Columbia public schools (established under subtitle L), and the appropriate congressional committees within 90 days after this Act's enactment and each February 15 thereafter. Requires each plan to be consistent with the financial plan and budget for the District for FY 1996 and each subsequent fiscal year, as the case may be, required under the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995. Specifies areas to be addressed, measurement and deadline requirements, and goals for the plans, including: (1) improving the health and safety of students; and (2) providing after-school programs offering such activities as arts classes, physical fitness programs, and community service. Subtitle B: Public Charter Schools - Prescribes the process for filing charter petitions with respect to an eligible applicant seeking to: (1) convert an existing District public, private, or independent school into a public charter school; or (2) establish a public charter school in the District. (Sec. 2202) Lists the contents of public charter school petitions, including a description of the proposed scope and size of the school's program, any special area of focus for the school, the employment relationship between the school and its employees, and assurances that the school will seek and maintain accreditation and licensing. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the process for approving or denying petitions (permits approval of up to ten petitions for the 1996-1997 academic year and up to five for each year thereafter); (2) duties, powers, and other requirements of such schools (prohibits the schools from charging tuition, fees, or other mandatory payments, except to nonresident students or for field trips or similar activities and requires the schools to be nonsectarian and unaffiliated with a sectarian school or religious institution); (3) the Boards of Trustees of such schools; (4) student admission, enrollment, and withdrawal; (5) transfers, creditable service, and retirement concerns of District public school employees who work for public charter schools; (6) reduced fares on public transportation for the schools' students; and (7) the provision of services, such as facilities maintenance, to public charter schools by the Superintendent of D.C. schools. (Sec. 2210) Considers a public charter school, for any fiscal year, to be a local educational agency (LEA) for purposes of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) and makes the school eligible for assistance under ESEA if the ratio of low-income students to all students in the school equals or exceeds the lowest of such ratio for an eligible public school. Provides for the allocation of ESEA assistance between eligible District public charter schools and public schools for FY 1996 through 1998. Requires the Secretary of Education to calculate such allocations for FY 1999 and there after according to a specified formula based on the numbers of low-income students served. Prohibits the Board of Education from directing a public charter school in the school's use of such funds. Exempts the public charter schools from specified ESEA provisions and from District property and sales taxes. Directs each public charter school to elect to be treated as an LEA or a District public school for purposes of specified provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. (Sec. 2211) Outlines the powers and duties of eligible chartering authorities. (Sec. 2212) Requires a charter granted to a public charter school to be in force for a five-year period. Allows renewal of such charter for an unlimited number of times (each for a five-year period). (Sec. 2213) Permits an eligible chartering authority that has granted a charter to a public charter school to revoke the charter if the authority determines that the school has committed a violation of applicable laws or a material violation of the conditions, terms, standards, or procedures set forth in the charter. (Sec. 2214) Establishes a Public Charter School Board within the District government. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 2000. (Sec. 2215) Encourages the following Federal agencies and federally established entities to explore whether it is feasible for the agency or entity to establish one or more public charter schools and to report such determination on the feasibility to the appropriate congressional committees: (1) the Library of Congress; (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Museum; (3) the Drug Enforcement Administration; (4) the National Science Foundation; (5) the Department of Justice; (6) the Department of Defense; (7) the Department of Education; and (8) the Smithsonian Institution, including the National Zoological Park, the National Museum of American History, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the National Gallery of Art. Subtitle C: Even Start - Amends ESEA to authorize appropriations for FY 1996 through 2000 for the purpose of carrying out Even Start programs in the District. Requires the Secretary to provide grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable them to carry out District Even Start programs that build on the findings of the National Evaluation of the Even Start Family Literacy Program, such as providing intensive services in early childhood education, parent training, and adult literacy or education. Limits such grants to eight for FY 1996, 14 for FY 1997, 20 for each of FY 1998 and 1999, and 20 or such number as the Secretary determines appropriate for FY 2000, taking into account the results of evaluations described in ESEA. Defines "eligible entity" as a partnership composed of at least: (1) a District public school: (2) the LEA in existence on September 1, 1995, for the District, any other public organization, or an institution of higher education as defined in the Higher Education Act of 1965; and (3) a private nonprofit community-based organization. Directs the Secretary to allocate specified amounts of authorized appropriations for District Even Start programs to: (1) enter into a contract with the National Center for Family Literacy for the provision of technical assistance to eligible entities; and (2) provide for evaluations to determine the effectiveness of such programs in providing high quality family literacy services. Subtitle D: World Class Schools Task Force, Core Curriculum, Content Standards, Assessments, and Promotion Gates - Part 1: World Class Schools Task Force, Core Curriculum, Content Standards, and Assessments - Authorizes the Superintendent to award a grant to a World Class Schools Task Force to enable the Task Force to recommend to the Superintendent, the Board of Education, and the District of Columbia Goals Panel: (1) content standards in the core academic subjects that are developed by working with the District community (requires such standards to be developed within 12 months after this Act's enactment); (2) a core curriculum (which includes the teaching of computer skills) developed by working with the D.C. community; (3) district-wide assessments for measuring student achievement in accordance with such content standards; and (4) model professional development programs for teachers using the standards and curriculum. Encourages the Task Force, to the extent practicable, to develop district-wide assessments that permit comparison among: (1) individual D.C. public schools and public charter schools and individual students attending such schools; and (2) students of other nations. (Sec. 2415) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996. Part 2: Promotion Gates - Requires the Superintendent, within one year of the adoption of the assessments, to establish and implement promotion gates: (1) for mathematics, reading, and writing for at least one grade level from kindergarten through grade four, including at least grade four, and to establish dates for establishing such other promotion gates for other subject areas; (2) with respect to at least one grade level from grades five through eight, including at least grade eight; and (3) with respect to at least one grade level from grades nine through 12, including grade 12. Subtitle E: Per Capita District of Columbia Public School and Public Charter School Funding - Requires the Mayor, for FY 1997 and each fiscal year thereafter, to make annual payments to the Board of Education for the operating expenses of the District public schools and charter schools from the general fund of the District in accordance with a specified formula based on the number of students in public schools and public charter schools. (Sec. 2502) Sets forth provisions which require reports by: (1) each public school and charter school to the Mayor and the Board of Education of the calculation of the number of students enrolled in each grade from kindergarten through grade 12; (2) the Board of Education to the Authority, the Mayor, the D.C. Council, the Consensus Commission, the Comptroller General of the United States, and appropriate congressional committees which summarize the most recent calculations; and (3) the Authority on an independent audit of such initial calculations. (Sec. 2503) Sets forth provisions providing for transition funding for District public charter schools. Subtitle F: School Facilities Repair and Improvement - Part 1: School Facilities - Requires the Administrator of the General Services Administration to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement or Understanding with the Superintendent regarding the terms under which the Administrator will provide technical assistance and related services with respect to District public schools facilities management. Authorizes the Administrator to accept and use a conditioned gift made for the express purpose of repairing or improving the District public schools, except that the Administrator shall not be required to carry out such repairs or improvements unless he or she accepts a donation sufficient to cover the costs of the repairs or improvements. (Sec. 2552) Requires the Mayor and the D.C. Council, within 24 months after the Agreement is signed and in consultation with the Administrator, the Authority, the Board of Education, and the Superintendent to: (1) design and implement a comprehensive long-term program for the repair and improvement, and maintenance and management, of the District public school facilities; and (2) designate a new or existing agency or authority within the District government to administer the program. (Sec. 2553) Authorizes appropriations to the Administrator for FY 1996 for the costs of engineering plans. Part 2: Waivers - Allows voluntary donation of materials and services for the repair and improvement of District school facilities. Waives, with respect to any contractor, subcontractor, and any other group, entity, or individual who donates materials and services for the repair or improvement of a District public school facility, all District fees and all requirements contained in the document entitled "District of Columbia Public Schools Standard Contract Provisions" published by the District public schools for use with construction or maintenance projects for purposes of repair and improvement of such facilities for a period beginning on this Act's enactment date and ending 24 months after such date. Part 3: Gifts, Donations, Bequests, and Devises - Allows a District public school or public charter school to accept directly from any person a gift, donation, bequest, or devise of any property, real or personal, without regard to any District law or regulation. Subtitle G: Residential School - Authorizes the Superintendent to develop a plan that meets specified requirements to establish for the District a residential school for academic year 1997-1998 and to assist in the startup of such school. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 to develop the plan and for 1997 for capital costs associated with the startup of the school, including the purchase of real and personal property and the renovation or construction of facilities. Makes the school an eligible institution for the purposes of scholarships awarded under this Act. Subtitle H: Progress Reports and Accountability - Requires the Superintendent to report to the appropriate congressional committees, the Board of Education, the Mayor, the Consensus Commission, and the D.C. Council on the progress of the District public schools toward achieving the goals of the long-term reform plan. (Sec. 2652) Requires the Chairperson of the D.C. Council to report to such committees on legislative and other actions the Council has taken or will take to facilitate the implementation of the goals of such plan. Subtitle I: Partnerships with Business - Requires the Superintendent to provide a grant to a private, nonprofit corporation which shall: (1) establish the District Education and Learning Technologies Advancement Council; (2) in conjunction with the Superintendent, students, parents, and teachers, implement strategies to ensure access to state-of-the-art educational technology within the District public schools and public charter schools; (3) assist the Superintendent in acquiring the necessary equipment, including computer hardware and software, to establish an electronic data transfer system and in training District public school employees in using such equipment; (4) establish the District Employment and Learning Center to serve as a regional institute providing job training and employment assistance; (5) establish initiatives with the District public schools and public charter schools, appropriate governmental agencies, and businesses and other private entities to facilitate the integration of rigorous academic studies with workforce preparation programs in District public schools and public charter schools; (6) establish a consortium for the purpose of establishing a program for the professional development of teachers and school administrators employed by the District public schools and public charter schools; (7) provide matching funds, or in-kind contributions, or a combination thereof, for the purposes of carrying out such duties; and (8) establish the Jobs for District of Columbia Graduates Program to assist District public schools and public charter schools in organizing and implementing a school-to-work transition system to give priority to providing assistance to at-risk and disadvantaged youths. (Sec. 2705) Requires the corporation, to the extent practicable, to provide matching funds, or in-kind contributions, or a combination thereof, for the purposes of carrying out such duties. (Sec. 2708) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 1998. (Sec. 2709) Terminates on October 1, 1998, the authority to provide assistance to the corporation or any other entity established by it. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the corporation's activities under this Act should continue to be carried out after such date with resources made available from the private sector; and (2) the corporation should provide oversight and coordination for such activities after such date. Subtitle J: Management and Fiscal Accountability - Requires the Board of Education: (1) to enter into a contract for academic year 1995 through 1996 and each succeeding academic year for the provision of all food services operations and security services for District public schools, unless the Superintendent determines that it is not feasible and provides such reasons in writing to the Board and to the Authority; and (2) for academic year 1995 through 1996, to consult with the Authority on the development of new management and data systems, as well as training of personnel to use and manage the systems in areas of budget, finance, personnel and human resources, management information services, procurement, supply management, and other systems recommended by the Authority. (Sec. 2752) Sets forth provisions with respect to the Board of Education regarding: (1) annual reporting requirements on positions and employees of the D.C. public school system; (2) annual budgets and budget revisions; (3) read-only access to its internal financial management systems and all other data bases to designated staff of the Mayor, the Council, the Authority, and appropriate congressional committees; and (4) development of its FY 1997 budget request. Subtitle K: Personal Accountability and Preservation of School- Based Resources - Prohibits a reduction in the full-time equivalent positions for school-based teachers, principals, counselors, librarians, or other school-based educational positions that were established as of the end of FY 1995, unless the Authority determines, based on student enrollment that: (1) fewer school-based positions are needed to maintain established pupil-to-staff ratios; or (2) reductions in positions for other than school-based employees are not practicable. Defines "school-based educational position" as a position located at a District public school or other position providing direct support to students at such a school such as a position for a clerical, stenographic, or secretarial employee, but not any part-time educational aide position. (Sec. 2802) Amends the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 to modify the Board of Education's reduction-in-force procedures to prohibit the Board from requiring or permitting nonschool-based personnel or school administrators to be assigned or reassigned to the same competitive level as classroom teachers. (Sec. 2803) Makes the evaluation process and instruments for evaluating District public school employees a nonnegotiable item for collective bargaining purposes. (Sec. 2804) Provides that such an employee shall be: (1) classified as an educational service employee; (2) placed under the Board's personnel authority; and (3) subject to all Board rules. Subtitle L: Establishment and Organization of the Commission on Consensus Reform in the District of Columbia Public Schools - Establishes within the District government a Commission on Consensus Reform in the District of Columbia Public Schools to: (1) identify and suggest ways to remove obstacles to implementation of the long- term reform plan; (2) assist in developing programs that lower the dropout rate and that ensure that public school students achieve basic literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills; (3) assist in developing district-wide skills assessments; (4) make recommendations to improve community, parent, and business involvement in public schools; (5) recommend ways to increase student involvement and attention; and (6) assist in establishing procedures that ensure that every student is provided necessary employment skills, including the development of individual career paths. (Sec. 2854) Requires any student who is required to serve a suspension from classes at a District public school outside the school, to perform community service. (Sec. 2855) Allows the Commission to examine and request the Inspector General of the District of Columbia or the Authority to audit: (1) Board of Education records to ensure, monitor, and evaluate the Board's performance with respect to compliance with the long-term reform plan and such plan's overall educational achievement; and (2) records of any public charter school to assure, monitor and evaluate the performance of the school with respect to the content standards and district-wide assessment. Subtitle M: Parent Attendance at Parent-Teacher Conferences - Authorizes the Mayor to implement a policy which encourages all District residents with children attending a District public school to attend and participate in at least one parent-teacher conference every 90 days during the academic year. Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I (sic): Department of the Interior - Makes appropriations for the FY 1996 operation of the Department of the Interior. Prohibits this Act's funds being spent by the National Park Service for activities in direct response to the United Nations Biodiversity Initiative in the United States. Authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to transfer NPS funds to State, local, and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations to carry out NPS programs. Directs the National Park Service to conduct a Feasibility Study for a northern access route into Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Restricts or regulates: (1) the use of this Act's research resources funds regarding the Endangered Species Act; and (2) activities and funding relating to the National Biological Survey. Provides funding for the closure of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, transferring specified functions to the Secretary of Energy. Sets forth the uses and limitations for such appropriations, including use of Bureau of Indian Affairs school system funds. Provides for a report concerning Indian tribes and their compliance with provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. (Sec. 109) Repeals the Outer Banks Protection Act. (Sec. 118) Sets forth provisions affecting the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands concerning infrastructure assistance. Title II: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service. Prohibits the use of funds to implement any reorganization or "reinvention" of the Forest Service. Makes appropriations for the Department of Energy for, among other things, fossil energy research and development, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), and the SPR Account. Makes appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Indian Health Service for Indian health services and facilities. Appropriates funds to: (1) the Department of Education for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education for Indian Education; (2) the Office of Navajo and Hopi Relocation; (3) the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development; (4) the Smithsonian Institution; (5) construction and improvements at the National Zoological Park; (6) restoration and repair of buildings owned or occupied by the Smithsonian Institution; (7) the National Gallery of Art; (8) the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and (9) the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Makes appropriations for: (1) the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities; (2) the Institute of Museum Services; (3) the Commission of Fine Arts; (4) National Capital arts and cultural affairs; (5) the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; (6) the National Capital Planning Commission; (7) the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission; and (8) the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. Requires that funds made available in previous years for the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation be available for operating and administrative expenses and for the orderly closure of the Corporation. Rescinds $2.172 million. Sets forth uses and prohibitions on such funds. Title III: General Provisions - Sets forth uses and limitations of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 307) Requires expenditures under this Act to comply with the Buy American Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress that entities receiving Federal assistance should purchase only American-made equipment and products. Prohibits Federal contracts with persons found to have falsely labeled a product with a "Made in America" inscription. (Sec. 312) Prohibits any funds from this Act from being used for the AmeriCorps program. (Sec. 313) Mandates dissolution of the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation. (Sec. 314) Regulates use of any Act's funds for the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project. (Sec. 315) Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a fee program to demonstrate the feasibility of user-generated cost recovery for the operation and maintenance of recreation areas or sites and habitat enhancement projects on Federal lands. (Sec. 322) Prohibits, with exceptions, use of this Act's funds to accept or process applications for a patent for any mining or mill site claim located under the general mining laws. (Sec. 324) Prohibits funding the Office of Forestry and Economic Development after December 31, 1995. (Sec. 326) Provides for a land exchange in Washington State. Authorizes appropriations as necessary to carry out this Act. (Sec. 327) Provides for the establishment of the Timber Sales Pipeline Restoration Fund. (Sec. 328) Places limitations on the type of grant awards that can be made by the National Endowment for the Arts. (Sec. 329) Delays the implementation of regulations concerning livestock grazing on lands administered by the Forest Service. (Sec. 330) Increases penalties for the use of a hazardous or injurious device on Federal or Indian lands. (Sec. 331) Prohibits, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the use of funds available to the National Endowment for the Arts pursuant to this Act to promote, disseminate, sponsor, or produce any material or performance that: (1) denigrates the religious objects or religious beliefs of the adherents of a particular religion; or (2) depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual or excretory activities or organs. Requires that this prohibition be strictly applied without regard to the content or viewpoint of the material or performance. (Sec. 333) Prohibits using this Act's funds to review or modify sourcing areas previously approved under specified provisions of the Forest Resources Conservation and Shortage Relief Act of 1990 or to enforce or implement specified Federal regulations. Prohibits adoption of policies that would restrain domestic transportation or processing of timber from private lands or impose additional accountability requirements on any timber. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I (sic): Department of Labor - Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies within the Department of Labor. Rescinds unobligated advances to the Employment Security Administration account of the Unemployment Trust Fund. Title II: Department of Health and Human Services - Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services. Rescinds existing and makes new appropriations for low income home energy assistance, designating certain of the new appropriations as emergency requirements under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and making those funds available only on a formal presidential budget request that designates the request as an emergency requirement under that Act. Provides limitations on the use of appropriated funds. (Sec. 207) Requires a transfer of funds for the security protection of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (Sec. 209) Rescinds amounts for Disease Control, Research, and Training under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Title III: Department of Education - Department of Education Appropriations Act, 1996 - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for agencies and programs within the Department of Education. Sets forth general provisions relating to the use of appropriated funds. (Sec. 301) Prohibits appropriated funds from being used to transport teachers or students in order to: (1) overcome racial imbalance in any school or school system; or (2) carry out a racial desegregation plan. (Sec. 303) Prohibits the use of funds to prevent the implementation of programs of voluntary prayer and meditation in the public schools. Title IV: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the following agencies or programs: (1) Armed Forces Retirement Home; (2) Corporation for National and Community Service; (3) Corporation for Public Broadcasting; (4) Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; (5) Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission; (6) National Commission on Libraries and Information Science; (7) National Council on Disability; (8) National Education Goals Panel; (9) National Labor Relations Board; (10) National Mediation Board; (11) Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission; (12) Physician Payment Review Commission; (13) Prospective Payment Assessment Commission; (14) Social Security Administration; (15) Railroad Retirement Board; and (16) United States Institute of Peace. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth provisions on the use of the appropriated funds. (Sec. 505) Prohibits the use of funds to carry out any program of distributing sterile needles for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug unless the Surgeon General determines that such programs are effective in preventing the spread of HIV and do not encourage the use of illegal drugs. (Sec. 506) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and funds purchased under this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 507) Imposes a disclosure requirement on grantees receiving Federal funds. (Sec. 508) Prohibits the use of funds to perform abortions except to save the life of the mother or where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. (Sec. 509) Permits States to not perform abortions, except where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term. (Sec. 510) Sets forth limitations on the use of appropriated funds. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I (sic): Department of Veterans Affairs - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Provides for the use of such appropriations. Sets forth various administrative provisions, including specified limitations, with respect to availability, transfers, and use of such appropriations. (Sec. 103) Prohibits availability of such appropriations for: (1) purchase of any site for or toward the construction of any new hospital or home (except the appropriations for construction of major or minor projects or the parking revolving fund); and (2) hospitalization or examination of any persons except beneficiaries entitled under the laws bestowing such benefits to veterans, unless reimbursement is made to the appropriation at rates fixed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (Sec. 108) Authorizes the Secretary to transfer jurisdiction and control of certain land in Wichita, Kansas, to the Secretary of Transportation. Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Provides for the use of such appropriations. (Sec. 201) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 (USHA), as amended by the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Additional Disaster Assistance, for Anti-terrorism Initiatives, for Assistance in the Recovery from the Tragedy that Occurred at Oklahoma City, and Rescissions Act, 1995, to authorize public housing agencies to provide modernization assistance to mixed-income developments. (Sec. 203) Provides for conversion of certain public housing to vouchers. Requires each PHA to: (1) identify any distressed public housing developments that meet specified criteria; and (2) develop and carry out a plan in conjunction with the Secretary for their removal from the PHA inventory and the annual contributions contract, over a period of up to five years (with possible extensions for up to another five years in certain circumstances). Directs the Secretary to make authority available to a PHA to provide section 8 tenant-based assistance to families residing in any development that is removed from the PHA inventory and the annual contributions contract. Requires each conversion plan to require the PHA to notify and counsel families residing in such a development, and ensure that they are offered tenant-based or project-based assistance and relocated, as necessary, to other decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing which is, to the maximum extent practicable, housing of their choice. (Sec. 204) Repeals a "take one-take all" requirement under USHA that a housing owner who accepts a Section 8 voucher holder as a tenant must accept all others. Exempts housing unit owners participating in the certificate and voucher programs from certain notice requirements relating to rent increases or termination of their assistance payment contracts with a PHA. Limits certain requirements to the duration of a lease. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary to conduct a demonstration program under which up to 30 selected PHAs (including Indian housing authorities) may administer the public or Indian housing program and the section 8 housing assistance payments program in ways which are designed to reduce costs and achieve greater cost-effectiveness in Federal expenditures, provide incentives for heads of households to become economically self-sufficient, and increase housing choices for lower-income families. (Sec. 208) Amends the Multifamily Housing Finance Improvement Act, under the housing and Community Development Act of 1992, to extend the risk-sharing and housing finance agency pilot demonstration programs but reduce the number of units involved in such programs during FY 1996. (Sec. 209) Authorizes the Secretary of HUD to delegate, during FY 1996, to one or more entities the authority to carry out some or all of the Secretary's responsibilities and functions in connection with the foreclosure of HUD-held mortgages under the National Housing Act (NHA). (Sec. 210) Authorizes the Secretary, during FY 1996, to sell or otherwise transfer multifamily mortgages held by the Secretary under the National Housing Act to State housing finance agencies, in connection with the risk-sharing or the housing finance agency pilot demonstration program under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, without regard to certain unit limitations. (Sec. 211) Amends section 8 of the USHA to provide for the transfer of budget authority. Directs the Secretary, if a section 8 assistance contract, other than a contract for tenant-based assistance, is terminated, not renewed, or expires, to transfer any budget authority remaining in that contract to another contract, in order to provide continued assistance to eligible families, including those receiving the benefit of the project-based assistance at the time of the termination. (Sec. 212) Makes certain amendments (made by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1995) relating to documentation of multifamily refinancings under the National Housing Act effective during FY 1996 and thereafter. (Sec. 213) Directs the Secretary, in FY 1996 and 1997, to initiate a demonstration program with respect to multifamily projects: (1) whose owners agree to participate; (2) whose mortgages are insured under the NHA and assisted under section 8 of the USHA; and (3) whose present section 8 rents are, in the aggregate, exceed the fair market rent of the locality in which the project is located. Requires these programs to be designed to test the feasibility and desirability of the goal of ensuring, to the maximum extent practicable, that the debt service and operating expenses, including adequate reserves, attributable to such multifamily projects can be supported with or without mortgage insurance under the NHA and with or without above-market rents and utilizing project-based assistance or, with the consent of the property owner, tenant-based assistance, while taking into account the need for assistance of low and very low-income families in such projects. Authorizes the Secretary to use arrangements with third parties, under which the Secretary may provide for their assumption of some or all of the Secretary's functions, obligations, and benefits. Sets forth goals and demonstration approaches for such programs. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) manage and dispose of multifamily properties and multifamily mortgages for properties assisted under section 8 with rents above 110 percent of fair market rents; and (2) delegate to one or more entities the authority to carry out some or all of the Secretary's functions and responsibilities in connection with the foreclosure of mortgages held under the NHA. Authorizes the Secretary, subject to the consent of specified parties, to: (1) remove, relinquish, extinguish, modify, or agree to the removal of any mortgage, regulatory agreement, project-based assistance contract, use agreement, or restriction that had been imposed or required by the Secretary, including restrictions on distributions of income which would interfere with the ability of the project to operate without above market rents; (2) require an owner of a property assisted under the section 8 new construction-substantial rehabilitation program to apply any accumulated residual receipts toward effecting program purposes; (3) enter into contracts to purchase reinsurance, or enter into participations or otherwise transfer economic interest in contracts of insurance or in the premiums paid, or due to be paid, on such insurance to third parties; (4) offer project-based assistance with rents at or below fair market rents for the locality and negotiate other terms acceptable to the Secretary and the project owner; (5) offer to pay all or a portion of the project's debt service, including payments monthly from the appropriate Insurance Fund, for the full remaining term of the insured mortgage; (6) forgive and cancel any mortgage debt insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that a demonstration program property cannot carry at market rents while bearing full operating costs; and (7) for demonstration program properties that cannot carry full operating costs (excluding debt service) at market rents, approve project-based rents sufficient to carry such full operating costs (and offer to pay the full debt service in the specified manner). Directs the Secretary to develop procedures to provide appropriate and timely notice to local government officials, the community, and the tenants of the project. Limits such demonstration program authority with respect to mortgages to not more than 15,000 units. Prohibits the expansion of such demonstration until specified reports are submitted to the Congress. Appropriates funds for the cost of modifying loans held or guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). (Sec. 217) Requires all remaining obligated and unobligated balances in the Renewal of Expiring Section 8 Subsidy Contracts account on September 30, 1995, to be transferred to and merged with the obligated and unobligated balances, respectively, of the Annual Contributions for Assisted Housing account. (Sec. 218) Directs the Secretary to cancel the indebtedness of the Hubbard Hospital Authority of Hubbard, Texas, of the Groveton Texas Hospital Authority, and of the Hepzibah Public Service District of Hepzibah, West Virginia, relating to specified public facilities loans under title II of the Housing Amendments of 1955. (Sec. 219) Determines the Paul Mirabile Center, San Diego, California, to satisfy HUD continuum care requirements. Treats such Center as entirely residential rental property consisting solely of residential units used exclusively to facilitate the transition of homeless individuals to independent living within 24 months. (Sec. 220) Limits to no more than seven Assistant Secretaries and 77 schedule C and 20 non-career senior executive service employees the number of such Assistant Secretaries and employees in HUD by the end of FY 1996. (Sec. 221) Requires specified funds to be made available to: (1) the County of San Bernardino in California to assist with the expansion of the Los Padrinos Gang Intervention Program and the Unity Home Domestic Violence Shelter (from remaining funds made available to Bethlehem House in Highland, California, for site planning and loan acquisition); and (2) the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio, for the renovation and rehabilitation of an industrial building (from specified funds for removal of asbestos from an abandoned public school building in that city). (Sec. 222) Amends the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 to revise eligibility criteria to determine which housing qualifies for lead-based paint abatement grants. (Sec. 223) Amends USHA to repeal the six-year limitation on the extension period for Federal sharing of utility cost savings with PHAs under the program of annual contributions for operation of low-income housing. (Sec. 223A) Amends NHA, with respect to the housing program for moderate income and displaced families, to extend through FY 1996 the period for mortgage note sales. (Sec. 223B) Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1988 to repeal the prohibition (Frost-Leland) against the use of funds for demolishing certain historic buildings in Dallas and Houston, Texas. (Sec. 223D) Prohibits the use of any funds in this Act: from being used: (1) by the Secretary to impose any sanction or penalty because of the enactment of any State or local law or regulation declaring English as the official language; or (2) for lobbying activities as prohibited by law. (Sec. 223E) Transfers to the Department of Justice all HUD functions, activities, and responsibilities relating to title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, and the Fair Housing Act, including any rights guaranteed under the Fair Housing Act and any functions relating to the Fair Housing Initiatives program under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987, along with adequate personnel and resources allocated to any such activity. (Sec. 224) Prohibits the use of any funds provided in this Act during FY 1996 to investigate or prosecute under the Fair Housing Act any otherwise lawful activity engaged in by one or more persons, including the filing or maintaining of non-frivolous legal action, that is engaged in solely for the purposes of achieving or preventing action by a Government official, entity, or court of competent jurisdiction. (Sec. 225) Prohibits the use of any funds provided in this Act to take any enforcement action with respect to a complaint of discrimination under the Fair Housing Act on the basis of familial status and which involves an occupancy standard established by the housing provider, except to the extent that it is found that there has been discrimination in contravention of the standards provided a specified HUD Memorandum, or until such time that HUD issues a final rule. (Sec. 226) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 with respect to the eligibility of housing reconstruction costs for expenditure of Community Development Block Grant funds. Title III: Independent Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 to the: (1) American Battle Monuments Commission; (2) Community development Financial Institutions Fund; (3) Consumer Product Safety Commission; (4) Corporation for National and Community Service (including transfer of funds); (5) Court of Veterans Appeals; (6) Department of Defense-Civil for cemeterial expenses, Army; (7) Environmental Protection Agency; (8) Executive Office of the President for the Office of Science and Technology Policy; (9) Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality; (10) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); (11) General Services Administration for the Consumer Information Center; (12) National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (13) National Credit Union Administration for the obligations of the Central Liquidity Facility; (14) National Science Foundation; (15) Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation; and (16) Selective Service System. Authorizes exemption from categorical pretreatment standards under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, if specified conditions are met, of an industrial discharger that is a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility which discharged to the Kalamazoo Water Reclamation Plant (an advanced wastewater treatment plant with activated carbon) before enactment of this Act. Requires the Director of FEMA to promulgate a methodology, based on specified criteria, for assessment and collection of fees applicable to persons subject to the FEMA radiological emergency preparedness regulations. Authorizes such fee assessment and collection only during FY 1996. (Sec. 301) Prohibits EPA use of any funds provided in this Act to: (1) carry out any final action by the EPA Administrator or delegate for promulgation of a rule concerning any new standard for radon in drinking water; (2) sign, promulgate, implement or enforce a proposed regulation relating to individual foreign refinery baseline requirements for reformulated gasoline; (3) implement a provision of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (or any pending EPA action to implement such provision) for denial or restriction of the use of defined areas as disposal sites for dredged or fill material; or (4) implement specified requirements of the Clean Air Act with respect to any moderate nonattainment area in which the average daily winter temperature is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Declares that this last prohibition does not preclude EPA assistance to the State of Alaska to make progress toward meeting the carbon monoxide standard in such areas and to resolve remaining issues regarding the use of oxygenated fuels in such areas. (Sec. 305) Provides for the transfer of property and the making of a grant for the creation of the Center for Ecology, Research, and Training in Bay City, Michigan. Title IV: Corporations - Authorizes certain corporations and agencies of HUD to make commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as necessary to carry out provisions under the Government Corporation Control Act. Allows any collections by such corporations and agencies to be used for new loan or mortgage purchase commitments to the extent provided under this Act, with specified exceptions. Makes funds available for the Office of Inspector General of the Resolution Trust Corporation. Title V: General Provisions - Specifies certain uses, limitations, and prohibitions on uses of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 514) Requires FY 1996 pay raises to be absorbed within the levels appropriated in this Act. (Sec. 516) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and products purchased with funds made available under this Act should be American-made. (Sec. 517) Prohibits the use of funds to implement any cap on reimbursements to grantees for indirect costs, except as published in a specified Office of Management and Budget Circular. (Sec. 519) Requires the Director of FEMA to sell the disaster housing inventory of mobile homes and trailers, and deposit the proceeds in the Treasury. (Sec. 520) Requires that funds necessary to terminate the Office of Consumer Affairs be made available from funds appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services for FY 1996. Title II (sic): Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1996 - Makes supplemental appropriations to: (1) the Department of Agriculture for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Consolidated Farm Service Agency, the Rural Housing and Community Development Service, and the Rural Utilities Service; (2) the Department of Commerce for the Economic Development Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (3) the Small Business Administration; (4) the Department of the Army for the Corps of Engineers-Civil; (5) the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Service, and the Bureau of indian Affairs; (6) the Department of Agriculture for the National Forest System; (7) the Department of Transportation for the Office of the Secretary, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Federal Transit Administration; (8) the Department of Housing and Urban Development for Community development grants; (9) the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster relief; (10) the President for assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States and for foreign military financing for grants for Jordan; (11) the Department of Defense for military personnel, operation and maintenance, procurement, and for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization security investment program. Rescinds specified funds for: (1) missile procurement, other procurement, and research, development, test and evaluation, Air Force. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Permits the President to make available funds for population planning programs under titles II and IV of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1996, under specified circumstances. (Sec. 3002) Amends the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 to revise provisions relating to Department of Commerce grants to commercial fishermen for losses resulting from Hurricanes, Hugo, Andrew, or Iniki. (Sec. 3003) Sets forth provisions concerning Bonneville Power Administration refinancing. (Sec. 3005) Sets forth provisions concerning funds apportioned to the State of Vermont for a specified surface transportation program. Title IV: Contingency Appropriations - Makes appropriations, in addition to funds provided elsewhere in this Act to: (1) the Department of Commerce for the National Institute of Standards and Technology; (2) the Department of State for administration of foreign affairs, contributions to international organizations, and contributions for international peacekeeping activities; (3) the Legal Services Corporation; (4) the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs; (5) the Department of Energy for energy conservation; (6) the Department of Labor under specified headings found elsewhere in this Act; (7) the department of Veterans Affairs; (8) the Department of Housing and Urban Development; (9) the Environmental Protection Agency; (10) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and (11) the National Science Foundation.
Bill· HRH.R. 3033 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1996
Infectious Agents Control Act of 1996 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) issue rules to regulate the transfer in the United States of infectious agents that have the potential to pose a severe threat to the public health and safety; (2) regulate such transfer; and (3) establish and maintain a list of such agents. Empowers the Secretary to assess a civil monetary penalty for violations. Mandates a criminal fine or imprisonment for a knowing violation.
Bill· HRH.R. 3030 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1996
Christopher Reeve Health Insurance Reform Act of 1996 - Prohibits employee health benefit plans and insurers offering group health plans from imposing an aggregate dollar lifetime limit of less than $10 million. Exempts: (1) group plans for employers employing 20 or fewer employees; and (2) health maintenance organizations. Mandates disclosure of any plan limits, exclusions, or cost containment mechanisms. Applies to this Act provisions of the Health Insurance Reform Act of 1996 relating to definitions and the application and enforcement of standards.
Bill· HRH.R. 3038 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1996
Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 - Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act (the Act) to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make capitalization grants to States to establish State drinking water treatment revolving loan funds. Places the authority to establish assistance priorities for financial assistance provided with amounts deposited into the State loan fund in the State agency that has primary responsibility for the administration of the State program. Directs the Governor, in nonprimacy States, to determine which State agency will have the authority to establish priorities for such assistance. Authorizes State Governors to transfer amounts between such funds and water pollution control revolving funds established under the Clean Water Act. Requires the Administrator to reserve one and a half percent of drinking water funds for capitalization grants to Indian tribes for the improvement of public water systems. Specifies that such funds shall be used to address the most significant threats to public health associated with public water systems that serve Indian tribes, as determined by the Administrator in consultation with the Director of the Indian Health Service and Indian tribes. Directs the Administrator, in consultation with the Director and such tribes, to prepare surveys and assess the needs of drinking water treatment facilities to serve Indian tribes. Authorizes the Administrator to make such grants to the District of Columbia and specified U.S. territories. Authorizes: (1) States to reserve a certain amount of such grants for technical assistance for small public water systems; and (2) the Administrator to make grants to Alaska for the benefit of Alaska Native villages. Requires the Administrator, beginning in FY 1999, to withhold a specified percentage (five percent for FY 1999, ten percent for FY 2000, and 15 percent for each subsequent fiscal year) of each capitalization grant made to a State unless the State has met specified requirements under this Act regarding new system capacity. Sets forth provisions regarding projects eligible for assistance, including assistance for disadvantaged communities, and source water quality protection and capacity development (but limits the total amount of assistance provided and expenditures made by a State for each fiscal year, with respect to such protection and development, to 15 percent of the amount of the capitalization grant received by the State for that year, and not exceeding ten percent of that amount for: (1) acquiring land or conservation easements; (2) providing funding to implement recommendations of source water quality protection partnerships; (3) providing assistance through a capacity development strategy; or (4) making expenditures to delineate or assess source water protection areas). Sets forth provisions regarding State loan fund administration, technical assistance, and management. Requires: (1) States to prepare annual intended use plans for funds; (2) priority for the use of funds to be given to projects that address the most serious risk to human health, that are necessary to ensure compliance with filtration requirements and other specified requirements, and that assist those most in need on a per household basis according to State affordability criteria; and (3) each State, after notice and opportunity for public comment, to publish and periodically update a list of projects in the State that are eligible for assistance, including the priority assigned to each project and the expected funding schedule for each project. Directs the Administrator to: (1) conduct annual reviews and audits as the Administrator considers appropriate, or require each State to have the reviews and audits independently conducted, in accordance with specified single audit requirements; (2) submit to the Congress a periodic survey and assessment of the needs for facilities in each State eligible for assistance (including, in Alaska, the needs of Native villages); (3) conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the State loan funds through FY 1999; and (4) publish such regulations and guidance as necessary. Specifies that the failure or inability of any public water system to receive funds, or a delay in obtaining the funds, shall not alter the obligation of the system to comply in a timely manner with all applicable drinking water standards and requirements under the Act. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator to reserve: (1) $10 million for health effects research on specified drinking water contaminants, giving priority to research concerning the health effects of cryptosporidium, disinfection byproducts, and arsenic, and for the implementation of a research plan for subpopulations at greater risk of adverse effects; (2) $2 million to pay the costs of monitoring for unregulated contaminants; and (3) specified sums for small system technical assistance. (Sec. 4) Repeals specified existing requirements for the Administrator to issue maximum contaminant level goals (MCLGs) and national primary drinking water (NPDW) regulations. Requires the Administrator to publish an MCLG and promulgate an NPDW regulation for each contaminant (with exceptions) for which a NPDW regulation has been promulgated as of the date of this Act's enactment if the Administrator determines, based on adequate data and appropriate peer- reviewed scientific information and an assessment of health risks, that the contaminant may have an adverse effect on the health of persons and that the contaminant is known to occur, or there is a substantial likelihood that it will occur, in public water systems with a frequency and at levels of public health concern. Directs the Administrator: (1) not later than July 1, 1997, to publish and periodically update a list of contaminants that are known or anticipated to occur in drinking water provided by public water systems that may warrant regulation; and (2) at such time as such list is published, to describe available and needed information and research regarding the health effects of the contaminants, their occurrence in drinking water, and treatment techniques and other feasible means to control the contaminants. Requires (with exceptions) the Administrator, by July 1, 2001, and every five years thereafter, to take one of the following actions for not fewer than five contaminants: (1) publish a determination that information available to the Administrator does not warrant the issuance of an NPDW regulation; (2) publish a determination that an NPDW regulation is warranted, and proceed to propose an MCLG and NPDW regulation not later than two years after the date of publication of the determination; and (3) propose an MCLG and NPDW regulation. Sets forth provisions regarding insufficient information to make, and the basis for, such determinations. Requires the Administrator to give priority to those contaminants not currently regulated that are associated with the most serious adverse health effects and that present the greatest potential risk to human health due to their presence in drinking water provided by public water systems. Sets forth provisions regarding public comment and judicial review. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate an interim NPDW regulation for a contaminant to address an urgent threat to public health. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) schedules for publication of MCLGs and NPDW regulations; (2) substitution of contaminants; and (3) promulgation, by December 31, 1995, of an information collection rule to facilitate further revisions to the NPDW regulation for disinfectants and disinfectant byproducts, including information on microbial contaminants such as cryptosporidium. (Sec. 5) Requires the Administrator, in carrying out the Act, to: (1) use the best available, peer-reviewed science and supporting studies conducted in accordance with sound and objective scientific practices, and data collected by accepted or best available methods; and (2) ensure that the presentation of information on public health effects is comprehensive, informative, and understandable. Directs the Administrator to conduct a cost-benefit analysis for each NPDW regulation containing a maximum contaminant level (MCL) or treatment technique before it is proposed, including consideration of alternative MCLs or treatment requirements. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 6) Permits the MCLG for contaminants that are known or likely to cause cancer in humans to be set at a level other than zero if the Administrator determines, based on the best available, peer-reviewed science, that there is a threshold level below which there is unlikely to be any increase in cancer risk and the Administrator sets the MCLG at that level with an adequate margin of safety. Requires the Administrator, at the time he or she proposes an NPDW regulation, to publish a determination as to whether the benefits of the MCL justify the costs. Authorizes the Administrator to establish an MCL for a contaminant at a level other than the feasible level if the technology, treatment techniques, and other means used to determine the feasible level would result in an increase in the health risk from drinking water by: (1) increasing the concentration of other contaminants in drinking water; or (2) interfering with the efficacy of drinking water treatment techniques or processes that are used to comply with other NPDW regulations. Authorizes the Administrator, if he or she determines that the benefits of an MCL would not justify the cost of complying with the level, to promulgate an MCL for the contaminant that maximizes health risk reduction benefits at a cost that is justified by the benefits, with an exception. Prohibits the Administrator from establishing an MCL in a Stage I or Stage II NPDW regulation for contaminants that are disinfectants or disinfection byproducts, or to establish an MCL or treatment technique requirement for the control of cryptosporidium. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) judicial review; (2) disinfectants and disinfectant byproducts; and (3) review of standards. (Sec. 7) Sets forth requirements with respect to the promulgation of NPDW regulations for: (1) arsenic (requires the Administrator to follow a specified schedule, to develop and carry out a comprehensive plan for research in support of drinking water rulemaking, and to take other specified steps regarding assessment, proposed regulation, and final regulation of arsenic); (2) radon (provides for an MCL of 3,000 picocuries per liter but permits a revision to the regulation to include a different MCL under specified circumstances; e.g., if the Administrator determines, and the National Academy of Sciences and the Science Advisory Board concur, that revision is appropriate and supported by peer-reviewed scientific studies to address risks from ingestion of radon in drinking water); and (3) sulfate (prior to promulgating an NPDW regulation for sulfate, the Administrator and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control shall jointly conduct additional research to establish a reliable dose-response relationship for the adverse health effects that may result from exposure to sulfate in drinking water, including the health effects that may be experienced by groups within the general population that are potentially at greater risk of adverse health effects as the result of such exposure, conducted in consultation with interested States and based on the best available, peer-reviewed science and supporting studies, and subject to notice of proposed rulemaking and public comment). (Sec. 10) Directs the Administrator to: (1) amend filtration criteria to allow a State exercising primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems, on a case-by-case basis, to establish treatment requirements as an alternative to filtration for systems having uninhabited, undeveloped watersheds in consolidated ownership, and having control over access to, and activities in, those watersheds, if the State determines (and the Administrator concurs) that the quality of the source water and the alternative treatment requirements established by the State ensure significantly greater removal efficiencies of pathogenic organisms for which NPDW regulations have been promulgated or which are of public health concern than would be achieved by the combination of filtration and chlorine disinfection); and (2) propose a regulation that describes treatment techniques that meet the filtration requirements that are feasible for community water systems serving a population of 3,300 or for fewer and noncommunity water systems. Delays until at least three years after the enactment of this Act the deadline for issuing regulations to require disinfection at groundwater systems. (Sec. 11) Revises provisions regarding NPDW regulation effective dates to provide that such a regulation shall take effect three years after the date on which it is promulgated unless the Administrator determines that an earlier date is practicable, except that the Administrator, or a State in the case of an individual system, may allow up to two additional years to comply with an MCL or treatment technique if the Administrator or State determines that additional time is necessary for capital improvements. (Sec. 12) Directs the Administrator, simultaneously with promulgating NPDW regulations, to issue guidance or regulations regarding system treatment technologies. Requires the Administrator to include in the list of the technology, treatment techniques, and other means which the Administrator finds to be feasible for purposes of meeting NPDW MCLs any means that is feasible for small public water systems serving specified populations and that achieves compliance with the MCL or treatment technique, including packaged or modular systems and point-of-entry treatment units. Prohibits the Administrator from including in the list any point-of-use treatment technology, treatment technique, or other means to achieve compliance with an MCL or treatment technique requirement for a microbial contaminant. Specifies that if the American National Standards Institute has issued product standards applicable to a specific type of point-of-entry or point-of-use treatment device, individual units of that type shall not be accepted for compliance with an MCL or treatment technique requirement unless they are independently certified in accordance with such standards. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to institutions of higher learning to establish and operate not fewer than five small public water system technology assistance centers in the United States. (Sec. 13) Revises provisions of the Act authorizing variances and exemptions from NPDW regulations to: (1) allow public water systems to receive a variance on the condition that they install and operate best available treatment technology; and (2) authorize the Administrator (or a State with primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems) to grant to public water systems serving a population of 10,000 or fewer a variance for compliance with a requirement specifying an MCL or treatment technique contained in an NPDW regulation if a system cannot afford to comply with the regulation and adequate protection of public health is ensured. (Sec. 15) Requires each State to: (1) obtain the legal authority or other means to ensure that all new community water systems and new nontransient, noncommunity water systems commencing operation after October 1, 1996, demonstrate technical, managerial, and financial capacity with respect to each NPDW regulation in effect, or likely to be in effect, on the date of commencement of operations; (2) prepare, periodically update, and submit to the Administrator a list of community water systems and nontransient, noncommunity water systems that have a history of significant noncompliance; (3) report to the Administrator on the success of enforcement mechanisms and initial capacity development efforts in assisting such systems to improve technical, managerial, and financial capacity; and (4) develop and implement a strategy to assist public water systems in acquiring and maintaining such capacity. Directs the Administrator to support: (1) the States in developing capacity development strategies; and (2) the network of university-based Environmental Finance Centers in providing training and technical assistance to State and local officials in developing the capacity of public water systems, including the establishment of a national public water systems capacity development clearinghouse. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 16) Requires public water systems receiving assistance from a State Revolving Loan Fund to be operated by a trained and certified operator. Specifies that, in the case of a State with primary enforcement responsibility or any other State that has established a training program that is consistent with the guidance issued under the Act, the authority to prescribe the appropriate level of training for certification for all systems shall be solely the responsibility of the State. Authorizes the Administrator to withhold funds that would otherwise be allocated to the State, or require the repayment of an amount equal to the amount of any such assistance, for noncompliance. (Sec. 17) Directs each State to: (1) delineate the source water protection areas for community water systems in the State using hydrogeologic information considered to be reasonably available and appropriate by the State; and (2) conduct vulnerability assessments in source water areas determined to be a priority by the State. Authorizes States to establish source water quality partnership petition programs to assist in the local development of a voluntary, incentive-based partnership to reduce the presence in drinking water of contaminants and to obtain Federal and State financial or technical assistance. Sets forth requirements for State approval of petitions, including: (1) an identification of technical, financial, or other assistance that the State will provide to assist in addressing the drinking water contaminants that may be addressed by a petition based on specified factors; and (2) a description of technical or financial assistance pursuant to Federal and State programs that is available to assist in implementing recommendations of the partnership, including any voluntary agricultural resource management plan or voluntary whole farm or whole ranch management plan developed and implemented under a process established by the Secretary of Agriculture. Authorizes the Administrator to make a grant to each State that establishes an approved program in an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the cost of administering the program. Directs the Administrator to publish guidance to assist: (1) States in the development of a source water quality protection partnership program; and (2) municipal or local governments or political subdivisions and community water systems in the development of source water quality protection partnerships and in the assessment of source water quality. (Sec. 18) Grants: (1) a State primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems if the Administrator determines that such State has adopted drinking water regulations that are no less stringent than the NPDW regulations within two years after such regulations are promulgated. Authorizes the Administrator to provide an extension of not more than two years if, after submission and review of appropriate, adequate documentation from the State, the Administrator determines that the extension is necessary and justified. Grants a State that has primary enforcement authority for existing drinking water regulations interim primary enforcement authority for new regulations pending such determination. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 19) Requires the Administrator to review existing monitoring requirements for not fewer than 12 contaminants within two years. Authorizes: (1) States to establish alternative monitoring programs for any NPDW regulation, except for a regulation applicable to a microbial contaminant or an indicator of such a contaminant, subject to specified requirements; and (2) the Administrator or a State to suspend quarterly monitoring requirements applicable to small systems for any contaminant (other than a microbial contaminant or such an indicator, that causes an acute effect, or a contaminant formed in the treatment process or distribution system) that is not detected during the first quarterly sample in a monitoring cycle. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations establishing the criteria for a monitoring program for unregulated contaminants, and to list up to 20 contaminants. Requires all systems serving more than 10,000 people to monitor for such contaminants. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Administrator to establish a national database containing information on the occurrence of regulated and unregulated contaminants. Provides that information requirements imposed by the Administrator that require monitoring, the establishment or maintenance of records, or reporting, by a substantial number of public water systems, shall be established by regulation. Directs the Administrator to review new analytical methods to screen for regulated contaminants. Authorizes the Administrator to approve such methods as are more accurate or cost-effective than established reference methods for use in compliance monitoring. (Sec. 20) Requires each owner or operator of a public water system to give notice to those served by the system: (1) of any failure of the system to comply with an applicable maximum contaminant level or treatment technique requirement of, or a testing procedure prescribed by, an NPDW regulation, or to perform required monitoring; (2) of the existence of a variance granted for an inability to meet a maximum contaminant level requirement or a granted exemption and of any failure to comply with the requirements of any schedule prescribed pursuant to the variance or exemption; and (3) of the concentration level of any unregulated contaminant for which the Administrator has required public notice. Directs the Administrator to prescribe the manner, frequency, form, and content of such notice to provide for different notice frequencies for violations that are intermittent or infrequent and violations that are continuous or frequent, and to take into account the seriousness of any potential adverse health effects that may be involved. Permits a State to establish alternative notification requirements. Sets forth reporting requirements. (Sec. 21) Revises enforcement provisions of the Act to permit enforcement actions to be taken by both EPA and a State with primary enforcement responsibility. Directs the Administrator to notify local elected officials before taking enforcement actions against public water systems in nonprimacy States. Authorizes the Administrator or a State to suspend enforcement action with respect to a violation for a two-year period if the violation is to be corrected through a consolidation or restructuring during that period. Requires States, to have primary enforcement responsibility for public water systems, to adopt administrative penalties of at least $1,000 per violation for large systems. Increases the maximum amount for an administrative penalty imposed by EPA from $5,000 to $25,000 per violation, but only after a hearing on the record. (Sec. 22) Revises current provisions governing the applicability of drinking water laws and regulations to the Federal Government. Waives the sovereign immunity of the United States with respect to any requirement, administrative authority, or process or sanction under such laws and regulations. Allows citizens and States to seek penalties for all violations of the Act at Federal facilities. (Sec. 23) Authorizes appropriations for research with respect to the safe supply of drinking water. Directs the Administrator to: (1) develop, and periodically update, an integrated risk characterization strategy for drinking water quality; and (2) develop and carry out a research plan to support the development and implementation of rules regarding enhanced surface water treatment, disinfectant and disinfection byproducts, and groundwater disinfection. Sets forth reporting requirements. (Sec. 24) Revises the definition of "public water system" to include systems that provide water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances. Excludes from regulation connections to non-piped systems if the water is used exclusively for non-residential uses, the Administrator or the State determines that alternative water to achieve the equivalent level of public health protection provided by the applicable NPDW regulation is provided for residential or similar uses for drinking and cooking, or the Administrator or the State determines that the water provided for residential or similar uses for drinking and cooking is centrally treated or treated at the point of entry by the provider, a pass-through entity, or the user to achieve the equivalent level of protection provided by the applicable NPDW regulations. Sets forth transition provisions. (Sec. 25) Authorizes the Administrator to makes grants to States for the development and implementation of State programs for the protection of groundwater resources. Prohibits any such grant from being used for more than half of the cost of the program. Authorizes appropriations. Reauthorizes grants to support: (1) the critical aquifer protection program; (2) the wellhead protection program; and (3) State administration of the Underground Injection Control program. Directs the Administrator to study and report to the Congress on the extent and seriousness of contamination of private sources of drinking water that are not regulated under this Act. Authorizes the Administrator to reestablish a partnership between the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory and the National Center for Ground Water Research, a university consortium, to conduct research, training, and technology transfer for groundwater quality protection and restoration. Authorizes the Administrator to provide: (1) technical and financial assistance to units of State or local government for projects that demonstrate and assess innovative and enhanced methods and practices to develop and implement watershed protection programs, including methods and practices that protect both surface and groundwater; and (2) financial assistance to New York State for demonstration projects implemented as part of the watershed program for the protection and enhancement of the quality of source waters of the New York City water supply system. Sets forth matching and reporting requirements. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 26) Amends prohibitions on lead plumbing and pipes to prohibit: (1) the use in the installation or repair of any public water system or in any plumbing in a facility providing water for human consumption of any plumbing fitting or fixture that is not lead free; (2) the sale (effective two years after this Act's enactment) of any pipe or plumbing fitting or fixture that is not lead free, with exceptions; or (3) the sale of any solder or flux that is not lead free that does not bear a label stating that it is illegal to use the solder or flux in plumbing providing water for human consumption. Directs the Administrator to: (1) provide accurate and timely technical information and assistance to qualified third-party certifiers in the development of voluntary standards and testing protocols for the leaching of lead from new plumbing fittings and fixtures that are intended by the manufacturer to dispense water for human ingestion; and (2) promulgate regulations setting a health effects-based performance standard establishing maximum leaching levels from new plumbing fittings and fixtures that are intended by the manufacturer to dispense water for human ingestion if a voluntary standard is not established within a year. Repeals Federal law encouraging the use of geothermal heat pumps that return water to the distribution lines of public water systems. (Sec. 27) Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue a regulation establishing for bottled water a quality level for each contaminant of public water systems for which such a level is established or make a finding that a regulation is unnecessary because the contaminant is not contained in water used for bottled drinking water (requires the Secretary to issue the regulation or make the required finding for any contaminant for which a NPDW regulation was promulgated before this Act's enactment within one year). (Sec. 28) Authorizes the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers to modernize the Washington Aqueduct. Authorizes appropriations. Modifies the membership of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council to include two members representing small, rural water systems. Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to: (1) require the designated chairpersons of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force to invite representatives of the Lake Champlain Basin Program to participate as ex officio members of the Task Force; and (2) include Lake Champlain among the waters with respect to which the aquatic nuisance species and zebra mussel demonstration programs apply. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator to establish the Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy, consisting of a consortium of American and Mexican universities, to: (1) conduct research and development programs, projects, and activities, including training and community service, on U.S.-Mexico border environmental issues, with particular emphasis on water quality and safe drinking water; (2) provide objective, independent assistance to the EPA and other Federal, State, and local agencies involved in environmental policy, research, training, and enforcement; and (3) help to coordinate and facilitate the improvement of environmental policies and programs between the United States and Mexico. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Administrator to develop a screening program, using appropriate validated test systems, to determine whether certain substances 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. Sets forth provisions regarding program implementation, substances to be tested, exemptions, information collection, penalties and procedures for failure to submit required information, action by the Administrator to protect public health, and reporting requirements. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to the State of Alaska for the benefit of rural and Native villages in Alaska to pay the Federal share (50 percent) of the cost of: (1) the development and construction of water and wastewater systems to improve the health and sanitation conditions in the villages; and (2) training, technical assistance, and educational programs relating to the operation and management of sanitation services in rural and Native villages. Requires the Administrator to consult with such State on a method of prioritizing grant allocation according to the needs of, and relative health and sanitation conditions in, each eligible village. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Administrator and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies to award grants to any appropriate entity or border State (i.e., Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas) to provide assistance to eligible communities (colonias lacking basic sanitation facilities) for: (1) the conservation, development, use, and control of water for the purpose of supplying drinking water; and (2) the construction, improvement, operation, and maintenance of sewers and treatment works for wastewater treatment. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 3022 (104th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1996
Cardiac Arrest Survival Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to mandate a program to develop and operate demonstration projects to provide training in the provision of life-saving first aid and related recommendations, data collection, and evaluations. Requires the projects and recommendations to include projects and recommendations regarding the use of automated external defibrillators. Mandates data collection regarding conditions with respect to which the provisions of life-saving first aid may be appropriate. Authorizes appropriations.