Local Empowerment and Flexibility Act of 1996

Summary

Local Empowerment and Flexibility Act of 1995 - Creates a Flexibility Council composed of specified Cabinet Secretaries, agency heads, and presidential assistants. Provides for Federal financial assistance to local governments and organizations (but not to States or direct beneficiaries) in accordance with local flexibility plans approved by the Council in order to enable local governments and private, nonprofit organizations to work together to address the particular service needs and problems of their communities by specially combining funds from and adapting such assistance programs. Requires local governments to submit an application for a local flexibility plan to the State Governor for initial analysis, or if the Governor fails to act within 30 days, to the Flexibility Council directly for review and approval under specified conditions. Requires such a plan to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of providing benefits under covered Federal programs included in the plan by reducing administrative inflexibility, duplication, and unnecessary expenditures. Requires a local government to: (1) periodically evaluate the effectiveness of its plan and report on it to the Flexibility Council; and (2) establish a community advisory committee to advise it in developing and implementing a plan. Authorizes the Council, by majority vote, to waive any requirement under a covered Federal financial assistance program if the waiver is reasonably necessary to implement a plan. Requires the: (1) Council to report to the President and the Congress on the regulations most frequently waived by it for local governments, with the President to determine whether such regulations should be amended or terminated; and (2) Comptroller General to report to the Congress on the effectiveness of this Act. Authorizes the Council to provide, or direct a Federal agency head to provide, technical assistance to a local government or qualified organization in developing information necessary for the design or implementation of a local flexibility plan. Provides guidelines for extending this Act (scheduled to terminate five years after enactment) through the enactment of a specified congressional resolution.

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Timeline

1. 4 January 1995

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 4 January 1995

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S309-311, S314-315)

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 4 January 1995

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 5 December 1995

   Committee

   Committee on Governmental Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 104-586.

   Source: Committee

5. 16 May 1996

   Reported

   Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   Source: Committee

6. 23 July 1996

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 511.

   Source: Calendars

7. 23 July 1996

   Reported

   Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Stevens with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 104-331. Additional and minority views filed.

   Source: Committee

8. 23 July 1996

   Reported

   Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Stevens with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 104-331. Additional and minority views filed.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Reported to Senate · 23 July 1996 · Official file
• Introduced in Senate · 4 January 1995 · Official file

Documents

6 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 23 July 1996

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate (PDF)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 23 July 1996

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 23 July 1996

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 4 January 1995

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 4 January 1995

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 4 January 1995

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Hatfield, Mark O. [R-OR] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK-1] · R · Cosponsor
• · ssga00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Local Empowerment and Flexibility Act of 1996