S. 256

One Hundred Ninth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,

the fourth day of January, two thousand and five

An Act

To amend title 11 of the United States Code, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bankruptcy

Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005’’.

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act

is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; references; table of contents.

TITLE I—NEEDS-BASED BANKRUPTCY

Sec. 101. Conversion.

Sec. 102. Dismissal or conversion.

Sec. 103. Sense of Congress and study.

Sec. 104. Notice of alternatives.

Sec. 105. Debtor financial management training test program.

Sec. 106. Credit counseling.

Sec. 107. Schedules of reasonable and necessary expenses.

TITLE II—ENHANCED CONSUMER PROTECTION

Subtitle A—Penalties for Abusive Creditor Practices

Sec. 201. Promotion of alternative dispute resolution.

Sec. 202. Effect of discharge.

Sec. 203. Discouraging abuse of reaffirmation agreement practices.

Sec. 204. Preservation of claims and defenses upon sale of predatory loans.

Sec. 205. GAO study and report on reaffirmation agreement process.

Subtitle B—Priority Child Support

Sec. 211. Definition of domestic support obligation.

Sec. 212. Priorities for claims for domestic support obligations.

Sec. 213. Requirements to obtain confirmation and discharge in cases involving domestic support obligations.

Sec. 214. Exceptions to automatic stay in domestic support obligation proceedings.

Sec. 215. Nondischargeability of certain debts for alimony, maintenance, and support.

Sec. 216. Continued liability of property.

Sec. 217. Protection of domestic support claims against preferential transfer motions.

Sec. 218. Disposable income defined.

Sec. 219. Collection of child support.

Sec. 220. Nondischargeability of certain educational benefits and loans.

Subtitle C—Other Consumer Protections

Sec. 221. Amendments to discourage abusive bankruptcy filings.

Sec. 222. Sense of Congress.

Sec. 223. Additional amendments to title 11, United States Code.

Sec. 224. Protection of retirement savings in bankruptcy.

Sec. 225. Protection of education savings in bankruptcy.
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Sec. 226. Definitions.

Sec. 227. Restrictions on debt relief agencies.

Sec. 228. Disclosures.

Sec. 229. Requirements for debt relief agencies.

Sec. 230. GAO study.

Sec. 231. Protection of personally identifiable information.

Sec. 232. Consumer privacy ombudsman.

Sec. 233. Prohibition on disclosure of name of minor children.

Sec. 234. Protection of personal information.

TITLE III—DISCOURAGING BANKRUPTCY ABUSE

Sec. 301. Technical amendments.

Sec. 302. Discouraging bad faith repeat filings.

Sec. 303. Curbing abusive filings.

Sec. 304. Debtor retention of personal property security.

Sec. 305. Relief from the automatic stay when the debtor does not complete intended surrender of consumer debt collateral.

Sec. 306. Giving secured creditors fair treatment in chapter 13.

Sec. 307. Domiciliary requirements for exemptions.

Sec. 308. Reduction of homestead exemption for fraud.

Sec. 309. Protecting secured creditors in chapter 13 cases.

Sec. 310. Limitation on luxury goods.

Sec. 311. Automatic stay.

Sec. 312. Extension of period between bankruptcy discharges.

Sec. 313. Definition of household goods and antiques.

Sec. 314. Debt incurred to pay nondischargeable debts.

Sec. 315. Giving creditors fair notice in chapters 7 and 13 cases.

Sec. 316. Dismissal for failure to timely file schedules or provide required information.

Sec. 317. Adequate time to prepare for hearing on confirmation of the plan.

Sec. 318. Chapter 13 plans to have a 5-year duration in certain cases.

Sec. 319. Sense of Congress regarding expansion of rule 9011 of the Federal Rules

of Bankruptcy Procedure.

Sec. 320. Prompt relief from stay in individual cases.

Sec. 321. Chapter 11 cases filed by individuals.

Sec. 322. Limitations on homestead exemption.

Sec. 323. Excluding employee benefit plan participant contributions and other property from the estate.

Sec. 324. Exclusive jurisdiction in matters involving bankruptcy professionals.

Sec. 325. United States trustee program filing fee increase.

Sec. 326. Sharing of compensation.

Sec. 327. Fair valuation of collateral.

Sec. 328. Defaults based on nonmonetary obligations.

Sec. 329. Clarification of postpetition wages and benefits.

Sec. 330. Delay of discharge during pendency of certain proceedings.

Sec. 331. Limitation on retention bonuses, severance pay, and certain other payments.

Sec. 332. Fraudulent involuntary bankruptcy.

TITLE IV—GENERAL AND SMALL BUSINESS BANKRUPTCY PROVISIONS

Subtitle A—General Business Bankruptcy Provisions

Sec. 401. Adequate protection for investors.

Sec. 402. Meetings of creditors and equity security holders.

Sec. 403. Protection of refinance of security interest.

Sec. 404. Executory contracts and unexpired leases.

Sec. 405. Creditors and equity security holders committees.

Sec. 406. Amendment to section 546 of title 11, United States Code.

Sec. 407. Amendments to section 330(a) of title 11, United States Code.

Sec. 408. Postpetition disclosure and solicitation.

Sec. 409. Preferences.

Sec. 410. Venue of certain proceedings.

Sec. 411. Period for filing plan under chapter 11.

Sec. 412. Fees arising from certain ownership interests.

Sec. 413. Creditor representation at first meeting of creditors.

Sec. 414. Definition of disinterested person.

Sec. 415. Factors for compensation of professional persons.

Sec. 416. Appointment of elected trustee.

Sec. 417. Utility service.

Sec. 418. Bankruptcy fees.

Sec. 419. More complete information regarding assets of the estate.
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Subtitle B—Small Business Bankruptcy Provisions

Sec. 431. Flexible rules for disclosure statement and plan.

Sec. 432. Definitions.

Sec. 433. Standard form disclosure statement and plan.

Sec. 434. Uniform national reporting requirements.

Sec. 435. Uniform reporting rules and forms for small business cases.

Sec. 436. Duties in small business cases.

Sec. 437. Plan filing and confirmation deadlines.

Sec. 438. Plan confirmation deadline.

Sec. 439. Duties of the United States trustee.

Sec. 440. Scheduling conferences.

Sec. 441. Serial filer provisions.

Sec. 442. Expanded grounds for dismissal or conversion and appointment of trustee. Sec. 443. Study of operation of title 11, United States Code, with respect to small

businesses.

Sec. 444. Payment of interest.

Sec. 445. Priority for administrative expenses.

Sec. 446. Duties with respect to a debtor who is a plan administrator of an employee benefit plan.

Sec. 447. Appointment of committee of retired employees.

TITLE V—MUNICIPAL BANKRUPTCY PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Petition and proceedings related to petition.

Sec. 502. Applicability of other sections to chapter 9.

TITLE VI—BANKRUPTCY DATA

Sec. 601. Improved bankruptcy statistics.

Sec. 602. Uniform rules for the collection of bankruptcy data.

Sec. 603. Audit procedures.

Sec. 604. Sense of Congress regarding availability of bankruptcy data.

TITLE VII—BANKRUPTCY TAX PROVISIONS

Sec. 701. Treatment of certain liens.

Sec. 702. Treatment of fuel tax claims.

Sec. 703. Notice of request for a determination of taxes.

Sec. 704. Rate of interest on tax claims.

Sec. 705. Priority of tax claims.

Sec. 706. Priority property taxes incurred.

Sec. 707. No discharge of fraudulent taxes in chapter 13.

Sec. 708. No discharge of fraudulent taxes in chapter 11.

Sec. 709. Stay of tax proceedings limited to prepetition taxes.

Sec. 710. Periodic payment of taxes in chapter 11 cases.

Sec. 711. Avoidance of statutory tax liens prohibited.

Sec. 712. Payment of taxes in the conduct of business.

Sec. 713. Tardily filed priority tax claims.

Sec. 714. Income tax returns prepared by tax authorities.

Sec. 715. Discharge of the estate’s liability for unpaid taxes.

Sec. 716. Requirement to file tax returns to confirm chapter 13 plans.

Sec. 717. Standards for tax disclosure.

Sec. 718. Setoff of tax refunds.

Sec. 719. Special provisions related to the treatment of State and local taxes.

Sec. 720. Dismissal for failure to timely file tax returns.

TITLE VIII—ANCILLARY AND OTHER CROSS-BORDER CASES

Sec. 801. Amendment to add chapter 15 to title 11, United States Code.

Sec. 802. Other amendments to titles 11 and 28, United States Code.

TITLE IX—FINANCIAL CONTRACT PROVISIONS

Sec. 901. Treatment of certain agreements by conservators or receivers of insured

depository institutions.

Sec. 902. Authority of the FDIC and NCUAB with respect to failed and failing institutions.

Sec. 903. Amendments relating to transfers of qualified financial contracts.

Sec. 904. Amendments relating to disaffirmance or repudiation of qualified financial contracts.

Sec. 905. Clarifying amendment relating to master agreements.

Sec. 906. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991.

Sec. 907. Bankruptcy law amendments.

Sec. 908. Recordkeeping requirements.
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Sec. 909. Exemptions from contemporaneous execution requirement.

Sec. 910. Damage measure.

Sec. 911. SIPC stay.

TITLE X—PROTECTION OF FAMILY FARMERS AND FAMILY FISHERMEN

Sec. 1001. Permanent reenactment of chapter 12.

Sec. 1002. Debt limit increase.

Sec. 1003. Certain claims owed to governmental units.

Sec. 1004. Definition of family farmer.

Sec. 1005. Elimination of requirement that family farmer and spouse receive over

50 percent of income from farming operation in year prior to bankruptcy.

Sec. 1006. Prohibition of retroactive assessment of disposable income.

Sec. 1007. Family fishermen.

TITLE XI—HEALTH CARE AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Sec. 1101. Definitions.

Sec. 1102. Disposal of patient records.

Sec. 1103. Administrative expense claim for costs of closing a health care business

and other administrative expenses.

Sec. 1104. Appointment of ombudsman to act as patient advocate.

Sec. 1105. Debtor in possession; duty of trustee to transfer patients.

Sec. 1106. Exclusion from program participation not subject to automatic stay.

TITLE XII—TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS

Sec. 1201. Definitions.

Sec. 1202. Adjustment of dollar amounts.

Sec. 1203. Extension of time.

Sec. 1204. Technical amendments.

Sec. 1205. Penalty for persons who negligently or fraudulently prepare bankruptcy

petitions.

Sec. 1206. Limitation on compensation of professional persons.

Sec. 1207. Effect of conversion.

Sec. 1208. Allowance of administrative expenses.

Sec. 1209. Exceptions to discharge.

Sec. 1210. Effect of discharge.

Sec. 1211. Protection against discriminatory treatment.

Sec. 1212. Property of the estate.

Sec. 1213. Preferences.

Sec. 1214. Postpetition transactions.

Sec. 1215. Disposition of property of the estate.

Sec. 1216. General provisions.

Sec. 1217. Abandonment of railroad line.

Sec. 1218. Contents of plan.

Sec. 1219. Bankruptcy cases and proceedings.

Sec. 1220. Knowing disregard of bankruptcy law or rule.

Sec. 1221. Transfers made by nonprofit charitable corporations.

Sec. 1222. Protection of valid purchase money security interests.

Sec. 1223. Bankruptcy Judgeships.

Sec. 1224. Compensating trustees.

Sec. 1225. Amendment to section 362 of title 11, United States Code.

Sec. 1226. Judicial education.

Sec. 1227. Reclamation.

Sec. 1228. Providing requested tax documents to the court.

Sec. 1229. Encouraging creditworthiness.

Sec. 1230. Property no longer subject to redemption.

Sec. 1231. Trustees.

Sec. 1232. Bankruptcy forms.

Sec. 1233. Direct appeals of bankruptcy matters to courts of appeals.

Sec. 1234. Involuntary cases.

Sec. 1235. Federal election law fines and penalties as nondischargeable debt.

TITLE XIII—CONSUMER CREDIT DISCLOSURE

Sec. 1301. Enhanced disclosures under an open end credit plan.

Sec. 1302. Enhanced disclosure for credit extensions secured by a dwelling.

Sec. 1303. Disclosures related to ‘‘introductory rates’’.

Sec. 1304. Internet-based credit card solicitations.

Sec. 1305. Disclosures related to late payment deadlines and penalties.

Sec. 1306. Prohibition on certain actions for failure to incur finance charges.

Sec. 1307. Dual use debit card.

Sec. 1308. Study of bankruptcy impact of credit extended to dependent students.
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Sec. 1309. Clarification of clear and conspicuous.

TITLE XIV—PREVENTING CORPORATE BANKRUPTCY ABUSE

Sec. 1401. Employee wage and benefit priorities.

Sec. 1402. Fraudulent transfers and obligations.

Sec. 1403. Payment of insurance benefits to retired employees.

Sec. 1404. Debts nondischargeable if incurred in violation of securities fraud laws.

Sec. 1405. Appointment of trustee in cases of suspected fraud.

Sec. 1406. Effective date; application of amendments.

TITLE XV—GENERAL EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS

Sec. 1501. Effective date; application of amendments.

Sec. 1502. Technical corrections.

TITLE I—NEEDS-BASED BANKRUPTCY

SEC. 101. CONVERSION.

Section 706(c) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by inserting ‘‘or consents to’’ after ‘‘requests’’.

SEC. 102. DISMISSAL OR CONVERSION.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 707 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) by striking the section heading and inserting the following:

‘‘§ 707. Dismissal of a case or conversion to a case under

chapter 11 or 13’’;

and

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(b)’’;

(B) in paragraph (1), as so redesignated by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph—

(i) in the first sentence—

(I) by striking ‘‘but not at the request or

suggestion of’’ and inserting ‘‘trustee (or bankruptcy administrator, if any), or’’;

(II) by inserting ‘‘, or, with the debtor’s consent, convert such a case to a case under chapter

11 or 13 of this title,’’ after ‘‘consumer debts’’;

and

(III) by striking ‘‘a substantial abuse’’ and

inserting ‘‘an abuse’’; and

(ii) by striking the next to last sentence; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(2)(A)(i) In considering under paragraph (1) whether the

granting of relief would be an abuse of the provisions of this

chapter, the court shall presume abuse exists if the debtor’s current

monthly income reduced by the amounts determined under clauses

(ii), (iii), and (iv), and multiplied by 60 is not less than the lesser

of—

‘‘(I) 25 percent of the debtor’s nonpriority unsecured claims in the case, or $6,000, whichever is greater; or ‘‘(II) $10,000.

‘‘(ii)(I) The debtor’s monthly expenses shall be the debtor’s

applicable monthly expense amounts specified under the National

Standards and Local Standards, and the debtor’s actual monthly

expenses for the categories specified as Other Necessary Expenses

issued by the Internal Revenue Service for the area in which
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the debtor resides, as in effect on the date of the order for relief,

for the debtor, the dependents of the debtor, and the spouse of

the debtor in a joint case, if the spouse is not otherwise a dependent.

Such expenses shall include reasonably necessary health insurance,

disability insurance, and health savings account expenses for the

debtor, the spouse of the debtor, or the dependents of the debtor.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this clause, the monthly

expenses of the debtor shall not include any payments for debts.

In addition, the debtor’s monthly expenses shall include the debtor’s

reasonably necessary expenses incurred to maintain the safety of

the debtor and the family of the debtor from family violence as

identified under section 309 of the Family Violence Prevention

and Services Act, or other applicable Federal law. The expenses

included in the debtor’s monthly expenses described in the preceding

sentence shall be kept confidential by the court. In addition, if

it is demonstrated that it is reasonable and necessary, the debtor’s

monthly expenses may also include an additional allowance for

food and clothing of up to 5 percent of the food and clothing

categories as specified by the National Standards issued by the

Internal Revenue Service.

‘‘(II) In addition, the debtor’s monthly expenses may include,

if applicable, the continuation of actual expenses paid by the debtor

that are reasonable and necessary for care and support of an

elderly, chronically ill, or disabled household member or member

of the debtor’s immediate family (including parents, grandparents,

siblings, children, and grandchildren of the debtor, the dependents

of the debtor, and the spouse of the debtor in a joint case who

is not a dependent) and who is unable to pay for such reasonable

and necessary expenses.

‘‘(III) In addition, for a debtor eligible for chapter 13, the

debtor’s monthly expenses may include the actual administrative

expenses of administering a chapter 13 plan for the district in

which the debtor resides, up to an amount of 10 percent of the

projected plan payments, as determined under schedules issued

by the Executive Office for United States Trustees.

‘‘(IV) In addition, the debtor’s monthly expenses may include

the actual expenses for each dependent child less than 18 years

of age, not to exceed $1,500 per year per child, to attend a private

or public elementary or secondary school if the debtor provides

documentation of such expenses and a detailed explanation of why

such expenses are reasonable and necessary, and why such expenses

are not already accounted for in the National Standards, Local

Standards, or Other Necessary Expenses referred to in subclause

(I).

‘‘(V) In addition, the debtor’s monthly expenses may include

an allowance for housing and utilities, in excess of the allowance

specified by the Local Standards for housing and utilities issued

by the Internal Revenue Service, based on the actual expenses

for home energy costs if the debtor provides documentation of

such actual expenses and demonstrates that such actual expenses

are reasonable and necessary.

‘‘(iii) The debtor’s average monthly payments on account of

secured debts shall be calculated as the sum of—

‘‘(I) the total of all amounts scheduled as contractually

due to secured creditors in each month of the 60 months following the date of the petition; and
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‘‘(II) any additional payments to secured creditors necessary

for the debtor, in filing a plan under chapter 13 of this title,

to maintain possession of the debtor’s primary residence, motor

vehicle, or other property necessary for the support of the

debtor and the debtor’s dependents, that serves as collateral

for secured debts;

divided by 60.

‘‘(iv) The debtor’s expenses for payment of all priority claims

(including priority child support and alimony claims) shall be calculated as the total amount of debts entitled to priority, divided

by 60.

‘‘(B)(i) In any proceeding brought under this subsection, the

presumption of abuse may only be rebutted by demonstrating special circumstances, such as a serious medical condition or a call

or order to active duty in the Armed Forces, to the extent such

special circumstances that justify additional expenses or adjustments of current monthly income for which there is no reasonable

alternative.

‘‘(ii) In order to establish special circumstances, the debtor

shall be required to itemize each additional expense or adjustment

of income and to provide—

‘‘(I) documentation for such expense or adjustment to

income; and

‘‘(II) a detailed explanation of the special circumstances

that make such expenses or adjustment to income necessary

and reasonable.

‘‘(iii) The debtor shall attest under oath to the accuracy of

any information provided to demonstrate that additional expenses

or adjustments to income are required.

‘‘(iv) The presumption of abuse may only be rebutted if the

additional expenses or adjustments to income referred to in clause

(i) cause the product of the debtor’s current monthly income reduced

by the amounts determined under clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of

subparagraph (A) when multiplied by 60 to be less than the lesser

of—

‘‘(I) 25 percent of the debtor’s nonpriority unsecured claims,

or $6,000, whichever is greater; or

‘‘(II) $10,000.

‘‘(C) As part of the schedule of current income and expenditures

required under section 521, the debtor shall include a statement

of the debtor’s current monthly income, and the calculations that

determine whether a presumption arises under subparagraph (A)(i),

that show how each such amount is calculated.

‘‘(D) Subparagraphs (A) through (C) shall not apply, and the

court may not dismiss or convert a case based on any form of

means testing, if the debtor is a disabled veteran (as defined in

section 3741(1) of title 38), and the indebtedness occurred primarily

during a period during which he or she was—

‘‘(i) on active duty (as defined in section 101(d)(1) of title

10); or

‘‘(ii) performing a homeland defense activity (as defined

in section 901(1) of title 32).

‘‘(3) In considering under paragraph (1) whether the granting

of relief would be an abuse of the provisions of this chapter in

a case in which the presumption in subparagraph (A)(i) of such

paragraph does not arise or is rebutted, the court shall consider—
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‘‘(A) whether the debtor filed the petition in bad faith;

or

‘‘(B) the totality of the circumstances (including whether

the debtor seeks to reject a personal services contract and

the financial need for such rejection as sought by the debtor)

of the debtor’s financial situation demonstrates abuse.

‘‘(4)(A) The court, on its own initiative or on the motion of

a party in interest, in accordance with the procedures described

in rule 9011 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, may

order the attorney for the debtor to reimburse the trustee for

all reasonable costs in prosecuting a motion filed under section

707(b), including reasonable attorneys’ fees, if—

‘‘(i) a trustee files a motion for dismissal or conversion

under this subsection; and

‘‘(ii) the court—

‘‘(I) grants such motion; and

‘‘(II) finds that the action of the attorney for the debtor

in filing a case under this chapter violated rule 9011 of

the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.

‘‘(B) If the court finds that the attorney for the debtor violated

rule 9011 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, the court,

on its own initiative or on the motion of a party in interest, in

accordance with such procedures, may order—

‘‘(i) the assessment of an appropriate civil penalty against

the attorney for the debtor; and

‘‘(ii) the payment of such civil penalty to the trustee, the

United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator, if any).

‘‘(C) The signature of an attorney on a petition, pleading, or

written motion shall constitute a certification that the attorney

has—

‘‘(i) performed a reasonable investigation into the circumstances that gave rise to the petition, pleading, or written

motion; and

‘‘(ii) determined that the petition, pleading, or written

motion—

‘‘(I) is well grounded in fact; and

‘‘(II) is warranted by existing law or a good faith argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing

law and does not constitute an abuse under paragraph

(1).

‘‘(D) The signature of an attorney on the petition shall constitute

a certification that the attorney has no knowledge after an inquiry

that the information in the schedules filed with such petition is

incorrect.

‘‘(5)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) and subject

to paragraph (6), the court, on its own initiative or on the motion

of a party in interest, in accordance with the procedures described

in rule 9011 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, may

award a debtor all reasonable costs (including reasonable attorneys’

fees) in contesting a motion filed by a party in interest (other

than a trustee or United States trustee (or bankruptcy administrator, if any)) under this subsection if—

‘‘(i) the court does not grant the motion; and

‘‘(ii) the court finds that—

‘‘(I) the position of the party that filed the motion

violated rule 9011 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy

Procedure; or
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‘‘(II) the attorney (if any) who filed the motion did

not comply with the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii)

of paragraph (4)(C), and the motion was made solely for

the purpose of coercing a debtor into waiving a right

guaranteed to the debtor under this title.

‘‘(B) A small business that has a claim of an aggregate amount

less than $1,000 shall not be subject to subparagraph (A)(ii)(I).

‘‘(C) For purposes of this paragraph—

‘‘(i) the term ‘small business’ means an unincorporated

business, partnership, corporation, association, or organization

that—

‘‘(I) has fewer than 25 full-time employees as determined on the date on which the motion is filed; and

‘‘(II) is engaged in commercial or business activity;

and

‘‘(ii) the number of employees of a wholly owned subsidiary

of a corporation includes the employees of—

‘‘(I) a parent corporation; and

‘‘(II) any other subsidiary corporation of the parent

corporation.

‘‘(6) Only the judge or United States trustee (or bankruptcy

administrator, if any) may file a motion under section 707(b), if

the current monthly income of the debtor, or in a joint case, the

debtor and the debtor’s spouse, as of the date of the order for

relief, when multiplied by 12, is equal to or less than—

‘‘(A) in the case of a debtor in a household of 1 person,

the median family income of the applicable State for 1 earner;

‘‘(B) in the case of a debtor in a household of 2, 3, or

4 individuals, the highest median family income of the

applicable State for a family of the same number or fewer

individuals; or

‘‘(C) in the case of a debtor in a household exceeding

4 individuals, the highest median family income of the

applicable State for a family of 4 or fewer individuals, plus

$525 per month for each individual in excess of 4.

‘‘(7)(A) No judge, United States trustee (or bankruptcy administrator, if any), trustee, or other party in interest may file a motion

under paragraph (2) if the current monthly income of the debtor,

including a veteran (as that term is defined in section 101 of

title 38), and the debtor’s spouse combined, as of the date of the

order for relief when multiplied by 12, is equal to or less than—

‘‘(i) in the case of a debtor in a household of 1 person,

the median family income of the applicable State for 1 earner;

‘‘(ii) in the case of a debtor in a household of 2, 3, or

4 individuals, the highest median family income of the

applicable State for a family of the same number or fewer

individuals; or

‘‘(iii) in the case of a debtor in a household exceeding

4 individuals, the highest median family income of the

applicable State for a family of 4 or fewer individuals, plus

$525 per month for each individual in excess of 4.

‘‘(B) In a case that is not a joint case, current monthly income

of the debtor’s spouse shall not be considered for purposes of

subparagraph (A) if—

‘‘(i)(I) the debtor and the debtor’s spouse are separated

under applicable nonbankruptcy law; or
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‘‘(II) the debtor and the debtor’s spouse are living separate

and apart, other than for the purpose of evading subparagraph

(A); and

‘‘(ii) the debtor files a statement under penalty of perjury—

‘‘(I) specifying that the debtor meets the requirement

of subclause (I) or (II) of clause (i); and

‘‘(II) disclosing the aggregate, or best estimate of the

aggregate, amount of any cash or money payments received

from the debtor’s spouse attributed to the debtor’s current

monthly income.’’.

(b) DEFINITION.—Section 101 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended by inserting after paragraph (10) the following:

‘‘(10A) ‘current monthly income’—

‘‘(A) means the average monthly income from all

sources that the debtor receives (or in a joint case the

debtor and the debtor’s spouse receive) without regard to

whether such income is taxable income, derived during

the 6-month period ending on—

‘‘(i) the last day of the calendar month immediately

preceding the date of the commencement of the case

if the debtor files the schedule of current income

required by section 521(a)(1)(B)(ii); or

‘‘(ii) the date on which current income is determined by the court for purposes of this title if the

debtor does not file the schedule of current income

required by section 521(a)(1)(B)(ii); and

‘‘(B) includes any amount paid by any entity other

than the debtor (or in a joint case the debtor and the

debtor’s spouse), on a regular basis for the household

expenses of the debtor or the debtor’s dependents (and

in a joint case the debtor’s spouse if not otherwise a

dependent), but excludes benefits received under the Social

Security Act, payments to victims of war crimes or crimes

against humanity on account of their status as victims

of such crimes, and payments to victims of international

terrorism (as defined in section 2331 of title 18) or domestic

terrorism (as defined in section 2331 of title 18) on account

of their status as victims of such terrorism;’’.

(c) UNITED STATES TRUSTEE AND BANKRUPTCY ADMINISTRATOR

DUTIES.—Section 704 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before ‘‘The trustee shall—’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(b)(1) With respect to a debtor who is an individual in a

case under this chapter—

‘‘(A) the United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator, if any) shall review all materials filed by the debtor

and, not later than 10 days after the date of the first meeting

of creditors, file with the court a statement as to whether

the debtor’s case would be presumed to be an abuse under

section 707(b); and

‘‘(B) not later than 5 days after receiving a statement

under subparagraph (A), the court shall provide a copy of

the statement to all creditors.

‘‘(2) The United States trustee (or bankruptcy administrator,

if any) shall, not later than 30 days after the date of filing a

statement under paragraph (1), either file a motion to dismiss

or convert under section 707(b) or file a statement setting forth
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the reasons the United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator, if any) does not consider such a motion to be appropriate,

if the United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator, if

any) determines that the debtor’s case should be presumed to be

an abuse under section 707(b) and the product of the debtor’s

current monthly income, multiplied by 12 is not less than—

‘‘(A) in the case of a debtor in a household of 1 person,

the median family income of the applicable State for 1 earner;

or

‘‘(B) in the case of a debtor in a household of 2 or more

individuals, the highest median family income of the applicable

State for a family of the same number or fewer individuals.’’.

(d) NOTICE.—Section 342 of title 11, United States Code, is

amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(d) In a case under chapter 7 of this title in which the debtor

is an individual and in which the presumption of abuse arises

under section 707(b), the clerk shall give written notice to all

creditors not later than 10 days after the date of the filing of

the petition that the presumption of abuse has arisen.’’.

(e) NONLIMITATION OF INFORMATION.—Nothing in this title shall

limit the ability of a creditor to provide information to a judge

(except for information communicated ex parte, unless otherwise

permitted by applicable law), United States trustee (or bankruptcy

administrator, if any), or trustee.

(f) DISMISSAL FOR CERTAIN CRIMES.—Section 707 of title 11,

United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(c)(1) In this subsection—

‘‘(A) the term ‘crime of violence’ has the meaning given

such term in section 16 of title 18; and

‘‘(B) the term ‘drug trafficking crime’ has the meaning

given such term in section 924(c)(2) of title 18.

‘‘(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), after notice and a

hearing, the court, on a motion by the victim of a crime of violence

or a drug trafficking crime, may when it is in the best interest

of the victim dismiss a voluntary case filed under this chapter

by a debtor who is an individual if such individual was convicted

of such crime.

‘‘(3) The court may not dismiss a case under paragraph (2)

if the debtor establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that

the filing of a case under this chapter is necessary to satisfy

a claim for a domestic support obligation.’’.

(g) CONFIRMATION OF PLAN.—Section 1325(a) of title 11, United

States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting

a semicolon; and

(3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:

‘‘(7) the action of the debtor in filing the petition was

in good faith;’’.

(h) APPLICABILITY OF MEANS TEST TO CHAPTER 13.—Section

1325(b) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ‘‘to unsecured creditors’’ after ‘‘to make payments’’; and

(2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

‘‘(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘disposable

income’ means current monthly income received by the debtor

(other than child support payments, foster care payments, or
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disability payments for a dependent child made in accordance

with applicable nonbankruptcy law to the extent reasonably

necessary to be expended for such child) less amounts reasonably necessary to be expended—

‘‘(A)(i) for the maintenance or support of the debtor

or a dependent of the debtor, or for a domestic support

obligation, that first becomes payable after the date the

petition is filed; and

‘‘(ii) for charitable contributions (that meet the definition of ‘charitable contribution’ under section 548(d)(3) to

a qualified religious or charitable entity or organization

(as defined in section 548(d)(4)) in an amount not to exceed

15 percent of gross income of the debtor for the year in

which the contributions are made; and

‘‘(B) if the debtor is engaged in business, for the payment of expenditures necessary for the continuation,

preservation, and operation of such business.

‘‘(3) Amounts reasonably necessary to be expended under

paragraph (2) shall be determined in accordance with subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 707(b)(2), if the debtor has current

monthly income, when multiplied by 12, greater than—

‘‘(A) in the case of a debtor in a household of 1 person,

the median family income of the applicable State for 1

earner;

‘‘(B) in the case of a debtor in a household of 2, 3,

or 4 individuals, the highest median family income of the

applicable State for a family of the same number or fewer

individuals; or

‘‘(C) in the case of a debtor in a household exceeding

4 individuals, the highest median family income of the

applicable State for a family of 4 or fewer individuals,

plus $525 per month for each individual in excess of 4.’’.

(i) SPECIAL ALLOWANCE FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.—Section

1329(a) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end;

(2) in paragraph (3) by striking the period at the end

and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(4) reduce amounts to be paid under the plan by the

actual amount expended by the debtor to purchase health insurance for the debtor (and for any dependent of the debtor if

such dependent does not otherwise have health insurance coverage) if the debtor documents the cost of such insurance and

demonstrates that—

‘‘(A) such expenses are reasonable and necessary;

‘‘(B)(i) if the debtor previously paid for health insurance, the amount is not materially larger than the cost

the debtor previously paid or the cost necessary to maintain

the lapsed policy; or

‘‘(ii) if the debtor did not have health insurance, the

amount is not materially larger than the reasonable cost

that would be incurred by a debtor who purchases health

insurance, who has similar income, expenses, age, and

health status, and who lives in the same geographical

location with the same number of dependents who do not

otherwise have health insurance coverage; and
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‘‘(C) the amount is not otherwise allowed for purposes

of determining disposable income under section 1325(b)

of this title;

and upon request of any party in interest, files proof that

a health insurance policy was purchased.’’.

(j) ADJUSTMENT OF DOLLAR AMOUNTS.—Section 104(b) of title

11, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘and 523(a)(2)(C)’’

each place it appears and inserting ‘‘523(a)(2)(C), 707(b), and

1325(b)(3)’’.

(k) DEFINITION OF ‘MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME’.—Section 101 of

title 11, United States Code, is amended by inserting after paragraph (39) the following:

‘‘(39A) ‘median family income’ means for any year—

‘‘(A) the median family income both calculated and

reported by the Bureau of the Census in the then most

recent year; and

‘‘(B) if not so calculated and reported in the then current year, adjusted annually after such most recent year

until the next year in which median family income is

both calculated and reported by the Bureau of the Census,

to reflect the percentage change in the Consumer Price

Index for All Urban Consumers during the period of years

occurring after such most recent year and before such

current year;’’.

(k) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for chapter

7 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by striking the

item relating to section 707 and inserting the following:

‘‘707. Dismissal of a case or conversion to a case under chapter 11 or 13.’’.

SEC. 103. SENSE OF CONGRESS AND STUDY.

(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that

the Secretary of the Treasury has the authority to alter the Internal

Revenue Service standards established to set guidelines for repayment plans as needed to accommodate their use under section

707(b) of title 11, United States Code.

(b) STUDY.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date

of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Executive Office

for United States Trustees shall submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on

the Judiciary of the House of Representatives containing the

findings of the Director regarding the utilization of Internal

Revenue Service standards for determining—

(A) the current monthly expenses of a debtor under

section 707(b) of title 11, United States Code; and

(B) the impact that the application of such standards

has had on debtors and on the bankruptcy courts.

(2) RECOMMENDATION.—The report under paragraph (1)

may include recommendations for amendments to title 11,

United States Code, that are consistent with the findings of

the Director under paragraph (1).

SEC. 104. NOTICE OF ALTERNATIVES.

Section 342(b) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

to read as follows:
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‘‘(b) Before the commencement of a case under this title by

an individual whose debts are primarily consumer debts, the clerk

shall give to such individual written notice containing—

‘‘(1) a brief description of—

‘‘(A) chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13 and the general purpose,

benefits, and costs of proceeding under each of those chapters; and

‘‘(B) the types of services available from credit counseling agencies; and

‘‘(2) statements specifying that—

‘‘(A) a person who knowingly and fraudulently conceals

assets or makes a false oath or statement under penalty

of perjury in connection with a case under this title shall

be subject to fine, imprisonment, or both; and

‘‘(B) all information supplied by a debtor in connection

with a case under this title is subject to examination by

the Attorney General.’’.

SEC. 105. DEBTOR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING TEST PROGRAM.

(a) DEVELOPMENT OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING

CURRICULUM AND MATERIALS.—The Director of the Executive Office

for United States Trustees (in this section referred to as the

‘‘Director’’) shall consult with a wide range of individuals who

are experts in the field of debtor education, including trustees

who serve in cases under chapter 13 of title 11, United States

Code, and who operate financial management education programs

for debtors, and shall develop a financial management training

curriculum and materials that can be used to educate debtors

who are individuals on how to better manage their finances.

(b) TEST.—

(1) SELECTION OF DISTRICTS.—The Director shall select 6

judicial districts of the United States in which to test the

effectiveness of the financial management training curriculum

and materials developed under subsection (a).

(2) USE.—For an 18-month period beginning not later than

270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, such

curriculum and materials shall be, for the 6 judicial districts

selected under paragraph (1), used as the instructional course

concerning personal financial management for purposes of section 111 of title 11, United States Code.

(c) EVALUATION.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—During the 18-month period referred to

in subsection (b), the Director shall evaluate the effectiveness

of—

(A) the financial management training curriculum and

materials developed under subsection (a); and

(B) a sample of existing consumer education programs

such as those described in the Report of the National

Bankruptcy Review Commission (October 20, 1997) that

are representative of consumer education programs carried

out by the credit industry, by trustees serving under

chapter 13 of title 11, United States Code, and by consumer

counseling groups.

(2) REPORT.—Not later than 3 months after concluding

such evaluation, the Director shall submit a report to the

Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President
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pro tempore of the Senate, for referral to the appropriate

committees of the Congress, containing the findings of the

Director regarding the effectiveness of such curriculum, such

materials, and such programs and their costs.

SEC. 106. CREDIT COUNSELING.

(a) WHO MAY BE A DEBTOR.—Section 109 of title 11, United

States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(h)(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), and notwithstanding

any other provision of this section, an individual may not be a

debtor under this title unless such individual has, during the 180-

day period preceding the date of filing of the petition by such

individual, received from an approved nonprofit budget and credit

counseling agency described in section 111(a) an individual or group

briefing (including a briefing conducted by telephone or on the

Internet) that outlined the opportunities for available credit counseling and assisted such individual in performing a related budget

analysis.

‘‘(2)(A) Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a debtor

who resides in a district for which the United States trustee (or

the bankruptcy administrator, if any) determines that the approved

nonprofit budget and credit counseling agencies for such district

are not reasonably able to provide adequate services to the additional individuals who would otherwise seek credit counseling from

such agencies by reason of the requirements of paragraph (1).

‘‘(B) The United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator, if any) who makes a determination described in subparagraph (A) shall review such determination not later than 1 year

after the date of such determination, and not less frequently than

annually thereafter. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency may be disapproved

by the United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator,

if any) at any time.

‘‘(3)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the requirements of paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a debtor who submits

to the court a certification that—

‘‘(i) describes exigent circumstances that merit a waiver

of the requirements of paragraph (1);

‘‘(ii) states that the debtor requested credit counseling services from an approved nonprofit budget and credit counseling

agency, but was unable to obtain the services referred to in

paragraph (1) during the 5-day period beginning on the date

on which the debtor made that request; and

‘‘(iii) is satisfactory to the court.

‘‘(B) With respect to a debtor, an exemption under subparagraph

(A) shall cease to apply to that debtor on the date on which the

debtor meets the requirements of paragraph (1), but in no case

may the exemption apply to that debtor after the date that is

30 days after the debtor files a petition, except that the court,

for cause, may order an additional 15 days.

‘‘(4) The requirements of paragraph (1) shall not apply with

respect to a debtor whom the court determines, after notice and

hearing, is unable to complete those requirements because of incapacity, disability, or active military duty in a military combat zone.

For the purposes of this paragraph, incapacity means that the

debtor is impaired by reason of mental illness or mental deficiency

so that he is incapable of realizing and making rational decisions
S. 256—16

with respect to his financial responsibilities; and ‘‘disability’’ means

that the debtor is so physically impaired as to be unable, after

reasonable effort, to participate in an in person, telephone, or Internet briefing required under paragraph (1).’’.

(b) CHAPTER 7 DISCHARGE.—Section 727(a) of title 11, United

States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end;

(2) in paragraph (10), by striking the period and inserting

‘‘; or’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(11) after filing the petition, the debtor failed to complete

an instructional course concerning personal financial management described in section 111, except that this paragraph shall

not apply with respect to a debtor who is a person described

in section 109(h)(4) or who resides in a district for which

the United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator,

if any) determines that the approved instructional courses are

not adequate to service the additional individuals who would

otherwise be required to complete such instructional courses

under this section (The United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator, if any) who makes a determination

described in this paragraph shall review such determination

not later than 1 year after the date of such determination,

and not less frequently than annually thereafter.).’’.

(c) CHAPTER 13 DISCHARGE.—Section 1328 of title 11, United

States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(g)(1) The court shall not grant a discharge under this section

to a debtor unless after filing a petition the debtor has completed

an instructional course concerning personal financial management

described in section 111.

‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a debtor

who is a person described in section 109(h)(4) or who resides in

a district for which the United States trustee (or the bankruptcy

administrator, if any) determines that the approved instructional

courses are not adequate to service the additional individuals who

would otherwise be required to complete such instructional course

by reason of the requirements of paragraph (1).

‘‘(3) The United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator, if any) who makes a determination described in paragraph

(2) shall review such determination not later than 1 year after

the date of such determination, and not less frequently than

annually thereafter.’’.

(d) DEBTOR’S DUTIES.—Section 521 of title 11, United States

Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before ‘‘The debtor shall—’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(b) In addition to the requirements under subsection (a), a

debtor who is an individual shall file with the court—

‘‘(1) a certificate from the approved nonprofit budget and

credit counseling agency that provided the debtor services under

section 109(h) describing the services provided to the debtor;

and

‘‘(2) a copy of the debt repayment plan, if any, developed

under section 109(h) through the approved nonprofit budget

and credit counseling agency referred to in paragraph (1).’’.

(e) GENERAL PROVISIONS.—
S. 256—17

(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘§ 111. Nonprofit budget and credit counseling agencies;

financial management instructional courses

‘‘(a) The clerk shall maintain a publicly available list of—

‘‘(1) nonprofit budget and credit counseling agencies that

provide 1 or more services described in section 109(h) currently

approved by the United States trustee (or the bankruptcy

administrator, if any); and

‘‘(2) instructional courses concerning personal financial

management currently approved by the United States trustee

(or the bankruptcy administrator, if any), as applicable.

‘‘(b) The United States trustee (or bankruptcy administrator,

if any) shall only approve a nonprofit budget and credit counseling

agency or an instructional course concerning personal financial

management as follows:

‘‘(1) The United States trustee (or bankruptcy administrator, if any) shall have thoroughly reviewed the qualifications

of the nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency or of

the provider of the instructional course under the standards

set forth in this section, and the services or instructional

courses that will be offered by such agency or such provider,

and may require such agency or such provider that has sought

approval to provide information with respect to such review.

‘‘(2) The United States trustee (or bankruptcy administrator, if any) shall have determined that such agency or such

instructional course fully satisfies the applicable standards set

forth in this section.

‘‘(3) If a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency

or instructional course did not appear on the approved list

for the district under subsection (a) immediately before approval

under this section, approval under this subsection of such

agency or such instructional course shall be for a probationary

period not to exceed 6 months.

‘‘(4) At the conclusion of the applicable probationary period

under paragraph (3), the United States trustee (or bankruptcy

administrator, if any) may only approve for an additional 1-

year period, and for successive 1-year periods thereafter, an

agency or instructional course that has demonstrated during

the probationary or applicable subsequent period of approval

that such agency or instructional course—

‘‘(A) has met the standards set forth under this section

during such period; and

‘‘(B) can satisfy such standards in the future.

‘‘(5) Not later than 30 days after any final decision under

paragraph (4), an interested person may seek judicial review

of such decision in the appropriate district court of the United

States.

‘‘(c)(1) The United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator, if any) shall only approve a nonprofit budget and credit

counseling agency that demonstrates that it will provide qualified

counselors, maintain adequate provision for safekeeping and payment of client funds, provide adequate counseling with respect

to client credit problems, and deal responsibly and effectively with

other matters relating to the quality, effectiveness, and financial

security of the services it provides.
S. 256—18

‘‘(2) To be approved by the United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator, if any), a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency shall, at a minimum—

‘‘(A) have a board of directors the majority of which—

‘‘(i) are not employed by such agency; and

‘‘(ii) will not directly or indirectly benefit financially

from the outcome of the counseling services provided by

such agency;

‘‘(B) if a fee is charged for counseling services, charge

a reasonable fee, and provide services without regard to ability

to pay the fee;

‘‘(C) provide for safekeeping and payment of client funds,

including an annual audit of the trust accounts and appropriate

employee bonding;

‘‘(D) provide full disclosures to a client, including funding

sources, counselor qualifications, possible impact on credit

reports, and any costs of such program that will be paid by

such client and how such costs will be paid;

‘‘(E) provide adequate counseling with respect to a client’s

credit problems that includes an analysis of such client’s current

financial condition, factors that caused such financial condition,

and how such client can develop a plan to respond to the

problems without incurring negative amortization of debt;

‘‘(F) provide trained counselors who receive no commissions

or bonuses based on the outcome of the counseling services

provided by such agency, and who have adequate experience,

and have been adequately trained to provide counseling services

to individuals in financial difficulty, including the matters

described in subparagraph (E);

‘‘(G) demonstrate adequate experience and background in

providing credit counseling; and

‘‘(H) have adequate financial resources to provide continuing support services for budgeting plans over the life of

any repayment plan.

‘‘(d) The United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator, if any) shall only approve an instructional course concerning

personal financial management—

‘‘(1) for an initial probationary period under subsection

(b)(3) if the course will provide at a minimum—

‘‘(A) trained personnel with adequate experience and

training in providing effective instruction and services;

‘‘(B) learning materials and teaching methodologies

designed to assist debtors in understanding personal financial management and that are consistent with stated objectives directly related to the goals of such instructional

course;

‘‘(C) adequate facilities situated in reasonably convenient locations at which such instructional course is offered,

except that such facilities may include the provision of

such instructional course by telephone or through the Internet, if such instructional course is effective;

‘‘(D) the preparation and retention of reasonable

records (which shall include the debtor’s bankruptcy case

number) to permit evaluation of the effectiveness of such

instructional course, including any evaluation of satisfaction of instructional course requirements for each debtor
S. 256—19

attending such instructional course, which shall be available for inspection and evaluation by the Executive Office

for United States Trustees, the United States trustee (or

the bankruptcy administrator, if any), or the chief bankruptcy judge for the district in which such instructional

course is offered; and

‘‘(E) if a fee is charged for the instructional course, charge

a reasonable fee, and provide services without regard to ability

to pay the fee.

‘‘(2) for any 1-year period if the provider thereof has demonstrated that the course meets the standards of paragraph

(1) and, in addition—

‘‘(A) has been effective in assisting a substantial

number of debtors to understand personal financial

management; and

‘‘(B) is otherwise likely to increase substantially the

debtor’s understanding of personal financial management.

‘‘(e) The district court may, at any time, investigate the qualifications of a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency referred

to in subsection (a), and request production of documents to ensure

the integrity and effectiveness of such agency. The district court

may, at any time, remove from the approved list under subsection

(a) a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency upon finding

such agency does not meet the qualifications of subsection (b).

‘‘(f) The United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator,

if any) shall notify the clerk that a nonprofit budget and credit

counseling agency or an instructional course is no longer approved,

in which case the clerk shall remove it from the list maintained

under subsection (a).

‘‘(g)(1) No nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency may

provide to a credit reporting agency information concerning whether

a debtor has received or sought instruction concerning personal

financial management from such agency.

‘‘(2) A nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency that willfully or negligently fails to comply with any requirement under

this title with respect to a debtor shall be liable for damages

in an amount equal to the sum of—

‘‘(A) any actual damages sustained by the debtor as a

result of the violation; and

‘‘(B) any court costs or reasonable attorneys’ fees (as determined by the court) incurred in an action to recover those

damages.’’.

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for

chapter 1 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by adding

at the end the following:

‘‘111. Nonprofit budget and credit counseling agencies; financial management instructional courses.’’.

(f) LIMITATION.—Section 362 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(i) If a case commenced under chapter 7, 11, or 13 is dismissed

due to the creation of a debt repayment plan, for purposes of

subsection (c)(3), any subsequent case commenced by the debtor

under any such chapter shall not be presumed to be filed not

in good faith.
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‘‘(j) On request of a party in interest, the court shall issue

an order under subsection (c) confirming that the automatic stay

has been terminated.’’.

SEC. 107. SCHEDULES OF REASONABLE AND NECESSARY EXPENSES.

For purposes of section 707(b) of title 11, United States Code,

as amended by this Act, the Director of the Executive Office for

United States Trustees shall, not later than 180 days after the

date of enactment of this Act, issue schedules of reasonable and

necessary administrative expenses of administering a chapter 13

plan for each judicial district of the United States.

TITLE II—ENHANCED CONSUMER

PROTECTION

Subtitle A—Penalties for Abusive Creditor

Practices

SEC. 201. PROMOTION OF ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

(a) REDUCTION OF CLAIM.—Section 502 of title 11, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(k)(1) The court, on the motion of the debtor and after a

hearing, may reduce a claim filed under this section based in

whole on an unsecured consumer debt by not more than 20 percent

of the claim, if—

‘‘(A) the claim was filed by a creditor who unreasonably

refused to negotiate a reasonable alternative repayment

schedule proposed on behalf of the debtor by an approved

nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency described in

section 111;

‘‘(B) the offer of the debtor under subparagraph (A)—

‘‘(i) was made at least 60 days before the date of

the filing of the petition; and

‘‘(ii) provided for payment of at least 60 percent of

the amount of the debt over a period not to exceed the

repayment period of the loan, or a reasonable extension

thereof; and

‘‘(C) no part of the debt under the alternative repayment

schedule is nondischargeable.

‘‘(2) The debtor shall have the burden of proving, by clear

and convincing evidence, that—

‘‘(A) the creditor unreasonably refused to consider the

debtor’s proposal; and

‘‘(B) the proposed alternative repayment schedule was made

prior to expiration of the 60-day period specified in paragraph

(1)(B)(i).’’.

(b) LIMITATION ON AVOIDABILITY.—Section 547 of title 11,

United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(h) The trustee may not avoid a transfer if such transfer

was made as a part of an alternative repayment schedule between

the debtor and any creditor of the debtor created by an approved

nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency.’’.
S. 256—21

SEC. 202. EFFECT OF DISCHARGE.

Section 524 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

‘‘(i) The willful failure of a creditor to credit payments received

under a plan confirmed under this title, unless the order confirming

the plan is revoked, the plan is in default, or the creditor has

not received payments required to be made under the plan in

the manner required by the plan (including crediting the amounts

required under the plan), shall constitute a violation of an injunction

under subsection (a)(2) if the act of the creditor to collect and

failure to credit payments in the manner required by the plan

caused material injury to the debtor.

‘‘(j) Subsection (a)(2) does not operate as an injunction against

an act by a creditor that is the holder of a secured claim, if—

‘‘(1) such creditor retains a security interest in real property

that is the principal residence of the debtor;

‘‘(2) such act is in the ordinary course of business between

the creditor and the debtor; and

‘‘(3) such act is limited to seeking or obtaining periodic

payments associated with a valid security interest in lieu of

pursuit of in rem relief to enforce the lien.’’.

SEC. 203. DISCOURAGING ABUSE OF REAFFIRMATION AGREEMENT

PRACTICES.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 524 of title 11, United States Code,

as amended section 202, is amended—

(1) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting

the following:

‘‘(2) the debtor received the disclosures described in subsection (k) at or before the time at which the debtor signed

the agreement;’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(k)(1) The disclosures required under subsection (c)(2) shall

consist of the disclosure statement described in paragraph (3), completed as required in that paragraph, together with the agreement

specified in subsection (c), statement, declaration, motion and order

described, respectively, in paragraphs (4) through (8), and shall

be the only disclosures required in connection with entering into

such agreement.

‘‘(2) Disclosures made under paragraph (1) shall be made clearly

and conspicuously and in writing. The terms ‘Amount Reaffirmed’

and ‘Annual Percentage Rate’ shall be disclosed more conspicuously

than other terms, data or information provided in connection with

this disclosure, except that the phrases ‘Before agreeing to reaffirm

a debt, review these important disclosures’ and ‘Summary of

Reaffirmation Agreement’ may be equally conspicuous. Disclosures

may be made in a different order and may use terminology different

from that set forth in paragraphs (2) through (8), except that

the terms ‘Amount Reaffirmed’ and ‘Annual Percentage Rate’ must

be used where indicated.

‘‘(3) The disclosure statement required under this paragraph

shall consist of the following:

‘‘(A) The statement: ‘Part A: Before agreeing to reaffirm

a debt, review these important disclosures:’;

‘‘(B) Under the heading ‘Summary of Reaffirmation Agreement’, the statement: ‘This Summary is made pursuant to

the requirements of the Bankruptcy Code’;
S. 256—22

‘‘(C) The ‘Amount Reaffirmed’, using that term, which shall

be—

‘‘(i) the total amount of debt that the debtor agrees

to reaffirm by entering into an agreement of the kind

specified in subsection (c), and

‘‘(ii) the total of any fees and costs accrued as of the

date of the disclosure statement, related to such total

amount.

‘‘(D) In conjunction with the disclosure of the ‘Amount

Reaffirmed’, the statements—

‘‘(i) ‘The amount of debt you have agreed to reaffirm’;

and

‘‘(ii) ‘Your credit agreement may obligate you to pay

additional amounts which may come due after the date

of this disclosure. Consult your credit agreement.’.

‘‘(E) The ‘Annual Percentage Rate’, using that term, which

shall be disclosed as—

‘‘(i) if, at the time the petition is filed, the debt is

an extension of credit under an open end credit plan,

as the terms ‘credit’ and ‘open end credit plan’ are defined

in section 103 of the Truth in Lending Act, then—

‘‘(I) the annual percentage rate determined under

paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 127(b) of the Truth

in Lending Act, as applicable, as disclosed to the debtor

in the most recent periodic statement prior to entering

into an agreement of the kind specified in subsection

(c) or, if no such periodic statement has been given

to the debtor during the prior 6 months, the annual

percentage rate as it would have been so disclosed

at the time the disclosure statement is given to the

debtor, or to the extent this annual percentage rate

is not readily available or not applicable, then

‘‘(II) the simple interest rate applicable to the

amount reaffirmed as of the date the disclosure statement is given to the debtor, or if different simple

interest rates apply to different balances, the simple

interest rate applicable to each such balance, identifying the amount of each such balance included in

the amount reaffirmed, or

‘‘(III) if the entity making the disclosure elects,

to disclose the annual percentage rate under subclause

(I) and the simple interest rate under subclause (II);

or

‘‘(ii) if, at the time the petition is filed, the debt is

an extension of credit other than under an open end credit

plan, as the terms ‘credit’ and ‘open end credit plan’ are

defined in section 103 of the Truth in Lending Act, then—

‘‘(I) the annual percentage rate under section

128(a)(4) of the Truth in Lending Act, as disclosed

to the debtor in the most recent disclosure statement

given to the debtor prior to the entering into an agreement of the kind specified in subsection (c) with respect

to the debt, or, if no such disclosure statement was

given to the debtor, the annual percentage rate as

it would have been so disclosed at the time the disclosure statement is given to the debtor, or to the extent
S. 256—23

this annual percentage rate is not readily available

or not applicable, then

‘‘(II) the simple interest rate applicable to the

amount reaffirmed as of the date the disclosure statement is given to the debtor, or if different simple

interest rates apply to different balances, the simple

interest rate applicable to each such balance, identifying the amount of such balance included in the

amount reaffirmed, or

‘‘(III) if the entity making the disclosure elects,

to disclose the annual percentage rate under (I) and

the simple interest rate under (II).

‘‘(F) If the underlying debt transaction was disclosed as

a variable rate transaction on the most recent disclosure given

under the Truth in Lending Act, by stating ‘The interest rate

on your loan may be a variable interest rate which changes

from time to time, so that the annual percentage rate disclosed

here may be higher or lower.’.

‘‘(G) If the debt is secured by a security interest which

has not been waived in whole or in part or determined to

be void by a final order of the court at the time of the disclosure,

by disclosing that a security interest or lien in goods or property

is asserted over some or all of the debts the debtor is reaffirming

and listing the items and their original purchase price that

are subject to the asserted security interest, or if not a purchase-money security interest then listing by items or types

and the original amount of the loan.

‘‘(H) At the election of the creditor, a statement of the

repayment schedule using 1 or a combination of the following—

‘‘(i) by making the statement: ‘Your first payment in

the amount of $lll is due on lll but the future

payment amount may be different. Consult your reaffirmation agreement or credit agreement, as applicable.’, and

stating the amount of the first payment and the due date

of that payment in the places provided;

‘‘(ii) by making the statement: ‘Your payment schedule

will be:’, and describing the repayment schedule with the

number, amount, and due dates or period of payments

scheduled to repay the debts reaffirmed to the extent then

known by the disclosing party; or

‘‘(iii) by describing the debtor’s repayment obligations

with reasonable specificity to the extent then known by

the disclosing party.

‘‘(I) The following statement: ‘Note: When this disclosure

refers to what a creditor ‘‘may’’ do, it does not use the word

‘‘may’’ to give the creditor specific permission. The word ‘‘may’’

is used to tell you what might occur if the law permits the

creditor to take the action. If you have questions about your

reaffirming a debt or what the law requires, consult with the

attorney who helped you negotiate this agreement reaffirming

a debt. If you don’t have an attorney helping you, the judge

will explain the effect of your reaffirming a debt when the

hearing on the reaffirmation agreement is held.’.

‘‘(J)(i) The following additional statements:

‘‘ ‘Reaffirming a debt is a serious financial decision. The law

requires you to take certain steps to make sure the decision is
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in your best interest. If these steps are not completed, the reaffirmation agreement is not effective, even though you have signed it.

‘‘ ‘1. Read the disclosures in this Part A carefully. Consider

the decision to reaffirm carefully. Then, if you want to reaffirm,

sign the reaffirmation agreement in Part B (or you may use

a separate agreement you and your creditor agree on).

‘‘ ‘2. Complete and sign Part D and be sure you can afford

to make the payments you are agreeing to make and have

received a copy of the disclosure statement and a completed

and signed reaffirmation agreement.

‘‘ ‘3. If you were represented by an attorney during the

negotiation of your reaffirmation agreement, the attorney must

have signed the certification in Part C.

‘‘ ‘4. If you were not represented by an attorney during

the negotiation of your reaffirmation agreement, you must have

completed and signed Part E.

‘‘ ‘5. The original of this disclosure must be filed with the

court by you or your creditor. If a separate reaffirmation agreement (other than the one in Part B) has been signed, it must

be attached.

‘‘ ‘6. If you were represented by an attorney during the

negotiation of your reaffirmation agreement, your reaffirmation

agreement becomes effective upon filing with the court unless

the reaffirmation is presumed to be an undue hardship as

explained in Part D.

‘‘ ‘7. If you were not represented by an attorney during

the negotiation of your reaffirmation agreement, it will not

be effective unless the court approves it. The court will notify

you of the hearing on your reaffirmation agreement. You must

attend this hearing in bankruptcy court where the judge will

review your reaffirmation agreement. The bankruptcy court

must approve your reaffirmation agreement as consistent with

your best interests, except that no court approval is required

if your reaffirmation agreement is for a consumer debt secured

by a mortgage, deed of trust, security deed, or other lien on

your real property, like your home.

‘‘ ‘Your right to rescind (cancel) your reaffirmation agreement.

You may rescind (cancel) your reaffirmation agreement at any

time before the bankruptcy court enters a discharge order, or before

the expiration of the 60-day period that begins on the date your

reaffirmation agreement is filed with the court, whichever occurs

later. To rescind (cancel) your reaffirmation agreement, you must

notify the creditor that your reaffirmation agreement is rescinded

(or canceled).

‘‘ ‘What are your obligations if you reaffirm the debt? A reaffirmed debt remains your personal legal obligation. It is not

discharged in your bankruptcy case. That means that if you default

on your reaffirmed debt after your bankruptcy case is over, your

creditor may be able to take your property or your wages. Otherwise,

your obligations will be determined by the reaffirmation agreement

which may have changed the terms of the original agreement.

For example, if you are reaffirming an open end credit agreement,

the creditor may be permitted by that agreement or applicable

law to change the terms of that agreement in the future under

certain conditions.

‘‘ ‘Are you required to enter into a reaffirmation agreement

by any law? No, you are not required to reaffirm a debt by any
S. 256—25

law. Only agree to reaffirm a debt if it is in your best interest.

Be sure you can afford the payments you agree to make.

‘‘ ‘What if your creditor has a security interest or lien? Your

bankruptcy discharge does not eliminate any lien on your property.

A ‘‘lien’’ is often referred to as a security interest, deed of trust,

mortgage or security deed. Even if you do not reaffirm and your

personal liability on the debt is discharged, because of the lien

your creditor may still have the right to take the security property

if you do not pay the debt or default on it. If the lien is on

an item of personal property that is exempt under your State’s

law or that the trustee has abandoned, you may be able to redeem

the item rather than reaffirm the debt. To redeem, you make

a single payment to the creditor equal to the current value of

the security property, as agreed by the parties or determined by

the court.’.

‘‘(ii) In the case of a reaffirmation under subsection (m)(2),

numbered paragraph 6 in the disclosures required by clause

(i) of this subparagraph shall read as follows:

‘‘ ‘6. If you were represented by an attorney during the

negotiation of your reaffirmation agreement, your reaffirmation

agreement becomes effective upon filing with the court.’.

‘‘(4) The form of such agreement required under this paragraph

shall consist of the following:

‘‘ ‘Part B: Reaffirmation Agreement. I (we) agree to reaffirm

the debts arising under the credit agreement described below.

‘‘ ‘Brief description of credit agreement:

‘‘ ‘Description of any changes to the credit agreement made

as part of this reaffirmation agreement:

‘‘ ‘Signature: Date:

‘‘ ‘Borrower:

‘‘ ‘Co-borrower, if also reaffirming these debts:

‘‘ ‘Accepted by creditor:

‘‘ ‘Date of creditor acceptance:’.

‘‘(5) The declaration shall consist of the following:

‘‘(A) The following certification:

‘‘ ‘Part C: Certification by Debtor’s Attorney (If Any).

‘‘ ‘I hereby certify that (1) this agreement represents a fully

informed and voluntary agreement by the debtor; (2) this agreement

does not impose an undue hardship on the debtor or any dependent

of the debtor; and (3) I have fully advised the debtor of the legal

effect and consequences of this agreement and any default under

this agreement.

‘‘ ‘Signature of Debtor’s Attorney: Date:’.

‘‘(B) If a presumption of undue hardship has been established with respect to such agreement, such certification shall

state that in the opinion of the attorney, the debtor is able

to make the payment.

‘‘(C) In the case of a reaffirmation agreement under subsection

(m)(2), subparagraph (B) is not applicable.

‘‘(6)(A) The statement in support of such agreement, which

the debtor shall sign and date prior to filing with the court, shall

consist of the following:

‘‘ ‘Part D: Debtor’s Statement in Support of Reaffirmation Agreement.

‘‘ ‘1. I believe this reaffirmation agreement will not impose

an undue hardship on my dependents or me. I can afford to make

the payments on the reaffirmed debt because my monthly income
S. 256—26

(take home pay plus any other income received) is $lll, and

my actual current monthly expenses including monthly payments

on post-bankruptcy debt and other reaffirmation agreements total

$lll, leaving $lll to make the required payments on this

reaffirmed debt. I understand that if my income less my monthly

expenses does not leave enough to make the payments, this

reaffirmation agreement is presumed to be an undue hardship

on me and must be reviewed by the court. However, this presumption may be overcome if I explain to the satisfaction of the court

how I can afford to make the payments here: lll.

‘‘ ‘2. I received a copy of the Reaffirmation Disclosure Statement

in Part A and a completed and signed reaffirmation agreement.’.

‘‘(B) Where the debtor is represented by an attorney and is

reaffirming a debt owed to a creditor defined in section

19(b)(1)(A)(iv) of the Federal Reserve Act, the statement of support

of the reaffirmation agreement, which the debtor shall sign and

date prior to filing with the court, shall consist of the following:

‘‘ ‘I believe this reaffirmation agreement is in my financial

interest. I can afford to make the payments on the reaffirmed

debt. I received a copy of the Reaffirmation Disclosure Statement

in Part A and a completed and signed reaffirmation agreement.’.

‘‘(7) The motion that may be used if approval of such agreement

by the court is required in order for it to be effective, shall be

signed and dated by the movant and shall consist of the following:

‘‘ ‘Part E: Motion for Court Approval (To be completed only

if the debtor is not represented by an attorney.). I (we), the debtor(s),

affirm the following to be true and correct:

‘‘ ‘I am not represented by an attorney in connection with this

reaffirmation agreement.

‘‘ ‘I believe this reaffirmation agreement is in my best interest

based on the income and expenses I have disclosed in my Statement

in Support of this reaffirmation agreement, and because (provide

any additional relevant reasons the court should consider):

‘‘ ‘Therefore, I ask the court for an order approving this

reaffirmation agreement.’.

‘‘(8) The court order, which may be used to approve such agreement, shall consist of the following:

‘‘ ‘Court Order: The court grants the debtor’s motion and

approves the reaffirmation agreement described above.’.

‘‘(l) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title the following shall apply:

‘‘(1) A creditor may accept payments from a debtor before

and after the filing of an agreement of the kind specified

in subsection (c) with the court.

‘‘(2) A creditor may accept payments from a debtor under

such agreement that the creditor believes in good faith to

be effective.

‘‘(3) The requirements of subsections (c)(2) and (k) shall

be satisfied if disclosures required under those subsections are

given in good faith.

‘‘(m)(1) Until 60 days after an agreement of the kind specified

in subsection (c) is filed with the court (or such additional period

as the court, after notice and a hearing and for cause, orders

before the expiration of such period), it shall be presumed that

such agreement is an undue hardship on the debtor if the debtor’s

monthly income less the debtor’s monthly expenses as shown on

the debtor’s completed and signed statement in support of such
S. 256—27

agreement required under subsection (k)(6)(A) is less than the

scheduled payments on the reaffirmed debt. This presumption shall

be reviewed by the court. The presumption may be rebutted in

writing by the debtor if the statement includes an explanation

that identifies additional sources of funds to make the payments

as agreed upon under the terms of such agreement. If the presumption is not rebutted to the satisfaction of the court, the court

may disapprove such agreement. No agreement shall be disapproved

without notice and a hearing to the debtor and creditor, and such

hearing shall be concluded before the entry of the debtor’s discharge.

‘‘(2) This subsection does not apply to reaffirmation agreements

where the creditor is a credit union, as defined in section

19(b)(1)(A)(iv) of the Federal Reserve Act.’’.

(b) LAW ENFORCEMENT.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 9 of title 18, United States Code,

is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘§ 158. Designation of United States attorneys and agents

of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to address

abusive reaffirmations of debt and materially

fraudulent statements in bankruptcy schedules

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General of the United States

shall designate the individuals described in subsection (b) to have

primary responsibility in carrying out enforcement activities in

addressing violations of section 152 or 157 relating to abusive

reaffirmations of debt. In addition to addressing the violations

referred to in the preceding sentence, the individuals described

under subsection (b) shall address violations of section 152 or 157

relating to materially fraudulent statements in bankruptcy schedules that are intentionally false or intentionally misleading.

‘‘(b) UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS AND AGENTS OF THE FEDERAL

BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.—The individuals referred to in subsection (a) are—

‘‘(1) the United States attorney for each judicial district

of the United States; and

‘‘(2) an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for

each field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

‘‘(c) BANKRUPTCY INVESTIGATIONS.—Each United States

attorney designated under this section shall, in addition to any

other responsibilities, have primary responsibility for carrying out

the duties of a United States attorney under section 3057.

‘‘(d) BANKRUPTCY PROCEDURES.—The bankruptcy courts shall

establish procedures for referring any case that may contain a

materially fraudulent statement in a bankruptcy schedule to the

individuals designated under this section.’’.

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for

chapter 9 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding

at the end the following:

‘‘158. Designation of United States attorneys and agents of the Federal Bureau of

Investigation to address abusive reaffirmations of debt and materially

fraudulent statements in bankruptcy schedules.’’.

SEC. 204. PRESERVATION OF CLAIMS AND DEFENSES UPON SALE OF

PREDATORY LOANS.

Section 363 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsection (o) as subsection (p), and

(2) by inserting after subsection (n) the following:
S. 256—28

‘‘(o) Notwithstanding subsection (f), if a person purchases any

interest in a consumer credit transaction that is subject to the

Truth in Lending Act or any interest in a consumer credit contract

(as defined in section 433.1 of title 16 of the Code of Federal

Regulations (January 1, 2004), as amended from time to time),

and if such interest is purchased through a sale under this section,

then such person shall remain subject to all claims and defenses

that are related to such consumer credit transaction or such consumer credit contract, to the same extent as such person would

be subject to such claims and defenses of the consumer had such

interest been purchased at a sale not under this section.’’.

SEC. 205. GAO STUDY AND REPORT ON REAFFIRMATION AGREEMENT

PROCESS.

(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall

conduct a study of the reaffirmation agreement process that occurs

under title 11 of the United States Code, to determine the overall

treatment of consumers within the context of such process, and

shall include in such study consideration of—

(1) the policies and activities of creditors with respect to

reaffirmation agreements; and

(2) whether consumers are fully, fairly, and consistently

informed of their rights pursuant to such title.

(b) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS.—Not later than 18 months after

the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General

shall submit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the

Speaker of the House of Representatives a report on the results

of the study conducted under subsection (a), together with recommendations for legislation (if any) to address any abusive or

coercive tactics found in connection with the reaffirmation agreement process that occurs under title 11 of the United States Code.

Subtitle B—Priority Child Support

SEC. 211. DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC SUPPORT OBLIGATION.

Section 101 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking paragraph (12A); and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (14) the following:

‘‘(14A) ‘domestic support obligation’ means a debt that

accrues before, on, or after the date of the order for relief

in a case under this title, including interest that accrues on

that debt as provided under applicable nonbankruptcy law notwithstanding any other provision of this title, that is—

‘‘(A) owed to or recoverable by—

‘‘(i) a spouse, former spouse, or child of the debtor

or such child’s parent, legal guardian, or responsible

relative; or

‘‘(ii) a governmental unit;

‘‘(B) in the nature of alimony, maintenance, or support

(including assistance provided by a governmental unit) of

such spouse, former spouse, or child of the debtor or such

child’s parent, without regard to whether such debt is

expressly so designated;

‘‘(C) established or subject to establishment before, on,

or after the date of the order for relief in a case under

this title, by reason of applicable provisions of—
S. 256—29

‘‘(i) a separation agreement, divorce decree, or

property settlement agreement;

‘‘(ii) an order of a court of record; or

‘‘(iii) a determination made in accordance with

applicable nonbankruptcy law by a governmental unit;

and

‘‘(D) not assigned to a nongovernmental entity, unless

that obligation is assigned voluntarily by the spouse, former

spouse, child of the debtor, or such child’s parent, legal

guardian, or responsible relative for the purpose of collecting the debt;’’.

SEC. 212. PRIORITIES FOR CLAIMS FOR DOMESTIC SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS.

Section 507(a) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking paragraph (7);

(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (6) as paragraphs (2) through (7), respectively;

(3) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated, by striking ‘‘First’’

and inserting ‘‘Second’’;

(4) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by striking

‘‘Second’’ and inserting ‘‘Third’’;

(5) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated—

(A) by striking ‘‘Third’’ and inserting ‘‘Fourth’’; and

(B) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting

a period;

(6) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by striking

‘‘Fourth’’ and inserting ‘‘Fifth’’;

(7) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by striking ‘‘Fifth’’

and inserting ‘‘Sixth’’;

(8) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated, by striking ‘‘Sixth’’

and inserting ‘‘Seventh’’; and

(9) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated,

the following:

‘‘(1) First:

‘‘(A) Allowed unsecured claims for domestic support

obligations that, as of the date of the filing of the petition

in a case under this title, are owed to or recoverable by

a spouse, former spouse, or child of the debtor, or such

child’s parent, legal guardian, or responsible relative, without regard to whether the claim is filed by such person

or is filed by a governmental unit on behalf of such person,

on the condition that funds received under this paragraph

by a governmental unit under this title after the date

of the filing of the petition shall be applied and distributed

in accordance with applicable nonbankruptcy law.

‘‘(B) Subject to claims under subparagraph (A), allowed

unsecured claims for domestic support obligations that,

as of the date of the filing of the petition, are assigned

by a spouse, former spouse, child of the debtor, or such

child’s parent, legal guardian, or responsible relative to

a governmental unit (unless such obligation is assigned

voluntarily by the spouse, former spouse, child, parent,

legal guardian, or responsible relative of the child for the

purpose of collecting the debt) or are owed directly to

or recoverable by a governmental unit under applicable

nonbankruptcy law, on the condition that funds received
S. 256—30

under this paragraph by a governmental unit under this

title after the date of the filing of the petition be applied

and distributed in accordance with applicable nonbankruptcy law.

‘‘(C) If a trustee is appointed or elected under section

701, 702, 703, 1104, 1202, or 1302, the administrative

expenses of the trustee allowed under paragraphs (1)(A),

(2), and (6) of section 503(b) shall be paid before payment

of claims under subparagraphs (A) and (B), to the extent

that the trustee administers assets that are otherwise

available for the payment of such claims.’’.

SEC. 213. REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN CONFIRMATION AND DISCHARGE

IN CASES INVOLVING DOMESTIC SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS.

Title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in section 1129(a), by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(14) If the debtor is required by a judicial or administrative

order, or by statute, to pay a domestic support obligation,

the debtor has paid all amounts payable under such order

or such statute for such obligation that first become payable

after the date of the filing of the petition.’’;

(2) in section 1208(c)—

(A) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end;

(B) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the

end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(10) failure of the debtor to pay any domestic support

obligation that first becomes payable after the date of the

filing of the petition.’’;

(3) in section 1222(a)—

(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the

end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(4) notwithstanding any other provision of this section,

a plan may provide for less than full payment of all amounts

owed for a claim entitled to priority under section 507(a)(1)(B)

only if the plan provides that all of the debtor’s projected

disposable income for a 5-year period beginning on the date

that the first payment is due under the plan will be applied

to make payments under the plan.’’;

(4) in section 1222(b)—

(A) in paragraph (10), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(B) by redesignating paragraph (11) as paragraph (12);

and

(C) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following:

‘‘(11) provide for the payment of interest accruing after

the date of the filing of the petition on unsecured claims that

are nondischargeable under section 1228(a), except that such

interest may be paid only to the extent that the debtor has

disposable income available to pay such interest after making

provision for full payment of all allowed claims; and’’;

(5) in section 1225(a)—

(A) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the

end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:
S. 256—31

‘‘(7) the debtor has paid all amounts that are required

to be paid under a domestic support obligation and that first

become payable after the date of the filing of the petition

if the debtor is required by a judicial or administrative order,

or by statute, to pay such domestic support obligation.’’;

(6) in section 1228(a), in the matter preceding paragraph

(1), by inserting ‘‘, and in the case of a debtor who is required

by a judicial or administrative order, or by statute, to pay

a domestic support obligation, after such debtor certifies that

all amounts payable under such order or such statute that

are due on or before the date of the certification (including

amounts due before the petition was filed, but only to the

extent provided for by the plan) have been paid’’ after ‘‘completion by the debtor of all payments under the plan’’;

(7) in section 1307(c)—

(A) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end;

(B) in paragraph (10), by striking the period at the

end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(11) failure of the debtor to pay any domestic support

obligation that first becomes payable after the date of the

filing of the petition.’’;

(8) in section 1322(a)—

(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the

end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(4) notwithstanding any other provision of this section,

a plan may provide for less than full payment of all amounts

owed for a claim entitled to priority under section 507(a)(1)(B)

only if the plan provides that all of the debtor’s projected

disposable income for a 5-year period beginning on the date

that the first payment is due under the plan will be applied

to make payments under the plan.’’;

(9) in section 1322(b)—

(A) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting

a semicolon;

(B) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (11);

and

(C) inserting after paragraph (9) the following:

‘‘(10) provide for the payment of interest accruing after

the date of the filing of the petition on unsecured claims that

are nondischargeable under section 1328(a), except that such

interest may be paid only to the extent that the debtor has

disposable income available to pay such interest after making

provision for full payment of all allowed claims; and’’;

(10) in section 1325(a), as amended by section 102, by

inserting after paragraph (7) the following:

‘‘(8) the debtor has paid all amounts that are required

to be paid under a domestic support obligation and that first

become payable after the date of the filing of the petition

if the debtor is required by a judicial or administrative order,

or by statute, to pay such domestic support obligation; and’’;

(11) in section 1328(a), in the matter preceding paragraph

(1), by inserting ‘‘, and in the case of a debtor who is required

by a judicial or administrative order, or by statute, to pay

a domestic support obligation, after such debtor certifies that
S. 256—32

all amounts payable under such order or such statute that

are due on or before the date of the certification (including

amounts due before the petition was filed, but only to the

extent provided for by the plan) have been paid’’ after ‘‘completion by the debtor of all payments under the plan’’.

SEC. 214. EXCEPTIONS TO AUTOMATIC STAY IN DOMESTIC SUPPORT

OBLIGATION PROCEEDINGS.

Section 362(b) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

‘‘(2) under subsection (a)—

‘‘(A) of the commencement or continuation of a civil

action or proceeding—

‘‘(i) for the establishment of paternity;

‘‘(ii) for the establishment or modification of an

order for domestic support obligations;

‘‘(iii) concerning child custody or visitation;

‘‘(iv) for the dissolution of a marriage, except to

the extent that such proceeding seeks to determine

the division of property that is property of the estate;

or

‘‘(v) regarding domestic violence;

‘‘(B) of the collection of a domestic support obligation

from property that is not property of the estate;

‘‘(C) with respect to the withholding of income that

is property of the estate or property of the debtor for

payment of a domestic support obligation under a judicial

or administrative order or a statute;

‘‘(D) of the withholding, suspension, or restriction of

a driver’s license, a professional or occupational license,

or a recreational license, under State law, as specified

in section 466(a)(16) of the Social Security Act;

‘‘(E) of the reporting of overdue support owed by a

parent to any consumer reporting agency as specified in

section 466(a)(7) of the Social Security Act;

‘‘(F) of the interception of a tax refund, as specified

in sections 464 and 466(a)(3) of the Social Security Act

or under an analogous State law; or

‘‘(G) of the enforcement of a medical obligation, as

specified under title IV of the Social Security Act;’’.

SEC. 215. NONDISCHARGEABILITY OF CERTAIN DEBTS FOR ALIMONY,

MAINTENANCE, AND SUPPORT.

Section 523 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:

‘‘(5) for a domestic support obligation;’’; and

(B) by striking paragraph (18);

(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘(6), or (15)’’ each place

it appears and inserting ‘‘or (6)’’; and

(3) in paragraph (15), as added by Public Law 103–394

(108 Stat. 4133)—

(A) by inserting ‘‘to a spouse, former spouse, or child

of the debtor and’’ before ‘‘not of the kind’’;

(B) by inserting ‘‘or’’ after ‘‘court of record,’’; and

(C) by striking ‘‘unless—’’ and all that follows through

the end of the paragraph and inserting a semicolon.
S. 256—33

SEC. 216. CONTINUED LIABILITY OF PROPERTY.

Section 522 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (1) and inserting

the following:

‘‘(1) a debt of a kind specified in paragraph (1) or (5)

of section 523(a) (in which case, notwithstanding any provision

of applicable nonbankruptcy law to the contrary, such property

shall be liable for a debt of a kind specified in section

523(a)(5));’’;

(2) in subsection (f)(1)(A), by striking the dash and all

that follows through the end of the subparagraph and inserting

‘‘of a kind that is specified in section 523(a)(5); or’’; and

(3) in subsection (g)(2), by striking ‘‘subsection (f)(2)’’ and

inserting ‘‘subsection (f)(1)(B)’’.

SEC. 217. PROTECTION OF DOMESTIC SUPPORT CLAIMS AGAINST

PREFERENTIAL TRANSFER MOTIONS.

Section 547(c)(7) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

to read as follows:

‘‘(7) to the extent such transfer was a bona fide payment

of a debt for a domestic support obligation;’’.

SEC. 218. DISPOSABLE INCOME DEFINED.

Section 1225(b)(2)(A) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by inserting ‘‘or for a domestic support obligation that first becomes

payable after the date of the filing of the petition’’ after ‘‘dependent

of the debtor’’.

SEC. 219. COLLECTION OF CHILD SUPPORT.

(a) DUTIES OF TRUSTEE UNDER CHAPTER 7.—Section 704 of

title 11, United States Code, as amended by section 102, is

amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(B) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and

inserting a semicolon; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(10) if with respect to the debtor there is a claim for

a domestic support obligation, provide the applicable notice

specified in subsection (c); and’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(c)(1) In a case described in subsection (a)(10) to which subsection (a)(10) applies, the trustee shall—

‘‘(A)(i) provide written notice to the holder of the claim

described in subsection (a)(10) of such claim and of the right

of such holder to use the services of the State child support

enforcement agency established under sections 464 and 466

of the Social Security Act for the State in which such holder

resides, for assistance in collecting child support during and

after the case under this title;

‘‘(ii) include in the notice provided under clause (i) the

address and telephone number of such State child support

enforcement agency; and

‘‘(iii) include in the notice provided under clause (i) an

explanation of the rights of such holder to payment of such

claim under this chapter;

‘‘(B)(i) provide written notice to such State child support

enforcement agency of such claim; and
S. 256—34

‘‘(ii) include in the notice provided under clause (i) the

name, address, and telephone number of such holder; and

‘‘(C) at such time as the debtor is granted a discharge

under section 727, provide written notice to such holder and

to such State child support enforcement agency of—

‘‘(i) the granting of the discharge;

‘‘(ii) the last recent known address of the debtor;

‘‘(iii) the last recent known name and address of the

debtor’s employer; and

‘‘(iv) the name of each creditor that holds a claim

that—

‘‘(I) is not discharged under paragraph (2), (4),

or (14A) of section 523(a); or

‘‘(II) was reaffirmed by the debtor under section

524(c).

‘‘(2)(A) The holder of a claim described in subsection (a)(10)

or the State child support enforcement agency of the State in

which such holder resides may request from a creditor described

in paragraph (1)(C)(iv) the last known address of the debtor.

‘‘(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a creditor

that makes a disclosure of a last known address of a debtor in

connection with a request made under subparagraph (A) shall not

be liable by reason of making such disclosure.’’.

(b) DUTIES OF TRUSTEE UNDER CHAPTER 11.—Section 1106

of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(B) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and

inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(8) if with respect to the debtor there is a claim for

a domestic support obligation, provide the applicable notice

specified in subsection (c).’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(c)(1) In a case described in subsection (a)(8) to which subsection (a)(8) applies, the trustee shall—

‘‘(A)(i) provide written notice to the holder of the claim

described in subsection (a)(8) of such claim and of the right

of such holder to use the services of the State child support

enforcement agency established under sections 464 and 466

of the Social Security Act for the State in which such holder

resides, for assistance in collecting child support during and

after the case under this title; and

‘‘(ii) include in the notice required by clause (i) the address

and telephone number of such State child support enforcement

agency;

‘‘(B)(i) provide written notice to such State child support

enforcement agency of such claim; and

‘‘(ii) include in the notice required by clause (i) the name,

address, and telephone number of such holder; and

‘‘(C) at such time as the debtor is granted a discharge

under section 1141, provide written notice to such holder and

to such State child support enforcement agency of—

‘‘(i) the granting of the discharge;

‘‘(ii) the last recent known address of the debtor;

‘‘(iii) the last recent known name and address of the

debtor’s employer; and
S. 256—35

‘‘(iv) the name of each creditor that holds a claim

that—

‘‘(I) is not discharged under paragraph (2), (4),

or (14A) of section 523(a); or

‘‘(II) was reaffirmed by the debtor under section

524(c).

‘‘(2)(A) The holder of a claim described in subsection (a)(8)

or the State child enforcement support agency of the State in

which such holder resides may request from a creditor described

in paragraph (1)(C)(iv) the last known address of the debtor.

‘‘(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a creditor

that makes a disclosure of a last known address of a debtor in

connection with a request made under subparagraph (A) shall not

be liable by reason of making such disclosure.’’.

(c) DUTIES OF TRUSTEE UNDER CHAPTER 12.—Section 1202 of

title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and

inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(6) if with respect to the debtor there is a claim for

a domestic support obligation, provide the applicable notice

specified in subsection (c).’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(c)(1) In a case described in subsection (b)(6) to which subsection (b)(6) applies, the trustee shall—

‘‘(A)(i) provide written notice to the holder of the claim

described in subsection (b)(6) of such claim and of the right

of such holder to use the services of the State child support

enforcement agency established under sections 464 and 466

of the Social Security Act for the State in which such holder

resides, for assistance in collecting child support during and

after the case under this title; and

‘‘(ii) include in the notice provided under clause (i) the

address and telephone number of such State child support

enforcement agency;

‘‘(B)(i) provide written notice to such State child support

enforcement agency of such claim; and

‘‘(ii) include in the notice provided under clause (i) the

name, address, and telephone number of such holder; and

‘‘(C) at such time as the debtor is granted a discharge

under section 1228, provide written notice to such holder and

to such State child support enforcement agency of—

‘‘(i) the granting of the discharge;

‘‘(ii) the last recent known address of the debtor;

‘‘(iii) the last recent known name and address of the

debtor’s employer; and

‘‘(iv) the name of each creditor that holds a claim

that—

‘‘(I) is not discharged under paragraph (2), (4),

or (14A) of section 523(a); or

‘‘(II) was reaffirmed by the debtor under section

524(c).

‘‘(2)(A) The holder of a claim described in subsection (b)(6)

or the State child support enforcement agency of the State in
S. 256—36

which such holder resides may request from a creditor described

in paragraph (1)(C)(iv) the last known address of the debtor.

‘‘(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a creditor

that makes a disclosure of a last known address of a debtor in

connection with a request made under subparagraph (A) shall not

be liable by reason of making that disclosure.’’.

(d) DUTIES OF TRUSTEE UNDER CHAPTER 13.—Section 1302

of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and

inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(6) if with respect to the debtor there is a claim for

a domestic support obligation, provide the applicable notice

specified in subsection (d).’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(d)(1) In a case described in subsection (b)(6) to which subsection (b)(6) applies, the trustee shall—

‘‘(A)(i) provide written notice to the holder of the claim

described in subsection (b)(6) of such claim and of the right

of such holder to use the services of the State child support

enforcement agency established under sections 464 and 466

of the Social Security Act for the State in which such holder

resides, for assistance in collecting child support during and

after the case under this title; and

‘‘(ii) include in the notice provided under clause (i) the

address and telephone number of such State child support

enforcement agency;

‘‘(B)(i) provide written notice to such State child support

enforcement agency of such claim; and

‘‘(ii) include in the notice provided under clause (i) the

name, address, and telephone number of such holder; and

‘‘(C) at such time as the debtor is granted a discharge

under section 1328, provide written notice to such holder and

to such State child support enforcement agency of—

‘‘(i) the granting of the discharge;

‘‘(ii) the last recent known address of the debtor;

‘‘(iii) the last recent known name and address of the

debtor’s employer; and

‘‘(iv) the name of each creditor that holds a claim

that—

‘‘(I) is not discharged under paragraph (2) or (4)

of section 523(a); or

‘‘(II) was reaffirmed by the debtor under section

524(c).

‘‘(2)(A) The holder of a claim described in subsection (b)(6)

or the State child support enforcement agency of the State in

which such holder resides may request from a creditor described

in paragraph (1)(C)(iv) the last known address of the debtor.

‘‘(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a creditor

that makes a disclosure of a last known address of a debtor in

connection with a request made under subparagraph (A) shall not

be liable by reason of making that disclosure.’’.
S. 256—37

SEC. 220. NONDISCHARGEABILITY OF CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS AND LOANS.

Section 523(a) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by striking paragraph (8) and inserting the following:

‘‘(8) unless excepting such debt from discharge under this

paragraph would impose an undue hardship on the debtor

and the debtor’s dependents, for—

‘‘(A)(i) an educational benefit overpayment or loan

made, insured, or guaranteed by a governmental unit, or

made under any program funded in whole or in part by

a governmental unit or nonprofit institution; or

‘‘(ii) an obligation to repay funds received as an educational benefit, scholarship, or stipend; or

‘‘(B) any other educational loan that is a qualified

education loan, as defined in section 221(d)(1) of the

Internal Revenue Code of 1986, incurred by a debtor who

is an individual;’’.

Subtitle C—Other Consumer Protections

SEC. 221. AMENDMENTS TO DISCOURAGE ABUSIVE BANKRUPTCY

FILINGS.

Section 110 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘or an employee of

an attorney’’ and inserting ‘‘for the debtor or an employee

of such attorney under the direct supervision of such attorney’’;

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following:

‘‘If a bankruptcy petition preparer is not an individual,

then an officer, principal, responsible person, or partner

of the bankruptcy petition preparer shall be required to—

‘‘(A) sign the document for filing; and

‘‘(B) print on the document the name and address of that

officer, principal, responsible person, or partner.’’; and

(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

‘‘(2)(A) Before preparing any document for filing or accepting

any fees from a debtor, the bankruptcy petition preparer shall

provide to the debtor a written notice which shall be on an official

form prescribed by the Judicial Conference of the United States

in accordance with rule 9009 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy

Procedure.

‘‘(B) The notice under subparagraph (A)—

‘‘(i) shall inform the debtor in simple language that a

bankruptcy petition preparer is not an attorney and may not

practice law or give legal advice;

‘‘(ii) may contain a description of examples of legal advice

that a bankruptcy petition preparer is not authorized to give,

in addition to any advice that the preparer may not give by

reason of subsection (e)(2); and

‘‘(iii) shall—

‘‘(I) be signed by the debtor and, under penalty of

perjury, by the bankruptcy petition preparer; and

‘‘(II) be filed with any document for filing.’’;

(3) in subsection (c)—

(A) in paragraph (2)—
S. 256—38

(i) by striking ‘‘(2) For purposes’’ and inserting

‘‘(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), for purposes’’; and

(ii) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(B) If a bankruptcy petition preparer is not an individual,

the identifying number of the bankruptcy petition preparer shall

be the Social Security account number of the officer, principal,

responsible person, or partner of the bankruptcy petition preparer.’’;

and

(B) by striking paragraph (3);

(4) in subsection (d)—

(A) by striking ‘‘(d)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘(d)’’; and

(B) by striking paragraph (2);

(5) in subsection (e)—

(A) by striking paragraph (2); and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(2)(A) A bankruptcy petition preparer may not offer a potential

bankruptcy debtor any legal advice, including any legal advice

described in subparagraph (B).

‘‘(B) The legal advice referred to in subparagraph (A) includes

advising the debtor—

‘‘(i) whether—

‘‘(I) to file a petition under this title; or

‘‘(II) commencing a case under chapter 7, 11, 12, or

13 is appropriate;

‘‘(ii) whether the debtor’s debts will be discharged in a

case under this title;

‘‘(iii) whether the debtor will be able to retain the debtor’s

home, car, or other property after commencing a case under

this title;

‘‘(iv) concerning—

‘‘(I) the tax consequences of a case brought under this

title; or

‘‘(II) the dischargeability of tax claims;

‘‘(v) whether the debtor may or should promise to repay

debts to a creditor or enter into a reaffirmation agreement

with a creditor to reaffirm a debt;

‘‘(vi) concerning how to characterize the nature of the

debtor’s interests in property or the debtor’s debts; or

‘‘(vii) concerning bankruptcy procedures and rights.’’;

(6) in subsection (f)—

(A) by striking ‘‘(f)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘(f)’’; and

(B) by striking paragraph (2);

(7) in subsection (g)—

(A) by striking ‘‘(g)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘(g)’’; and

(B) by striking paragraph (2);

(8) in subsection (h)—

(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as

paragraphs (2) through (5), respectively;

(B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated, the following:

‘‘(1) The Supreme Court may promulgate rules under section

2075 of title 28, or the Judicial Conference of the United States

may prescribe guidelines, for setting a maximum allowable fee

chargeable by a bankruptcy petition preparer. A bankruptcy petition

preparer shall notify the debtor of any such maximum amount

before preparing any document for filing for a debtor or accepting

any fee from the debtor.’’;
S. 256—39

(C) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated—

(i) by striking ‘‘Within 10 days after the date of

the filing of a petition, a bankruptcy petition preparer

shall file a’’ and inserting ‘‘A’’;

(ii) by inserting ‘‘by the bankruptcy petition preparer shall be filed together with the petition,’’ after

‘‘perjury’’; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘If rules

or guidelines setting a maximum fee for services have

been promulgated or prescribed under paragraph (1),

the declaration under this paragraph shall include a

certification that the bankruptcy petition preparer complied with the notification requirement under paragraph (1).’’;

(D) by striking paragraph (3), as so redesignated, and

inserting the following:

‘‘(3)(A) The court shall disallow and order the immediate turnover to the bankruptcy trustee any fee referred to in paragraph

(2) found to be in excess of the value of any services—

‘‘(i) rendered by the bankruptcy petition preparer during

the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of the

filing of the petition; or

‘‘(ii) found to be in violation of any rule or guideline promulgated or prescribed under paragraph (1).

‘‘(B) All fees charged by a bankruptcy petition preparer may

be forfeited in any case in which the bankruptcy petition preparer

fails to comply with this subsection or subsection (b), (c), (d), (e),

(f), or (g).

‘‘(C) An individual may exempt any funds recovered under

this paragraph under section 522(b).’’; and

(E) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated, by striking

‘‘or the United States trustee’’ and inserting ‘‘the United

States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator, if any)

or the court, on the initiative of the court,’’;

(9) in subsection (i)(1), by striking the matter preceding

subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:

‘‘(i)(1) If a bankruptcy petition preparer violates this section

or commits any act that the court finds to be fraudulent, unfair,

or deceptive, on the motion of the debtor, trustee, United States

trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator, if any), and after notice

and a hearing, the court shall order the bankruptcy petition preparer to pay to the debtor—’’;

(10) in subsection (j)—

(A) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in subparagraph (A)(i)(I), by striking ‘‘a violation

of which subjects a person to criminal penalty’’;

(ii) in subparagraph (B)—

(I) by striking ‘‘or has not paid a penalty’’

and inserting ‘‘has not paid a penalty’’; and

(II) by inserting ‘‘or failed to disgorge all fees

ordered by the court’’ after ‘‘a penalty imposed

under this section,’’;

(B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4);

and

(C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

‘‘(3) The court, as part of its contempt power, may enjoin

a bankruptcy petition preparer that has failed to comply with
S. 256—40

a previous order issued under this section. The injunction under

this paragraph may be issued on the motion of the court, the

trustee, or the United States trustee (or the bankruptcy administrator, if any).’’; and

(11) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(l)(1) A bankruptcy petition preparer who fails to comply with

any provision of subsection (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), or (h) may

be fined not more than $500 for each such failure.

‘‘(2) The court shall triple the amount of a fine assessed under

paragraph (1) in any case in which the court finds that a bankruptcy

petition preparer—

‘‘(A) advised the debtor to exclude assets or income that

should have been included on applicable schedules;

‘‘(B) advised the debtor to use a false Social Security

account number;

‘‘(C) failed to inform the debtor that the debtor was filing

for relief under this title; or

‘‘(D) prepared a document for filing in a manner that failed

to disclose the identity of the bankruptcy petition preparer.

‘‘(3) A debtor, trustee, creditor, or United States trustee (or

the bankruptcy administrator, if any) may file a motion for an

order imposing a fine on the bankruptcy petition preparer for any

violation of this section.

‘‘(4)(A) Fines imposed under this subsection in judicial districts

served by United States trustees shall be paid to the United States

trustee, who shall deposit an amount equal to such fines in a

special account of the United States Trustee System Fund referred

to in section 586(e)(2) of title 28. Amounts deposited under this

subparagraph shall be available to fund the enforcement of this

section on a national basis.

‘‘(B) Fines imposed under this subsection in judicial districts

served by bankruptcy administrators shall be deposited as offsetting

receipts to the fund established under section 1931 of title 28,

and shall remain available until expended to reimburse any appropriation for the amount paid out of such appropriation for expenses

of the operation and maintenance of the courts of the United

States.’’.

SEC. 222. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that States should develop curricula

relating to the subject of personal finance, designed for use in

elementary and secondary schools.

SEC. 223. ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 11, UNITED STATES

CODE.

Section 507(a) of title 11, United States Code, as amended

by section 212, is amended by inserting after paragraph (9) the

following:

‘‘(10) Tenth, allowed claims for death or personal injury

resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle or vessel if

such operation was unlawful because the debtor was intoxicated

from using alcohol, a drug, or another substance.’’.

SEC. 224. PROTECTION OF RETIREMENT SAVINGS IN BANKRUPTCY.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 522 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (2)—
S. 256—41

(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the

end;

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period

at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’;

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(C) retirement funds to the extent that those funds are

in a fund or account that is exempt from taxation under section

401, 403, 408, 408A, 414, 457, or 501(a) of the Internal Revenue

Code of 1986.’’; and

(iv) by striking ‘‘(2)(A) any property’’ and inserting:

‘‘(3) Property listed in this paragraph is—

‘‘(A) any property’’;

(B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting:

‘‘(2) Property listed in this paragraph is property that is specified under subsection (d), unless the State law that is applicable

to the debtor under paragraph (3)(A) specifically does not so

authorize.’’;

(C) by striking ‘‘(b) Notwithstanding’’ and inserting

‘‘(b)(1) Notwithstanding’’;

(D) by striking ‘‘paragraph (2)’’ each place it appears

and inserting ‘‘paragraph (3)’’;

(E) by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ each place it appears

and inserting ‘‘paragraph (2)’’;

(F) by striking ‘‘Such property is—’’; and

(G) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(4) For purposes of paragraph (3)(C) and subsection (d)(12),

the following shall apply:

‘‘(A) If the retirement funds are in a retirement fund that

has received a favorable determination under section 7805 of

the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and that determination

is in effect as of the date of the filing of the petition in a

case under this title, those funds shall be presumed to be

exempt from the estate.

‘‘(B) If the retirement funds are in a retirement fund that

has not received a favorable determination under such section

7805, those funds are exempt from the estate if the debtor

demonstrates that—

‘‘(i) no prior determination to the contrary has been

made by a court or the Internal Revenue Service; and

‘‘(ii)(I) the retirement fund is in substantial compliance

with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue

Code of 1986; or

‘‘(II) the retirement fund fails to be in substantial

compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal

Revenue Code of 1986 and the debtor is not materially

responsible for that failure.

‘‘(C) A direct transfer of retirement funds from 1 fund

or account that is exempt from taxation under section 401,

403, 408, 408A, 414, 457, or 501(a) of the Internal Revenue

Code of 1986, under section 401(a)(31) of the Internal Revenue

Code of 1986, or otherwise, shall not cease to qualify for exemption under paragraph (3)(C) or subsection (d)(12) by reason

of such direct transfer.

‘‘(D)(i) Any distribution that qualifies as an eligible rollover

distribution within the meaning of section 402(c) of the Internal

Revenue Code of 1986 or that is described in clause (ii) shall
S. 256—42

not cease to qualify for exemption under paragraph (3)(C) or

subsection (d)(12) by reason of such distribution.

‘‘(ii) A distribution described in this clause is an amount

that—

‘‘(I) has been distributed from a fund or account that

is exempt from taxation under section 401, 403, 408, 408A,

414, 457, or 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

and

‘‘(II) to the extent allowed by law, is deposited in such

a fund or account not later than 60 days after the distribution of such amount.’’; and

(2) in subsection (d)—

(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking

‘‘subsection (b)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (b)(2)’’; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(12) Retirement funds to the extent that those funds are

in a fund or account that is exempt from taxation under section

401, 403, 408, 408A, 414, 457, or 501(a) of the Internal Revenue

Code of 1986.’’.

(b) AUTOMATIC STAY.—Section 362(b) of title 11, United States

Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (17), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end;

(2) in paragraph (18), by striking the period and inserting

a semicolon; and

(3) by inserting after paragraph (18) the following:

‘‘(19) under subsection (a), of withholding of income from

a debtor’s wages and collection of amounts withheld, under

the debtor’s agreement authorizing that withholding and collection for the benefit of a pension, profit-sharing, stock bonus,

or other plan established under section 401, 403, 408, 408A,

414, 457, or 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,

that is sponsored by the employer of the debtor, or an affiliate,

successor, or predecessor of such employer—

‘‘(A) to the extent that the amounts withheld and collected are used solely for payments relating to a loan

from a plan under section 408(b)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or is subject to section

72(p) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or

‘‘(B) a loan from a thrift savings plan permitted under

subchapter III of chapter 84 of title 5, that satisfies the

requirements of section 8433(g) of such title;

but nothing in this paragraph may be construed to provide

that any loan made under a governmental plan under section

414(d), or a contract or account under section 403(b), of the

Internal Revenue Code of 1986 constitutes a claim or a debt

under this title;’’.

(c) EXCEPTIONS TO DISCHARGE.—Section 523(a) of title 11,

United States Code, as amended by section 215, is amended by

inserting after paragraph (17) the following:

‘‘(18) owed to a pension, profit-sharing, stock bonus, or

other plan established under section 401, 403, 408, 408A, 414,

457, or 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, under—

‘‘(A) a loan permitted under section 408(b)(1) of the

Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or subject to section 72(p) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

or
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‘‘(B) a loan from a thrift savings plan permitted under

subchapter III of chapter 84 of title 5, that satisfies the

requirements of section 8433(g) of such title;

but nothing in this paragraph may be construed to provide

that any loan made under a governmental plan under section

414(d), or a contract or account under section 403(b), of the

Internal Revenue Code of 1986 constitutes a claim or a debt

under this title; or’’.

(d) PLAN CONTENTS.—Section 1322 of title 11, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(f) A plan may not materially alter the terms of a loan

described in section 362(b)(19) and any amounts required to repay

such loan shall not constitute ‘disposable income’ under section

1325.’’.

(e) ASSET LIMITATION.—

(1) LIMITATION.—Section 522 of title 11, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(n) For assets in individual retirement accounts described in

section 408 or 408A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, other

than a simplified employee pension under section 408(k) of such

Code or a simple retirement account under section 408(p) of such

Code, the aggregate value of such assets exempted under this

section, without regard to amounts attributable to rollover contributions under section 402(c), 402(e)(6), 403(a)(4), 403(a)(5), and

403(b)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and earnings

thereon, shall not exceed $1,000,000 in a case filed by a debtor

who is an individual, except that such amount may be increased

if the interests of justice so require.’’.

(2) ADJUSTMENT OF DOLLAR AMOUNTS.—Paragraphs (1) and

(2) of section 104(b) of title 11, United States Code, are amended

by inserting ‘‘522(n),’’ after ‘‘522(d),’’.

SEC. 225. PROTECTION OF EDUCATION SAVINGS IN BANKRUPTCY.

(a) EXCLUSIONS.—Section 541 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end;

(B) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (9);

and

(C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:

‘‘(5) funds placed in an education individual retirement

account (as defined in section 530(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue

Code of 1986) not later than 365 days before the date of the

filing of the petition in a case under this title, but—

‘‘(A) only if the designated beneficiary of such account

was a child, stepchild, grandchild, or stepgrandchild of

the debtor for the taxable year for which funds were placed

in such account;

‘‘(B) only to the extent that such funds—

‘‘(i) are not pledged or promised to any entity in

connection with any extension of credit; and

‘‘(ii) are not excess contributions (as described in

section 4973(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986);

and

‘‘(C) in the case of funds placed in all such accounts

having the same designated beneficiary not earlier than
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720 days nor later than 365 days before such date, only

so much of such funds as does not exceed $5,000;

‘‘(6) funds used to purchase a tuition credit or certificate

or contributed to an account in accordance with section

529(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 under a

qualified State tuition program (as defined in section 529(b)(1)

of such Code) not later than 365 days before the date of the

filing of the petition in a case under this title, but—

‘‘(A) only if the designated beneficiary of the amounts

paid or contributed to such tuition program was a child,

stepchild, grandchild, or stepgrandchild of the debtor for

the taxable year for which funds were paid or contributed;

‘‘(B) with respect to the aggregate amount paid or

contributed to such program having the same designated

beneficiary, only so much of such amount as does not

exceed the total contributions permitted under section

529(b)(7) of such Code with respect to such beneficiary,

as adjusted beginning on the date of the filing of the

petition in a case under this title by the annual increase

or decrease (rounded to the nearest tenth of 1 percent)

in the education expenditure category of the Consumer

Price Index prepared by the Department of Labor; and

‘‘(C) in the case of funds paid or contributed to such

program having the same designated beneficiary not earlier

than 720 days nor later than 365 days before such date,

only so much of such funds as does not exceed $5,000;’’;

and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(e) In determining whether any of the relationships specified

in paragraph (5)(A) or (6)(A) of subsection (b) exists, a legally

adopted child of an individual (and a child who is a member of

an individual’s household, if placed with such individual by an

authorized placement agency for legal adoption by such individual),

or a foster child of an individual (if such child has as the child’s

principal place of abode the home of the debtor and is a member

of the debtor’s household) shall be treated as a child of such individual by blood.’’.

(b) DEBTOR’S DUTIES.—Section 521 of title 11, United States

Code, as amended by section 106, is amended by adding at the

end the following:

‘‘(c) In addition to meeting the requirements under subsection

(a), a debtor shall file with the court a record of any interest

that a debtor has in an education individual retirement account

(as defined in section 530(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of

1986) or under a qualified State tuition program (as defined in

section 529(b)(1) of such Code).’’.

SEC. 226. DEFINITIONS.

(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 101 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

‘‘(3) ‘assisted person’ means any person whose debts consist

primarily of consumer debts and the value of whose nonexempt

property is less than $150,000;’’;

(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:

‘‘(4A) ‘bankruptcy assistance’ means any goods or services

sold or otherwise provided to an assisted person with the
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express or implied purpose of providing information, advice,

counsel, document preparation, or filing, or attendance at a

creditors’ meeting or appearing in a case or proceeding on

behalf of another or providing legal representation with respect

to a case or proceeding under this title;’’; and

(3) by inserting after paragraph (12) the following:

‘‘(12A) ‘debt relief agency’ means any person who provides

any bankruptcy assistance to an assisted person in return

for the payment of money or other valuable consideration,

or who is a bankruptcy petition preparer under section 110,

but does not include—

‘‘(A) any person who is an officer, director, employee,

or agent of a person who provides such assistance or of

the bankruptcy petition preparer;

‘‘(B) a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

of 1986;

‘‘(C) a creditor of such assisted person, to the extent

that the creditor is assisting such assisted person to

restructure any debt owed by such assisted person to the

creditor;

‘‘(D) a depository institution (as defined in section 3

of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) or any Federal credit

union or State credit union (as those terms are defined

in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act), or any

affiliate or subsidiary of such depository institution or

credit union; or

‘‘(E) an author, publisher, distributor, or seller of works

subject to copyright protection under title 17, when acting

in such capacity.’’.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 104(b) of title 11,

United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘101(3),’’ after ‘‘sections’’ each place it appears.

SEC. 227. RESTRICTIONS ON DEBT RELIEF AGENCIES.

(a) ENFORCEMENT.—Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 11,

United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘§ 526. Restrictions on debt relief agencies

‘‘(a) A debt relief agency shall not—

‘‘(1) fail to perform any service that such agency informed

an assisted person or prospective assisted person it would provide in connection with a case or proceeding under this title;

‘‘(2) make any statement, or counsel or advise any assisted

person or prospective assisted person to make a statement

in a document filed in a case or proceeding under this title,

that is untrue and misleading, or that upon the exercise of

reasonable care, should have been known by such agency to

be untrue or misleading;

‘‘(3) misrepresent to any assisted person or prospective

assisted person, directly or indirectly, affirmatively or by material omission, with respect to—

‘‘(A) the services that such agency will provide to such

person; or

‘‘(B) the benefits and risks that may result if such

person becomes a debtor in a case under this title; or
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‘‘(4) advise an assisted person or prospective assisted person

to incur more debt in contemplation of such person filing a

case under this title or to pay an attorney or bankruptcy

petition preparer fee or charge for services performed as part

of preparing for or representing a debtor in a case under this

title.

‘‘(b) Any waiver by any assisted person of any protection or

right provided under this section shall not be enforceable against

the debtor by any Federal or State court or any other person,

but may be enforced against a debt relief agency.

‘‘(c)(1) Any contract for bankruptcy assistance between a debt

relief agency and an assisted person that does not comply with

the material requirements of this section, section 527, or section

528 shall be void and may not be enforced by any Federal or

State court or by any other person, other than such assisted person.

‘‘(2) Any debt relief agency shall be liable to an assisted person

in the amount of any fees or charges in connection with providing

bankruptcy assistance to such person that such debt relief agency

has received, for actual damages, and for reasonable attorneys’

fees and costs if such agency is found, after notice and a hearing,

to have—

‘‘(A) intentionally or negligently failed to comply with any

provision of this section, section 527, or section 528 with respect

to a case or proceeding under this title for such assisted person;

‘‘(B) provided bankruptcy assistance to an assisted person

in a case or proceeding under this title that is dismissed or

converted to a case under another chapter of this title because

of such agency’s intentional or negligent failure to file any

required document including those specified in section 521;

or

‘‘(C) intentionally or negligently disregarded the material

requirements of this title or the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy

Procedure applicable to such agency.

‘‘(3) In addition to such other remedies as are provided under

State law, whenever the chief law enforcement officer of a State,

or an official or agency designated by a State, has reason to believe

that any person has violated or is violating this section, the State—

‘‘(A) may bring an action to enjoin such violation;

‘‘(B) may bring an action on behalf of its residents to

recover the actual damages of assisted persons arising from

such violation, including any liability under paragraph (2);

and

‘‘(C) in the case of any successful action under subparagraph (A) or (B), shall be awarded the costs of the action

and reasonable attorneys’ fees as determined by the court.

‘‘(4) The district courts of the United States for districts located

in the State shall have concurrent jurisdiction of any action under

subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (3).

‘‘(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal law and

in addition to any other remedy provided under Federal or State

law, if the court, on its own motion or on the motion of the United

States trustee or the debtor, finds that a person intentionally violated this section, or engaged in a clear and consistent pattern

or practice of violating this section, the court may—

‘‘(A) enjoin the violation of such section; or

‘‘(B) impose an appropriate civil penalty against such person.
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‘‘(d) No provision of this section, section 527, or section 528

shall—

‘‘(1) annul, alter, affect, or exempt any person subject to

such sections from complying with any law of any State except

to the extent that such law is inconsistent with those sections,

and then only to the extent of the inconsistency; or

‘‘(2) be deemed to limit or curtail the authority or ability—

‘‘(A) of a State or subdivision or instrumentality

thereof, to determine and enforce qualifications for the

practice of law under the laws of that State; or

‘‘(B) of a Federal court to determine and enforce the

qualifications for the practice of law before that court.’’.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for chapter

5 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by inserting after

the item relating to section 525, the following:

‘‘526. Restrictions on debt relief agencies.’’.

SEC. 228. DISCLOSURES.

(a) DISCLOSURES.—Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 11, United

States Code, as amended by section 227, is amended by adding

at the end the following:

‘‘§ 527. Disclosures

‘‘(a) A debt relief agency providing bankruptcy assistance to

an assisted person shall provide—

‘‘(1) the written notice required under section 342(b)(1);

and

‘‘(2) to the extent not covered in the written notice described

in paragraph (1), and not later than 3 business days after

the first date on which a debt relief agency first offers to

provide any bankruptcy assistance services to an assisted person, a clear and conspicuous written notice advising assisted

persons that—

‘‘(A) all information that the assisted person is required

to provide with a petition and thereafter during a case

under this title is required to be complete, accurate, and

truthful;

‘‘(B) all assets and all liabilities are required to be

completely and accurately disclosed in the documents filed

to commence the case, and the replacement value of each

asset as defined in section 506 must be stated in those

documents where requested after reasonable inquiry to

establish such value;

‘‘(C) current monthly income, the amounts specified

in section 707(b)(2), and, in a case under chapter 13 of

this title, disposable income (determined in accordance with

section 707(b)(2)), are required to be stated after reasonable

inquiry; and

‘‘(D) information that an assisted person provides

during their case may be audited pursuant to this title,

and that failure to provide such information may result

in dismissal of the case under this title or other sanction,

including a criminal sanction.

‘‘(b) A debt relief agency providing bankruptcy assistance to

an assisted person shall provide each assisted person at the same

time as the notices required under subsection (a)(1) the following
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statement, to the extent applicable, or one substantially similar.

The statement shall be clear and conspicuous and shall be in

a single document separate from other documents or notices provided to the assisted person:

‘‘ ‘IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BANKRUPTCY

ASSISTANCE SERVICES FROM AN ATTORNEY OR BANKRUPTCY PETITION PREPARER.

‘‘ ‘If you decide to seek bankruptcy relief, you can represent

yourself, you can hire an attorney to represent you, or you can

get help in some localities from a bankruptcy petition preparer

who is not an attorney. THE LAW REQUIRES AN ATTORNEY

OR BANKRUPTCY PETITION PREPARER TO GIVE YOU A

WRITTEN CONTRACT SPECIFYING WHAT THE ATTORNEY

OR BANKRUPTCY PETITION PREPARER WILL DO FOR YOU

AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST. Ask to see the contract before

you hire anyone.

‘‘ ‘The following information helps you understand what must

be done in a routine bankruptcy case to help you evaluate how

much service you need. Although bankruptcy can be complex, many

cases are routine.

‘‘ ‘Before filing a bankruptcy case, either you or your attorney

should analyze your eligibility for different forms of debt relief

available under the Bankruptcy Code and which form of relief

is most likely to be beneficial for you. Be sure you understand

the relief you can obtain and its limitations. To file a bankruptcy

case, documents called a Petition, Schedules and Statement of

Financial Affairs, as well as in some cases a Statement of Intention

need to be prepared correctly and filed with the bankruptcy court.

You will have to pay a filing fee to the bankruptcy court. Once

your case starts, you will have to attend the required first meeting

of creditors where you may be questioned by a court official called

a ‘trustee’ and by creditors.

‘‘ ‘If you choose to file a chapter 7 case, you may be asked

by a creditor to reaffirm a debt. You may want help deciding

whether to do so. A creditor is not permitted to coerce you into

reaffirming your debts.

‘‘ ‘If you choose to file a chapter 13 case in which you repay

your creditors what you can afford over 3 to 5 years, you may

also want help with preparing your chapter 13 plan and with

the confirmation hearing on your plan which will be before a bankruptcy judge.

‘‘ ‘If you select another type of relief under the Bankruptcy

Code other than chapter 7 or chapter 13, you will want to find

out what should be done from someone familiar with that type

of relief.

‘‘ ‘Your bankruptcy case may also involve litigation. You are

generally permitted to represent yourself in litigation in bankruptcy

court, but only attorneys, not bankruptcy petition preparers, can

give you legal advice.’.

‘‘(c) Except to the extent the debt relief agency provides the

required information itself after reasonably diligent inquiry of the

assisted person or others so as to obtain such information reasonably accurately for inclusion on the petition, schedules or statement

of financial affairs, a debt relief agency providing bankruptcy assistance to an assisted person, to the extent permitted by nonbankruptcy law, shall provide each assisted person at the time required

for the notice required under subsection (a)(1) reasonably sufficient
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information (which shall be provided in a clear and conspicuous

writing) to the assisted person on how to provide all the information

the assisted person is required to provide under this title pursuant

to section 521, including—

‘‘(1) how to value assets at replacement value, determine

current monthly income, the amounts specified in section

707(b)(2) and, in a chapter 13 case, how to determine disposable

income in accordance with section 707(b)(2) and related calculations;

‘‘(2) how to complete the list of creditors, including how

to determine what amount is owed and what address for the

creditor should be shown; and

‘‘(3) how to determine what property is exempt and how

to value exempt property at replacement value as defined in

section 506.

‘‘(d) A debt relief agency shall maintain a copy of the notices

required under subsection (a) of this section for 2 years after the

date on which the notice is given the assisted person.’’.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for chapter

5 of title 11, United States Code, as amended by section 227,

is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 526

the following:

‘‘527. Disclosures.’’.

SEC. 229. REQUIREMENTS FOR DEBT RELIEF AGENCIES.

(a) ENFORCEMENT.—Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 11,

United States Code, as amended by sections 227 and 228, is

amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘§ 528. Requirements for debt relief agencies

‘‘(a) A debt relief agency shall—

‘‘(1) not later than 5 business days after the first date

on which such agency provides any bankruptcy assistance services to an assisted person, but prior to such assisted person’s

petition under this title being filed, execute a written contract

with such assisted person that explains clearly and

conspicuously—

‘‘(A) the services such agency will provide to such

assisted person; and

‘‘(B) the fees or charges for such services, and the

terms of payment;

‘‘(2) provide the assisted person with a copy of the fully

executed and completed contract;

‘‘(3) clearly and conspicuously disclose in any advertisement

of bankruptcy assistance services or of the benefits of bankruptcy directed to the general public (whether in general media,

seminars or specific mailings, telephonic or electronic messages,

or otherwise) that the services or benefits are with respect

to bankruptcy relief under this title; and

‘‘(4) clearly and conspicuously use the following statement

in such advertisement: ‘We are a debt relief agency. We help

people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.’

or a substantially similar statement.

‘‘(b)(1) An advertisement of bankruptcy assistance services or

of the benefits of bankruptcy directed to the general public

includes—
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‘‘(A) descriptions of bankruptcy assistance in connection

with a chapter 13 plan whether or not chapter 13 is specifically

mentioned in such advertisement; and

‘‘(B) statements such as ‘federally supervised repayment

plan’ or ‘Federal debt restructuring help’ or other similar statements that could lead a reasonable consumer to believe that

debt counseling was being offered when in fact the services

were directed to providing bankruptcy assistance with a chapter

13 plan or other form of bankruptcy relief under this title.

‘‘(2) An advertisement, directed to the general public, indicating

that the debt relief agency provides assistance with respect to

credit defaults, mortgage foreclosures, eviction proceedings, excessive debt, debt collection pressure, or inability to pay any consumer

debt shall—

‘‘(A) disclose clearly and conspicuously in such advertisement that the assistance may involve bankruptcy relief under

this title; and

‘‘(B) include the following statement: ‘We are a debt relief

agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the

Bankruptcy Code.’ or a substantially similar statement.’’.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for chapter

5 of title 11, United States Code, as amended by section 227

and 228, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section

527, the following:

‘‘528. Requirements for debt relief agencies.’’.

SEC. 230. GAO STUDY.

(a) STUDY.—Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment

of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall

conduct a study of the feasibility, effectiveness, and cost of requiring

trustees appointed under title 11, United States Code, or the bankruptcy courts, to provide to the Office of Child Support Enforcement

promptly after the commencement of cases by debtors who are

individuals under such title, the names and social security account

numbers of such debtors for the purposes of allowing such Office

to determine whether such debtors have outstanding obligations

for child support (as determined on the basis of information in

the Federal Case Registry or other national database).

(b) REPORT.—Not later than 300 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the

President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House

of Representatives a report containing the results of the study

required by subsection (a).

SEC. 231. PROTECTION OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION.

(a) LIMITATION.—Section 363(b)(1) of title 11, United States

Code, is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting

the following:

‘‘, except that if the debtor in connection with offering a product

or a service discloses to an individual a policy prohibiting the

transfer of personally identifiable information about individuals

to persons that are not affiliated with the debtor and if such

policy is in effect on the date of the commencement of the case,

then the trustee may not sell or lease personally identifiable

information to any person unless—
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‘‘(A) such sale or such lease is consistent with such policy;

or

‘‘(B) after appointment of a consumer privacy ombudsman

in accordance with section 332, and after notice and a hearing,

the court approves such sale or such lease—

‘‘(i) giving due consideration to the facts, circumstances,

and conditions of such sale or such lease; and

‘‘(ii) finding that no showing was made that such sale

or such lease would violate applicable nonbankruptcy law.’’.

(b) DEFINITION.—Section 101 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended by inserting after paragraph (41) the following:

‘‘(41A) ‘personally identifiable information’ means—

‘‘(A) if provided by an individual to the debtor in

connection with obtaining a product or a service from the

debtor primarily for personal, family, or household

purposes—

‘‘(i) the first name (or initial) and last name of

such individual, whether given at birth or time of

adoption, or resulting from a lawful change of name;

‘‘(ii) the geographical address of a physical place

of residence of such individual;

‘‘(iii) an electronic address (including an e-mail

address) of such individual;

‘‘(iv) a telephone number dedicated to contacting

such individual at such physical place of residence;

‘‘(v) a social security account number issued to

such individual; or

‘‘(vi) the account number of a credit card issued

to such individual; or

‘‘(B) if identified in connection with 1 or more of the

items of information specified in subparagraph (A)—

‘‘(i) a birth date, the number of a certificate of

birth or adoption, or a place of birth; or

‘‘(ii) any other information concerning an identified

individual that, if disclosed, will result in contacting

or identifying such individual physically or electronically;’’.

SEC. 232. CONSUMER PRIVACY OMBUDSMAN.

(a) CONSUMER PRIVACY OMBUDSMAN.—Title 11 of the United

States Code is amended by inserting after section 331 the following:

‘‘§ 332. Consumer privacy ombudsman

‘‘(a) If a hearing is required under section 363(b)(1)(B), the

court shall order the United States trustee to appoint, not later

than 5 days before the commencement of the hearing, 1 disinterested person (other than the United States trustee) to serve

as the consumer privacy ombudsman in the case and shall require

that notice of such hearing be timely given to such ombudsman.

‘‘(b) The consumer privacy ombudsman may appear and be

heard at such hearing and shall provide to the court information

to assist the court in its consideration of the facts, circumstances,

and conditions of the proposed sale or lease of personally identifiable

information under section 363(b)(1)(B). Such information may

include presentation of—

‘‘(1) the debtor’s privacy policy;
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‘‘(2) the potential losses or gains of privacy to consumers

if such sale or such lease is approved by the court;

‘‘(3) the potential costs or benefits to consumers if such

sale or such lease is approved by the court; and

‘‘(4) the potential alternatives that would mitigate potential

privacy losses or potential costs to consumers.

‘‘(c) A consumer privacy ombudsman shall not disclose any

personally identifiable information obtained by the ombudsman

under this title.’’.

(b) COMPENSATION OF CONSUMER PRIVACY OMBUDSMAN.—Section 330(a)(1) of title 11, United States Code, is amended in the

matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘a consumer privacy ombudsman appointed under section 332,’’ before ‘‘an examiner’’.

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for subchapter II of chapter 3 of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by adding at the end the following:

‘‘332. Consumer privacy ombudsman.’’.

SEC. 233. PROHIBITION ON DISCLOSURE OF NAME OF MINOR CHILDREN.

(a) PROHIBITION.—Title 11 of the United States Code, as

amended by section 106, is amended by inserting after section

111 the following:

‘‘§ 112. Prohibition on disclosure of name of minor children

‘‘The debtor may be required to provide information regarding

a minor child involved in matters under this title but may not

be required to disclose in the public records in the case the name

of such minor child. The debtor may be required to disclose the

name of such minor child in a nonpublic record that is maintained

by the court and made available by the court for examination

by the United States trustee, the trustee, and the auditor (if any)

serving under section 586(f) of title 28, in the case. The court,

the United States trustee, the trustee, and such auditor shall not

disclose the name of such minor child maintained in such nonpublic

record.’’.

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for chapter

1 of title 11, United States Code, as amended by section 106,

is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 111

the following:

‘‘112. Prohibition on disclosure of name of minor children.’’.

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 107(a) of title 11,

United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘and subject to section

112’’ after ‘‘section’’.

SEC. 234. PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION.

(a) RESTRICTION OF PUBLIC ACCESS TO CERTAIN INFORMATION

CONTAINED IN BANKRUPTCY CASE FILES.—Section 107 of title 11,

United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(c)(1) The bankruptcy court, for cause, may protect an individual, with respect to the following types of information to the

extent the court finds that disclosure of such information would

create undue risk of identity theft or other unlawful injury to

the individual or the individual’s property:
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‘‘(A) Any means of identification (as defined in section

1028(d) of title 18) contained in a paper filed, or to be filed,

in a case under this title.

‘‘(B) Other information contained in a paper described in

subparagraph (A).

‘‘(2) Upon ex parte application demonstrating cause, the court

shall provide access to information protected pursuant to paragraph

(1) to an entity acting pursuant to the police or regulatory power

of a domestic governmental unit.

‘‘(3) The United States trustee, bankruptcy administrator,

trustee, and any auditor serving under section 586(f) of title 28—

‘‘(A) shall have full access to all information contained

in any paper filed or submitted in a case under this title;

and

‘‘(B) shall not disclose information specifically protected

by the court under this title.’’.

(b) SECURITY OF SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUMBER OF

DEBTOR IN NOTICE TO CREDITOR.—Section 342(c) of title 11, United

States Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting ‘‘last 4 digits of the’’ before ‘‘taxpayer identification number’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘If the notice concerns an amendment that adds a creditor to the schedules

of assets and liabilities, the debtor shall include the full taxpayer identification number in the notice sent to that creditor,

but the debtor shall include only the last 4 digits of the taxpayer

identification number in the copy of the notice filed with the

court.’’.

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 107(a) of title 11,

United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘subsection (b),’’ and

inserting ‘‘subsections (b) and (c),’’.

TITLE III—DISCOURAGING

BANKRUPTCY ABUSE

SEC. 301. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

Section 523(a)(17) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘by a court’’ and inserting ‘‘on a prisoner

by any court’’;

(2) by striking ‘‘section 1915(b) or (f)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (b) or (f)(2) of section 1915’’; and

(3) by inserting ‘‘(or a similar non-Federal law)’’ after ‘‘title

28’’ each place it appears.

SEC. 302. DISCOURAGING BAD FAITH REPEAT FILINGS.

Section 362(c) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end

and inserting a semicolon; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(3) if a single or joint case is filed by or against debtor

who is an individual in a case under chapter 7, 11, or 13,

and if a single or joint case of the debtor was pending within

the preceding 1-year period but was dismissed, other than

a case refiled under a chapter other than chapter 7 after

dismissal under section 707(b)—
S. 256—54

‘‘(A) the stay under subsection (a) with respect to any

action taken with respect to a debt or property securing

such debt or with respect to any lease shall terminate

with respect to the debtor on the 30th day after the filing

of the later case;

‘‘(B) on the motion of a party in interest for continuation of the automatic stay and upon notice and a hearing,

the court may extend the stay in particular cases as to

any or all creditors (subject to such conditions or limitations

as the court may then impose) after notice and a hearing

completed before the expiration of the 30-day period only

if the party in interest demonstrates that the filing of

the later case is in good faith as to the creditors to be

stayed; and

‘‘(C) for purposes of subparagraph (B), a case is

presumptively filed not in good faith (but such presumption

may be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence to the

contrary)—

‘‘(i) as to all creditors, if—

‘‘(I) more than 1 previous case under any of

chapters 7, 11, and 13 in which the individual

was a debtor was pending within the preceding

1-year period;

‘‘(II) a previous case under any of chapters

7, 11, and 13 in which the individual was a debtor

was dismissed within such 1-year period, after the

debtor failed to—

‘‘(aa) file or amend the petition or other

documents as required by this title or the court

without substantial excuse (but mere inadvertence or negligence shall not be a substantial

excuse unless the dismissal was caused by

the negligence of the debtor’s attorney);

‘‘(bb) provide adequate protection as

ordered by the court; or

‘‘(cc) perform the terms of a plan confirmed by the court; or

‘‘(III) there has not been a substantial change

in the financial or personal affairs of the debtor

since the dismissal of the next most previous case

under chapter 7, 11, or 13 or any other reason

to conclude that the later case will be concluded—

‘‘(aa) if a case under chapter 7, with a

discharge; or

‘‘(bb) if a case under chapter 11 or 13,

with a confirmed plan that will be fully performed; and

‘‘(ii) as to any creditor that commenced an action

under subsection (d) in a previous case in which the

individual was a debtor if, as of the date of dismissal

of such case, that action was still pending or had

been resolved by terminating, conditioning, or limiting

the stay as to actions of such creditor; and

‘‘(4)(A)(i) if a single or joint case is filed by or against

a debtor who is an individual under this title, and if 2 or

more single or joint cases of the debtor were pending within

the previous year but were dismissed, other than a case refiled
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under section 707(b), the stay under subsection (a) shall not

go into effect upon the filing of the later case; and

‘‘(ii) on request of a party in interest, the court shall

promptly enter an order confirming that no stay is in effect;

‘‘(B) if, within 30 days after the filing of the later case,

a party in interest requests the court may order the stay

to take effect in the case as to any or all creditors (subject

to such conditions or limitations as the court may impose),

after notice and a hearing, only if the party in interest demonstrates that the filing of the later case is in good faith

as to the creditors to be stayed;

‘‘(C) a stay imposed under subparagraph (B) shall be effective on the date of the entry of the order allowing the stay

to go into effect; and

‘‘(D) for purposes of subparagraph (B), a case is presumptively filed not in good faith (but such presumption may be

rebutted by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary)—

‘‘(i) as to all creditors if—

‘‘(I) 2 or more previous cases under this title in

which the individual was a debtor were pending within

the 1-year period;

‘‘(II) a previous case under this title in which the

individual was a debtor was dismissed within the time

period stated in this paragraph after the debtor failed

to file or amend the petition or other documents as

required by this title or the court without substantial

excuse (but mere inadvertence or negligence shall not

be substantial excuse unless the dismissal was caused

by the negligence of the debtor’s attorney), failed to

provide adequate protection as ordered by the court,

or failed to perform the terms of a plan confirmed

by the court; or

‘‘(III) there has not been a substantial change in

the financial or personal affairs of the debtor since

the dismissal of the next most previous case under

this title, or any other reason to conclude that the

later case will not be concluded, if a case under chapter

7, with a discharge, and if a case under chapter 11

or 13, with a confirmed plan that will be fully performed; or

‘‘(ii) as to any creditor that commenced an action under

subsection (d) in a previous case in which the individual

was a debtor if, as of the date of dismissal of such case,

such action was still pending or had been resolved by

terminating, conditioning, or limiting the stay as to such

action of such creditor.’’.

SEC. 303. CURBING ABUSIVE FILINGS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 362(d) of title 11, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end;

(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end

and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(4) with respect to a stay of an act against real property

under subsection (a), by a creditor whose claim is secured

by an interest in such real property, if the court finds that
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the filing of the petition was part of a scheme to delay, hinder,

and defraud creditors that involved either—

‘‘(A) transfer of all or part ownership of, or other

interest in, such real property without the consent of the

secured creditor or court approval; or

‘‘(B) multiple bankruptcy filings affecting such real

property.

If recorded in compliance with applicable State laws governing

notices of interests or liens in real property, an order entered

under paragraph (4) shall be binding in any other case under

this title purporting to affect such real property filed not later

than 2 years after the date of the entry of such order by the

court, except that a debtor in a subsequent case under this title

may move for relief from such order based upon changed circumstances or for good cause shown, after notice and a hearing.

Any Federal, State, or local governmental unit that accepts notices

of interests or liens in real property shall accept any certified

copy of an order described in this subsection for indexing and

recording.’’.

(b) AUTOMATIC STAY.—Section 362(b) of title 11, United States

Code, as amended by section 224, is amended by inserting after

paragraph (19), the following:

‘‘(20) under subsection (a), of any act to enforce any lien

against or security interest in real property following entry

of the order under subsection (d)(4) as to such real property

in any prior case under this title, for a period of 2 years

after the date of the entry of such an order, except that the

debtor, in a subsequent case under this title, may move for

relief from such order based upon changed circumstances or

for other good cause shown, after notice and a hearing;

‘‘(21) under subsection (a), of any act to enforce any lien

against or security interest in real property—

‘‘(A) if the debtor is ineligible under section 109(g)

to be a debtor in a case under this title; or

‘‘(B) if the case under this title was filed in violation

of a bankruptcy court order in a prior case under this

title prohibiting the debtor from being a debtor in another

case under this title;’’.

SEC. 304. DEBTOR RETENTION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY SECURITY.

Title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in section 521(a), as so designated by section 106—

(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘, and’’ at the end

and inserting a semicolon;

(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the

end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(6) in a case under chapter 7 of this title in which the

debtor is an individual, not retain possession of personal property as to which a creditor has an allowed claim for the purchase price secured in whole or in part by an interest in

such personal property unless the debtor, not later than 45

days after the first meeting of creditors under section 341(a),

either—

‘‘(A) enters into an agreement with the creditor pursuant to section 524(c) with respect to the claim secured

by such property; or
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‘‘(B) redeems such property from the security interest

pursuant to section 722.

If the debtor fails to so act within the 45-day period referred

to in paragraph (6), the stay under section 362(a) is terminated

with respect to the personal property of the estate or of the debtor

which is affected, such property shall no longer be property of

the estate, and the creditor may take whatever action as to such

property as is permitted by applicable nonbankruptcy law, unless

the court determines on the motion of the trustee filed before

the expiration of such 45-day period, and after notice and a hearing,

that such property is of consequential value or benefit to the estate,

orders appropriate adequate protection of the creditor’s interest,

and orders the debtor to deliver any collateral in the debtor’s

possession to the trustee.’’; and

(2) in section 722, by inserting ‘‘in full at the time of

redemption’’ before the period at the end.

SEC. 305. RELIEF FROM THE AUTOMATIC STAY WHEN THE DEBTOR

DOES NOT COMPLETE INTENDED SURRENDER OF CONSUMER DEBT COLLATERAL.

Title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in section 362, as amended by section 106—

(A) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘(e), and (f)’’ and

inserting ‘‘(e), (f), and (h)’’;

(B) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (k)

and transferring such subsection so as to insert it after

subsection (j) as added by section 106; and

(C) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:

‘‘(h)(1) In a case in which the debtor is an individual, the

stay provided by subsection (a) is terminated with respect to personal property of the estate or of the debtor securing in whole

or in part a claim, or subject to an unexpired lease, and such

personal property shall no longer be property of the estate if the

debtor fails within the applicable time set by section 521(a)(2)—

‘‘(A) to file timely any statement of intention required under

section 521(a)(2) with respect to such personal property or

to indicate in such statement that the debtor will either surrender such personal property or retain it and, if retaining

such personal property, either redeem such personal property

pursuant to section 722, enter into an agreement of the kind

specified in section 524(c) applicable to the debt secured by

such personal property, or assume such unexpired lease pursuant to section 365(p) if the trustee does not do so, as applicable;

and

‘‘(B) to take timely the action specified in such statement,

as it may be amended before expiration of the period for taking

action, unless such statement specifies the debtor’s intention

to reaffirm such debt on the original contract terms and the

creditor refuses to agree to the reaffirmation on such terms.

‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply if the court determines,

on the motion of the trustee filed before the expiration of the

applicable time set by section 521(a)(2), after notice and a hearing,

that such personal property is of consequential value or benefit

to the estate, and orders appropriate adequate protection of the

creditor’s interest, and orders the debtor to deliver any collateral

in the debtor’s possession to the trustee. If the court does not
S. 256—58

so determine, the stay provided by subsection (a) shall terminate

upon the conclusion of the hearing on the motion.’’; and

(2) in section 521, as amended by sections 106 and 225—

(A) in subsection (a)(2) by striking ‘‘consumer’’;

(B) in subsection (a)(2)(B)—

(i) by striking ‘‘forty-five days after the filing of

a notice of intent under this section’’ and inserting

‘‘30 days after the first date set for the meeting of

creditors under section 341(a)’’; and

(ii) by striking ‘‘forty-five day’’ and inserting ‘‘30-

day’’;

(C) in subsection (a)(2)(C) by inserting ‘‘, except as

provided in section 362(h)’’ before the semicolon; and

(D) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(d) If the debtor fails timely to take the action specified in

subsection (a)(6) of this section, or in paragraphs (1) and (2) of

section 362(h), with respect to property which a lessor or bailor

owns and has leased, rented, or bailed to the debtor or as to

which a creditor holds a security interest not otherwise voidable

under section 522(f), 544, 545, 547, 548, or 549, nothing in this

title shall prevent or limit the operation of a provision in the

underlying lease or agreement that has the effect of placing the

debtor in default under such lease or agreement by reason of

the occurrence, pendency, or existence of a proceeding under this

title or the insolvency of the debtor. Nothing in this subsection

shall be deemed to justify limiting such a provision in any other

circumstance.’’.

SEC. 306. GIVING SECURED CREDITORS FAIR TREATMENT IN CHAPTER

13.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1325(a)(5)(B)(i) of title 11, United

States Code, is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(i) the plan provides that—

‘‘(I) the holder of such claim retain the lien

securing such claim until the earlier of—

‘‘(aa) the payment of the underlying debt

determined under nonbankruptcy law; or

‘‘(bb) discharge under section 1328; and

‘‘(II) if the case under this chapter is dismissed

or converted without completion of the plan, such lien

shall also be retained by such holder to the extent

recognized by applicable nonbankruptcy law; and’’.

(b) RESTORING THE FOUNDATION FOR SECURED CREDIT.—Section

1325(a) of title 11, United States Code, is amended by adding

at the end the following:

‘‘For purposes of paragraph (5), section 506 shall not apply to

a claim described in that paragraph if the creditor has a purchase

money security interest securing the debt that is the subject of

the claim, the debt was incurred within the 910-day preceding

the date of the filing of the petition, and the collateral for that

debt consists of a motor vehicle (as defined in section 30102 of

title 49) acquired for the personal use of the debtor, or if collateral

for that debt consists of any other thing of value, if the debt

was incurred during the 1-year period preceding that filing.’’.

(c) DEFINITIONS.—Section 101 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) by inserting after paragraph (13) the following:
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‘‘(13A) ‘debtor’s principal residence’—

‘‘(A) means a residential structure, including incidental

property, without regard to whether that structure is

attached to real property; and

‘‘(B) includes an individual condominium or cooperative

unit, a mobile or manufactured home, or trailer;’’; and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (27), the following:

‘‘(27A) ‘incidental property’ means, with respect to a

debtor’s principal residence—

‘‘(A) property commonly conveyed with a principal residence in the area where the real property is located;

‘‘(B) all easements, rights, appurtenances, fixtures,

rents, royalties, mineral rights, oil or gas rights or profits,

water rights, escrow funds, or insurance proceeds; and

‘‘(C) all replacements or additions;’’.

SEC. 307. DOMICILIARY REQUIREMENTS FOR EXEMPTIONS.

Section 522(b)(3) of title 11, United States Code, as so designated by section 106, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A)—

(A) by striking ‘‘180 days’’ and inserting ‘‘730 days’’;

and

(B) by striking ‘‘, or for a longer portion of such 180-

day period than in any other place’’ and inserting ‘‘or

if the debtor’s domicile has not been located at a single

State for such 730-day period, the place in which the

debtor’s domicile was located for 180 days immediately

preceding the 730-day period or for a longer portion of

such 180-day period than in any other place’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘If the effect of the domiciliary requirement under subparagraph

(A) is to render the debtor ineligible for any exemption, the debtor

may elect to exempt property that is specified under subsection

(d).’’.

SEC. 308. REDUCTION OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR FRAUD.

Section 522 of title 11, United States Code, as amended by

section 224, is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)(3)(A), as so designated by this Act,

by inserting ‘‘subject to subsections (o) and (p),’’ before ‘‘any

property’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(o) For purposes of subsection (b)(3)(A), and notwithstanding

subsection (a), the value of an interest in—

‘‘(1) real or personal property that the debtor or a dependent

of the debtor uses as a residence;

‘‘(2) a cooperative that owns property that the debtor or

a dependent of the debtor uses as a residence;

‘‘(3) a burial plot for the debtor or a dependent of the

debtor; or

‘‘(4) real or personal property that the debtor or a dependent

of the debtor claims as a homestead;

shall be reduced to the extent that such value is attributable

to any portion of any property that the debtor disposed of in

the 10-year period ending on the date of the filing of the petition

with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud a creditor and that

the debtor could not exempt, or that portion that the debtor could
S. 256—60

not exempt, under subsection (b), if on such date the debtor had

held the property so disposed of.’’.

SEC. 309. PROTECTING SECURED CREDITORS IN CHAPTER 13 CASES.

(a) STOPPING ABUSIVE CONVERSIONS FROM CHAPTER 13.—Section 348(f)(1) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (B)—

(A) by striking ‘‘in the converted case, with allowed

secured claims’’ and inserting ‘‘only in a case converted

to a case under chapter 11 or 12, but not in a case converted

to a case under chapter 7, with allowed secured claims

in cases under chapters 11 and 12’’; and

(B) by striking the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(C) with respect to cases converted from chapter 13—

‘‘(i) the claim of any creditor holding security as of

the date of the petition shall continue to be secured by

that security unless the full amount of such claim determined under applicable nonbankruptcy law has been paid

in full as of the date of conversion, notwithstanding any

valuation or determination of the amount of an allowed

secured claim made for the purposes of the case under

chapter 13; and

‘‘(ii) unless a prebankruptcy default has been fully

cured under the plan at the time of conversion, in any

proceeding under this title or otherwise, the default shall

have the effect given under applicable nonbankruptcy law.’’.

(b) GIVING DEBTORS THE ABILITY TO KEEP LEASED PERSONAL

PROPERTY BY ASSUMPTION.—Section 365 of title 11, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(p)(1) If a lease of personal property is rejected or not timely

assumed by the trustee under subsection (d), the leased property

is no longer property of the estate and the stay under section

362(a) is automatically terminated.

‘‘(2)(A) If the debtor in a case under chapter 7 is an individual,

the debtor may notify the creditor in writing that the debtor desires

to assume the lease. Upon being so notified, the creditor may,

at its option, notify the debtor that it is willing to have the lease

assumed by the debtor and may condition such assumption on

cure of any outstanding default on terms set by the contract.

‘‘(B) If, not later than 30 days after notice is provided under

subparagraph (A), the debtor notifies the lessor in writing that

the lease is assumed, the liability under the lease will be assumed

by the debtor and not by the estate.

‘‘(C) The stay under section 362 and the injunction under section

524(a)(2) shall not be violated by notification of the debtor and

negotiation of cure under this subsection.

‘‘(3) In a case under chapter 11 in which the debtor is an

individual and in a case under chapter 13, if the debtor is the

lessee with respect to personal property and the lease is not

assumed in the plan confirmed by the court, the lease is deemed

rejected as of the conclusion of the hearing on confirmation. If

the lease is rejected, the stay under section 362 and any stay

under section 1301 is automatically terminated with respect to

the property subject to the lease.’’.
S. 256—61

(c) ADEQUATE PROTECTION OF LESSORS AND PURCHASE MONEY

SECURED CREDITORS.—

(1) CONFIRMATION OF PLAN.—Section 1325(a)(5)(B) of title

11, United States Code, as amended by section 306, is

amended—

(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end and

inserting ‘‘and’’; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(iii) if—

‘‘(I) property to be distributed pursuant to this

subsection is in the form of periodic payments, such

payments shall be in equal monthly amounts; and

‘‘(II) the holder of the claim is secured by personal

property, the amount of such payments shall not be

less than an amount sufficient to provide to the holder

of such claim adequate protection during the period

of the plan; or’’.

(2) PAYMENTS.—Section 1326(a) of title 11, United States

Code, is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(a)(1) Unless the court orders otherwise, the debtor shall commence making payments not later than 30 days after the date

of the filing of the plan or the order for relief, whichever is earlier,

in the amount—

‘‘(A) proposed by the plan to the trustee;

‘‘(B) scheduled in a lease of personal property directly to

the lessor for that portion of the obligation that becomes due

after the order for relief, reducing the payments under subparagraph (A) by the amount so paid and providing the trustee

with evidence of such payment, including the amount and date

of payment; and

‘‘(C) that provides adequate protection directly to a creditor

holding an allowed claim secured by personal property to the

extent the claim is attributable to the purchase of such property

by the debtor for that portion of the obligation that becomes

due after the order for relief, reducing the payments under

subparagraph (A) by the amount so paid and providing the

trustee with evidence of such payment, including the amount

and date of payment.

‘‘(2) A payment made under paragraph (1)(A) shall be retained

by the trustee until confirmation or denial of confirmation. If a

plan is confirmed, the trustee shall distribute any such payment

in accordance with the plan as soon as is practicable. If a plan

is not confirmed, the trustee shall return any such payments not

previously paid and not yet due and owing to creditors pursuant

to paragraph (3) to the debtor, after deducting any unpaid claim

allowed under section 503(b).

‘‘(3) Subject to section 363, the court may, upon notice and

a hearing, modify, increase, or reduce the payments required under

this subsection pending confirmation of a plan.

‘‘(4) Not later than 60 days after the date of filing of a case

under this chapter, a debtor retaining possession of personal property subject to a lease or securing a claim attributable in whole

or in part to the purchase price of such property shall provide

the lessor or secured creditor reasonable evidence of the maintenance of any required insurance coverage with respect to the use
S. 256—62

or ownership of such property and continue to do so for so long

as the debtor retains possession of such property.’’.

SEC. 310. LIMITATION ON LUXURY GOODS.

Section 523(a)(2)(C) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

to read as follows:

‘‘(C)(i) for purposes of subparagraph (A)—

‘‘(I) consumer debts owed to a single creditor and aggregating more than $500 for luxury goods or services incurred by an individual debtor on or within

90 days before the order for relief under this title

are presumed to be nondischargeable; and ‘‘(II) cash advances aggregating more than $750

that are extensions of consumer credit under an open

end credit plan obtained by an individual debtor on

or within 70 days before the order for relief under

this title, are presumed to be nondischargeable; and

‘‘(ii) for purposes of this subparagraph—

‘‘(I) the terms ‘consumer’, ‘credit’, and ‘open end

credit plan’ have the same meanings as in section

103 of the Truth in Lending Act; and

‘‘(II) the term ‘luxury goods or services’ does not

include goods or services reasonably necessary for the

support or maintenance of the debtor or a dependent

of the debtor.’’.

SEC. 311. AUTOMATIC STAY.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 362(b) of title 11, United States Code,

as amended by sections 224 and 303, is amended by inserting

after paragraph (21), the following:

‘‘(22) subject to subsection (l), under subsection (a)(3), of

the continuation of any eviction, unlawful detainer action, or

similar proceeding by a lessor against a debtor involving residential property in which the debtor resides as a tenant under

a lease or rental agreement and with respect to which the

lessor has obtained before the date of the filing of the bankruptcy petition, a judgment for possession of such property

against the debtor;

‘‘(23) subject to subsection (m), under subsection (a)(3),

of an eviction action that seeks possession of the residential

property in which the debtor resides as a tenant under a

lease or rental agreement based on endangerment of such property or the illegal use of controlled substances on such property,

but only if the lessor files with the court, and serves upon

the debtor, a certification under penalty of perjury that such

an eviction action has been filed, or that the debtor, during

the 30-day period preceding the date of the filing of the certification, has endangered property or illegally used or allowed

to be used a controlled substance on the property;

‘‘(24) under subsection (a), of any transfer that is not avoidable under section 544 and that is not avoidable under section

549;’’.

(b) LIMITATIONS.—Section 362 of title 11, United States Code,

as amended by sections 106 and 305, is amended by adding at

the end the following:

‘‘(l)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, subsection (b)(22) shall apply on the date that is 30 days after the

date on which the bankruptcy petition is filed, if the debtor files
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with the petition and serves upon the lessor a certification under

penalty of perjury that—

‘‘(A) under nonbankruptcy law applicable in the jurisdiction, there are circumstances under which the debtor would

be permitted to cure the entire monetary default that gave

rise to the judgment for possession, after that judgment for

possession was entered; and

‘‘(B) the debtor (or an adult dependent of the debtor) has

deposited with the clerk of the court, any rent that would

become due during the 30-day period after the filing of the

bankruptcy petition.

‘‘(2) If, within the 30-day period after the filing of the bankruptcy petition, the debtor (or an adult dependent of the debtor)

complies with paragraph (1) and files with the court and serves

upon the lessor a further certification under penalty of perjury

that the debtor (or an adult dependent of the debtor) has cured,

under nonbankrupcty law applicable in the jurisdiction, the entire

monetary default that gave rise to the judgment under which

possession is sought by the lessor, subsection (b)(22) shall not

apply, unless ordered to apply by the court under paragraph (3).

‘‘(3)(A) If the lessor files an objection to any certification filed

by the debtor under paragraph (1) or (2), and serves such objection

upon the debtor, the court shall hold a hearing within 10 days

after the filing and service of such objection to determine if the

certification filed by the debtor under paragraph (1) or (2) is true.

‘‘(B) If the court upholds the objection of the lessor filed under

subparagraph (A)—

‘‘(i) subsection (b)(22) shall apply immediately and relief

from the stay provided under subsection (a)(3) shall not be

required to enable the lessor to complete the process to recover

full possession of the property; and

‘‘(ii) the clerk of the court shall immediately serve upon

the lessor and the debtor a certified copy of the court’s order

upholding the lessor’s objection.

‘‘(4) If a debtor, in accordance with paragraph (5), indicates

on the petition that there was a judgment for possession of the

residential rental property in which the debtor resides and does

not file a certification under paragraph (1) or (2)—

‘‘(A) subsection (b)(22) shall apply immediately upon failure

to file such certification, and relief from the stay provided

under subsection (a)(3) shall not be required to enable the

lessor to complete the process to recover full possession of

the property; and

‘‘(B) the clerk of the court shall immediately serve upon

the lessor and the debtor a certified copy of the docket indicating the absence of a filed certification and the applicability

of the exception to the stay under subsection (b)(22).

‘‘(5)(A) Where a judgment for possession of residential property

in which the debtor resides as a tenant under a lease or rental

agreement has been obtained by the lessor, the debtor shall so

indicate on the bankruptcy petition and shall provide the name

and address of the lessor that obtained that pre-petition judgment

on the petition and on any certification filed under this subsection.

‘‘(B) The form of certification filed with the petition, as specified

in this subsection, shall provide for the debtor to certify, and the

debtor shall certify—
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‘‘(i) whether a judgment for possession of residential rental

housing in which the debtor resides has been obtained against

the debtor before the date of the filing of the petition; and

‘‘(ii) whether the debtor is claiming under paragraph (1)

that under nonbankruptcy law applicable in the jurisdiction,

there are circumstances under which the debtor would be permitted to cure the entire monetary default that gave rise to

the judgment for possession, after that judgment of possession

was entered, and has made the appropriate deposit with the

court.

‘‘(C) The standard forms (electronic and otherwise) used in

a bankruptcy proceeding shall be amended to reflect the requirements of this subsection.

‘‘(D) The clerk of the court shall arrange for the prompt transmittal of the rent deposited in accordance with paragraph (1)(B)

to the lessor.

‘‘(m)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, subsection (b)(23) shall apply on the date that is 15 days after the

date on which the lessor files and serves a certification described

in subsection (b)(23).

‘‘(2)(A) If the debtor files with the court an objection to the

truth or legal sufficiency of the certification described in subsection

(b)(23) and serves such objection upon the lessor, subsection (b)(23)

shall not apply, unless ordered to apply by the court under this

subsection.

‘‘(B) If the debtor files and serves the objection under subparagraph (A), the court shall hold a hearing within 10 days after

the filing and service of such objection to determine if the situation

giving rise to the lessor’s certification under paragraph (1) existed

or has been remedied.

‘‘(C) If the debtor can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the

court that the situation giving rise to the lessor’s certification under

paragraph (1) did not exist or has been remedied, the stay provided

under subsection (a)(3) shall remain in effect until the termination

of the stay under this section.

‘‘(D) If the debtor cannot demonstrate to the satisfaction of

the court that the situation giving rise to the lessor’s certification

under paragraph (1) did not exist or has been remedied—

‘‘(i) relief from the stay provided under subsection (a)(3)

shall not be required to enable the lessor to proceed with

the eviction; and

‘‘(ii) the clerk of the court shall immediately serve upon

the lessor and the debtor a certified copy of the court’s order

upholding the lessor’s certification.

‘‘(3) If the debtor fails to file, within 15 days, an objection

under paragraph (2)(A)—

‘‘(A) subsection (b)(23) shall apply immediately upon such

failure and relief from the stay provided under subsection (a)(3)

shall not be required to enable the lessor to complete the

process to recover full possession of the property; and

‘‘(B) the clerk of the court shall immediately serve upon

the lessor and the debtor a certified copy of the docket indicating such failure.’’.

SEC. 312. EXTENSION OF PERIOD BETWEEN BANKRUPTCY DISCHARGES.

Title 11, United States Code, is amended—
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(1) in section 727(a)(8), by striking ‘‘six’’ and inserting

‘‘8’’; and

(2) in section 1328, by inserting after subsection (e) the

following:

‘‘(f) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), the court shall

not grant a discharge of all debts provided for in the plan or

disallowed under section 502, if the debtor has received a

discharge—

‘‘(1) in a case filed under chapter 7, 11, or 12 of this

title during the 4-year period preceding the date of the order

for relief under this chapter, or

‘‘(2) in a case filed under chapter 13 of this title during

the 2-year period preceding the date of such order.’’.

SEC. 313. DEFINITION OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND ANTIQUES.

(a) DEFINITION.—Section 522(f) of title 11, United States Code,

is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(4)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), for purposes of paragraph

(1)(B), the term ‘household goods’ means—

‘‘(i) clothing;

‘‘(ii) furniture;

‘‘(iii) appliances;

‘‘(iv) 1 radio;

‘‘(v) 1 television;

‘‘(vi) 1 VCR;

‘‘(vii) linens;

‘‘(viii) china;

‘‘(ix) crockery;

‘‘(x) kitchenware;

‘‘(xi) educational materials and educational equipment primarily for the use of minor dependent children of the debtor;

(xii) medical equipment and supplies;

‘‘(xiii) furniture exclusively for the use of minor children,

or elderly or disabled dependents of the debtor;

‘‘(xiv) personal effects (including the toys and hobby equipment of minor dependent children and wedding rings) of the

debtor and the dependents of the debtor; and

‘‘(xv) 1 personal computer and related equipment.

‘‘(B) The term ‘household goods’ does not include—

‘‘(i) works of art (unless by or of the debtor, or any relative

of the debtor);

‘‘(ii) electronic entertainment equipment with a fair market value of more than $500 in the aggregate (except 1 television,

1 radio, and 1 VCR);

‘‘(iii) items acquired as antiques with a fair market value of more than $500 in the aggregate; ‘‘(iv) jewelry with a fair market value of more than $500

in the aggregate (except wedding rings); and

‘‘(v) a computer (except as otherwise provided for in this

section), motor vehicle (including a tractor or lawn tractor),

boat, or a motorized recreational device, conveyance, vehicle,

watercraft, or aircraft.’’.

(b) STUDY.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment

of this Act, the Director of the Executive Office for United States

Trustees shall submit a report to the Committee on the Judiciary

of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House

of Representatives containing its findings regarding utilization of
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the definition of household goods, as defined in section 522(f)(4)

of title 11, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), with

respect to the avoidance of nonpossessory, nonpurchase money security interests in household goods under section 522(f)(1)(B) of title

11, United States Code, and the impact such section 522(f)(4) has

had on debtors and on the bankruptcy courts. Such report may

include recommendations for amendments to such section 522(f)(4)

consistent with the Director’s findings.

SEC. 314. DEBT INCURRED TO PAY NONDISCHARGEABLE DEBTS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 523(a) of title 11, United States Code,

is amended by inserting after paragraph (14) the following:

‘‘(14A) incurred to pay a tax to a governmental unit, other

than the United States, that would be nondischargeable under

paragraph (1);’’.

(b) DISCHARGE UNDER CHAPTER 13.—Section 1328(a) of title

11, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraphs (1)

through (3) and inserting the following:

‘‘(1) provided for under section 1322(b)(5);

‘‘(2) of the kind specified in paragraph (2), (3), (4), (5),

(8), or (9) of section 523(a);

‘‘(3) for restitution, or a criminal fine, included in a sentence

on the debtor’s conviction of a crime; or

‘‘(4) for restitution, or damages, awarded in a civil action

against the debtor as a result of willful or malicious injury

by the debtor that caused personal injury to an individual

or the death of an individual.’’.

SEC. 315. GIVING CREDITORS FAIR NOTICE IN CHAPTERS 7 AND 13

CASES.

(a) NOTICE.—Section 342 of title 11, United States Code, as

amended by section 102, is amended—

(1) in subsection (c)—

(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(c)’’;

(B) by striking ‘‘, but the failure of such notice to

contain such information shall not invalidate the legal

effect of such notice’’; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(2)(A) If, within the 90 days before the commencement of

a voluntary case, a creditor supplies the debtor in at least 2 communications sent to the debtor with the current account number of

the debtor and the address at which such creditor requests to

receive correspondence, then any notice required by this title to

be sent by the debtor to such creditor shall be sent to such address

and shall include such account number.

‘‘(B) If a creditor would be in violation of applicable nonbankruptcy law by sending any such communication within such 90-

day period and if such creditor supplies the debtor in the last

2 communications with the current account number of the debtor

and the address at which such creditor requests to receive correspondence, then any notice required by this title to be sent by

the debtor to such creditor shall be sent to such address and

shall include such account number.’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(e)(1) In a case under chapter 7 or 13 of this title of a debtor

who is an individual, a creditor at any time may both file with

the court and serve on the debtor a notice of address to be used

to provide notice in such case to such creditor.
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‘‘(2) Any notice in such case required to be provided to such

creditor by the debtor or the court later than 5 days after the

court and the debtor receive such creditor’s notice of address, shall

be provided to such address.

‘‘(f)(1) An entity may file with any bankruptcy court a notice

of address to be used by all the bankruptcy courts or by particular

bankruptcy courts, as so specified by such entity at the time such

notice is filed, to provide notice to such entity in all cases under

chapters 7 and 13 pending in the courts with respect to which

such notice is filed, in which such entity is a creditor.

‘‘(2) In any case filed under chapter 7 or 13, any notice required

to be provided by a court with respect to which a notice is filed

under paragraph (1), to such entity later than 30 days after the

filing of such notice under paragraph (1) shall be provided to such

address unless with respect to a particular case a different address

is specified in a notice filed and served in accordance with subsection

(e).

‘‘(3) A notice filed under paragraph (1) may be withdrawn

by such entity.

‘‘(g)(1) Notice provided to a creditor by the debtor or the court

other than in accordance with this section (excluding this subsection) shall not be effective notice until such notice is brought

to the attention of such creditor. If such creditor designates a

person or an organizational subdivision of such creditor to be

responsible for receiving notices under this title and establishes

reasonable procedures so that such notices receivable by such creditor are to be delivered to such person or such subdivision, then

a notice provided to such creditor other than in accordance with

this section (excluding this subsection) shall not be considered to

have been brought to the attention of such creditor until such

notice is received by such person or such subdivision.

‘‘(2) A monetary penalty may not be imposed on a creditor

for a violation of a stay in effect under section 362(a) (including

a monetary penalty imposed under section 362(k)) or for failure

to comply with section 542 or 543 unless the conduct that is the

basis of such violation or of such failure occurs after such creditor

receives notice effective under this section of the order for relief.’’.

(b) DEBTOR’S DUTIES.—Section 521 of title 11, United States

Code, as amended by sections 106, 225, and 305, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), as so designated by section 106, by

amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

‘‘(1) file—

‘‘(A) a list of creditors; and

‘‘(B) unless the court orders otherwise—

‘‘(i) a schedule of assets and liabilities;

‘‘(ii) a schedule of current income and current

expenditures;

‘‘(iii) a statement of the debtor’s financial affairs

and, if section 342(b) applies, a certificate—

‘‘(I) of an attorney whose name is indicated

on the petition as the attorney for the debtor,

or a bankruptcy petition preparer signing the petition under section 110(b)(1), indicating that such

attorney or the bankruptcy petition preparer delivered to the debtor the notice required by section

342(b); or
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‘‘(II) if no attorney is so indicated, and no

bankruptcy petition preparer signed the petition,

of the debtor that such notice was received and

read by the debtor;

‘‘(iv) copies of all payment advices or other evidence

of payment received within 60 days before the date

of the filing of the petition, by the debtor from any

employer of the debtor;

‘‘(v) a statement of the amount of monthly net

income, itemized to show how the amount is calculated;

and

‘‘(vi) a statement disclosing any reasonably anticipated increase in income or expenditures over the 12-

month period following the date of the filing of the

petition;’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(e)(1) If the debtor in a case under chapter 7 or 13 is an

individual and if a creditor files with the court at any time a

request to receive a copy of the petition, schedules, and statement

of financial affairs filed by the debtor, then the court shall make

such petition, such schedules, and such statement available to

such creditor.

‘‘(2)(A) The debtor shall provide—

‘‘(i) not later than 7 days before the date first set for

the first meeting of creditors, to the trustee a copy of the

Federal income tax return required under applicable law (or

at the election of the debtor, a transcript of such return) for

the most recent tax year ending immediately before the

commencement of the case and for which a Federal income

tax return was filed; and

‘‘(ii) at the same time the debtor complies with clause

(i), a copy of such return (or if elected under clause (i), such

transcript) to any creditor that timely requests such copy.

‘‘(B) If the debtor fails to comply with clause (i) or (ii) of

subparagraph (A), the court shall dismiss the case unless the debtor

demonstrates that the failure to so comply is due to circumstances

beyond the control of the debtor.

‘‘(C) If a creditor requests a copy of such tax return or such

transcript and if the debtor fails to provide a copy of such tax

return or such transcript to such creditor at the time the debtor

provides such tax return or such transcript to the trustee, then

the court shall dismiss the case unless the debtor demonstrates

that the failure to provide a copy of such tax return or such

transcript is due to circumstances beyond the control of the debtor.

‘‘(3) If a creditor in a case under chapter 13 files with the

court at any time a request to receive a copy of the plan filed

by the debtor, then the court shall make available to such creditor

a copy of the plan—

‘‘(A) at a reasonable cost; and

‘‘(B) not later than 5 days after such request is filed.

‘‘(f) At the request of the court, the United States trustee,

or any party in interest in a case under chapter 7, 11, or 13,

a debtor who is an individual shall file with the court—

‘‘(1) at the same time filed with the taxing authority, a

copy of each Federal income tax return required under

applicable law (or at the election of the debtor, a transcript
S. 256—69

of such tax return) with respect to each tax year of the debtor

ending while the case is pending under such chapter;

‘‘(2) at the same time filed with the taxing authority, each

Federal income tax return required under applicable law (or

at the election of the debtor, a transcript of such tax return)

that had not been filed with such authority as of the date

of the commencement of the case and that was subsequently

filed for any tax year of the debtor ending in the 3-year period

ending on the date of the commencement of the case;

‘‘(3) a copy of each amendment to any Federal income

tax return or transcript filed with the court under paragraph

(1) or (2); and

‘‘(4) in a case under chapter 13—

‘‘(A) on the date that is either 90 days after the end

of such tax year or 1 year after the date of the commencement of the case, whichever is later, if a plan is not confirmed before such later date; and

‘‘(B) annually after the plan is confirmed and until

the case is closed, not later than the date that is 45 days

before the anniversary of the confirmation of the plan;

a statement, under penalty of perjury, of the income and

expenditures of the debtor during the tax year of the debtor

most recently concluded before such statement is filed under

this paragraph, and of the monthly income of the debtor, that

shows how income, expenditures, and monthly income are calculated.

‘‘(g)(1) A statement referred to in subsection (f)(4) shall

disclose—

‘‘(A) the amount and sources of the income of the debtor;

‘‘(B) the identity of any person responsible with the debtor

for the support of any dependent of the debtor; and

‘‘(C) the identity of any person who contributed, and the

amount contributed, to the household in which the debtor

resides.

‘‘(2) The tax returns, amendments, and statement of income

and expenditures described in subsections (e)(2)(A) and (f) shall

be available to the United States trustee (or the bankruptcy

administrator, if any), the trustee, and any party in interest for

inspection and copying, subject to the requirements of section 315(c)

of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act

of 2005.

‘‘(h) If requested by the United States trustee or by the trustee,

the debtor shall provide—

‘‘(1) a document that establishes the identity of the debtor,

including a driver’s license, passport, or other document that

contains a photograph of the debtor; or

‘‘(2) such other personal identifying information relating

to the debtor that establishes the identity of the debtor.’’.

(c)(1) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment

of this Act, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United

States Courts shall establish procedures for safeguarding the confidentiality of any tax information required to be provided under

this section.

(2) The procedures under paragraph (1) shall include restrictions on creditor access to tax information that is required to

be provided under this section.
S. 256—70

(3) Not later than 540 days after the date of enactment of

this Act, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United

States Courts shall prepare and submit to the President pro tempore

of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives

a report that—

(A) assesses the effectiveness of the procedures established

under paragraph (1); and

(B) if appropriate, includes proposed legislation to—

(i) further protect the confidentiality of tax information;

and

(ii) provide penalties for the improper use by any person of the tax information required to be provided under

this section.

SEC. 316. DISMISSAL FOR FAILURE TO TIMELY FILE SCHEDULES OR

PROVIDE REQUIRED INFORMATION.

Section 521 of title 11, United States Code, as amended by

sections 106, 225, 305, and 315, is amended by adding at the

end the following:

‘‘(i)(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (4) and notwithstanding

section 707(a), if an individual debtor in a voluntary case under

chapter 7 or 13 fails to file all of the information required under

subsection (a)(1) within 45 days after the date of the filing of

the petition, the case shall be automatically dismissed effective

on the 46th day after the date of the filing of the petition.

‘‘(2) Subject to paragraph (4) and with respect to a case

described in paragraph (1), any party in interest may request the

court to enter an order dismissing the case. If requested, the court

shall enter an order of dismissal not later than 5 days after such

request.

‘‘(3) Subject to paragraph (4) and upon request of the debtor

made within 45 days after the date of the filing of the petition

described in paragraph (1), the court may allow the debtor an

additional period of not to exceed 45 days to file the information

required under subsection (a)(1) if the court finds justification for

extending the period for the filing.

‘‘(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection,

on the motion of the trustee filed before the expiration of the

applicable period of time specified in paragraph (1), (2), or (3),

and after notice and a hearing, the court may decline to dismiss

the case if the court finds that the debtor attempted in good faith

to file all the information required by subsection (a)(1)(B)(iv) and

that the best interests of creditors would be served by administration of the case.’’.

SEC. 317. ADEQUATE TIME TO PREPARE FOR HEARING ON CONFIRMATION OF THE PLAN.

Section 1324 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘After’’ and inserting the following:

‘‘(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and after’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(b) The hearing on confirmation of the plan may be held

not earlier than 20 days and not later than 45 days after the

date of the meeting of creditors under section 341(a), unless the

court determines that it would be in the best interests of the

creditors and the estate to hold such hearing at an earlier date

and there is no objection to such earlier date.’’.
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SEC. 318. CHAPTER 13 PLANS TO HAVE A 5-YEAR DURATION IN CERTAIN

CASES.

Title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by amending section 1322(d) to read as follows:

‘‘(d)(1) If the current monthly income of the debtor and the

debtor’s spouse combined, when multiplied by 12, is not less than—

‘‘(A) in the case of a debtor in a household of 1 person,

the median family income of the applicable State for 1 earner;

‘‘(B) in the case of a debtor in a household of 2, 3, or

4 individuals, the highest median family income of the

applicable State for a family of the same number or fewer

individuals; or

‘‘(C) in the case of a debtor in a household exceeding

4 individuals, the highest median family income of the

applicable State for a family of 4 or fewer individuals, plus

$525 per month for each individual in excess of 4,

the plan may not provide for payments over a period that is longer

than 5 years.

‘‘(2) If the current monthly income of the debtor and the debtor’s

spouse combined, when multiplied by 12, is less than—

‘‘(A) in the case of a debtor in a household of 1 person,

the median family income of the applicable State for 1 earner;

‘‘(B) in the case of a debtor in a household of 2, 3, or

4 individuals, the highest median family income of the

applicable State for a family of the same number or fewer

individuals; or

‘‘(C) in the case of a debtor in a household exceeding

4 individuals, the highest median family income of the

applicable State for a family of 4 or fewer individuals, plus

$525 per month for each individual in excess of 4,

the plan may not provide for payments over a period that is longer

than 3 years, unless the court, for cause, approves a longer period,

but the court may not approve a period that is longer than 5

years.’’;

(2) in section 1325(b)(1)(B), by striking ‘‘three-year period’’

and inserting ‘‘applicable commitment period’’; and

(3) in section 1325(b), as amended by section 102, by adding

at the end the following:

‘‘(4) For purposes of this subsection, the ‘applicable commitment

period’—

‘‘(A) subject to subparagraph (B), shall be—

‘‘(i) 3 years; or

‘‘(ii) not less than 5 years, if the current monthly

income of the debtor and the debtor’s spouse combined,

when multiplied by 12, is not less than—

‘‘(I) in the case of a debtor in a household of

1 person, the median family income of the applicable

State for 1 earner;

‘‘(II) in the case of a debtor in a household of

2, 3, or 4 individuals, the highest median family income

of the applicable State for a family of the same number

or fewer individuals; or

‘‘(III) in the case of a debtor in a household

exceeding 4 individuals, the highest median family

income of the applicable State for a family of 4 or

fewer individuals, plus $525 per month for each individual in excess of 4; and
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‘‘(B) may be less than 3 or 5 years, whichever is applicable

under subparagraph (A), but only if the plan provides for payment in full of all allowed unsecured claims over a shorter

period.’’; and

(4) in section 1329(c), by striking ‘‘three years’’ and

inserting ‘‘the applicable commitment period under section

1325(b)(1)(B)’’.

SEC. 319. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING EXPANSION OF RULE 9011

OF THE FEDERAL RULES OF BANKRUPTCY PROCEDURE.

It is the sense of Congress that rule 9011 of the Federal

Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (11 U.S.C. App.) should be modified

to include a requirement that all documents (including schedules),

signed and unsigned, submitted to the court or to a trustee by

debtors who represent themselves and debtors who are represented

by attorneys be submitted only after the debtors or the debtors’

attorneys have made reasonable inquiry to verify that the information contained in such documents is—

(1) well grounded in fact; and

(2) warranted by existing law or a good faith argument

for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law.

SEC. 320. PROMPT RELIEF FROM STAY IN INDIVIDUAL CASES.

Section 362(e) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(e)’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in a case under chapter

7, 11, or 13 in which the debtor is an individual, the stay under

subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 60 days after

a request is made by a party in interest under subsection (d),

unless—

‘‘(A) a final decision is rendered by the court during the

60-day period beginning on the date of the request; or

‘‘(B) such 60-day period is extended—

‘‘(i) by agreement of all parties in interest; or

‘‘(ii) by the court for such specific period of time as

the court finds is required for good cause, as described

in findings made by the court.’’.

SEC. 321. CHAPTER 11 CASES FILED BY INDIVIDUALS.

(a) PROPERTY OF THE ESTATE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 11 of title 11,

United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the

following:

‘‘§ 1115. Property of the estate

‘‘(a) In a case in which the debtor is an individual, property

of the estate includes, in addition to the property specified in

section 541—

‘‘(1) all property of the kind specified in section 541 that

the debtor acquires after the commencement of the case but

before the case is closed, dismissed, or converted to a case

under chapter 7, 12, or 13, whichever occurs first; and

‘‘(2) earnings from services performed by the debtor after

the commencement of the case but before the case is closed,

dismissed, or converted to a case under chapter 7, 12, or 13,

whichever occurs first.
S. 256—73

‘‘(b) Except as provided in section 1104 or a confirmed plan

or order confirming a plan, the debtor shall remain in possession

of all property of the estate.’’.

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for subchapter I of chapter 11 of title 11, United States Code, is

amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘1115. Property of the estate.’’.

(b) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—Section 1123(a) of title 11, United

States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and inserting

‘‘; and’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(8) in a case in which the debtor is an individual, provide

for the payment to creditors under the plan of all or such

portion of earnings from personal services performed by the

debtor after the commencement of the case or other future

income of the debtor as is necessary for the execution of the

plan.’’.

(c) CONFIRMATION OF PLAN.—

(1) REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO VALUE OF PROPERTY.—Section 1129(a) of title 11, United States Code, as amended by

section 213, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(15) In a case in which the debtor is an individual and

in which the holder of an allowed unsecured claim objects

to the confirmation of the plan—

‘‘(A) the value, as of the effective date of the plan,

of the property to be distributed under the plan on account

of such claim is not less than the amount of such claim;

or

‘‘(B) the value of the property to be distributed under

the plan is not less than the projected disposable income

of the debtor (as defined in section 1325(b)(2)) to be received

during the 5-year period beginning on the date that the

first payment is due under the plan, or during the period

for which the plan provides payments, whichever is

longer.’’.

(2) REQUIREMENT RELATING TO INTERESTS IN PROPERTY.—

Section 1129(b)(2)(B)(ii) of title 11, United States Code, is

amended by inserting before the period at the end the following:

‘‘, except that in a case in which the debtor is an individual,

the debtor may retain property included in the estate under

section 1115, subject to the requirements of subsection (a)(14)

of this section’’.

(d) EFFECT OF CONFIRMATION.—Section 1141(d) of title 11,

United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘The confirmation of a

plan does not discharge an individual debtor’’ and inserting

‘‘A discharge under this chapter does not discharge a debtor

who is an individual’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(5) In a case in which the debtor is an individual—

‘‘(A) unless after notice and a hearing the court orders

otherwise for cause, confirmation of the plan does not discharge

any debt provided for in the plan until the court grants a

discharge on completion of all payments under the plan;
S. 256—74

‘‘(B) at any time after the confirmation of the plan, and

after notice and a hearing, the court may grant a discharge

to the debtor who has not completed payments under the plan

if—

‘‘(i) the value, as of the effective date of the plan,

of property actually distributed under the plan on account

of each allowed unsecured claim is not less than the amount

that would have been paid on such claim if the estate

of the debtor had been liquidated under chapter 7 on such

date; and

‘‘(ii) modification of the plan under section 1127 is

not practicable; and’’.

(e) MODIFICATION OF PLAN.—Section 1127 of title 11, United

States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(e) If the debtor is an individual, the plan may be modified

at any time after confirmation of the plan but before the completion

of payments under the plan, whether or not the plan has been

substantially consummated, upon request of the debtor, the trustee,

the United States trustee, or the holder of an allowed unsecured

claim, to—

‘‘(1) increase or reduce the amount of payments on claims

of a particular class provided for by the plan;

‘‘(2) extend or reduce the time period for such payments;

or

‘‘(3) alter the amount of the distribution to a creditor whose

claim is provided for by the plan to the extent necessary to

take account of any payment of such claim made other than

under the plan.

‘‘(f)(1) Sections 1121 through 1128 and the requirements of

section 1129 apply to any modification under subsection (a).

‘‘(2) The plan, as modified, shall become the plan only after

there has been disclosure under section 1125 as the court may

direct, notice and a hearing, and such modification is approved.’’.

SEC. 322. LIMITATIONS ON HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

(a) EXEMPTIONS.—Section 522 of title 11, United States Code,

as amended by sections 224 and 308, is amended by adding at

the end the following:

‘‘(p)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection

and sections 544 and 548, as a result of electing under subsection

(b)(3)(A) to exempt property under State or local law, a debtor

may not exempt any amount of interest that was acquired by

the debtor during the 1215-day period preceding the date of the

filing of the petition that exceeds in the aggregate $125,000 in

value in—

‘‘(A) real or personal property that the debtor or a

dependent of the debtor uses as a residence;

‘‘(B) a cooperative that owns property that the debtor or

a dependent of the debtor uses as a residence;

‘‘(C) a burial plot for the debtor or a dependent of the

debtor; or

‘‘(D) real or personal property that the debtor or dependent

of the debtor claims as a homestead.

‘‘(2)(A) The limitation under paragraph (1) shall not apply

to an exemption claimed under subsection (b)(3)(A) by a family

farmer for the principal residence of such farmer.
S. 256—75

‘‘(B) For purposes of paragraph (1), any amount of such interest

does not include any interest transferred from a debtor’s previous

principal residence (which was acquired prior to the beginning

of such 1215-day period) into the debtor’s current principal residence, if the debtor’s previous and current residences are located

in the same State.

‘‘(q)(1) As a result of electing under subsection (b)(3)(A) to

exempt property under State or local law, a debtor may not exempt

any amount of an interest in property described in subparagraphs

(A), (B), (C), and (D) of subsection (p)(1) which exceeds in the

aggregate $125,000 if—

‘‘(A) the court determines, after notice and a hearing, that

the debtor has been convicted of a felony (as defined in section

3156 of title 18), which under the circumstances, demonstrates

that the filing of the case was an abuse of the provisions

of this title; or

‘‘(B) the debtor owes a debt arising from—

‘‘(i) any violation of the Federal securities laws (as

defined in section 3(a)(47) of the Securities Exchange Act

of 1934), any State securities laws, or any regulation or

order issued under Federal securities laws or State securities laws;

‘‘(ii) fraud, deceit, or manipulation in a fiduciary

capacity or in connection with the purchase or sale of

any security registered under section 12 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or under section 6 of

the Securities Act of 1933;

‘‘(iii) any civil remedy under section 1964 of title 18;

or

‘‘(iv) any criminal act, intentional tort, or willful or

reckless misconduct that caused serious physical injury

or death to another individual in the preceding 5 years.

‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the extent the amount

of an interest in property described in subparagraphs (A), (B),

(C), and (D) of subsection (p)(1) is reasonably necessary for the

support of the debtor and any dependent of the debtor.’’.

(b) ADJUSTMENT OF DOLLAR AMOUNTS.—Paragraphs (1) and

(2) of section 104(b) of title 11, United States Code, as amended

by section 224, are amended by inserting ‘‘522(p), 522(q),’’ after

‘‘522(n),’’.

SEC. 323. EXCLUDING EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN PARTICIPANT CONTRIBUTIONS AND OTHER PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE.

Section 541(b) of title 11, United States Code, as amended

by section 225, is amended by adding after paragraph (6), as added

by section 225(a)(1)(C), the following:

‘‘(7) any amount—

‘‘(A) withheld by an employer from the wages of

employees for payment as contributions—

‘‘(i) to—

‘‘(I) an employee benefit plan that is subject

to title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or under an employee benefit

plan which is a governmental plan under section

414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
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‘‘(II) a deferred compensation plan under section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

or

‘‘(III) a tax-deferred annuity under section

403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

except that such amount under this subparagraph shall

not constitute disposable income as defined in section

1325(b)(2); or

‘‘(ii) to a health insurance plan regulated by State

law whether or not subject to such title; or

‘‘(B) received by an employer from employees for payment as contributions—

‘‘(i) to—

‘‘(I) an employee benefit plan that is subject

to title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or under an employee benefit

plan which is a governmental plan under section

414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

‘‘(II) a deferred compensation plan under section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

or

‘‘(III) a tax-deferred annuity under section

403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

except that such amount under this subparagraph shall

not constitute disposable income, as defined in section

1325(b)(2); or

‘‘(ii) to a health insurance plan regulated by State

law whether or not subject to such title;’’.

SEC. 324. EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION IN MATTERS INVOLVING BANKRUPTCY PROFESSIONALS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1334 of title 28, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding’’ and

inserting ‘‘Except as provided in subsection (e)(2), and notwithstanding’’; and

(2) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:

‘‘(e) The district court in which a case under title 11 is commenced or is pending shall have exclusive jurisdiction—

‘‘(1) of all the property, wherever located, of the debtor

as of the commencement of such case, and of property of the

estate; and

‘‘(2) over all claims or causes of action that involve construction of section 327 of title 11, United States Code, or rules

relating to disclosure requirements under section 327.’’.

(b) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall only apply to cases filed

after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 325. UNITED STATES TRUSTEE PROGRAM FILING FEE INCREASE.

(a) ACTIONS UNDER CHAPTER 7, 11, OR 13 OF TITLE 11, UNITED

STATES CODE.—Section 1930(a) of title 28, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

‘‘(1) For a case commenced under—

‘‘(A) chapter 7 of title 11, $200; and

‘‘(B) chapter 13 of title 11, $150.’’; and (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘$800’’ and inserting ‘‘$1000’’.
S. 256—77

(b) UNITED STATES TRUSTEE SYSTEM FUND.—Section 589a(b)

of title 28, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

‘‘(1)(A) 40.63 percent of the fees collected under section

1930(a)(1)(A) of this title; and

‘‘(B) 70.00 percent of the fees collected under section

1930(a)(1)(B);’’;

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘one-half’’ and inserting

‘‘75 percent’’; and

(3) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘one-half’’ and inserting

‘‘100 percent’’.

(c) COLLECTION AND DEPOSIT OF MISCELLANEOUS BANKRUPTCY

FEES.—Section 406(b) of the Judiciary Appropriations Act, 1990

(28 U.S.C. 1931 note) is amended by striking ‘‘pursuant to 28

U.S.C. section 1930(b)’’ and all that follows through ‘‘28 U.S.C.

section 1931’’ and inserting ‘‘under section 1930(b) of title 28, United

States Code, 31.25 of the fees collected under section 1930(a)(1)(A)

of that title, 30.00 percent of the fees collected under section

1930(a)(1)(B) of that title, and 25 percent of the fees collected

under section 1930(a)(3) of that title shall be deposited as offsetting

receipts to the fund established under section 1931 of that title’’.

(d) SUNSET DATE.—The amendments made by subsections (b)

and (c) shall be effective during the 2-year period beginning on

the date of enactment of this Act.

(e) USE OF INCREASED RECEIPTS.— (1) JUDGES’ SALARIES AND BENEFITS.—The amount of fees

collected under paragraphs (1) and (3) of section 1930(a) of

title 28, United States Code, during the 5-year period beginning

on the date of enactment of this Act, that is greater than

the amount that would have been collected if the amendments

made by subsection (a) had not taken effect shall be used,

to the extent necessary, to pay the salaries and benefits of

the judges appointed pursuant to section 1223 of this Act.

(2) REMAINDER.—Any amount described in paragraph (1),

which is not used for the purpose described in paragraph (1),

shall be deposited into the Treasury of the United States to

the extent necessary to offset the decrease in governmental

receipts resulting from the amendments made by subsections

(b) and (c).

SEC. 326. SHARING OF COMPENSATION.

Section 504 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

‘‘(c) This section shall not apply with respect to sharing, or

agreeing to share, compensation with a bona fide public service

attorney referral program that operates in accordance with nonFederal law regulating attorney referral services and with rules

of professional responsibility applicable to attorney acceptance of

referrals.’’.

SEC. 327. FAIR VALUATION OF COLLATERAL.

Section 506(a) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by—

(1) inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(a)’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(2) If the debtor is an individual in a case under chapter

7 or 13, such value with respect to personal property securing

an allowed claim shall be determined based on the replacement
S. 256—78

value of such property as of the date of the filing of the petition

without deduction for costs of sale or marketing. With respect

to property acquired for personal, family, or household purposes,

replacement value shall mean the price a retail merchant would

charge for property of that kind considering the age and condition

of the property at the time value is determined.’’.

SEC. 328. DEFAULTS BASED ON NONMONETARY OBLIGATIONS.

(a) EXECUTORY CONTRACTS AND UNEXPIRED LEASES.—Section

365 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking the semicolon at

the end and inserting the following: ‘‘other than a default

that is a breach of a provision relating to the satisfaction

of any provision (other than a penalty rate or penalty

provision) relating to a default arising from any failure

to perform nonmonetary obligations under an unexpired

lease of real property, if it is impossible for the trustee

to cure such default by performing nonmonetary acts at

and after the time of assumption, except that if such default

arises from a failure to operate in accordance with a nonresidential real property lease, then such default shall be

cured by performance at and after the time of assumption

in accordance with such lease, and pecuniary losses

resulting from such default shall be compensated in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph;’’; and

(B) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking ‘‘penalty rate or

provision’’ and inserting ‘‘penalty rate or penalty provision’’;

(2) in subsection (c)—

(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘or’’ at the end;

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘; or’’ at the end

and inserting a period; and

(C) by striking paragraph (4);

(3) in subsection (d)—

(A) by striking paragraphs (5) through (9); and

(B) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (5);

and

(4) in subsection (f)(1) by striking ‘‘; except that’’ and all

that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting

a period.

(b) IMPAIRMENT OF CLAIMS OR INTERESTS.—Section 1124(2) of

title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘or of a kind that

section 365(b)(2) expressly does not require to be cured’’ before

the semicolon at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(3) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph

(E); and

(4) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:

‘‘(D) if such claim or such interest arises from any

failure to perform a nonmonetary obligation, other than

a default arising from failure to operate a nonresidential

real property lease subject to section 365(b)(1)(A), compensates the holder of such claim or such interest (other

than the debtor or an insider) for any actual pecuniary

loss incurred by such holder as a result of such failure;

and’’.
S. 256—79

SEC. 329. CLARIFICATION OF POSTPETITION WAGES AND BENEFITS.

Section 503(b)(1)(A) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

to read as follows:

‘‘(A) the actual, necessary costs and expenses of preserving

the estate including—

‘‘(i) wages, salaries, and commissions for services rendered after the commencement of the case; and

‘‘(ii) wages and benefits awarded pursuant to a judicial

proceeding or a proceeding of the National Labor Relations

Board as back pay attributable to any period of time occurring after commencement of the case under this title, as

a result of a violation of Federal or State law by the

debtor, without regard to the time of the occurrence of

unlawful conduct on which such award is based or to

whether any services were rendered, if the court determines

that payment of wages and benefits by reason of the operation of this clause will not substantially increase the probability of layoff or termination of current employees, or

of nonpayment of domestic support obligations, during the

case under this title;’’.

SEC. 330. DELAY OF DISCHARGE DURING PENDENCY OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS.

(a) CHAPTER 7.—Section 727(a) of title 11, United States Code,

as amended by section 106, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (10), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end;

(2) in paragraph (11) by striking the period at the end

and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and

(3) by inserting after paragraph (11) the following:

‘‘(12) the court after notice and a hearing held not more

than 10 days before the date of the entry of the order granting

the discharge finds that there is reasonable cause to believe

that—

‘‘(A) section 522(q)(1) may be applicable to the debtor;

and

‘‘(B) there is pending any proceeding in which the

debtor may be found guilty of a felony of the kind described

in section 522(q)(1)(A) or liable for a debt of the kind

described in section 522(q)(1)(B).’’.

(b) CHAPTER 11.—Section 1141(d) of title 11, United States

Code, as amended by section 321, is amended by adding at the

end the following:

‘‘(C) unless after notice and a hearing held not more than

10 days before the date of the entry of the order granting

the discharge, the court finds that there is no reasonable cause

to believe that—

‘‘(i) section 522(q)(1) may be applicable to the debtor;

and

‘‘(ii) there is pending any proceeding in which the

debtor may be found guilty of a felony of the kind described

in section 522(q)(1)(A) or liable for a debt of the kind

described in section 522(q)(1)(B).’’.

(c) CHAPTER 12.—Section 1228 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘As’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject

to subsection (d), as’’,
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(2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘At’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject

to subsection (d), at’’, and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(f) The court may not grant a discharge under this chapter

unless the court after notice and a hearing held not more than

10 days before the date of the entry of the order granting the

discharge finds that there is no reasonable cause to believe that—

‘‘(1) section 522(q)(1) may be applicable to the debtor; and

‘‘(2) there is pending any proceeding in which the debtor

may be found guilty of a felony of the kind described in section

522(q)(1)(A) or liable for a debt of the kind described in section

522(q)(1)(B).’’.

(d) CHAPTER 13.—Section 1328 of title 11, United States Code,

as amended by section 106, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘As’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject

to subsection (d), as’’,

(2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘At’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject

to subsection (d), at’’, and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(h) The court may not grant a discharge under this chapter

unless the court after notice and a hearing held not more than

10 days before the date of the entry of the order granting the

discharge finds that there is no reasonable cause to believe that—

‘‘(1) section 522(q)(1) may be applicable to the debtor; and

‘‘(2) there is pending any proceeding in which the debtor

may be found guilty of a felony of the kind described in section

522(q)(1)(A) or liable for a debt of the kind described in section

522(q)(1)(B).’’.

SEC. 331. LIMITATION ON RETENTION BONUSES, SEVERANCE PAY, AND

CERTAIN OTHER PAYMENTS.

Section 503 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

‘‘(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), there shall neither be

allowed, nor paid—

‘‘(1) a transfer made to, or an obligation incurred for the

benefit of, an insider of the debtor for the purpose of inducing

such person to remain with the debtor’s business, absent a

finding by the court based on evidence in the record that—

‘‘(A) the transfer or obligation is essential to retention

of the person because the individual has a bona fide job

offer from another business at the same or greater rate

of compensation;

‘‘(B) the services provided by the person are essential

to the survival of the business; and

‘‘(C) either—

‘‘(i) the amount of the transfer made to, or obligation incurred for the benefit of, the person is not

greater than an amount equal to 10 times the amount

of the mean transfer or obligation of a similar kind

given to nonmanagement employees for any purpose

during the calendar year in which the transfer is made

or the obligation is incurred; or

‘‘(ii) if no such similar transfers were made to,

or obligations were incurred for the benefit of, such

nonmanagement employees during such calendar year,

the amount of the transfer or obligation is not greater
S. 256—81

than an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount

of any similar transfer or obligation made to or

incurred for the benefit of such insider for any purpose

during the calendar year before the year in which

such transfer is made or obligation is incurred;

‘‘(2) a severance payment to an insider of the debtor,

unless—

‘‘(A) the payment is part of a program that is generally

applicable to all full-time employees; and

‘‘(B) the amount of the payment is not greater than

10 times the amount of the mean severance pay given

to nonmanagement employees during the calendar year

in which the payment is made; or

‘‘(3) other transfers or obligations that are outside the

ordinary course of business and not justified by the facts and

circumstances of the case, including transfers made to, or

obligations incurred for the benefit of, officers, managers, or

consultants hired after the date of the filing of the petition.’’.

SEC. 332. FRAUDULENT INVOLUNTARY BANKRUPTCY.

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the ‘‘Involuntary

Bankruptcy Improvement Act of 2005’’.

(b) INVOLUNTARY CASES.—Section 303 of title 11, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(l)(1) If—

‘‘(A) the petition under this section is false or contains

any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement;

‘‘(B) the debtor is an individual; and

‘‘(C) the court dismisses such petition,

the court, upon the motion of the debtor, shall seal all the records

of the court relating to such petition, and all references to such

petition.

‘‘(2) If the debtor is an individual and the court dismisses

a petition under this section, the court may enter an order prohibiting all consumer reporting agencies (as defined in section 603(f)

of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a(f))) from making

any consumer report (as defined in section 603(d) of that Act)

that contains any information relating to such petition or to the

case commenced by the filing of such petition.

‘‘(3) Upon the expiration of the statute of limitations described

in section 3282 of title 18, for a violation of section 152 or 157

of such title, the court, upon the motion of the debtor and for

good cause, may expunge any records relating to a petition filed

under this section.’’.

(c) BANKRUPTCY FRAUD.—Section 157 of title 18, United States

Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘, including a fraudulent involuntary

bankruptcy petition under section 303 of such title’’ after ‘‘title

11’’.
S. 256—82

TITLE IV—GENERAL AND SMALL

BUSINESS BANKRUPTCY PROVISIONS

Subtitle A—General Business Bankruptcy

Provisions

SEC. 401. ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR INVESTORS.

(a) DEFINITION.—Section 101 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended by inserting after paragraph (48) the following:

‘‘(48A) ‘securities self regulatory organization’ means either

a securities association registered with the Securities and

Exchange Commission under section 15A of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 or a national securities exchange registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under

section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;’’.

(b) AUTOMATIC STAY.—Section 362(b) of title 11, United States

Code, as amended by sections 224, 303, and 311, is amended by

inserting after paragraph (24) the following:

‘‘(25) under subsection (a), of—

‘‘(A) the commencement or continuation of an investigation or action by a securities self regulatory organization

to enforce such organization’s regulatory power;

‘‘(B) the enforcement of an order or decision, other

than for monetary sanctions, obtained in an action by such

securities self regulatory organization to enforce such

organization’s regulatory power; or

‘‘(C) any act taken by such securities self regulatory

organization to delist, delete, or refuse to permit quotation

of any stock that does not meet applicable regulatory

requirements;’’.

SEC. 402. MEETINGS OF CREDITORS AND EQUITY SECURITY HOLDERS.

Section 341 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

‘‘(e) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), the court, on the

request of a party in interest and after notice and a hearing,

for cause may order that the United States trustee not convene

a meeting of creditors or equity security holders if the debtor

has filed a plan as to which the debtor solicited acceptances prior

to the commencement of the case.’’.

SEC. 403. PROTECTION OF REFINANCE OF SECURITY INTEREST.

Subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of section 547(e)(2) of title

11, United States Code, are each amended by striking ‘‘10’’ each

place it appears and inserting ‘‘30’’.

SEC. 404. EXECUTORY CONTRACTS AND UNEXPIRED LEASES.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 365(d)(4) of title 11, United States

Code, is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(4)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), an unexpired lease of nonresidential real property under which the debtor is the lessee shall

be deemed rejected, and the trustee shall immediately surrender

that nonresidential real property to the lessor, if the trustee does

not assume or reject the unexpired lease by the earlier of—
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‘‘(i) the date that is 120 days after the date of the order

for relief; or

‘‘(ii) the date of the entry of an order confirming a plan.

‘‘(B)(i) The court may extend the period determined under

subparagraph (A), prior to the expiration of the 120-day period,

for 90 days on the motion of the trustee or lessor for cause.

‘‘(ii) If the court grants an extension under clause (i), the

court may grant a subsequent extension only upon prior written

consent of the lessor in each instance.’’.

(b) EXCEPTION.—Section 365(f)(1) of title 11, United States

Code, is amended by striking ‘‘subsection’’ the first place it appears

and inserting ‘‘subsections (b) and’’.

SEC. 405. CREDITORS AND EQUITY SECURITY HOLDERS COMMITTEES.

(a) APPOINTMENT.—Section 1102(a) of title 11, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(4) On request of a party in interest and after notice and

a hearing, the court may order the United States trustee to change

the membership of a committee appointed under this subsection,

if the court determines that the change is necessary to ensure

adequate representation of creditors or equity security holders.

The court may order the United States trustee to increase the

number of members of a committee to include a creditor that

is a small business concern (as described in section 3(a)(1) of the

Small Business Act), if the court determines that the creditor holds

claims (of the kind represented by the committee) the aggregate

amount of which, in comparison to the annual gross revenue of

that creditor, is disproportionately large.’’.

(b) INFORMATION.—Section 1102(b) of title 11, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(3) A committee appointed under subsection (a) shall—

‘‘(A) provide access to information for creditors who—

‘‘(i) hold claims of the kind represented by that committee; and

‘‘(ii) are not appointed to the committee;

‘‘(B) solicit and receive comments from the creditors

described in subparagraph (A); and

‘‘(C) be subject to a court order that compels any additional

report or disclosure to be made to the creditors described in

subparagraph (A).’’.

SEC. 406. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 546 OF TITLE 11, UNITED STATES

CODE.

Section 546 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by redesignating the second subsection (g) (as added

by section 222(a) of Public Law 103–394) as subsection (h);

(2) in subsection (h), as so redesignated, by inserting ‘‘and

subject to the prior rights of holders of security interests in

such goods or the proceeds of such goods’’ after ‘‘consent of

a creditor’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(i)(1) Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 545,

the trustee may not avoid a warehouseman’s lien for storage,

transportation, or other costs incidental to the storage and handling

of goods.

‘‘(2) The prohibition under paragraph (1) shall be applied in

a manner consistent with any State statute applicable to such

lien that is similar to section 7–209 of the Uniform Commercial
S. 256—84

Code, as in effect on the date of enactment of the Bankruptcy

Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, or any

successor to such section 7–209.’’.

SEC. 407. AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 330(a) OF TITLE 11, UNITED

STATES CODE.

Section 330(a) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (3)—

(A) by striking ‘‘(A) In’’ and inserting ‘‘In’’; and

(B) by inserting ‘‘to an examiner, trustee under chapter

11, or professional person’’ after ‘‘awarded’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(7) In determining the amount of reasonable compensation

to be awarded to a trustee, the court shall treat such compensation

as a commission, based on section 326.’’.

SEC. 408. POSTPETITION DISCLOSURE AND SOLICITATION.

Section 1125 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

‘‘(g) Notwithstanding subsection (b), an acceptance or rejection

of the plan may be solicited from a holder of a claim or interest

if such solicitation complies with applicable nonbankruptcy law

and if such holder was solicited before the commencement of the

case in a manner complying with applicable nonbankruptcy law.’’.

SEC. 409. PREFERENCES.

Section 547(c) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

‘‘(2) to the extent that such transfer was in payment of

a debt incurred by the debtor in the ordinary course of business

or financial affairs of the debtor and the transferee, and such

transfer was—

‘‘(A) made in the ordinary course of business or financial affairs of the debtor and the transferee; or

‘‘(B) made according to ordinary business terms;’’;

(2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end

and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(9) if, in a case filed by a debtor whose debts are not

primarily consumer debts, the aggregate value of all property

that constitutes or is affected by such transfer is less than

$5,000.’’.

SEC. 410. VENUE OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS.

Section 1409(b) of title 28, United States Code, is amended

by inserting ‘‘, or a debt (excluding a consumer debt) against a

noninsider of less than $10,000,’’ after ‘‘$5,000’’. Section 1409(b)

of title 28, United States Code, is further amended by striking

‘‘$5,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$15,000’’.

SEC. 411. PERIOD FOR FILING PLAN UNDER CHAPTER 11.

Section 1121(d) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘On’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) Subject to paragraph

(2), on’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(2)(A) The 120-day period specified in paragraph (1) may not

be extended beyond a date that is 18 months after the date of

the order for relief under this chapter.
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‘‘(B) The 180-day period specified in paragraph (1) may not

be extended beyond a date that is 20 months after the date of

the order for relief under this chapter.’’.

SEC. 412. FEES ARISING FROM CERTAIN OWNERSHIP INTERESTS.

Section 523(a)(16) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘dwelling’’ the first place it appears;

(2) by striking ‘‘ownership or’’ and inserting ‘‘ownership,’’;

(3) by striking ‘‘housing’’ the first place it appears; and

(4) by striking ‘‘but only’’ and all that follows through

‘‘such period,’’ and inserting ‘‘or a lot in a homeowners association, for as long as the debtor or the trustee has a legal,

equitable, or possessory ownership interest in such unit, such

corporation, or such lot,’’.

SEC. 413. CREDITOR REPRESENTATION AT FIRST MEETING OF CREDITORS.

Section 341(c) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by inserting at the end the following: ‘‘Notwithstanding any local

court rule, provision of a State constitution, any otherwise

applicable nonbankruptcy law, or any other requirement that representation at the meeting of creditors under subsection (a) be

by an attorney, a creditor holding a consumer debt or any representative of the creditor (which may include an entity or an employee

of an entity and may be a representative for more than 1 creditor)

shall be permitted to appear at and participate in the meeting

of creditors in a case under chapter 7 or 13, either alone or in

conjunction with an attorney for the creditor. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require any creditor to be represented

by an attorney at any meeting of creditors.’’.

SEC. 414. DEFINITION OF DISINTERESTED PERSON.

Section 101(14) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

to read as follows:

‘‘(14) ‘disinterested person’ means a person that—

‘‘(A) is not a creditor, an equity security holder, or

an insider;

‘‘(B) is not and was not, within 2 years before the

date of the filing of the petition, a director, officer, or

employee of the debtor; and

‘‘(C) does not have an interest materially adverse to

the interest of the estate or of any class of creditors or

equity security holders, by reason of any direct or indirect

relationship to, connection with, or interest in, the debtor,

or for any other reason;’’.

SEC. 415. FACTORS FOR COMPENSATION OF PROFESSIONAL PERSONS.

Section 330(a)(3) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(2) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph

(F); and

(3) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:

‘‘(E) with respect to a professional person, whether the

person is board certified or otherwise has demonstrated skill

and experience in the bankruptcy field; and’’.

SEC. 416. APPOINTMENT OF ELECTED TRUSTEE.

Section 1104(b) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—
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(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(b)’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(2)(A) If an eligible, disinterested trustee is elected at a

meeting of creditors under paragraph (1), the United States trustee

shall file a report certifying that election.

‘‘(B) Upon the filing of a report under subparagraph (A)—

‘‘(i) the trustee elected under paragraph (1) shall be considered to have been selected and appointed for purposes of this

section; and

‘‘(ii) the service of any trustee appointed under subsection

(d) shall terminate.

‘‘(C) The court shall resolve any dispute arising out of an

election described in subparagraph (A).’’.

SEC. 417. UTILITY SERVICE.

Section 366 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘subsection (b)’’ and

inserting ‘‘subsections (b) and (c)’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(c)(1)(A) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘assurance

of payment’ means—

‘‘(i) a cash deposit;

‘‘(ii) a letter of credit;

‘‘(iii) a certificate of deposit;

‘‘(iv) a surety bond;

‘‘(v) a prepayment of utility consumption; or

‘‘(vi) another form of security that is mutually agreed on

between the utility and the debtor or the trustee.

‘‘(B) For purposes of this subsection an administrative expense

priority shall not constitute an assurance of payment.

‘‘(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), with respect to a case

filed under chapter 11, a utility referred to in subsection (a) may

alter, refuse, or discontinue utility service, if during the 30-day

period beginning on the date of the filing of the petition, the

utility does not receive from the debtor or the trustee adequate

assurance of payment for utility service that is satisfactory to

the utility.

‘‘(3)(A) On request of a party in interest and after notice and

a hearing, the court may order modification of the amount of

an assurance of payment under paragraph (2).

‘‘(B) In making a determination under this paragraph whether

an assurance of payment is adequate, the court may not consider—

‘‘(i) the absence of security before the date of the filing

of the petition;

‘‘(ii) the payment by the debtor of charges for utility service

in a timely manner before the date of the filing of the petition;

or

‘‘(iii) the availability of an administrative expense priority.

‘‘(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, with respect

to a case subject to this subsection, a utility may recover or set

off against a security deposit provided to the utility by the debtor

before the date of the filing of the petition without notice or order

of the court.’’.

SEC. 418. BANKRUPTCY FEES.

Section 1930 of title 28, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding section

1915 of this title, the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’; and
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(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(f)(1) Under the procedures prescribed by the Judicial Conference of the United States, the district court or the bankruptcy

court may waive the filing fee in a case under chapter 7 of title

11 for an individual if the court determines that such individual

has income less than 150 percent of the income official poverty

line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, and

revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the Omnibus

Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981) applicable to a family of the

size involved and is unable to pay that fee in installments. For

purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘filing fee’ means the filing

fee required by subsection (a), or any other fee prescribed by the

Judicial Conference under subsections (b) and (c) that is payable

to the clerk upon the commencement of a case under chapter

7.

‘‘(2) The district court or the bankruptcy court may waive

for such debtors other fees prescribed under subsections (b) and

(c).

‘‘(3) This subsection does not restrict the district court or the

bankruptcy court from waiving, in accordance with Judicial Conference policy, fees prescribed under this section for other debtors

and creditors.’’.

SEC. 419. MORE COMPLETE INFORMATION REGARDING ASSETS OF THE

ESTATE.

(a) IN GENERAL.—

(1) DISCLOSURE.—The Judicial Conference of the United

States, in accordance with section 2075 of title 28 of the United

States Code and after consideration of the views of the Director

of the Executive Office for United States Trustees, shall propose

amended Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and in accordance with rule 9009 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure shall prescribe official bankruptcy forms directing debtors

under chapter 11 of title 11 of United States Code, to disclose

the information described in paragraph (2) by filing and serving

periodic financial and other reports designed to provide such

information.

(2) INFORMATION.—The information referred to in paragraph (1) is the value, operations, and profitability of any

closely held corporation, partnership, or of any other entity

in which the debtor holds a substantial or controlling interest.

(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the rules and reports under

subsection (a) shall be to assist parties in interest taking steps

to ensure that the debtor’s interest in any entity referred to in

subsection (a)(2) is used for the payment of allowed claims against

debtor.

Subtitle B—Small Business Bankruptcy

Provisions

SEC. 431. FLEXIBLE RULES FOR DISCLOSURE STATEMENT AND PLAN.

Section 1125 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting before the semicolon

‘‘and in determining whether a disclosure statement provides

adequate information, the court shall consider the complexity

of the case, the benefit of additional information to creditors
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and other parties in interest, and the cost of providing additional information’’; and

(2) by striking subsection (f), and inserting the following:

‘‘(f) Notwithstanding subsection (b), in a small business case—

‘‘(1) the court may determine that the plan itself provides

adequate information and that a separate disclosure statement

is not necessary;

‘‘(2) the court may approve a disclosure statement submitted on standard forms approved by the court or adopted

under section 2075 of title 28; and

‘‘(3)(A) the court may conditionally approve a disclosure

statement subject to final approval after notice and a hearing;

‘‘(B) acceptances and rejections of a plan may be solicited

based on a conditionally approved disclosure statement if the

debtor provides adequate information to each holder of a claim

or interest that is solicited, but a conditionally approved disclosure statement shall be mailed not later than 25 days before

the date of the hearing on confirmation of the plan; and

‘‘(C) the hearing on the disclosure statement may be combined with the hearing on confirmation of a plan.’’.

SEC. 432. DEFINITIONS.

(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 101 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended by striking paragraph (51C) and inserting the following:

‘‘(51C) ‘small business case’ means a case filed under

chapter 11 of this title in which the debtor is a small business

debtor;

‘‘(51D) ‘small business debtor’—

‘‘(A) subject to subparagraph (B), means a person

engaged in commercial or business activities (including

any affiliate of such person that is also a debtor under

this title and excluding a person whose primary activity

is the business of owning or operating real property or

activities incidental thereto) that has aggregate noncontingent liquidated secured and unsecured debts as of the

date of the petition or the date of the order for relief

in an amount not more than $2,000,000 (excluding debts

owed to 1 or more affiliates or insiders) for a case in

which the United States trustee has not appointed under

section 1102(a)(1) a committee of unsecured creditors or

where the court has determined that the committee of

unsecured creditors is not sufficiently active and representative to provide effective oversight of the debtor; and

‘‘(B) does not include any member of a group of affiliated debtors that has aggregate noncontingent liquidated

secured and unsecured debts in an amount greater than

$2,000,000 (excluding debt owed to 1 or more affiliates

or insiders);’’.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1102(a)(3) of title 11,

United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘debtor’’ after ‘‘small

business’’.

(c) ADJUSTMENT OF DOLLAR AMOUNTS.—Section 104(b) of title

11, United States Code, as amended by section 226, is amended

by inserting ‘‘101(51D),’’ after ‘‘101(3),’’ each place it appears.

SEC. 433. STANDARD FORM DISCLOSURE STATEMENT AND PLAN.

Within a reasonable period of time after the date of enactment

of this Act, the Judicial Conference of the United States shall
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prescribe in accordance with rule 9009 of the Federal Rules of

Bankruptcy Procedure official standard form disclosure statements

and plans of reorganization for small business debtors (as defined

in section 101 of title 11, United States Code, as amended by

this Act), designed to achieve a practical balance between—

(1) the reasonable needs of the courts, the United States

trustee, creditors, and other parties in interest for reasonably

complete information; and

(2) economy and simplicity for debtors.

SEC. 434. UNIFORM NATIONAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

(a) REPORTING REQUIRED.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended by inserting after section 307 the following:

‘‘§ 308. Debtor reporting requirements

‘‘(a) For purposes of this section, the term ‘profitability’ means,

with respect to a debtor, the amount of money that the debtor

has earned or lost during current and recent fiscal periods.

‘‘(b) A small business debtor shall file periodic financial and

other reports containing information including—

‘‘(1) the debtor’s profitability;

‘‘(2) reasonable approximations of the debtor’s projected

cash receipts and cash disbursements over a reasonable period;

‘‘(3) comparisons of actual cash receipts and disbursements

with projections in prior reports;

‘‘(4)(A) whether the debtor is—

‘‘(i) in compliance in all material respects with

postpetition requirements imposed by this title and the

Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure; and

‘‘(ii) timely filing tax returns and other required government filings and paying taxes and other administrative

expenses when due;

‘‘(B) if the debtor is not in compliance with the requirements referred to in subparagraph (A)(i) or filing tax returns

and other required government filings and making the payments referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii), what the failures

are and how, at what cost, and when the debtor intends to

remedy such failures; and

‘‘(C) such other matters as are in the best interests of

the debtor and creditors, and in the public interest in fair

and efficient procedures under chapter 11 of this title.’’.

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for

chapter 3 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

inserting after the item relating to section 307 the following:

‘‘308. Debtor reporting requirements.’’.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection

(a) shall take effect 60 days after the date on which rules are

prescribed under section 2075 of title 28, United States Code, to

establish forms to be used to comply with section 308 of title

11, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).

SEC. 435. UNIFORM REPORTING RULES AND FORMS FOR SMALL BUSINESS CASES.

(a) PROPOSAL OF RULES AND FORMS.—The Judicial Conference

of the United States shall propose in accordance with section 2073

of title 28 of the United States Code amended Federal Rules of
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Bankruptcy Procedure, and shall prescribe in accordance with rule

9009 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure official bankruptcy forms, directing small business debtors to file periodic financial and other reports containing information, including information

relating to—

(1) the debtor’s profitability;

(2) the debtor’s cash receipts and disbursements; and

(3) whether the debtor is timely filing tax returns and

paying taxes and other administrative expenses when due.

(b) PURPOSE.—The rules and forms proposed under subsection

(a) shall be designed to achieve a practical balance among—

(1) the reasonable needs of the bankruptcy court, the

United States trustee, creditors, and other parties in interest

for reasonably complete information;

(2) a small business debtor’s interest that required reports

be easy and inexpensive to complete; and

(3) the interest of all parties that the required reports

help such debtor to understand such debtor’s financial condition

and plan the such debtor’s future.

SEC. 436. DUTIES IN SMALL BUSINESS CASES.

(a) DUTIES IN CHAPTER 11 CASES.—Subchapter I of chapter

11 of title 11, United States Code, as amended by section 321,

is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘§ 1116. Duties of trustee or debtor in possession in small

business cases

‘‘In a small business case, a trustee or the debtor in possession,

in addition to the duties provided in this title and as otherwise

required by law, shall—

‘‘(1) append to the voluntary petition or, in an involuntary

case, file not later than 7 days after the date of the order

for relief—

‘‘(A) its most recent balance sheet, statement of operations, cash-flow statement, and Federal income tax return;

or

‘‘(B) a statement made under penalty of perjury that

no balance sheet, statement of operations, or cash-flow

statement has been prepared and no Federal tax return

has been filed;

‘‘(2) attend, through its senior management personnel and

counsel, meetings scheduled by the court or the United States

trustee, including initial debtor interviews, scheduling conferences, and meetings of creditors convened under section 341

unless the court, after notice and a hearing, waives that requirement upon a finding of extraordinary and compelling circumstances;

‘‘(3) timely file all schedules and statements of financial

affairs, unless the court, after notice and a hearing, grants

an extension, which shall not extend such time period to a

date later than 30 days after the date of the order for relief,

absent extraordinary and compelling circumstances;

‘‘(4) file all postpetition financial and other reports required

by the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure or by local

rule of the district court;

‘‘(5) subject to section 363(c)(2), maintain insurance customary and appropriate to the industry;
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‘‘(6)(A) timely file tax returns and other required government filings; and

‘‘(B) subject to section 363(c)(2), timely pay all taxes entitled

to administrative expense priority except those being contested

by appropriate proceedings being diligently prosecuted; and

‘‘(7) allow the United States trustee, or a designated representative of the United States trustee, to inspect the debtor’s

business premises, books, and records at reasonable times,

after reasonable prior written notice, unless notice is waived

by the debtor.’’.

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for chapter

11 of title 11, United States Code, as amended by section 321,

is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1115

the following:

‘‘1116. Duties of trustee or debtor in possession in small business cases.’’.

SEC. 437. PLAN FILING AND CONFIRMATION DEADLINES.

Section 1121 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:

‘‘(e) In a small business case—

‘‘(1) only the debtor may file a plan until after 180 days

after the date of the order for relief, unless that period is—

‘‘(A) extended as provided by this subsection, after

notice and a hearing; or

‘‘(B) the court, for cause, orders otherwise;

‘‘(2) the plan and a disclosure statement (if any) shall

be filed not later than 300 days after the date of the order

for relief; and

‘‘(3) the time periods specified in paragraphs (1) and (2),

and the time fixed in section 1129(e) within which the plan

shall be confirmed, may be extended only if—

‘‘(A) the debtor, after providing notice to parties in

interest (including the United States trustee), demonstrates

by a preponderance of the evidence that it is more likely

than not that the court will confirm a plan within a reasonable period of time;

‘‘(B) a new deadline is imposed at the time the extension is granted; and

‘‘(C) the order extending time is signed before the

existing deadline has expired.’’.

SEC. 438. PLAN CONFIRMATION DEADLINE.

Section 1129 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

‘‘(e) In a small business case, the court shall confirm a plan

that complies with the applicable provisions of this title and that

is filed in accordance with section 1121(e) not later than 45 days

after the plan is filed unless the time for confirmation is extended

in accordance with section 1121(e)(3).’’.

SEC. 439. DUTIES OF THE UNITED STATES TRUSTEE.

Section 586(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (3)—

(A) in subparagraph (G), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(B) by redesignating subparagraph (H) as subparagraph (I); and

(C) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the following:
S. 256—92

‘‘(H) in small business cases (as defined in section

101 of title 11), performing the additional duties specified

in title 11 pertaining to such cases; and’’;

(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(3) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end

and inserting a semicolon; and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(7) in each of such small business cases—

‘‘(A) conduct an initial debtor interview as soon as

practicable after the date of the order for relief but before

the first meeting scheduled under section 341(a) of title

11, at which time the United States trustee shall—

‘‘(i) begin to investigate the debtor’s viability;

‘‘(ii) inquire about the debtor’s business plan;

‘‘(iii) explain the debtor’s obligations to file monthly

operating reports and other required reports;

‘‘(iv) attempt to develop an agreed scheduling

order; and

‘‘(v) inform the debtor of other obligations;

‘‘(B) if determined to be appropriate and advisable,

visit the appropriate business premises of the debtor,

ascertain the state of the debtor’s books and records, and

verify that the debtor has filed its tax returns; and

‘‘(C) review and monitor diligently the debtor’s activities, to identify as promptly as possible whether the debtor

will be unable to confirm a plan; and

‘‘(8) in any case in which the United States trustee finds

material grounds for any relief under section 1112 of title

11, the United States trustee shall apply promptly after making

that finding to the court for relief.’’.

SEC. 440. SCHEDULING CONFERENCES.

Section 105(d) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘,

may’’; and

(2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

‘‘(1) shall hold such status conferences as are necessary

to further the expeditious and economical resolution of the

case; and’’.

SEC. 441. SERIAL FILER PROVISIONS.

Section 362 of title 11, United States Code, as amended by

sections 106, 305, and 311, is amended—

(1) in subsection (k), as so redesignated by section 305—

(A) by striking ‘‘An’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), an’’; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(2) If such violation is based on an action taken by an entity

in the good faith belief that subsection (h) applies to the debtor,

the recovery under paragraph (1) of this subsection against such

entity shall be limited to actual damages.’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(n)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), subsection (a) does

not apply in a case in which the debtor—

‘‘(A) is a debtor in a small business case pending at the

time the petition is filed;

‘‘(B) was a debtor in a small business case that was dismissed for any reason by an order that became final in the
S. 256—93

2-year period ending on the date of the order for relief entered

with respect to the petition;

‘‘(C) was a debtor in a small business case in which a

plan was confirmed in the 2-year period ending on the date

of the order for relief entered with respect to the petition;

or

‘‘(D) is an entity that has acquired substantially all of

the assets or business of a small business debtor described

in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C), unless such entity establishes

by a preponderance of the evidence that such entity acquired

substantially all of the assets or business of such small business

debtor in good faith and not for the purpose of evading this

paragraph.

‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply—

‘‘(A) to an involuntary case involving no collusion by the

debtor with creditors; or

‘‘(B) to the filing of a petition if—

‘‘(i) the debtor proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the filing of the petition resulted from circumstances beyond the control of the debtor not foreseeable

at the time the case then pending was filed; and

‘‘(ii) it is more likely than not that the court will

confirm a feasible plan, but not a liquidating plan, within

a reasonable period of time.’’.

SEC. 442. EXPANDED GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OR CONVERSION AND

APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEE.

(a) EXPANDED GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OR CONVERSION.—Section 1112 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by striking

subsection (b) and inserting the following:

‘‘(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection,

subsection (c) of this section, and section 1104(a)(3), on request

of a party in interest, and after notice and a hearing, absent

unusual circumstances specifically identified by the court that establish that the requested conversion or dismissal is not in the best

interests of creditors and the estate, the court shall convert a

case under this chapter to a case under chapter 7 or dismiss

a case under this chapter, whichever is in the best interests of

creditors and the estate, if the movant establishes cause.

‘‘(2) The relief provided in paragraph (1) shall not be granted

absent unusual circumstances specifically identified by the court

that establish that such relief is not in the best interests of creditors

and the estate, if the debtor or another party in interest objects

and establishes that—

‘‘(A) there is a reasonable likelihood that a plan will be

confirmed within the timeframes established in sections 1121(e)

and 1129(e) of this title, or if such sections do not apply,

within a reasonable period of time; and

‘‘(B) the grounds for granting such relief include an act

or omission of the debtor other than under paragraph (4)(A)—

‘‘(i) for which there exists a reasonable justification

for the act or omission; and

‘‘(ii) that will be cured within a reasonable period of

time fixed by the court.

‘‘(3) The court shall commence the hearing on a motion under

this subsection not later than 30 days after filing of the motion,
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and shall decide the motion not later than 15 days after commencement of such hearing, unless the movant expressly consents to

a continuance for a specific period of time or compelling circumstances prevent the court from meeting the time limits established by this paragraph.

‘‘(4) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘cause’ includes—

‘‘(A) substantial or continuing loss to or diminution of the

estate and the absence of a reasonable likelihood of rehabilitation;

‘‘(B) gross mismanagement of the estate;

‘‘(C) failure to maintain appropriate insurance that poses

a risk to the estate or to the public;

‘‘(D) unauthorized use of cash collateral substantially harmful to 1 or more creditors;

‘‘(E) failure to comply with an order of the court;

‘‘(F) unexcused failure to satisfy timely any filing or

reporting requirement established by this title or by any rule

applicable to a case under this chapter;

‘‘(G) failure to attend the meeting of creditors convened

under section 341(a) or an examination ordered under rule

2004 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure without

good cause shown by the debtor;

‘‘(H) failure timely to provide information or attend

meetings reasonably requested by the United States trustee

(or the bankruptcy administrator, if any);

‘‘(I) failure timely to pay taxes owed after the date of

the order for relief or to file tax returns due after the date

of the order for relief;

‘‘(J) failure to file a disclosure statement, or to file or

confirm a plan, within the time fixed by this title or by order

of the court;

‘‘(K) failure to pay any fees or charges required under

chapter 123 of title 28;

‘‘(L) revocation of an order of confirmation under section

1144;

‘‘(M) inability to effectuate substantial consummation of

a confirmed plan;

‘‘(N) material default by the debtor with respect to a confirmed plan;

‘‘(O) termination of a confirmed plan by reason of the

occurrence of a condition specified in the plan; and

‘‘(P) failure of the debtor to pay any domestic support

obligation that first becomes payable after the date of the

filing of the petition.’’.

(b) ADDITIONAL GROUNDS FOR APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEE.—

Section 1104(a) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end;

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end

and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(3) if grounds exist to convert or dismiss the case under

section 1112, but the court determines that the appointment

of a trustee or an examiner is in the best interests of creditors

and the estate.’’.
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SEC. 443. STUDY OF OPERATION OF TITLE 11, UNITED STATES CODE,

WITH RESPECT TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this

Act, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, in

consultation with the Attorney General, the Director of the Executive Office for United States Trustees, and the Director of the

Administrative Office of the United States Courts, shall—

(1) conduct a study to determine—

(A) the internal and external factors that cause small

businesses, especially sole proprietorships, to become

debtors in cases under title 11, United States Code, and

that cause certain small businesses to successfully complete

cases under chapter 11 of such title; and

(B) how Federal laws relating to bankruptcy may be

made more effective and efficient in assisting small

businesses to remain viable; and

(2) submit to the President pro tempore of the Senate

and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report

summarizing that study.

SEC. 444. PAYMENT OF INTEREST.

Section 362(d)(3) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting ‘‘or 30 days after the court determines

that the debtor is subject to this paragraph, whichever is later’’

after ‘‘90-day period)’’; and

(2) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:

‘‘(B) the debtor has commenced monthly payments

that—

‘‘(i) may, in the debtor’s sole discretion, notwithstanding section 363(c)(2), be made from rents or other

income generated before, on, or after the date of the

commencement of the case by or from the property

to each creditor whose claim is secured by such real

estate (other than a claim secured by a judgment lien

or by an unmatured statutory lien); and

‘‘(ii) are in an amount equal to interest at the

then applicable nondefault contract rate of interest

on the value of the creditor’s interest in the real estate;

or’’.

SEC. 445. PRIORITY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

Section 503(b) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end

and inserting a semicolon; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(7) with respect to a nonresidential real property lease

previously assumed under section 365, and subsequently

rejected, a sum equal to all monetary obligations due, excluding

those arising from or relating to a failure to operate or a

penalty provision, for the period of 2 years following the later

of the rejection date or the date of actual turnover of the

premises, without reduction or setoff for any reason whatsoever

except for sums actually received or to be received from an

entity other than the debtor, and the claim for remaining
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sums due for the balance of the term of the lease shall be

a claim under section 502(b)(6);’’.

SEC. 446. DUTIES WITH RESPECT TO A DEBTOR WHO IS A PLAN

ADMINISTRATOR OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 521(a) of title 11, United States Code,

as amended by sections 106 and 304, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(3) by adding after paragraph (6) the following:

‘‘(7) unless a trustee is serving in the case, continue to

perform the obligations required of the administrator (as

defined in section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) of an employee benefit plan if at the time

of the commencement of the case the debtor (or any entity

designated by the debtor) served as such administrator.’’.

(b) DUTIES OF TRUSTEES.—Section 704(a) of title 11, United

States Code, as amended by sections 102 and 219, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (10), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(11) if, at the time of the commencement of the case,

the debtor (or any entity designated by the debtor) served

as the administrator (as defined in section 3 of the Employee

Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) of an employee benefit

plan, continue to perform the obligations required of the

administrator; and’’.

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1106(a)(1) of title 11,

United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(1) perform the duties of the trustee, as specified in paragraphs (2), (5), (7), (8), (9), (10), and (11) of section 704;’’.

SEC. 447. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE OF RETIRED EMPLOYEES.

Section 1114(d) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘appoint’’ and inserting ‘‘order the appointment of’’, and

(2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘The United States

trustee shall appoint any such committee.’’.

TITLE V—MUNICIPAL BANKRUPTCY

PROVISIONS

SEC. 501. PETITION AND PROCEEDINGS RELATED TO PETITION.

(a) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT RELATING TO MUNICIPALITIES.—

Section 921(d) of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

inserting ‘‘notwithstanding section 301(b)’’ before the period at the

end.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 301 of title 11, United

States Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before ‘‘A voluntary’’; and

(2) by striking the last sentence and inserting the following:

‘‘(b) The commencement of a voluntary case under a chapter

of this title constitutes an order for relief under such chapter.’’.

SEC. 502. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER SECTIONS TO CHAPTER 9.

Section 901(a) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—
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(1) by inserting ‘‘555, 556,’’ after ‘‘553,’’; and

(2) by inserting ‘‘559, 560, 561, 562,’’ after ‘‘557,’’.

TITLE VI—BANKRUPTCY DATA

SEC. 601. IMPROVED BANKRUPTCY STATISTICS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 6 of title 28, United States Code,

is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘§ 159. Bankruptcy statistics

‘‘(a) The clerk of the district court, or the clerk of the bankruptcy

court if one is certified pursuant to section 156(b) of this title,

shall collect statistics regarding debtors who are individuals with

primarily consumer debts seeking relief under chapters 7, 11, and

13 of title 11. Those statistics shall be in a standardized format

prescribed by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United

States Courts (referred to in this section as the ‘Director’).

‘‘(b) The Director shall—

‘‘(1) compile the statistics referred to in subsection (a);

‘‘(2) make the statistics available to the public; and

‘‘(3) not later than July 1, 2008, and annually thereafter,

prepare, and submit to Congress a report concerning the

information collected under subsection (a) that contains an

analysis of the information.

‘‘(c) The compilation required under subsection (b) shall—

‘‘(1) be itemized, by chapter, with respect to title 11;

‘‘(2) be presented in the aggregate and for each district;

and

‘‘(3) include information concerning—

‘‘(A) the total assets and total liabilities of the debtors

described in subsection (a), and in each category of assets

and liabilities, as reported in the schedules prescribed

pursuant to section 2075 of this title and filed by debtors;

‘‘(B) the current monthly income, average income, and

average expenses of debtors as reported on the schedules

and statements that each such debtor files under sections

521 and 1322 of title 11;

‘‘(C) the aggregate amount of debt discharged in cases

filed during the reporting period, determined as the difference between the total amount of debt and obligations

of a debtor reported on the schedules and the amount

of such debt reported in categories which are predominantly

nondischargeable;

‘‘(D) the average period of time between the date of

the filing of the petition and the closing of the case for

cases closed during the reporting period;

‘‘(E) for cases closed during the reporting period—

‘‘(i) the number of cases in which a reaffirmation

agreement was filed; and

‘‘(ii)(I) the total number of reaffirmation agreements filed;

‘‘(II) of those cases in which a reaffirmation agreement was filed, the number of cases in which the

debtor was not represented by an attorney; and
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‘‘(III) of those cases in which a reaffirmation agreement was filed, the number of cases in which the

reaffirmation agreement was approved by the court;

‘‘(F) with respect to cases filed under chapter 13 of

title 11, for the reporting period—

‘‘(i)(I) the number of cases in which a final order

was entered determining the value of property securing

a claim in an amount less than the amount of the

claim; and

‘‘(II) the number of final orders entered determining the value of property securing a claim;

‘‘(ii) the number of cases dismissed, the number

of cases dismissed for failure to make payments under

the plan, the number of cases refiled after dismissal,

and the number of cases in which the plan was completed, separately itemized with respect to the number

of modifications made before completion of the plan,

if any; and

‘‘(iii) the number of cases in which the debtor

filed another case during the 6-year period preceding

the filing;

‘‘(G) the number of cases in which creditors were fined

for misconduct and any amount of punitive damages

awarded by the court for creditor misconduct; and

‘‘(H) the number of cases in which sanctions under

rule 9011 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure

were imposed against debtor’s attorney or damages

awarded under such Rule.’’.

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for chapter

6 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the

end the following:

‘‘159. Bankruptcy statistics.’’.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section

shall take effect 18 months after the date of enactment of this

Act.

SEC. 602. UNIFORM RULES FOR THE COLLECTION OF BANKRUPTCY

DATA.

(a) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 39 of title 28, United States Code,

is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘§ 589b. Bankruptcy data

‘‘(a) RULES.—The Attorney General shall, within a reasonable

time after the effective date of this section, issue rules requiring

uniform forms for (and from time to time thereafter to appropriately

modify and approve)—

‘‘(1) final reports by trustees in cases under chapters 7,

12, and 13 of title 11; and

‘‘(2) periodic reports by debtors in possession or trustees

in cases under chapter 11 of title 11.

‘‘(b) REPORTS.—Each report referred to in subsection (a) shall

be designed (and the requirements as to place and manner of

filing shall be established) so as to facilitate compilation of data

and maximum possible access of the public, both by physical inspection at one or more central filing locations, and by electronic access

through the Internet or other appropriate media.
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‘‘(c) REQUIRED INFORMATION.—The information required to be

filed in the reports referred to in subsection (b) shall be that

which is in the best interests of debtors and creditors, and in

the public interest in reasonable and adequate information to

evaluate the efficiency and practicality of the Federal bankruptcy

system. In issuing rules proposing the forms referred to in subsection (a), the Attorney General shall strike the best achievable

practical balance between—

‘‘(1) the reasonable needs of the public for information

about the operational results of the Federal bankruptcy system;

‘‘(2) economy, simplicity, and lack of undue burden on persons with a duty to file reports; and

‘‘(3) appropriate privacy concerns and safeguards.

‘‘(d) FINAL REPORTS.—The uniform forms for final reports

required under subsection (a) for use by trustees under chapters

7, 12, and 13 of title 11 shall, in addition to such other matters

as are required by law or as the Attorney General in the discretion

of the Attorney General shall propose, include with respect to

a case under such title—

‘‘(1) information about the length of time the case was

pending;

‘‘(2) assets abandoned;

‘‘(3) assets exempted;

‘‘(4) receipts and disbursements of the estate;

‘‘(5) expenses of administration, including for use under

section 707(b), actual costs of administering cases under chapter

13 of title 11;

‘‘(6) claims asserted;

‘‘(7) claims allowed; and

‘‘(8) distributions to claimants and claims discharged without payment,

in each case by appropriate category and, in cases under chapters

12 and 13 of title 11, date of confirmation of the plan, each modification thereto, and defaults by the debtor in performance under

the plan.

‘‘(e) PERIODIC REPORTS.—The uniform forms for periodic reports

required under subsection (a) for use by trustees or debtors in

possession under chapter 11 of title 11 shall, in addition to such

other matters as are required by law or as the Attorney General

in the discretion of the Attorney General shall propose, include—

‘‘(1) information about the industry classification, published

by the Department of Commerce, for the businesses conducted

by the debtor;

‘‘(2) length of time the case has been pending;

‘‘(3) number of full-time employees as of the date of the

order for relief and at the end of each reporting period since

the case was filed;

‘‘(4) cash receipts, cash disbursements and profitability of

the debtor for the most recent period and cumulatively since

the date of the order for relief;

‘‘(5) compliance with title 11, whether or not tax returns

and tax payments since the date of the order for relief have

been timely filed and made;

‘‘(6) all professional fees approved by the court in the case

for the most recent period and cumulatively since the date

of the order for relief (separately reported, for the professional

fees incurred by or on behalf of the debtor, between those
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that would have been incurred absent a bankruptcy case and

those not); and

‘‘(7) plans of reorganization filed and confirmed and, with

respect thereto, by class, the recoveries of the holders, expressed

in aggregate dollar values and, in the case of claims, as a

percentage of total claims of the class allowed.’’.

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for chapter

39 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the

end the following:

‘‘589b. Bankruptcy data.’’.

SEC. 603. AUDIT PROCEDURES.

(a) IN GENERAL.—

(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCEDURES.—The Attorney General (in judicial districts served by United States trustees)

and the Judicial Conference of the United States (in judicial

districts served by bankruptcy administrators) shall establish

procedures to determine the accuracy, veracity, and completeness of petitions, schedules, and other information that the

debtor is required to provide under sections 521 and 1322

of title 11, United States Code, and, if applicable, section 111

of such title, in cases filed under chapter 7 or 13 of such

title in which the debtor is an individual. Such audits shall

be in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards

and performed by independent certified public accountants or

independent licensed public accountants, provided that the

Attorney General and the Judicial Conference, as appropriate,

may develop alternative auditing standards not later than 2

years after the date of enactment of this Act.

(2) PROCEDURES.—Those procedures required by paragraph

(1) shall—

(A) establish a method of selecting appropriate qualified persons to contract to perform those audits;

(B) establish a method of randomly selecting cases

to be audited, except that not less than 1 out of every

250 cases in each Federal judicial district shall be selected

for audit;

(C) require audits of schedules of income and expenses

that reflect greater than average variances from the statistical norm of the district in which the schedules were

filed if those variances occur by reason of higher income

or higher expenses than the statistical norm of the district

in which the schedules were filed; and

(D) establish procedures for providing, not less frequently than annually, public information concerning the

aggregate results of such audits including the percentage

of cases, by district, in which a material misstatement

of income or expenditures is reported.

(b) AMENDMENTS.—Section 586 of title 28, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (6) and inserting

the following:

‘‘(6) make such reports as the Attorney General directs,

including the results of audits performed under section 603(a)

of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection

Act of 2005;’’; and
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(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(f)(1) The United States trustee for each district is authorized

to contract with auditors to perform audits in cases designated

by the United States trustee, in accordance with the procedures

established under section 603(a) of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.

‘‘(2)(A) The report of each audit referred to in paragraph (1)

shall be filed with the court and transmitted to the United States

trustee. Each report shall clearly and conspicuously specify any

material misstatement of income or expenditures or of assets identified by the person performing the audit. In any case in which

a material misstatement of income or expenditures or of assets

has been reported, the clerk of the district court (or the clerk

of the bankruptcy court if one is certified under section 156(b)

of this title) shall give notice of the misstatement to the creditors

in the case.

‘‘(B) If a material misstatement of income or expenditures or

of assets is reported, the United States trustee shall—

‘‘(i) report the material misstatement, if appropriate, to

the United States Attorney pursuant to section 3057 of title

18; and

‘‘(ii) if advisable, take appropriate action, including but

not limited to commencing an adversary proceeding to revoke

the debtor’s discharge pursuant to section 727(d) of title 11.’’.

(c) AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 521 OF TITLE 11, U.S.C.—Section

521(a) of title 11, United States Code, as so designated by section

106, is amended in each of paragraphs (3) and (4) by inserting

‘‘or an auditor serving under section 586(f) of title 28’’ after ‘‘serving

in the case’’.

(d) AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 727 OF TITLE 11, U.S.C.—Section

727(d) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end;

(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end

and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(4) the debtor has failed to explain satisfactorily—

‘‘(A) a material misstatement in an audit referred to

in section 586(f) of title 28; or

‘‘(B) a failure to make available for inspection all necessary accounts, papers, documents, financial records, files,

and all other papers, things, or property belonging to the

debtor that are requested for an audit referred to in section

586(f) of title 28.’’.

(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section

shall take effect 18 months after the date of enactment of this

Act.

SEC. 604. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF BANKRUPTCY DATA.

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1) the national policy of the United States should be that

all data held by bankruptcy clerks in electronic form, to the

extent such data reflects only public records (as defined in

section 107 of title 11, United States Code), should be released

in a usable electronic form in bulk to the public, subject to

such appropriate privacy concerns and safeguards as Congress
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and the Judicial Conference of the United States may determine; and

(2) there should be established a bankruptcy data system

in which—

(A) a single set of data definitions and forms are used

to collect data nationwide; and

(B) data for any particular bankruptcy case are aggregated in the same electronic record.

TITLE VII—BANKRUPTCY TAX

PROVISIONS

SEC. 701. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN LIENS.

(a) TREATMENT OF CERTAIN LIENS.—Section 724 of title 11,

United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph

(1), by inserting ‘‘(other than to the extent that there is a

properly perfected unavoidable tax lien arising in connection

with an ad valorem tax on real or personal property of the

estate)’’ after ‘‘under this title’’;

(2) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting ‘‘(except that such

expenses, other than claims for wages, salaries, or commissions

that arise after the date of the filing of the petition, shall

be limited to expenses incurred under chapter 7 of this title

and shall not include expenses incurred under chapter 11 of

this title)’’ after ‘‘507(a)(1)’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(e) Before subordinating a tax lien on real or personal property

of the estate, the trustee shall—

‘‘(1) exhaust the unencumbered assets of the estate; and

‘‘(2) in a manner consistent with section 506(c), recover

from property securing an allowed secured claim the reasonable,

necessary costs and expenses of preserving or disposing of

such property.

‘‘(f) Notwithstanding the exclusion of ad valorem tax liens under

this section and subject to the requirements of subsection (e), the

following may be paid from property of the estate which secures

a tax lien, or the proceeds of such property:

‘‘(1) Claims for wages, salaries, and commissions that are

entitled to priority under section 507(a)(4).

‘‘(2) Claims for contributions to an employee benefit plan

entitled to priority under section 507(a)(5).’’.

(b) DETERMINATION OF TAX LIABILITY.—Section 505(a)(2) of title

11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the

end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(C) the amount or legality of any amount arising in connection with an ad valorem tax on real or personal property

of the estate, if the applicable period for contesting or redetermining that amount under any law (other than a bankruptcy

law) has expired.’’.
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SEC. 702. TREATMENT OF FUEL TAX CLAIMS.

Section 501 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

‘‘(e) A claim arising from the liability of a debtor for fuel

use tax assessed consistent with the requirements of section 31705

of title 49 may be filed by the base jurisdiction designated pursuant

to the International Fuel Tax Agreement (as defined in section

31701 of title 49) and, if so filed, shall be allowed as a single

claim.’’.

SEC. 703. NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR A DETERMINATION OF TAXES.

Section 505(b) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in the first sentence, by inserting ‘‘at the address and

in the manner designated in paragraph (1)’’ after ‘‘determination of such tax’’;

(2) by striking ‘‘(1) upon payment’’ and inserting ‘‘(A) upon

payment’’;

(3) by striking ‘‘(A) such governmental unit’’ and inserting

‘‘(i) such governmental unit’’;

(4) by striking ‘‘(B) such governmental unit’’ and inserting

‘‘(ii) such governmental unit’’;

(5) by striking ‘‘(2) upon payment’’ and inserting ‘‘(B) upon

payment’’;

(6) by striking ‘‘(3) upon payment’’ and inserting ‘‘(C) upon

payment’’;

(7) by striking ‘‘(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘(2)’’; and

(8) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so designated,

the following:

‘‘(b)(1)(A) The clerk shall maintain a list under which a Federal,

State, or local governmental unit responsible for the collection of

taxes within the district may—

‘‘(i) designate an address for service of requests under

this subsection; and

‘‘(ii) describe where further information concerning additional requirements for filing such requests may be found.

‘‘(B) If such governmental unit does not designate an address

and provide such address to the clerk under subparagraph (A),

any request made under this subsection may be served at the

address for the filing of a tax return or protest with the appropriate

taxing authority of such governmental unit.’’.

SEC. 704. RATE OF INTEREST ON TAX CLAIMS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 5 of title 11, United

States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘§ 511. Rate of interest on tax claims

‘‘(a) If any provision of this title requires the payment of interest

on a tax claim or on an administrative expense tax, or the payment

of interest to enable a creditor to receive the present value of

the allowed amount of a tax claim, the rate of interest shall be

the rate determined under applicable nonbankruptcy law.

‘‘(b) In the case of taxes paid under a confirmed plan under

this title, the rate of interest shall be determined as of the calendar

month in which the plan is confirmed.’’.
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for subchapter

I of chapter 5 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

‘‘511. Rate of interest on tax claims.’’.

SEC. 705. PRIORITY OF TAX CLAIMS.

Section 507(a)(8) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A)—

(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting

‘‘for a taxable year ending on or before the date of the

filing of the petition’’ after ‘‘gross receipts’’;

(B) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘for a taxable year ending

on or before the date of the filing of the petition’’; and

(C) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following:

‘‘(ii) assessed within 240 days before the date of

the filing of the petition, exclusive of—

‘‘(I) any time during which an offer in compromise with respect to that tax was pending or

in effect during that 240-day period, plus 30 days;

and

‘‘(II) any time during which a stay of proceedings against collections was in effect in a prior

case under this title during that 240-day period,

plus 90 days.’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘An otherwise applicable time period specified in this paragraph

shall be suspended for any period during which a governmental

unit is prohibited under applicable nonbankruptcy law from

collecting a tax as a result of a request by the debtor for

a hearing and an appeal of any collection action taken or

proposed against the debtor, plus 90 days; plus any time during

which the stay of proceedings was in effect in a prior case

under this title or during which collection was precluded by

the existence of 1 or more confirmed plans under this title,

plus 90 days.’’.

SEC. 706. PRIORITY PROPERTY TAXES INCURRED.

Section 507(a)(8)(B) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by striking ‘‘assessed’’ and inserting ‘‘incurred’’.

SEC. 707. NO DISCHARGE OF FRAUDULENT TAXES IN CHAPTER 13.

Section 1328(a)(2) of title 11, United States Code, as amended

by section 314, is amended by striking ‘‘paragraph’’ and inserting

‘‘section 507(a)(8)(C) or in paragraph (1)(B), (1)(C),’’.

SEC. 708. NO DISCHARGE OF FRAUDULENT TAXES IN CHAPTER 11.

Section 1141(d) of title 11, United States Code, as amended

by sections 321 and 330, is amended by adding at the end the

following:

‘‘(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the confirmation of a plan

does not discharge a debtor that is a corporation from any debt—

‘‘(A) of a kind specified in paragraph (2)(A) or (2)(B) of

section 523(a) that is owed to a domestic governmental unit,

or owed to a person as the result of an action filed under

subchapter III of chapter 37 of title 31 or any similar State

statute; or
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‘‘(B) for a tax or customs duty with respect to which the

debtor—

‘‘(i) made a fraudulent return; or

‘‘(ii) willfully attempted in any manner to evade or

to defeat such tax or such customs duty.’’.

SEC. 709. STAY OF TAX PROCEEDINGS LIMITED TO PREPETITION

TAXES.

Section 362(a)(8) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by striking ‘‘the debtor’’ and inserting ‘‘a corporate debtor’s tax

liability for a taxable period the bankruptcy court may determine

or concerning the tax liability of a debtor who is an individual

for a taxable period ending before the date of the order for relief

under this title’’.

SEC. 710. PERIODIC PAYMENT OF TAXES IN CHAPTER 11 CASES.

Section 1129(a)(9) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘deferred cash payments,’’ and all that follows through the end of the subparagraph, and inserting ‘‘regular installment payments in cash—

‘‘(i) of a total value, as of the effective date of

the plan, equal to the allowed amount of such claim;

‘‘(ii) over a period ending not later than 5 years

after the date of the order for relief under section

301, 302, or 303; and

‘‘(iii) in a manner not less favorable than the most

favored nonpriority unsecured claim provided for by

the plan (other than cash payments made to a class

of creditors under section 1122(b)); and’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(D) with respect to a secured claim which would otherwise meet the description of an unsecured claim of a

governmental unit under section 507(a)(8), but for the

secured status of that claim, the holder of that claim will

receive on account of that claim, cash payments, in the

same manner and over the same period, as prescribed

in subparagraph (C).’’.

SEC. 711. AVOIDANCE OF STATUTORY TAX LIENS PROHIBITED.

Section 545(2) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: ‘‘, except

in any case in which a purchaser is a purchaser described in

section 6323 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or in any

other similar provision of State or local law’’.

SEC. 712. PAYMENT OF TAXES IN THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.

(a) PAYMENT OF TAXES REQUIRED.—Section 960 of title 28,

United States Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before ‘‘Any’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(b) A tax under subsection (a) shall be paid on or before

the due date of the tax under applicable nonbankruptcy law,

unless—

‘‘(1) the tax is a property tax secured by a lien against

property that is abandoned under section 554 of title 11, within

a reasonable period of time after the lien attaches, by the

trustee in a case under title 11; or
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‘‘(2) payment of the tax is excused under a specific provision

of title 11.

‘‘(c) In a case pending under chapter 7 of title 11, payment

of a tax may be deferred until final distribution is made under

section 726 of title 11, if—

‘‘(1) the tax was not incurred by a trustee duly appointed

or elected under chapter 7 of title 11; or

‘‘(2) before the due date of the tax, an order of the court

makes a finding of probable insufficiency of funds of the estate

to pay in full the administrative expenses allowed under section

503(b) of title 11 that have the same priority in distribution

under section 726(b) of title 11 as the priority of that tax.’’.

(b) PAYMENT OF AD VALOREM TAXES REQUIRED.—Section

503(b)(1)(B)(i) of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

inserting ‘‘whether secured or unsecured, including property taxes

for which liability is in rem, in personam, or both,’’ before ‘‘except’’.

(c) REQUEST FOR PAYMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE TAXES

ELIMINATED.—Section 503(b)(1) of title 11, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (C), by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(D) notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a),

a governmental unit shall not be required to file a request

for the payment of an expense described in subparagraph (B)

or (C), as a condition of its being an allowed administrative

expense;’’.

(d) PAYMENT OF TAXES AND FEES AS SECURED CLAIMS.—Section

506 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘or State statute’’ after

‘‘agreement’’; and

(2) in subsection (c), by inserting ‘‘, including the payment

of all ad valorem property taxes with respect to the property’’

before the period at the end.

SEC. 713. TARDILY FILED PRIORITY TAX CLAIMS.

Section 726(a)(1) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by striking ‘‘before the date on which the trustee commences distribution under this section;’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘on or

before the earlier of—

‘‘(A) the date that is 10 days after the mailing to

creditors of the summary of the trustee’s final report; or

‘‘(B) the date on which the trustee commences final

distribution under this section;’’.

SEC. 714. INCOME TAX RETURNS PREPARED BY TAX AUTHORITIES.

Section 523(a) of title 11, United States Code, as amended

by sections 215 and 224, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)(B)—

(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting

‘‘or equivalent report or notice,’’ after ‘‘a return,’’;

(B) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘or given’’ after ‘‘filed’’;

and

(C) in clause (ii)—

(i) by inserting ‘‘or given’’ after ‘‘filed’’; and

(ii) by inserting ‘‘, report, or notice’’ after ‘‘return’’;

and

(2) by adding at the end the following:
S. 256—107

‘‘For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘return’ means a return

that satisfies the requirements of applicable nonbankruptcy law

(including applicable filing requirements). Such term includes a

return prepared pursuant to section 6020(a) of the Internal Revenue

Code of 1986, or similar State or local law, or a written stipulation

to a judgment or a final order entered by a nonbankruptcy tribunal,

but does not include a return made pursuant to section 6020(b)

of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or a similar State or local

law.’’.

SEC. 715. DISCHARGE OF THE ESTATE’S LIABILITY FOR UNPAID TAXES.

Section 505(b)(2) of title 11, United States Code, as amended

by section 703, is amended by inserting ‘‘the estate,’’ after ‘‘misrepresentation,’’.

SEC. 716. REQUIREMENT TO FILE TAX RETURNS TO CONFIRM

CHAPTER 13 PLANS.

(a) FILING OF PREPETITION TAX RETURNS REQUIRED FOR PLAN

CONFIRMATION.—Section 1325(a) of title 11, United States Code,

as amended by sections 102, 213, and 306, is amended by inserting

after paragraph (8) the following:

‘‘(9) the debtor has filed all applicable Federal, State, and

local tax returns as required by section 1308.’’.

(b) ADDITIONAL TIME PERMITTED FOR FILING TAX RETURNS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 13 of title 11,

United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the

following:

‘‘§ 1308. Filing of prepetition tax returns

‘‘(a) Not later than the day before the date on which the

meeting of the creditors is first scheduled to be held under section

341(a), if the debtor was required to file a tax return under

applicable nonbankruptcy law, the debtor shall file with appropriate

tax authorities all tax returns for all taxable periods ending during

the 4-year period ending on the date of the filing of the petition.

‘‘(b)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), if the tax returns required

by subsection (a) have not been filed by the date on which the

meeting of creditors is first scheduled to be held under section

341(a), the trustee may hold open that meeting for a reasonable

period of time to allow the debtor an additional period of time

to file any unfiled returns, but such additional period of time

shall not extend beyond—

‘‘(A) for any return that is past due as of the date of

the filing of the petition, the date that is 120 days after the

date of that meeting; or

‘‘(B) for any return that is not past due as of the date

of the filing of the petition, the later of—

‘‘(i) the date that is 120 days after the date of that

meeting; or

‘‘(ii) the date on which the return is due under the

last automatic extension of time for filing that return to

which the debtor is entitled, and for which request is

timely made, in accordance with applicable nonbankruptcy

law.
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‘‘(2) After notice and a hearing, and order entered before the

tolling of any applicable filing period determined under this subsection, if the debtor demonstrates by a preponderance of the evidence that the failure to file a return as required under this subsection is attributable to circumstances beyond the control of the

debtor, the court may extend the filing period established by the

trustee under this subsection for—

‘‘(A) a period of not more than 30 days for returns described

in paragraph (1); and

‘‘(B) a period not to extend after the applicable extended

due date for a return described in paragraph (2).

‘‘(c) For purposes of this section, the term ‘return’ includes

a return prepared pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of section 6020

of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or a similar State or local

law, or a written stipulation to a judgment or a final order entered

by a nonbankruptcy tribunal.’’.

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for

subchapter I of chapter 13 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘1308. Filing of prepetition tax returns.’’.

(c) DISMISSAL OR CONVERSION ON FAILURE TO COMPLY.—Section

1307 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections

(f) and (g), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:

‘‘(e) Upon the failure of the debtor to file a tax return under

section 1308, on request of a party in interest or the United States

trustee and after notice and a hearing, the court shall dismiss

a case or convert a case under this chapter to a case under chapter

7 of this title, whichever is in the best interest of the creditors

and the estate.’’.

(d) TIMELY FILED CLAIMS.—Section 502(b)(9) of title 11, United

States Code, is amended by inserting before the period at the

end the following: ‘‘, and except that in a case under chapter

13, a claim of a governmental unit for a tax with respect to a

return filed under section 1308 shall be timely if the claim is

filed on or before the date that is 60 days after the date on

which such return was filed as required’’.

(e) RULES FOR OBJECTIONS TO CLAIMS AND TO CONFIRMATION.—

It is the sense of Congress that the Judicial Conference of the

United States should, as soon as practicable after the date of

enactment of this Act, propose amended Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure that provide—

(1) notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 3015(f), in cases

under chapter 13 of title 11, United States Code, that an

objection to the confirmation of a plan filed by a governmental

unit on or before the date that is 60 days after the date

on which the debtor files all tax returns required under sections

1308 and 1325(a)(7) of title 11, United States Code, shall be

treated for all purposes as if such objection had been timely

filed before such confirmation; and

(2) in addition to the provisions of Rule 3007, in a case

under chapter 13 of title 11, United States Code, that no

objection to a claim for a tax with respect to which a return

is required to be filed under section 1308 of title 11, United
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States Code, shall be filed until such return has been filed

as required.

SEC. 717. STANDARDS FOR TAX DISCLOSURE.

Section 1125(a)(1) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting ‘‘including a discussion of the potential

material Federal tax consequences of the plan to the debtor,

any successor to the debtor, and a hypothetical investor typical

of the holders of claims or interests in the case,’’ after ‘‘records,’’;

and

(2) by striking ‘‘a hypothetical reasonable investor typical

of holders of claims or interests’’ and inserting ‘‘such a hypothetical investor’’.

SEC. 718. SETOFF OF TAX REFUNDS.

Section 362(b) of title 11, United States Code, as amended

by sections 224, 303, 311, and 401, is amended by inserting after

paragraph (25) the following:

‘‘(26) under subsection (a), of the setoff under applicable

nonbankruptcy law of an income tax refund, by a governmental

unit, with respect to a taxable period that ended before the

date of the order for relief against an income tax liability

for a taxable period that also ended before the date of the

order for relief, except that in any case in which the setoff

of an income tax refund is not permitted under applicable

nonbankruptcy law because of a pending action to determine

the amount or legality of a tax liability, the governmental

unit may hold the refund pending the resolution of the action,

unless the court, on the motion of the trustee and after notice

and a hearing, grants the taxing authority adequate protection

(within the meaning of section 361) for the secured claim of

such authority in the setoff under section 506(a);’’.

SEC. 719. SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE TREATMENT OF

STATE AND LOCAL TAXES.

(a) IN GENERAL.—

(1) SPECIAL PROVISIONS.—Section 346 of title 11, United

States Code, is amended to read as follows:

‘‘§ 346. Special provisions related to the treatment of State

and local taxes

‘‘(a) Whenever the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 provides

that a separate taxable estate or entity is created in a case concerning a debtor under this title, and the income, gain, loss, deductions, and credits of such estate shall be taxed to or claimed by

the estate, a separate taxable estate is also created for purposes

of any State and local law imposing a tax on or measured by

income and such income, gain, loss, deductions, and credits shall

be taxed to or claimed by the estate and may not be taxed to

or claimed by the debtor. The preceding sentence shall not apply

if the case is dismissed. The trustee shall make tax returns of

income required under any such State or local law.

‘‘(b) Whenever the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 provides

that no separate taxable estate shall be created in a case concerning

a debtor under this title, and the income, gain, loss, deductions,

and credits of an estate shall be taxed to or claimed by the debtor,

such income, gain, loss, deductions, and credits shall be taxed

to or claimed by the debtor under a State or local law imposing
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a tax on or measured by income and may not be taxed to or

claimed by the estate. The trustee shall make such tax returns

of income of corporations and of partnerships as are required under

any State or local law, but with respect to partnerships, shall

make such returns only to the extent such returns are also required

to be made under such Code. The estate shall be liable for any

tax imposed on such corporation or partnership, but not for any

tax imposed on partners or members.

‘‘(c) With respect to a partnership or any entity treated as

a partnership under a State or local law imposing a tax on or

measured by income that is a debtor in a case under this title,

any gain or loss resulting from a distribution of property from

such partnership, or any distributive share of any income, gain,

loss, deduction, or credit of a partner or member that is distributed,

or considered distributed, from such partnership, after the

commencement of the case, is gain, loss, income, deduction, or

credit, as the case may be, of the partner or member, and if

such partner or member is a debtor in a case under this title,

shall be subject to tax in accordance with subsection (a) or (b).

‘‘(d) For purposes of any State or local law imposing a tax

on or measured by income, the taxable period of a debtor in a

case under this title shall terminate only if and to the extent

that the taxable period of such debtor terminates under the Internal

Revenue Code of 1986.

‘‘(e) The estate in any case described in subsection (a) shall

use the same accounting method as the debtor used immediately

before the commencement of the case, if such method of accounting

complies with applicable nonbankruptcy tax law.

‘‘(f) For purposes of any State or local law imposing a tax

on or measured by income, a transfer of property from the debtor

to the estate or from the estate to the debtor shall not be treated

as a disposition for purposes of any provision assigning tax consequences to a disposition, except to the extent that such transfer

is treated as a disposition under the Internal Revenue Code of

1986.

‘‘(g) Whenever a tax is imposed pursuant to a State or local

law imposing a tax on or measured by income pursuant to subsection (a) or (b), such tax shall be imposed at rates generally

applicable to the same types of entities under such State or local

law.

‘‘(h) The trustee shall withhold from any payment of claims

for wages, salaries, commissions, dividends, interest, or other payments, or collect, any amount required to be withheld or collected

under applicable State or local tax law, and shall pay such withheld

or collected amount to the appropriate governmental unit at the

time and in the manner required by such tax law, and with the

same priority as the claim from which such amount was withheld

or collected was paid.

‘‘(i)(1) To the extent that any State or local law imposing

a tax on or measured by income provides for the carryover of

any tax attribute from one taxable period to a subsequent taxable

period, the estate shall succeed to such tax attribute in any case

in which such estate is subject to tax under subsection (a).

‘‘(2) After such a case is closed or dismissed, the debtor shall

succeed to any tax attribute to which the estate succeeded under

paragraph (1) to the extent consistent with the Internal Revenue

Code of 1986.
S. 256—111

‘‘(3) The estate may carry back any loss or tax attribute to

a taxable period of the debtor that ended before the date of the

order for relief under this title to the extent that—

‘‘(A) applicable State or local tax law provides for a

carryback in the case of the debtor; and

‘‘(B) the same or a similar tax attribute may be carried

back by the estate to such a taxable period of the debtor

under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

‘‘(j)(1) For purposes of any State or local law imposing a tax

on or measured by income, income is not realized by the estate,

the debtor, or a successor to the debtor by reason of discharge

of indebtedness in a case under this title, except to the extent,

if any, that such income is subject to tax under the Internal Revenue

Code of 1986.

‘‘(2) Whenever the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 provides

that the amount excluded from gross income in respect of the

discharge of indebtedness in a case under this title shall be applied

to reduce the tax attributes of the debtor or the estate, a similar

reduction shall be made under any State or local law imposing

a tax on or measured by income to the extent such State or local

law recognizes such attributes. Such State or local law may also

provide for the reduction of other attributes to the extent that

the full amount of income from the discharge of indebtedness has

not been applied.

‘‘(k)(1) Except as provided in this section and section 505,

the time and manner of filing tax returns and the items of income,

gain, loss, deduction, and credit of any taxpayer shall be determined

under applicable nonbankruptcy law.

‘‘(2) For Federal tax purposes, the provisions of this section

are subject to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and other

applicable Federal nonbankruptcy law.’’.

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for

chapter 3 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by striking

the item relating to section 346 and inserting the following:

‘‘346. Special provisions related to the treatment of State and local taxes.’’.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Title 11 of the United States

Code is amended—

(1) by striking section 728;

(2) in the table of sections for chapter 7 by striking the

item relating to section 728;

(3) in section 1146—

(A) by striking subsections (a) and (b); and

(B) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (a) and (b), respectively; and

(4) in section 1231—

(A) by striking subsections (a) and (b); and

(B) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (a) and (b), respectively.

SEC. 720. DISMISSAL FOR FAILURE TO TIMELY FILE TAX RETURNS.

Section 521 of title 11, United States Code, as amended by

sections 106, 225, 305, 315, and 316, is amended by adding at

the end the following:

‘‘(j)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, if the

debtor fails to file a tax return that becomes due after the

commencement of the case or to properly obtain an extension of
S. 256—112

the due date for filing such return, the taxing authority may request

that the court enter an order converting or dismissing the case.

‘‘(2) If the debtor does not file the required return or obtain

the extension referred to in paragraph (1) within 90 days after

a request is filed by the taxing authority under that paragraph,

the court shall convert or dismiss the case, whichever is in the

best interests of creditors and the estate.’’.

TITLE VIII—ANCILLARY AND OTHER

CROSS-BORDER CASES

SEC. 801. AMENDMENT TO ADD CHAPTER 15 TO TITLE 11, UNITED

STATES CODE.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 11, United States Code, is amended

by inserting after chapter 13 the following:

‘‘CHAPTER 15—ANCILLARY AND OTHER CROSS-BORDER

CASES

‘‘Sec.

‘‘1501. Purpose and scope of application.

‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

‘‘1502. Definitions.

‘‘1503. International obligations of the United States.

‘‘1504. Commencement of ancillary case.

‘‘1505. Authorization to act in a foreign country.

‘‘1506. Public policy exception.

‘‘1507. Additional assistance.

‘‘1508. Interpretation.

‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—ACCESS OF FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES AND

CREDITORS TO THE COURT

‘‘1509. Right of direct access.

‘‘1510. Limited jurisdiction.

‘‘1511. Commencement of case under section 301 or 303.

‘‘1512. Participation of a foreign representative in a case under this title.

‘‘1513. Access of foreign creditors to a case under this title.

‘‘1514. Notification to foreign creditors concerning a case under this title.

‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—RECOGNITION OF A FOREIGN PROCEEDING AND

RELIEF

‘‘1515. Application for recognition.

‘‘1516. Presumptions concerning recognition.

‘‘1517. Order granting recognition.

‘‘1518. Subsequent information.

‘‘1519. Relief that may be granted upon filing petition for recognition.

‘‘1520. Effects of recognition of a foreign main proceeding.

‘‘1521. Relief that may be granted upon recognition.

‘‘1522. Protection of creditors and other interested persons.

‘‘1523. Actions to avoid acts detrimental to creditors.

‘‘1524. Intervention by a foreign representative.

‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—COOPERATION WITH FOREIGN COURTS AND FOREIGN

REPRESENTATIVES

‘‘1525. Cooperation and direct communication between the court and foreign courts

or foreign representatives.

‘‘1526. Cooperation and direct communication between the trustee and foreign

courts or foreign representatives.

‘‘1527. Forms of cooperation.

‘‘SUBCHAPTER V—CONCURRENT PROCEEDINGS

‘‘1528. Commencement of a case under this title after recognition of a foreign main

proceeding.
S. 256—113

‘‘1529. Coordination of a case under this title and a foreign proceeding.

‘‘1530. Coordination of more than 1 foreign proceeding.

‘‘1531. Presumption of insolvency based on recognition of a foreign main proceeding.

‘‘1532. Rule of payment in concurrent proceedings.

‘‘§ 1501. Purpose and scope of application

‘‘(a) The purpose of this chapter is to incorporate the Model

Law on Cross-Border Insolvency so as to provide effective mechanisms for dealing with cases of cross-border insolvency with the

objectives of—

‘‘(1) cooperation between—

‘‘(A) courts of the United States, United States trustees,

trustees, examiners, debtors, and debtors in possession;

and

‘‘(B) the courts and other competent authorities of foreign countries involved in cross-border insolvency cases;

‘‘(2) greater legal certainty for trade and investment;

‘‘(3) fair and efficient administration of cross-border insolvencies that protects the interests of all creditors, and other

interested entities, including the debtor;

‘‘(4) protection and maximization of the value of the debtor’s

assets; and

‘‘(5) facilitation of the rescue of financially troubled

businesses, thereby protecting investment and preserving

employment.

‘‘(b) This chapter applies where—

‘‘(1) assistance is sought in the United States by a foreign

court or a foreign representative in connection with a foreign

proceeding;

‘‘(2) assistance is sought in a foreign country in connection

with a case under this title;

‘‘(3) a foreign proceeding and a case under this title with

respect to the same debtor are pending concurrently; or

‘‘(4) creditors or other interested persons in a foreign

country have an interest in requesting the commencement of,

or participating in, a case or proceeding under this title.

‘‘(c) This chapter does not apply to—

‘‘(1) a proceeding concerning an entity, other than a foreign

insurance company, identified by exclusion in section 109(b);

‘‘(2) an individual, or to an individual and such individual’s

spouse, who have debts within the limits specified in section

109(e) and who are citizens of the United States or aliens

lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States;

or

‘‘(3) an entity subject to a proceeding under the Securities

Investor Protection Act of 1970, a stockbroker subject to subchapter III of chapter 7 of this title, or a commodity broker

subject to subchapter IV of chapter 7 of this title.

‘‘(d) The court may not grant relief under this chapter with

respect to any deposit, escrow, trust fund, or other security required

or permitted under any applicable State insurance law or regulation

for the benefit of claim holders in the United States.

‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

‘‘§ 1502. Definitions

‘‘For the purposes of this chapter, the term—
S. 256—114

‘‘(1) ‘debtor’ means an entity that is the subject of a foreign

proceeding;

‘‘(2) ‘establishment’ means any place of operations where

the debtor carries out a nontransitory economic activity;

‘‘(3) ‘foreign court’ means a judicial or other authority competent to control or supervise a foreign proceeding;

‘‘(4) ‘foreign main proceeding’ means a foreign proceeding

pending in the country where the debtor has the center of

its main interests;

‘‘(5) ‘foreign nonmain proceeding’ means a foreign proceeding, other than a foreign main proceeding, pending in a

country where the debtor has an establishment;

‘‘(6) ‘trustee’ includes a trustee, a debtor in possession

in a case under any chapter of this title, or a debtor under

chapter 9 of this title;

‘‘(7) ‘recognition’ means the entry of an order granting

recognition of a foreign main proceeding or foreign nonmain

proceeding under this chapter; and

‘‘(8) ‘within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States’,

when used with reference to property of a debtor, refers to

tangible property located within the territory of the United

States and intangible property deemed under applicable nonbankruptcy law to be located within that territory, including

any property subject to attachment or garnishment that may

properly be seized or garnished by an action in a Federal

or State court in the United States.

‘‘§ 1503. International obligations of the United States

‘‘To the extent that this chapter conflicts with an obligation

of the United States arising out of any treaty or other form of

agreement to which it is a party with one or more other countries,

the requirements of the treaty or agreement prevail.

‘‘§ 1504. Commencement of ancillary case

‘‘A case under this chapter is commenced by the filing of a

petition for recognition of a foreign proceeding under section 1515.

‘‘§ 1505. Authorization to act in a foreign country

‘‘A trustee or another entity (including an examiner) may be

authorized by the court to act in a foreign country on behalf of

an estate created under section 541. An entity authorized to act

under this section may act in any way permitted by the applicable

foreign law.

‘‘§ 1506. Public policy exception

‘‘Nothing in this chapter prevents the court from refusing to

take an action governed by this chapter if the action would be

manifestly contrary to the public policy of the United States.

‘‘§ 1507. Additional assistance

‘‘(a) Subject to the specific limitations stated elsewhere in this

chapter the court, if recognition is granted, may provide additional

assistance to a foreign representative under this title or under

other laws of the United States.

‘‘(b) In determining whether to provide additional assistance

under this title or under other laws of the United States, the
S. 256—115

court shall consider whether such additional assistance, consistent

with the principles of comity, will reasonably assure—

‘‘(1) just treatment of all holders of claims against or

interests in the debtor’s property;

‘‘(2) protection of claim holders in the United States against

prejudice and inconvenience in the processing of claims in such

foreign proceeding;

‘‘(3) prevention of preferential or fraudulent dispositions

of property of the debtor;

‘‘(4) distribution of proceeds of the debtor’s property

substantially in accordance with the order prescribed by this

title; and

‘‘(5) if appropriate, the provision of an opportunity for a

fresh start for the individual that such foreign proceeding concerns.

‘‘§ 1508. Interpretation

‘‘In interpreting this chapter, the court shall consider its international origin, and the need to promote an application of this

chapter that is consistent with the application of similar statutes

adopted by foreign jurisdictions.

‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—ACCESS OF FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES

AND CREDITORS TO THE COURT

‘‘§ 1509. Right of direct access

‘‘(a) A foreign representative may commence a case under section 1504 by filing directly with the court a petition for recognition

of a foreign proceeding under section 1515.

‘‘(b) If the court grants recognition under section 1517, and

subject to any limitations that the court may impose consistent

with the policy of this chapter—

‘‘(1) the foreign representative has the capacity to sue and

be sued in a court in the United States;

‘‘(2) the foreign representative may apply directly to a

court in the United States for appropriate relief in that court;

and

‘‘(3) a court in the United States shall grant comity or

cooperation to the foreign representative.

‘‘(c) A request for comity or cooperation by a foreign representative in a court in the United States other than the court which

granted recognition shall be accompanied by a certified copy of

an order granting recognition under section 1517.

‘‘(d) If the court denies recognition under this chapter, the

court may issue any appropriate order necessary to prevent the

foreign representative from obtaining comity or cooperation from

courts in the United States.

‘‘(e) Whether or not the court grants recognition, and subject

to sections 306 and 1510, a foreign representative is subject to

applicable nonbankruptcy law.

‘‘(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the

failure of a foreign representative to commence a case or to obtain

recognition under this chapter does not affect any right the foreign

representative may have to sue in a court in the United States

to collect or recover a claim which is the property of the debtor.
S. 256—116

‘‘§ 1510. Limited jurisdiction

‘‘The sole fact that a foreign representative files a petition

under section 1515 does not subject the foreign representative to

the jurisdiction of any court in the United States for any other

purpose.

‘‘§ 1511. Commencement of case under section 301 or 303

‘‘(a) Upon recognition, a foreign representative may commence—

‘‘(1) an involuntary case under section 303; or

‘‘(2) a voluntary case under section 301 or 302, if the

foreign proceeding is a foreign main proceeding.

‘‘(b) The petition commencing a case under subsection (a) must

be accompanied by a certified copy of an order granting recognition.

The court where the petition for recognition has been filed must

be advised of the foreign representative’s intent to commence a

case under subsection (a) prior to such commencement.

‘‘§ 1512. Participation of a foreign representative in a case

under this title

‘‘Upon recognition of a foreign proceeding, the foreign representative in the recognized proceeding is entitled to participate as

a party in interest in a case regarding the debtor under this title.

‘‘§ 1513. Access of foreign creditors to a case under this title

‘‘(a) Foreign creditors have the same rights regarding the

commencement of, and participation in, a case under this title

as domestic creditors.

‘‘(b)(1) Subsection (a) does not change or codify present law

as to the priority of claims under section 507 or 726, except that

the claim of a foreign creditor under those sections shall not be

given a lower priority than that of general unsecured claims without

priority solely because the holder of such claim is a foreign creditor.

‘‘(2)(A) Subsection (a) and paragraph (1) do not change or codify

present law as to the allowability of foreign revenue claims or

other foreign public law claims in a proceeding under this title.

‘‘(B) Allowance and priority as to a foreign tax claim or other

foreign public law claim shall be governed by any applicable tax

treaty of the United States, under the conditions and circumstances

specified therein.

‘‘§ 1514. Notification to foreign creditors concerning a case

under this title

‘‘(a) Whenever in a case under this title notice is to be given

to creditors generally or to any class or category of creditors, such

notice shall also be given to the known creditors generally, or

to creditors in the notified class or category, that do not have

addresses in the United States. The court may order that appropriate steps be taken with a view to notifying any creditor whose

address is not yet known.

‘‘(b) Such notification to creditors with foreign addresses

described in subsection (a) shall be given individually, unless the

court considers that, under the circumstances, some other form

of notification would be more appropriate. No letter or other formality is required.

‘‘(c) When a notification of commencement of a case is to be

given to foreign creditors, such notification shall—
S. 256—117

‘‘(1) indicate the time period for filing proofs of claim and

specify the place for filing such proofs of claim;

‘‘(2) indicate whether secured creditors need to file proofs

of claim; and

‘‘(3) contain any other information required to be included

in such notification to creditors under this title and the orders

of the court.

‘‘(d) Any rule of procedure or order of the court as to notice

or the filing of a proof of claim shall provide such additional time

to creditors with foreign addresses as is reasonable under the

circumstances.

‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—RECOGNITION OF A FOREIGN

PROCEEDING AND RELIEF

‘‘§ 1515. Application for recognition

‘‘(a) A foreign representative applies to the court for recognition

of a foreign proceeding in which the foreign representative has

been appointed by filing a petition for recognition.

‘‘(b) A petition for recognition shall be accompanied by—

‘‘(1) a certified copy of the decision commencing such foreign

proceeding and appointing the foreign representative;

‘‘(2) a certificate from the foreign court affirming the existence of such foreign proceeding and of the appointment of

the foreign representative; or

‘‘(3) in the absence of evidence referred to in paragraphs

(1) and (2), any other evidence acceptable to the court of the

existence of such foreign proceeding and of the appointment

of the foreign representative.

‘‘(c) A petition for recognition shall also be accompanied by

a statement identifying all foreign proceedings with respect to the

debtor that are known to the foreign representative.

‘‘(d) The documents referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) of

subsection (b) shall be translated into English. The court may

require a translation into English of additional documents.

‘‘§ 1516. Presumptions concerning recognition

‘‘(a) If the decision or certificate referred to in section 1515(b)

indicates that the foreign proceeding is a foreign proceeding and

that the person or body is a foreign representative, the court is

entitled to so presume.

‘‘(b) The court is entitled to presume that documents submitted

in support of the petition for recognition are authentic, whether

or not they have been legalized.

‘‘(c) In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the debtor’s

registered office, or habitual residence in the case of an individual,

is presumed to be the center of the debtor’s main interests.

‘‘§ 1517. Order granting recognition

‘‘(a) Subject to section 1506, after notice and a hearing, an

order recognizing a foreign proceeding shall be entered if—

‘‘(1) such foreign proceeding for which recognition is sought

is a foreign main proceeding or foreign nonmain proceeding

within the meaning of section 1502;

‘‘(2) the foreign representative applying for recognition is

a person or body; and

‘‘(3) the petition meets the requirements of section 1515.
S. 256—118

‘‘(b) Such foreign proceeding shall be recognized—

‘‘(1) as a foreign main proceeding if it is pending in the

country where the debtor has the center of its main interests;

or

‘‘(2) as a foreign nonmain proceeding if the debtor has

an establishment within the meaning of section 1502 in the

foreign country where the proceeding is pending.

‘‘(c) A petition for recognition of a foreign proceeding shall

be decided upon at the earliest possible time. Entry of an order

recognizing a foreign proceeding constitutes recognition under this

chapter.

‘‘(d) The provisions of this subchapter do not prevent modification or termination of recognition if it is shown that the grounds

for granting it were fully or partially lacking or have ceased to

exist, but in considering such action the court shall give due weight

to possible prejudice to parties that have relied upon the order

granting recognition. A case under this chapter may be closed

in the manner prescribed under section 350.

‘‘§ 1518. Subsequent information

‘‘From the time of filing the petition for recognition of a foreign

proceeding, the foreign representative shall file with the court

promptly a notice of change of status concerning—

‘‘(1) any substantial change in the status of such foreign

proceeding or the status of the foreign representative’s appointment; and

‘‘(2) any other foreign proceeding regarding the debtor that

becomes known to the foreign representative.

‘‘§ 1519. Relief that may be granted upon filing petition for

recognition

‘‘(a) From the time of filing a petition for recognition until

the court rules on the petition, the court may, at the request

of the foreign representative, where relief is urgently needed to

protect the assets of the debtor or the interests of the creditors,

grant relief of a provisional nature, including—

‘‘(1) staying execution against the debtor’s assets;

‘‘(2) entrusting the administration or realization of all or

part of the debtor’s assets located in the United States to

the foreign representative or another person authorized by

the court, including an examiner, in order to protect and preserve the value of assets that, by their nature or because

of other circumstances, are perishable, susceptible to devaluation or otherwise in jeopardy; and

‘‘(3) any relief referred to in paragraph (3), (4), or (7)

of section 1521(a).

‘‘(b) Unless extended under section 1521(a)(6), the relief granted

under this section terminates when the petition for recognition

is granted.

‘‘(c) It is a ground for denial of relief under this section that

such relief would interfere with the administration of a foreign

main proceeding.

‘‘(d) The court may not enjoin a police or regulatory act of

a governmental unit, including a criminal action or proceeding,

under this section.

‘‘(e) The standards, procedures, and limitations applicable to

an injunction shall apply to relief under this section.
S. 256—119

‘‘(f) The exercise of rights not subject to the stay arising under

section 362(a) pursuant to paragraph (6), (7), (17), or (27) of section

362(b) or pursuant to section 362(n) shall not be stayed by any

order of a court or administrative agency in any proceeding under

this chapter.

‘‘§ 1520. Effects of recognition of a foreign main proceeding

‘‘(a) Upon recognition of a foreign proceeding that is a foreign

main proceeding—

‘‘(1) sections 361 and 362 apply with respect to the debtor

and the property of the debtor that is within the territorial

jurisdiction of the United States;

‘‘(2) sections 363, 549, and 552 apply to a transfer of an

interest of the debtor in property that is within the territorial

jurisdiction of the United States to the same extent that the

sections would apply to property of an estate;

‘‘(3) unless the court orders otherwise, the foreign representative may operate the debtor’s business and may exercise

the rights and powers of a trustee under and to the extent

provided by sections 363 and 552; and

‘‘(4) section 552 applies to property of the debtor that

is within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

‘‘(b) Subsection (a) does not affect the right to commence an

individual action or proceeding in a foreign country to the extent

necessary to preserve a claim against the debtor.

‘‘(c) Subsection (a) does not affect the right of a foreign representative or an entity to file a petition commencing a case under

this title or the right of any party to file claims or take other

proper actions in such a case.

‘‘§ 1521. Relief that may be granted upon recognition

‘‘(a) Upon recognition of a foreign proceeding, whether main

or nonmain, where necessary to effectuate the purpose of this

chapter and to protect the assets of the debtor or the interests

of the creditors, the court may, at the request of the foreign representative, grant any appropriate relief, including—

‘‘(1) staying the commencement or continuation of an individual action or proceeding concerning the debtor’s assets,

rights, obligations or liabilities to the extent they have not

been stayed under section 1520(a);

‘‘(2) staying execution against the debtor’s assets to the

extent it has not been stayed under section 1520(a);

‘‘(3) suspending the right to transfer, encumber or otherwise

dispose of any assets of the debtor to the extent this right

has not been suspended under section 1520(a);

‘‘(4) providing for the examination of witnesses, the taking

of evidence or the delivery of information concerning the

debtor’s assets, affairs, rights, obligations or liabilities;

‘‘(5) entrusting the administration or realization of all or

part of the debtor’s assets within the territorial jurisdiction

of the United States to the foreign representative or another

person, including an examiner, authorized by the court;

‘‘(6) extending relief granted under section 1519(a); and

‘‘(7) granting any additional relief that may be available

to a trustee, except for relief available under sections 522,

544, 545, 547, 548, 550, and 724(a).
S. 256—120

‘‘(b) Upon recognition of a foreign proceeding, whether main

or nonmain, the court may, at the request of the foreign representative, entrust the distribution of all or part of the debtor’s assets

located in the United States to the foreign representative or another

person, including an examiner, authorized by the court, provided

that the court is satisfied that the interests of creditors in the

United States are sufficiently protected.

‘‘(c) In granting relief under this section to a representative

of a foreign nonmain proceeding, the court must be satisfied that

the relief relates to assets that, under the law of the United States,

should be administered in the foreign nonmain proceeding or concerns information required in that proceeding.

‘‘(d) The court may not enjoin a police or regulatory act of

a governmental unit, including a criminal action or proceeding,

under this section.

‘‘(e) The standards, procedures, and limitations applicable to

an injunction shall apply to relief under paragraphs (1), (2), (3),

and (6) of subsection (a).

‘‘(f) The exercise of rights not subject to the stay arising under

section 362(a) pursuant to paragraph (6), (7), (17), or (27) of section

362(b) or pursuant to section 362(n) shall not be stayed by any

order of a court or administrative agency in any proceeding under

this chapter.

‘‘§ 1522. Protection of creditors and other interested persons

‘‘(a) The court may grant relief under section 1519 or 1521,

or may modify or terminate relief under subsection (c), only if

the interests of the creditors and other interested entities, including

the debtor, are sufficiently protected.

‘‘(b) The court may subject relief granted under section 1519

or 1521, or the operation of the debtor’s business under section

1520(a)(3), to conditions it considers appropriate, including the

giving of security or the filing of a bond.

‘‘(c) The court may, at the request of the foreign representative

or an entity affected by relief granted under section 1519 or 1521,

or at its own motion, modify or terminate such relief.

‘‘(d) Section 1104(d) shall apply to the appointment of an examiner under this chapter. Any examiner shall comply with the qualification requirements imposed on a trustee by section 322.

‘‘§ 1523. Actions to avoid acts detrimental to creditors

‘‘(a) Upon recognition of a foreign proceeding, the foreign representative has standing in a case concerning the debtor pending

under another chapter of this title to initiate actions under sections

522, 544, 545, 547, 548, 550, 553, and 724(a).

‘‘(b) When a foreign proceeding is a foreign nonmain proceeding,

the court must be satisfied that an action under subsection (a)

relates to assets that, under United States law, should be administered in the foreign nonmain proceeding.

‘‘§ 1524. Intervention by a foreign representative

‘‘Upon recognition of a foreign proceeding, the foreign representative may intervene in any proceedings in a State or Federal

court in the United States in which the debtor is a party.
S. 256—121

‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—COOPERATION WITH FOREIGN COURTS

AND FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES

‘‘§ 1525. Cooperation and direct communication between the

court and foreign courts or foreign representatives

‘‘(a) Consistent with section 1501, the court shall cooperate

to the maximum extent possible with a foreign court or a foreign

representative, either directly or through the trustee.

‘‘(b) The court is entitled to communicate directly with, or

to request information or assistance directly from, a foreign court

or a foreign representative, subject to the rights of a party in

interest to notice and participation.

‘‘§ 1526. Cooperation and direct communication between the

trustee and foreign courts or foreign representatives

‘‘(a) Consistent with section 1501, the trustee or other person,

including an examiner, authorized by the court, shall, subject to

the supervision of the court, cooperate to the maximum extent

possible with a foreign court or a foreign representative.

‘‘(b) The trustee or other person, including an examiner, authorized by the court is entitled, subject to the supervision of the

court, to communicate directly with a foreign court or a foreign

representative.

‘‘§ 1527. Forms of cooperation

‘‘Cooperation referred to in sections 1525 and 1526 may be

implemented by any appropriate means, including—

‘‘(1) appointment of a person or body, including an examiner, to act at the direction of the court;

‘‘(2) communication of information by any means considered

appropriate by the court;

‘‘(3) coordination of the administration and supervision of

the debtor’s assets and affairs;

‘‘(4) approval or implementation of agreements concerning

the coordination of proceedings; and

‘‘(5) coordination of concurrent proceedings regarding the

same debtor.

‘‘SUBCHAPTER V—CONCURRENT PROCEEDINGS

‘‘§ 1528. Commencement of a case under this title after recognition of a foreign main proceeding

‘‘After recognition of a foreign main proceeding, a case under

another chapter of this title may be commenced only if the debtor

has assets in the United States. The effects of such case shall

be restricted to the assets of the debtor that are within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States and, to the extent necessary

to implement cooperation and coordination under sections 1525,

1526, and 1527, to other assets of the debtor that are within

the jurisdiction of the court under sections 541(a) of this title,

and 1334(e) of title 28, to the extent that such other assets are

not subject to the jurisdiction and control of a foreign proceeding

that has been recognized under this chapter.
S. 256—122

‘‘§ 1529. Coordination of a case under this title and a foreign

proceeding

‘‘If a foreign proceeding and a case under another chapter

of this title are pending concurrently regarding the same debtor,

the court shall seek cooperation and coordination under sections

1525, 1526, and 1527, and the following shall apply:

‘‘(1) If the case in the United States pending at the time

the petition for recognition of such foreign proceeding is filed—

‘‘(A) any relief granted under section 1519 or 1521

must be consistent with the relief granted in the case

in the United States; and

‘‘(B) section 1520 does not apply even if such foreign

proceeding is recognized as a foreign main proceeding.

‘‘(2) If a case in the United States under this title commences after recognition, or after the date of the filing of

the petition for recognition, of such foreign proceeding—

‘‘(A) any relief in effect under section 1519 or 1521

shall be reviewed by the court and shall be modified or

terminated if inconsistent with the case in the United

States; and

‘‘(B) if such foreign proceeding is a foreign main proceeding, the stay and suspension referred to in section

1520(a) shall be modified or terminated if inconsistent with

the relief granted in the case in the United States.

‘‘(3) In granting, extending, or modifying relief granted

to a representative of a foreign nonmain proceeding, the court

must be satisfied that the relief relates to assets that, under

the laws of the United States, should be administered in the

foreign nonmain proceeding or concerns information required

in that proceeding.

‘‘(4) In achieving cooperation and coordination under sections 1528 and 1529, the court may grant any of the relief

authorized under section 305.

‘‘§ 1530. Coordination of more than 1 foreign proceeding

‘‘In matters referred to in section 1501, with respect to more

than 1 foreign proceeding regarding the debtor, the court shall

seek cooperation and coordination under sections 1525, 1526, and

1527, and the following shall apply:

‘‘(1) Any relief granted under section 1519 or 1521 to a

representative of a foreign nonmain proceeding after recognition

of a foreign main proceeding must be consistent with the foreign

main proceeding.

‘‘(2) If a foreign main proceeding is recognized after recognition, or after the filing of a petition for recognition, of a foreign

nonmain proceeding, any relief in effect under section 1519

or 1521 shall be reviewed by the court and shall be modified

or terminated if inconsistent with the foreign main proceeding.

‘‘(3) If, after recognition of a foreign nonmain proceeding,

another foreign nonmain proceeding is recognized, the court

shall grant, modify, or terminate relief for the purpose of facilitating coordination of the proceedings.

‘‘§ 1531. Presumption of insolvency based on recognition of

a foreign main proceeding

‘‘In the absence of evidence to the contrary, recognition of

a foreign main proceeding is, for the purpose of commencing a
S. 256—123

proceeding under section 303, proof that the debtor is generally

not paying its debts as such debts become due.

‘‘§ 1532. Rule of payment in concurrent proceedings

‘‘Without prejudice to secured claims or rights in rem, a creditor

who has received payment with respect to its claim in a foreign

proceeding pursuant to a law relating to insolvency may not receive

a payment for the same claim in a case under any other chapter

of this title regarding the debtor, so long as the payment to other

creditors of the same class is proportionately less than the payment

the creditor has already received.’’.

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of chapters for title 11,

United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating

to chapter 13 the following:

‘‘15. Ancillary and Other Cross-Border Cases ............................................. 1501’’.

SEC. 802. OTHER AMENDMENTS TO TITLES 11 AND 28, UNITED STATES

CODE.

(a) APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTERS.—Section 103 of title 11, United

States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), by inserting before the period the

following: ‘‘, and this chapter, sections 307, 362(n), 555 through

557, and 559 through 562 apply in a case under chapter 15’’;

and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(k) Chapter 15 applies only in a case under such chapter,

except that—

‘‘(1) sections 1505, 1513, and 1514 apply in all cases under

this title; and

‘‘(2) section 1509 applies whether or not a case under

this title is pending.’’.

(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 101 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended by striking paragraphs (23) and (24) and inserting

the following:

‘‘(23) ‘foreign proceeding’ means a collective judicial or

administrative proceeding in a foreign country, including an

interim proceeding, under a law relating to insolvency or adjustment of debt in which proceeding the assets and affairs of

the debtor are subject to control or supervision by a foreign

court, for the purpose of reorganization or liquidation;

‘‘(24) ‘foreign representative’ means a person or body,

including a person or body appointed on an interim basis,

authorized in a foreign proceeding to administer the reorganization or the liquidation of the debtor’s assets or affairs or to

act as a representative of such foreign proceeding;’’.

(c) AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 28, UNITED STATES CODE.—

(1) PROCEDURES.—Section 157(b)(2) of title 28, United

States Code, is amended—

(A) in subparagraph (N), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(B) in subparagraph (O), by striking the period at

the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(P) recognition of foreign proceedings and other matters under chapter 15 of title 11.’’.

(2) BANKRUPTCY CASES AND PROCEEDINGS.—Section 1334(c)

of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Nothing
S. 256—124

in’’ and inserting ‘‘Except with respect to a case under chapter

15 of title 11, nothing in’’.

(3) DUTIES OF TRUSTEES.—Section 586(a)(3) of title 28,

United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘or 13’’ and

inserting ‘‘13, or 15’’.

(4) VENUE OF CASES ANCILLARY TO FOREIGN PROCEEDINGS.—

Section 1410 of title 28, United States Code, is amended to

read as follows:

‘‘§ 1410. Venue of cases ancillary to foreign proceedings

‘‘A case under chapter 15 of title 11 may be commenced in

the district court of the United States for the district—

‘‘(1) in which the debtor has its principal place of business

or principal assets in the United States;

‘‘(2) if the debtor does not have a place of business or

assets in the United States, in which there is pending against

the debtor an action or proceeding in a Federal or State court;

or

‘‘(3) in a case other than those specified in paragraph

(1) or (2), in which venue will be consistent with the interests

of justice and the convenience of the parties, having regard

to the relief sought by the foreign representative.’’.

(d) OTHER SECTIONS OF TITLE 11.—Title 11 of the United States

Code is amended—

(1) in section 109(b), by striking paragraph (3) and inserting

the following:

‘‘(3)(A) a foreign insurance company, engaged in such business in the United States; or

‘‘(B) a foreign bank, savings bank, cooperative bank, savings

and loan association, building and loan association, or credit

union, that has a branch or agency (as defined in section

1(b) of the International Banking Act of 1978 in the United

States.’’;

(2) in section 303, by striking subsection (k);

(3) by striking section 304;

(4) in the table of sections for chapter 3 by striking the

item relating to section 304;

(5) in section 306 by striking ‘‘, 304,’’ each place it appears;

(6) in section 305(a) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting

the following:

‘‘(2)(A) a petition under section 1515 for recognition of

a foreign proceeding has been granted; and

‘‘(B) the purposes of chapter 15 of this title would be

best served by such dismissal or suspension.’’; and

(7) in section 508—

(A) by striking subsection (a); and

(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘(b)’’.

TITLE IX—FINANCIAL CONTRACT

PROVISIONS

SEC. 901. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN AGREEMENTS BY CONSERVATORS

OR RECEIVERS OF INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS.

(a) DEFINITION OF QUALIFIED FINANCIAL CONTRACT.—
S. 256—125

(1) FDIC-INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS.—Section

11(e)(8)(D) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1821(e)(8)(D)) is amended—

(A) by striking ‘‘subsection—’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection, the following definitions shall apply:’’; and

(B) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘, resolution, or order’’

after ‘‘any similar agreement that the Corporation determines by regulation’’.

(2) INSURED CREDIT UNIONS.—Section 207(c)(8)(D) of the

Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(8)(D)) is

amended—

(A) by striking ‘‘subsection—’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection, the following definitions shall apply:’’; and

(B) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘, resolution, or order’’

after ‘‘any similar agreement that the Board determines

by regulation’’.

(b) DEFINITION OF SECURITIES CONTRACT.—

(1) FDIC-INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS.—Section

11(e)(8)(D)(ii) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1821(e)(8)(D)(ii)) is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(ii) SECURITIES CONTRACT.—The term ‘securities

contract’—

‘‘(I) means a contract for the purchase, sale,

or loan of a security, a certificate of deposit, a

mortgage loan, or any interest in a mortgage loan,

a group or index of securities, certificates of

deposit, or mortgage loans or interests therein

(including any interest therein or based on the

value thereof) or any option on any of the foregoing, including any option to purchase or sell

any such security, certificate of deposit, mortgage

loan, interest, group or index, or option, and

including any repurchase or reverse repurchase

transaction on any such security, certificate of

deposit, mortgage loan, interest, group or index,

or option;

‘‘(II) does not include any purchase, sale, or

repurchase obligation under a participation in a

commercial mortgage loan unless the Corporation

determines by regulation, resolution, or order to

include any such agreement within the meaning

of such term;

‘‘(III) means any option entered into on a

national securities exchange relating to foreign

currencies;

‘‘(IV) means the guarantee by or to any securities clearing agency of any settlement of cash,

securities, certificates of deposit, mortgage loans

or interests therein, group or index of securities,

certificates of deposit, or mortgage loans or

interests therein (including any interest therein

or based on the value thereof) or option on any

of the foregoing, including any option to purchase

or sell any such security, certificate of deposit,

mortgage loan, interest, group or index, or option;

‘‘(V) means any margin loan;
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‘‘(VI) means any other agreement or transaction that is similar to any agreement or transaction referred to in this clause;

‘‘(VII) means any combination of the agreements or transactions referred to in this clause;

‘‘(VIII) means any option to enter into any

agreement or transaction referred to in this clause;

‘‘(IX) means a master agreement that provides

for an agreement or transaction referred to in subclause (I), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), or (VIII),

together with all supplements to any such master

agreement, without regard to whether the master

agreement provides for an agreement or transaction that is not a securities contract under this

clause, except that the master agreement shall

be considered to be a securities contract under

this clause only with respect to each agreement

or transaction under the master agreement that

is referred to in subclause (I), (III), (IV), (V), (VI),

(VII), or (VIII); and

‘‘(X) means any security agreement or arrangement or other credit enhancement related to any

agreement or transaction referred to in this clause,

including any guarantee or reimbursement obligation in connection with any agreement or transaction referred to in this clause.’’.

(2) INSURED CREDIT UNIONS.—Section 207(c)(8)(D)(ii) of the

Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(8)(D)(ii)) is

amended to read as follows:

‘‘(ii) SECURITIES CONTRACT.—The term ‘securities

contract’—

‘‘(I) means a contract for the purchase, sale,

or loan of a security, a certificate of deposit, a

mortgage loan, or any interest in a mortgage loan,

a group or index of securities, certificates of

deposit, or mortgage loans or interests therein

(including any interest therein or based on the

value thereof) or any option on any of the foregoing, including any option to purchase or sell

any such security, certificate of deposit, mortgage

loan, interest, group or index, or option, and

including any repurchase or reverse repurchase

transaction on any such security, certificate of

deposit, mortgage loan, interest, group or index,

or option;

‘‘(II) does not include any purchase, sale, or

repurchase obligation under a participation in a

commercial mortgage loan unless the Board determines by regulation, resolution, or order to include

any such agreement within the meaning of such

term;

‘‘(III) means any option entered into on a

national securities exchange relating to foreign

currencies;

‘‘(IV) means the guarantee by or to any securities clearing agency of any settlement of cash,

securities, certificates of deposit, mortgage loans
S. 256—127

or interests therein, group or index of securities,

certificates of deposit, or mortgage loans or

interests therein (including any interest therein

or based on the value thereof) or option on any

of the foregoing, including any option to purchase

or sell any such security, certificate of deposit,

mortgage loan, interest, group or index, or option;

‘‘(V) means any margin loan;

‘‘(VI) means any other agreement or transaction that is similar to any agreement or transaction referred to in this clause;

‘‘(VII) means any combination of the agreements or transactions referred to in this clause;

‘‘(VIII) means any option to enter into any

agreement or transaction referred to in this clause;

‘‘(IX) means a master agreement that provides

for an agreement or transaction referred to in subclause (I), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), or (VIII),

together with all supplements to any such master

agreement, without regard to whether the master

agreement provides for an agreement or transaction that is not a securities contract under this

clause, except that the master agreement shall

be considered to be a securities contract under

this clause only with respect to each agreement

or transaction under the master agreement that

is referred to in subclause (I), (III), (IV), (V), (VI),

(VII), or (VIII); and

‘‘(X) means any security agreement or arrangement or other credit enhancement related to any

agreement or transaction referred to in this clause,

including any guarantee or reimbursement obligation in connection with any agreement or transaction referred to in this clause.’’.

(c) DEFINITION OF COMMODITY CONTRACT.—

(1) FDIC-INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS.—Section

11(e)(8)(D)(iii) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1821(e)(8)(D)(iii)) is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(iii) COMMODITY CONTRACT.—The term ‘commodity contract’ means—

‘‘(I) with respect to a futures commission merchant, a contract for the purchase or sale of a

commodity for future delivery on, or subject to

the rules of, a contract market or board of trade;

‘‘(II) with respect to a foreign futures commission merchant, a foreign future;

‘‘(III) with respect to a leverage transaction

merchant, a leverage transaction;

‘‘(IV) with respect to a clearing organization,

a contract for the purchase or sale of a commodity

for future delivery on, or subject to the rules of,

a contract market or board of trade that is cleared

by such clearing organization, or commodity option

traded on, or subject to the rules of, a contract

market or board of trade that is cleared by such

clearing organization;
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‘‘(V) with respect to a commodity options

dealer, a commodity option;

‘‘(VI) any other agreement or transaction that

is similar to any agreement or transaction referred

to in this clause;

‘‘(VII) any combination of the agreements or

transactions referred to in this clause;

‘‘(VIII) any option to enter into any agreement

or transaction referred to in this clause;

‘‘(IX) a master agreement that provides for

an agreement or transaction referred to in subclause (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), or (VIII),

together with all supplements to any such master

agreement, without regard to whether the master

agreement provides for an agreement or transaction that is not a commodity contract under this

clause, except that the master agreement shall

be considered to be a commodity contract under

this clause only with respect to each agreement

or transaction under the master agreement that

is referred to in subclause (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V),

(VI), (VII), or (VIII); or

‘‘(X) any security agreement or arrangement

or other credit enhancement related to any agreement or transaction referred to in this clause,

including any guarantee or reimbursement obligation in connection with any agreement or transaction referred to in this clause.’’.

(2) INSURED CREDIT UNIONS.—Section 207(c)(8)(D)(iii) of the

Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(8)(D)(iii)) is

amended to read as follows:

‘‘(iii) COMMODITY CONTRACT.—The term ‘commodity contract’ means—

‘‘(I) with respect to a futures commission merchant, a contract for the purchase or sale of a

commodity for future delivery on, or subject to

the rules of, a contract market or board of trade;

‘‘(II) with respect to a foreign futures commission merchant, a foreign future;

‘‘(III) with respect to a leverage transaction

merchant, a leverage transaction;

‘‘(IV) with respect to a clearing organization,

a contract for the purchase or sale of a commodity

for future delivery on, or subject to the rules of,

a contract market or board of trade that is cleared

by such clearing organization, or commodity option

traded on, or subject to the rules of, a contract

market or board of trade that is cleared by such

clearing organization;

‘‘(V) with respect to a commodity options

dealer, a commodity option;

‘‘(VI) any other agreement or transaction that

is similar to any agreement or transaction referred

to in this clause;

‘‘(VII) any combination of the agreements or

transactions referred to in this clause;
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‘‘(VIII) any option to enter into any agreement

or transaction referred to in this clause;

‘‘(IX) a master agreement that provides for

an agreement or transaction referred to in subclause (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), or (VIII),

together with all supplements to any such master

agreement, without regard to whether the master

agreement provides for an agreement or transaction that is not a commodity contract under this

clause, except that the master agreement shall

be considered to be a commodity contract under

this clause only with respect to each agreement

or transaction under the master agreement that

is referred to in subclause (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V),

(VI), (VII), or (VIII); or

‘‘(X) any security agreement or arrangement

or other credit enhancement related to any agreement or transaction referred to in this clause,

including any guarantee or reimbursement obligation in connection with any agreement or transaction referred to in this clause.’’.

(d) DEFINITION OF FORWARD CONTRACT.—

(1) FDIC-INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS.—Section

11(e)(8)(D)(iv) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1821(e)(8)(D)(iv)) is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(iv) FORWARD CONTRACT.—The term ‘forward contract’ means—

‘‘(I) a contract (other than a commodity contract) for the purchase, sale, or transfer of a commodity or any similar good, article, service, right,

or interest which is presently or in the future

becomes the subject of dealing in the forward contract trade, or product or byproduct thereof, with

a maturity date more than 2 days after the date

the contract is entered into, including, a

repurchase transaction, reverse repurchase transaction, consignment, lease, swap, hedge transaction, deposit, loan, option, allocated transaction,

unallocated transaction, or any other similar

agreement;

‘‘(II) any combination of agreements or transactions referred to in subclauses (I) and (III);

‘‘(III) any option to enter into any agreement

or transaction referred to in subclause (I) or (II);

‘‘(IV) a master agreement that provides for

an agreement or transaction referred to in subclauses (I), (II), or (III), together with all supplements to any such master agreement, without

regard to whether the master agreement provides

for an agreement or transaction that is not a forward contract under this clause, except that the

master agreement shall be considered to be a forward contract under this clause only with respect

to each agreement or transaction under the master

agreement that is referred to in subclause (I), (II),

or (III); or
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‘‘(V) any security agreement or arrangement

or other credit enhancement related to any agreement or transaction referred to in subclause (I),

(II), (III), or (IV), including any guarantee or

reimbursement obligation in connection with any

agreement or transaction referred to in any such

subclause.’’.

(2) INSURED CREDIT UNIONS.—Section 207(c)(8)(D)(iv) of the

Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(8)(D)(iv)) is

amended to read as follows:

‘‘(iv) FORWARD CONTRACT.—The term ‘forward contract’ means—

‘‘(I) a contract (other than a commodity contract) for the purchase, sale, or transfer of a commodity or any similar good, article, service, right,

or interest which is presently or in the future

becomes the subject of dealing in the forward contract trade, or product or byproduct thereof, with

a maturity date more than 2 days after the date

the contract is entered into, including, a

repurchase transaction, reverse repurchase transaction, consignment, lease, swap, hedge transaction, deposit, loan, option, allocated transaction,

unallocated transaction, or any other similar

agreement;

‘‘(II) any combination of agreements or transactions referred to in subclauses (I) and (III);

‘‘(III) any option to enter into any agreement

or transaction referred to in subclause (I) or (II);

‘‘(IV) a master agreement that provides for

an agreement or transaction referred to in subclauses (I), (II), or (III), together with all supplements to any such master agreement, without

regard to whether the master agreement provides

for an agreement or transaction that is not a forward contract under this clause, except that the

master agreement shall be considered to be a forward contract under this clause only with respect

to each agreement or transaction under the master

agreement that is referred to in subclause (I), (II),

or (III); or

‘‘(V) any security agreement or arrangement

or other credit enhancement related to any agreement or transaction referred to in subclause (I),

(II), (III), or (IV), including any guarantee or

reimbursement obligation in connection with any

agreement or transaction referred to in any such

subclause.’’.

(e) DEFINITION OF REPURCHASE AGREEMENT.—

(1) FDIC-INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS.—Section

11(e)(8)(D)(v) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1821(e)(8)(D)(v)) is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(v) REPURCHASE AGREEMENT.—The term

‘repurchase agreement’ (which definition also applies

to a reverse repurchase agreement)—

‘‘(I) means an agreement, including related

terms, which provides for the transfer of one or
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more certificates of deposit, mortgage-related securities (as such term is defined in the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934), mortgage loans, interests

in mortgage-related securities or mortgage loans,

eligible bankers’ acceptances, qualified foreign

government securities or securities that are direct

obligations of, or that are fully guaranteed by,

the United States or any agency of the United

States against the transfer of funds by the transferee of such certificates of deposit, eligible

bankers’ acceptances, securities, mortgage loans,

or interests with a simultaneous agreement by

such transferee to transfer to the transferor thereof

certificates of deposit, eligible bankers’ acceptances, securities, mortgage loans, or interests as

described above, at a date certain not later than

1 year after such transfers or on demand, against

the transfer of funds, or any other similar agreement;

‘‘(II) does not include any repurchase obligation under a participation in a commercial mortgage loan unless the Corporation determines by

regulation, resolution, or order to include any such

participation within the meaning of such term;

‘‘(III) means any combination of agreements

or transactions referred to in subclauses (I) and

(IV);

‘‘(IV) means any option to enter into any agreement or transaction referred to in subclause (I)

or (III);

‘‘(V) means a master agreement that provides

for an agreement or transaction referred to in subclause (I), (III), or (IV), together with all supplements to any such master agreement, without

regard to whether the master agreement provides

for an agreement or transaction that is not a

repurchase agreement under this clause, except

that the master agreement shall be considered

to be a repurchase agreement under this subclause

only with respect to each agreement or transaction

under the master agreement that is referred to

in subclause (I), (III), or (IV); and

‘‘(VI) means any security agreement or

arrangement or other credit enhancement related

to any agreement or transaction referred to in

subclause (I), (III), (IV), or (V), including any guarantee or reimbursement obligation in connection

with any agreement or transaction referred to in

any such subclause.

For purposes of this clause, the term ‘qualified foreign

government security’ means a security that is a direct

obligation of, or that is fully guaranteed by, the central

government of a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (as determined

by regulation or order adopted by the appropriate Federal banking authority).’’.
S. 256—132

(2) INSURED CREDIT UNIONS.—Section 207(c)(8)(D)(v) of the

Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(8)(D)(v)) is

amended to read as follows:

‘‘(v) REPURCHASE AGREEMENT.—The term

‘repurchase agreement’ (which definition also applies

to a reverse repurchase agreement)—

‘‘(I) means an agreement, including related

terms, which provides for the transfer of one or

more certificates of deposit, mortgage-related securities (as such term is defined in the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934), mortgage loans, interests

in mortgage-related securities or mortgage loans,

eligible bankers’ acceptances, qualified foreign

government securities or securities that are direct

obligations of, or that are fully guaranteed by,

the United States or any agency of the United

States against the transfer of funds by the transferee of such certificates of deposit, eligible

bankers’ acceptances, securities, mortgage loans,

or interests with a simultaneous agreement by

such transferee to transfer to the transferor thereof

certificates of deposit, eligible bankers’ acceptances, securities, mortgage loans, or interests as

described above, at a date certain not later than

1 year after such transfers or on demand, against

the transfer of funds, or any other similar agreement;

‘‘(II) does not include any repurchase obligation under a participation in a commercial mortgage loan unless the Board determines by regulation, resolution, or order to include any such

participation within the meaning of such term;

‘‘(III) means any combination of agreements

or transactions referred to in subclauses (I) and

(IV);

‘‘(IV) means any option to enter into any agreement or transaction referred to in subclause (I)

or (III);

‘‘(V) means a master agreement that provides

for an agreement or transaction referred to in subclause (I), (III), or (IV), together with all supplements to any such master agreement, without

regard to whether the master agreement provides

for an agreement or transaction that is not a

repurchase agreement under this clause, except

that the master agreement shall be considered

to be a repurchase agreement under this subclause

only with respect to each agreement or transaction

under the master agreement that is referred to

in subclause (I), (III), or (IV); and

‘‘(VI) means any security agreement or

arrangement or other credit enhancement related

to any agreement or transaction referred to in

subclause (I), (III), (IV), or (V), including any guarantee or reimbursement obligation in connection

with any agreement or transaction referred to in

any such subclause.
S. 256—133

For purposes of this clause, the term ‘qualified foreign

government security’ means a security that is a direct

obligation of, or that is fully guaranteed by, the central

government of a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (as determined

by regulation or order adopted by the appropriate Federal banking authority).’’.

(f) DEFINITION OF SWAP AGREEMENT.—

(1) FDIC-INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS.—Section

11(e)(8)(D)(vi) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1821(e)(8)(D)(vi)) is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(vi) SWAP AGREEMENT.—The term ‘swap agreement’ means—

‘‘(I) any agreement, including the terms and

conditions incorporated by reference in any such

agreement, which is an interest rate swap, option,

future, or forward agreement, including a rate

floor, rate cap, rate collar, cross-currency rate

swap, and basis swap; a spot, same day-tomorrow,

tomorrow-next, forward, or other foreign exchange

or precious metals agreement; a currency swap,

option, future, or forward agreement; an equity

index or equity swap, option, future, or forward

agreement; a debt index or debt swap, option,

future, or forward agreement; a total return, credit

spread or credit swap, option, future, or forward

agreement; a commodity index or commodity swap,

option, future, or forward agreement; or a weather

swap, weather derivative, or weather option;

‘‘(II) any agreement or transaction that is

similar to any other agreement or transaction

referred to in this clause and that is of a type

that has been, is presently, or in the future

becomes, the subject of recurrent dealings in the

swap markets (including terms and conditions

incorporated by reference in such agreement) and

that is a forward, swap, future, or option on one

or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity

securities or other equity instruments, debt securities or other debt instruments, quantitative measures associated with an occurrence, extent of an

occurrence, or contingency associated with a financial, commercial, or economic consequence, or economic or financial indices or measures of economic

or financial risk or value;

‘‘(III) any combination of agreements or transactions referred to in this clause;

‘‘(IV) any option to enter into any agreement

or transaction referred to in this clause;

‘‘(V) a master agreement that provides for an

agreement or transaction referred to in subclause

(I), (II), (III), or (IV), together with all supplements

to any such master agreement, without regard to

whether the master agreement contains an agreement or transaction that is not a swap agreement

under this clause, except that the master agreement shall be considered to be a swap agreement
S. 256—134

under this clause only with respect to each agreement or transaction under the master agreement

that is referred to in subclause (I), (II), (III), or

(IV); and

‘‘(VI) any security agreement or arrangement

or other credit enhancement related to any agreements or transactions referred to in subclause (I),

(II), (III), (IV), or (V), including any guarantee

or reimbursement obligation in connection with

any agreement or transaction referred to in any

such subclause.

Such term is applicable for purposes of this subsection

only and shall not be construed or applied so as to

challenge or affect the characterization, definition, or

treatment of any swap agreement under any other

statute, regulation, or rule, including the Securities

Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the

Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Trust

Indenture Act of 1939, the Investment Company Act

of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the

Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970, the Commodity Exchange Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act,

and the Legal Certainty for Bank Products Act of

2000.’’.

(2) INSURED CREDIT UNIONS.—Section 207(c)(8)(D) of the

Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(8)(D)) is amended

by adding at the end the following new clause:

‘‘(vi) SWAP AGREEMENT.—The term ‘swap agreement’ means—

‘‘(I) any agreement, including the terms and

conditions incorporated by reference in any such

agreement, which is an interest rate swap, option,

future, or forward agreement, including a rate

floor, rate cap, rate collar, cross-currency rate

swap, and basis swap; a spot, same day-tomorrow,

tomorrow-next, forward, or other foreign exchange

or precious metals agreement; a currency swap,

option, future, or forward agreement; an equity

index or equity swap, option, future, or forward

agreement; a debt index or debt swap, option,

future, or forward agreement; a total return, credit

spread or credit swap, option, future, or forward

agreement; a commodity index or commodity swap,

option, future, or forward agreement; or a weather

swap, weather derivative, or weather option;

‘‘(II) any agreement or transaction that is

similar to any other agreement or transaction

referred to in this clause and that is of a type

that has been, is presently, or in the future

becomes, the subject of recurrent dealings in the

swap markets (including terms and conditions

incorporated by reference in such agreement) and

that is a forward, swap, future, or option on one

or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity

securities or other equity instruments, debt securities or other debt instruments, quantitative measures associated with an occurrence, extent of an
S. 256—135

occurrence, or contingency associated with a financial, commercial, or economic consequence, or economic or financial indices or measures of economic

or financial risk or value;

‘‘(III) any combination of agreements or transactions referred to in this clause;

‘‘(IV) any option to enter into any agreement

or transaction referred to in this clause;

‘‘(V) a master agreement that provides for an

agreement or transaction referred to in subclause

(I), (II), (III), or (IV), together with all supplements

to any such master agreement, without regard to

whether the master agreement contains an agreement or transaction that is not a swap agreement

under this clause, except that the master agreement shall be considered to be a swap agreement

under this clause only with respect to each agreement or transaction under the master agreement

that is referred to in subclause (I), (II), (III), or

(IV); and

‘‘(VI) any security agreement or arrangement

or other credit enhancement related to any agreements or transactions referred to in subclause (I),

(II), (III), (IV), or (V), including any guarantee

or reimbursement obligation in connection with

any agreement or transaction referred to in any

such subclause.

Such term is applicable for purposes of this subsection

only and shall not be construed or applied so as to

challenge or affect the characterization, definition, or

treatment of any swap agreement under any other

statute, regulation, or rule, including the Securities

Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the

Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Trust

Indenture Act of 1939, the Investment Company Act

of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the

Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970, the Commodity Exchange Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act,

and the Legal Certainty for Bank Products Act of

2000.’’.

(g) DEFINITION OF TRANSFER.—

(1) FDIC-INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS.—Section

11(e)(8)(D)(viii) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1821(e)(8)(D)(viii)) is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(viii) TRANSFER.—The term ‘transfer’ means every

mode, direct or indirect, absolute or conditional, voluntary or involuntary, of disposing of or parting with

property or with an interest in property, including

retention of title as a security interest and foreclosure

of the depository institution’s equity of redemption.’’.

(2) INSURED CREDIT UNIONS.—Section 207(c)(8)(D) of the

Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(8)(D)) (as amended

by subsection (f) of this section) is amended by adding at

the end the following new clause:

‘‘(viii) TRANSFER.—The term ‘transfer’ means every

mode, direct or indirect, absolute or conditional, voluntary or involuntary, of disposing of or parting with
S. 256—136

property or with an interest in property, including

retention of title as a security interest and foreclosure

of the depository institution’s equity of redemption.’’.

(h) TREATMENT OF QUALIFIED FINANCIAL CONTRACTS.—

(1) FDIC-INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS.—Section

11(e)(8) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1821(e)(8)) is amended—

(A) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) by striking ‘‘paragraph (10)’’ and inserting

‘‘paragraphs (9) and (10)’’;

(ii) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘to cause the termination or liquidation’’ and inserting ‘‘such person has

to cause the termination, liquidation, or acceleration’’;

and

(iii) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following new clause:

‘‘(ii) any right under any security agreement or

arrangement or other credit enhancement related to

one or more qualified financial contracts described in

clause (i);’’; and

(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking clause (ii) and

inserting the following:

‘‘(ii) any right under any security agreement or

arrangement or other credit enhancement related to

one or more qualified financial contracts described in

clause (i);’’.

(2) INSURED CREDIT UNIONS.—Section 207(c)(8) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(8)) is amended—

(A) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) by striking ‘‘paragraph (12)’’ and inserting

‘‘paragraphs (9) and (10)’’;

(ii) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘to cause the termination or liquidation’’ and inserting ‘‘such person has

to cause the termination, liquidation, or acceleration’’;

and

(iii) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following new clause:

‘‘(ii) any right under any security agreement or

arrangement or other credit enhancement related to

1 or more qualified financial contracts described in

clause (i);’’; and

(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking clause (ii) and

inserting the following new clause:

‘‘(ii) any right under any security agreement or

arrangement or other credit enhancement related to

1 or more qualified financial contracts described in

clause (i);’’.

(i) AVOIDANCE OF TRANSFERS.— (1) FDIC-INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS.—Section

11(e)(8)(C)(i) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1821(e)(8)(C)(i)) is amended by inserting ‘‘section 5242 of the

Revised Statutes of the United States or any other Federal

or State law relating to the avoidance of preferential or fraudulent transfers,’’ before ‘‘the Corporation’’.

(2) INSURED CREDIT UNIONS.—Section 207(c)(8)(C)(i) of the

Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(8)(C)(i)) is amended

by inserting ‘‘section 5242 of the Revised Statutes of the United
S. 256—137

States or any other Federal or State law relating to the avoidance of preferential or fraudulent transfers,’’ before ‘‘the Board’’.

SEC. 902. AUTHORITY OF THE FDIC AND NCUAB WITH RESPECT TO

FAILED AND FAILING INSTITUTIONS.

(a) FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 11(e)(8) of the Federal Deposit

Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1821(e)(8)) is amended—

(A) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘other than paragraph (12) of this subsection, subsection (d)(9)’’ and

inserting ‘‘other than subsections (d)(9) and (e)(10)’’; and

(B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

‘‘(F) CLARIFICATION.—No provision of law shall be construed as limiting the right or power of the Corporation,

or authorizing any court or agency to limit or delay, in

any manner, the right or power of the Corporation to

transfer any qualified financial contract in accordance with

paragraphs (9) and (10) of this subsection or to disaffirm

or repudiate any such contract in accordance with subsection (e)(1) of this section.

‘‘(G) WALKAWAY CLAUSES NOT EFFECTIVE.—

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding the provisions

of subparagraphs (A) and (E), and sections 403 and

404 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Improvement Act of 1991, no walkaway clause shall

be enforceable in a qualified financial contract of an

insured depository institution in default.

‘‘(ii) WALKAWAY CLAUSE DEFINED.—For purposes

of this subparagraph, the term ‘walkaway clause’

means a provision in a qualified financial contract

that, after calculation of a value of a party’s position

or an amount due to or from 1 of the parties in accordance with its terms upon termination, liquidation, or

acceleration of the qualified financial contract, either

does not create a payment obligation of a party or

extinguishes a payment obligation of a party in whole

or in part solely because of such party’s status as

a nondefaulting party.’’.

(2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section

11(e)(12)(A) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1821(e)(12)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘‘or the exercise of

rights or powers by’’ after ‘‘the appointment of’’.

(b) NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION BOARD.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 207(c)(8) of the Federal Credit

Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(8)) is amended—

(A) in subparagraph (E) (as amended by section

901(h)), by striking ‘‘other than paragraph (12) of this

subsection, subsection (b)(9)’’ and inserting ‘‘other than subsections (b)(9) and (c)(10)’’; and

(B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

‘‘(F) CLARIFICATION.—No provision of law shall be construed as limiting the right or power of the Board, or

authorizing any court or agency to limit or delay, in any

manner, the right or power of the Board to transfer any

qualified financial contract in accordance with paragraphs
S. 256—138

(9) and (10) of this subsection or to disaffirm or repudiate

any such contract in accordance with subsection (c)(1) of

this section.

‘‘(G) WALKAWAY CLAUSES NOT EFFECTIVE.—

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding the provisions

of subparagraphs (A) and (E), and sections 403 and

404 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Improvement Act of 1991, no walkaway clause shall

be enforceable in a qualified financial contract of an

insured credit union in default.

‘‘(ii) WALKAWAY CLAUSE DEFINED.—For purposes

of this subparagraph, the term ‘walkaway clause’

means a provision in a qualified financial contract

that, after calculation of a value of a party’s position

or an amount due to or from 1 of the parties in accordance with its terms upon termination, liquidation, or

acceleration of the qualified financial contract, either

does not create a payment obligation of a party or

extinguishes a payment obligation of a party in whole

or in part solely because of such party’s status as

a nondefaulting party.’’.

(2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section

207(c)(12)(A) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C.

1787(c)(12)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘‘or the exercise of rights

or powers by’’ after ‘‘the appointment of’’.

SEC. 903. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO TRANSFERS OF QUALIFIED

FINANCIAL CONTRACTS.

(a) FDIC-INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS.—

(1) TRANSFERS OF QUALIFIED FINANCIAL CONTRACTS TO

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.—Section 11(e)(9) of the Federal

Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1821(e)(9)) is amended to

read as follows:

‘‘(9) TRANSFER OF QUALIFIED FINANCIAL CONTRACTS.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In making any transfer of assets

or liabilities of a depository institution in default which

includes any qualified financial contract, the conservator

or receiver for such depository institution shall either—

‘‘(i) transfer to one financial institution, other than

a financial institution for which a conservator, receiver,

trustee in bankruptcy, or other legal custodian has

been appointed or which is otherwise the subject of

a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding—

‘‘(I) all qualified financial contracts between

any person or any affiliate of such person and

the depository institution in default;

‘‘(II) all claims of such person or any affiliate

of such person against such depository institution

under any such contract (other than any claim

which, under the terms of any such contract, is

subordinated to the claims of general unsecured

creditors of such institution);

‘‘(III) all claims of such depository institution

against such person or any affiliate of such person

under any such contract; and
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‘‘(IV) all property securing or any other credit

enhancement for any contract described in subclause (I) or any claim described in subclause (II)

or (III) under any such contract; or

‘‘(ii) transfer none of the qualified financial contracts, claims, property or other credit enhancement

referred to in clause (i) (with respect to such person

and any affiliate of such person).

‘‘(B) TRANSFER TO FOREIGN BANK, FOREIGN FINANCIAL

INSTITUTION, OR BRANCH OR AGENCY OF A FOREIGN BANK

OR FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.—In transferring any qualified

financial contracts and related claims and property under

subparagraph (A)(i), the conservator or receiver for the

depository institution shall not make such transfer to a

foreign bank, financial institution organized under the laws

of a foreign country, or a branch or agency of a foreign

bank or financial institution unless, under the law

applicable to such bank, financial institution, branch or

agency, to the qualified financial contracts, and to any

netting contract, any security agreement or arrangement

or other credit enhancement related to one or more qualified financial contracts, the contractual rights of the parties

to such qualified financial contracts, netting contracts,

security agreements or arrangements, or other credit

enhancements are enforceable substantially to the same

extent as permitted under this section.

‘‘(C) TRANSFER OF CONTRACTS SUBJECT TO THE RULES

OF A CLEARING ORGANIZATION.—In the event that a conservator or receiver transfers any qualified financial contract

and related claims, property, and credit enhancements

pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i) and such contract is

cleared by or subject to the rules of a clearing organization,

the clearing organization shall not be required to accept

the transferee as a member by virtue of the transfer.

‘‘(D) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this paragraph, the

term ‘financial institution’ means a broker or dealer, a

depository institution, a futures commission merchant, or

any other institution, as determined by the Corporation

by regulation to be a financial institution, and the term

‘clearing organization’ has the same meaning as in section

402 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991.’’.

(2) NOTICE TO QUALIFIED FINANCIAL CONTRACT

COUNTERPARTIES.—Section 11(e)(10)(A) of the Federal Deposit

Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1821(e)(10)(A)) is amended in the

material immediately following clause (ii) by striking ‘‘the conservator’’ and all that follows through the period and inserting

the following: ‘‘the conservator or receiver shall notify any

person who is a party to any such contract of such transfer

by 5:00 p.m. (eastern time) on the business day following the

date of the appointment of the receiver in the case of a receivership, or the business day following such transfer in the case

of a conservatorship.’’.

(3) RIGHTS AGAINST RECEIVER AND CONSERVATOR AND

TREATMENT OF BRIDGE BANKS.—Section 11(e)(10) of the Federal

Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1821(e)(10)) is amended—
S. 256—140

(A) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D); and

(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following

new subparagraphs:

‘‘(B) CERTAIN RIGHTS NOT ENFORCEABLE.—

‘‘(i) RECEIVERSHIP.—A person who is a party to

a qualified financial contract with an insured depository institution may not exercise any right that such

person has to terminate, liquidate, or net such contract

under paragraph (8)(A) of this subsection or section

403 or 404 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, solely by reason of

or incidental to the appointment of a receiver for the

depository institution (or the insolvency or financial

condition of the depository institution for which the

receiver has been appointed)—

‘‘(I) until 5:00 p.m. (eastern time) on the business day following the date of the appointment

of the receiver; or

‘‘(II) after the person has received notice that

the contract has been transferred pursuant to

paragraph (9)(A).

‘‘(ii) CONSERVATORSHIP.—A person who is a party

to a qualified financial contract with an insured depository institution may not exercise any right that such

person has to terminate, liquidate, or net such contract

under paragraph (8)(E) of this subsection or section

403 or 404 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, solely by reason of

or incidental to the appointment of a conservator for

the depository institution (or the insolvency or financial

condition of the depository institution for which the

conservator has been appointed).

‘‘(iii) NOTICE.—For purposes of this paragraph, the

Corporation as receiver or conservator of an insured

depository institution shall be deemed to have notified

a person who is a party to a qualified financial contract

with such depository institution if the Corporation has

taken steps reasonably calculated to provide notice

to such person by the time specified in subparagraph

(A).

‘‘(C) TREATMENT OF BRIDGE BANKS.—The following

institutions shall not be considered to be a financial institution for which a conservator, receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, or other legal custodian has been appointed or

which is otherwise the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency

proceeding for purposes of paragraph (9):

‘‘(i) A bridge bank.

‘‘(ii) A depository institution organized by the Corporation, for which a conservator is appointed either—

‘‘(I) immediately upon the organization of the

institution; or

‘‘(II) at the time of a purchase and assumption

transaction between the depository institution and

the Corporation as receiver for a depository institution in default.’’.

(b) INSURED CREDIT UNIONS.—
S. 256—141

(1) TRANSFERS OF QUALIFIED FINANCIAL CONTRACTS TO

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.—Section 207(c)(9) of the Federal

Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(9)) is amended to read

as follows:

‘‘(9) TRANSFER OF QUALIFIED FINANCIAL CONTRACTS.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In making any transfer of assets

or liabilities of a credit union in default which includes

any qualified financial contract, the conservator or liquidating agent for such credit union shall either—

‘‘(i) transfer to 1 financial institution, other than

a financial institution for which a conservator, receiver,

trustee in bankruptcy, or other legal custodian has

been appointed or which is otherwise the subject of

a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding—

‘‘(I) all qualified financial contracts between

any person or any affiliate of such person and

the credit union in default;

‘‘(II) all claims of such person or any affiliate

of such person against such credit union under

any such contract (other than any claim which,

under the terms of any such contract, is subordinated to the claims of general unsecured creditors

of such credit union);

‘‘(III) all claims of such credit union against

such person or any affiliate of such person under

any such contract; and

‘‘(IV) all property securing or any other credit

enhancement for any contract described in subclause (I) or any claim described in subclause (II)

or (III) under any such contract; or

‘‘(ii) transfer none of the qualified financial contracts, claims, property or other credit enhancement

referred to in clause (i) (with respect to such person

and any affiliate of such person).

‘‘(B) TRANSFER TO FOREIGN BANK, FOREIGN FINANCIAL

INSTITUTION, OR BRANCH OR AGENCY OF A FOREIGN BANK

OR FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.—In transferring any qualified

financial contracts and related claims and property under

subparagraph (A)(i), the conservator or liquidating agent

for the credit union shall not make such transfer to a

foreign bank, financial institution organized under the laws

of a foreign country, or a branch or agency of a foreign

bank or financial institution unless, under the law

applicable to such bank, financial institution, branch or

agency, to the qualified financial contracts, and to any

netting contract, any security agreement or arrangement

or other credit enhancement related to 1 or more qualified

financial contracts, the contractual rights of the parties

to such qualified financial contracts, netting contracts,

security agreements or arrangements, or other credit

enhancements are enforceable substantially to the same

extent as permitted under this section.

‘‘(C) TRANSFER OF CONTRACTS SUBJECT TO THE RULES

OF A CLEARING ORGANIZATION.—In the event that a conservator or liquidating agent transfers any qualified financial

contract and related claims, property, and credit enhancements pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i) and such contract
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is cleared by or subject to the rules of a clearing organization, the clearing organization shall not be required to

accept the transferee as a member by virtue of the transfer.

‘‘(D) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this paragraph—

‘‘(i) the term ‘financial institution’ means a broker

or dealer, a depository institution, a futures commission merchant, a credit union, or any other institution,

as determined by the Board by regulation to be a

financial institution; and

‘‘(ii) the term ‘clearing organization’ has the same

meaning as in section 402 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991.’’.

(2) NOTICE TO QUALIFIED FINANCIAL CONTRACT

COUNTERPARTIES.—Section 207(c)(10)(A) of the Federal Credit

Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(10)(A)) is amended in the material

immediately following clause (ii) by striking ‘‘the conservator’’

and all that follows through the period and inserting the following: ‘‘the conservator or liquidating agent shall notify any

person who is a party to any such contract of such transfer

by 5:00 p.m. (eastern time) on the business day following the

date of the appointment of the liquidating agent in the case

of a liquidation, or the business day following such transfer

in the case of a conservatorship.’’.

(3) RIGHTS AGAINST LIQUIDATING AGENT AND CONSERVATOR

AND TREATMENT OF BRIDGE BANKS.—Section 207(c)(10) of the

Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(10)) is amended—

(A) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D); and

(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following

new subparagraphs:

‘‘(B) CERTAIN RIGHTS NOT ENFORCEABLE.—

‘‘(i) LIQUIDATION.—A person who is a party to a

qualified financial contract with an insured credit

union may not exercise any right that such person

has to terminate, liquidate, or net such contract under

paragraph (8)(A) of this subsection or section 403 or

404 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Improvement Act of 1991, solely by reason of or incidental to the appointment of a liquidating agent for

the credit union institution (or the insolvency or financial condition of the credit union for which the liquidating agent has been appointed)—

‘‘(I) until 5:00 p.m. (eastern time) on the business day following the date of the appointment

of the liquidating agent; or

‘‘(II) after the person has received notice that

the contract has been transferred pursuant to

paragraph (9)(A).

‘‘(ii) CONSERVATORSHIP.—A person who is a party

to a qualified financial contract with an insured credit

union may not exercise any right that such person

has to terminate, liquidate, or net such contract under

paragraph (8)(E) of this subsection or section 403 or

404 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Improvement Act of 1991, solely by reason of or incidental to the appointment of a conservator for the

credit union or the insolvency or financial condition
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of the credit union for which the conservator has been

appointed).

‘‘(iii) NOTICE.—For purposes of this paragraph, the

Board as conservator or liquidating agent of an insured

credit union shall be deemed to have notified a person

who is a party to a qualified financial contract with

such credit union if the Board has taken steps reasonably calculated to provide notice to such person by

the time specified in subparagraph (A).

‘‘(C) TREATMENT OF BRIDGE BANKS.—The following

institutions shall not be considered to be a financial institution for which a conservator, receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, or other legal custodian has been appointed or

which is otherwise the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency

proceeding for purposes of paragraph (9):

‘‘(i) A bridge bank.

‘‘(ii) A credit union organized by the Board, for

which a conservator is appointed either—

‘‘(I) immediately upon the organization of the

credit union; or

‘‘(II) at the time of a purchase and assumption

transaction between the credit union and the

Board as receiver for a credit union in default.’’.

SEC. 904. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO DISAFFIRMANCE OR REPUDIATION OF QUALIFIED FINANCIAL CONTRACTS.

(a) FDIC-INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS.—Section 11(e) of

the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1821(e)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (11) through (15) as paragraphs (12) through (16), respectively;

(2) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following new

paragraph:

‘‘(11) DISAFFIRMANCE OR REPUDIATION OF QUALIFIED FINANCIAL CONTRACTS.—In exercising the rights of disaffirmance or

repudiation of a conservator or receiver with respect to any

qualified financial contract to which an insured depository

institution is a party, the conservator or receiver for such

institution shall either—

‘‘(A) disaffirm or repudiate all qualified financial contracts between—

‘‘(i) any person or any affiliate of such person;

and

‘‘(ii) the depository institution in default; or

‘‘(B) disaffirm or repudiate none of the qualified financial contracts referred to in subparagraph (A) (with respect

to such person or any affiliate of such person).’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

‘‘(17) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—The meanings of terms used in

this subsection are applicable for purposes of this subsection

only, and shall not be construed or applied so as to challenge

or affect the characterization, definition, or treatment of any

similar terms under any other statute, regulation, or rule,

including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Legal Certainty

for Bank Products Act of 2000, the securities laws (as that

term is defined in section 3(a)(47) of the Securities Exchange

Act of 1934), and the Commodity Exchange Act.’’.
S. 256—144

(b) INSURED CREDIT UNIONS.—Section 207(c) of the Federal

Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (11), (12), and (13) as

paragraphs (12), (13), and (14), respectively;

(2) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following new

paragraph:

‘‘(11) DISAFFIRMANCE OR REPUDIATION OF QUALIFIED FINANCIAL CONTRACTS.—In exercising the rights of disaffirmance or

repudiation of a conservator or liquidating agent with respect

to any qualified financial contract to which an insured credit

union is a party, the conservator or liquidating agent for such

credit union shall either—

‘‘(A) disaffirm or repudiate all qualified financial contracts between—

‘‘(i) any person or any affiliate of such person;

and

‘‘(ii) the credit union in default; or

‘‘(B) disaffirm or repudiate none of the qualified financial contracts referred to in subparagraph (A) (with respect

to such person or any affiliate of such person).’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

‘‘(15) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—The meanings of terms used in

this subsection are applicable for purposes of this subsection

only, and shall not be construed or applied so as to challenge

or affect the characterization, definition, or treatment of any

similar terms under any other statute, regulation, or rule,

including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Legal Certainty

for Bank Products Act of 2000, the securities laws (as that

term is defined in section (a)(47) of the Securities Exchange

Act of 1934), and the Commodity Exchange Act.’’.

SEC. 905. CLARIFYING AMENDMENT RELATING TO MASTER AGREEMENTS.

(a) FDIC-INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS.—Section

11(e)(8)(D)(vii) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1821(e)(8)(D)(vii)) is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(vii) TREATMENT OF MASTER AGREEMENT AS ONE

AGREEMENT.—Any master agreement for any contract

or agreement described in any preceding clause of this

subparagraph (or any master agreement for such

master agreement or agreements), together with all

supplements to such master agreement, shall be

treated as a single agreement and a single qualified

financial contract. If a master agreement contains

provisions relating to agreements or transactions that

are not themselves qualified financial contracts, the

master agreement shall be deemed to be a qualified

financial contract only with respect to those transactions that are themselves qualified financial contracts.’’.

(b) INSURED CREDIT UNIONS.—Section 207(c)(8)(D) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(8)(D)) is amended by

inserting after clause (vi) (as added by section 901(f)) the following

new clause:

‘‘(vii) TREATMENT OF MASTER AGREEMENT AS ONE

AGREEMENT.—Any master agreement for any contract

or agreement described in any preceding clause of this
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subparagraph (or any master agreement for such

master agreement or agreements), together with all

supplements to such master agreement, shall be

treated as a single agreement and a single qualified

financial contract. If a master agreement contains

provisions relating to agreements or transactions that

are not themselves qualified financial contracts, the

master agreement shall be deemed to be a qualified

financial contract only with respect to those transactions that are themselves qualified financial contracts.’’.

SEC. 906. FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1991.

(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 402 of the Federal Deposit Insurance

Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (12 U.S.C. 4402) is

amended—

(1) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting before the

semicolon ‘‘, or is exempt from such registration by order

of the Securities and Exchange Commission’’; and

(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting before the period

‘‘, that has been granted an exemption under section 4(c)(1)

of the Commodity Exchange Act, or that is a multilateral

clearing organization (as defined in section 408 of this

Act)’’;

(2) in paragraph (6)—

(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D)

as subparagraphs (C) through (E), respectively;

(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following

new subparagraph:

‘‘(B) an uninsured national bank or an uninsured State

bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System,

if the national bank or State member bank is not eligible

to make application to become an insured bank under

section 5 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act;’’; and

(C) by amending subparagraph (C), so redesignated,

to read as follows:

‘‘(C) a branch or agency of a foreign bank, a foreign

bank and any branch or agency of the foreign bank, or

the foreign bank that established the branch or agency,

as those terms are defined in section 1(b) of the International Banking Act of 1978;’’;

(3) in paragraph (11), by inserting before the period ‘‘and

any other clearing organization with which such clearing

organization has a netting contract’’;

(4) by amending paragraph (14)(A)(i) to read as follows:

‘‘(i) means a contract or agreement between 2 or

more financial institutions, clearing organizations, or

members that provides for netting present or future

payment obligations or payment entitlements

(including liquidation or close out values relating to

such obligations or entitlements) among the parties

to the agreement; and’’; and

(5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
S. 256—146

‘‘(15) PAYMENT.—The term ‘payment’ means a payment

of United States dollars, another currency, or a composite currency, and a noncash delivery, including a payment or delivery

to liquidate an unmatured obligation.’’.

(b) ENFORCEABILITY OF BILATERAL NETTING CONTRACTS.—Section 403 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement

Act of 1991 (12 U.S.C. 4403) is amended—

(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:

‘‘(a) GENERAL RULE.—Notwithstanding any other provision of

State or Federal law (other than paragraphs (8)(E), (8)(F), and

(10)(B) of section 11(e) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, paragraphs (8)(E), (8)(F), and (10)(B) of section 207(c) of the Federal

Credit Union Act, or any order authorized under section 5(b)(2)

of the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970), the covered

contractual payment obligations and the covered contractual payment entitlements between any 2 financial institutions shall be

netted in accordance with, and subject to the conditions of, the

terms of any applicable netting contract (except as provided in

section 561(b)(2) of title 11, United States Code).’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

‘‘(f) ENFORCEABILITY OF SECURITY AGREEMENTS.—The provisions of any security agreement or arrangement or other credit

enhancement related to one or more netting contracts between

any 2 financial institutions shall be enforceable in accordance with

their terms (except as provided in section 561(b)(2) of title 11,

United States Code), and shall not be stayed, avoided, or otherwise

limited by any State or Federal law (other than paragraphs (8)(E),

(8)(F), and (10)(B) of section 11(e) of the Federal Deposit Insurance

Act, paragraphs (8)(E), (8)(F), and (10)(B) of section 207(c) of the

Federal Credit Union Act, and section 5(b)(2) of the Securities

Investor Protection Act of 1970).’’.

(c) ENFORCEABILITY OF CLEARING ORGANIZATION NETTING CONTRACTS.—Section 404 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Improvement Act of 1991 (12 U.S.C. 4404) is amended—

(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:

‘‘(a) GENERAL RULE.—Notwithstanding any other provision of

State or Federal law (other than paragraphs (8)(E), (8)(F), and

(10)(B) of section 11(e) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, paragraphs (8)(E), (8)(F), and (10)(B) of section 207(c) of the Federal

Credit Union Act, and any order authorized under section 5(b)(2)

of the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970), the covered

contractual payment obligations and the covered contractual payment entitlements of a member of a clearing organization to and

from all other members of a clearing organization shall be netted

in accordance with and subject to the conditions of any applicable

netting contract (except as provided in section 561(b)(2) of title

11, United States Code).’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

‘‘(h) ENFORCEABILITY OF SECURITY AGREEMENTS.—The provisions of any security agreement or arrangement or other credit

enhancement related to one or more netting contracts between

any 2 members of a clearing organization shall be enforceable

in accordance with their terms (except as provided in section

561(b)(2) of title 11, United States Code), and shall not be stayed,

avoided, or otherwise limited by any State or Federal law (other

than paragraphs (8)(E), (8)(F), and (10)(B) of section 11(e) of the

Federal Deposit Insurance Act, paragraphs (8)(E), (8)(F), and (10)(B)
S. 256—147

of section 207(c) of the Federal Credit Union Act, and section

5(b)(2) of the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970).’’.

(d) ENFORCEABILITY OF CONTRACTS WITH UNINSURED NATIONAL

BANKS, UNINSURED FEDERAL BRANCHES AND AGENCIES, CERTAIN

UNINSURED STATE MEMBER BANKS, AND EDGE ACT CORPORATIONS.—The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement

Act of 1991 (12 U.S.C. 4401 et seq.) is amended—

(1) by redesignating section 407 as section 407A; and

(2) by inserting after section 406 the following new section:

‘‘SEC. 407. TREATMENT OF CONTRACTS WITH UNINSURED NATIONAL

BANKS, UNINSURED FEDERAL BRANCHES AND AGENCIES, CERTAIN UNINSURED STATE MEMBER BANKS, AND

EDGE ACT CORPORATIONS.

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law,

paragraphs (8), (9), (10), and (11) of section 11(e) of the Federal

Deposit Insurance Act shall apply to an uninsured national bank

or uninsured Federal branch or Federal agency, a corporation chartered under section 25A of the Federal Reserve Act, or an uninsured

State member bank which operates, or operates as, a multilateral

clearing organization pursuant to section 409 of this Act, except

that for such purpose—

‘‘(1) any reference to the ‘Corporation as receiver’ or ‘the

receiver or the Corporation’ shall refer to the receiver appointed

by the Comptroller of the Currency in the case of an uninsured

national bank or uninsured Federal branch or agency, or to

the receiver appointed by the Board of Governors of the Federal

Reserve System in the case of a corporation chartered under

section 25A of the Federal Reserve Act or an uninsured State

member bank;

‘‘(2) any reference to the ‘Corporation’ (other than in section

11(e)(8)(D) of such Act), the ‘Corporation, whether acting as

such or as conservator or receiver’, a ‘receiver’, or a ‘conservator’

shall refer to the receiver or conservator appointed by the

Comptroller of the Currency in the case of an uninsured

national bank or uninsured Federal branch or agency, or to

the receiver or conservator appointed by the Board of Governors

of the Federal Reserve System in the case of a corporation

chartered under section 25A of the Federal Reserve Act or

an uninsured State member bank; and

‘‘(3) any reference to an ‘insured depository institution’

or ‘depository institution’ shall refer to an uninsured national

bank, an uninsured Federal branch or Federal agency, a corporation chartered under section 25A of the Federal Reserve

Act, or an uninsured State member bank which operates, or

operates as, a multilateral clearing organization pursuant to

section 409 of this Act.

‘‘(b) LIABILITY.—The liability of a receiver or conservator of

an uninsured national bank, uninsured Federal branch or agency,

a corporation chartered under section 25A of the Federal Reserve

Act, or an uninsured State member bank which operates, or operates as, a multilateral clearing organization pursuant to section

409 of this Act, shall be determined in the same manner and

subject to the same limitations that apply to receivers and conservators of insured depository institutions under section 11(e) of the

Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

‘‘(c) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—
S. 256—148

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller of the Currency in the

case of an uninsured national bank or uninsured Federal branch

or agency and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve

System in the case of a corporation chartered under section

25A of the Federal Reserve Act, or an uninsured State member

bank that operates, or operates as, a multilateral clearing

organization pursuant to section 409 of this Act, in consultation

with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, may each

promulgate regulations solely to implement this section.

‘‘(2) SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT.—In promulgating regulations,

limited solely to implementing paragraphs (8), (9), (10), and

(11) of section 11(e) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act,

the Comptroller of the Currency and the Board of Governors

of the Federal Reserve System each shall ensure that the

regulations generally are consistent with the regulations and

policies of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation adopted

pursuant to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the terms ‘Federal branch’, ‘Federal agency’, and ‘foreign bank’ have the same

meanings as in section 1(b) of the International Banking Act of

1978.’’.

SEC. 907. BANKRUPTCY LAW AMENDMENTS.

(a) DEFINITIONS OF FORWARD CONTRACT, REPURCHASE AGREEMENT, SECURITIES CLEARING AGENCY, SWAP AGREEMENT, COMMODITY CONTRACT, AND SECURITIES CONTRACT.—Title 11, United

States Code, is amended—

(1) in section 101—

(A) in paragraph (25)—

(i) by striking ‘‘means a contract’’ and inserting

‘‘means—

‘‘(A) a contract’’;

(ii) by striking ‘‘, or any combination thereof or

option thereon;’’ and inserting ‘‘, or any other similar

agreement;’’; and

(iii) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(B) any combination of agreements or transactions

referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (C);

‘‘(C) any option to enter into an agreement or transaction referred to in subparagraph (A) or (B);

‘‘(D) a master agreement that provides for an agreement or transaction referred to in subparagraph (A), (B),

or (C), together with all supplements to any such master

agreement, without regard to whether such master agreement provides for an agreement or transaction that is

not a forward contract under this paragraph, except that

such master agreement shall be considered to be a forward

contract under this paragraph only with respect to each

agreement or transaction under such master agreement

that is referred to in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C); or

‘‘(E) any security agreement or arrangement, or other

credit enhancement related to any agreement or transaction referred to in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D),

including any guarantee or reimbursement obligation by

or to a forward contract merchant or financial participant

in connection with any agreement or transaction referred

to in any such subparagraph, but not to exceed the damages
S. 256—149

in connection with any such agreement or transaction,

measured in accordance with section 562;’’;

(B) in paragraph (46), by striking ‘‘on any day during

the period beginning 90 days before the date of’’ and

inserting ‘‘at any time before’’;

(C) by amending paragraph (47) to read as follows:

‘‘(47) ‘repurchase agreement’ (which definition also applies

to a reverse repurchase agreement)—

‘‘(A) means—

‘‘(i) an agreement, including related terms, which

provides for the transfer of one or more certificates

of deposit, mortgage related securities (as defined in

section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), mortgage loans, interests in mortgage related securities

or mortgage loans, eligible bankers’ acceptances, qualified foreign government securities (defined as a security that is a direct obligation of, or that is fully guaranteed by, the central government of a member of the

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), or securities that are direct obligations of, or

that are fully guaranteed by, the United States or

any agency of the United States against the transfer

of funds by the transferee of such certificates of deposit,

eligible bankers’ acceptances, securities, mortgage

loans, or interests, with a simultaneous agreement by

such transferee to transfer to the transferor thereof

certificates of deposit, eligible bankers’ acceptance,

securities, mortgage loans, or interests of the kind

described in this clause, at a date certain not later

than 1 year after such transfer or on demand, against

the transfer of funds;

‘‘(ii) any combination of agreements or transactions

referred to in clauses (i) and (iii);

‘‘(iii) an option to enter into an agreement or transaction referred to in clause (i) or (ii);

‘‘(iv) a master agreement that provides for an

agreement or transaction referred to in clause (i), (ii),

or (iii), together with all supplements to any such

master agreement, without regard to whether such

master agreement provides for an agreement or transaction that is not a repurchase agreement under this

paragraph, except that such master agreement shall

be considered to be a repurchase agreement under

this paragraph only with respect to each agreement

or transaction under the master agreement that is

referred to in clause (i), (ii), or (iii); or

‘‘(v) any security agreement or arrangement or

other credit enhancement related to any agreement

or transaction referred to in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or

(iv), including any guarantee or reimbursement obligation by or to a repo participant or financial participant

in connection with any agreement or transaction

referred to in any such clause, but not to exceed the

damages in connection with any such agreement or

transaction, measured in accordance with section 562

of this title; and
S. 256—150

‘‘(B) does not include a repurchase obligation under

a participation in a commercial mortgage loan;’’;

(D) in paragraph (48), by inserting ‘‘, or exempt from

such registration under such section pursuant to an order

of the Securities and Exchange Commission,’’ after ‘‘1934’’;

and

(E) by amending paragraph (53B) to read as follows:

‘‘(53B) ‘swap agreement’—

‘‘(A) means—

‘‘(i) any agreement, including the terms and conditions incorporated by reference in such agreement,

which is—

‘‘(I) an interest rate swap, option, future, or

forward agreement, including a rate floor, rate

cap, rate collar, cross-currency rate swap, and

basis swap;

‘‘(II) a spot, same day-tomorrow, tomorrownext, forward, or other foreign exchange or precious metals agreement;

‘‘(III) a currency swap, option, future, or forward agreement;

‘‘(IV) an equity index or equity swap, option,

future, or forward agreement;

‘‘(V) a debt index or debt swap, option, future,

or forward agreement;

‘‘(VI) a total return, credit spread or credit

swap, option, future, or forward agreement;

‘‘(VII) a commodity index or a commodity

swap, option, future, or forward agreement; or

‘‘(VIII) a weather swap, weather derivative,

or weather option;

‘‘(ii) any agreement or transaction that is similar

to any other agreement or transaction referred to in

this paragraph and that—

‘‘(I) is of a type that has been, is presently,

or in the future becomes, the subject of recurrent

dealings in the swap markets (including terms

and conditions incorporated by reference therein);

and

‘‘(II) is a forward, swap, future, or option on

one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity

securities, or other equity instruments, debt securities or other debt instruments, quantitative measures associated with an occurrence, extent of an

occurrence, or contingency associated with a financial, commercial, or economic consequence, or economic or financial indices or measures of economic

or financial risk or value;

‘‘(iii) any combination of agreements or transactions referred to in this subparagraph;

‘‘(iv) any option to enter into an agreement or

transaction referred to in this subparagraph;

‘‘(v) a master agreement that provides for an agreement or transaction referred to in clause (i), (ii), (iii),

or (iv), together with all supplements to any such

master agreement, and without regard to whether the
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master agreement contains an agreement or transaction that is not a swap agreement under this paragraph, except that the master agreement shall be

considered to be a swap agreement under this paragraph only with respect to each agreement or transaction under the master agreement that is referred

to in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv); or

‘‘(vi) any security agreement or arrangement or

other credit enhancement related to any agreements

or transactions referred to in clause (i) through (v),

including any guarantee or reimbursement obligation

by or to a swap participant or financial participant

in connection with any agreement or transaction

referred to in any such clause, but not to exceed the

damages in connection with any such agreement or

transaction, measured in accordance with section 562;

and

‘‘(B) is applicable for purposes of this title only, and

shall not be construed or applied so as to challenge or

affect the characterization, definition, or treatment of any

swap agreement under any other statute, regulation, or

rule, including the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934, the Public Utility Holding Company

Act of 1935, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act

of 1940, the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970,

the Commodity Exchange Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley

Act, and the Legal Certainty for Bank Products Act of

2000;’’;

(2) in section 741(7), by striking paragraph (7) and inserting

the following:

‘‘(7) ‘securities contract’—

‘‘(A) means—

‘‘(i) a contract for the purchase, sale, or loan of

a security, a certificate of deposit, a mortgage loan

or any interest in a mortgage loan, a group or index

of securities, certificates of deposit, or mortgage loans

or interests therein (including an interest therein or

based on the value thereof), or option on any of the

foregoing, including an option to purchase or sell any

such security, certificate of deposit, mortgage loan,

interest, group or index, or option, and including any

repurchase or reverse repurchase transaction on any

such security, certificate of deposit, mortgage loan,

interest, group or index, or option;

‘‘(ii) any option entered into on a national securities

exchange relating to foreign currencies;

‘‘(iii) the guarantee by or to any securities clearing

agency of a settlement of cash, securities, certificates

of deposit, mortgage loans or interests therein, group

or index of securities, or mortgage loans or interests

therein (including any interest therein or based on

the value thereof), or option on any of the foregoing,

including an option to purchase or sell any such security, certificate of deposit, mortgage loan, interest,

group or index, or option;

‘‘(iv) any margin loan;
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‘‘(v) any other agreement or transaction that is

similar to an agreement or transaction referred to in

this subparagraph;

‘‘(vi) any combination of the agreements or transactions referred to in this subparagraph;

‘‘(vii) any option to enter into any agreement or

transaction referred to in this subparagraph;

‘‘(viii) a master agreement that provides for an

agreement or transaction referred to in clause (i), (ii),

(iii), (iv), (v), (vi), or (vii), together with all supplements

to any such master agreement, without regard to

whether the master agreement provides for an agreement or transaction that is not a securities contract

under this subparagraph, except that such master

agreement shall be considered to be a securities contract under this subparagraph only with respect to

each agreement or transaction under such master

agreement that is referred to in clause (i), (ii), (iii),

(iv), (v), (vi), or (vii); or

‘‘(ix) any security agreement or arrangement or

other credit enhancement related to any agreement

or transaction referred to in this subparagraph,

including any guarantee or reimbursement obligation

by or to a stockbroker, securities clearing agency, financial institution, or financial participant in connection

with any agreement or transaction referred to in this

subparagraph, but not to exceed the damages in

connection with any such agreement or transaction,

measured in accordance with section 562; and

‘‘(B) does not include any purchase, sale, or repurchase

obligation under a participation in a commercial mortgage

loan;’’; and

(3) in section 761(4)—

(A) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of subparagraph (D);

and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(F) any other agreement or transaction that is similar

to an agreement or transaction referred to in this paragraph;

‘‘(G) any combination of the agreements or transactions

referred to in this paragraph;

‘‘(H) any option to enter into an agreement or transaction referred to in this paragraph;

‘‘(I) a master agreement that provides for an agreement

or transaction referred to in subparagraph (A), (B), (C),

(D), (E), (F), (G), or (H), together with all supplements

to such master agreement, without regard to whether the

master agreement provides for an agreement or transaction

that is not a commodity contract under this paragraph,

except that the master agreement shall be considered to

be a commodity contract under this paragraph only with

respect to each agreement or transaction under the master

agreement that is referred to in subparagraph (A), (B),

(C), (D), (E), (F), (G), or (H); or
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‘‘(J) any security agreement or arrangement or other

credit enhancement related to any agreement or transaction referred to in this paragraph, including any guarantee or reimbursement obligation by or to a commodity

broker or financial participant in connection with any

agreement or transaction referred to in this paragraph,

but not to exceed the damages in connection with any

such agreement or transaction, measured in accordance

with section 562;’’.

(b) DEFINITIONS OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, FINANCIAL PARTICIPANT, AND FORWARD CONTRACT MERCHANT.—Section 101 of title

11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking paragraph (22) and inserting the following:

‘‘(22) ‘financial institution’ means—

‘‘(A) a Federal reserve bank, or an entity (domestic

or foreign) that is a commercial or savings bank, industrial

savings bank, savings and loan association, trust company,

federally-insured credit union, or receiver, liquidating

agent, or conservator for such entity and, when any such

Federal reserve bank, receiver, liquidating agent, conservator or entity is acting as agent or custodian for a customer in connection with a securities contract (as defined

in section 741) such customer; or

‘‘(B) in connection with a securities contract (as defined

in section 741) an investment company registered under

the Investment Company Act of 1940;’’;

(2) by inserting after paragraph (22) the following:

‘‘(22A) ‘financial participant’ means—

‘‘(A) an entity that, at the time it enters into a securities contract, commodity contract, swap agreement,

repurchase agreement, or forward contract, or at the time

of the date of the filing of the petition, has one or more

agreements or transactions described in paragraph (1), (2),

(3), (4), (5), or (6) of section 561(a) with the debtor or

any other entity (other than an affiliate) of a total gross

dollar value of not less than $1,000,000,000 in notional

or actual principal amount outstanding on any day during

the previous 15-month period, or has gross mark-to-market

positions of not less than $100,000,000 (aggregated across

counterparties) in one or more such agreements or transactions with the debtor or any other entity (other than

an affiliate) on any day during the previous 15-month

period; or

‘‘(B) a clearing organization (as defined in section 402

of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement

Act of 1991);’’; and

(3) by striking paragraph (26) and inserting the following:

‘‘(26) ‘forward contract merchant’ means a Federal reserve

bank, or an entity the business of which consists in whole

or in part of entering into forward contracts as or with merchants in a commodity (as defined in section 761) or any similar

good, article, service, right, or interest which is presently or

in the future becomes the subject of dealing in the forward

contract trade;’’.

(c) DEFINITION OF MASTER NETTING AGREEMENT AND MASTER

NETTING AGREEMENT PARTICIPANT.—Section 101 of title 11, United
S. 256—154

States Code, is amended by inserting after paragraph (38) the

following new paragraphs:

‘‘(38A) ‘master netting agreement’—

‘‘(A) means an agreement providing for the exercise

of rights, including rights of netting, setoff, liquidation,

termination, acceleration, or close out, under or in connection with one or more contracts that are described in any

one or more of paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 561(a),

or any security agreement or arrangement or other credit

enhancement related to one or more of the foregoing,

including any guarantee or reimbursement obligation

related to 1 or more of the foregoing; and

‘‘(B) if the agreement contains provisions relating to

agreements or transactions that are not contracts described

in paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 561(a), shall be

deemed to be a master netting agreement only with respect

to those agreements or transactions that are described

in any one or more of paragraphs (1) through (5) of section

561(a);

‘‘(38B) ‘master netting agreement participant’ means an

entity that, at any time before the date of the filing of the

petition, is a party to an outstanding master netting agreement

with the debtor;’’.

(d) SWAP AGREEMENTS, SECURITIES CONTRACTS, COMMODITY

CONTRACTS, FORWARD CONTRACTS, REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS, AND

MASTER NETTING AGREEMENTS UNDER THE AUTOMATIC-STAY.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 362(b) of title 11, United States

Code, as amended by sections 224, 303, 311, 401, and 718,

is amended—

(A) in paragraph (6), by inserting ‘‘, pledged to, under

the control of,’’ after ‘‘held by’’;

(B) in paragraph (7), by inserting ‘‘, pledged to, under

the control of,’’ after ‘‘held by’’;

(C) by striking paragraph (17) and inserting the following:

‘‘(17) under subsection (a), of the setoff by a swap participant or financial participant of a mutual debt and claim under

or in connection with one or more swap agreements that constitutes the setoff of a claim against the debtor for any payment

or other transfer of property due from the debtor under or

in connection with any swap agreement against any payment

due to the debtor from the swap participant or financial participant under or in connection with any swap agreement or

against cash, securities, or other property held by, pledged

to, under the control of, or due from such swap participant

or financial participant to margin, guarantee, secure, or settle

any swap agreement;’’; and

(D) by inserting after paragraph (26) the following:

‘‘(27) under subsection (a), of the setoff by a master netting

agreement participant of a mutual debt and claim under or

in connection with one or more master netting agreements

or any contract or agreement subject to such agreements that

constitutes the setoff of a claim against the debtor for any

payment or other transfer of property due from the debtor

under or in connection with such agreements or any contract

or agreement subject to such agreements against any payment
S. 256—155

due to the debtor from such master netting agreement participant under or in connection with such agreements or any

contract or agreement subject to such agreements or against

cash, securities, or other property held by, pledged to, under

the control of, or due from such master netting agreement

participant to margin, guarantee, secure, or settle such agreements or any contract or agreement subject to such agreements,

to the extent that such participant is eligible to exercise such

offset rights under paragraph (6), (7), or (17) for each individual

contract covered by the master netting agreement in issue;

and’’.

(2) LIMITATION.—Section 362 of title 11, United States

Code, as amended by sections 106, 305, 311, and 441, is

amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(o) The exercise of rights not subject to the stay arising under

subsection (a) pursuant to paragraph (6), (7), (17), or (27) of subsection (b) shall not be stayed by any order of a court or administrative agency in any proceeding under this title.’’.

(e) LIMITATION OF AVOIDANCE POWERS UNDER MASTER NETTING

AGREEMENT.—Section 546 of title 11, United States Code, is

amended—

(1) in subsection (g) (as added by section 103 of Public

Law 101–311)—

(A) by striking ‘‘under a swap agreement’’;

(B) by striking ‘‘in connection with a swap agreement’’

and inserting ‘‘under or in connection with any swap agreement’’; and

(C) by inserting ‘‘or financial participant’’ after ‘‘swap

participant’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(j) Notwithstanding sections 544, 545, 547, 548(a)(1)(B), and

548(b) the trustee may not avoid a transfer made by or to a

master netting agreement participant under or in connection with

any master netting agreement or any individual contract covered

thereby that is made before the commencement of the case, except

under section 548(a)(1)(A) and except to the extent that the trustee

could otherwise avoid such a transfer made under an individual

contract covered by such master netting agreement.’’.

(f) FRAUDULENT TRANSFERS OF MASTER NETTING AGREEMENTS.—Section 548(d)(2) of title 11, United States Code, is

amended—

(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and

inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

‘‘(E) a master netting agreement participant that receives

a transfer in connection with a master netting agreement or

any individual contract covered thereby takes for value to the

extent of such transfer, except that, with respect to a transfer

under any individual contract covered thereby, to the extent

that such master netting agreement participant otherwise did

not take (or is otherwise not deemed to have taken) such

transfer for value.’’.

(g) TERMINATION OR ACCELERATION OF SECURITIES CONTRACTS.—Section 555 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by amending the section heading to read as follows:
S. 256—156

‘‘§ 555. Contractual right to liquidate, terminate, or accelerate a securities contract’’;

and

(2) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘liquidation’’ and

inserting ‘‘liquidation, termination, or acceleration’’.

(h) TERMINATION OR ACCELERATION OF COMMODITIES OR FORWARD CONTRACTS.—Section 556 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) by amending the section heading to read as follows:

‘‘§ 556. Contractual right to liquidate, terminate, or accelerate a commodities contract or forward contract’’;

(2) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘liquidation’’ and

inserting ‘‘liquidation, termination, or acceleration’’; and

(3) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘As used’’ and all

that follows through ‘‘right,’’ and inserting ‘‘As used in this

section, the term ‘contractual right’ includes a right set forth

in a rule or bylaw of a derivatives clearing organization (as

defined in the Commodity Exchange Act), a multilateral

clearing organization (as defined in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991), a national securities exchange, a national securities association, a securities

clearing agency, a contract market designated under the Commodity Exchange Act, a derivatives transaction execution

facility registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, or a

board of trade (as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act)

or in a resolution of the governing board thereof and a right,’’.

(i) TERMINATION OR ACCELERATION OF REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS.—Section 559 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by amending the section heading to read as follows:

‘‘§ 559. Contractual right to liquidate, terminate, or accelerate a repurchase agreement’’;

(2) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘liquidation’’ and

inserting ‘‘liquidation, termination, or acceleration’’; and

(3) in the third sentence, by striking ‘‘As used’’ and all

that follows through ‘‘right,’’ and inserting ‘‘As used in this

section, the term ‘contractual right’ includes a right set forth

in a rule or bylaw of a derivatives clearing organization (as

defined in the Commodity Exchange Act), a multilateral

clearing organization (as defined in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991), a national securities exchange, a national securities association, a securities

clearing agency, a contract market designated under the Commodity Exchange Act, a derivatives transaction execution

facility registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, or a

board of trade (as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act)

or in a resolution of the governing board thereof and a right,’’.

(j) LIQUIDATION, TERMINATION, OR ACCELERATION OF SWAP

AGREEMENTS.—Section 560 of title 11, United States Code, is

amended—

(1) by amending the section heading to read as follows:
S. 256—157

‘‘§ 560. Contractual right to liquidate, terminate, or accelerate a swap agreement’’;

(2) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘termination of a

swap agreement’’ and inserting ‘‘liquidation, termination, or

acceleration of one or more swap agreements’’;

(3) by striking ‘‘in connection with any swap agreement’’

and inserting ‘‘in connection with the termination, liquidation,

or acceleration of one or more swap agreements’’; and

(4) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘As used’’ and all

that follows through ‘‘right,’’ and inserting ‘‘As used in this

section, the term ‘contractual right’ includes a right set forth

in a rule or bylaw of a derivatives clearing organization (as

defined in the Commodity Exchange Act), a multilateral

clearing organization (as defined in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991), a national securities exchange, a national securities association, a securities

clearing agency, a contract market designated under the Commodity Exchange Act, a derivatives transaction execution

facility registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, or a

board of trade (as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act)

or in a resolution of the governing board thereof and a right,’’.

(k) LIQUIDATION, TERMINATION, ACCELERATION, OR OFFSET

UNDER A MASTER NETTING AGREEMENT AND ACROSS CONTRACTS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Title 11, United States Code, is amended

by inserting after section 560 the following:

‘‘§ 561. Contractual right to terminate, liquidate, accelerate,

or offset under a master netting agreement and

across contracts; proceedings under chapter 15

‘‘(a) Subject to subsection (b), the exercise of any contractual

right, because of a condition of the kind specified in section 365(e)(1),

to cause the termination, liquidation, or acceleration of or to offset

or net termination values, payment amounts, or other transfer

obligations arising under or in connection with one or more (or

the termination, liquidation, or acceleration of one or more)—

‘‘(1) securities contracts, as defined in section 741(7);

‘‘(2) commodity contracts, as defined in section 761(4);

‘‘(3) forward contracts;

‘‘(4) repurchase agreements;

‘‘(5) swap agreements; or

‘‘(6) master netting agreements,

shall not be stayed, avoided, or otherwise limited by operation

of any provision of this title or by any order of a court or administrative agency in any proceeding under this title.

‘‘(b)(1) A party may exercise a contractual right described in

subsection (a) to terminate, liquidate, or accelerate only to the

extent that such party could exercise such a right under section

555, 556, 559, or 560 for each individual contract covered by the

master netting agreement in issue.

‘‘(2) If a debtor is a commodity broker subject to subchapter

IV of chapter 7—

‘‘(A) a party may not net or offset an obligation to the

debtor arising under, or in connection with, a commodity contract traded on or subject to the rules of a contract market

designated under the Commodity Exchange Act or a derivatives

transaction execution facility registered under the Commodity

Exchange Act against any claim arising under, or in connection
S. 256—158

with, other instruments, contracts, or agreements listed in subsection (a) except to the extent that the party has positive

net equity in the commodity accounts at the debtor, as calculated under such subchapter; and

‘‘(B) another commodity broker may not net or offset an

obligation to the debtor arising under, or in connection with,

a commodity contract entered into or held on behalf of a customer of the debtor and traded on or subject to the rules

of a contract market designated under the Commodity

Exchange Act or a derivatives transaction execution facility

registered under the Commodity Exchange Act against any

claim arising under, or in connection with, other instruments,

contracts, or agreements listed in subsection (a).

‘‘(3) No provision of subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph

(2) shall prohibit the offset of claims and obligations that arise

under—

‘‘(A) a cross-margining agreement or similar arrangement

that has been approved by the Commodity Futures Trading

Commission or submitted to the Commodity Futures Trading

Commission under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 5c(c) of the

Commodity Exchange Act and has not been abrogated or rendered ineffective by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; or

‘‘(B) any other netting agreement between a clearing

organization (as defined in section 761) and another entity

that has been approved by the Commodity Futures Trading

Commission.

‘‘(c) As used in this section, the term ‘contractual right’ includes

a right set forth in a rule or bylaw of a derivatives clearing organization (as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act), a multilateral

clearing organization (as defined in the Federal Deposit Insurance

Corporation Improvement Act of 1991), a national securities

exchange, a national securities association, a securities clearing

agency, a contract market designated under the Commodity

Exchange Act, a derivatives transaction execution facility registered

under the Commodity Exchange Act, or a board of trade (as defined

in the Commodity Exchange Act) or in a resolution of the governing

board thereof, and a right, whether or not evidenced in writing,

arising under common law, under law merchant, or by reason

of normal business practice.

‘‘(d) Any provisions of this title relating to securities contracts,

commodity contracts, forward contracts, repurchase agreements,

swap agreements, or master netting agreements shall apply in

a case under chapter 15, so that enforcement of contractual provisions of such contracts and agreements in accordance with their

terms will not be stayed or otherwise limited by operation of any

provision of this title or by order of a court in any case under

this title, and to limit avoidance powers to the same extent as

in a proceeding under chapter 7 or 11 of this title (such enforcement

not to be limited based on the presence or absence of assets of

the debtor in the United States).’’.
S. 256—159

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for

chapter 5 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

inserting after the item relating to section 560 the following:

‘‘561. Contractual right to terminate, liquidate, accelerate, or offset under a master

netting agreement and across contracts; proceedings under chapter 15.’’.

(l) COMMODITY BROKER LIQUIDATIONS.—Title 11, United States

Code, is amended by inserting after section 766 the following:

‘‘§ 767. Commodity broker liquidation and forward contract

merchants, commodity brokers, stockbrokers,

financial institutions, financial participants,

securities clearing agencies, swap participants,

repo participants, and master netting agreement

participants

‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the exercise

of rights by a forward contract merchant, commodity broker, stockbroker, financial institution, financial participant, securities

clearing agency, swap participant, repo participant, or master netting agreement participant under this title shall not affect the

priority of any unsecured claim it may have after the exercise

of such rights.’’.

(m) STOCKBROKER LIQUIDATIONS.—Title 11, United States Code,

is amended by inserting after section 752 the following:

‘‘§ 753. Stockbroker liquidation and forward contract merchants, commodity brokers, stockbrokers, financial institutions, financial participants, securities

clearing agencies, swap participants, repo

participants, and master netting agreement

participants

‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the exercise

of rights by a forward contract merchant, commodity broker, stockbroker, financial institution, financial participant, securities

clearing agency, swap participant, repo participant, or master netting agreement participant under this title shall not affect the

priority of any unsecured claim it may have after the exercise

of such rights.’’.

(n) SETOFF.—Section 553 of title 11, United States Code, is

amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(2)(B)(ii), by inserting before the semicolon the following: ‘‘(except for a setoff of a kind described

in section 362(b)(6), 362(b)(7), 362(b)(17), 362(b)(27), 555, 556,

559, 560, or 561)’’;

(2) in subsection (a)(3)(C), by inserting before the period

the following: ‘‘(except for a setoff of a kind described in section

362(b)(6), 362(b)(7), 362(b)(17), 362(b)(27), 555, 556, 559, 560,

or 561)’’; and

(3) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘362(b)(14),’’ and

inserting ‘‘362(b)(17), 362(b)(27), 555, 556, 559, 560, 561,’’.

(o) SECURITIES CONTRACTS, COMMODITY CONTRACTS, AND FORWARD CONTRACTS.—Title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in section 362(b)(6), by striking ‘‘financial institutions,’’

each place such term appears and inserting ‘‘financial institution, financial participant,’’;
S. 256—160

(2) in sections 362(b)(7) and 546(f), by inserting ‘‘or financial

participant’’ after ‘‘repo participant’’ each place such term

appears;

(3) in section 546(e), by inserting ‘‘financial participant,’’

after ‘‘financial institution,’’;

(4) in section 548(d)(2)(B), by inserting ‘‘financial participant,’’ after ‘‘financial institution,’’;

(5) in section 548(d)(2)(C), by inserting ‘‘or financial participant’’ after ‘‘repo participant’’;

(6) in section 548(d)(2)(D), by inserting ‘‘or financial participant’’ after ‘‘swap participant’’;

(7) in section 555—

(A) by inserting ‘‘financial participant,’’ after ‘‘financial

institution,’’; and

(B) by striking the second sentence and inserting the

following: ‘‘As used in this section, the term ‘contractual

right’ includes a right set forth in a rule or bylaw of

a derivatives clearing organization (as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act), a multilateral clearing organization

(as defined in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Improvement Act of 1991), a national securities exchange,

a national securities association, a securities clearing

agency, a contract market designated under the Commodity

Exchange Act, a derivatives transaction execution facility

registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, or a board

of trade (as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act), or

in a resolution of the governing board thereof, and a right,

whether or not in writing, arising under common law,

under law merchant, or by reason of normal business practice.’’;

(8) in section 556, by inserting ‘‘, financial participant,’’

after ‘‘commodity broker’’;

(9) in section 559, by inserting ‘‘or financial participant’’

after ‘‘repo participant’’ each place such term appears; and

(10) in section 560, by inserting ‘‘or financial participant’’

after ‘‘swap participant’’.

(p) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Title 11, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) in the table of sections for chapter 5—

(A) by amending the items relating to sections 555

and 556 to read as follows:

‘‘555. Contractual right to liquidate, terminate, or accelerate a securities contract.

‘‘556. Contractual right to liquidate, terminate, or accelerate a commodities contract

or forward contract.’’;

and

(B) by amending the items relating to sections 559

and 560 to read as follows:

‘‘559. Contractual right to liquidate, terminate, or accelerate a repurchase agreement.

‘‘560. Contractual right to liquidate, terminate, or accelerate a swap agreement.’’;

and

(2) in the table of sections for chapter 7—
S. 256—161

(A) by inserting after the item relating to section 766

the following:

‘‘767. Commodity broker liquidation and forward contract merchants, commodity

brokers, stockbrokers, financial institutions, financial participants, securities clearing agencies, swap participants, repo participants, and master netting agreement participants.’’;

and

(B) by inserting after the item relating to section 752

the following:

‘‘753. Stockbroker liquidation and forward contract merchants, commodity brokers,

stockbrokers, financial institutions, financial participants, securities

clearing agencies, swap participants, repo participants, and master netting agreement participants.’’.

SEC. 908. RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS.

(a) FDIC-INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS.—Section 11(e)(8)

of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1821(e)(8)) is

amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

‘‘(H) RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS.—The Corporation, in consultation with the appropriate Federal banking

agencies, may prescribe regulations requiring more detailed

recordkeeping by any insured depository institution with

respect to qualified financial contracts (including market

valuations) only if such insured depository institution is

in a troubled condition (as such term is defined by the

Corporation pursuant to section 32).’’.

(b) INSURED CREDIT UNIONS.—Section 207(c)(8) of the Federal

Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1787(c)(8)) is amended by adding

at the end the following new subparagraph:

‘‘(H) RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS.—The Board, in

consultation with the appropriate Federal banking agencies, may prescribe regulations requiring more detailed

recordkeeping by any insured credit union with respect

to qualified financial contracts (including market valuations) only if such insured credit union is in a troubled

condition (as such term is defined by the Board pursuant

to section 212).’’.

SEC. 909. EXEMPTIONS FROM CONTEMPORANEOUS EXECUTION

REQUIREMENT.

Section 13(e)(2) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1823(e)(2)) is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(2) EXEMPTIONS FROM CONTEMPORANEOUS EXECUTION

REQUIREMENT.—An agreement to provide for the lawful

collateralization of—

‘‘(A) deposits of, or other credit extension by, a Federal,

State, or local governmental entity, or of any depositor

referred to in section 11(a)(2), including an agreement to

provide collateral in lieu of a surety bond;

‘‘(B) bankruptcy estate funds pursuant to section

345(b)(2) of title 11, United States Code;

‘‘(C) extensions of credit, including any overdraft, from

a Federal reserve bank or Federal home loan bank; or

‘‘(D) one or more qualified financial contracts, as

defined in section 11(e)(8)(D),
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shall not be deemed invalid pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) solely

because such agreement was not executed contemporaneously

with the acquisition of the collateral or because of pledges,

delivery, or substitution of the collateral made in accordance

with such agreement.’’.

SEC. 910. DAMAGE MEASURE.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting after section 561, as added by section

907, the following:

‘‘§ 562. Timing of damage measurement in connection with

swap agreements, securities contracts, forward

contracts, commodity contracts, repurchase

agreements, and master netting agreements

‘‘(a) If the trustee rejects a swap agreement, securities contract

(as defined in section 741), forward contract, commodity contract

(as defined in section 761), repurchase agreement, or master netting

agreement pursuant to section 365(a), or if a forward contract

merchant, stockbroker, financial institution, securities clearing

agency, repo participant, financial participant, master netting

agreement participant, or swap participant liquidates, terminates,

or accelerates such contract or agreement, damages shall be measured as of the earlier of—

‘‘(1) the date of such rejection; or

‘‘(2) the date or dates of such liquidation, termination,

or acceleration.

‘‘(b) If there are not any commercially reasonable determinants

of value as of any date referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of

subsection (a), damages shall be measured as of the earliest subsequent date or dates on which there are commercially reasonable

determinants of value.

‘‘(c) For the purposes of subsection (b), if damages are not

measured as of the date or dates of rejection, liquidation, termination, or acceleration, and the forward contract merchant, stockbroker, financial institution, securities clearing agency, repo participant, financial participant, master netting agreement participant,

or swap participant or the trustee objects to the timing of the

measurement of damages—

‘‘(1) the trustee, in the case of an objection by a forward

contract merchant, stockbroker, financial institution, securities

clearing agency, repo participant, financial participant, master

netting agreement participant, or swap participant; or

‘‘(2) the forward contract merchant, stockbroker, financial

institution, securities clearing agency, repo participant, financial participant, master netting agreement participant, or swap

participant, in the case of an objection by the trustee,

has the burden of proving that there were no commercially reasonable determinants of value as of such date or dates.’’; and

(2) in the table of sections for chapter 5, by inserting

after the item relating to section 561 (as added by section

907) the following new item:

‘‘562. Timing of damage measure in connection with swap agreements, securities

contracts, forward contracts, commodity contracts, repurchase agreements, or master netting agreements.’’.

(b) CLAIMS ARISING FROM REJECTION.—Section 502(g) of title

11, United States Code, is amended—
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(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(g)’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(2) A claim for damages calculated in accordance with section

562 shall be allowed under subsection (a), (b), or (c), or disallowed

under subsection (d) or (e), as if such claim had arisen before

the date of the filing of the petition.’’.

SEC. 911. SIPC STAY.

Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970

(15 U.S.C. 78eee(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

‘‘(C) EXCEPTION FROM STAY.— ‘‘(i) Notwithstanding section 362 of title 11, United

States Code, neither the filing of an application under

subsection (a)(3) nor any order or decree obtained by

SIPC from the court shall operate as a stay of any

contractual rights of a creditor to liquidate, terminate,

or accelerate a securities contract, commodity contract,

forward contract, repurchase agreement, swap agreement, or master netting agreement, as those terms

are defined in sections 101, 741, and 761 of title 11,

United States Code, to offset or net termination values,

payment amounts, or other transfer obligations arising

under or in connection with one or more of such contracts or agreements, or to foreclose on any cash collateral pledged by the debtor, whether or not with respect

to one or more of such contracts or agreements.

‘‘(ii) Notwithstanding clause (i), such application,

order, or decree may operate as a stay of the foreclosure

on, or disposition of, securities collateral pledged by

the debtor, whether or not with respect to one or

more of such contracts or agreements, securities sold

by the debtor under a repurchase agreement, or securities lent under a securities lending agreement.

‘‘(iii) As used in this subparagraph, the term

‘contractual right’ includes a right set forth in a rule

or bylaw of a national securities exchange, a national

securities association, or a securities clearing agency,

a right set forth in a bylaw of a clearing organization

or contract market or in a resolution of the governing

board thereof, and a right, whether or not in writing,

arising under common law, under law merchant, or

by reason of normal business practice.’’.

TITLE X—PROTECTION OF FAMILY

FARMERS AND FAMILY FISHERMEN

SEC. 1001. PERMANENT REENACTMENT OF CHAPTER 12.

(a) REENACTMENT.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 12 of title 11, United States

Code, as reenacted by section 149 of division C of the Omnibus

Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act,

1999 (Public Law 105–277), and as in effect on June 30, 2005,

is hereby reenacted.

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE OF REENACTMENT.—Paragraph (1) shall

take effect on July 1, 2005.
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(b) AMENDMENTS—Chapter 12 of title 11, United States Code,

as reenacted by subsection (a), is amended by this Act.

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 302 of the Bankruptcy

Judges, United States Trustees, and Family Farmer Bankruptcy

Act of 1986 (28 U.S.C. 581 note) is amended by striking subsection

(f).

SEC. 1002. DEBT LIMIT INCREASE.

Section 104(b) of title 11, United States Code, as amended

by section 226, is amended by inserting ‘‘101(18),’’ after ‘‘101(3),’’

each place it appears.

SEC. 1003. CERTAIN CLAIMS OWED TO GOVERNMENTAL UNITS.

(a) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—Section 1222(a)(2) of title 11, United

States Code, as amended by section 213, is amended to read as

follows:

‘‘(2) provide for the full payment, in deferred cash payments, of all claims entitled to priority under section 507,

unless—

‘‘(A) the claim is a claim owed to a governmental unit

that arises as a result of the sale, transfer, exchange,

or other disposition of any farm asset used in the debtor’s

farming operation, in which case the claim shall be treated

as an unsecured claim that is not entitled to priority under

section 507, but the debt shall be treated in such manner

only if the debtor receives a discharge; or

‘‘(B) the holder of a particular claim agrees to a different treatment of that claim;’’.

(b) SPECIAL NOTICE PROVISIONS.—Section 1231(b) of title 11,

United States Code, as so designated by section 719, is amended

by striking ‘‘a State or local governmental unit’’ and inserting

‘‘any governmental unit’’.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.—This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect

on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall not apply

with respect to cases commenced under title 11 of the United

States Code before such date.

SEC. 1004. DEFINITION OF FAMILY FARMER.

Section 101(18) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A)—

(A) by striking ‘‘$1,500,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$3,237,000’’;

and

(B) by striking ‘‘80’’ and inserting ‘‘50’’; and

(2) in subparagraph (B)(ii)—

(A) by striking ‘‘$1,500,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$3,237,000’’;

and

(B) by striking ‘‘80’’ and inserting ‘‘50’’.

SEC. 1005. ELIMINATION OF REQUIREMENT THAT FAMILY FARMER

AND SPOUSE RECEIVE OVER 50 PERCENT OF INCOME

FROM FARMING OPERATION IN YEAR PRIOR TO BANKRUPTCY.

Section 101(18)(A) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by striking ‘‘for the taxable year preceding the taxable year’’ and

inserting the following:

‘‘for—

‘‘(i) the taxable year preceding; or
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‘‘(ii) each of the 2d and 3d taxable years preceding;

the taxable year’’.

SEC. 1006. PROHIBITION OF RETROACTIVE ASSESSMENT OF DISPOSABLE INCOME.

(a) CONFIRMATION OF PLAN.—Section 1225(b)(1) of title 11,

United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (B) by striking the period at the end

and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(C) the value of the property to be distributed under

the plan in the 3-year period, or such longer period as the

court may approve under section 1222(c), beginning on the

date that the first distribution is due under the plan is not

less than the debtor’s projected disposable income for such

period.’’.

(b) MODIFICATION OF PLAN.—Section 1229 of title 11, United

States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(d) A plan may not be modified under this section—

‘‘(1) to increase the amount of any payment due before

the plan as modified becomes the plan;

‘‘(2) by anyone except the debtor, based on an increase

in the debtor’s disposable income, to increase the amount of

payments to unsecured creditors required for a particular

month so that the aggregate of such payments exceeds the

debtor’s disposable income for such month; or

‘‘(3) in the last year of the plan by anyone except the

debtor, to require payments that would leave the debtor with

insufficient funds to carry on the farming operation after the

plan is completed.’’.

SEC. 1007. FAMILY FISHERMEN.

(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 101 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:

‘‘(7A) ‘commercial fishing operation’ means—

‘‘(A) the catching or harvesting of fish, shrimp, lobsters,

urchins, seaweed, shellfish, or other aquatic species or products of such species; or

‘‘(B) for purposes of section 109 and chapter 12, aquaculture activities consisting of raising for market any species or product described in subparagraph (A);

‘‘(7B) ‘commercial fishing vessel’ means a vessel used by

a family fisherman to carry out a commercial fishing operation;’’; and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (19) the following:

‘‘(19A) ‘family fisherman’ means—

‘‘(A) an individual or individual and spouse engaged

in a commercial fishing operation—

‘‘(i) whose aggregate debts do not exceed

$1,500,000 and not less than 80 percent of whose aggregate noncontingent, liquidated debts (excluding a debt

for the principal residence of such individual or such

individual and spouse, unless such debt arises out

of a commercial fishing operation), on the date the

case is filed, arise out of a commercial fishing operation
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owned or operated by such individual or such individual and spouse; and

‘‘(ii) who receive from such commercial fishing

operation more than 50 percent of such individual’s

or such individual’s and spouse’s gross income for the

taxable year preceding the taxable year in which the

case concerning such individual or such individual and

spouse was filed; or

‘‘(B) a corporation or partnership—

‘‘(i) in which more than 50 percent of the outstanding stock or equity is held by—

‘‘(I) 1 family that conducts the commercial

fishing operation; or

‘‘(II) 1 family and the relatives of the members

of such family, and such family or such relatives

conduct the commercial fishing operation; and

‘‘(ii)(I) more than 80 percent of the value of its

assets consists of assets related to the commercial

fishing operation;

‘‘(II) its aggregate debts do not exceed $1,500,000

and not less than 80 percent of its aggregate noncontingent, liquidated debts (excluding a debt for 1 dwelling

which is owned by such corporation or partnership

and which a shareholder or partner maintains as a

principal residence, unless such debt arises out of a

commercial fishing operation), on the date the case

is filed, arise out of a commercial fishing operation

owned or operated by such corporation or such partnership; and

‘‘(III) if such corporation issues stock, such stock

is not publicly traded;

‘‘(19B) ‘family fisherman with regular annual income’

means a family fisherman whose annual income is sufficiently

stable and regular to enable such family fisherman to make

payments under a plan under chapter 12 of this title;’’.

(b) WHO MAY BE A DEBTOR.—Section 109(f) of title 11, United

States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘or family fisherman’’ after

‘‘family farmer’’.

(c) CHAPTER 12.—Chapter 12 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) in the chapter heading, by inserting ‘‘OR FISHERMAN’’ after ‘‘FAMILY FARMER’’;

(2) in section 1203, by inserting ‘‘or commercial fishing

operation’’ after ‘‘farm’’; and

(3) in section 1206, by striking ‘‘if the property is farmland

or farm equipment’’ and inserting ‘‘if the property is farmland,

farm equipment, or property used to carry out a commercial

fishing operation (including a commercial fishing vessel)’’.

(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—In the table of chapters for title

11, United States Code, the item relating to chapter 12, is amended

to read as follows:

‘‘12. Adjustments of Debts of a Family Farmer or Family Fisherman

with Regular Annual Income ............................................................ 1201’’.

(e) APPLICABILITY.—Nothing in this section shall change, affect,

or amend the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976

(16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
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TITLE XI—HEALTH CARE AND

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

SEC. 1101. DEFINITIONS.

(a) HEALTH CARE BUSINESS DEFINED.—Section 101 of title 11,

United States Code, as amended by section 306, is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraph (27A) as paragraph (27B);

and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (27) the following:

‘‘(27A) ‘health care business’—

‘‘(A) means any public or private entity (without regard

to whether that entity is organized for profit or not for

profit) that is primarily engaged in offering to the general

public facilities and services for—

‘‘(i) the diagnosis or treatment of injury, deformity,

or disease; and

‘‘(ii) surgical, drug treatment, psychiatric, or

obstetric care; and

‘‘(B) includes—

‘‘(i) any—

‘‘(I) general or specialized hospital;

‘‘(II) ancillary ambulatory, emergency, or surgical treatment facility;

‘‘(III) hospice;

‘‘(IV) home health agency; and

‘‘(V) other health care institution that is

similar to an entity referred to in subclause (I),

(II), (III), or (IV); and

‘‘(ii) any long-term care facility, including any—

‘‘(I) skilled nursing facility;

‘‘(II) intermediate care facility;

‘‘(III) assisted living facility;

‘‘(IV) home for the aged;

‘‘(V) domiciliary care facility; and

‘‘(VI) health care institution that is related

to a facility referred to in subclause (I), (II), (III),

(IV), or (V), if that institution is primarily engaged

in offering room, board, laundry, or personal assistance with activities of daily living and incidentals

to activities of daily living;’’.

(b) PATIENT AND PATIENT RECORDS DEFINED.—Section 101 of

title 11, United States Code, is amended by inserting after paragraph (40) the following:

‘‘(40A) ‘patient’ means any individual who obtains or

receives services from a health care business;

‘‘(40B) ‘patient records’ means any written document

relating to a patient or a record recorded in a magnetic, optical,

or other form of electronic medium;’’.

(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The amendments made by subsection (a) of this section shall not affect the interpretation of

section 109(b) of title 11, United States Code.

SEC. 1102. DISPOSAL OF PATIENT RECORDS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 3 of title 11, United

States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘§ 351. Disposal of patient records

‘‘If a health care business commences a case under chapter

7, 9, or 11, and the trustee does not have a sufficient amount

of funds to pay for the storage of patient records in the manner

required under applicable Federal or State law, the following

requirements shall apply:

‘‘(1) The trustee shall—

‘‘(A) promptly publish notice, in 1 or more appropriate

newspapers, that if patient records are not claimed by

the patient or an insurance provider (if applicable law

permits the insurance provider to make that claim) by

the date that is 365 days after the date of that notification,

the trustee will destroy the patient records; and

‘‘(B) during the first 180 days of the 365-day period

described in subparagraph (A), promptly attempt to notify

directly each patient that is the subject of the patient

records and appropriate insurance carrier concerning the

patient records by mailing to the most recent known

address of that patient, or a family member or contact

person for that patient, and to the appropriate insurance

carrier an appropriate notice regarding the claiming or

disposing of patient records.

‘‘(2) If, after providing the notification under paragraph

(1), patient records are not claimed during the 365-day period

described under that paragraph, the trustee shall mail, by

certified mail, at the end of such 365-day period a written

request to each appropriate Federal agency to request permission from that agency to deposit the patient records with that

agency, except that no Federal agency is required to accept

patient records under this paragraph.

‘‘(3) If, following the 365-day period described in paragraph

(2) and after providing the notification under paragraph (1),

patient records are not claimed by a patient or insurance provider, or request is not granted by a Federal agency to deposit

such records with that agency, the trustee shall destroy those

records by—

‘‘(A) if the records are written, shredding or burning

the records; or

‘‘(B) if the records are magnetic, optical, or other electronic records, by otherwise destroying those records so

that those records cannot be retrieved.’’.

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for subchapter

III of chapter 3 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

‘‘351. Disposal of patient records.’’.

SEC. 1103. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CLAIM FOR COSTS OF CLOSING

A HEALTH CARE BUSINESS AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE

EXPENSES.

Section 503(b) of title 11, United States Code, as amended

by section 445, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(8) the actual, necessary costs and expenses of closing

a health care business incurred by a trustee or by a Federal

agency (as defined in section 551(1) of title 5) or a department

or agency of a State or political subdivision thereof, including

any cost or expense incurred—
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‘‘(A) in disposing of patient records in accordance with

section 351; or

‘‘(B) in connection with transferring patients from the

health care business that is in the process of being closed

to another health care business; and’’.

SEC. 1104. APPOINTMENT OF OMBUDSMAN TO ACT AS PATIENT ADVOCATE.

(a) OMBUDSMAN TO ACT AS PATIENT ADVOCATE.—

(1) APPOINTMENT OF OMBUDSMAN.—Title 11, United States

Code, as amended by section 232, is amended by inserting

after section 332 the following:

‘‘§ 333. Appointment of patient care ombudsman

‘‘(a)(1) If the debtor in a case under chapter 7, 9, or 11 is

a health care business, the court shall order, not later than 30

days after the commencement of the case, the appointment of an

ombudsman to monitor the quality of patient care and to represent

the interests of the patients of the health care business unless

the court finds that the appointment of such ombudsman is not

necessary for the protection of patients under the specific facts

of the case.

‘‘(2)(A) If the court orders the appointment of an ombudsman

under paragraph (1), the United States trustee shall appoint 1

disinterested person (other than the United States trustee) to serve

as such ombudsman.

‘‘(B) If the debtor is a health care business that provides longterm care, then the United States trustee may appoint the State

Long-Term Care Ombudsman appointed under the Older Americans

Act of 1965 for the State in which the case is pending to serve

as the ombudsman required by paragraph (1).

‘‘(C) If the United States trustee does not appoint a State

Long-Term Care Ombudsman under subparagraph (B), the court

shall notify the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman appointed under

the Older Americans Act of 1965 for the State in which the case

is pending, of the name and address of the person who is appointed

under subparagraph (A).

‘‘(b) An ombudsman appointed under subsection (a) shall—

‘‘(1) monitor the quality of patient care provided to patients

of the debtor, to the extent necessary under the circumstances,

including interviewing patients and physicians;

‘‘(2) not later than 60 days after the date of appointment,

and not less frequently than at 60-day intervals thereafter,

report to the court after notice to the parties in interest, at

a hearing or in writing, regarding the quality of patient care

provided to patients of the debtor; and

‘‘(3) if such ombudsman determines that the quality of

patient care provided to patients of the debtor is declining

significantly or is otherwise being materially compromised, file

with the court a motion or a written report, with notice to

the parties in interest immediately upon making such determination.

‘‘(c)(1) An ombudsman appointed under subsection (a) shall

maintain any information obtained by such ombudsman under this

section that relates to patients (including information relating to

patient records) as confidential information. Such ombudsman may

not review confidential patient records unless the court approves
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such review in advance and imposes restrictions on such ombudsman to protect the confidentiality of such records.

‘‘(2) An ombudsman appointed under subsection (a)(2)(B) shall

have access to patient records consistent with authority of such

ombudsman under the Older Americans Act of 1965 and under

non-Federal laws governing the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman

program.’’.

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for subchapter II of chapter 3 of title 11, United States Code, as

amended by section 232, is amended by adding at the end

the following:

‘‘333. Appointment of ombudsman.’’.

(b) COMPENSATION OF OMBUDSMAN.—Section 330(a)(1) of title

11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting

‘‘an ombudsman appointed under section 333, or’’ before ‘‘a

professional person’’; and

(2) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘ombudsman,’’ before

‘‘professional person’’.

SEC. 1105. DEBTOR IN POSSESSION; DUTY OF TRUSTEE TO TRANSFER

PATIENTS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 704(a) of title 11, United States Code,

as amended by sections 102, 219, and 446, is amended by adding

at the end the following:

‘‘(12) use all reasonable and best efforts to transfer patients

from a health care business that is in the process of being

closed to an appropriate health care business that—

‘‘(A) is in the vicinity of the health care business that

is closing;

‘‘(B) provides the patient with services that are

substantially similar to those provided by the health care

business that is in the process of being closed; and

‘‘(C) maintains a reasonable quality of care.’’.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1106(a)(1) of title 11,

United States Code, as amended by section 446, is amended by

striking ‘‘and (11)’’ and inserting ‘‘(11), and (12)’’.

SEC. 1106. EXCLUSION FROM PROGRAM PARTICIPATION NOT SUBJECT

TO AUTOMATIC STAY.

Section 362(b) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by inserting after paragraph (27), as amended by sections 224,

303, 311, 401, 718, and 907, the following:

‘‘(28) under subsection (a), of the exclusion by the Secretary

of Health and Human Services of the debtor from participation

in the medicare program or any other Federal health care

program (as defined in section 1128B(f) of the Social Security

Act pursuant to title XI or XVIII of such Act).’’.

TITLE XII—TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS

SEC. 1201. DEFINITIONS.

Section 101 of title 11, United States Code, as amended by

this Act, is further amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘In this title—’’ and inserting ‘‘In this title

the following definitions shall apply:’’;
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(2) in each paragraph (other than paragraph (54A)), by

inserting ‘‘The term’’ after the paragraph designation;

(3) in paragraph (35)(B), by striking ‘‘paragraphs (21B)

and (33)(A)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (23) and (35)’’;

(4) in each of paragraphs (35A), (38), and (54A), by striking

‘‘; and’’ at the end and inserting a period;

(5) in paragraph (51B)—

(A) by inserting ‘‘who is not a family farmer’’ after

‘‘debtor’’ the first place it appears; and

(B) by striking ‘‘thereto having aggregate’’ and all that

follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting

a semicolon;

(6) by striking paragraph (54) and inserting the following:

‘‘(54) The term ‘transfer’ means—

‘‘(A) the creation of a lien;

‘‘(B) the retention of title as a security interest;

‘‘(C) the foreclosure of a debtor’s equity of redemption;

or

‘‘(D) each mode, direct or indirect, absolute or conditional, voluntary or involuntary, of disposing of or parting

with—

‘‘(i) property; or

‘‘(ii) an interest in property;’’;

(7) in paragraph (54A)—

(A) by striking ‘‘the term’’ and inserting ‘‘The term’’;

and

(B) by indenting the left margin of paragraph (54A)

2 ems to the right; and

(8) in each of paragraphs (1) through (35), in each of

paragraphs (36), (37), (38A), (38B) and (39A), and in each

of paragraphs (40) through (55), by striking the semicolon at

the end and inserting a period.

SEC. 1202. ADJUSTMENT OF DOLLAR AMOUNTS.

Section 104(b) of title 11, United States Code, as amended

by this Act, is further amended—

(1) by inserting ‘‘101(19A),’’ after ‘‘101(18),’’ each place it

appears;

(2) by inserting ‘‘522(f)(3) and 522(f)(4),’’ after ‘‘522(d),’’

each place it appears;

(3) by inserting ‘‘541(b), 547(c)(9),’’ after ‘‘523(a)(2)(C),’’ each

place it appears;

(4) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and 1325(b)(3)’’ and

inserting ‘‘1322(d), 1325(b), and 1326(b)(3) of this title and

section 1409(b) of title 28’’; and

(5) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and 1325(b)(3) of this

title’’ and inserting ‘‘1322(d), 1325(b), and 1326(b)(3) of this

title and section 1409(b) of title 28’’.

SEC. 1203. EXTENSION OF TIME.

Section 108(c)(2) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by striking ‘‘922’’ and all that follows through ‘‘or’’, and inserting

‘‘922, 1201, or’’.

SEC. 1204. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

Title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in section 109(b)(2), by striking ‘‘subsection (c) or (d)

of’’; and
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(2) in section 552(b)(1), by striking ‘‘product’’ each place

it appears and inserting ‘‘products’’.

SEC. 1205. PENALTY FOR PERSONS WHO NEGLIGENTLY OR FRAUDULENTLY PREPARE BANKRUPTCY PETITIONS.

Section 110(j)(4) of title 11, United States Code, as so redesignated by section 221, is amended by striking ‘‘attorney’s’’ and

inserting ‘‘attorneys’ ’’.

SEC. 1206. LIMITATION ON COMPENSATION OF PROFESSIONAL PERSONS.

Section 328(a) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by inserting ‘‘on a fixed or percentage fee basis,’’ after ‘‘hourly

basis,’’.

SEC. 1207. EFFECT OF CONVERSION.

Section 348(f)(2) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by inserting ‘‘of the estate’’ after ‘‘property’’ the first place it appears.

SEC. 1208. ALLOWANCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

Section 503(b)(4) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by inserting ‘‘subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E) of’’ before

‘‘paragraph (3)’’.

SEC. 1209. EXCEPTIONS TO DISCHARGE.

Section 523 of title 11, United States Code, as amended by

sections 215 and 314, is amended—

(1) by transferring paragraph (15), as added by section

304(e) of Public Law 103–394 (108 Stat. 4133), so as to insert

such paragraph after subsection (a)(14A);

(2) in subsection (a)(9), by striking ‘‘motor vehicle’’ and

inserting ‘‘motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft’’; and

(3) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘a insured’’ and inserting

‘‘an insured’’.

SEC. 1210. EFFECT OF DISCHARGE.

Section 524(a)(3) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by striking ‘‘section 523’’ and all that follows through ‘‘or that’’

and inserting ‘‘section 523, 1228(a)(1), or 1328(a)(1), or that’’.

SEC. 1211. PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT.

Section 525(c) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘student’’ before ‘‘grant’’

the second place it appears; and

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘the program operated

under part B, D, or E of’’ and inserting ‘‘any program operated

under’’.

SEC. 1212. PROPERTY OF THE ESTATE.

Section 541(b)(4)(B)(ii) of title 11, United States Code, is

amended by inserting ‘‘365 or’’ before ‘‘542’’.

SEC. 1213. PREFERENCES.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 547 of title 11, United States Code,

as amended by section 201, is amended—

(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘subsection (c)’’ and

inserting ‘‘subsections (c) and (i)’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(i) If the trustee avoids under subsection (b) a transfer made

between 90 days and 1 year before the date of the filing of the

petition, by the debtor to an entity that is not an insider for

the benefit of a creditor that is an insider, such transfer shall

be considered to be avoided under this section only with respect

to the creditor that is an insider.’’.

(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by this section shall

apply to any case that is pending or commenced on or after the

date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 1214. POSTPETITION TRANSACTIONS.

Section 549(c) of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting ‘‘an interest in’’ after ‘‘transfer of’’ each

place it appears;

(2) by striking ‘‘such property’’ and inserting ‘‘such real

property’’; and

(3) by striking ‘‘the interest’’ and inserting ‘‘such interest’’.

SEC. 1215. DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY OF THE ESTATE.

Section 726(b) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by striking ‘‘1009,’’.

SEC. 1216. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

Section 901(a) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by inserting ‘‘1123(d),’’ after ‘‘1123(b),’’.

SEC. 1217. ABANDONMENT OF RAILROAD LINE.

Section 1170(e)(1) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by striking ‘‘section 11347’’ and inserting ‘‘section 11326(a)’’.

SEC. 1218. CONTENTS OF PLAN.

Section 1172(c)(1) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by striking ‘‘section 11347’’ and inserting ‘‘section 11326(a)’’.

SEC. 1219. BANKRUPTCY CASES AND PROCEEDINGS.

Section 1334(d) of title 28, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘made under this subsection’’ and inserting

‘‘made under subsection (c)’’; and

(2) by striking ‘‘This subsection’’ and inserting ‘‘Subsection

(c) and this subsection’’.

SEC. 1220. KNOWING DISREGARD OF BANKRUPTCY LAW OR RULE.

Section 156(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in the first undesignated paragraph—

(A) by inserting ‘‘(1) the term’’ before ‘‘ ‘bankruptcy’’;

and

(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting

‘‘; and’’; and

(2) in the second undesignated paragraph—

(A) by inserting ‘‘(2) the term’’ before ‘‘ ‘document’’;

and

(B) by striking ‘‘this title’’ and inserting ‘‘title 11’’.

SEC. 1221. TRANSFERS MADE BY NONPROFIT CHARITABLE CORPORATIONS.

(a) SALE OF PROPERTY OF ESTATE.—Section 363(d) of title 11,

United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘only’’ and all that

follows through the end of the subsection and inserting ‘‘only—
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‘‘(1) in accordance with applicable nonbankruptcy law that

governs the transfer of property by a corporation or trust that

is not a moneyed, business, or commercial corporation or trust;

and

‘‘(2) to the extent not inconsistent with any relief granted

under subsection (c), (d), (e), or (f) of section 362.’’.

(b) CONFIRMATION OF PLAN OF REORGANIZATION.—Section

1129(a) of title 11, United States Code, as amended by sections

213 and 321, is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(16) All transfers of property of the plan shall be made

in accordance with any applicable provisions of nonbankruptcy

law that govern the transfer of property by a corporation or

trust that is not a moneyed, business, or commercial corporation

or trust.’’.

(c) TRANSFER OF PROPERTY.—Section 541 of title 11, United

States Code, as amended by section 225, is amended by adding

at the end the following:

‘‘(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, property

that is held by a debtor that is a corporation described in section

501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from

tax under section 501(a) of such Code may be transferred to an

entity that is not such a corporation, but only under the same

conditions as would apply if the debtor had not filed a case under

this title.’’.

(d) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by this section shall

apply to a case pending under title 11, United States Code, on

the date of enactment of this Act, or filed under that title on

or after that date of enactment, except that the court shall not

confirm a plan under chapter 11 of title 11, United States Code,

without considering whether this section would substantially affect

the rights of a party in interest who first acquired rights with

respect to the debtor after the date of the filing of the petition.

The parties who may appear and be heard in a proceeding under

this section include the attorney general of the State in which

the debtor is incorporated, was formed, or does business.

(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be

construed to require the court in which a case under chapter 11

of title 11, United States Code, is pending to remand or refer

any proceeding, issue, or controversy to any other court or to require

the approval of any other court for the transfer of property.

SEC. 1222. PROTECTION OF VALID PURCHASE MONEY SECURITY

INTERESTS.

Section 547(c)(3)(B) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

by striking ‘‘20’’ and inserting ‘‘30’’.

SEC. 1223. BANKRUPTCY JUDGESHIPS.

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the ‘‘Bankruptcy

Judgeship Act of 2005’’.

(b) TEMPORARY JUDGESHIPS.—

(1) APPOINTMENTS.—The following bankruptcy judges shall

be appointed in the manner prescribed in section 152(a)(1)

of title 28, United States Code, for the appointment of bankruptcy judges provided for in section 152(a)(2) of such title:

(A) One additional bankruptcy judge for the eastern

district of California.

(B) Three additional bankruptcy judges for the central

district of California.
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(C) Four additional bankruptcy judges for the district

of Delaware.

(D) Two additional bankruptcy judges for the southern

district of Florida.

(E) One additional bankruptcy judge for the southern

district of Georgia.

(F) Three additional bankruptcy judges for the district

of Maryland.

(G) One additional bankruptcy judge for the eastern

district of Michigan.

(H) One additional bankruptcy judge for the southern

district of Mississippi.

(I) One additional bankruptcy judge for the district

of New Jersey.

(J) One additional bankruptcy judge for the eastern

district of New York.

(K) One additional bankruptcy judge for the northern

district of New York.

(L) One additional bankruptcy judge for the southern

district of New York.

(M) One additional bankruptcy judge for the eastern

district of North Carolina.

(N) One additional bankruptcy judge for the eastern

district of Pennsylvania.

(O) One additional bankruptcy judge for the middle

district of Pennsylvania.

(P) One additional bankruptcy judge for the district

of Puerto Rico.

(Q) One additional bankruptcy judge for the western

district of Tennessee.

(R) One additional bankruptcy judge for the eastern

district of Virginia.

(S) One additional bankruptcy judge for the district

of South Carolina.

(T) One additional bankruptcy judge for the district

of Nevada.

(2) VACANCIES.—

(A) DISTRICTS WITH SINGLE APPOINTMENTS.—Except as

provided in subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), and (E), the first

vacancy occurring in the office of bankruptcy judge in each

of the judicial districts set forth in paragraph (1)—

(i) occurring 5 years or more after the appointment

date of the bankruptcy judge appointed under paragraph (1) to such office; and

(ii) resulting from the death, retirement, resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy judge;

shall not be filled.

(B) CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA.—The 1st, 2d,

and 3d vacancies in the office of bankruptcy judge in the

central district of California—

(i) occurring 5 years or more after the respective

1st, 2d, and 3d appointment dates of the bankruptcy

judges appointed under paragraph (1)(B); and

(ii) resulting from the death, retirement, resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy judge;

shall not be filled.
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(C) DISTRICT OF DELAWARE.—The 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th

vacancies in the office of bankruptcy judge in the district

of Delaware—

(i) occurring 5 years or more after the respective

1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th appointment dates of the bankruptcy judges appointed under paragraph (1)(F); and

(ii) resulting from the death, retirement, resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy judge;

shall not be filled.

(D) SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA.—The 1st and 2d

vacancies in the office of bankruptcy judge in the southern

district of Florida—

(i) occurring 5 years or more after the respective

1st and 2d appointment dates of the bankruptcy judges

appointed under paragraph (1)(D); and

(ii) resulting from the death, retirement, resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy judge;

shall not be filled.

(E) DISTRICT OF MARYLAND.—The 1st, 2d, and 3d

vacancies in the office of bankruptcy judge in the district

of Maryland—

(i) occurring 5 years or more after the respective

1st, 2d, and 3d appointment dates of the bankruptcy

judges appointed under paragraph (1)(F); and

(ii) resulting from the death, retirement, resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy judge;

shall not be filled.

(c) EXTENSIONS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The temporary office of bankruptcy judges

authorized for the northern district of Alabama, the district

of Delaware, the district of Puerto Rico, and the eastern district

of Tennessee under paragraphs (1), (3), (7), and (9) of section

3(a) of the Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 1992 (28 U.S.C. 152

note) are extended until the first vacancy occurring in the

office of a bankruptcy judge in the applicable district resulting

from the death, retirement, resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy judge and occurring 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS.—All other provisions of section 3 of the Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 1992

(28 U.S.C. 152 note) remain applicable to the temporary office

of bankruptcy judges referred to in this subsection.

(d) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Section 152(a) of title 28, United

States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking the first sentence and

inserting the following: ‘‘Each bankruptcy judge to be appointed

for a judicial district, as provided in paragraph (2), shall be

appointed by the court of appeals of the United States for

the circuit in which such district is located.’’; and

(2) in paragraph (2)—

(A) in the item relating to the middle district of

Georgia, by striking ‘‘2’’ and inserting ‘‘3’’; and

(B) in the collective item relating to the middle and

southern districts of Georgia, by striking ‘‘Middle and

Southern . . . . . . 1’’.

(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section

shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
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SEC. 1224. COMPENSATING TRUSTEES.

Section 1326 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘and’’;

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the

end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(3) if a chapter 7 trustee has been allowed compensation

due to the conversion or dismissal of the debtor’s prior case

pursuant to section 707(b), and some portion of that compensation remains unpaid in a case converted to this chapter or

in the case dismissed under section 707(b) and refiled under

this chapter, the amount of any such unpaid compensation,

which shall be paid monthly—

‘‘(A) by prorating such amount over the remaining

duration of the plan; and

‘‘(B) by monthly payments not to exceed the greater

of—

‘‘(i) $25; or

‘‘(ii) the amount payable to unsecured nonpriority

creditors, as provided by the plan, multiplied by 5

percent, and the result divided by the number of

months in the plan.’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title—

‘‘(1) compensation referred to in subsection (b)(3) is payable

and may be collected by the trustee under that paragraph,

even if such amount has been discharged in a prior case under

this title; and

‘‘(2) such compensation is payable in a case under this

chapter only to the extent permitted by subsection (b)(3).’’.

SEC. 1225. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 362 OF TITLE 11, UNITED STATES

CODE.

Section 362(b)(18) of title 11, United States Code, is amended

to read as follows:

‘‘(18) under subsection (a) of the creation or perfection

of a statutory lien for an ad valorem property tax, or a special

tax or special assessment on real property whether or not

ad valorem, imposed by a governmental unit, if such tax or

assessment comes due after the date of the filing of the petition;’’.

SEC. 1226. JUDICIAL EDUCATION.

The Director of the Federal Judicial Center, in consultation

with the Director of the Executive Office for United States Trustees,

shall develop materials and conduct such training as may be useful

to courts in implementing this Act and the amendments made

by this Act, including the requirements relating to the means test

under section 707(b), and reaffirmation agreements under section

524, of title 11 of the United States Code, as amended by this

Act.

SEC. 1227. RECLAMATION.

(a) RIGHTS AND POWERS OF THE TRUSTEE.—Section 546(c) of

title 11, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(c)(1) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section and

in section 507(c), and subject to the prior rights of a holder of
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a security interest in such goods or the proceeds thereof, the rights

and powers of the trustee under sections 544(a), 545, 547, and

549 are subject to the right of a seller of goods that has sold

goods to the debtor, in the ordinary course of such seller’s business,

to reclaim such goods if the debtor has received such goods while

insolvent, within 45 days before the date of the commencement

of a case under this title, but such seller may not reclaim such

goods unless such seller demands in writing reclamation of such

goods—

‘‘(A) not later than 45 days after the date of receipt of

such goods by the debtor; or

‘‘(B) not later than 20 days after the date of commencement

of the case, if the 45-day period expires after the commencement

of the case.

‘‘(2) If a seller of goods fails to provide notice in the manner

described in paragraph (1), the seller still may assert the rights

contained in section 503(b)(9).’’.

(b) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Section 503(b) of title 11,

United States Code, as amended by sections 445 and 1103, is

amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(9) the value of any goods received by the debtor within

20 days before the date of commencement of a case under

this title in which the goods have been sold to the debtor

in the ordinary course of such debtor’s business.’’.

SEC. 1228. PROVIDING REQUESTED TAX DOCUMENTS TO THE COURT.

(a) CHAPTER 7 CASES.—The court shall not grant a discharge

in the case of an individual who is a debtor in a case under

chapter 7 of title 11, United States Code, unless requested tax

documents have been provided to the court.

(b) CHAPTER 11 AND CHAPTER 13 CASES.—The court shall not

confirm a plan of reorganization in the case of an individual under

chapter 11 or 13 of title 11, United States Code, unless requested

tax documents have been filed with the court.

(c) DOCUMENT RETENTION.—The court shall destroy documents

submitted in support of a bankruptcy claim not sooner than 3

years after the date of the conclusion of a case filed by an individual

under chapter 7, 11, or 13 of title 11, United States Code. In

the event of a pending audit or enforcement action, the court

may extend the time for destruction of such requested tax documents.

SEC. 1229. ENCOURAGING CREDITWORTHINESS.

(a) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Congress

that—

(1) certain lenders may sometimes offer credit to consumers

indiscriminately, without taking steps to ensure that consumers

are capable of repaying the resulting debt, and in a manner

which may encourage certain consumers to accumulate additional debt; and

(2) resulting consumer debt may increasingly be a major

contributing factor to consumer insolvency.

(b) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Board of Governors of the Federal

Reserve System (hereafter in this section referred to as the ‘‘Board’’)

shall conduct a study of—

(1) consumer credit industry practices of soliciting and

extending credit—

(A) indiscriminately;
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(B) without taking steps to ensure that consumers

are capable of repaying the resulting debt; and

(C) in a manner that encourages consumers to accumulate additional debt; and

(2) the effects of such practices on consumer debt and

insolvency.

(c) REPORT AND REGULATIONS.—Not later than 12 months after

the date of enactment of this Act, the Board—

(1) shall make public a report on its findings with respect

to the indiscriminate solicitation and extension of credit by

the credit industry;

(2) may issue regulations that would require additional

disclosures to consumers; and

(3) may take any other actions, consistent with its existing

statutory authority, that the Board finds necessary to ensure

responsible industrywide practices and to prevent resulting

consumer debt and insolvency.

SEC. 1230. PROPERTY NO LONGER SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION.

Section 541(b) of title 11, United States Code, as amended

by sections 225 and 323, is amended by adding after paragraph

(7), as added by section 323, the following:

‘‘(8) subject to subchapter III of chapter 5, any interest

of the debtor in property where the debtor pledged or sold

tangible personal property (other than securities or written

or printed evidences of indebtedness or title) as collateral for

a loan or advance of money given by a person licensed under

law to make such loans or advances, where—

‘‘(A) the tangible personal property is in the possession

of the pledgee or transferee;

‘‘(B) the debtor has no obligation to repay the money,

redeem the collateral, or buy back the property at a stipulated price; and

‘‘(C) neither the debtor nor the trustee have exercised

any right to redeem provided under the contract or State

law, in a timely manner as provided under State law and

section 108(b); or’’.

SEC. 1231. TRUSTEES.

(a) SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION OF PANEL TRUSTEES AND

STANDING TRUSTEES.—Section 586(d) of title 28, United States

Code, is amended—

(1) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(d)’’; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(2) A trustee whose appointment under subsection (a)(1) or

under subsection (b) is terminated or who ceases to be assigned

to cases filed under title 11, United States Code, may obtain judicial

review of the final agency decision by commencing an action in

the district court of the United States for the district for which

the panel to which the trustee is appointed under subsection (a)(1),

or in the district court of the United States for the district in

which the trustee is appointed under subsection (b) resides, after

first exhausting all available administrative remedies, which if

the trustee so elects, shall also include an administrative hearing

on the record. Unless the trustee elects to have an administrative

hearing on the record, the trustee shall be deemed to have

exhausted all administrative remedies for purposes of this paragraph if the agency fails to make a final agency decision within
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90 days after the trustee requests administrative remedies. The

Attorney General shall prescribe procedures to implement this paragraph. The decision of the agency shall be affirmed by the district

court unless it is unreasonable and without cause based on the

administrative record before the agency.’’.

(b) EXPENSES OF STANDING TRUSTEES.—Section 586(e) of title

28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the

following:

‘‘(3) After first exhausting all available administrative remedies,

an individual appointed under subsection (b) may obtain judicial

review of final agency action to deny a claim of actual, necessary

expenses under this subsection by commencing an action in the

district court of the United States for the district where the individual resides. The decision of the agency shall be affirmed by

the district court unless it is unreasonable and without cause based

upon the administrative record before the agency.

‘‘(4) The Attorney General shall prescribe procedures to implement this subsection.’’.

SEC. 1232. BANKRUPTCY FORMS.

Section 2075 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

‘‘The bankruptcy rules promulgated under this section shall

prescribe a form for the statement required under section

707(b)(2)(C) of title 11 and may provide general rules on the content

of such statement.’’.

SEC. 1233. DIRECT APPEALS OF BANKRUPTCY MATTERS TO COURTS

OF APPEALS.

(a) APPEALS.—Section 158 of title 28, United States Code, is

amended—

(1) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘Subject to subsection

(b),’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to subsections (b) and (d)(2),’’; and

(2) in subsection (d)—

(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(d)’’; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(2)(A) The appropriate court of appeals shall have jurisdiction

of appeals described in the first sentence of subsection (a) if the

bankruptcy court, the district court, or the bankruptcy appellate

panel involved, acting on its own motion or on the request of

a party to the judgment, order, or decree described in such first

sentence, or all the appellants and appellees (if any) acting jointly,

certify that—

‘‘(i) the judgment, order, or decree involves a question of

law as to which there is no controlling decision of the court

of appeals for the circuit or of the Supreme Court of the United

States, or involves a matter of public importance;

‘‘(ii) the judgment, order, or decree involves a question

of law requiring resolution of conflicting decisions; or

‘‘(iii) an immediate appeal from the judgment, order, or

decree may materially advance the progress of the case or

proceeding in which the appeal is taken;

and if the court of appeals authorizes the direct appeal of the

judgment, order, or decree.

‘‘(B) If the bankruptcy court, the district court, or the bankruptcy appellate panel—
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‘‘(i) on its own motion or on the request of a party, determines that a circumstance specified in clause (i), (ii), or (iii)

of subparagraph (A) exists; or

‘‘(ii) receives a request made by a majority of the appellants

and a majority of appellees (if any) to make the certification

described in subparagraph (A);

then the bankruptcy court, the district court, or the bankruptcy

appellate panel shall make the certification described in subparagraph (A).

‘‘(C) The parties may supplement the certification with a short

statement of the basis for the certification.

‘‘(D) An appeal under this paragraph does not stay any proceeding of the bankruptcy court, the district court, or the bankruptcy

appellate panel from which the appeal is taken, unless the respective bankruptcy court, district court, or bankruptcy appellate panel,

or the court of appeals in which the appeal in pending, issues

a stay of such proceeding pending the appeal.

‘‘(E) Any request under subparagraph (B) for certification shall

be made not later than 60 days after the entry of the judgment,

order, or decree.’’.

(b) PROCEDURAL RULES.—

(1) TEMPORARY APPLICATION.—A provision of this subsection shall apply to appeals under section 158(d)(2) of title

28, United States Code, until a rule of practice and procedure

relating to such provision and such appeals is promulgated

or amended under chapter 131 of such title.

(2) CERTIFICATION.—A district court, a bankruptcy court,

or a bankruptcy appellate panel may make a certification under

section 158(d)(2) of title 28, United States Code, only with

respect to matters pending in the respective bankruptcy court,

district court, or bankruptcy appellate panel.

(3) PROCEDURE.—Subject to any other provision of this

subsection, an appeal authorized by the court of appeals under

section 158(d)(2)(A) of title 28, United States Code, shall be

taken in the manner prescribed in subdivisions (a)(1), (b), (c),

and (d) of rule 5 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.

For purposes of subdivision (a)(1) of rule 5—

(A) a reference in such subdivision to a district court

shall be deemed to include a reference to a bankruptcy

court and a bankruptcy appellate panel, as appropriate;

and

(B) a reference in such subdivision to the parties

requesting permission to appeal to be served with the petition shall be deemed to include a reference to the parties

to the judgment, order, or decree from which the appeal

is taken.

(4) FILING OF PETITION WITH ATTACHMENT.—A petition

requesting permission to appeal, that is based on a certification

made under subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 158(d)(2) shall—

(A) be filed with the circuit clerk not later than 10

days after the certification is entered on the docket of

the bankruptcy court, the district court, or the bankruptcy

appellate panel from which the appeal is taken; and

(B) have attached a copy of such certification.

(5) REFERENCES IN RULE 5.—For purposes of rule 5 of

the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure—
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(A) a reference in such rule to a district court shall

be deemed to include a reference to a bankruptcy court

and to a bankruptcy appellate panel; and

(B) a reference in such rule to a district clerk shall

be deemed to include a reference to a clerk of a bankruptcy

court and to a clerk of a bankruptcy appellate panel.

(6) APPLICATION OF RULES.—The Federal Rules of Appellate

Procedure shall apply in the courts of appeals with respect

to appeals authorized under section 158(d)(2)(A), to the extent

relevant and as if such appeals were taken from final judgments, orders, or decrees of the district courts or bankruptcy

appellate panels exercising appellate jurisdiction under subsection (a) or (b) of section 158 of title 28, United States

Code.

SEC. 1234. INVOLUNTARY CASES.

(a) AMENDMENTS.—Section 303 of title 11, United States Code,

is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)(1), by—

(A) inserting ‘‘as to liability or amount’’ after ‘‘bona

fide dispute’’; and

(B) striking ‘‘if such claims’’ and inserting ‘‘if such

noncontingent, undisputed claims’’; and

(2) in subsection (h)(1), by inserting ‘‘as to liability or

amount’’ before the semicolon at the end.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.—This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect

on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with

respect to cases commenced under title 11 of the United States

Code before, on, and after such date.

SEC. 1235. FEDERAL ELECTION LAW FINES AND PENALTIES AS NONDISCHARGEABLE DEBT.

Section 523(a) of title 11, United States Code, as amended

by section 314, is amended by inserting after paragraph (14A)

the following:

‘‘(14B) incurred to pay fines or penalties imposed under

Federal election law;’’.

TITLE XIII—CONSUMER CREDIT

DISCLOSURE

SEC. 1301. ENHANCED DISCLOSURES UNDER AN OPEN END CREDIT

PLAN.

(a) MINIMUM PAYMENT DISCLOSURES.—Section 127(b) of the

Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1637(b)) is amended by adding

at the end the following:

‘‘(11)(A) In the case of an open end credit plan that requires

a minimum monthly payment of not more than 4 percent of

the balance on which finance charges are accruing, the following

statement, located on the front of the billing statement, disclosed clearly and conspicuously: ‘Minimum Payment Warning:

Making only the minimum payment will increase the interest

you pay and the time it takes to repay your balance. For

example, making only the typical 2% minimum monthly payment on a balance of $1,000 at an interest rate of 17% would
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take 88 months to repay the balance in full. For an estimate

of the time it would take to repay your balance, making only

minimum payments, call this toll-free number: llllll.’

(the blank space to be filled in by the creditor).

‘‘(B) In the case of an open end credit plan that requires

a minimum monthly payment of more than 4 percent of the

balance on which finance charges are accruing, the following

statement, in a prominent location on the front of the billing

statement, disclosed clearly and conspicuously: ‘Minimum Payment Warning: Making only the required minimum payment

will increase the interest you pay and the time it takes to

repay your balance. Making a typical 5% minimum monthly

payment on a balance of $300 at an interest rate of 17%

would take 24 months to repay the balance in full. For an

estimate of the time it would take to repay your balance,

making only minimum monthly payments, call this toll-free

number: llllll.’ (the blank space to be filled in by the

creditor).

‘‘(C) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), in the

case of a creditor with respect to which compliance with this

title is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, the following

statement, in a prominent location on the front of the billing

statement, disclosed clearly and conspicuously: ‘Minimum Payment Warning: Making only the required minimum payment

will increase the interest you pay and the time it takes to

repay your balance. For example, making only the typical 5%

minimum monthly payment on a balance of $300 at an interest

rate of 17% would take 24 months to repay the balance in

full. For an estimate of the time it would take to repay your

balance, making only minimum monthly payments, call the

Federal Trade Commission at this toll-free number:

llllll.’ (the blank space to be filled in by the creditor).

A creditor who is subject to this subparagraph shall not be

subject to subparagraph (A) or (B).

‘‘(D) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), (B), or (C), in complying with any such subparagraph, a creditor may substitute

an example based on an interest rate that is greater than

17 percent. Any creditor that is subject to subparagraph (B)

may elect to provide the disclosure required under subparagraph (A) in lieu of the disclosure required under subparagraph

(B).

‘‘(E) The Board shall, by rule, periodically recalculate, as

necessary, the interest rate and repayment period under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C).

‘‘(F)(i) The toll-free telephone number disclosed by a creditor or the Federal Trade Commission under subparagraph

(A), (B), or (G), as appropriate, may be a toll-free telephone

number established and maintained by the creditor or the

Federal Trade Commission, as appropriate, or may be a tollfree telephone number established and maintained by a third

party for use by the creditor or multiple creditors or the Federal

Trade Commission, as appropriate. The toll-free telephone

number may connect consumers to an automated device through

which consumers may obtain information described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C), by inputting information using a touchtone telephone or similar device, if consumers whose telephones

are not equipped to use such automated device are provided
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the opportunity to be connected to an individual from whom

the information described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C),

as applicable, may be obtained. A person that receives a request

for information described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) from

an obligor through the toll-free telephone number disclosed

under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C), as applicable, shall disclose

in response to such request only the information set forth

in the table promulgated by the Board under subparagraph

(H)(i).

‘‘(ii)(I) The Board shall establish and maintain for a period

not to exceed 24 months following the effective date of the

Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act

of 2005, a toll-free telephone number, or provide a toll-free

telephone number established and maintained by a third party,

for use by creditors that are depository institutions (as defined

in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act), including

a Federal credit union or State credit union (as defined in

section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act), with total assets

not exceeding $250,000,000. The toll-free telephone number

may connect consumers to an automated device through which

consumers may obtain information described in subparagraph

(A) or (B), as applicable, by inputting information using a

touch-tone telephone or similar device, if consumers whose

telephones are not equipped to use such automated device

are provided the opportunity to be connected to an individual

from whom the information described in subparagraph (A) or

(B), as applicable, may be obtained. A person that receives

a request for information described in subparagraph (A) or

(B) from an obligor through the toll-free telephone number

disclosed under subparagraph (A) or (B), as applicable, shall

disclose in response to such request only the information set

forth in the table promulgated by the Board under subparagraph (H)(i). The dollar amount contained in this subclause

shall be adjusted according to an indexing mechanism established by the Board.

‘‘(II) Not later than 6 months prior to the expiration of

the 24-month period referenced in subclause (I), the Board

shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban

Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services

of the House of Representatives a report on the program

described in subclause (I).

‘‘(G) The Federal Trade Commission shall establish and

maintain a toll-free number for the purpose of providing to

consumers the information required to be disclosed under

subparagraph (C).

‘‘(H) The Board shall—

‘‘(i) establish a detailed table illustrating the approximate number of months that it would take to repay an

outstanding balance if a consumer pays only the required

minimum monthly payments and if no other advances are

made, which table shall clearly present standardized

information to be used to disclose the information required

to be disclosed under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C), as

applicable;

‘‘(ii) establish the table required under clause (i) by

assuming—
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‘‘(I) a significant number of different annual

percentage rates;

‘‘(II) a significant number of different account balances;

‘‘(III) a significant number of different minimum

payment amounts; and

‘‘(IV) that only minimum monthly payments are

made and no additional extensions of credit are

obtained; and

‘‘(iii) promulgate regulations that provide instructional

guidance regarding the manner in which the information

contained in the table established under clause (i) should

be used in responding to the request of an obligor for

any information required to be disclosed under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).

‘‘(I) The disclosure requirements of this paragraph do not

apply to any charge card account, the primary purpose of which

is to require payment of charges in full each month.

‘‘(J) A creditor that maintains a toll-free telephone number

for the purpose of providing customers with the actual number

of months that it will take to repay the customer’s outstanding

balance is not subject to the requirements of subparagraph

(A) or (B).

‘‘(K) A creditor that maintains a toll-free telephone number

for the purpose of providing customers with the actual number

of months that it will take to repay an outstanding balance

shall include the following statement on each billing statement:

‘Making only the minimum payment will increase the interest

you pay and the time it takes to repay your balance. For

more information, call this toll-free number: llll.’ (the

blank space to be filled in by the creditor).’’.

(b) REGULATORY IMPLEMENTATION.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board of Governors of the Federal

Reserve System (hereafter in this title referred to as the

‘‘Board’’) shall promulgate regulations implementing the

requirements of section 127(b)(11) of the Truth in Lending

Act, as added by subsection (a) of this section.

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 127(b)(11) of the Truth in

Lending Act, as added by subsection (a) of this section, and

the regulations issued under paragraph (1) of this subsection

shall not take effect until the later of—

(A) 18 months after the date of enactment of this

Act; or

(B) 12 months after the publication of such final regulations by the Board.

(c) STUDY OF FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Board may conduct a study to determine the types of information available to potential borrowers

from consumer credit lending institutions regarding factors

qualifying potential borrowers for credit, repayment requirements, and the consequences of default.

(2) FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION.—In conducting a study

under paragraph (1), the Board should, in consultation with

the other Federal banking agencies (as defined in section 3

of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act), the National Credit

Union Administration, and the Federal Trade Commission, consider the extent to which—
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(A) consumers, in establishing new credit arrangements, are aware of their existing payment obligations,

the need to consider those obligations in deciding to take

on new credit, and how taking on excessive credit can

result in financial difficulty;

(B) minimum periodic payment features offered in

connection with open end credit plans impact consumer

default rates;

(C) consumers make only the required minimum payment under open end credit plans;

(D) consumers are aware that making only required

minimum payments will increase the cost and repayment

period of an open end credit obligation; and

(E) the availability of low minimum payment options

is a cause of consumers experiencing financial difficulty.

(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Findings of the Board in connection with any study conducted under this subsection shall be

submitted to Congress. Such report shall also include recommendations for legislative initiatives, if any, of the Board,

based on its findings.

SEC. 1302. ENHANCED DISCLOSURE FOR CREDIT EXTENSIONS

SECURED BY A DWELLING.

(a) OPEN END CREDIT EXTENSIONS.—

(1) CREDIT APPLICATIONS.—Section 127A(a)(13) of the Truth

in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1637a(a)(13)) is amended—

(A) by striking ‘‘CONSULTATION OF TAX ADVISER.—A

statement that the’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘TAX

DEDUCTIBILITY.—A statement that—

‘‘(A) the’’; and

(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting

the following: ‘‘; and

‘‘(B) in any case in which the extension of credit exceeds

the fair market value (as defined under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) of the dwelling, the interest on the

portion of the credit extension that is greater than the

fair market value of the dwelling is not tax deductible

for Federal income tax purposes.’’.

(2) CREDIT ADVERTISEMENTS.—Section 147(b) of the Truth

in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1665b(b)) is amended—

(A) by striking ‘‘If any’’ and inserting the following:

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—If any’’; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(2) CREDIT IN EXCESS OF FAIR MARKET VALUE.—Each

advertisement described in subsection (a) that relates to an

extension of credit that may exceed the fair market value

of the dwelling, and which advertisement is disseminated in

paper form to the public or through the Internet, as opposed

to by radio or television, shall include a clear and conspicuous

statement that—

‘‘(A) the interest on the portion of the credit extension

that is greater than the fair market value of the dwelling

is not tax deductible for Federal income tax purposes; and

‘‘(B) the consumer should consult a tax adviser for

further information regarding the deductibility of interest

and charges.’’.

(b) NON-OPEN END CREDIT EXTENSIONS.—
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(1) CREDIT APPLICATIONS.—Section 128 of the Truth in

Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1638) is amended—

(A) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(15) In the case of a consumer credit transaction that

is secured by the principal dwelling of the consumer, in which

the extension of credit may exceed the fair market value of

the dwelling, a clear and conspicuous statement that—

‘‘(A) the interest on the portion of the credit extension

that is greater than the fair market value of the dwelling

is not tax deductible for Federal income tax purposes; and

‘‘(B) the consumer should consult a tax adviser for

further information regarding the deductibility of interest

and charges.’’; and

(B) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(3) In the case of a credit transaction described in paragraph

(15) of subsection (a), disclosures required by that paragraph shall

be made to the consumer at the time of application for such extension of credit.’’.

(2) CREDIT ADVERTISEMENTS.—Section 144 of the Truth

in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1664) is amended by adding at

the end the following:

‘‘(e) Each advertisement to which this section applies that

relates to a consumer credit transaction that is secured by the

principal dwelling of a consumer in which the extension of credit

may exceed the fair market value of the dwelling, and which

advertisement is disseminated in paper form to the public or

through the Internet, as opposed to by radio or television, shall

clearly and conspicuously state that—

‘‘(1) the interest on the portion of the credit extension

that is greater than the fair market value of the dwelling

is not tax deductible for Federal income tax purposes; and

‘‘(2) the consumer should consult a tax adviser for further

information regarding the deductibility of interest and

charges.’’.

(c) REGULATORY IMPLEMENTATION.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall promulgate regulations

implementing the amendments made by this section.

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Regulations issued under paragraph

(1) shall not take effect until the later of—

(A) 12 months after the date of enactment of this

Act; or

(B) 12 months after the date of publication of such

final regulations by the Board.

SEC. 1303. DISCLOSURES RELATED TO ‘‘INTRODUCTORY RATES’’.

(a) INTRODUCTORY RATE DISCLOSURES.—Section 127(c) of the

Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1637(c)) is amended by adding

at the end the following:

‘‘(6) ADDITIONAL NOTICE CONCERNING ‘INTRODUCTORY

RATES’.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph

(B), an application or solicitation to open a credit card

account and all promotional materials accompanying such

application or solicitation for which a disclosure is required

under paragraph (1), and that offers a temporary annual

percentage rate of interest, shall—
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‘‘(i) use the term ‘introductory’ in immediate proximity to each listing of the temporary annual percentage rate applicable to such account, which term shall

appear clearly and conspicuously;

‘‘(ii) if the annual percentage rate of interest that

will apply after the end of the temporary rate period

will be a fixed rate, state in a clear and conspicuous

manner in a prominent location closely proximate to

the first listing of the temporary annual percentage

rate (other than a listing of the temporary annual

percentage rate in the tabular format described in

section 122(c)), the time period in which the introductory period will end and the annual percentage rate

that will apply after the end of the introductory period;

and

‘‘(iii) if the annual percentage rate that will apply

after the end of the temporary rate period will vary

in accordance with an index, state in a clear and conspicuous manner in a prominent location closely proximate to the first listing of the temporary annual

percentage rate (other than a listing in the tabular

format prescribed by section 122(c)), the time period

in which the introductory period will end and the rate

that will apply after that, based on an annual percentage rate that was in effect within 60 days before the

date of mailing the application or solicitation.

‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—Clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph

(A) do not apply with respect to any listing of a temporary

annual percentage rate on an envelope or other enclosure

in which an application or solicitation to open a credit

card account is mailed.

‘‘(C) CONDITIONS FOR INTRODUCTORY RATES.—An

application or solicitation to open a credit card account

for which a disclosure is required under paragraph (1),

and that offers a temporary annual percentage rate of

interest shall, if that rate of interest is revocable under

any circumstance or upon any event, clearly and conspicuously disclose, in a prominent manner on or with such

application or solicitation—

‘‘(i) a general description of the circumstances that

may result in the revocation of the temporary annual

percentage rate; and

‘‘(ii) if the annual percentage rate that will apply

upon the revocation of the temporary annual percentage rate—

‘‘(I) will be a fixed rate, the annual percentage

rate that will apply upon the revocation of the

temporary annual percentage rate; or

‘‘(II) will vary in accordance with an index,

the rate that will apply after the temporary rate,

based on an annual percentage rate that was in

effect within 60 days before the date of mailing

the application or solicitation.

‘‘(D) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph—

‘‘(i) the terms ‘temporary annual percentage rate

of interest’ and ‘temporary annual percentage rate’

mean any rate of interest applicable to a credit card
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account for an introductory period of less than 1 year,

if that rate is less than an annual percentage rate

that was in effect within 60 days before the date of

mailing the application or solicitation; and

‘‘(ii) the term ‘introductory period’ means the maximum time period for which the temporary annual

percentage rate may be applicable.

‘‘(E) RELATION TO OTHER DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.—

Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to supersede

subsection (a) of section 122, or any disclosure required

by paragraph (1) or any other provision of this subsection.’’.

(b) REGULATORY IMPLEMENTATION.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall promulgate regulations

implementing the requirements of section 127(c)(6) of the Truth

in Lending Act, as added by this section.

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 127(c)(6) of the Truth in

Lending Act, as added by this section, and regulations issued

under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not take effect

until the later of—

(A) 12 months after the date of enactment of this

Act; or

(B) 12 months after the date of publication of such

final regulations by the Board.

SEC. 1304. INTERNET-BASED CREDIT CARD SOLICITATIONS.

(a) INTERNET-BASED SOLICITATIONS.—Section 127(c) of the

Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1637(c)) is amended by adding

at the end the following:

‘‘(7) INTERNET-BASED SOLICITATIONS.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In any solicitation to open a credit

card account for any person under an open end consumer

credit plan using the Internet or other interactive computer

service, the person making the solicitation shall clearly

and conspicuously disclose—

‘‘(i) the information described in subparagraphs

(A) and (B) of paragraph (1); and

‘‘(ii) the information described in paragraph (6).

‘‘(B) FORM OF DISCLOSURE.—The disclosures required

by subparagraph (A) shall be—

‘‘(i) readily accessible to consumers in close proximity to the solicitation to open a credit card account;

and

‘‘(ii) updated regularly to reflect the current policies, terms, and fee amounts applicable to the credit

card account.

‘‘(C) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this paragraph—

‘‘(i) the term ‘Internet’ means the international

computer network of both Federal and non-Federal

interoperable packet switched data networks; and

‘‘(ii) the term ‘interactive computer service’ means

any information service, system, or access software

provider that provides or enables computer access by

multiple users to a computer server, including specifically a service or system that provides access to the

Internet and such systems operated or services offered

by libraries or educational institutions.’’.

(b) REGULATORY IMPLEMENTATION.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall promulgate regulations

implementing the requirements of section 127(c)(7) of the Truth

in Lending Act, as added by this section.

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection

(a) and the regulations issued under paragraph (1) of this

subsection shall not take effect until the later of—

(A) 12 months after the date of enactment of this

Act; or

(B) 12 months after the date of publication of such

final regulations by the Board.

SEC. 1305. DISCLOSURES RELATED TO LATE PAYMENT DEADLINES AND

PENALTIES.

(a) DISCLOSURES RELATED TO LATE PAYMENT DEADLINES AND

PENALTIES.—Section 127(b) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C.

1637(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(12) If a late payment fee is to be imposed due to the

failure of the obligor to make payment on or before a required

payment due date, the following shall be stated clearly and

conspicuously on the billing statement:

‘‘(A) The date on which that payment is due or, if

different, the earliest date on which a late payment fee

may be charged.

‘‘(B) The amount of the late payment fee to be imposed

if payment is made after such date.’’.

(b) REGULATORY IMPLEMENTATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall promulgate regulations

implementing the requirements of section 127(b)(12) of the

Truth in Lending Act, as added by this section.

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection

(a) and regulations issued under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not take effect until the later of—

(A) 12 months after the date of enactment of this

Act; or

(B) 12 months after the date of publication of such

final regulations by the Board.

SEC. 1306. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN ACTIONS FOR FAILURE TO

INCUR FINANCE CHARGES.

(a) PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN ACTIONS FOR FAILURE TO INCUR

FINANCE CHARGES.—Section 127 of the Truth in Lending Act (15

U.S.C. 1637) is amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(h) PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN ACTIONS FOR FAILURE TO INCUR

FINANCE CHARGES.—A creditor of an account under an open end

consumer credit plan may not terminate an account prior to its

expiration date solely because the consumer has not incurred

finance charges on the account. Nothing in this subsection shall

prohibit a creditor from terminating an account for inactivity in

3 or more consecutive months.’’.

(b) REGULATORY IMPLEMENTATION.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall promulgate regulations

implementing the requirements of section 127(h) of the Truth

in Lending Act, as added by this section.

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection

(a) and regulations issued under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not take effect until the later of—

(A) 12 months after the date of enactment of this

Act; or
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(B) 12 months after the date of publication of such

final regulations by the Board.

SEC. 1307. DUAL USE DEBIT CARD.

(a) REPORT.—The Board may conduct a study of, and present

to Congress a report containing its analysis of, consumer protections

under existing law to limit the liability of consumers for unauthorized use of a debit card or similar access device. Such report,

if submitted, shall include recommendations for legislative initiatives, if any, of the Board, based on its findings.

(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In preparing a report under subsection

(a), the Board may include—

(1) the extent to which section 909 of the Electronic Fund

Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 1693g), as in effect at the time of

the report, and the implementing regulations promulgated by

the Board to carry out that section provide adequate unauthorized use liability protection for consumers;

(2) the extent to which any voluntary industry rules have

enhanced or may enhance the level of protection afforded consumers in connection with such unauthorized use liability; and

(3) whether amendments to the Electronic Fund Transfer

Act (15 U.S.C. 1693 et seq.), or revisions to regulations promulgated by the Board to carry out that Act, are necessary to

further address adequate protection for consumers concerning

unauthorized use liability.

SEC. 1308. STUDY OF BANKRUPTCY IMPACT OF CREDIT EXTENDED

TO DEPENDENT STUDENTS.

(a) STUDY.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall conduct a study

regarding the impact that the extension of credit described

in paragraph (2) has on the rate of cases filed under title

11 of the United States Code.

(2) EXTENSION OF CREDIT.—The extension of credit

described in this paragraph is the extension of credit to individuals who are—

(A) claimed as dependents for purposes of the Internal

Revenue Code of 1986; and

(B) enrolled within 1 year of successfully completing

all required secondary education requirements and on a

full-time basis, in postsecondary educational institutions.

(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment

of this Act, the Board shall submit to the Senate and the House

of Representatives a report summarizing the results of the study

conducted under subsection (a).

SEC. 1309. CLARIFICATION OF CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS.

(a) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 6 months after the date

of enactment of this Act, the Board, in consultation with the other

Federal banking agencies (as defined in section 3 of the Federal

Deposit Insurance Act), the National Credit Union Administration

Board, and the Federal Trade Commission, shall promulgate regulations to provide guidance regarding the meaning of the term ‘‘clear

and conspicuous’’, as used in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of

section 127(b)(11) and clauses (ii) and (iii) of section 127(c)(6)(A)

of the Truth in Lending Act.

(b) EXAMPLES.—Regulations promulgated under subsection (a)

shall include examples of clear and conspicuous model disclosures
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for the purposes of disclosures required by the provisions of the

Truth in Lending Act referred to in subsection (a).

(c) STANDARDS.—In promulgating regulations under this section, the Board shall ensure that the clear and conspicuous standard

required for disclosures made under the provisions of the Truth

in Lending Act referred to in subsection (a) can be implemented

in a manner which results in disclosures which are reasonably

understandable and designed to call attention to the nature and

significance of the information in the notice.

TITLE XIV—PREVENTING CORPORATE

BANKRUPTCY ABUSE

SEC. 1401. EMPLOYEE WAGE AND BENEFIT PRIORITIES.

Section 507(a) of title 11, United States Code, as amended

by section 212, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘‘90’’ and inserting ‘‘180’’,

and

(2) in paragraphs (4) and (5) by striking ‘‘$4,000’’ and

inserting ‘‘$10,000’’.

SEC. 1402. FRAUDULENT TRANSFERS AND OBLIGATIONS.

Section 548 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsections (a) and (b) by striking ‘‘one year’’ and

inserting ‘‘2 years’’,

(2) in subsection (a)—

(A) by inserting ‘‘(including any transfer to or for the

benefit of an insider under an employment contract)’’ after

‘‘transfer’’ the 1st place it appears, and

(B) by inserting ‘‘(including any obligation to or for

the benefit of an insider under an employment contract)’’

after ‘‘obligation’’ the 1st place it appears, and

(3) in subsection (a)(1)(B)(ii)—

(A) in subclause (II) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end,

(B) in subclause (III) by striking the period at the

end and inserting ‘‘; or’’, and

(C) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(IV) made such transfer to or for the benefit of an insider,

or incurred such obligation to or for the benefit of an insider,

under an employment contract and not in the ordinary course

of business.’’.

(4) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(e)(1) In addition to any transfer that the trustee may otherwise avoid, the trustee may avoid any transfer of an interest of

the debtor in property that was made on or within 10 years before

the date of the filing of the petition, if—

‘‘(A) such transfer was made to a self-settled trust or similar

device;

‘‘(B) such transfer was by the debtor;

‘‘(C) the debtor is a beneficiary of such trust or similar

device; and

‘‘(D) the debtor made such transfer with actual intent to

hinder, delay, or defraud any entity to which the debtor was

or became, on or after the date that such transfer was made,

indebted.
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‘‘(2) For the purposes of this subsection, a transfer includes

a transfer made in anticipation of any money judgment, settlement,

civil penalty, equitable order, or criminal fine incurred by, or which

the debtor believed would be incurred by—

‘‘(A) any violation of the securities laws (as defined in

section 3(a)(47) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15

U.S.C. 78c(a)(47))), any State securities laws, or any regulation

or order issued under Federal securities laws or State securities

laws; or

‘‘(B) fraud, deceit, or manipulation in a fiduciary capacity

or in connection with the purchase or sale of any security

registered under section 12 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange

Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78l and 78o(d)) or under section 6

of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. 77f).’’.

SEC. 1403. PAYMENT OF INSURANCE BENEFITS TO RETIRED

EMPLOYEES.

Section 1114 of title 11, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsection (l) as subsection (m), and

(2) by inserting after subsection (k) the following:

‘‘(l) If the debtor, during the 180-day period ending on the

date of the filing of the petition—

‘‘(1) modified retiree benefits; and

‘‘(2) was insolvent on the date such benefits were modified;

the court, on motion of a party in interest, and after notice and

a hearing, shall issue an order reinstating as of the date the

modification was made, such benefits as in effect immediately before

such date unless the court finds that the balance of the equities

clearly favors such modification.’’.

SEC. 1404. DEBTS NONDISCHARGEABLE IF INCURRED IN VIOLATION

OF SECURITIES FRAUD LAWS.

(a) PREPETITION AND POSTPETITION EFFECT.—Section

523(a)(19)(B) of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

inserting ‘‘, before, on, or after the date on which the petition

was filed,’’ after ‘‘results’’.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE UPON ENACTMENT OF SARBANES-OXLEY

ACT.—The amendment made by subsection (a) is effective beginning

July 30, 2002.

SEC. 1405. APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEE IN CASES OF SUSPECTED

FRAUD.

Section 1104 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by

adding at the end the following:

‘‘(e) The United States trustee shall move for the appointment

of a trustee under subsection (a) if there are reasonable grounds

to suspect that current members of the governing body of the

debtor, the debtor’s chief executive or chief financial officer, or

members of the governing body who selected the debtor’s chief

executive or chief financial officer, participated in actual fraud,

dishonesty, or criminal conduct in the management of the debtor

or the debtor’s public financial reporting.’’.

SEC. 1406. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.

(a) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as provided in subsection (b),

this title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect

on the date of the enactment of this Act.

(b) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—cept as provided in paragraph (2), the

amendments made by this title shall apply only with respect

to cases commenced under title 11 of the United States Code

on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2) AVOIDANCE PERIOD.—The amendment made by section

1402(1) shall apply only with respect to cases commenced under

title 11 of the United States Code more than 1 year after

the date of the enactment of this Act.

TITLE XV—GENERAL EFFECTIVE DATE;

APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS

SEC. 1501. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.

(a) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as otherwise provided in this

Act, this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take

effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

(b) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided in this Act

and paragraph (2), the amendments made by this Act shall

not apply with respect to cases commenced under title 11,

United States Code, before the effective date of this Act.

(2) CERTAIN LIMITATIONS APPLICABLE TO DEBTORS.—The

amendments made by sections 308, 322, and 330 shall apply

with respect to cases commenced under title 11, United States

Code, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 1502. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

(a) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 11 OF THE UNITED

STATES CODE.—Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended

by the preceding provisions of this Act, is amended—

(1) in section 507—

(A) in subsection (a)—

(i) in paragraph (5)(B)(ii) by striking ‘‘paragraph

(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (4)’’; and

(ii) in paragraph (8)(D) by striking ‘‘paragraph (3)’’

and inserting ‘‘paragraph (4)’’;

(B) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘subsection (a)(1)’’

and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(2)’’; and

(C) in subsection (d) by striking ‘‘subsection (a)(3)’’

and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(1)’’;

(2) in section 523(a)(1)(A) by striking ‘‘507(a)(2)’’ and

inserting ‘‘507(a)(3)’’;

(3) in section 752(a) by striking ‘‘507(a)(1)’’ and inserting

‘‘507(a)(2)’’;

(4) in section 766—

(A) in subsection (h) by striking ‘‘507(a)(1)’’ and

inserting ‘‘507(a)(2)’’; and

(B) in subsection (i) by striking ‘‘507(a)(1)’’ each place

it appears and inserting ‘‘507(a)(2)’’;

(5) in section 901(a) by striking ‘‘507(a)(1)’’ and inserting

‘‘507(a)(2)’’;

(6) in section 943(b)(5) by striking ‘‘507(a)(1)’’ and inserting

‘‘507(a)(2)’’;

(7) in section 1123(a)(1) by striking ‘‘507(a)(1), 507(a)(2)’’

and inserting ‘‘507(a)(2), 507(a)(3)’’;

(8) in section 1129(a)(9)—
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(A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ‘‘507(a)(1) or

507(a)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘507(a)(2) or 507(a)(3)’’; and

(B) in subparagraph (B) by striking ‘‘507(a)(3)’’ and

inserting ‘‘507(a)(1)’’;

(9) in section 1226(b)(1) by striking ‘‘507(a)(1)’’ and

inserting ‘‘507(a)(2)’’; and

(10) in section 1326(b)(1) by striking ‘‘507(a)(1)’’ and

inserting ‘‘507(a)(2)’’.

(b) RELATED CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 6(e) of the

Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970 (15 U.S.C. 78fff(e)) is

amended by striking ‘‘507(a)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘507(a)(2)’’.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.