Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2015

To establish a fund to make payments to the Americans held hostage in Iran, and to members of their families, who are identified as members of the proposed class in case number 1:00–CV–03110 (ESG) of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2015 2. American Hostages in Iran Compensation Fund (a) Establishment There is established in the Treasury a fund, to be known as the American Hostages in Iran Compensation Fund Fund (1) making payments to the Americans held hostage in Iran, and to members of their families, who are identified as members of the proposed class in case number 1:00–CV–03110 (ESG) of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia; and (2) satisfying the claims of the members of the proposed class against Iran relating to the taking of hostages and treatment of personnel of the United States embassy in Tehran, Iran, between November 3, 1979, and January 20, 1981. (b) Funding (1) Imposition of surcharge (A) In general There is imposed a surcharge equal to 30 percent of the amount of— (i) any fine or penalty imposed, in whole or in part, for a violation of a law or regulation specified in subparagraph (B) committed on or after the date of the enactment of this Act; or (ii) the monetary amount of a settlement entered into by a person with respect to a suspected violation of a law or regulation specified in subparagraph (B) related to activities undertaken on or after such date of enactment. (B) Laws and regulations specified A law or regulation specified in this subparagraph is any law or regulation imposing a fine or penalty for any economic activity relating to Iran that is administered by the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, the Department of Commerce, or the Department of Energy. (C) Termination of deposits The imposition of the surcharge under subparagraph (A) shall terminate on the date on which all amounts described in subsection (c)(2) have been distributed to all recipients described in that subsection. (2) Deposits into Fund; availability of amounts (A) Deposits The Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit in the Fund all surcharges collected pursuant to paragraph (1)(A). (B) Payment of surcharge to Secretary of the Treasury A person upon which a surcharge is imposed under paragraph (1)(A) shall pay the surcharge to the Secretary without regard to whether the fine or penalty with respect to which the surcharge is imposed— (i) is paid directly to the Federal agency that administers the law or regulation pursuant to which the fine or penalty is imposed; or (ii) is deemed satisfied by a payment to another Federal agency. (C) Availability of amounts in Fund Amounts in the Fund shall be available, without further appropriation, to make payments under subsection (c). (c) Distribution of funds (1) Administration of Fund Payments from the Fund shall be administered, subject to oversight by the Secretary of the Treasury, by the named representatives of the proposed class described in subsection (a)(1) and the principal agent designated by the proposed class for the period beginning in 1999 and continuing through the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Payments Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), payments shall be made from the Fund to the following recipients in the following amounts: (A) To each living former hostage identified as a member of the proposed class described in subsection (a)(1), $10,000 for each day of captivity of the former hostage. (B) To the estate of each deceased former hostage identified as a member of the proposed class described in subsection (a)(1), $10,000 for each day of captivity of the former hostage. (C) To each spouse and child of a former hostage identified as a member of the proposed class described in subsection (a)(1) if the spouse or child is identified as a member of that proposed class, $5,000 for each day of captivity of the former hostage. (3) Priority Payments from the Fund shall be distributed under paragraph (2) in the following order: (A) First, to each living former hostage described in paragraph (2)(A). (B) Second, to the estate of each deceased former hostage described in paragraph (2)(B). (C) Third, to each spouse and child of a former hostage described in paragraph (2)(C). (4) Consent of recipient A payment to a recipient from the Fund under paragraph (2) shall be made only after receiving the consent of the recipient. (d) Preclusion of future actions and release of claims (1) Preclusion of future actions A recipient of a payment under subsection (c) may not file or maintain an action against Iran in any Federal or State court for any claim relating to the events described in subsection (a)(2). (2) Release of all claims Upon the payment of all amounts described in subsection (c)(2) to all recipients described in that subsection, all claims against Iran relating to the events described in subsection (a)(2) shall be deemed waived and forever released. (e) Deposit of remaining funds into the Treasury (1) In general Any amounts remaining in the Fund after the date specified in paragraph (2) shall be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. (2) Date specified The date specified in this paragraph is the later of— (A) the date on which all amounts described in subsection (c)(2) have been made to all recipients described in that subsection; or (B) the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. (f) Report to Congress on completion of payments Not later than 60 days after determining that a law or regulation specified in subsection (b)(1)(B) is terminated or suspended or that amounts in the Fund will be insufficient for the payment of all amounts described in subsection (c)(2) to all recipients described in that subsection by the date that is 444 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to Congress recommendations to expedite the completion of the payment of those amounts.

Summary: Justice for Former American Hostages in Iran Act of 2015 Establishes in the Treasury the American Hostages in Iran Compensation Fund to: (1) make payments to the Americans held hostage in Iran, and to their families, who are identified as members of the proposed class in case number 1:00-CV-03110 (ESG) of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia; and (2) satisfy their claims against Iran relating to the taking of hostages and treatment of personnel of the U.S. embassy in Tehran between November 3, 1979, and January 20, 1981. Imposes a surcharge, to be deposited into the Fund, of 30% on the amount of: (1) any fine or penalty imposed for a violation (committed on or after enactment of this Act) of a law or regulation penalizing any economic activity relating to Iran that is administered by the Departments of State, Treasury, Justice, Commerce, or Energy; or (2) the monetary amount of a settlement entered into by a person regarding a suspected violation of such a law or regulation. Requires Fund payments to members of the proposed class in the following order of priority: $10,000 for each day of captivity first to each living former hostage and then to the estate of each deceased former hostage, and $5,000 to each spouse and child of a former hostage for each day of captivity of the former hostage. Prohibits a payment recipient from maintaining an action against Iran in any federal or state court for any claims relating to the hostage events. Waives and forever releases all existing claims against Iran for those events upon payment from the Fund to all designated recipients. Requires the State Department to submit recommendations to Congress if Fund amounts will be insufficient to pay all recipients within 444 days after enactment of this Act.