Trade Adjustment Assistance Act of 2015

To extend the trade adjustment assistance program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; etc (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act of 2015 (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; etc. TITLE I—Application of provisions relating to trade adjustment assistance Sec. 101. Application of provisions relating to trade adjustment assistance. TITLE II—Extension of trade adjustment assistance program Subtitle A—Extension provisions Sec. 201. Extension of termination provisions. Sec. 202. Training funds. Sec. 203. Reemployment trade adjustment assistance. Sec. 204. Authorizations of appropriations. Subtitle B—Other provisions Sec. 211. Extension of trade adjustment assistance to public agency workers. Sec. 212. Limitations on trade readjustment allowances. Sec. 213. Job search and relocation allowances. Sec. 214. Reemployment trade adjustment assistance program. TITLE III—General provisions Sec. 301. Applicability of trade adjustment assistance provisions. Sec. 302. Sunset provisions. TITLE IV—Health Coverage Tax Credit Sec. 401. Extension and modification of Health Coverage Tax Credit. Sec. 402. TAA pre-certification rule for purposes of determining whether there is a 63-day lapse in creditable coverage. Sec. 403. Extension of COBRA benefits for certain TAA-eligible individuals and PBGC recipients. I Application of provisions relating to trade adjustment assistance 101. Application of provisions relating to trade adjustment assistance (a) Repeal of snapback Section 233 of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011 ( Public Law 112–40 (b) Applicability of certain provisions Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the provisions of chapters 2 through 6 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as in effect on December 31, 2013, and as amended by this Act, shall— (1) take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) apply to petitions for certification filed under chapter 2, 3, or 6 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 on or after such date of enactment. (c) References Except as otherwise provided in this Act, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a provision of chapters 2 through 6 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, the reference shall be considered to be made to a provision of any such chapter, as in effect on December 31, 2013. II Extension of trade adjustment assistance program A Extension provisions 201. Extension of termination provisions Section 285 of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2271 2013 2020 202. Training funds Section 236(a)(2)(A) of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2296(a)(2)(A) (1) in clause (i), by striking and 2013 through 2020 (2) in clause (ii), by striking 2013 2020 203. Reemployment trade adjustment assistance Section 246(b)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2318(b)(1) 2013 2020 204. Authorizations of appropriations (a) Trade adjustment assistance for workers Section 245(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2317(a) 2013 2020 (b) Trade adjustment assistance for firms Section 255(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2345(a) (1) by striking $16,000,000 $50,000,000 (2) by striking and 2013 through 2020 (3) by striking $4,000,000 $6,250,000 (4) by striking October 1, 2013, and ending on December 31, 2013 October 1, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2020 (c) Trade adjustment assistance for communities Section 272(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2372(a) $40,000,000 December 31, 2010 such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2015 through 2020 and for the period beginning October 1, 2020, and ending December 31, 2020 (d) Trade adjustment assistance for farmers Section 298(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2401g(a) (1) by striking and 2013 through 2020 (2) by striking October 1, 2013, and ending on December 31, 2013 October 1, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2020 B Other provisions 211. Extension of trade adjustment assistance to public agency workers (a) Definitions Section 247 of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2319 (1) in paragraph (3)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking The Subject to section 222(d)(5), the (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking or service sector firm , service sector firm, or public agency (2) by adding at the end the following: (19) The term public agency . (b) Group eligibility requirements Section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2272 (1) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (e) as subsections (d), (e), and (f), respectively; (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Adversely affected workers in public agencies A group of workers in a public agency shall be certified by the Secretary as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under this chapter pursuant to a petition filed under section 221 if the Secretary determines that— (1) a significant number or proportion of the workers in the public agency have become totally or partially separated, or are threatened to become totally or partially separated; (2) the public agency has acquired from a foreign country services like or directly competitive with services which are supplied by such agency; and (3) the acquisition of services described in paragraph (2) contributed importantly to such workers’ separation or threat of separation. ; (3) in subsection (d) (as redesignated), by adding at the end the following: (5) Reference to firm For purposes of subsections (a) and (b), the term firm ; and (4) in paragraph (2) of subsection (e) (as redesignated), by striking subsection (a) or (b) subsection (a), (b), or (c) 212. Limitations on trade readjustment allowances (a) Limitations Section 233(a)(3) of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2293(a)(3) 65 additional weeks in the 78-week period 78 additional weeks in the 91-week period (b) Payment of trade readjustment allowances To complete training Section 233(f) of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2293(f) 13 26 213. Job search and relocation allowances (a) Job search allowances Section 237 of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2297 (1) in subsection (a)(1)— (A) by striking Each State an adversely affected worker An adversely affected worker (B) by striking to file may file (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking not more than 90 percent 100 percent (B) in paragraph (2), by striking $1,250 $1,500 (3) in subsection (c), by striking a State may the Secretary shall (b) Relocation allowances Section 238 of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2298 (1) in subsection (a)(1)— (A) by striking Each State an adversely affected worker An adversely affected worker (B) by striking to file may file (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking not more than 90 percent 100 percent (B) in paragraph (2), by striking $1,250 $1,500 214. Reemployment trade adjustment assistance program Section 246(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2318(a) (1) in paragraph (3)(B)— (A) in clause (ii), by striking $50,000 $55,000 (B) in clause (iii)(I), by striking and is not enrolled whether or not the worker is enrolled (2) in paragraph (5), by striking $10,000 $12,000 III General provisions 301. Applicability of trade adjustment assistance provisions (a) Trade adjustment assistance for workers (1) Petitions filed on or after January 1, 2014, and before date of enactment (A) Certifications of workers not certified before date of enactment (i) Criteria if a determination has not been made If, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor has not made a determination with respect to whether to certify a group of workers as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974 pursuant to a petition described in clause (iii), the Secretary shall make that determination based on the requirements of section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974, as in effect on such date of enactment. (ii) Reconsideration of denials of certifications If, before the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary made a determination not to certify a group of workers as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974 pursuant to a petition described in clause (iii), the Secretary shall— (I) reconsider that determination; and (II) if the group of workers meets the requirements of section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974, as in effect on such date of enactment, certify the group of workers as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance. (iii) Petition described A petition described in this clause is a petition for a certification of eligibility for a group of workers filed under section 221 of the Trade Act of 1974 on or after January 1, 2014, and before the date of the enactment of this Act. (B) Eligibility for benefits (i) In general Except as provided in clause (ii), a worker certified as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974 pursuant to a petition described in subparagraph (A)(iii) shall be eligible, on and after the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, to receive benefits only under the provisions of chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as in effect on such date of enactment. (ii) Computation of maximum benefits Benefits received by a worker described in clause (i) under chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 before the date of the enactment of this Act shall be included in any determination of the maximum benefits for which the worker is eligible under the provisions of chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Petitions filed before January 1, 2014 A worker certified as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance pursuant to a petition filed under section 221 of the Trade Act of 1974 on or before December 31, 2013, shall continue to be eligible to apply for and receive benefits under the provisions of chapter 2 of title II of such Act, as in effect on December 31, 2013. (3) Qualifying separations with respect to petitions filed within 90 days of date of enactment Section 223(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, shall be applied and administered by substituting before January 1, 2014 more than one year before the date of the petition on which such certification was granted (b) Trade adjustment assistance for firms (1) Certification of firms not certified before date of enactment (A) Criteria if a determination has not been made If, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce has not made a determination with respect to whether to certify a firm as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under section 251 of the Trade Act of 1974 pursuant to a petition described in subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall make that determination based on the requirements of section 251 of the Trade Act of 1974, as in effect on such date of enactment. (B) Reconsideration of denial of certain petitions If, before the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary made a determination not to certify a firm as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under section 251 of the Trade Act of 1974 pursuant to a petition described in subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall— (i) reconsider that determination; and (ii) if the firm meets the requirements of section 251 of the Trade Act of 1974, as in effect on such date of enactment, certify the firm as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance. (C) Petition described A petition described in this subparagraph is a petition for a certification of eligibility filed by a firm or its representative under section 251 of the Trade Act of 1974 on or after January 1, 2014, and before the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Certification of firms that did not submit petitions between January 1, 2014, and date of enactment (A) In general The Secretary of Commerce shall certify a firm described in subparagraph (B) as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under section 251 of the Trade Act of 1974, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, if the firm or its representative files a petition for a certification of eligibility under section 251 of the Trade Act of 1974 not later than 90 days after such date of enactment. (B) Firm described A firm described in this subparagraph is a firm that the Secretary determines would have been certified as eligible to apply for adjustment assistance if— (i) the firm or its representative had filed a petition for a certification of eligibility under section 251 of the Trade Act of 1974 on a date during the period beginning on January 1, 2014, and ending on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act; and (ii) the provisions of chapter 3 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as in effect on such date of enactment, had been in effect on that date during the period described in clause (i). 302. Sunset provisions (a) Application of prior law Subject to subsection (b), beginning on January 1, 2021, the provisions of chapters 2, 3, 5, and 6 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2271 et seq. (1) paragraph (1) of section 231(c) of that Act shall be applied and administered as if subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of that paragraph were not in effect; (2) section 233 of that Act shall be applied and administered— (A) in subsection (a)— (i) in paragraph (2), by substituting 104-week period 104-week period 130-week period) (ii) in paragraph (3)— (I) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by substituting 65 52 (II) by substituting 78-week period 52-week period (B) by applying and administering subsection (g) as if it read as follows: (g) Payment of trade readjustment allowances To complete training Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, in order to assist an adversely affected worker to complete training approved for the worker under section 236 that leads to the completion of a degree or industry-recognized credential, payments may be made as trade readjustment allowances for not more than 13 weeks within such period of eligibility as the Secretary may prescribe to account for a break in training or for justifiable cause that follows the last week for which the worker is otherwise entitled to a trade readjustment allowance under this chapter if— (1) payment of the trade readjustment allowance for not more than 13 weeks is necessary for the worker to complete the training; (2) the worker participates in training in each such week; and (3) the worker— (A) has substantially met the performance benchmarks established as part of the training approved for the worker; (B) is expected to continue to make progress toward the completion of the training; and (C) will complete the training during that period of eligibility. ; (3) section 234 shall be applied and administered as in effect on December 31, 2013; (4) section 245(a) of that Act shall be applied and administered by substituting 2021 2007 (5) section 246(b)(1) of that Act shall be applied and administered by substituting December 31, 2021 the date that is 5 years State (6) section 256(b) of that Act shall be applied and administered by substituting the 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2021 each of fiscal years 2003 through 2007, and $4,000,000 for the 3-month period beginning on October 1, 2007 (7) section 298(a) of that Act shall be applied and administered by substituting the 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2021 each of the fiscal years October 1, 2007 (8) section 285 of that Act shall be applied and administered— (A) in subsection (a), by substituting 2021 2007 (B) by applying and administering subsection (b) as if it read as follows: (b) Other assistance (1) Assistance for firms (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), assistance may not be provided under chapter 3 after December 31, 2021. (B) Exception Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), any assistance approved under chapter 3 pursuant to a petition filed under section 251 on or before December 31, 2021, may be provided— (i) to the extent funds are available pursuant to such chapter for such purpose; and (ii) to the extent the recipient of the assistance is otherwise eligible to receive such assistance. (2) Farmers (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), assistance may not be provided under chapter 6 after December 31, 2021. (B) Exception Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), any assistance approved under chapter 6 on or before December 31, 2021, may be provided— (i) to the extent funds are available pursuant to such chapter for such purpose; and (ii) to the extent the recipient of the assistance is otherwise eligible to receive such assistance. . (b) Exceptions The provisions of chapters 2, 3, 5, and 6 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, shall continue to apply on and after January 1, 2021, with respect to— (1) workers certified as eligible for trade adjustment assistance benefits under chapter 2 of title II of that Act pursuant to petitions filed under section 221 of that Act before January 1, 2021; (2) firms certified as eligible for technical assistance or grants under chapter 3 of title II of that Act pursuant to petitions filed under section 251 of that Act before January 1, 2021; and (3) agricultural commodity producers certified as eligible for technical or financial assistance under chapter 6 of title II of that Act pursuant to petitions filed under section 292 of that Act before January 1, 2021. IV Health Coverage Tax Credit 401. Extension and modification of Health Coverage Tax Credit (a) Extension Subparagraph (B) of section 35(b)(1) before January 1, 2014 before January 1, 2021 (b) Increase Subsection (a) of section 35 72.5 percent 80 percent (c) Coordination with PPACA credit for coverage under a qualified health plan (1) In general Subsection (a) of section 35 In the case of an individual, In the case of an individual who elects the application of this section for the taxable year, (2) Coordination rule Subsection (g) of section 35 of such Code is amended by redesignating paragraph (11) as paragraph (12) and by inserting after paragraph (10) the following: (11) Coordination with premium tax credit (A) In general In the case of a taxpayer who elects the application of this section for any taxable year, no credit shall be allowed under section 36B with respect to such taxpayer for such taxable year. (B) Election Any election for this section to apply for a taxable year, once made, shall be irrevocable. . (3) Advance payment Section 7527 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f) Coordination with advance payment of premium tax credit No payment shall be made under this section on behalf of any individual with respect to whom any advance payment is made under section 1412 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for the taxable year. . (4) Procedures The Secretary of the Treasury shall issue such procedures and guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to coordinate, and facilitate taxpayer choices between, advance payments under section 7527 (d) Health plans offered through exchange treated as qualified health insurance Paragraph (1) of section 35(e) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (L) Coverage under a qualified health plan which was enrolled in through an Exchange established under title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. . (e) Effective date (1) In general The amendments made by this section shall apply to coverage months beginning after December 31, 2013. (2) Advance payment provisions The amendment made by subsection (c)(3) shall apply to certificates issued after the date of the enactment of this Act. 402. TAA pre-certification rule for purposes of determining whether there is a 63-day lapse in creditable coverage (a) In general The following provisions are each amended by striking January 1, 2014 January 1, 2021 (1) Section 9801(c)(2)(D). (2) Section 701(c)(2)(C) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. (3) Section 2701(c)(2)(C) of the Public Health Service Act (as in effect for plan years beginning before January 1, 2014). (4) Section 2704(c)(2)(C) of the Public Health Service Act (as in effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2014). (b) Effective date (1) In general The amendments made by this section shall apply to plan years beginning after December 31, 2013. (2) Transitional rules (A) Benefit determinations Notwithstanding the amendments made by this section (and the provisions of law amended thereby), a plan shall not be required to modify benefit determinations for the period beginning on January 1, 2014, and ending 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, but a plan shall not fail to be qualified health insurance within the meaning of section 35(e) (B) Guidance concerning periods before 30 days after enactment Except as provided in subparagraph (A), the Secretary of the Treasury (or his designee), in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Labor, may issue regulations or other guidance regarding the scope of the application of the amendments made by this section to periods before the date which is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (C) Special rule relating to certain loss of coverage In the case of a TAA-related loss of coverage (as defined in section 4980B(f)(5)(C)(iv) section 9801(c)(2)(D) 403. Extension of COBRA benefits for certain TAA-eligible individuals and PBGC recipients (a) In general The following provisions are each amended by striking January 1, 2014 January 1, 2021 (1) Section 4980B(f)(2)(B)(i)(V). (2) Section 4980B(f)(2)(B)(i)(VI). (3) Section 602(2)(A)(v) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. (4) Section 602(2)(A)(vi) of such Act. (5) Section 2202(2)(A)(iv) of the Public Health Service Act. (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to periods of coverage which would (without regard to the amendments made by this section) end on or after the date which is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Trade Adjustment Assistance Act of 2015 Amends the Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011 to repeal the declaration that trade adjustment assistance (TAA) program requirements in effect as of February 13, 2011, under the Trade Act of 1974 shall apply to petitions for certification to apply for TAA for workers, firms, and farmers that are filed before January 1, 2014. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to extend through December 31, 2020: (1) the TAA program, and (2) the reemployment trade adjustment assistance (RTAA) program. Makes funds available through FY2020, and for the period beginning October 1-December 31, 2020 (first quarter of FY2021), for training of adversely affected workers, employment and case management services, and job search expenses and relocation expenses. Reauthorizes appropriations: (1) through December 31, 2020, for the TAA program for workers; and (2) through FY2020, and for the first quarter of FY2021, for the TAA program for firms, communities, and farmers. Prescribes TAA eligibility requirements for adversely affected workers in public agencies. Revises trade readjustment allowance (TRA) program requirements. Increases from 65 to 78 additional weeks of TRA payments in a 91-week period the length of additional time permissible to complete training. Repeals the authority of a state to use funds for employment and case management services and relocation allowances to allow an adversely affected worker who is certified to file an application for a job search allowance and relocation allowance. (Continues to authorize adversely affected workers to apply for the job search allowance as well as the relocation allowance.) Increases from $1,250 to $1,500 the maximum job serach allowance and maximum relocation allowance that may be granted to an adversely affected worker. Revises the reemployment trade adjustment assistance (RTAA) program. Increases from: (1) $50,000 to $55,000 the maximum amount an RTAA-eligible worker may earn in wages from reemployment, and (2) $10,000 to $12,000 the maximum payment of RTAA (or wage subsidy) to an eligible older worker. Specifies criteria the Secretary must use to determine the eligibility of workers to apply for TAA if no determination has been made, upon enactment of this Act, as to whether to certify a group of workers or firms as eligible pursuant to a petition filed between January 1, 2014, and enactment of this Act. Requires the Secretary to reconsider any determination made before enactment of this Act not to certify such workers or firms, and to certify them as eligible if they meet the specified requirements. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through calendar 2021, and increase from 72.5% to 80%, the tax credit for the health insurance coverage costs of Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) pension and TAA recipients and their dependents. Amends the Internal Revenue Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Public Health Service Act to extend through December 31, 2020, the TAA pre-certification period rule disregarding, for a specified period, any 63-day lapse in creditable health care coverage for TAA workers. Extends also through December 31, 2020, the continued eligibility of certain qualified TAA-eligible individuals and PBGC pension recipients for COBRA premium assistance.