mum rate of pay payable for GS–15 of the General
Schedule.
(2) STAFF.—Subject to rules prescribed by the
Panel, the Director may appoint and fix the pay of
additional personnel as the Director considers appro-
priate.
(3) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—Subject to
rules prescribed by the Panel, the Director may pro-
cure temporary and intermittent services under sec-
tion 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(4) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon re-
quest of the Panel, the head of any Federal depart-
ment or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis,
any of the personnel of that department or agency
to the Panel to assist it in carrying out its duties
under this Act.
(e) POWERS OF PANEL.—
(1) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Panel may,
for the purpose of carrying out its duties under this
subsection, hold such hearings, sit and act at such
times and places, and take such testimony and evi-
dence as the Panel considers appropriate.
(2) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any
member or agent of the Panel may, if authorized by
the Panel, take any action which the Panel is au-
thorized to take by this section.
(3) MAILS.—The Panel may use the United
States mails in the same manner and under the
same conditions as other departments and agencies
of the United States.
(4) ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT
SERVICES.—
Upon the request of the Panel, the Administrator of
General Services shall provide to the Panel, on a re-
imbursable basis, the administrative support services
necessary for the Panel to carry out its duties under
this subsection.
(f) REPORTS.—
(1) INTERIM REPORTS.—The Panel shall sub-
mit to the President and the Congress interim re-
ports at least annually.
(2) FINAL REPORT.—The Panel shall transmit
a final report to the President and the Congress not
later than eight years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. The final report shall contain a de-
tailed statement of the findings and conclusions of
the Panel, together with its recommendations for
legislation and administrative actions which the
Panel considers appropriate.
(g) TERMINATION.—The Panel shall terminate 30
days after the date of the submission of its final report
under subsection (f)(2).
(h) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated from the Federal Old-
Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal
Disability Insurance Trust Fund, and the general fund of
the Treasury, as appropriate, such sums as are necessary
to carry out this section.
SEC. 205. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS AND STUDIES.
(a) DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS PROVIDING FOR RE-
DUCTIONS IN DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS BASED
ON EARNINGS. —
(1) AUTHORITY.—The Commissioner shall con-
duct demonstration projects for the purpose of eval-
uating, through the collection of data, a program for
title II disability beneficiaries (as defined in section
1148(k)(2) of the Social Security Act, as amended
by this Act) under which each $1 of benefits payable
under section 223, or under section 202 based on
the beneficiary’s disability, is reduced for each $2 of
such beneficiary’s earnings that is above a level to
be determined by the Commissioner. Such projects
shall be conducted at a number of localities which
the Commissioner shall determine is sufficient to
adequately evaluate the appropriateness of national
implementation of such a program. Such projects
shall identify reductions in Federal expenditures
that may result from the permanent implementation
of such a program.
(2) SCOPE AND SCALE AND MATTERS TO BE
DETERMINED.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The demonstration
projects developed under paragraph (1) shall be
of sufficient duration, shall be of sufficient
scope, and shall be carried out on a wide
enough scale to permit a thorough evaluation of
the project to determine—
(i) the effects, if any, of induced entry
and reduced exit;
(ii) the extent, if any, to which the
project being tested is affected by whether
it is in operation in a locality within an
area under the administration of the Tick-
et to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program;
and
(iii) the savings that accrue to the
Trust Funds and other Federal programs
under the project being tested.
The Commissioner shall take into account ad-
vice provided by the Ticket to Work and Self-
Sufficiency Advisory Panel pursuant to sub-
section (e)(2)(C).
(B) ADDITIONAL MATTERS.—The Commis-
sioner shall also determine with respect to each
project—
(i) the annual cost (including net
cost) of the project and the annual cost
(including net cost) that would have been
incurred in the absence of the project;
(ii) the determinants of return to
work, including the characteristics of the
beneficiaries who participate in the project;
and
(iii) the employment outcomes, includ-
ing wages, occupations, benefits, and hours
worked, of beneficiaries who return to work
as a result of participation in the project.
The Commissioner may include within the mat-
ters evaluated under the project the merits of
trial work periods and periods of extended eligi-
bility.
(3) WAIVERS.—The Commissioner may waive
compliance with the benefit provisions of title II of
the Social Security Act, and the Secretary of Health
and Human Services may waive compliance with the
benefit requirements of title XVIII of such Act, in
so far as is necessary for a thorough evaluation of
the alternative methods under consideration. No
such project shall be actually placed in operation un-
less at least 90 days prior thereto a written report,
prepared for purposes of notification and informa-
tion only and containing a full and complete descrip-
tion thereof, has been transmitted by the Commis-
sioner to the Committee on Ways and Means of the
House of Representatives and to the Committee on
Finance of the Senate. Periodic reports on the
progress of such projects shall be submitted by the
Commissioner to such committees. When appro-
priate, such reports shall include detailed rec-
ommendations for changes in administration or law,
or both, to carry out the objectives stated in para-
graph (1).
(4) INTERIM REPORTS.—On or before June 9
in 2001 and each of the succeeding years thereafter,
the Commissioner shall submit to the Congress an
interim report on the progress of the demonstration
projects carried out under this subsection together
with any related data and materials which the Com-
missioner may consider appropriate.
(5) FINAL REPORT.—The Commissioner shall
submit to the Congress a final report with respect
to all demonstration projects carried out under this
section no later than one year after their completion.
(6) EXPENDITURES.—Expenditures made for
demonstration projects under this subsection shall
be made from the Federal Disability Insurance
Trust Fund and the Federal Old-Age and Survivors
Insurance Trust Fund, as determined appropriate by
the Commissioner, and from the Federal Hospital
Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supple-
mentary Medical Insurance Trust Fund, as deter-
mined appropriate by the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, to the extent provided in advance
in appropriation Acts.
(b) STUDY BY GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE OF
EXISTING DISABILITY-RELATED EMPLOYMENT INCEN-
TIVES.—
(1) STUDY.—As soon as practicable after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller
General of the United States shall undertake a study
to assess existing tax credits and other disability-re-
lated employment incentives under the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other Federal
laws. In such study, the Comptroller General shall
specifically address the extent to which such credits
and other incentives would encourage employers to
hire and retain individuals with disabilities under the
Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program.
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller
General shall transmit to the Committee on Ways
and Means of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Finance of the Senate a written re-
port presenting the results of the Comptroller Gen-
eral’s study conducted pursuant to this subsection,
together with such recommendations for legislative
or administrative changes as the Comptroller Gen-
eral may determine to be appropriate.
(c) STUDY BY GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE OF
EXISTING COORDINATION OF THE DI AND SSI PROGRAMS
AS THEY RELATE TO INDIVIDUALS ENTERING OR LEAV-
ING CONCURRENT ENTITLEMENT.—
(1) STUDY.—As soon as practicable after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller
General of the United States shall undertake a study
to evaluate the coordination under current law of the
disability insurance program under title II of the So-
cial Security Act and the supplemental security in-
come program under title XVI of such Act, as such
programs relate to individuals entering or leaving
concurrent entitlement under such programs. In
such study, the Comptroller General shall specifically
address the effectiveness of work incentives under
such programs with respect to such individuals and
the effectiveness of coverage of such individuals
under titles XVIII and XIX of such Act.
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptrol-
ler General shall transmit to the Committee on
Ways and Means of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a writ-
ten report presenting the results of the Comptroller
General’s study conducted pursuant to this sub-
section, together with such recommendations for leg-
islative or administrative changes as the Comptroller
General may determine to be appropriate.
TITLE III—TECHNICAL
AMENDMENTS
SEC. 301. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS RELATING TO DRUG
ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS.
(a) CLARIFICATION RELATING TO THE EFFECTIVE
DATE OF THE DENIAL OF SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
BENEFITS TO DRUG ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS.—Sec-
tion 105(a)(5) of the Contract with America Advancement
Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–121; 110 Stat. 853) is
amended—
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘by the
Commissioner of Social Security’’ and ‘‘by the Com-
missioner’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(D) For purposes of this paragraph, an
individual’s claim, with respect to benefits
under title II of the Social Security Act based
on disability, which has been denied in whole
before the date of enactment of this Act, may
not be considered to be finally adjudicated be-
fore such date if, on or after such date—
‘‘(i) there is pending a request for ei-
ther administrative or judicial review with
respect to such claim, or
‘‘(ii) there is pending, with respect to
such claim, a readjudication by the Com-
missioner of Social Security pursuant to
relief in a class action or implementation
by the Commissioner of a court remand
order.
‘‘(E) Notwithstanding the provisions of
this paragraph, with respect to any individual
for whom the Commissioner of Social Security
does not perform the entitlement redetermina-
tion before the date prescribed in subparagraph
(C), the Commissioner shall perform such enti-
tlement redetermination in lieu of a continuing
disability review whenever the Commissioner de-
termines that the individual’s entitlement is
subject to redetermination based on the preced-
ing provisions of this paragraph, and the provi-
sions of section 223(f) of the Social Security
Act shall not apply to such redetermination.’’.
(b) CORRECTION TO EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROVI-
SIONS
CONCERNING
REPRESENTATIVE
PAYEES
AND
TREATMENT REFERRALS OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENE-
FICIARIES WHO ARE DRUG ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS.—
Section 105(a)(5)(B) of the Contract with America Ad-
vancement Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 405 note) is amended
to read as follows:
‘‘(B) The amendments made by para-
graphs (2) and (3) shall take effect on July 1,
1996, with respect to any individual—
‘‘(i) whose claim for benefits is finally
adjudicated on or after the date of enact-
ment of this Act; or
‘‘(ii) whose entitlement to benefits is
based on an entitlement redetermination
made pursuant to subparagraph (C).’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATES.—The amendments made by
this section shall take effect as if included in the enact-
ment of section 105 of the Contract with America Ad-
vancement Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–121; 110 Stat.
852 et seq.).
SEC. 302. TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.
(a) IMPLEMENTATION
OF PROHIBITION AGAINST
PAYMENT OF TITLE II BENEFITS TO PRISONERS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 202(x)(3) of the So-
cial 
Security 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
402(x)(3)) 
is
amended—
(A) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ after ‘‘(3)’’; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(B)(i) The Commissioner shall enter into an agree-
ment under this subparagraph with any interested State
or local institution comprising a jail, prison, penal institu-
tion, or correctional facility, or comprising any other insti-
tution a purpose of which is to confine individuals as de-
scribed in paragraph (1)(A)(ii). Under such agreement—
days after such date but within 90 days after such
date.
‘‘(ii) The dollar amounts specified in clause (i)(II)
shall be reduced by 50 percent if the Commissioner is also
required to make a payment to the institution with respect
to the same individual under an agreement entered into
under section 1611(e)(1)(I).
‘‘(iii) The provisions of section 552a of title 5, United
States Code, shall not apply to any agreement entered into
under clause (i) or to information exchanged pursuant to
such agreement.
‘‘(iv) There is authorized to be transferred from the
Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and
the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, as appro-
priate, such sums as may be necessary to enable the Com-
missioner to make payments to institutions required by
clause (i)(II).
‘‘(v) The Commissioner is authorized to provide, on
a reimbursable basis, information obtained pursuant to
agreements entered into under clause (i) to any agency
administering a Federal or federally assisted cash, food,
or medical assistance program for eligibility purposes.’’.
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made
by this subsection shall apply to individuals whose
period of confinement in an institution commences
on or after the first day of the fourth month begin-
ning after the month in which this Act is enacted.
(b) ELIMINATION OF TITLE II REQUIREMENT THAT
CONFINEMENT STEM FROM CRIME PUNISHABLE BY IM-
PRISONMENT FOR MORE THAN 1 YEAR.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 202(x)(1)(A) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(x)(1)(A)) is
amended—
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking ‘‘during’’ and inserting ‘‘throughout’’;
(B) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘an offense
punishable by imprisonment for more than 1
year (regardless of the actual sentence im-
posed)’’ and inserting ‘‘a criminal offense’’; and
(C) in clause (ii)(I), by striking ‘‘an of-
fense punishable by imprisonment for more
than 1 year’’ and inserting ‘‘a criminal of-
fense’’.
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made
by this subsection shall apply to individuals whose
period of confinement in an institution commences
on or after the first day of the fourth month begin-
ning after the month in which this Act is enacted.
(c) CONFORMING TITLE XVI AMENDMENTS.—
(1) FIFTY PERCENT REDUCTION IN TITLE XVI
PAYMENT IN CASE INVOLVING COMPARABLE TITLE II
PAYMENT.—Section 1611(e)(1)(I) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(e)(1)(I)) is amended—
(A) in clause (i)(II), by inserting ‘‘(subject
to reduction under clause (ii))’’ after ‘‘$400’’
and after ‘‘$200’’;
(B) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii)
as clauses (iii) and (iv), respectively; and
(C) by inserting after clause (i) the follow-
ing:
‘‘(ii) The dollar amounts specified in clause (i)(II)
shall be reduced by 50 percent if the Commissioner is also
required to make a payment to the institution with respect
to the same individual under an agreement entered into
under section 202(x)(3)(B).’’.
(2) EXPANSION OF CATEGORIES OF INSTITU-
TIONS ELIGIBLE TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH
THE
COMMISSIONER.—Section 1611(e)(1)(I)(i) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(e)(1)(I)(i))
is amended in the matter preceding subclause (I) by
striking ‘‘institution’’ and all that follows through
‘‘section 202(x)(1)(A),’’ and inserting ‘‘institution
comprising a jail, prison, penal institution, or correc-
tional facility, or with any other interested State or
local institution a purpose of which is to confine in-
dividuals as described in section 202(x)(1)(A)(ii),’’.
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made
by this subsection shall take effect as if included in
the enactment of section 203(a) of the Personal Re-
sponsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation
Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–193; 110 Stat. 2186).
The reference to section 202(x)(1)(A)(ii) of the So-
cial Security Act in section 1611(e)(1)(I)(i) of the
Social Security Act as amended by paragraph (2)
shall be deemed a reference to such section
202(x)(1)(A)(ii) as amended by subsection (b)(1)(C).
(d) CONTINUED DENIAL OF BENEFITS TO SEX OF-
FENDERS REMAINING CONFINED TO PUBLIC INSTITU-
TIONS UPON COMPLETION OF PRISON TERM.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 202(x)(1)(A) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(x)(1)(A)) is
amended—
(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the
end;
(B) in clause (ii)(IV), by striking the pe-
riod and inserting ‘‘, or’’; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(iii) immediately upon completion of confine-
ment as described in clause (i) pursuant to convic-
tion of a criminal offense an element of which is sex-
ual activity, is confined by court order in an institu-
tion at public expense pursuant to a finding that the
individual is a sexually dangerous person or a sexual
predator or a similar finding.’’.
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section
202(x)(1)(B)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 402(x)(1)(B)(ii)) is amended by striking
‘‘clause (ii)’’ and inserting ‘‘clauses (ii) and (iii)’’.
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made
by this subsection shall apply with respect to bene-
fits for months ending after the date of enactment
of this Act.
SEC 303. REVOCATION BY MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY OF
EXEMPTION FROM SOCIAL SECURITY COV-
ERAGE.
(a) 
IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 
section
1402(e)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, any ex-
emption which has been received under section 1402(e)(1)
of such Code by a duly ordained, commissioned, or li-
censed minister of a church, a member of a religious order,
or a Christian Science practitioner, and which is effective
for the taxable year in which this Act is enacted, may be
revoked by filing an application therefore (in such form
and manner, and with such official, as may be prescribed
in regulations made under chapter 2 of such Code), if such
application is filed no later than the due date of the Fed-
eral income tax return (including any extension thereof)
for the applicant’s second taxable year beginning after De-
cember 31, 1999. Any such revocation shall be effective
(for purposes of chapter 2 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 and title II of the Social Security Act), as speci-
fied in the application, either with respect to the appli-
cant’s first taxable year beginning after December 31,
1999, or with respect to the applicant’s second taxable
year beginning after such date, and for all succeeding tax-
able years; and the applicant for any such revocation may
not thereafter again file application for an exemption
under such section 1402(e)(1). If the application is filed
after the due date of the applicant’s Federal income tax
return for a taxable year and is effective with respect to
that taxable year, it shall include or be accompanied by
payment in full of an amount equal to the total of the
taxes that would have been imposed by section 1401 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to all of
the applicant’s income derived in that taxable year which
would have constituted net earnings from self-employment
for purposes of chapter 2 of such Code (notwithstanding
paragraph (4) or (5) of section 1402(c) of such Code) ex-
cept for the exemption under section 1402(e)(1) of such
Code.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (a) shall apply
with respect to service performed (to the extent specified
in such subsection) in taxable years beginning after De-
cember 31, 1999, and with respect to monthly insurance
benefits payable under title II of the Social Security Act
on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of
any individual for months in or after the calendar year
in which such individual’s application for revocation (as
described in such subsection) is effective (and lump-sum
death payments payable under such title on the basis of
such wages and self-employment income in the case of
deaths occurring in or after such calendar year).
SEC. 304. ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL AMENDMENT RELATING
TO 
COOPERATIVE 
RESEARCH 
OR 
DEM-
ONSTRATION PROJECTS UNDER TITLES II
AND XVI.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1110(a)(3) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1310(a)(3)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘title XVI’’ and inserting ‘‘title II or XVI’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
subsection (a) shall take effect as if included in the enact-
ment of the Social Security Independence and Program
Improvements Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–296; 108
Stat. 1464).
SEC. 305. AUTHORIZATION FOR STATE TO PERMIT ANNUAL
WAGE REPORTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1137(a)(3) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–7(a)(3)) is amended by
inserting before the semicolon the following: ‘‘, and except
that in the case of wage reports with respect to domestic
service employment, a State may permit employers (as so
defined) that make returns with respect to such employ-
ment on a calendar year basis pursuant to section 3510
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make such re-
ports on an annual basis’’.
(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Section 1137(a)(3)
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–7(a)(3)) is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘(as defined in section
453A(a)(2)(B)(iii))’’; and
(2) by inserting ‘‘(as defined in section
453A(a)(2)(B))’’ after ‘‘employers’’ .
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to wage reports required to be sub-
mitted on and after the date of enactment of this Act.
Æ