Seniors Safety Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1286
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2003-06-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Bank fraud
Bankruptcy
Bribery
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Compensation for victims of crime
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Conspiracy
Consumer complaints
Consumer education
Consumer protection
Crime prevention
Crimes against the elderly
Criminal investigation
Criminal justice information
Criminal statistics
Damages
Data banks
Debtor and creditor
Delegation of powers
Demography
Direct mail advertising
Disabled
Elder abuse
Electronic government information
Electronic mail systems
Employee benefit plans
Evidence (Law)
Federal employees
Finance and Financial Sector
Fines (Penalties)
Forfeiture
Fraud
Genetics
Geriatrics
Gifts
Government Operations and Politics
Government employees' health insurance
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Grand jury
Health
Health care fraud
Health care industry
Identification devices
Injunctions
Internet
Labor and Employment
Law
Legal fees
Medicaid
Medical records
Medical savings accounts
Medicare
Mental health services
Mentally disabled
Money laundering
Murder
Nursing homes
Patients' rights
Pension funds
Prosecution
Recidivists
Restrictive trade practices
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Sentencing guidelines
Social Welfare
Subpoena
Tax-deferred compensation plans
Taxation
Telemarketing
Telephone
U.S. Sentencing Commission
Victims of crimes
Violence
Whistle blowing

Summary:
action_date: 2003-06-18
text: Seniors Safety Act of 2003 - Directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend Federal sentencing guidelines: (1) to include the age of a crime victim as an enhancement factor; and (2) with respect to health care benefit program fraud.
Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) provide increased penalties for fraud which results in serious injury or death; and (2) set penalties for fraud in relation to retirement arrangements.
Directs the Federal Trade Commission to establish procedures regarding telemarketing fraud, including referrals of complaints for potential law enforcement action. Provides for the blocking or termination of telephone service associated with telemarketing fraud.
Includes within Federal injunctive authority against fraudulent actions certain offenses under the Social Security Act relating to false claims and illegal kickback schemes involving Federal health care programs. Amends the Social Security Act to: (1) authorize the Attorney General to bring an action to enforce such authority; and (2) extend certain anti-fraud safeguards to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
Nursing Home Resident Protection Act of 2002 - Provides civil penalties for violations that affect the health, safety, or care of individuals in a residential health care facility and result in significant harm.
Amends the Controlled Substances Act to state that a defendant may not use property subject to criminal forfeiture to satisfy a restitution order, with an exception.
Prohibits: (1) the use of bankruptcy proceedings to shield illegal gains from false claims brought against the Government; and (2) the debt arising from such illegal gains from being discharged in bankruptcy proceedings.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-07-22
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8667)
action_date: 2003-06-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8154-8159)
action_date: 2003-06-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8153-8154)
action_date: 2003-06-18
text: Introduced in Senate