hyperdemocracy/usc-billstatus huggingface dataset:
Patent Reform Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3600
Sponsor: Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative fees
Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Checks
Civil actions and liability
Civil procedure
Claims
Confidential communications
Congressional reporting requirements
Damages
Department of Commerce
Discovery (Law)
Economics and Public Finance
Evidence (Law)
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Governmental investigations
Intellectual property
Inventions
Inventors
Jurisdiction
Law
Oaths
Patent infringement
Patents
Revolving funds

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Patent Reform Act of 2008 - Amends federal patent law to define terms, including &quot;inventor,&quot; &quot;joint inventor,&quot; and &quot;effective filing date of a claimed invention.&quot; 
 
Modifies the conditions under which a patent may be obtained, including basing patent granting in part on filing dates (often referred to as a &quot;first-to-file&quot; system).
 
Repeals provisions relating to inventions made abroad and provisions allowing statutory invention registration.
 
Requires that a subsequent patent application which names an inventor or joint inventor in a previous application apply as though filed on the date of the previous application.
 
Repeals provisions providing for interfering patent civil actions.
 
Allows an applicant to request a derivation proceeding.
 
Allows a third party assignee or a person with a proprietary interest to file a patent application.
 
Allows tripling of royalty damages.
 
Sets forth criteria for calculating reasonable royalties.
 
Replaces provisions relating to optional 
inter partes 
reexamination procedures with post-grant review procedure provisions.
 
Replaces the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and specifies its responsibilities.
 
Revises civil action venue requirements.
 
Allows the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to set its fees. 
 
 Prohibits, subject to exception, holding a patent invalid or unenforceable based on misconduct before the USPTO, but allows a court to order a reissue application. Allows a civil penalty for intentional, materially deceptive conduct.
 
Shields a financial institution that infringes by using a check collection system from the infringement remedies of civil actions, injunctions, damages, and attorney's fees. Applies the amendment made by this paragraph to any civil action for infringement pending or filed on or after enactment of this Act.
 
Establishes the United States Patent and Trademark Office Public Enterprise Fund, transfers to it the amounts in the Patent and Trademark Office Appropriation Account, and makes Fund amounts available without fiscal year limitation for all ordinary and reasonable expenses.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9506-9516)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize funding for the National Crime Victim Law Institute to provide support for victims of crime under Crime Victims Legal Assistance Programs as a part of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984.

Bill: 110-s-3601
Sponsor: Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Authorization
Compensation for victims of crime
Department of Justice
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to law enforcement
Government Operations and Politics
Indian law enforcement
Law
Legal services
Minorities
Victims of crimes
Witnesses

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Amends the Justice for All Act of 2004 to extend through FY2013 funding for the grant program to provide legal assistance to victims of crime.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9516)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
A bill to authorize funding for the National Crime Victim Law Institute to provide support for victims of crime under Crime Victims Legal Assistance Programs as a part of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984.

Bill: 110-s-3602
Sponsor: Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Authorization
Compensation for victims of crime
Department of Justice
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to law enforcement
Government Operations and Politics
Indian law enforcement
Law
Legal services
Minorities
Victims of crimes
Witnesses

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Amends the Justice for All Act of 2004 to extend through FY 2014 funding for the Office for Victims of Crime of the Department of Justice (DOJ) for victim advocates, staff support, and legal counsel and support services for crime victims. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9516)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Carson City Vital Community Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3603
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2008-09-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Arts, Culture, Religion
Conservation easements
Cultural property
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Government trust funds
Habitat conservation
Indian lands
Land transfers
Land use
Minorities
National forests
Nevada
Open space lands
Outdoor recreation
Sports and Recreation
Urban affairs
Urban areas
Wildlife conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Carson City Vital Community Act of 2008 - Provides for the conveyance of specified Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land or interest in such land (the federal land) in Nevada by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior in exchange for specified non-federal land by Carson City Consolidated Municipality, Nevada. 

Requires the Secretary of the Interior to reserve a perpetual conservation easement to the Silver Saddle Ranch and Carson River Area.

Releases the reversionary interest of BLM in certain of the conveyed federal land. Provides for the conveyance of such land by the City. 

Makes the non-federal land part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. 

Provides for the conveyance of specified non-federal land administered by the City to the BLM. 

Transfers administrative jurisdiction over certain Forest Service land from the Secretary of Agriculture to the Secretary of the Interior. Requires the City to be granted a right-of-way for maintenance of flood management facilities on such land. 

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct sales of specified BLM land to qualified bidders. 

Amends the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 to make amounts in the special account available to the City for the development of parks, trails, and natural areas and up to 10% for conservation initiatives on federal land in the City administered by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture. Makes the City eligible to nominate for expenditure amounts to acquire lands or interests for parks and natural areas and for conservation initiatives adjacent to and within the floodplain of Carson River. 

Provides for specified land to be held in trust for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. Prohibits the use of such land for class II and class III gaming. 

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a cooperative agreement ensuring access by the Tribe's members and others in its community across National Forest System land from the City to Lake Tahoe for cultural and religious purposes. 

Requires the City to notify the Tribe of proposed ground disturbing activities to provide the Tribe with time for inventorying and collecting tribal artifacts. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9516-9518)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9516)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Introduced in Senate
Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Reauthorization Act

Bill: 110-s-3607
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Commemorations
Subjects: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil rights workers
District of Columbia
Monuments and memorials

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Reauthorization Act - Amends the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to extend until November 12, 2009, the authority to permit the establishment of a memorial in the District of Columbia to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Pacific Salmon Stronghold Conservation Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3608
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alaska
Animals
Aquatic ecology
California
Economics and Public Finance
Ecosystem management
Environmental Protection
Federal aid to water resources development
Fishery management
Grants-in-aid
Habitat conservation
Idaho
Land transfers
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Oregon
Salmon
Washington State
Water Resources Development
Watersheds

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Pacific Salmon Stronghold Conservation Act of 2008 - Establishes the Salmon Stronghold Partnership Board with members from federal, state, tribal, and non-governmental organizations, and other entities with significant resources regionally dedicated to the protection of wild salmon ecosystems, including representatives of specified organizations and Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, and Alaska.

Requires the Assistant Administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to carry out specific information and assessment functions associated with the network of salmon strongholds.

Provides for: (1) the establishment of a salmon stronghold watershed grants and technical assistance program; and (2) agency coordination.

Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) conditions relating to salmon stronghold conservation projects; (2) project funding; and (3) project accountability.

Prohibits acquiring private property without the owner's consent.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9669-9671)
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9669)
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3609
Sponsor: Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Apartment houses
Blood
Child safety
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Environmental Protection
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Housing subsidies
Law
Lead
Lead poisoning
Paints and varnishes
Residential rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2008 - Amends the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, with respect to lead-based paint hazards in housing, to set the environmental intervention blood lead level as equal to the lower of: (1) ten micrograms of lead per deciliter; or (2) the elevated blood lead level of concern for a child under six years of age recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 
Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to amend related regulations to comply with this Act within 90 days.
 
Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the status of the Department of Housing and Urban Development &quot;Big Buy&quot; program, and any other voluntary programs the Secretary has implemented or has planned to implement, through which the Secretary has conducted, or planned to conduct, lead evaluations of housing covered by the Lead Safe Housing Rule for pre-1978 assisted housing.
 

 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Truth in Fur Labeling Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3610
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Animals
Dogs
Federal Trade Commission
Federal preemption
Fur trade
Government Operations and Politics
Independent regulatory commissions
Labeling
Law
Local laws
State laws

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Truth in Fur Labeling Act of 2008 - Amends the Fur Products Labeling Act to: (1) eliminate the exemption to fur labeling requirements for products containing relatively small amounts of fur; and (2) permit states to enforce more restrictive labeling requirements.
 
Directs the the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in the Fur Products Name Guide, to replace the term &quot;Raccoon, Asiatic&quot; with &quot;Dog, Raccoon.&quot; 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Medicaid Services Restoration Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3611
Sponsor: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Case management
Child health
Disabled
Families
Foster home care
Medicaid
Medical fees
Medical screening
Medical tests
Mental health services
Preventive medicine
Rehabilitation of the disabled
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Medicaid Services Restoration Act of 2008 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to extend medical assistance coverage to therapeutic foster care services.

Allows reasonable and efficient payment methodologies, including fee-for-service payments, case rates, daily rates, or other forms of capitated payment, as means of reimbursement for rehabilitative services. 

Includes medical or remedial services for attainment and retention of functional status among rehabilitative services.

Includes among inpatient psychiatric hospital services for children early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment services.

Allows payment for medical assistance for diagnostic, screening, preventive, and rehabilitative services or optional targeted case management services furnished by qualified providers under non-medical programs, provided a state or local agency administering such plan complies with certain requirements.

Allows reasonable and efficient payment methodologies for reimbursement for case management and targeted case management services.

Authorizes the state to: (1) require case management services for each beneficiary; and (2) limit the case managers available in order to ensure that the case managers for eligible individuals are capable of ensuring that such individuals receive needed services. Allows staff of non-medical programs, or contractors with non-medical programs, to offer such services, so long as: (1) such individuals are state-qualified providers; and (2) the case management services are distinct from the non-medical program's direct services.

Redefines case management services to mean those furnished to assist eligible individuals, who reside in a community setting or are transitioning to a community setting, in gaining access to needed medical, social, educational, and other services. 

Allows a state to provide case management or targeted case management services through multiple case managers to: (1) any qualified individual; (2) specific classes of individuals; or (3) individuals who reside in specified areas selected by the state.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Travelers' Privacy Protection Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3612
Sponsor: Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Border patrols
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Claims
Compensation (Law)
Computers
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Customs administration
Damages
Demography
Electronics
Evidence (Law)
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government liability
Government paperwork
Illegal aliens
Law
Minorities
Racial discrimination
Right of privacy
Science, Technology, Communications
Searches and seizures
Smuggling
Surveys
Transportation and Public Works
Travel
Warrants (Law)

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Travelers' Privacy Protection Act of 2008 - Sets forth standards and procedures for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) border searches or seizures of electronic equipment transported by a U.S. resident. 
 
Prohibits a DHS official from considering race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion in selecting U.S. residents for such searches except as provided for by this Act.
 
Sets forth limitations on the access to such equipment or the disclosure of related information.
 
Authorizes claims to be made for damaged equipment.
 
Sets forth remedy and enforcement provisions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9673-9676)
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9671-9673)
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Independence at Home Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3613
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Caregivers
Chronically ill
Community health services
Home care services
Medicare
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Independence at Home Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish a voluntary Independence at Home chronic care coordination demonstration project under the Medicare fee-for-service program for high-cost Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into agreements with at least two unaffiliated Independence at Home organizations to provide chronic care coordination services for a period of three years in: (1) each of the 13 highest cost states and the District of Columbia; and (2) 13 additional states representative of other regions of the United States.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9676-9680)
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9676)
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
National Hunger Relief Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3614
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Adult day care
Day care
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Families
Food relief
Food stamps
Milk
School lunch program
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
National Hunger Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to revise, and provide for increases in, the annual October adjustments to the thrifty food plan upon which supplemental nutrition assistance program (formerly, the food stamp program) benefits are based.
 
Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to provide semiannual reimbursement rate adjustments for: (1) national school lunch and breakfast programs; (2) the special milk program; (3) the child and adult day care program; and (4) the summer food service program. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9681-9682)
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9680-9681)
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Church Plan Clarification Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3615
Sponsor: Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Churches
Defined benefit pension plans
Finance and Financial Sector
Internal revenue law
Investments
Labor and Employment
Pension funds
Religion
Tax-deferred compensation plans

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Church Plan Clarification Act of 2008 - Amends Internal Revenue Code pension plan provisions to: (1) apply a special rule for determining the status of an employer participating in a church plan as a member of a controlled group of entities; and (2) allow certain tax-free transfers to and mergers of church plans that are maintained by the same church or association of churches.

Amends the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA) to apply limitations on benefits and contributions under qualified employee plans to certain church defined benefit plans.

Allows church plans and their supporting organizations to invest plan assets in a group trust (as defined by Internal Revenue Service Revenue Rulings).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate
Internet Skill Game Licensing and Control Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-3616
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2008-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Crime and Law Enforcement
Gambling
Government Operations and Politics
Indian lands
Indian law enforcement
Internet
Law
Licenses
Minorities
Science, Technology, Communications
Sports and Recreation
State laws

Summary:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: 
Internet Skill Game Licensing and Control Act of 2008 - Prescribes license requirements for the operation of an Internet skill game facility in interstate or foreign commerce.
 
Shields persons from liability for engaging in investment banking, payments processing, or financial activities with a licensee if such activities comply with specified law. 
 
Sets forth prohibitions and limitations of licenses in states and upon Indian lands where permitted bets or wagers are prohibited.
 
Cites conditions under which a state or Indian tribe may establish requirements governing an Internet skill game facility.

Prohibits a licensee, as a condition of its license, from facilitating a bet or wager in connection with a sporting event or contest of a sporting league.
 
Subjects violations of this Act to specified criminal penalties.
 



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate