TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
PROBLEM: SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Twice since 1989, the northwestern coast of Maui, 
        Hawaii, has been plagued with massive blooms of the green alga, 
        Cladorphora sericea. Blooms of the red alga, Hypnea 
        musciformis, have also occurred in the area and in the Kihei 
        area.
            (2) The algal blooms have destroyed corals and other reef-
        building organisms, and have washed up on beaches and severely 
        impeded the recreational use of affected coastal areas.
            (3) The algal blooms are particularly detrimental to the 
        natural ecological balance of the near-shore reef environment.
            (4) Although the specific causes of the algal blooms are 
        uncertain, algal growth is stimulated in a proportional manner 
        by concentrations of chemicals such as fertilizers and 
        insecticides, which enter the ocean through freshwater runoff.
            (5) The Department of Health of the State of Hawaii has 
        indicated that the department does not have the resources at 
        this time to determine the cause of the algal blooms.
            (6) Extensive research will be required to determine the 
        factors that contribute to algal growth.
            (7) Potential sources of nutrients that may contribute to 
        algal growth include the near-shore disposal of sewage in 
        injection wells from the Lahaina Wastewater Treatment Plant, 
        surface runoff from agricultural lands and urban resort areas, 
        and subsurface point sources in the areas.
            (8) The long-term environmental impacts of the algal blooms 
        are unknown, but in the short term, reefs exposed to the algae 
        are being destroyed and the deterioration of the coral has 
        detrimental effects on fish and other wildlife that depend on 
        the reefs for survival.
            (9) The algal blooms are generating negative economic 
        impacts as well as negative biological impacts, as additional 
        reports indicate that the algae are decreasing the intake of 
        fish caught by local fishermen in the affected marine waters.
            (10) The Maui Algae Task Force is comprised of community 
        environmental activists and has been assembled to address the 
        problem of algal blooms.
            (11) The Maui Algae Task Force hopes to work in cooperation 
        with the Department of Health of the State of Hawaii and the 
        Environmental Protection Agency to identify and eradicate the 
        causes of the algal blooms.

SEC. 2. STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Administrator'') 
shall conduct a study to--
            (1) determine the causes of recent algal blooms off the 
        northwestern coast of Maui, Hawaii; and
            (2) research alternatives for the improved management of 
        chemicals present in wastewater treatment and fresh water 
        runoff.
    (b) Study Requirements.--In carrying out the study under this 
section, the Administrator shall--
            (1) survey and monitor--
                    (A) seaweed populations and animals for which the 
                seaweed is a food source;
                    (B) surface water runoff sediments in the study 
                area; and
                    (C) inputs into the study area from subsurface 
                point sources, including any such inputs from the 
                Lahaina wastewater treatment plant; and
            (2) study the responses of--
                    (A) the seaweed populations referred to in 
                paragraph (1)(A) to different concentrations of 
                nutrients; and
                    (B) the animals referred to in paragraph (1)(A) to 
                pesticides and other biological toxins.
    (c) Equipment; Grants.--
            (1) Acquisition of equipment.--In carrying out the study 
        under this section, the Administrator is authorized to acquire 
        such monitoring and testing equipment as the Administrator 
        determines necessary.
            (2) Grants.--In carrying out the study under this section, 
        the Administrator is authorized to establish a grant program to 
        provide grants to eligible entities that submit approved 
        applications to the Administrator. The following entities may 
        submit an application to conduct study activities under this 
        section:
                    (A) The Department of Health of the State of 
                Hawaii.
                    (B) The Maui Algae Task Force.
                    (C) Appropriate Federal, State, or county 
                departments or agencies.
                    (D) Any other entity that the Administrator 
                determines to be appropriate.
    (d) Demonstration Projects.--In carrying out the study under this 
section, the Administrator is authorized to establish demonstration 
projects to identify and implement best management practices for the 
control of nonpoint source pollution from erosion and agricultural 
runoff.
    (e) Reports.--
            (1) Interim report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
        Congress a report that includes interim results of the study 
        conducted under this section, and such recommendations as the 
        Administrator determines to be appropriate.
            (2) Final report.--Not later than January 31, 1996, the 
        Administrator shall submit to Congress a final report that 
        summarizes the results of the study conducted under this 
        section and includes such recommendations as the Administrator 
        determines to be appropriate.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out this 
section $500,000 for each of fiscal years 1994 and 1995.

SOLUTION: Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to study and report to the Congress on the causes of recent algal blooms off the northwestern coast of Maui, Hawaii, and to research alternatives for the improved management of chemicals present in wastewater treatment and fresh water runoff. 
Authorizes the Administrator to establish:  (1) a grant program to enable eligible entities to conduct study activities; and (2) demonstration projects to implement best management practices for the control of nonpoint source pollution from erosion and agricultural runoff. 
Authorizes appropriations.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Freedom and Mobility in Consumer 
Banking Act''.

SEC. 2. FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE ACT AMENDMENTS.

    The Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 51. RIGHT TO CLOSE PERSONAL CHECKING AND SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.

    ``(a) In General.--An insured depository institution may not--
            ``(1) prohibit any person from closing a checking or 
        savings account, regardless of whether the balance in the 
        account is positive, zero, or negative; or
            ``(2) charge any fee to close any such account.
    ``(b) Time Limit.--An account at any insured depository institution 
shall be closed by the institution not later than 48 hours after 
receiving a request from the customer to close the account.
    ``(c) Methods of Requesting Closure of an Account.--
            ``(1) In general.--Any accountholder of an account at an 
        insured depository institution may request that the account be 
        closed in person, over the phone, or by other electronic or 
        remote means, as may be prescribed by regulation.
            ``(2) Exception for large accounts.--Notwithstanding 
        paragraph (1), any insured depository institution may require 
        an accountholder of an account which has an outstanding balance 
        of $25,000 or more on deposit at the depository institution to 
        close the account in person, to the extent the depository 
        institution has provided written notice of such requirement to 
        the account holder at any time prior to receiving a request 
        from the accountholder to close the account.
    ``(d) Repayment of Balances.--
            ``(1) In general.--Any balance in an account at an insured 
        depository institution that is closed by the institution 
        pursuant to a request by the accountholder shall repaid to the 
        accountholder in accordance with the following requirements:
                    ``(A) In person.--If the request is made in person, 
                the total amount of funds on deposit in the account 
                shall be paid to the accountholder at the time the 
                request is made at the consumer's option and without a 
                fee, by certified check provided to the consumer at the 
                time of the request, by electronic fund transfer 
                executed on that business day to an account designated 
                by the consumer, or by any other means offered by the 
                financial institution if requested by the consumer.
                    ``(B) Request made by other means.--If the request 
                is made over the phone, or by other electronic or 
                remote means, the total amount of funds on deposit in 
                the account shall promptly be remitted by the 
                institution to the accountholder at the consumer's 
                option and without a fee, by certified check issued on 
                the business day on which the request is received, by 
                electronic fund transfer executed on that business day 
                to an account designated by the consumer, or by any 
                other means offered by the financial institution if 
                requested by the consumer.
            ``(2) Time limit.--In any case, the payment by an insured 
        depository institution of the total amount of funds on deposit 
        in an account at the institution which the accountholder has 
        requested be closed shall be remitted to the accountholder 
        before the end of the 3 business day period beginning when the 
        accountholder submits such request.
    ``(e) Prohibition on Any Fees or Charges After Request To Close.--
No insured depository institution may impose any fees or charges on any 
deposit account at such institution after receiving a request in 
accordance with subsection (c) to close the account.
    ``(f) Prohibition on Reopening Account To Make Subsequent 
Payment.--No insured depository institution may reopen an account that 
the consumer has requested be closed in accordance with subsection (c) 
to apply subsequent debits, whether preauthorized or otherwise, or for 
any other reason, unless the consumer expressly requests that such 
account be reopened.
    ``(g) Notice of Subsequent Preauthorized Recurring Debits.--During 
the 30-day period beginning on the date an account at an insured 
depository institution is closed pursuant to a request by the 
accountholder, the insured depository institution shall promptly notify 
the customer if a preauthorized recurring debit is directed to the 
account.
    ``(h) Limitation on Reporting.--
            ``(1) Negative balance resulting from fees.--If, at the 
        time any account at an insured depository institution is 
        closed, the account has a negative balance resulting solely 
        from any fee assessed by the depository institution, the 
        insured depository institution may not report the fact of the 
        outstanding balance or any other adverse information with 
        respect to such account to any consumer reporting agency 
        described in section 603(f) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act if 
        such information could be used to adversely affect the 
        consumer's ability to open a transaction account at another 
        depository institution.
            ``(2) Treatment of negative balance resulting from 
        overdrafts.--If such information could be used to adversely 
        affect the consumer's ability to open a transaction account at 
        another depository institution, an insured depository 
        institution shall not report to any consumer reporting agency 
        (as defined in section 603 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act) 
        that an account had a negative balance at the time of the 
        closure of the account unless all of the following conditions 
        are met:
                    ``(A) Only if the negative balance is the result of 
                funds actually paid by the depository institution to a 
                third party.
                    ``(B) Only for the amount it actually paid to the 
                third party and not for any fees associated with the 
                transaction.
                    ``(C) Only to the extent the negative balance is 
                the result of credit extended through an overdraft line 
                of credit program where the fee or charge incurred in 
                connection with the overdraft is considered a finance 
                charge under the Truth In Lending Act.
            ``(3) Notice and opportunity for repayment of overdraft.--
        If an account of an accountholder at an insured depository 
        institution has a negative balance at the time the account is 
        closed, the insured depository institution--
                    ``(A) shall promptly notify the accountholder of 
                the fact of the negative balance and the amount due; 
                and
                    ``(B) may, after the end of the 30-day period 
                beginning on the date notice is provided to an 
                accountholder under subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(i) report the fact of the outstanding 
                        balance or any other adverse information with 
                        respect to such account to any consumer 
                        reporting agency, subject to the limitations in 
                        paragraph (2); and
                            ``(ii) take any other collection activity 
                        with respect to such outstanding balance.
    ``(i) Transfer of Direct Deposit Received After Notice of Closure 
and Payment.--If--
            ``(1) during the 30-day period beginning after any balance 
        in an account at an insured depository institution that is 
        closed by the institution pursuant to a request by the 
        accountholder has been repaid to the accountholder, a 
        previously scheduled amount intended for direct deposit into 
        such account is received by such institution, and
            ``(2) before the time such amount is received, the consumer 
        provides the insured depository institution with an account 
        number and insured depository institution routing number for a 
        successor transaction or savings account at another insured 
        depository institution,
the insured depository institution which receives such amount shall 
transfer such amount, without a fee and by electronic fund transfer, to 
the insured depository institution identified by the former 
accountholder for deposit in the transaction or savings account 
identified by such former accountholder.
    ``(j) Regulations.--The Federal banking agencies shall jointly 
prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this section.''.

SOLUTION: Freedom and Mobility in Consumer Banking Act - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) to prohibit an insured depository institution from: (1) prohibiting any person from closing a checking or savings account, regardless of its balance; or (2) charging a fee to close such an account.

Requires a depository institution to close an account within 48 hours after receiving a request from the customer to do so.

Permits an account holder to request that the account be closed in person, over the phone, or by other electronic or remote means, as may be prescribed by regulation.

Sets forth financial institution procedures for closing large accounts and repaying balances, as well as notice and opportunity for accountholder repayment of overdrafts.

Prohibits a depository institution from: (1) imposing fees or charges after receiving a request to close an account, or (2) reopening an account without express account holder request.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Voting Access Act''.

SEC. 2. REQUIRING STATES TO MEET STANDARDS FOR LOCATION AND OPERATION 
              OF POLLING PLACES USED IN ELECTIONS FOR FEDERAL OFFICE.

    (a) Establishment of Standards.--
            (1) In general.--Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 
        2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
        section 303 the following new section:

``SEC. 303A. COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS FOR LOCATION AND OPERATION OF 
              POLLING PLACES.

    ``(a) Compliance.--Each State shall comply with the standards 
established by the Commission under this section for the location and 
operation of polling places used in elections for Federal office.
    ``(b) Establishment of Standards.--
            ``(1) Standards described.--In consultation with the chief 
        State election officials of the States, the Commission shall 
        establish national standards for the location and operation of 
        polling places used in elections for Federal office (other than 
        sites used as polling places on dates other than the date of 
        the election), including the following:
                    ``(A) A requirement that no individual shall be 
                required to wait for longer than one hour in order to 
                cast a vote at a polling place.
                    ``(B) Standards for determining the number of 
                polling places within a jurisdiction on the basis of 
                the voting age population of the jurisdiction, taking 
                into consideration factors which include the linguistic 
                preferences of voters in the jurisdiction, the 
                availability of same-day voter registration in the 
                jurisdiction, and other relevant factors.
                    ``(C) Standards for the nondiscriminatory placement 
                and location of polling places within a jurisdiction, 
                including standards to ensure that polling places are 
                accessible to voters with disabilities and voters using 
                public transportation.
                    ``(D) Standards for ensuring that each polling 
                place has sufficient resources, including voting 
                systems, ballots, and election officials, to meet the 
                requirement described in subparagraph (A).
                    ``(E) Standards for ensuring that voters are given 
                timely, accurate, and current information in clear and 
                concise language regarding ballot information and the 
                location of polling places.
                    ``(F) Best practices for preventing violations of 
                laws prohibiting the intimidation or harassment of 
                voters at polling places.
            ``(2) Process for establishment of standards.--The 
        establishment of the standards under this section shall be 
        carried out by the Commission in a manner that provides for 
        each of the following:
                    ``(A) Publication of notice of the proposed 
                standards in the Federal Register.
                    ``(B) An opportunity for public comment on the 
                proposed standards.
                    ``(C) Publication of the final standards in the 
                Federal Register.
    ``(c) Deadline; Effective Date.--The Commission shall establish the 
standards under this section not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this section, and each State shall comply with the 
standards with respect to all elections for Federal office held on or 
after the expiration of the 180-day period which begins on the date the 
Commission establishes the standards.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents of such Act 
        is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 303 
        the following new item:

``Sec. 303A. Compliance with standards for location and operation of 
                            polling places.''.
    (b) Enforcement.--Section 401 of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21111) is 
amended by striking ``and 303'' and inserting ``303, and 303A''.
    (c) Funding.--Section 257(a) of such Act (52 U.S.C. 21007(a)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(5) For the first fiscal year during which States are 
        subject to the requirements of section 303A (relating to 
        standards established by the Commission for the location and 
        operation of polling places), such sums as are necessary for 
        requirements payments to enable the States to meet the 
        requirements of such section.''.

SEC. 3. STUDY AND REPORT ON MISIDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL POLITICAL 
              PARTY REGISTRATION.

    (a) Study.--The Election Assistance Commission shall conduct a 
study of instances of the misidentification by election officials of 
the political party registration of individuals attempting to vote in 
primary elections for Federal office, including an analysis of the 
frequency of such misidentification among various jurisdictions.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report 
on the study conducted under subsection (a), and shall include in the 
report such recommendations as the Commission considers appropriate to 
prevent and respond to the misidentification of an individual's 
political party registration, including recommendations to permit 
individuals to correct their political party registration at the 
polling place on the date of voting.

SOLUTION:
Voting Access Act This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require each state to comply with national standards established by the Election Assistance Commission for the location and operation of polling places used in elections for federal office. The Commission shall establish such standards and study instances of the misidentification by election officials of the political party registration of individuals attempting to vote in primary elections for federal office.