In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
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Question: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Residential Energy Savings Act of 
2013''.

SEC. 2. STATE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES LOAN 
              PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Loans for Residential Building Energy Efficiency Upgrades.--
Part D of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 
U.S.C. 6321 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 367. LOANS FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Consumer-friendly loan repayment approach.--The term 
        `consumer-friendly loan repayment approach' means a loan 
        repayment method that--
                    ``(A) emphasizes convenience for customers;
                    ``(B) is of low cost to consumers; and
                    ``(C) may tie loan repayment to an existing bill of 
                the consumer.
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                    ``(A) a State or territory of the United States; 
                and
                    ``(B) an Indian tribal government.
            ``(3) Energy advisor program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `energy advisor 
                program' means any program to provide to homeowners or 
                residents advice, information, and support in the 
                identification, prioritization, and implementation of 
                energy efficiency and energy savings measures.
                    ``(B) Inclusions.--The term `energy advisor 
                program' includes a program that provides--
                            ``(i) interpretation of energy audit 
                        reports;
                            ``(ii) assistance in the prioritization of 
                        improvements;
                            ``(iii) assistance in finding qualified 
                        contractors;
                            ``(iv) assistance in contractor bid 
                        reviews;
                            ``(v) education on energy conservation, 
                        renewable energy, and energy efficiency;
                            ``(vi) explanations of available incentives 
                        and tax credits;
                            ``(vii) assistance in completion of rebate 
                        and incentive paperwork; and
                            ``(viii) any other similar type of support.
            ``(4) Energy efficiency.--The term `energy efficiency' 
        means a reduction in energy use, including thermal energy for 
        heating.
            ``(5) Energy efficiency upgrade.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `energy efficiency 
                upgrade' means any project or activity carried out on a 
                residential building to increase energy efficiency.
                    ``(B) Inclusions.--The term `energy efficiency 
                upgrade' includes the installation or improvement of 
                renewable energy for heating or electricity generation 
                serving a residential building carried out in 
                conjunction with an energy efficiency project or 
                activity.
            ``(6) Residential building.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `residential building' 
                means a building used for residential purposes.
                    ``(B) Inclusions.--The term `residential building' 
                includes--
                            ``(i) a single-family residence;
                            ``(ii) a multifamily residence composed not 
                        more than 4 units; and
                            ``(iii) a mixed-use building that includes 
                        not more than 4 residential units.
    ``(b) Establishment of Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program 
        under this part under which the Secretary shall make available 
        to eligible entities loans for the purpose of establishing or 
        expanding programs that provide to residential property owners 
        or tenants financing for energy efficiency upgrades of 
        residential buildings.
            ``(2) No requirement to participate.--No eligible entity 
        shall be required to participate in any manner in the program 
        established under paragraph (1).
    ``(c) Applications.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a loan under 
        this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary 
        an application at such time, in such manner, and containing 
        such information as the Secretary may require.
            ``(2) Selection.--In selecting eligible entities to receive 
        loans under this section, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure--
                            ``(i) that both innovative and established 
                        approaches to the challenges of financing 
                        energy efficiency upgrades are supported;
                            ``(ii) regional diversity among recipients, 
                        including participation by rural States and 
                        small States; and
                            ``(iii) significant participation by low- 
                        and medium-income families;
                    ``(B) evaluate applications based primarily on--
                            ``(i) the projected reduction in energy 
                        use;
                            ``(ii) the extent to which Federal funds 
                        are used to leverage additional funding from 
                        State, local, philanthropic, private sector, 
                        and other sources;
                            ``(iii) the creditworthiness of the 
                        eligible entity; and
                            ``(iv) the incorporation of measures, such 
                        as on-bill repayment, for making the loan 
                        repayment system for recipients of financing as 
                        consumer-friendly as practicable; and
                    ``(C) evaluate applications based secondarily on--
                            ``(i) the extent to which the proposed 
                        financing program of the eligible entity 
                        incorporates best practices for such a program, 
                        as determined by the Secretary;
                            ``(ii) whether the eligible entity has 
                        created a plan for evaluating the effectiveness 
                        of the proposed financing program;
                            ``(iii) the extent to which the proposed 
                        financing program incorporates energy advisor 
                        programs and support programs designed to 
                        increase the effectiveness of the program;
                            ``(iv) the projected quantity of renewable 
                        energy to be generated, to the extent that 
                        renewable energy generation will be included;
                            ``(v) the extent to which the proposed 
                        financing program will be coordinated and 
                        marketed with other existing or planned energy 
                        efficiency programs administered by--
                                    ``(I) utilities;
                                    ``(II) State, tribal, territorial, 
                                or local governments; or
                                    ``(III) community development 
                                financial institutions; and
                            ``(vi) such other factors as the Secretary 
                        determines to be appropriate.
    ``(d) Term; Interest.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish terms and 
        interest rates for loans provided to eligible entities under 
        this section in a manner that--
                    ``(A) provides for a high degree of cost recovery; 
                and
                    ``(B) ensures that the loans are competitive with, 
                or superior to, other forms of financing for similar 
                purposes.
            ``(2) Performance incentive.--The Secretary shall establish 
        a performance incentive providing a repayment discount for 
        eligible entities in an amount equal to not more than the value 
        of the interest accrued on the loan provided to the applicable 
        eligible entity under this section, based on performance as 
        evaluated in accordance with the factors described in 
        subparagraphs (B) and (C) of subsection (c)(2).
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity shall use a loan 
        provided under this section to establish or expand a financing 
        program--
                    ``(A) the purpose of which is to enable residential 
                building owners or tenants to conduct energy efficiency 
                upgrades of residential buildings;
                    ``(B) that may not require any initial capital, 
                excluding fees; and
                    ``(C) that incorporates a consumer-friendly loan 
                repayment approach.
            ``(2) Structure of financing program.--The financing 
        program of an eligible entity may--
                    ``(A) consist--
                            ``(i) primarily or entirely of a financing 
                        program administered by--
                                    ``(I) the applicable State; or
                                    ``(II) a local government, utility, 
                                or other entity; or
                            ``(ii) of a combination of programs 
                        described in clause (i); and
                    ``(B) rely on financing provided by--
                            ``(i) the eligible entity; or
                            ``(ii) a third party, acting through the 
                        eligible entity.
            ``(3) Form of assistance.--Assistance provided by an 
        eligible entity under this subsection may be in the form of--
                    ``(A) a revolving loan fund;
                    ``(B) a credit enhancement structure designed to 
                mitigate the effects of default; or
                    ``(C) a program that--
                            ``(i) adopts any other approach for 
                        providing financing for energy efficiency 
                        upgrades producing significant energy 
                        efficiency gains;
                            ``(ii) produces a high-leverage ratio of 
                        non-Federal funds; and
                            ``(iii) incorporates measures for making 
                        the loan repayment system for recipients of 
                        financing as consumer-friendly as practicable.
            ``(4) Scope of assistance.--Assistance provided by an 
        eligible entity under this subsection may be used to pay for 
        costs associated with carrying out an energy efficiency 
        upgrade, including materials and labor.
    ``(f) Repayment.--An eligible entity shall repay to the Secretary 
the amount of a loan provided under this section, together with--
            ``(1) interest accrued on that amount; and
            ``(2) such fees as the Secretary determines to be necessary 
        to recover any portion of the costs of the program under this 
        section.
    ``(g) Reports.--
            ``(1) Eligible entities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of receipt of the loan, and annually thereafter 
                for the term of the loan, an eligible entity that 
                receives a loan under this section shall submit to the 
                Secretary a report describing the performance of each 
                program and activity carried out using the loan, 
                including anonymized loan performance data.
                    ``(B) Requirements.--The Secretary, in consultation 
                with eligible entities and other stakeholders (such as 
                lending institutions and the real estate industry), 
                shall establish such requirements for the reports under 
                this paragraph as the Secretary determines to be 
                appropriate--
                            ``(i) to ensure that the reports are clear, 
                        consistent, and straightforward; and
                            ``(ii) taking into account the reporting 
                        requirements for similar programs in which the 
                        eligible entities are participating, if any.
            ``(2) Secretary.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress 
        and make available to the public--
                    ``(A) not less frequently than once each year, a 
                report describing the performance of the program under 
                this section, including a synthesis and analysis of the 
                information provided in the reports submitted to the 
                Secretary under paragraph (1)(A); and
                    ``(B) on termination of the program under this 
                section, an assessment of the success of, and education 
                provided by, the measures carried out by eligible 
                entities during the term of the program.
    ``(h) Maximum Amount.--The Secretary may provide to eligible 
entities a total of not more than $2,000,000,000 in loans under this 
section for the costs of activities described in subsection (e).''.
    (b) Reorganization.--
            (1) In general.--Part D of title III of the Energy Policy 
        and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating sections 362, 363, 364, 365, 
                and 366 as sections 364, 365, 366, 363, and 362, 
                respectively, and moving the sections so as to appear 
                in numerical order;
                    (B) in section 362 (as so redesignated)--
                            (i) in paragraph (3)(B)(i), by striking 
                        ``section 367, and'' and inserting ``section 
                        367 (as in effect on the day before the date of 
                        enactment of the State Energy Efficiency 
                        Programs Improvement Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
                        6201 note; Public Law 101-440)); and''; and
                            (ii) in each of paragraphs (4) and (6), by 
                        striking ``section 365(e)(1)'' each place it 
                        appears and inserting ``section 363(e)(1)'';
                    (C) in section 363 (as so redesignated)--
                            (i) in subsection (b), by striking ``the 
                        provisions of sections 362 and 364 and 
                        subsection (a) of section 363'' and inserting 
                        ``sections 364, 365(a), and 366''; and
                            (ii) in subsection (g)(1)(A), in the second 
                        sentence, by striking ``section 362'' and 
                        inserting ``section 364''; and
                    (D) in section 365 (as so redesignated)--
                            (i) in subsection (a)--
                                    (I) in paragraph (1), by striking 
                                ``section 362,'' and inserting 
                                ``section 364;''; and
                                    (II) in paragraph (2), by striking 
                                ``section 362(b) or (e)'' and inserting 
                                ``subsection (b) or (e) of section 
                                364''; and
                            (ii) in subsection (b)(2), in the matter 
                        preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``section 362(b) or (e)'' and inserting 
                        ``subsection (b) or (e) of section 364''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 391 of the Energy 
        Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6371) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)(M), by striking ``section 
                365(e)(2)'' and inserting ``section 363(e)(2)''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (10), by striking ``section 362 of 
                this Act'' and inserting ``section 364''.
            (3) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents of the 
        Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public 
        Law 94-163) is amended by striking the items relating to part D 
        of title III and inserting the following:

              ``Part D--State Energy Conservation Programs

``Sec. 361. Findings and purpose.
``Sec. 362. Definitions.
``Sec. 363. General provisions.
``Sec. 364. State energy conservation plans.
``Sec. 365. Federal assistance to States.
``Sec. 366. State energy efficiency goals.
``Sec. 367. Loans for residential building energy efficiency 
                            upgrades.''.

SEC. 3. FUNDING.

    (a) Budgetary Effects.--The budgetary effects of this Act, for the 
purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 
shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for 
printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the Senate 
Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior 
to the vote on passage.
    (b) Advance Appropriations Required.--An authorization of 
appropriations under this Act or an amendment made by this Act shall be 
effective for a fiscal year only to the extent and in the amounts 
provided in advance in appropriations Acts.

Answer: Residential Energy Savings Act of 2013 - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to establish a voluntary loan program to provide support to states, U.S. territories, and Indian tribal governments (eligible entities) in establishing or expanding programs that provide to residential property owners or tenants financing for energy efficiency upgrades of residential buildings. Authorizes assistance provided by eligible entities to be in the form of a: (1) revolving loan fund; (2) credit enhancement structure designed to mitigate the effects of default; or (3) program that adopts other approaches for providing financing for upgrades producing significant energy efficiency gains, produces a high-leverage ratio of non-federal funds, and incorporates measures for making the loan repayment system for recipients of financing consumer-friendly. Requires the Secretary to establish a performance incentive providing a repayment discount in an amount equal to no more than the value of the interest accrued on the loan provided, based on performance as evaluated in accordance with specified factors. Makes an authorization of appropriations under this Act effective for a fiscal year only to the extent and in the amounts provided in advance in appropriations Acts.


Question: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``America's Law Enforcement and Mental 
Health Project''.

SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION COURTS.

    (a) Amendment.--Part V of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
Safe Streets Act of 1968 is amended to read as follows:

                ``PART V--MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION COURTS

``SEC. 2201. GRANT AUTHORITY.

    ``The Attorney General may make grants to States, State courts, 
local courts, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments, 
acting directly or through agreements with other public or nonprofit 
entities, for 25 programs that involve--
            ``(1) continuing judicial supervision, including periodic 
        review at least every 45 days, over preliminarily qualified 
        offenders with mental illness, mental retardation, or co-
        occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders who are 
        charged with nonviolent misdemeanors, for a period not to 
        exceed 1 year; and
            ``(2) the integrated administration of services, which 
        includes--
                    ``(A) specialized training of law enforcement and 
                judicial personnel to identify and address the unique 
                needs of a mentally ill or mentally retarded offender;
                    ``(B) voluntary diversion into outpatient or 
                inpatient mental health treatment that carries with it 
                the possibility of prosecution of the original criminal 
                charge if the mentally ill or mentally retarded 
                defendant is noncompliant with program requirements;
                    ``(C) centralized case management involving the 
                consolidation of all of a mentally ill or mentally 
                retarded defendant's misdemeanor cases, including 
                violations of misdemeanor probation, and the 
                coordination of all treatment plans of mental health 
                and social service providers; and
                    ``(D) life skills training, such as housing 
                placement, vocational training, education, job 
                placement, health care, and relapse prevention for each 
                participant who requires such services.

``SEC. 2202. DEFINITION.

    ``In this part the term `preliminarily qualified offender with 
mental illness, mental retardation, or co-occurring mental and 
substance abuse disorders' means a person who--
            ``(1)(A) previously or currently has been diagnosed by a 
        qualified mental health professional as having a mental 
        illness, mental retardation, or co-occurring mental illness and 
        substance abuse disorders; or
            ``(B) manifests obvious signs of mental illness, mental 
        retardation, or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse 
        disorders during arrest or confinement or before any court; and
            ``(2) is deemed eligible for diversion by designated 
        judges.

``SEC. 2203. ADMINISTRATION.

    ``(a) Consultation.--The Attorney General shall consult with the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services and any other appropriate 
officials in carrying out this part.
    ``(b) Use of Components.--The Attorney General may utilize any 
component or components of the Department of Justice in carrying out 
this part.
    ``(c) Regulatory Authority.--The Attorney General shall issue 
regulations and guidelines necessary to carry out this part which 
include, but are not limited to, the methodologies and outcome measures 
proposed for evaluating each applicant program.
    ``(d) Applications.--In addition to any other requirements that may 
be specified by the Attorney General, an application for a grant under 
this part shall--
            ``(1) include a long-term strategy and detailed 
        implementation plan;
            ``(2) explain the applicant's inability to fund the program 
        adequately without Federal assistance;
            ``(3) certify that the Federal support provided will be 
        used to supplement, and not supplant, State, Indian tribal, and 
        local sources of funding that would otherwise be available;
            ``(4) identify related governmental or community 
        initiatives which complement or will be coordinated with the 
        proposal;
            ``(5) certify that there has been appropriate consultation 
        with all affected agencies and that there will be appropriate 
        coordination with all affected agencies in the implementation 
        of the program;
            ``(6) certify that participating offenders will be 
        supervised by one or more designated judges with responsibility 
        for the mental health diversion court program;
            ``(7) specify plans for obtaining necessary support and 
        continuing the proposed program following the conclusion of 
        Federal support; and
            ``(8) describe the methodology and outcome measures that 
        will be used in evaluating the program.

``SEC. 2204. APPLICATIONS.

    ``To request funds under this part, the chief executive or the 
chief justice of a State or the chief executive or chief judge of a 
unit of local government or Indian tribal government shall submit an 
application to the Attorney General in such form and containing such 
information as the Attorney General may reasonably require.

``SEC. 2205. FEDERAL SHARE.

    ``The Federal share of a grant made under this part may not exceed 
75 percent of the total costs of the program described in the 
application submitted under section 2205 for the fiscal year for which 
the program receives assistance under this part, unless the Attorney 
General waives, wholly or in part, the requirement of a matching 
contribution under this section. The use of the Federal share of a 
grant made under this part shall be limited to new expenses 
necessitated by the proposed diversion program, including the 
development of treatment services and the hiring and training of 
personnel. In-kind contributions may constitute a portion of the non-
Federal share of a grant.

``SEC. 2206. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.

    ``The Attorney General shall ensure that, to the extent 
practicable, an equitable geographic distribution of grant awards is 
made that considers the special needs of rural communities, Indian 
tribes, and Alaska Natives.

``SEC. 2207. REPORT.

    ``A State, Indian tribal government, or unit of local government 
that receives funds under this part during a fiscal year shall submit 
to the Attorney General a report in March of the following year 
regarding the effectiveness of this part.

``SEC. 2208. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, AND EVALUATION.

    ``(a) Technical Assistance and Training.--The Attorney General may 
provide technical assistance and training in furtherance of the 
purposes of this part.
    ``(b) Evaluations.--In addition to any evaluation requirements that 
may be prescribed for grantees, the Attorney General may carry out or 
make arrangements for evaluations of programs that receive support 
under this part.
    ``(c) Administration.--The technical assistance, training, and 
evaluations authorized by this section may be carried out directly by 
the Attorney General, in collaboration with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, or through grants, contracts, or other cooperative 
arrangements with other entities.''.
    (b) Technical Amendment.--The table of contents of title I of the 
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3711 et 
seq.), is amended by inserting after part U the following:

                ``Part V--Mental Health Diversion Courts

``Sec. 2201. Grant authority.
``Sec. 2202. Definition.
``Sec. 2203. Administration.
``Sec. 2204. Applications.
``Sec. 2205. Federal share.
``Sec. 2206. Geographic distribution.
``Sec. 2207. Report.
``Sec. 2208. Technical assistance, training, and evaluation.''.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 1001(a) of title I of 
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 
3793(a)), is amended by inserting after paragraph (19) the following:
    ``(20) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part V, 
$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2004.''.

Answer: America's Law Enforcement and Mental Health Project - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Attorney General to make grants to States, State courts, local courts, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments, acting directly or through agreements with other public or nonprofit entities, for 25 programs that involve: (1) continuing judicial supervision, including periodic review at least every 45 days, over preliminarily qualified offenders with mental illness, mental retardation, or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders who are charged with non-violent misdemeanors, for a period not to exceed one year; and (2) the integrated administration of services, which includes specialized training of law enforcement and judicial personnel to identify and address the unique needs of a mentally ill or mentally retarded offender, voluntary diversion into outpatient or inpatient mental health treatment that carries with it the possibility of prosecution of the original criminal charge if the mentally ill or mentally retarded defendant is noncompliant with program requirements, centralized case management involving the consolidation of all of a mentally ill or mentally retarded defendant's misdemeanor cases (including violations of misdemeanor probation) and the coordination of all treatment plans of mental health and social service providers, and life skills training. 
Defines "preliminarily qualified offender with mental illness, mental retardation, or co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders" to mean a person who: (1) previously or currently has been diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional as having a mental illness, mental retardation, or co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders or who manifests obvious signs of mental illness, mental retardation, or co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders during arrest or confinement or before any court; and (2) is deemed eligible for diversion by designated judges. 
Directs the Attorney General to issue regulations and guidelines necessary to carry out this Act, including the methodologies and outcome measures proposed for evaluating each applicant program. 
Sets forth provisions regarding application requirements, the Federal cost share (75 percent), geographic distribution of grants, reporting requirements, and technical assistance, training, and evaluation.  Authorizes appropriations.


Question: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Huntington's Disease Parity Act of 
2008''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Huntington's Disease is a progressive degenerative 
        neurological disease that causes total physical and mental 
        deterioration over a 12 to 15 year period. It affects 30,000 
        patients and 200,000 individuals are genetically ``at risk'' in 
        the United States.
            (2) Huntington's Disease has a triad of clinical features, 
        including motor abnormalities, dementia, and disorders of mood 
        and perception. While movement disorders are most commonly 
        associated with Huntington's Disease, early symptoms are often 
        emotional and psychiatric. This may include personality 
        changes, irritability, mood swings, depression, obsessive-
        compulsive behavior, inability to concentrate, and decreased 
        motivation.
            (3) Because of its incapacitating nature, people with 
        Huntington's disease, including those in the early stages of 
        the disease, are unable to retain employment. As a result, many 
        people with Huntington's Disease rely solely on Social Security 
        Disability Income.
            (4) Despite significant advances in medicine and greater 
        understanding of disability, the Social Security Administration 
        has not comprehensively revised its rules for the medical 
        evaluation of neurological disabilities since 1985.
            (5) Because people with Huntington's Disease are frequently 
        not employed, many families have lost their employer-provided 
        health insurance benefits. As a result, many people with 
        Huntington's Disease do not receive necessary treatment during 
        the early stages of the disease.
            (6) In 2000, the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services 
        waived the 24-month waiting period requirement for people 
        disabled by ALS (amyotropic lateral sclerosis), a degenerative 
        neurological condition similar to Huntington's Disease.

SEC. 3. REVISION OF THE MEDICAL CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING DISABILITY 
              CAUSED BY ADULT-ONSET HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE.

    The Commissioner of Social Security shall revise the regulations 
prescribed by the Commissioner set forth as Appendix 1 to subpart P of 
part 404 of title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations (relating to 
the listing of impairments, published by the Social Security 
Administration as ``Disability Evaluation Under Social Security'', and 
commonly referred to as the ``Blue Book''), as follows:
            (1) The Commissioner shall insert after 11.00G the 
        following:
``H. Huntington's Disease.  Huntington's Disease is an inherited 
neuropsychiatric disorder that is progressive and terminates in death 
of the affected person. Recovery or remission never occurs. Treatment 
is ineffective in terms of halting or slowing the progression of the 
disease. The usual age of adult onset is between the ages of 30 and 50, 
although the age of adult onset may be younger or older. Incapacitation 
occurs relatively early in the course of this debilitating illness with 
progression to total disability and dependency for all activities of 
daily living. There are three characteristic clinical features: (1) 
loss of ability to control bodily movements; (2) loss of ability to 
think and act quickly, to learn new material and to remember, and (3) 
apathy, personality changes, irritability, mood swings, depression, 
anxiety, inability to concentrate, decreased motivation, obsessive-
compulsive disorder, and severe depression. Individuals with 
Huntingon's Disease also exhibit poor social judgment and may be 
irritable and aggressive. Inability to work is due to a combination of 
cognitive disturbance, behavioral or mood changes, poor coordination of 
voluntary movements, and the presence of involuntary movements. 
Individuals with Huntingon's Disease, even in the relatively early 
stages, have particular difficulty with decision-making, multi-tasking, 
and performing under time pressure or with the stress of interpersonal 
interactions. The course of the disease varies among individuals and 
families. The cognitive and behavioral problems may become debilitating 
before disorganization of motor functions. For other individuals, the 
motor dysfunction may appear first.''.
            (2) The Commissioner shall insert after 11.14 the 
        following:
``11.15 Huntington's Disease. With:
            ``A. disorganization of motor function as described in 
        11.04B; or
            ``B. chronic brain syndrome. Evaluate under 12.02, 12.04, 
        and 12.06.''.
            (3) The Commissioner shall remove the reference in 11.17 to 
        ``Huntington's Chorea''.

SEC. 4. REVISION OF THE MEDICAL CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING DISABILITY 
              CAUSED BY JUVENILE HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE.

    The Commissioner of Social Security shall revise further the 
regulations described in section 3 as follows:
            (1) The Commissioner shall insert after 111.00E the 
        following:
``F. Juvenile Huntington's Disease. While there is no symptom or group 
of symptoms that are absolutely required for the diagnosis of juvenile 
Huntington's Disease, most affected children offer several of the 
following features at the time that the diagnosis is made: motor 
dysfunction, characterized by rigidity and dystonia, seizures, 
declining cognitive function, behavioral or psychiatric problems such 
as depression, aggressiveness and impulsiveness, irritability, mood 
swings, and obsessions. Huntington's Disease is a hereditary disorder 
and individuals with very early onset of Huntington's Disease are far 
more likely to have an affected father than an affected mother.''.
            (2) The Commissioner shall insert after 111.09 the 
        following:
``111.10. Junvenile Huntington's Disease. With:
            ``A. Motor dysfunction. Evaluate under 111.06; or
            ``B. Behavioral or psychiatric problems. Evaluate under 
        112.02, 112.06, and 112.08.''.

SEC. 5. ELIMINATION OF 24-MONTH MEDICARE DISABILITY WAITING PERIOD IN 
              CASES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABLING HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE.

    (a) In General.--Section 226(h) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 426(h)) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
inserting ``or Huntington's Disease'' after ``amyotrophic lateral 
sclerosis (ALS)''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to benefits under title XVIII of the Social Security Act with 
respect to items and services furnished in months beginning after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.

Answer:
Huntington's Disease Parity Act of 2008 - Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to revise the medical criteria for evaluating disability caused by adult-onset and juvenile Huntington's Disease.

Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for individuals disabled by Huntington's Disease.