In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Student Loan Refinancing 
Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDENT LOAN CONSOLIDATION.

    Section 459B of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087i-
2) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``section'' and 
        inserting ``subsection'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``this section'' and 
        inserting ``subsection (a)'' each place the term appears; and
            (3) by inserting at the end the following:
    ``(c) Temporary Loan Consolidation Authority for Certain Loans Made 
After July 1, 2006.--
            ``(1) Loan consolidation authority.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A borrower who has 1 or more 
                loans in a category described in subparagraph (B) may 
                consolidate all of the loans of the borrower that are 
                described in subparagraph (B) into a Federal Direct 
                Consolidation Loan during the period described in 
                subparagraph (C).
                    ``(B) Categories of loans that may be 
                consolidated.--The categories of loans that may be 
                consolidated under subparagraph (A) are loans made on 
                or after July 1, 2006, that are--
                            ``(i) loans made under this part;
                            ``(ii) loans purchased by the Secretary 
                        pursuant to section 459A; and
                            ``(iii) loans made under part B that are 
                        held by an eligible lender, as such term is 
                        defined in section 435(d).
                    ``(C) Time period in which loans may be 
                consolidated.--
                            ``(i) Federal direct loans.--In the case of 
                        a borrower who has 1 or more loans described 
                        under subparagraph (B)(i), the Secretary 
                        shall--
                                    ``(I) consolidate the loans 
                                described under subparagraph (B)(i) not 
                                later than 90 days after the date of 
                                enactment of the Federal Student Loan 
                                Refinancing Act; and
                                    ``(II) notify the borrower, in 
                                writing, prior to such consolidation 
                                that--
                                            ``(aa) the borrower's loans 
                                        under this part have been 
                                        consolidated at a lower 
                                        interest rate; and
                                            ``(bb) the borrower's 
                                        repayment plan and the other 
                                        terms and conditions of the 
                                        borrower's loan remain 
                                        unchanged.
                            ``(ii) Other loans.--In the case of a 
                        borrower who has 1 or more loans described 
                        under clause (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (B), 
                        the Secretary shall--
                                    ``(I) initiate the loan 
                                consolidation process for the loans 
                                described under clause (ii) or (iii) of 
                                subparagraph (B), not later than 90 
                                days after the date of enactment of the 
                                Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act, 
                                by sending a completed loan 
                                consolidation application to the 
                                borrower;
                                    ``(II) notify the borrower, as part 
                                of such application, that a fee will be 
                                assessed and that the interest rate of 
                                the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan 
                                will be set in accordance with 
                                paragraph (2); and
                                    ``(III) notify the borrower, as 
                                part of such application, that if the 
                                borrower wishes to consolidate in 
                                accordance with the completed 
                                application, the borrower must endorse 
                                the application and submit the 
                                application to the Secretary not more 
                                than 6 months after receipt of the 
                                application.
            ``(2) Terms of loans.--The following terms and conditions 
        shall apply to a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan made under 
        this subsection:
                    ``(A) The applicable rate of interest on a Federal 
                Direct Consolidation Loan made under this subsection 
                shall be--
                            ``(i) 4 percent; or
                            ``(ii) in a case in which the weighted 
                        average of the interest rates on the 
                        outstanding loans of a borrower that will be 
                        consolidated is less than 4 percent, the lesser 
                        of--
                                    ``(I) the weighted average of the 
                                interest rates on the outstanding loans 
                                of a borrower that will be 
                                consolidated; or
                                    ``(II) a rate of interest equal 
                                to--
                                            ``(aa) 4 percent; minus
                                            ``(bb) 0.4 percent of the 
                                        principal balance of the 
                                        consolidation loan, at the time 
                                        of consolidation.
                    ``(B) In the case of a loan consolidated under 
                paragraph (1)(C)(ii), an origination fee equal to 0.4 
                percent of the principal balance of the consolidation 
                loan, at the time of consolidation, will be added to 
                the principal balance of the loan, and the Secretary 
                shall use the fee to cover the cost of making and 
                servicing the loan.
                    ``(C) If 1 or more of the loans being consolidated 
                is a loan described under paragraph (1)(B)(iii), the 
                interest rate on the Federal Direct Consolidation Loan 
                under this subsection shall be reduced by 0.25 percent.
                    ``(D) Any benefit a borrower is receiving or 
                earning at the time a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan 
                is issued under this subsection shall not be affected 
                by consolidation under this section, including benefits 
                such as a deferment or forbearance, accumulation of 
                monthly payments as part of the public service loan 
                forgiveness program under section 455(m), accumulation 
                of monthly payments toward a loan discharge under the 
                income-based repayment plan under section 493C, 
                participation in a particular repayment plan, and other 
                benefits to the borrower.''.

SEC. 3. EXEMPTIONS FROM OTHER LAWS.

    (a) Exemption From the Paperwork Reduction Act.--Chapter 35 of 
title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to this Act.
    (b) Inapplicability of Rulemaking Requirements.--Sections 482(c) 
and 492 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1089(c), 1098a) 
and section 553 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the 
amendments made by this Act, or to any regulations promulgated under 
such amendments.
Example Output: Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow borrowers that received loans under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (DL) or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program on or after July 1, 2006, to consolidate those loans as Federal Direct Consolidation Loans.  It directs the Department of Education (ED) to consolidate DLs, and send a completed loan consolidation application to FFEL borrowers, within 90 days of this bill's enactment. It gives FFEL borrowers six months after their receipt of such application to endorse it and submit it to ED if they wish to consolidate their loans. The bill sets the interest rate on Federal Direct Consolidation Loans at 4% or, if the weighted average of the interest rates of the loans being consolidated is less than 4%, the lesser of: (1) that weighted average, or (2) an interest rate equal to 0.4% of the principal balance of the consolidation loan at the time of consolidation. It adds an origination fee equal to 0.4% of the principal balance of the consolidation loan at the time of consolidation if an FFEL is being consolidated. It reduces the interest rate on a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan by 0.25% if one or more of the loans being consolidated is an FFEL held by an eligible lender. The bill prohibits any benefit a borrower is receiving or earning when issued a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan from being affected by the consolidation.

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National High Performance Passenger 
Rail Transportation-Oriented Development Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. TRANSPORTATION-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Transportation (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall establish an initiative to 
promote passenger rail operations and transportation-oriented 
development by creating incentives for communities to encourage 
dedicated revenue sources for urban and regional rail corridor 
development.
    (b) Implementation.--The Secretary shall appoint a Planning 
Developer to oversee implementation of this initiative. The Planning 
Developer shall report to the Secretary.
    (c) Coordinating Committee.--The Secretary shall harmonize planning 
requirements and direct coordination and administration of the 
initiative between the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal 
Transit Administration. The Secretary shall appoint a Transportation-
Oriented Development Coordinating Committee composed of the Planning 
Developer as Chair, the Administrator of the Federal Railroad 
Administration, and the Administrator of the Federal Transit 
Administration.

SEC. 3. FEDERAL INCENTIVES.

    (a) Qualified Projects.--
            (1) Criteria.--The Secretary shall establish criteria for 
        the designation of projects qualified for Federal incentives 
        pursuant to this section and the amendments made by this 
        section.
            (2) Types of projects that may qualify.--Projects that may 
        qualify for Federal incentives pursuant to this section and the 
        amendments made by this section are those that contribute to 
        the generation of revenue by the capture of increasing value 
        from development around station areas, as defined by the 
        Secretary, which are likely to make long-term contributions to 
        rail corridor development funds or similar mechanisms that help 
        finance intercity and urban passenger rail infrastructure or 
        operating expenses. Such commercial development or other 
        projects designated as qualified by the Secretary may generate 
        revenue for transportation-oriented development and rail 
        operations in the region by increasing the tax base, promoting 
        job growth, promoting cost effectiveness, facilitating 
        intermodal connectivity, combining congestion relief with 
        station development, stimulating economic development, or any 
        other appropriate means. The capture of increased value shall 
        be through the establishment of special assessment districts or 
        similar mechanisms, and distribution of revenues shall be 
        through rail corridor development funds or similar mechanisms 
        established within the regions.
            (3) Designated coordinating authority.--The Secretary shall 
        designate a State authority, or regional commission in 
        appropriate regions of the country as defined by the Secretary, 
        that petitions the Secretary to participate in the initiative 
        established under section 2. Such designated entity shall 
        provide for coordination among stakeholders, local governments, 
        and private developers in the defined region, and shall endorse 
        each project of, and be the lead party in, an application for 
        Federal incentives pursuant to this section and the amendments 
        made by this section.
    (b) Railroad Rehabilitation Improvement Financing.--Section 502 of 
the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (45 
U.S.C. 822) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (5);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                (6) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(7) persons conducting a qualified project (as defined in 
        section 8 of the National High Performance Passenger Rail 
        Transportation-Oriented Development Act of 2012).''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (B);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of 
                subparagraph (C) and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(D) conduct a qualified project (as defined by 
                the Secretary under section 3 of the National High 
                Performance Passenger Rail Transportation-Oriented 
                Development Act of 2012.''.
    (c) Transportation Infrastructure Finance.--Section 601(a)(8) of 
title 23, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (C);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(E) a qualified project (as defined by the 
                Secretary under section 3 of the National High 
                Performance Passenger Rail Transportation-Oriented 
                Development Act of 2012).''.
    (d) Application Priority.--In general, Federal applications to the 
Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Transit Administration for 
railroad projects that participate in the transportation-oriented 
development program under this Act shall receive a priority for funding 
in the application decision process.
    (e) Administrative Costs.--For administrative costs to carry out 
this Act, including contracting with and support for the Planning 
Developer and transportation-oriented development initial 
administrative costs of the Federal Railroad Administration and Federal 
Transit Administration for the first 5 years, the Secretary may use 
such funds as necessary which are appropriated for carrying out chapter 
6 of title 23, United States Code.
    (f) Revenue Neutral Program Cost.--The Secretary may establish a 
mechanism whereby amounts used under subsection (e) will be repaid to 
the Secretary for use in carrying out chapter 6 of title 23, United 
States Code. Repayment shall be derived from a small fee to all 
recipients of funding provided under subsection (e). The repayment 
shall commence upon substantial completion of qualified projects.

SEC. 4. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) National Technical Assistance.--The program established under 
this Act shall provide technical assistance to the States with respect 
to--
            (1) identification of transportation-oriented development 
        opportunities;
            (2) establishment of special assessment districts in 
        regions;
            (3) establishment of rail corridor development funds; and
            (4) expediting Federal, State, and local regulatory 
        approvals.
    (b) States and Regions Outside the Northeast Corridor.--The 
Secretary, through the initiative established by this Act, shall 
provide technical assistance to the States and regions outside the 
Northeast Corridor as identified by the Secretary, and shall provide--
            (1) technical assistance on the establishment of Regional 
        Advisory Committees appropriate to carrying out the purposes of 
        this Act at the regional level; and
            (2) technical assistance at the request of a State or 
        qualified entity provided by the Planning Developer that will 
        identify stations and potential stations within a given region, 
        and conduct a preliminary survey of property available and 
        potentially available, to maximize development and commercial 
        revenue generation to financially support the development of a 
        high performance rail passenger corridor.
    (c) Northeast Corridor.--The Secretary, through the initiative 
established under this Act, shall provide technical assistance to the 
States and entities along the Northeast Corridor as identified by the 
Secretary--
            (1) on the establishment, by the Northeast Corridor 
        Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission established 
        under section 24905 of title 49, United States Code, of a 
        Northeast Corridor Transportation-Oriented Development Working 
        Group, which shall--
                    (A) include outside members with expertise in 
                transportation-oriented development;
                    (B) be chaired by the Planning Developer; and
                    (C) advise the Secretary and the Northeast Corridor 
                Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission on 
                the ways and means for carrying out the purposes of 
                this Act at the regional level; and
            (2) technical assistance provided by the Planning Developer 
        to the Secretary and identified States and entities, not more 
        than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, that 
        will identify Northeast Corridor stations and potential 
        stations, and conduct a preliminary survey of property 
        available and potentially available, to maximize development 
        and commercial revenue generation to financially support the 
        creation of a true high-speed rail corridor in the Northeast 
        Corridor.
Example Output: National High Performance Passenger Rail Transportation-Oriented Development Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to establish an initiative to promote passenger rail operations and transportation-oriented development by creating rail projects qualified for federal incentives for communities to encourage dedicated revenue sources for urban and regional rail corridor development.

Amends the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 to direct the Secretary to provide direct loans and loan guarantees for qualified rail projects. Authorizes the Secretary to make secured loans, loan guarantees, or lines of credit for such projects.

Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance to: (1) states to identify transportation-oriented development opportunities, (2) states and regions outside the Northeast Corridor to establish Regional Advisory Committees and identify stations and potential stations within the region to maximize development and commercial revenue generation to support financially the development of a high performance rail passenger corridor, and (3) states and entities along the Northeast Corridor to establish a Northeast Corridor Transportation-Oriented Development Working Group and identify Northeast Corridor stations and potential stations to maximize development and commercial revenue generation to support financially the creation of a true high-speed rail corridor in the Northeast Corridor.

Example Input: SECTION 1. INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL ASSESSMENT PILOT PROGRAM.

    Part A of title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

              ``Subpart 5--Instructional Level Assessment

``SEC. 6171. INSTRUCTIONAL-LEVEL ASSESSMENT PILOT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Grant Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants on a 
        competitive basis to no more than ten State educational 
        agencies to conduct pilot programs to determine the 
        effectiveness of assessing students with disabilities who are 
        achieving significantly below grade-level proficiency at their 
        instructional level, and to facilitate quality instruction for 
        such students.
            ``(2) Grant period.--Grants described under paragraph (1) 
        shall be made for a 3 year period.
    ``(b) Application.--A State that desires the grant described under 
paragraph (1) shall submit an application for such grant, at such time, 
in such manner and in such format as the Secretary may prescribe. In 
order to be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an State 
shall--
            ``(1) be determined by the Secretary to not be in need of 
        intervention or substantial intervention in implementing the 
        requirements as described in part B, section 616(d)(2) (20 
        U.S.C. 1416) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
        Act;
            ``(2) have developed and implemented alternate assessments 
        to modified academic achievement standards;
            ``(3) as part of such application, provide assurances such 
        agency has identified a minimum of 5 local education agencies, 
        considering geographic diversity, the mix of rural and urban 
        districts, and the mix of small and large districts, to 
        participate in the pilot;
            ``(4) demonstrate such agency will provide guidance to the 
        participating local education agencies on--
                    ``(A) how to appropriately select students for the 
                pilot;
                    ``(B) scientifically valid assessment & evaluation 
                tools to be utilized; and
                    ``(C) data collection and reporting;
            ``(5) as part of such application, provide an assurance 
        that participating local education agencies have implemented a 
        response to intervention approach as defined in section 9101 
        that ensures that all students have received data driven, 
        quality instruction in the grade-level content; and
            ``(6) ensure monitoring and oversight of the participating 
        local education agencies, including establishment of a process 
        to review documentation provided by the individualized 
        education program team (or `IEP Team') (as defined in section 
        614(d)(1)(B) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 
        (20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(1)(B))), for each student recommended for 
        participation in the pilot to ensure that students are 
        appropriately identified for participation.
    ``(c) Program Elements.--In implementing the pilot, a State 
educational agency and the participating local educational agencies 
shall--
            ``(1) limit participation of students in the pilot program 
        to .5 percent of the total population of students assessed in 
        each participating local educational agency;
            ``(2) ensure that the participating student's IEP Team has 
        determined that the alternate assessment to modified 
        achievement standards is the appropriate annual assessment for 
        the student and secured the written consent of the parents of 
        such student prior to such students being assessed under the 
        pilot program;
            ``(3) ensure that all students participating in the pilot 
        program are receiving data driven, quality instruction in the 
        grade level content in the subject areas to be assessed;
            ``(4) ensure the IEP Team shall--
                    ``(A) examine the student's testing data, formative 
                assessments, student work, IEP progress notes, data 
                from the response to intervention approaches, teacher 
                recommendations and other data that indicates a 
                student's instructional level;
                    ``(B) determine whether the student is performing 
                three or more grade levels below their current grade 
                level in either reading or math, as measured by 
                scientifically-valid and reliable instruments, and the 
                measures described in subparagraph (A); and
                    ``(C) administer scientifically-valid and reliable 
                assessments based on the student's instructional level 
                in reading and/or math; and
            ``(5) based on the student's instructional level 
        assessment, ensure the IEP Team will develop, and the local 
        education agency will implement, a series of targeted 
        interventions that directly address and are designed to 
        remediate identified gaps in the student's instructional and 
        grade-level content knowledge.
    ``(d) Accountability.--
            ``(1) The data from instructional level assessments shall 
        not be used for purpose of determining whether a student meets 
        or exceeds a proficient level of achievement as described under 
        section 1111(b).
            ``(2) The results of any such instructional leveal 
        assessments administered under this Act shall not be used to 
        determine whether a school, local educational agency, or State 
        educational agency has made adequate yearly progress, as 
        described under section 1111(b).
    ``(e) Reports.--
            ``(1) Each local education agency participating in the 
        pilot will compile a report documenting progress on each 
        student's instructional level proficiency and progress made 
        toward reaching grade level proficiency based on either an 
        alternate assessment based on modified academic achievement 
        standards or regular academic achievement standards and a 
        scientifically valid and reliable instructional level 
        assessment.
            ``(2) Each State education agency participating in the 
        pilot shall submit an annual report to the Secretary, 
        describing how many students participated in the pilot, and the 
        progress made towards closing the gap between their current 
        grade level proficiency and instructional level proficiency.
            ``(3) Data collected shall be used by the Secretary to 
        inform the report in section 1111(b)(2)(S).
            ``(4) The Secretary shall issue a report to Congress 
        indicating how many students participated in the pilot and 
        changes in the gap between their instructional and grade level 
        proficiency before participation in the pilot and after their 
        participation.
    ``(f) Authorization of Funds.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $5,000,000 to make grants under this section for fiscal 
year 2008.''.
Example Output:
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to: (1) award competitive grants to up to 10 states for pilot programs to determine the effectiveness of assessing disabled students who are achieving significantly below grade-level proficiency at their instructional level; and (2) provide quality instruction to such students.

Requires each grantee to identify a minimum of five local educational agencies (LEAs) to participate in its pilot program and limit student participation to 0.5% of the students assessed in each participating LEA.

Requires such states and LEAs to ensure that each participating student's individualized education program team: (1) administers, after securing parental consent, a scientifically-valid and reliable assessment based on the student's instructional level in reading and/or math; and (2) based on such assessment, develops a series of targeted interventions designed to close identified gaps in the student's instructional and grade-level content knowledge. Prohibits the use of such assessment results in determinations of adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward state academic performance standards.