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

Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Emergency Acute Care Hospital 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) According to the University of North Carolina's Center 
        for Health Services Research, 55 rural hospitals have closed in 
        the Unites States since January 2010.
            (2) In 2014, iVantage conducted a study for the National 
        Rural Health Association and found 283 hospitals at risk of 
        closure based upon performance indicators that matched those 
        facilities already forced to close in this decade.
            (3) Researchers at the University of North Carolina 
        identified inpatient volume as a substantial contributing 
        factor to the financial performance of rural hospitals, with 
        many of the at-risk hospitals having an average daily bed 
        census of less than 2.
            (4) Adverse impacts to the local economy and the loss of 
        timely access to emergency medical care are 2 major effects of 
        rural hospital closures.
            (5) According to the National Center for Rural Health 
        Works, the typical rural hospital creates over 140 jobs and 
        generates $6,800,000 in compensation while serving an average 
        population of 14,600.
            (6) The 2014 iVantage study estimates that the 283 at-risk 
        hospitals could result in the loss of 36,000 health care jobs, 
        50,000 community jobs, and $10,600,000,000 in gross domestic 
        product.
            (7) Time is the most critical factor for achieving 
        successful outcomes in emergency medicine, and emergency 
        medical clinicians refer to the time-sensitive period during 
        which successful outcomes may be best achieved as the ``golden 
        hour''.
            (8) The National Conference of State Legislatures states 
        that 60 percent of trauma deaths in the United States occur in 
        rural areas, where only 15 percent of the population is 
        represented.
            (9) The disproportionate percentage of trauma deaths in 
        rural areas is likely attributable in large part to a 
        combination of response time to the scene and distance to the 
        nearest emergency room to stabilize trauma victims.
            (10) The percentage of trauma deaths occurring in rural 
        areas could continue to increase as more rural hospitals close, 
        further limiting access to emergency services and requiring 
        patients to travel longer distances to receive emergency 
        medical care.
            (11) The creation of a rural emergency hospital designation 
        under the Medicare program will allow facilities in rural areas 
        to provide emergency medical services without having to 
        maintain inpatient beds.
            (12) In addition to providing emergency care, rural 
        emergency hospitals could convert the space previously used for 
        inpatient services to provide other medical services including, 
        but not limited to, observation care, skilled nursing facility 
        care, infusion services, hemodialysis, home health, hospice, 
        nursing home care, population health, and telemedicine 
        services.

SEC. 3. RURAL EMERGENCY HOSPITAL PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Rural emergency hospital and services defined.--Section 
        1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (e), in the last sentence of the 
                matter following paragraph (9), by inserting ``or a 
                rural emergency hospital (as defined in section 
                1861(iii)(1))'' before the period at the end; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following subsection:

    ``Rural Emergency Hospital; Rural Emergency Hospital Outpatient 
                                Services

    ``(iii)(1) The term `rural emergency hospital' means a facility 
that--
            ``(A)(i) as of December 31, 2014--
                            ``(I) was a critical access hospital; or
                            ``(II) was a hospital with not more than 50 
                        beds located in a county (or equivalent unit of 
                        local government) in a rural area (as defined 
                        in section 1886(d)(2)(D)), or was a hospital 
                        with not more than 50 beds that was treated as 
                        being located in a rural area pursuant to 
                        section 1886(d)(8)(E); or
                    ``(ii) was a critical access hospital described in 
                clause (i)(I) or a hospital described in clause (i)(II) 
                that ceased operations during the period beginning on 
                the date that is 5 years prior to the date of the 
                enactment of this subsection and ending on December 30, 
                2014;
            ``(B) provides 24-hour emergency medical care and 
        observation care that does not exceed an annual per patient 
        average of 24 hours or more than 1 midnight;
            ``(C) does not provide any acute care inpatient beds and 
        has protocols in place for the timely transfer of patients who 
        require acute care inpatient services or other inpatient 
        services;
            ``(D) has elected to be designated as a rural emergency 
        hospital;
            ``(E) has received approval to operate as a rural emergency 
        hospital from the State under section 1834(r)(3)(A); and
            ``(F) is certified by the Secretary under section 
        1834(r)(3)(B).
    ``(2) The term `rural emergency hospital outpatient services' means 
medical and other health services furnished by a rural emergency 
hospital on an outpatient basis.
    ``(3) Nothing in this subsection or section 1834(r)(3) shall be 
construed to prohibit a rural emergency hospital from providing 
extended care services.''.
            (2) Payment for rural emergency hospital services.--
                    (A) In general.--Section 1833(a) of the Social 
                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)) is amended--
                            (i) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' 
                        at the end;
                            (ii) in paragraph (9), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by inserting after paragraph (9) the 
                        following new paragraph:
            ``(10) in the case of rural emergency hospital emergency 
        services and services provided by a rural emergency hospital or 
        other provider of ambulance services to transport patients who 
        require acute care inpatient services or other inpatient 
        services from such rural emergency hospital to a hospital or 
        critical access hospital, the amounts described in section 
        1834(r).''.
                    (B) Payment amount.--Section 1834 of the Social 
                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m) is amended by adding at 
                the end the following subsection:
    ``(r) Payment Rules Relating to Rural Emergency Hospitals.--
            ``(1) Payment for rural emergency hospital outpatient 
        services.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The amount of payment for rural 
                emergency hospital outpatient services of a rural 
                emergency hospital is equal to 110 percent of the 
                reasonable costs of providing such services.
                    ``(B) Telehealth services.--For purposes of this 
                paragraph, in determining the reasonable costs of 
                providing rural emergency hospital outpatient services, 
                costs associated with having a backup physician 
                available via a telecommunications system shall be 
                considered reasonable costs.
            ``(2) Payment for transportation services.--The amount of 
        payment for services provided by a rural emergency hospital or 
        other provider of ambulance services to transport patients who 
        require acute care inpatient services or other inpatient 
        services from such rural emergency hospital to a hospital or 
        critical access hospital is equal to 110 percent of the 
        reasonable costs of providing such services.
            ``(3) Requirements for rural emergency hospitals.--
                    ``(A) State approval to operate as a rural 
                emergency hospital.--No payment shall be made under 
                this subsection to a facility, or to a provider of 
                ambulance services providing transportation services 
                from such facility, unless the State in which the 
                facility is located has approved the facility's 
                designation as a rural emergency hospital.
                    ``(B) Certification of rural emergency hospital.--
                            ``(i) In general.--No payment shall be made 
                        under this subsection to a facility, or to a 
                        provider of ambulance services providing 
                        transportation services from such facility, 
                        unless the facility has been certified by the 
                        Secretary as a rural emergency hospital.
                            ``(ii) Certification requirements.--The 
                        Secretary shall certify a facility as a rural 
                        emergency hospital if the facility--
                                    ``(I) meets the criteria for rural 
                                emergency hospitals described in 
                                subparagraphs (A) through (E) of 
                                section 1861(iii)(1);
                                    ``(II) either--
                                            ``(aa) is verified by the 
                                        American College of Surgeons as 
                                        having the resources required 
                                        of a level IV trauma center or 
                                        higher; or
                                            ``(bb) employs healthcare 
                                        professionals that successfully 
                                        completed the Advanced Trauma 
                                        Life Support Course offered by 
                                        the American College of 
                                        Surgeons within the preceding 4 
                                        years;
                                    ``(III) has in effect a transfer 
                                agreement with a level I or level II 
                                trauma center; and
                                    ``(IV) meets such staff training 
                                and certification requirements as the 
                                Secretary may require.
            ``(4) Coinsurance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The amount of payment for rural 
                emergency hospital services or transportation services 
                made to a rural emergency hospital or other provider of 
                ambulance services under this subsection shall be 
                reduced by the coinsurance amount described in 
                subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Coinsurance amount.--The coinsurance amount 
                described in this subparagraph, with respect to an item 
                or service provided by a rural emergency hospital or 
                provider of ambulance services, shall be calculated in 
                the same manner as the coinsurance amount for an 
                outpatient critical access hospital service is 
                calculated under section 1866(a)(2).''.
    (b) Waiver of Distance Requirement for Replacement CAHs; Subsequent 
Redesignation of Rural Emergency Hospitals as CAHs.--Section 1820(c)(2) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i-4(c)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B)(i)(I), by inserting ``subject to 
        subparagraph (F),'' before ``is located''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
                    ``(F) Option to waive distance requirement.--
                Beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
                subparagraph, for every critical access hospital 
                located in a State that is certified as a rural 
                emergency hospital under section 1834(r)(3)(B), the 
                State shall have the option of waiving the distance 
                requirement described in subparagraph (B)(i)(I) with 
                respect to another facility located in the State that 
                is seeking designation as a critical access hospital 
                under this paragraph.
                    ``(G) Redesignation of a rural emergency hospital 
                as a critical access hospital.--A rural emergency 
                hospital that was previously designated as a critical 
                access hospital under this paragraph may elect to be 
                redesignated as a critical access hospital (in the same 
                manner that the hospital was originally designated as a 
                critical access hospital) at any time, subject to such 
                conditions as the Secretary may establish.''.
    (c) Studies and Reports.--
            (1) Studies.--The Secretary of Health & Human Services 
        shall conduct 3 studies to evaluate the impact of rural 
        emergency hospitals on the availability of health care and 
        health outcomes in rural areas (as defined in section 
        1886(d)(2)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww)). 
        The Secretary shall conduct a study--
                    (A) 2 years after the date of the enactment of this 
                Act;
                    (B) 5 years after the date of the enactment of this 
                Act; and
                    (C) 10 years after the date of the enactment of 
                this Act.
            (2) Reports.--Not later than 6 months after each date that 
        the Secretary of Health & Human Services is required to conduct 
        a study under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit a 
        report to Congress containing the results of each such study.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to items and services furnished on or after the date that is 1 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. INCLUSION OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE AS HEALTH SERVICES UNDER THE 
              NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS.

    Section 331(a)(3)(D) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
254d(a)(3)(D)) is amended by inserting ``, and includes emergency 
medicine provided by physicians in a rural emergency hospital (as 
defined in section 1861(iii) of the Social Security Act)'' before the 
period.

SEC. 5. PERMITTING HOSPITALS WITH APPROVED RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN 
              EMERGENCY MEDICINE TO INCLUDE TIME SPENT BY INTERNS AND 
              RESIDENTS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OF A RURAL HOSPITAL 
              IN FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT COUNT.

    (a) Indirect Medical Education.--Section 1886(d)(5)(B)(iv) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(B)(iv)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subclause:
            ``(III) Effective for discharges occurring on or after 
        October 1, 2015, all of the time spent in patient care 
        activities in the emergency department of a rural hospital by 
        interns and residents in emergency medicine from a hospital 
        with an approved medical residency training program (as defined 
        in subsection (h)(5)(A)) in such specialty shall be included in 
        determining the number of full-time equivalent interns and 
        residents in such program if the hospital with such program 
        incurs the costs of the stipends and fringe benefits of the 
        interns or residents during the time the interns or residents 
        spend in that rural hospital in accordance with subclause (II). 
        In this subclause, the term `rural hospital' means a hospital 
        that is located in a rural area (as defined for purposes of 
        paragraph (2)(D)).''.
    (b) Direct Medical Education.--Section 1886(h)(4)(E) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395(h)(4)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and'';
            (2) by inserting after clause (ii) the following new 
        clause:
                            ``(iii) effective for cost reporting 
                        periods beginning on or after July 1, 2015, all 
                        of the time so spent in the emergency 
                        department of a rural hospital by residents in 
                        emergency medicine from a hospital with an 
                        approved medical residency training program in 
                        such specialty shall be counted towards the 
                        determination of full-time equivalency in such 
                        program if the hospital with such program bears 
                        all, or substantially all, of the costs of 
                        training such residents in the rural hospital. 
                        In this subparagraph, the term `rural hospital' 
                        means a hospital that is located in a rural 
                        area (as defined for purposes of subsection 
                        (d)(2)(D)).''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``For 
        purposes of this subparagraph, the emergency department of a 
        rural hospital described in clause (iii) is a nonprovider 
        setting.''.

Ex Output:
Rural Emergency Acute Care Hospital Act  This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to designate as a rural emergency hospital any facility that as of December 31, 2014, was:   a critical access hospital (CAH) or a hospital with at most 50 beds located in a county in a rural area or treated as located in a rural area, or one of such hospitals that ceased operations during the period beginning five years before enactment of this Act and ending on December 30, 2014.  A rural emergency hospital:  must provide 24-hour emergency medical care and observation care not exceeding an annual per patient average of 24 hours or more than 1 midnight, does not provide any acute care inpatient beds and has protocols in place for the timely transfer of patients who require acute care inpatient services or other inpatient services, has elected to be designated as a rural emergency hospital, has received approval to operate as one from the state, and is certified by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits) shall cover rural emergency hospital emergency services as well as ambulance services provided by a rural emergency hospital or other provider to transport patients who require acute care inpatient services or other inpatient services from the rural emergency hospital to a hospital or a CAH. Payment for rural emergency hospital outpatient services of a rural emergency hospital, including telehealth and ambulance services, shall be 110% percent of their reasonable costs. Rural emergency hospitals must be approved by the state and certified by HHS. States shall have the option of waiving a specified distance requirement between a CAH certified as a rural emergency hospital and another facility located in the state that is seeking designation as a CAH. Primary health services which the National Health Service Corps may provide under the Public Health Service Act shall include emergency medicine provided by physicians in a rural emergency hospital. Hospitals with approved residency programs in emergency medicine shall include time spent by interns and residents in the emergency department of a rural hospital in the full-time equivalent count with respect to reimbursement for the indirect (stipend, fringe benefit) and direct (all or substantially all training) costs of medical education in subsection (d) hospitals. (Generally, a subsection [d] hospital is an acute care hospital, particularly one that receives payments under Medicare's inpatient prospective payment system [IPPS] when providing covered inpatient services to eligible beneficiaries.)


Ex Input:
SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Community Partnerships Against Crime 
Act'', or ``COMPAC''.

SEC. 2. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AGAINST CRIME.

    (a) Conforming Provisions.--(1) Section 5001 of the Anti-Drug Abuse 
Act of 1988 is amended--
            (A) by striking

      ``Chapter 2--Public and Assisted Housing Drug Elimination''

        and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

          ``Chapter 2--Community Partnerships Against Crime'';

            (B) by striking ``Congressional findings.'' and 
            inserting in lieu thereof the following: 
            ``Purposes.''; and
            (C) by adding after

``Sec. 5130. Authorization of appropriations.''
        the following:

``Sec. 5131. Technical assistance.''.
    (2) The heading for chapter 2 of subtitle C of title V of the Anti-
Drug Abuse Act of 1988 is amended to read as follows:

          ``CHAPTER 2--COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AGAINST CRIME''.

    (b) Short Title, Purposes, and Authority To Make Grants.--Sections 
5121, 5122, and 5123 of the Public and Assisted Housing Drug 
Elimination Act of 1990 are amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 5121. SHORT TITLE.

    ``This chapter may be cited as the `Community Partnerships Against 
Crime Act of 1993'.

``SEC. 5122. PURPOSES.

    ``The purposes of this chapter are to--
            ``(1) substantially expand and enhance the Federal 
        Government's commitment to eliminating crime in public housing;
            ``(2) broaden the scope of the Public and Assisted Housing 
        Drug Elimination Act of 1990 to apply to all types of crime, 
        and not simply crime that is drug-related;
            ``(3) target opportunities for long-term commitments of 
        funding primarily to public housing agencies with serious crime 
        problems;
            ``(4) encourage the involvement of a broad range of 
        community-based groups, and residents of neighboring housing 
        that is owned or assisted by the Secretary, in the development 
        and implementation of anti-crime plans;
            ``(5) reduce crime and disorder in and around public 
        housing through the expansion of community-oriented policing 
        activities and problem solving;
            ``(6) provide training, information services, and other 
        technical assistance to program participants; and
            ``(7) establish a standardized assessment system to 
        evaluate need among public housing agencies, and to measure 
        progress in reaching crime reduction goals.

``SEC. 5123. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.

    ``The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in accordance 
with the provisions of this chapter, may make grants, for use in 
eliminating crime in and around public and other federally assisted 
low-income housing projects (1) to public housing agencies (including 
Indian housing authorities) and (2) using amounts appropriated for 
fiscal year 1994 only, to private, for-profit and nonprofit owners of 
federally assisted low-income housing. In designing the program, the 
Secretary shall consult with the Attorney General.''.
    (c) Eligible Activities.--Section 5124 of such Act is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(a) Public and Assisted Housing.--'';
            (2) by inserting in the introductory material, immediately 
        after ``used in'', the following: ``and around'';
            (3) in paragraph (3), by inserting immediately before the 
        semicolon the following: ``, such as fencing, lighting, 
        locking, and surveillance systems'';
            (4) by striking paragraph (4)(A) and inserting in lieu 
        thereof the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(A) to investigate crime; and'';
            (5) in paragraph (6)--
                    (A) by striking ``in and around public or other 
                federally assisted low-income housing projects''; and
                    (B) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
            (6) in paragraph (7)--
                    (A) by striking ``where a public housing agency 
                receives a grant,'';
                    (B) by striking ``drug abuse'' and inserting in 
                lieu thereof ``crime''; and
                    (C) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
                in lieu thereof a colon;
            (7) by adding the following new paragraphs after paragraph 
        (7):
            ``(8) the employment or utilization of one or more 
        individuals, including law enforcement officers, made available 
        by contract or other cooperative arrangement with State or 
        local law enforcement agencies, to engage in community- and 
        problem-oriented policing involving interaction with members of 
        the community on proactive crime control and prevention;
            ``(9) youth initiatives, such as activities involving 
        training, education, after school programs, cultural programs, 
        recreation and sports, career planning, and entrepreneurship 
        and employment; and
            ``(10) resident service programs, such as job training, 
        education programs, and other appropriate social services which 
        address the contributing factors of crime.''; and
            (8) by striking subsection (b).
    (d) Applications.--Section 5125 of such Act is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by adding the paragraph designation ``(1)'' 
                immediately after ``In general.--'';
                    (B) in the first sentence, by striking ``, a public 
                housing resident management corporation,'';
                    (C) in the second sentence, by striking ``drug-
                related crime on the premises of'' and inserting in 
                lieu thereof the following: ``crime in and around''; 
                and
                    (D) by adding the following new paragraphs at the 
                end:
            ``(2) The Secretary shall, by regulation issued after 
        notice and opportunity for public comment, set forth criteria 
        for establishing a class of public housing agencies that have 
        especially severe crime problems. Any public housing agency 
        within this class may submit an application for a one-year 
        grant under this chapter that, subject to the availability of 
        appropriated amounts, shall be renewed for a period not 
        exceeding the four subsequent years: Provided, That the 
        Secretary finds, after an annual or more frequent performance 
        review, that the public housing agency is performing under the 
        terms of the grant and applicable laws in a satisfactory manner 
        and meets such other requirements as the Secretary may 
        prescribe.
            ``(3) Any eligible applicant may submit an application for 
        a grant for a period of up to two years. The Secretary may 
        accord a preference to applications seeking a subsequent grant 
        under this paragraph if the grant is to be used to continue or 
        expand activities assisted under a previous grant under this 
        paragraph and the Secretary finds that the applicant's program 
        under the prior grant is being managed soundly and demonstrates 
        success. Any preferences under the preceding sentence shall not 
        unreasonably prejudice the opportunities of other public 
        housing agencies to be awarded grants under this paragraph.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the introductory material, by striking 
                ``subsections (c) and (d)'' and inserting in lieu 
                thereof ``subsections (a) and (c)'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``drug-related 
                crime problem in'' and inserting in lieu thereof the 
                following: ``crime problem in and around'';
                    (C) in paragraph (2), by inserting immediately 
                after ``crime problem in'' the following: ``and 
                around''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (4), by inserting after ``local 
                government'' the following: ``, local community-based 
                non-profit organizations, local resident organizations 
                that represent the residents of neighboring projects 
                that are owned or assisted by the Secretary,'';
            (3) in subsection (c)(2) by striking ``drug-related'' the 
        two places it appears; and
            (4) by striking subsection (d).
    (e) Definitions.--Section 5126 of such Act is amended by striking 
paragraphs (1) and (2), and renumbering paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively.
    (f) Implementation.--Section 5127 of such Act is amended to read as 
follows:

``SEC 5127. IMPLEMENTATION.

    ``The Secretary shall issue regulations to implement this chapter 
within 180 days of the enactment of the Community Partnerships Against 
Crime Act.''.
    (g) Reports.--Section 5128 of such Act is amended by striking 
``drug-related crime in'' and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 
``crime in and around''.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 5130 of such Act is 
amended--
            (1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by striking 
        ``$175,000,000 for fiscal year 1993'' and all that follows and 
        inserting in lieu thereof: ``$265,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 
        and $325,000,000 for fiscal year 1995.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``Set-Asides'' and inserting in 
                lieu thereof ``Set-Aside'';
                    (B) by striking the first sentence;
                    (C) by striking ``drug elimination'';
                    (D) by striking ``fiscal years 1993 and 1994''; and
                    (E) by striking ``and 5.0 percent'' and all that 
                follows through the end of the sentence and inserting 
                in lieu thereof a period; and
            (3) by striking subsection (c) and section 520(k) of the 
        Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act.
    (i) Technical Assistance.--Such Act is further amended by adding at 
the end thereof the following new section:

``SEC. 5131. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    ``Of the amounts appropriated annually for each of fiscal years 
1994 and 1995 to carry out this chapter, the Secretary is authorized to 
use up to $10,000,000, directly or indirectly, under grants, contracts, 
cooperative agreements, or otherwise, to provide training, information 
services, and other technical assistance to public housing agencies and 
other entities with respect to their participation in the program 
authorized by this chapter. Such technical assistance may include the 
establishment and operation of the clearinghouse on drug abuse in 
public housing and the regional training program on drug abuse in 
public housing under sections 5143 and 5144 of this Act. The Secretary 
is also authorized to use the foregoing amounts for obtaining 
assistance in establishing and managing assessment and evaluation 
criteria and specifications, and obtaining the opinions of experts in 
relevant fields.''.

Ex Output:
Community Partnerships Against Crime Act, or COMPAC - Amends the Public and Assisted Housing Drug Elimination Act of 1990 to expand the use of anti-drug crime public housing grants to all types of crime. 
Makes long-term (one-year initial, five-year total) grants available to public housing authorities with especially severe crime problems.  Makes other applicants eligible for two-year grants, with preference for subsequent funding.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers 
Act''.

SEC. 2. AVAILABILITY OF CONTACT LENS PRESCRIPTIONS TO PATIENTS.

    (a) In General.--Upon completion of a contact lens fitting, a 
prescriber--
            (1) whether or not requested by the patient, shall provide 
        to the patient a copy of the contact lens prescription; and
            (2) shall provide the contact lens prescription or verify 
        the contact lens prescription to any person designated to act 
        on behalf of the patient.
    (b) Limitations.--A prescriber may not--
            (1) require purchase of contact lenses from the prescriber 
        or from another person as a condition of providing a copy of a 
        prescription or verification of a prescription under subsection 
        (a); and
            (2) require payment in addition to the examination fee as a 
        condition of providing a copy of a prescription or verification 
        of a prescription under subsection (a).

SEC. 3. EXPIRATION OF CONTACT LENS PRESCRIPTIONS.

    A contact lens prescription shall expire--
            (1) on the date specified by the law of the State involved, 
        if that date is one year or more after the date of completion 
        of the contact lens fitting;
            (2) one year after the date of completion of the contact 
        lens fitting, if the law of the State involved has no specified 
        date or if such State law specifies a date that is less than 
        one year after the date of completion of the contact lens 
        fitting; or
            (3) notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), on the date 
        specified by the prescriber, if that date is based on the 
        medical judgment of the prescriber with respect to the ocular 
        health of the patient.

SEC. 4. CONTENT OF ADVERTISEMENTS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIONS.

    Any person that engages in the manufacture, processing, assembly, 
sale, offering for sale, or distribution of contact lenses may not 
represent, by advertisement, sales presentation, or otherwise, that 
contact lenses for which a prescription is required by law may be 
obtained without a prescription.

SEC. 5. PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN WAIVERS.

    A prescriber may not place on the prescription, or require the 
patient to sign, or deliver to the patient a form or notice waiving or 
disclaiming the liability or responsibility of the prescriber for the 
accuracy of the eye examination or the accuracy of the contact lenses 
dispensed by another seller.

SEC. 6. VIOLATIONS.

    Any violation of this Act shall be treated as a violation of a rule 
under section 18 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a) 
regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices.

SEC. 7. ACTIONS BY STATES.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Civil actions.--In any case in which the attorney 
        general of a State has reason to believe that an interest of 
        the residents of that State has been or is threatened or 
        adversely affected by a violation of this Act, the State may 
        bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State in 
        a district court of the United States of appropriate 
        jurisdiction to--
                    (A) enjoin that practice;
                    (B) enforce compliance with this Act;
                    (C) obtain damage, restitution, or other 
                compensation on behalf of residents of the State; or
                    (D) obtain such other relief as the court may 
                consider to be appropriate.
            (2) Notice.--
                    (A) In general.-- Before filing an action under 
                paragraph (1), the attorney general of the State 
                involved shall provide to the Federal Trade 
                Commission--
                            (i) written notice of that action; and
                            (ii) a copy of the complaint for that 
                        action.
                    (B) Exemption.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply 
                with respect to the filing of an action by an attorney 
                general of a State under this subsection, if the 
                attorney general determines that it is not feasible to 
                provide the notice described in that subparagraph 
                before filing of the action. In such case, the attorney 
                general of a State shall provide notice and a copy of 
                the complaint to the Commission at the same time as the 
                attorney general files the action.
    (b) Intervention.--
            (1) In general.--On receiving notice under subsection 
        (a)(2), the Commission shall have the right to intervene in the 
        action that is the subject of the notice.
            (2) Effect of intervention.--If the Commission intervenes 
        in an action under subsection (a), it shall have the right--
                    (A) to be heard with respect to any matter that 
                arises in that action; and
                    (B) to file a petition for appeal.
    (c) Construction.--For purposes of bringing any civil action under 
subsection (a), nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent 
an attorney general of a State from exercising the powers conferred on 
the attorney general by the laws of that State to--
            (1) conduct investigations;
            (2) administer oaths or affirmations; or
            (3) compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of 
        documentary and other evidence.
    (d) Actions by the Commission.--In any case in which an action is 
instituted by or on behalf of the Commission for a violation of this 
Act, no State may, during the pendency of that action, institute an 
action under subsection (a) against any defendant named in the 
complaint in that action.
    (e) Venue.--Any action brought under subsection (a) may be brought 
in the district court of the United States that meets applicable 
requirements relating to venue under section 1391 of title 28, United 
States Code.
    (f) Service of Process.--In an action brought under subsection (a), 
process may be served in any district in which the defendant--
            (1) is an inhabitant; or
            (2) may be found.

SEC. 8. STUDY AND REPORT.

    (a) Study.--The Federal Trade Commission shall undertake a study to 
examine the strength of competition in the sale of prescription contact 
lenses. The study shall include an examination of the following issues:
            (1) The States that have laws that require active or 
        passive verification for the sale of contact lenses.
            (2) With respect to the States that require active 
        verification, the practices of prescribers in complying with 
        State law, the effect of noncompliance, and the harm to 
        competition and consumers that results from noncompliance.
            (3) With respect to the States that require active 
        verification, the level of enforcement and any problems 
        relating to enforcement.
            (4) The impact on competition of verification standards 
        adopted by retail sellers of prescription contact lenses.
            (5) With respect to States that require passive 
        verification or have no applicable verification laws, the 
        possible effect of such laws or lack thereof on the ocular 
        health of patients. In addition, the effect of such laws or 
        lack thereof on compliance by sellers in confirming valid 
        contact lens prescriptions, including expiration dates. The 
        Commission shall consult the Food and Drug Administration on 
        this particular issue.
            (6) The incidence, if any, of contact lens prescriptions 
        that specify brand name or custom labeled contact lenses, the 
        reasons for the incidence, and the effect on consumers and 
        competition.
            (7) Any other issue that has an impact on competition in 
        the sale of prescription contact lenses.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 9 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission 
shall submit to the Congress a report of the study required by 
subsection (a).

SEC. 9. EFFECT ON OTHER LAW.

    Except as provided in section 3, this Act does not affect any rule 
or requirement administered by the Food and Drug Administration, any 
State law that regulates the practice of medicine, persons authorized 
to fit contact lenses, or the requirements of any contact lens 
prescription.

SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) Contact lens fitting.--The term ``contact lens 
        fitting'' means the process that begins after the initial eye 
        examination and ends when the prescriber is satisfied that a 
        successful fit has been achieved or, in the case of a renewal 
        prescription, ends when the prescriber determines that no 
        change in prescription is required, and such term may include--
                    (A) an examination to determine lens 
                specifications;
                    (B) except in the case of a renewal of a 
                prescription, an initial evaluation of the fit of the 
                lens on the eye; and
                    (C) medically necessary followup examinations.
            (2) Prescriber.--The term ``prescriber'' means, with 
        respect to contact lens prescriptions, an ophthalmologist, 
        optometrist, or other person permitted under State law to issue 
        prescriptions for contact lenses in compliance with any 
        applicable requirements established by the Food and Drug 
        Administration.
            (3) Contact Lens Prescription.--The term ``contact lens 
        prescription'' means a prescription, issued in accordance with 
        State and Federal law, that contains the specifications 
        necessary for a patient to obtain contact lenses and may 
        include such items as the following:
                    (A) The name of the patient.
                    (B) The date of the examination.
                    (C) The issue date and the expiration date of the 
                prescription.
                    (D) A clear notation contact lenses are suitable 
                for the patient.
                    (E) The parameters and instructions that are 
                necessary for manufacture and duplication of the 
                lenses.
                    (F) The name, postal address, telephone number, and 
                facsimile telephone number of the prescriber.
                    (G) The expiration date of the prescription.

SEC. 11. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect 30 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.

Ex Output:

Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act - Requires a "prescriber" (a person permitted under State law to issue prescriptions for contact lenses) to provide to the patient a copy of the patient's contact lens prescription free of charge.Declares that a contact lens prescription shall expire one year after the date of completion of the contact lens fitting if a State's law regarding contact lens prescriptions specifies an earlier date or if the State has no such specified date. Permits an exception for a patient's ocular health.Prohibits advertising that lenses for which a prescription is required may be obtained without a prescription. Prohibits a prescriber from issuing certain waivers.States that any violation of this Act shall be treated as a violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices.Permits a State to bring a civil action in a district court of the United States for violations of this Act. Requires the attorney general of a State bringing suit to notify the Federal Trade Commission, unless such notification is unfeasible. Allows the Commission to intervene in cases in which it is notified, whereby it shall have the rights: (1) to be heard on any matter; and (2) to file a petition for appeal.