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 ``Consumer Lending Education And 
Reform Act'' and the ``C.L.E.A.R. Act''.

SEC. 2. PROTECTIONS FOR CONSUMERS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 2 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 
1631 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 129A the following 
new section:
``Sec. 129B Protections for consumers
    ``(a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the following 
definitions shall apply:
            ``(1) Affiliate.--The term `affiliate' has the same meaning 
        as in section 129(k).
            ``(2) Electronic signature.--The term `electronic 
        signature' means a signatures in digital or other electronic 
        form that meets the validity requirements of the Electronic 
        Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.
            ``(3)  Extended payment plan.--The term `extended payment 
        plan' means an amendment to the payday loan that is signed in 
        person or electronically by both the consumer and the creditor 
        reflecting an agreement that the consumer pay the outstanding 
        balance on a payday loan in 4 equal payments, where the period 
        between each payment may not be less than the duration of the 
        original payday loan.
            ``(4) Home state.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `home State' means, 
                with respect to any creditor or any affiliate of a 
                creditor, the State in which the primary home office of 
                the creditor or any affiliate of the creditor is 
                located.
                    ``(B) Home office.--The term `home office' means 
                the office that houses a majority of the applicable 
                party's day-to-day management and administrative 
                support functions.
            ``(5) Interest and fees.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the term `interest and fees' includes 
                any charge payable directly or indirectly by the 
                consumer and imposed directly or indirectly by the 
                creditor as an incident to or a condition of the 
                extension of credit.
                    ``(B) Charges not included.--The term `interest and 
                fees' does not include--
                            ``(i) any charge for a default, 
                        delinquency, or similar occurrence; or
                            ``(ii) any charge imposed when, if for any 
                        reason, funds are not made available to pay an 
                        item or authorization delivered to the creditor 
                        in the manner described in subparagraph (A) or 
                        (B) of paragraph (1) to the extent that--
                                    ``(I) the charge does not exceed 
                                the greater of $25 or the amount 
                                charged to the creditor by the 
                                creditor's financial institution; and
                                    ``(II) the charge is only imposed 
                                once per each item or authorization 
                                regardless of whether the item or 
                                authorization is presented for payment 
                                more than once.
            ``(6) Loan store.--The term `loan store' means each 
        location operated by a creditor at which applications for 
        payday loans are received or the proceeds of payday loans are 
        disbursed.
            ``(7) Payday loan; loan.--The terms `payday loan' and 
        `loan' mean a closed-end credit transaction, evidenced by a 
        loan agreement signed by the creditor and the consumer, in 
        person or electronically, unsecured by any interest in the 
        consumer's tangible personal property with a term of at least 7 
        and not more than 90 days in which the amount financed does not 
        exceed $2,000 with a finance charge exceeding an annual 
        percentage rate of 36 percent, and the consumer--
                    ``(A) receives funds from and incurs interest or a 
                fee payable to a creditor, and contemporaneously with 
                the receipt of funds, provides a check or other payment 
                instrument to the creditor who agrees with the consumer 
                not to deposit or present the check or payment 
                instrument for more than 1 day; or
                    ``(B) receives funds from and incurs interest or a 
                fee payable to a creditor, and contemporaneously with 
                the receipt of funds, authorized the creditor to 
                initiate a debt or debits to the consumer's deposit 
                account (by electronic fund transfer or remotely 
                created check) after 1 or more days.
            ``(8) Payday lender.--The term `payday lender' means any 
        creditor with respect to a payday loan.
            ``(9) Refinancing.--The term `refinancing' means the use of 
        the proceeds of 1 payday loan obtained from a creditor to pay 
        off any amount due to that creditor.
    ``(b) Protections for Consumers.--
            ``(1) Interest and fee cap.--A payday lender may not--
                    ``(A) require a consumer to pay--
                            ``(i) in the case of any original payday 
                        loan, interest and other fees and charges that 
                        total more than 15 cents for every dollar 
                        loaned; and
                            ``(ii) in the case of an original payday 
                        loan originated over the Internet, an 
                        additional origination fee in excess of 5 
                        percent of the original principal loan amount;
                    ``(B) require a consumer to pay interest and fees 
                that, combined, total more than--
                            ``(i) in the case of the 1st refinancing of 
                        an outstanding payday loan, 15 cents for every 
                        dollar of the outstanding original principal 
                        loan amount; and
                            ``(ii) in the case of the 2nd refinancing 
                        of an outstanding payday loan, 10 cents for 
                        every dollar of the outstanding original 
                        principal loan amount; or
                    ``(C) require a consumer to pay an origination fee 
                for a payday loan that is refinanced.
            ``(2) Mandatory disclosures.--A payday lender may not make 
        or refinance a payday loan unless the creditor has first 
        provided the consumer with a copy of a written loan agreement, 
        which shall be signed by the creditor and by the consumer and 
        shall include the following information in English and in the 
        language in which the loan was negotiated:
                    ``(A) A clear and conspicuous description of the 
                terms of the loan, including the total cost of all fees 
                and other charges in connection with the loan stated as 
                a dollar amount, and the consumer's payment obligations 
                under the loan.
                    ``(B) The name, address and telephone number of the 
                creditor making the loan, and the name of title of the 
                individual employee of the creditor who signs the loan 
                agreement on behalf of the creditor.
                    ``(C) The following statements, in at least 14-
                point bold face type:
                            ``(i) Warning.--This loan is not intended 
                        to meet long-term financial needs. This loan 
                        should be used only to meet short-term cash 
                        needs.
                            ``(ii) Credit counseling availability.--You 
                        should consider contacting an independent, 
                        nonprofit credit counseling agency approved by 
                        the National Foundation for Credit Counseling 
                        (NFCC) or by a State or Federal Government 
                        agency. You may obtain information on how to 
                        contact an approved counselor near you by 
                        calling the National Foundation for Credit 
                        Counseling at 1-800-388-2227.
                            ``(iii) No criminal prosecution or security 
                        interest.--You cannot be prosecuted in criminal 
                        court to collect this loan, and the creditor 
                        may not take or attempt to take an interest in 
                        any of your personal property to secure his 
                        loan.
            ``(3) Additional public disclosures.--A payday lender may 
        not make or refinance a payday loan to any consumer unless the 
        following notices are posted conspicuously in English and 
        Spanish and in not less than 1-inch bold print in the 
        creditor's public lending area in each loan store, or, if the 
        loan is made using the Internet, fax or other means, are posted 
        conspicuously on the creditor's public internet site relating 
        to any such payday loan:
                    ``(A) Warning.--This loan is not intended to meet 
                long-term financial needs. This loan should be used 
                only to meet short-term cash needs.
                    ``(B) Credit counseling availability.--You should 
                consider contacting an independent, nonprofit credit 
                counseling agency approved by the National Foundation 
                for Credit Counseling (NFCC) or by a State or Federal 
                Government agency. You may obtain information on how to 
                contact an approved counselor near you by calling the 
                National Foundation for Credit Counseling at 1-800-388-
                2227.
                    ``(C) No criminal prosecution or security 
                interest.--You cannot be prosecuted in criminal court 
                to collect this loan, and the creditor may not take or 
                attempt to take an interest in any of your personal 
                property to secure his loan.
            ``(4) Creditor surety bond requirements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A payday lender may not make or 
                refinance a payday loan unless the creditor has 
                obtained and filed, in accordance with subparagraph 
                (B), a surety bond in the following amount:
                            ``(i) A surety bond in the amount of 
                        $100,000 for each loan store operated by the 
                        creditor, if the creditor operates fewer than 
                        10 loan stores and does not offer any payday 
                        loans over the Internet.
                            ``(ii) A surety bond in the amount of 
                        $1,000,000, if the creditor operates 10 or more 
                        loan stores or offers loans over the Internet.
                            ``(iii) Such greater amount as may be 
                        required by applicable State law.
                    ``(B) Bond requirements.--The surety bond obtained 
                by a payday lender to meet the requirements of 
                subparagraph (A) shall be filed with, and for the 
                benefit of, the State attorney general in the 
                creditor's home state.
                    ``(C) Aggregation of lender and affiliate under 
                certain circumstances.--For purposes of this paragraph, 
                a creditor and each affiliate of a creditor which has 
                the same home State as the creditor may aggregate the 
                loan stores operated by such creditor and any such 
                affiliate for purposes of determining the amount of the 
                surety bond required to be filed under subparagraph 
                (A).
            ``(5) Extended payment plan.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A payday lender may not make or 
                refinance a payday loan unless the terms of the loan 
                require the creditor, upon receiving notice from the 
                consumer of an inability to repay prior to close of 
                business on the last business day before the original 
                due date of the loan, provides the consumer with notice 
                of and the right to opt into an extended payment plan, 
                without charge, 1 time in any 12 month period.
                    ``(B) Limitation during extended payment plan.--A 
                creditor may not engage in any collection activity (or 
                procure the services of any other for such purpose) 
                during the term of any extended payment plan.
            ``(6) Refinancing.--A payday lender may not--
                    ``(A) refinance a payday loan for less than 7 days;
                    ``(B) refinance a payday loan more than 2 
                consecutive times; refinance a payday loan without 
                terminating the previous agreement and entering into a 
                new agreement that the creditor and consumer each sign 
                in person or with an electronic signature; or
                    ``(C) require a consumer to pay interest and fees 
                in connection with a refinancing that, combined, total 
                more than the amount permitted under paragraph 
                (1)(B).''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Disclosures.--Section 128(a)(4) of the Truth in Lending 
        Act (U.S.C. 1638(a)(4)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``or'' after ``does not exceed 
                $5,'' and
                    (B) by inserting ``, or if the loan is subject to 
                section 129B''.
            (2) Effect on other laws.--Section 111 of the Truth in 
        Lending Act (U.S.C. 1610) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (b), by inserting ``subsection 
                (f) of this section and'' after ``Except as provided 
                in''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subsection:
    ``(f) Payday Loans.--
            ``(1) In general.--The following provisions of the law of 
        any State shall not apply to any payday loan, or any 
        refinancing of a payday loan, that is subject to section 129B:
                    ``(A) Any provision requiring minimum loan terms.
                    ``(B) Any provision prohibiting, defining or 
                limiting any refinancing.
                    ``(C) Any provision prohibiting or limiting the use 
                of a check or debit authorization to originate a payday 
                loan.
                    ``(D) Any provision prohibiting or mandating 
                extended payment plans.
                    ``(E) Any provision limiting the rate or amount of 
                interest and fees or default, delinquency or not 
                sufficient fund fees or other charges which may be 
                taken, received or reserved by creditors for payday 
                loans or any refinancing of a payday loan.
            ``(2) Enforcement.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), any 
        State may employ or establish State laws for the purpose of 
        enforcing the requirements of section 129B.''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 2 of the 
Truth in Lending Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 129 the following new items:

``129A. Fiduciary duty of servicers of pooled residential mortgages.
``129B. Protections for consumers.''.
Example Output: Consumer Lending Education And Reform Act or the C.L.E.A.R. Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to limit the interest, fees and charges that a payday lender may require a consumer to pay with respect to an original payday loan and a refinanced payday loan.

Prohibits a payday lender from: (1) requiring a consumer to pay an origination fee for a payday loan that is refinanced; or (2) making or refinancing a payday loan unless the creditor has first provided the consumer with a copy of a written loan agreement, signed by the creditor and by the consumer, which includes specified information in English and in the language in which the loan was negotiated.

Requires a payday lender to file a surety bond.

Prohibits a payday lender from making or refinancing a payday loan unless the terms of the loan require the creditor, upon receiving notice of consumer's inability to repay, to provide the consumer with notice of and the right to opt into an extended payment plan, without charge, one time in any 12-month period.

Prohibits a creditor from engaging in any collection activity (or procuring the services of any other for such purpose) during the term of any extended payment plan.

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Make It In America Manufacturing 
Communities Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Manufacturing community support program.--The term 
        ``Manufacturing Community Support Program'' means the program 
        established under section 3(a).
            (2) Participating agency.--The term ``participating 
        agency'' means a Federal agency that elects to participate in 
        the Manufacturing Community Support Program.
            (3) Participating program.--The term ``participating 
        program'' means a program identified by a participating agency 
        under section 3(c)(1)(C).
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Commerce.

SEC. 3. PROGRAM TO DESIGNATE AND SUPPORT MANUFACTURING COMMUNITIES.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall establish a program to 
improve the competitiveness of United States manufacturing--
            (1) by designating consortiums as manufacturing communities 
        under subsection (b); and
            (2) by supporting manufacturing communities, as so 
        designated, under subsection (c).
    (b) Designation of Manufacturing Communities.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (7), for 
        purposes of the Manufacturing Community Support Program, the 
        Secretary shall designate eligible consortiums as manufacturing 
        communities through a competitive process.
            (2) Eligible consortiums.--
                    (A) In general.--An eligible consortium is a 
                consortium that--
                            (i) represents a region defined by the 
                        consortium in accordance with subparagraph (B);
                            (ii) includes at least one--
                                    (I) institution of higher 
                                education;
                                    (II) a private sector entity; and
                                    (III) a government entity;
                            (iii) may include one or more--
                                    (I) private sector partners;
                                    (II) institutions of higher 
                                education;
                                    (III) government entities;
                                    (IV) economic development and other 
                                community and labor groups;
                                    (V) financial institutions; or
                                    (VI) utilities;
                            (iv) has, as a lead applicant--
                                    (I) a district organization (as 
                                defined in section 300.3 of title 13, 
                                Code of Federal Regulations, or 
                                successor regulation);
                                    (II) an Indian tribe (as defined in 
                                section 4 of the Indian Self-
                                Determination and Education Assistance 
                                Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)) or a consortium 
                                of Indian tribes;
                                    (III) a State or a political 
                                subdivision of a State, including a 
                                special purpose unit of a State or 
                                local government engaged in economic or 
                                infrastructure development activities, 
                                or a consortium of political 
                                subdivisions;
                                    (IV) an institution of higher 
                                education or a consortium of 
                                institutions of higher education; or
                                    (V) a public or private nonprofit 
                                organization or association that has an 
                                application that is supported by a 
                                State, a political subdivision of a 
                                State, or a native community.
                    (B) Regions.--Subject to approval by the Secretary, 
                a consortium may define the region that it represents 
                if the region--
                            (i) is large enough to contain critical 
                        elements of the key technologies or supply 
                        chain prioritized by the consortium; and
                            (ii) is small enough to enable close 
                        collaboration among members of the consortium.
            (3) Duration.--Each designation under paragraph (1) shall 
        be for a period of two years.
            (4) Renewal.--
                    (A) In general.--Upon receipt of an application 
                submitted under subparagraph (B), the Secretary may 
                renew a designation made under paragraph (1) for up to 
                two additional two-year periods. Any designation as a 
                manufacturing community or renewal of such designation 
                that is in effect before the date of the enactment of 
                this Act shall count toward the limit set forth in this 
                subparagraph.
                    (B) Application for renewal.--An eligible 
                consortium seeking a renewal under subparagraph (A) 
                shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
                time, in such manner, and containing such information 
                as the Secretary may require.
                    (C) Modifications authorized.--The Secretary may 
                renew a designation under subparagraph (A) for an 
                eligible consortium that--
                            (i) has changed its composition, either by 
                        adding or removing members; or
                            (ii) as part of its application under 
                        subparagraph (B), submits a revision to the 
                        plan submitted under paragraph (5)(B)(iv) or 
                        the strategy submitted under paragraph 
                        (5)(B)(v).
                    (D) Evaluation for renewal.--In determining whether 
                to renew a designation of an eligible consortium under 
                paragraph (1), the Secretary shall assess the eligible 
                consortium based upon--
                            (i) the performance of the consortium 
                        against the terms of the consortium's most 
                        recent designation under paragraph (1) and any 
                        post-designation awards the consortium may have 
                        received;
                            (ii) the progress the consortium has made 
                        with respect to project-specific metrics the 
                        consortium proposed in the consortium's 
                        application for the most recent designation 
                        under paragraph (1), particularly with respect 
                        to those metrics that were designed to help 
                        communities track their own progress;
                            (iii) whether any changes to the 
                        composition of the eligible consortium or 
                        revisions to the plan or strategy described in 
                        subparagraph (C)(ii) would improve the 
                        competitiveness of United States manufacturing; 
                        and
                            (iv) such other criteria as the Secretary 
                        considers appropriate.
            (5) Application for designation.--
                    (A) In general.--An eligible consortium seeking a 
                designation under paragraph (1) shall submit an 
                application to the Secretary at such time and in such 
                manner as the Secretary may require.
                    (B) Contents.--Each application submitted to the 
                Secretary under subparagraph (A) include--
                            (i) a description of the regional 
                        boundaries of the consortium;
                            (ii) a description of the manufacturing 
                        concentration of the consortium, including an 
                        assessment of how the manufacturing 
                        concentration of the consortium competitively 
                        ranks nationally according to measures relating 
                        to employment, sales, location quotients for an 
                        industry's level of concentration, or such 
                        other measures as the Secretary considers 
                        appropriate;
                            (iii) an integrated assessment of the local 
                        industrial ecosystem of the region of the 
                        consortium, which may include assessment of 
                        workforce and training, such as that involving 
                        women and underrepresented minorities, supplier 
                        network, research and innovation, 
                        infrastructure or site development, trade and 
                        international investment, operational 
                        improvements, and capital access components 
                        needed for manufacturing activities in such 
                        region;
                            (iv) an evidence-based plan for developing 
                        components of such ecosystem (selected by the 
                        consortium)--
                                    (I) by making specific investments 
                                to address gaps in such ecosystem; and
                                    (II) by making the manufacturing of 
                                the region of the consortium uniquely 
                                competitive;
                            (v) a description of the investments the 
                        consortium proposes and the implementation 
                        strategy the consortium intends to use to 
                        address gaps in such ecosystem;
                            (vi) a description of the outcome-based 
                        metrics, benchmarks, and milestones that the 
                        consortium will track and the evaluation 
                        methods the consortium will use while 
                        designated as a manufacturing community to 
                        gauge performance of the strategy of the 
                        consortium to improve the manufacturing in the 
                        region of the consortium; and
                            (vii) such other matters as the Secretary 
                        considers appropriate.
            (6) Evaluation of applications.--The Secretary shall 
        evaluate each application received under paragraph (5) to 
        determine--
                    (A) whether the applicant demonstrates a 
                significant level of regional cooperation in their 
                proposal; and
                    (B) how the manufacturing concentration of the 
                applicant competitively ranks nationally according to 
                measures described in paragraph (5)(B)(ii).
            (7) Certain communities previously recognized.--Each 
        consortium that was designated as a manufacturing community by 
        the Secretary in carrying out the Investing in Manufacturing 
        Communities Partnership initiative of the Department of 
        Commerce before the date of the enactment of this Act shall be 
        deemed a manufacturing community designated under this 
        subsection if such consortium is still designated as a 
        manufacturing community by the Secretary as part of such 
        initiative.
    (c) Support for Designated Manufacturing Communities.--
            (1) Preferential consideration.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (D), if a member of a consortium designated as a 
                manufacturing community under subsection (b) seeks 
                financial or technical assistance under a participating 
                program of a participating agency, the head of such 
                agency may give preferential consideration to such 
                member with respect to the awarding of such financial 
                or technical assistance if--
                            (i) such head considers the award of the 
                        financial or technical assistance consistent 
                        with the economic development strategy of the 
                        consortium; and
                            (ii) the member otherwise meets all 
                        applicable requirements for the financial or 
                        technical assistance.
                    (B) Participating agencies.--The Secretary shall 
                invite other Federal agencies to become participating 
                agencies of the Manufacturing Community Support 
                Program.
                    (C) Participating programs.--The head of each 
                participating agency shall identify all programs 
                administered by such participating agency that are 
                applicable to the Manufacturing Community Support 
                Program.
                    (D) Multiple members of the same consortium seeking 
                the same financial or technical assistance.--
                            (i) In general.--If a participating agency 
                        receives applications for the same financial or 
                        technical assistance from more than one member 
                        of the same consortium designated as a 
                        manufacturing community under subsection (b), 
                        the head of such agency may determine how 
                        preference will be given under subparagraph 
                        (A), including by requiring the consortium to 
                        select which of the members should be given 
                        preference.
                            (ii) Coordination.--If the head of a 
                        participating agency determines that more than 
                        one member of a consortium should be given 
                        preference for financial or technical 
                        assistance under subparagraph (A), he or she 
                        may require such members to demonstrate 
                        coordination with each other in developing 
                        their applications for the financial or 
                        technical assistance.
                    (E) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
                of the enactment of this Act, the head of each 
                participating agency shall submit a report to the 
                Secretary that specifies how the head will give 
                preferential consideration under subparagraph (A).
            (2) Technical assistance.--The Secretary may make a Federal 
        point of contact available to each consortium designated as a 
        manufacturing community under subsection (b) to help the 
        members of the consortium access Federal funds and technical 
        assistance.
            (3) Financial and technical assistance.--
                    (A) In general.--Under the Manufacturing Community 
                Support Program, the head of a participating agency may 
                award financial or technical assistance to a member of 
                a consortium designated as a manufacturing community 
                under subsection (b) as he or she considers appropriate 
                for purposes of such program and consistent with the 
                economic development strategy of the consortium.
                    (B) Use of funds.--
                            (i) In general.--A recipient of financial 
                        or technical assistance under subparagraph (A) 
                        may use such financial or technical assistance 
                        to support an investment in an ecosystem that 
                        will improve the competitiveness of United 
                        States manufacturing.
                            (ii) Investments supported.--Investments 
                        supported under this subparagraph may include--
                                    (I) infrastructure;
                                    (II) access to capital;
                                    (III) promotion of exports and 
                                foreign direct investment;
                                    (IV) equipment or facility 
                                upgrades;
                                    (V) workforce training, retraining, 
                                or recruitment and retention, including 
                                that of women and underrepresented 
                                minorities;
                                    (VI) energy or process efficiency;
                                    (VII) business incubators;
                                    (VIII) site preparation;
                                    (IX) advanced research;
                                    (X) supply chain development; and
                                    (XI) small business assistance.
            (4) Coordination.--
                    (A) Coordination by secretary of commerce.--The 
                Secretary shall coordinate with the heads of the 
                participating agencies to identify programs under 
                paragraph (1)(C).
                    (B) Inter-agency coordination.--The heads of the 
                participating agencies shall coordinate with each 
                other--
                            (i) to leverage complementary activities, 
                        including from non-Federal sources, such as 
                        philanthropies; and
                            (ii) to avoid duplication of efforts.
    (d) Receipt of Transferred Funds.--The Secretary may accept amounts 
transferred to the Secretary from the head of another participating 
agency to carry out this section.
Example Output: Make It In America Manufacturing Communities Act This bill requires the Department of Commerce to establish a Manufacturing Community Support Program to improve the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing by: (1) designating consortiums as manufacturing communities, and (2) authorizing federal agencies electing to participate in the program to provide such communities preferential consideration in awarding financial and technical assistance. A consortium, to be eligible for such designation and assistance, must:    represent a region that is large enough to contain critical elements of the key technologies or supply chain prioritized by the consortium and small enough to enable close collaboration among the consortium's members;   include at least one institution of higher education, a private sector entity, and a government entity; and   have a lead applicant that is a district organization, an Indian tribe, a state or political subdivision of a state, an institution of higher education, a nonprofit organization or association with an application supported by a state, a political subdivision of a state, or a native community.   Commerce shall make such designations for a two-year period, and may renew a designation for additional two-year periods, based on specified criteria.  Recipients may use such financial or technical assistance to support investments in ecosystems that will improve the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing, including infrastructure, access to capital, promotion of exports and foreign direct investment, equipment upgrades, workforce training and recruitment, energy or process efficiency, business incubators, site preparation, advanced research, supply chain development, and small business assistance. 

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``School Bus Safety Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Bus.--The term ``bus'' means a motor vehicle with 
        motive power, except a trailer, designed for carrying more than 
        10 persons.
            (2) School bus.--The term ``school bus'' means a bus that 
        is used for purposes that include carrying pupils to and from 
        public or private school or school-related events on a regular 
        basis.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.

SEC. 3. PROFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.

    (a) Requirement.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe proficiency 
standards for school bus drivers who are required to possess a 
commercial driver's license to operate a school bus.
    (b) Exemption for Certain States.--In prescribing proficiency 
standards under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide that a 
State may, instead of utilizing such proficiency standards, utilize 
proficiency standards established by the State before the date of the 
prescription of efficiency standards under subsection (a) if the 
Secretary determines that the standards of the State establish 
proficiency requirements as rigorous as the proficiency requirements 
established under the standards prescribed under subsection (a).
    (c) Demonstration of Proficiency.--Upon the prescription of 
standards under subsection (a), each school bus driver referred to in 
subsection (a) shall demonstrate (at such interval as the Secretary 
shall prescribe) to the employer of the driver, the school district, 
the State licensing agency, or other person or agency responsible for 
regulating school bus drivers the proficiency of such driver in 
operating a school bus in accordance with the proficiency standards 
prescribed under subsection (a) or the proficiency standards 
established by the State concerned, as the case may be.

SEC. 4. GUIDELINES FOR SAFE TRANSPORTATION OF CHILDREN BY SCHOOL BUS.

    The Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration shall develop and disseminate guidelines on the safe 
transportation in school buses of children under the age of 5. Such 
guidelines shall include recommendations for the evacuation of such 
children from such buses in the event of an emergency.

SEC. 5. IMPROVED INTERSTATE SCHOOL BUS SAFETY.

    (a) Applicability of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to 
Interstate School Bus Operations.--Section 31136 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking the second sentence of subsection (e); and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g) Applicability to School Transportation Operations of Local 
Education Agencies.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall issue regulations 
making the relevant commercial motor carrier safety regulations issued 
under subsection (a) applicable to all interstate school transportation 
operations by local educational agencies (as defined in section 14101 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965).''.
    (b) Education Program.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and implement an 
education program informing all local educational agencies (as defined 
in section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) 
that they must comply with the Federal commercial motor vehicle safety 
regulations issued under section 31136 of title 49, United States Code, 
when providing interstate transportation on a school bus vehicle to and 
from school-sanctioned and school-related activities.
    (c) Compliance Reports.--Each year for the first 4 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress by June 1 a report describing in detail the status of 
compliance by private motor carriers (for-hire) and local educational 
agencies in meeting the requirements of section 31136 of title 49, 
United States Code, and enforcement actions undertaken by the 
Department of Transportation.

SEC. 6. DETERMINATION OF PRACTICABILITY AND FEASIBILITY OF CERTAIN 
              SAFETY AND ACCESS REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL BUSES.

    (a) Commencement of Rulemaking Process.--Not later than 6 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall begin 
a rulemaking process to determine the feasibility and practicability of 
the following:
            (1) A requirement for a decrease in the flammability of the 
        materials used in the construction of the interiors of school 
        buses.
            (2) A requirement that individuals, school districts, or 
        companies that sell in the secondary market school buses that 
        may be used in interstate commerce inform purchasers of such 
        buses that such buses may not meet current National Highway 
        Transportation Safety Administration standards or Federal 
        Highway Administration standards with respect to such buses.
            (3) The establishment of construction, design, and 
        securement standards for wheelchairs used in the transportation 
        of students in school buses.
            (4) A requirement that school buses manufactured after the 
        effective date of the rule be equipped with a bumper sensor, 
        wheel guard, and front bumper gate and a system that 
        automatically applies the vehicle's brakes when the bumper 
        sensor, wheel guard, or front bumper gate makes contact with an 
        object or pedestrian.
            (5) A requirement that school buses manufactured after the 
        effective date of the rule be equipped with a system that 
        detects a trapped obstacle in the door of the vehicle and 
        automatically applies the vehicle's brakes, or provides a 
        warning to the driver, when such a object is detected.
    (b) Final Rule.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate a final rule 
providing for any requirement or standard referred to in paragraph (1), 
(2), (3), (4), or (5) of subsection (a) that the Secretary determines 
to be feasible and practicable.

SEC. 7. CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS OF SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.

    (a) Prohibition on Employment Pending Check.--Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law and except as provided in subsection (b), a 
local educational agency, and any contractor providing school 
transportation services to such an agency, may not newly employ a 
person as a driver of a school bus of or on behalf of the agency before 
the completion of a background check of the person in the national 
criminal history background check system. The purpose of the check is 
to determine whether the person has been convicted of a crime which 
would warrant barring the person from duties as a driver of a school 
bus.
    (b) Exception.--A local educational agency or a contractor may 
newly employ a person as a driver of a school bus of or on behalf of 
the agency if a check of the person is not completed by the end of the 
21-day period beginning on the date of the request for the check by the 
agency. The agency or contractor may commence such employment beginning 
at the end of such 21-day period.
    (c) Check Procedures.--Each State shall establish procedures for 
conducting checks under this section. Such procedures shall include the 
designation of an agency of the State to carry out the checks and shall 
meet the guidelines set forth in section 3(b) of the National Child 
Protection Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 5119a(b)).
    (d) Limitation on Liability.--A local educational agency or a 
contractor providing transportation services to such an agency shall 
not be liable in an action for damages on the basis of a criminal 
conviction of a person employed by the agency or contractor as a school 
bus driver if--
            (1) a check of the person was conducted under this section; 
        and
            (2) the conviction was not disclosed to the agency or 
        contractor pursuant to the check.
    (e) Fees.--
            (1) Fees imposed by state agencies.--
                    (A) In general.--A State agency designated under 
                subsection (c) may impose and collect fees for the 
                provision of assistance in the conduct of checks under 
                this section. The amount of such fees may not exceed 
                the actual cost to the State agency of providing such 
                assistance.
                    (B) Monitoring.--A State shall monitor the 
                collection of fees by an agency of the State under this 
                paragraph for purposes of ensuring that--
                            (i) such fees are collected on a uniform 
                        basis; and
                            (ii) the amounts collected reflect only the 
                        actual cost to the State agency of providing 
                        assistance in the conduct of background checks.
            (2) Fees imposed by federal bureau of investigation.--
                    (A) In general.--The Federal Bureau of 
                Investigation may impose and collect fees for the 
                provision of assistance in the conduct of checks under 
                this section. The amount of such fees may not exceed 
                the actual cost to the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
                of providing such assistance.
                    (B) Monitoring.--The Attorney General shall monitor 
                the collection of fees under this paragraph for 
                purposes of ensuring that--
                            (i) such fees are collected on a uniform 
                        basis; and
                            (ii) the amounts collected reflect only the 
                        actual cost to the Federal Bureau of 
                        Investigation of providing assistance in the 
                        conduct of background checks.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given such term in section 14101 of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        8801).
            (2) National criminal history background check system.--The 
        term ``national criminal history background check system'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 5(6) of the National 
        Child Protection Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 5119c(6)).
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States, 
        the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    (g) Applicability.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), this 
        section shall apply to the new employment of persons by local 
        educational agencies or contractors beginning on the later of--
                    (A) the date that is 60 days after the date of the 
                enactment of this Act; or
                    (B) the date on which the State in which the 
                agencies or contractors are located establishes the 
                procedures required under subsection (c).
            (2) Exceptions.--During the period beginning on the date of 
        the enactment of this Act and ending on the date of the 
        applicability of this section to a local educational agency or 
        contractor under paragraph (1), the local educational agency or 
        contractor shall, to the maximum extent practicable, request 
        that the Federal Bureau of Investigation conduct a background 
        check with fingerprints of each person newly employed by the 
        local educational agency or contractor as a school bus driver 
        of or on behalf of the local educational agency.
    (h) Funding.--
            (1) Violence prevention programs.--Section 4116(b)(5) of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7116(b)(5)) is amended by striking ``and neighborhood patrols'' 
        and inserting ``neighborhood patrols, and criminal background 
        checks of potential drivers of school buses under section 5 of 
        the School Bus Safety Act.''.
            (2) Innovative education assistance.--Section 6301(b) of 
        such Act (20 U.S.C. 7351(b)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (7);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                (8) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) the carrying out of criminal background checks of 
        potential drivers of school buses under section 4 of the School 
        Bus Safety Act.''.

SEC. 8. ESTABLISHMENT OF MINIMUM REPORTING CRITERIA FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY 
              PROGRAM ON TRAFFIC-RELATED DEATHS AND INJURIES.

    The Secretary of Transportation shall--
            (1) not later than December 31, 1998, issue a notice of 
        proposed rulemaking with respect to the minimum reporting 
        criteria required under the tenth sentence of section 402(a) of 
        title 23, United States Code; and
            (2) not later than December 31, 1998, and after an 
        opportunity for public comment, issue a final rule establishing 
        such criteria.

SEC. 9. SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY.

    (a) Study.--Not later than 3 months after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the 
Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences to 
conduct a study of the safety issues attendant to transportation of 
school children to and from school and school-related activities by 
various transportation modes.
    (b) Terms of Agreement.--The agreement entered into in subsection 
(a) shall provide that--
            (1) the Transportation Research Board, in conducting the 
        study, consider--
                    (A) in consultation with the National 
                Transportation Safety Board, the Bureau of 
                Transportation Statistics, and other relevant entities, 
                available crash injury data, and if unavailable or 
                insufficient, recommend a new data collection regimen 
                and implementation guidelines; and
                    (B) vehicle design and driver training 
                requirements, routing, and operational factors that 
                affect safety and other factors that the Secretary 
                considers appropriate; and
            (2) the panel conducting the study shall include 
        representatives of highway safety organizations, school 
        transportation, mass transportation providers, employee 
        organizations, academic and policy analysts, and other 
        interested parties.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of entry into 
the agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary shall transmit to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs of the Senate a report containing the results of the study.

SEC. 10. PILOT PROGRAM TO ASSESS BENEFITS OF EQUIPPING SCHOOL BUSES 
              WITH SAFETY RESTRAINT DEVICES.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall carry out a pilot program 
to assess the benefits of equipping school buses with Aaron Gordon type 
flight attendant double shoulder harness mechanisms or other safety 
restraint devices providing equal or greater passenger protection.
    (b) Grants.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary may make 
grants to one school district for equipping school buses in the 
district with safety restraint devices described in subsection (a).
    (c) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project 
carried out using a grant under subsection (b) may not exceed 50 
percent of such cost.

SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act.
Example Output:
School Bus Safety Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe Federal proficiency standards for school bus drivers who are required to possess a commercial driver's license to operate a school bus.  Requires the Secretary, in prescribing such standards, to authorize States to establish their own proficiency standards in lieu of the Federal standards if the Secretary determines they are as rigorous as the Federal standards.  Requires bus drivers to demonstrate their proficiency in operating a school bus in accordance with either the Federal or State standards. 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop and disseminate guidelines on the safe transportation in school buses of children under the age of five. 
(Sec. 5) Amends Federal transportation law to require the Secretary to issue regulations applying Federal commercial motor carrier safety regulations to all interstate school operations by local educational agencies.  Directs the Secretary to develop an education program informing all local educational agencies that they must comply with such regulations when providing interstate transportation on a school bus to and from school-sanctioned and school-related activities. 
(Sec. 6) Requires the Secretary to begin a rulemaking process to determine the feasibility of certain safety and access requirements for school buses. 
(Sec. 7) Prohibits a local educational agency, and any contractor providing transportation services to such agency, from employing a person as a school bus driver before the completion of a background check in the national criminal history background check system. Requires State criminal background check procedures to meet the guidelines set forth in the National Child Protection Act of 1993. 
Declares that no local educational agency or contractor providing it with transportation services shall be liable in an action for damages on the basis of a criminal conviction of a person employed as a school bus driver if a criminal background check was conducted but the conviction was not disclosed. 
Authorizes State and Federal fees (not exceeding actual cost) for assistance in the conduct of such checks. 
(Sec. 8) Requires the Secretary to:  (1) issue a notice of proposed rulemaking with respect to minimum reporting criteria on traffic-related deaths and injuries under State highway safety programs; and (2) issue a final rule establishing such criteria. 
(Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences to study and report to specified congressional committees on the safety issues attendant to transportation of school children to and from school and school-related activities by various transportation modes. 
(Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program to assess the benefits of equipping school buses with Aaron Gordon type flight attendant double shoulder harness mechanisms or other safety restraint devices providing equal or greater passenger protection. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to one school district for equipping school buses with such safety restraint devices. 
(Sec. 11) Authorizes appropriations.