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 ``Farm and Ranch Risk Management 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FARM AND RANCH RISK MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS.

    (a) In General.--Subpart C of part II of subchapter E of chapter 1 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to taxable year for 
which deductions taken) is amended by inserting after section 468B the 
following:

``SEC. 468C. FARM AND RANCH RISK MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS.

    ``(a) Deduction Allowed.--In the case of an individual engaged in 
an eligible farming business or commercial fishing, there shall be 
allowed as a deduction for any taxable year the amount paid in cash by 
the taxpayer during the taxable year to a Farm and Ranch Risk 
Management Account (hereinafter referred to as the `FARRM Account').
    ``(b) Limitation.--
            ``(1) Contributions.--The amount which a taxpayer may pay 
        into the FARRM Account for any taxable year shall not exceed 20 
        percent of so much of the taxable income of the taxpayer 
        (determined without regard to this section) which is 
        attributable (determined in the manner applicable under section 
        1301) to any eligible farming business or commercial fishing.
            ``(2) Distributions.--Distributions from a FARRM Account 
        may not be used to purchase, lease, or finance any new fishing 
        vessel, add capacity to any fishery, or otherwise contribute to 
        the overcapitalization of any fishery. The Secretary of 
        Commerce shall implement regulations to enforce this paragraph.
    ``(c) Eligible Businesses.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) Eligible farming business.--The term `eligible 
        farming business' means any farming business (as defined in 
        section 263A(e)(4)) which is not a passive activity (within the 
        meaning of section 469(c)) of the taxpayer.
            ``(2) Commercial fishing.--The term `commercial fishing' 
        has the meaning given such term by section (3) of the Magnuson-
        Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
        1802) but only if such fishing is not a passive activity 
        (within the meaning of section 469(c)) of the taxpayer.
    ``(d) FARRM Account.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) In general.--The term `FARRM Account' means a trust 
        created or organized in the United States for the exclusive 
        benefit of the taxpayer, but only if the written governing 
        instrument creating the trust meets the following requirements:
                    ``(A) No contribution will be accepted for any 
                taxable year in excess of the amount allowed as a 
                deduction under subsection (a) for such year.
                    ``(B) The trustee is a bank (as defined in section 
                408(n)) or another person who demonstrates to the 
                satisfaction of the Secretary that the manner in which 
                such person will administer the trust will be 
                consistent with the requirements of this section.
                    ``(C) The assets of the trust consist entirely of 
                cash or of obligations which have adequate stated 
                interest (as defined in section 1274(c)(2)) and which 
                pay such interest not less often than annually.
                    ``(D) All income of the trust is distributed 
                currently to the grantor.
                    ``(E) The assets of the trust will not be 
                commingled with other property except in a common trust 
                fund or common investment fund.
            ``(2) Account taxed as grantor trust.--The grantor of a 
        FARRM Account shall be treated for purposes of this title as 
        the owner of such Account and shall be subject to tax thereon 
        in accordance with subpart E of part I of subchapter J of this 
        chapter (relating to grantors and others treated as substantial 
        owners).
    ``(e) Inclusion of Amounts Distributed.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        there shall be includible in the gross income of the taxpayer 
        for any taxable year--
                    ``(A) any amount distributed from a FARRM Account 
                of the taxpayer during such taxable year, and
                    ``(B) any deemed distribution under--
                            ``(i) subsection (f)(1) (relating to 
                        deposits not distributed within 5 years),
                            ``(ii) subsection (f)(2) (relating to 
                        cessation in eligible farming business), and
                            ``(iii) subparagraph (A) or (B) of 
                        subsection (f)(3) (relating to prohibited 
                        transactions and pledging account as security).
            ``(2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1)(A) shall not apply to--
                    ``(A) any distribution to the extent attributable 
                to income of the Account, and
                    ``(B) the distribution of any contribution paid 
                during a taxable year to a FARRM Account to the extent 
                that such contribution exceeds the limitation 
                applicable under subsection (b) if requirements similar 
                to the requirements of section 408(d)(4) are met.
        For purposes of subparagraph (A), distributions shall be 
        treated as first attributable to income and then to other 
        amounts.
    ``(f) Special Rules.--
            ``(1) Tax on deposits in account which are not distributed 
        within 5 years.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If, at the close of any taxable 
                year, there is a nonqualified balance in any FARRM 
                Account--
                            ``(i) there shall be deemed distributed 
                        from such Account during such taxable year an 
                        amount equal to such balance, and
                            ``(ii) the taxpayer's tax imposed by this 
                        chapter for such taxable year shall be 
                        increased by 10 percent of such deemed 
                        distribution.
                The preceding sentence shall not apply if an amount 
                equal to such nonqualified balance is distributed from 
                such Account to the taxpayer before the due date 
                (including extensions) for filing the return of tax 
                imposed by this chapter for such year (or, if earlier, 
                the date the taxpayer files such return for such year).
                    ``(B) Nonqualified balance.--For purposes of 
                subparagraph (A), the term `nonqualified balance' means 
                any balance in the Account on the last day of the 
                taxable year which is attributable to amounts deposited 
                in such Account before the 4th preceding taxable year.
                    ``(C) Ordering rule.--For purposes of this 
                paragraph, distributions from a FARRM Account (other 
                than distributions of current income) shall be treated 
                as made from deposits in the order in which such 
                deposits were made, beginning with the earliest 
                deposits.
            ``(2) Cessation in eligible business.--At the close of the 
        first disqualification period after a period for which the 
        taxpayer was engaged in an eligible farming business or 
        commercial fishing, there shall be deemed distributed from the 
        FARRM Account of the taxpayer an amount equal to the balance in 
        such Account (if any) at the close of such disqualification 
        period. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term 
        `disqualification period' means any period of 2 consecutive 
        taxable years for which the taxpayer is not engaged in an 
eligible farming business or commercial fishing.
            ``(3) Certain rules to apply.--Rules similar to the 
        following rules shall apply for purposes of this section:
                    ``(A) Section 220(f)(8) (relating to treatment on 
                death).
                    ``(B) Section 408(e)(2) (relating to loss of 
                exemption of account where individual engages in 
                prohibited transaction).
                    ``(C) Section 408(e)(4) (relating to effect of 
                pledging account as security).
                    ``(D) Section 408(g) (relating to community 
                property laws).
                    ``(E) Section 408(h) (relating to custodial 
                accounts).
            ``(4) Time when payments deemed made.--For purposes of this 
        section, a taxpayer shall be deemed to have made a payment to a 
        FARRM Account on the last day of a taxable year if such payment 
        is made on account of such taxable year and is made on or 
        before the due date (without regard to extensions) for filing 
        the return of tax for such taxable year.
            ``(5) Individual.--For purposes of this section, the term 
        `individual' shall not include an estate or trust.
            ``(6) Deduction not allowed for self-employment tax.--The 
        deduction allowable by reason of subsection (a) shall not be 
        taken into account in determining an individual's net earnings 
        from self-employment (within the meaning of section 1402(a)) 
        for purposes of chapter 2.
    ``(g) Reports.--The trustee of a FARRM Account shall make such 
reports regarding such Account to the Secretary and to the person for 
whose benefit the Account is maintained with respect to contributions, 
distributions, and such other matters as the Secretary may require 
under regulations. The reports required by this subsection shall be 
filed at such time and in such manner and furnished to such persons at 
such time and in such manner as may be required by such regulations.''.
    (b) Tax on Excess Contributions.--
            (1) Subsection (a) of section 4973 of such Code (relating 
        to tax on excess contributions to certain tax-favored accounts 
        and annuities) is amended by striking ``or'' at the end of 
        paragraph (3), by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5), 
        and by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) a FARRM Account (within the meaning of section 
        468C(d)), or''.
            (2) Section 4973 of such Code is amended by adding at the 
        end the following:
    ``(g) Excess Contributions to FARRM Accounts.--For purposes of this 
section, in the case of a FARRM Account (within the meaning of section 
468C(d)), the term `excess contributions' means the amount by which the 
amount contributed for the taxable year to the Account exceeds the 
amount which may be contributed to the Account under section 468C(b) 
for such taxable year. For purposes of this subsection, any 
contribution which is distributed out of the FARRM Account in a 
distribution to which section 468C(e)(2)(B) applies shall be treated as 
an amount not contributed.''.
            (3) The section heading for section 4973 of such Code is 
        amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 4973. EXCESS CONTRIBUTIONS TO CERTAIN ACCOUNTS, ANNUITIES, 
              ETC.''.

            (4) The table of sections for chapter 43 of such Code is 
        amended by striking the item relating to section 4973 and 
        inserting the following:

                              ``Sec. 4973. Excess contributions to 
                                        certain accounts, annuities, 
                                        etc.''.
    (c) Tax on Prohibited Transactions.--
            (1) Subsection (c) of section 4975 of such Code (relating 
        to tax on prohibited transactions) is amended by adding at the 
        end the following:
            ``(6) Special rule for farrm accounts.--A person for whose 
        benefit a FARRM Account (within the meaning of section 468C(d)) 
        is established shall be exempt from the tax imposed by this 
        section with respect to any transaction concerning such account 
        (which would otherwise be taxable under this section) if, with 
        respect to such transaction, the account ceases to be a FARRM 
        Account by reason of the application of section 468C(f)(3)(A) 
        to such account.''.
            (2) Paragraph (1) of section 4975(e) of such Code is 
        amended by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as 
        subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively, and by inserting after 
        subparagraph (D) the following:
                    ``(E) a FARRM Account described in section 
                468C(d),''.
    (d) Failure To Provide Reports on FARRM Accounts.--Paragraph (2) of 
section 6693(a) of such Code (relating to failure to provide reports on 
certain tax-favored accounts or annuities) is amended by redesignating 
subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively, 
and by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
                    ``(C) section 468C(g) (relating to FARRM 
                Accounts),''.
    (e) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart C of 
part II of subchapter E of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 468B the following:

                              ``Sec. 468C. Farm and Ranch Risk 
                                        Management Accounts.''.
    (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.

Ex Output:
Farm and Ranch Risk Management Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual engaged in an eligible farming or commercial fishing business a deduction for any taxable year of up to 20 percent of taxable income attributable to the eligible farming or commercial fishing business which was paid in cash by the taxpayer to a Farm and Ranch Risk Management Account (FARRM Account).Includes distributions from a FARRM account in the taxpayer's gross income, and subjects to a special ten percent surtax any distributions not made within five years of contribution. Establishes a tax on excess contributions, but exempts the taxpayer from the tax on certain prohibited transactions.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Child Support Enforcement 
Improvements Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. NONLIABILITY FOR DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS PROVIDING FINANCIAL 
              RECORDS TO STATE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN 
              CHILD SUPPORT CASES.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal or 
State law, a depository institution shall not be liable under any 
Federal or State law to any person for disclosing any financial record 
of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency attempting 
to establish, modify, or enforce a child support obligation of such 
individual.
    (b) Prohibition of Disclosure of Financial Record Obtained by State 
Child Support Enforcement Agency.--A State child support enforcement 
agency which obtains a financial record of an individual from a 
financial institution pursuant to subsection (a) may disclose such 
financial record only for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary 
in, establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation of 
such individual.
    (c) Civil Damages for Unauthorized Disclosure.--
            (1) Disclosure by state officer or employee.--If any 
        officer or employee of a State knowingly, or by reason of 
        negligence, discloses a financial record of an individual in 
        violation of subsection (b), such individual may bring a civil 
        action for damages against such State in a district court of 
        the United States.
            (2) No liability for good faith but erroneous 
        interpretation.--No liability shall arise under this subsection 
        with respect to any disclosure which results from a good faith, 
        but erroneous, interpretation of subsection (b).
            (3) Damages.--In any action brought under paragraph (1), 
        upon a finding of liability on the part of the defendant, the 
        defendant shall be liable to the plaintiff in an amount equal 
        to the sum of--
                    (A) the greater of--
                            (i) $1,000 for each act of unauthorized 
                        disclosure of a financial record with respect 
                        to which such defendant is found liable; or
                            (ii) the sum of--
                                    (I) the actual damages sustained by 
                                the plaintiff as a result of such 
                                unauthorized disclosure; plus
                                    (II) in the case of a willful 
                                disclosure or a disclosure which is the 
                                result of gross negligence, punitive 
                                damages; plus
                    (B) the costs of the action.
    (d) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            (1) The term ``depository institution'' means--
                    (A) a depository institution, as defined by section 
                3(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act;
                    (B) an institution-affiliated party, as defined by 
                section 3(u) of such Act; and
                    (C) any Federal credit union or State credit union, 
                as defined by section 101 of the Federal Credit Union 
                Act, including an institution-affiliated party of such 
                a credit union, as defined by section 206(r) of such 
                Act.
            (2) The term ``financial record'' has the meaning given 
        such term by section 1101 of the Right to Financial Privacy Act 
        of 1978.
            (3) The term ``State child support enforcement agency'' 
        means a State agency which administers a State program for 
        establishing and enforcing child support obligations.

SEC. 3. ACCESS TO AND USE OF CONSUMER REPORTS BY STATE CHILD SUPPORT 
              ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN CHILD SUPPORT CASES.

    (a) In General.--Section 604 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 
U.S.C. 1681b) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) To a State child support enforcement agency that is 
        seeking to establish, modify, or enforce a child support 
        obligation against the consumer, if--
                    ``(A) the paternity of the consumer for the child 
                to which the obligation relates has been established or 
                acknowledged by the consumer in accordance with State 
                laws under which the obligation arises (if required by 
                those laws); and
                    ``(B) the State child support enforcement agency--
                            ``(i) before obtaining the consumer report, 
                        provides written notice to the consumer that 
                        the State agency intends to obtain a consumer 
                        report on the consumer; and
                            ``(ii) certifies to the consumer reporting 
                        agency that--
                                    ``(I) the requirement in 
                                subparagraph (A) has been fulfilled (if 
                                applicable); and
                                    ``(II) the notice required by 
                                clause (i) has been provided.''.
    (b) State Child Support Enforcement Agency Defined.--Section 603 of 
such Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(j) The term `State child support enforcement agency' means a 
State agency which administers a State program for establishing and 
enforcing child support obligations.''.

SEC. 4. HEALTH CARE SUPPORT.

    (a) Inclusion in Child Support Orders.--
            (1) In general.--Section 466(a) of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 666(a)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (10) 
        the following:
            ``(11) Not later than the beginning of the 9th calendar 
        month that begins after the date the Secretary prescribes final 
        regulations as provided for in section 467(d)(2):
                    ``(A) Procedures which require any child support 
                order, issued or modified by a court or administrative 
                agency of the State on or after the effective date of 
                guidelines established by the State under section 
                467(d), to provide for coverage of the health care 
                costs of the child in accordance with such guidelines.
                    ``(B) Procedures which require the expedited 
                consideration and disposition of any allegation of 
                noncompliance with an obligation to cover the health 
                care costs of a child imposed under a child support 
                order issued or modified in the State.''.
            (2) State guidelines.--Section 467 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
        667) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d)(1) Not later than the beginning of the 9th calendar month 
that begins after the date the Secretary prescribes final regulations 
in accordance with paragraph (2), each State, as a condition for having 
its State plan approved under this part, must establish guidelines for 
the coverage of the health care costs of children pursuant to child 
support orders issued or modified in the State, which guidelines shall 
create a streamlined process that meets the minimum standards 
established by the Secretary in such regulations.
    ``(2)(A) The Secretary shall promulgate regulations which set forth 
minimum standards that any set of guidelines established pursuant to 
paragraph (1) must meet in providing for the coverage of the health 
care costs of children pursuant to child support orders issued or 
modified in the State, including--
            ``(i) the contents of such an order with respect to the 
        coverage of such costs;
            ``(ii) the distribution of responsibility for such costs;
            ``(iii) to the extent that such costs are to be covered 
        through health insurance--
                    ``(I) the provision of such insurance;
                    ``(II) the payment of insurance claims; and
                    ``(III) the rights of the noncustodial parent and 
                the custodial parent to insurance information;
            ``(iv) the circumstances under which a provider of health 
        insurance may or may not deny coverage to a child who is the 
        subject of such an order;
            ``(v) penalties to be imposed on providers of health 
        insurance who fail to comply with the guidelines; and
            ``(vi) how changes in the circumstances of the noncustodial 
        parent and the custodial parent are to be taken into account 
        with respect to the coverage of such costs.
    ``(B) In developing such standards, the Secretary shall ensure 
that, in establishing guidelines pursuant to paragraph (1), the State 
considers the following matters in the following order of importance:
            ``(i) The best interests of the child.
            ``(ii) The financial and other circumstances of the parents 
        of the child.
            ``(iii) Cost-effectiveness.
    ``(3) The preceding subsections of this section shall apply in like 
manner to the guidelines established pursuant to this subsection.''.
            (3) Regulations.--
                    (A) Proposed regulations.--Within 9 months after 
                the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
                Health and Human Services shall issue proposed 
                regulations to implement the amendments made by this 
                subsection.
                    (B) Final regulations.--Within 14 months after the 
                date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
                Health and Human Services shall issue final regulations 
                to implement the amendments made by this subsection.
    (b) Inclusion in Incentive Payments Program of Dependent Health 
Insurance Provided Due to Successful Enforcement.--
            (1) In general.--Section 458(b) of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 658(b)) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following:
    ``(5)(A) For purposes of this section, the successful enforcement 
by the State of a provision of a support order requiring an absent 
parent to obtain health insurance for 1 or more children shall be 
considered the collection of support from the absent parent, without 
regard to the means by which such support is provided.
    ``(B) The amount of support collected in any case in which the 
State successfully enforces a provision of a support order requiring an 
absent parent to obtain health insurance for 1 or more children shall 
be the savings to the State from the provision of such health insurance 
to such children, as determined in accordance with a health insurance 
savings methodology adopted by the State in accordance with regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary.''.
            (2) Regulations.--Within 6 months after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary 
        to implement the amendment made by paragraph (1).
            (3) Study; report.--
                    (A) Study.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
                Services shall conduct a study to determine the 
                incentives that should be provided to encourage States 
                to enforce obligations of noncustodial parents to pay 
                (and obtain medical insurance coverage with respect to) 
                the reasonable and necessary health and dental expenses 
                of the children to whom the noncustodial parents owe 
                such obligations.
                    (B) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the 
                date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
                Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee 
                on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and 
                the Committee on Finance of the Senate the results of 
                the study required by subparagraph (A).

SEC. 5. ANNUAL REPORTS ON STATE COMPLIANCE WITH TIME LIMITS WITHIN 
              WHICH STATE MUST PROVIDE CERTAIN CHILD SUPPORT 
              ASSISTANCE.

    Section 452(a)(10) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
652(a)(10)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'';
            (2) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following:
                    ``(J) compliance, by State, with the standards 
                established pursuant to subsections (h) and (i).''.

SEC. 6. WAGES WITHHELD BY EMPLOYERS TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS 
              REQUIRED TO BE PAID TO STATE WITHIN 10 DAYS; LATE PAYMENT 
              PENALTY IMPOSED ON EMPLOYERS.

    (a) In General.--Section 466(b)(6)(A) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 666(b)(6)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by inserting ``within 10 days after the 
        payment of such wages'' before ``to the appropriate agency''; 
        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(iii) The State must require any employer who fails to 
        make any payment required in accordance with clause (i) within 
        the 10-day period described therein to pay the State a $1,000 
        penalty. The State must expend all penalties collected in 
        accordance with this clause for the operation of the State plan 
        approved under section 454, not later than the end of the 
        calendar quarter following the calendar quarter in which 
        collected.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2) of 
        this subsection, the amendments made by subsection (a) of this 
        section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this 
        Act and apply to wages paid on or after such date and payments 
        under part D of title IV of the Social Security Act for 
        calendar quarters beginning on or after such date.
            (2) Delay permitted if state legislation required.--In the 
        case of a State plan approved under section 454 of the Social 
        Security Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
        determines requires State legislation (other than legislation 
        appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the 
        additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by 
        subsection (a) of this section, the State plan shall not be 
        regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such 
        section 454 solely on the basis of the failure of the plan to 
        meet such additional requirements before the 1st day of the 1st 
        calendar quarter beginning after the close of the 1st regular 
        session of the State legislature that begins after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the previous 
        sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative 
        session, each year of such session shall be deemed to be a 
        separate regular session of the State legislature.

SEC. 7. NATIONAL PARENT LOCATOR NETWORK.

    Section 453 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) The Secretary shall expand the Parent Locator Service to 
establish a national network based on the comprehensive statewide child 
support enforcement systems developed by the States, to--
            ``(1) allow each State to--
                    ``(A) locate any absent parent who owes child 
                support, for whom a child support obligation is being 
                established, or for whom an order for visitation is 
                being enforced, by--
                            ``(i) accessing the records of other State 
                        agencies and sources of locate information 
                        directly from one computer system to another; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) accessing Federal sources of locate 
                        information in the same fashion;
                    ``(B) access the files of other States to determine 
                whether there are other child support orders involving 
                the same absent parent, and obtain the details of any 
                such order;
                    ``(C) provide for both on-line and batch processing 
                of locate requests, with on-line access restricted to 
                cases in which the information is needed immediately 
                (for such reasons as court appearances) and batch 
                processing used to `troll' data bases to locate 
                individuals or update information periodically; and
                    ``(D) direct locate requests to individual States 
                or Federal agencies, broadcast requests to selected 
                States, or broadcast cases to all States when there is 
                no indication of the source of needed information;
            ``(2) provide for a maximum of 48-hour turnaround time for 
        information to be broadcast and returned to a requesting State; 
        and
            ``(3) provide ready access to courts of the information on 
        the network by location of a computer terminal in each 
        court.''.

                                 

HR 2396 IH----2

Ex Output:
Child Support Enforcement Improvements Act of 1993 - Makes depository institutions not liable under any Federal or State law to any person for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency attempting to establish, modify, or enforce a child support obligation of such individual.  Prohibits such an agency from disclosing such a record for any other purpose and provides for civil damages for unauthorized disclosures. 
Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to permit credit reporting agencies to grant access to certain consumer reports to a State child support enforcement agency that is seeking to establish, modify, or enforce a child support obligation against the consumer. 
Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to:  (1) require State laws to provide for the use of procedures requiring child support orders to provide for coverage of the health care costs of the child in accordance with State guidelines; (2) include under the incentive payments program any dependent medical insurance coverage which is provided due to the successful application of such procedures; (3) direct HHS' Office of Child Support Enforcement to report to the Congress annually on State compliance with specified standards establishing time limits for State response to certain child support assistance requests; (4) require States to assess a penalty against any employer who fails to make timely payment of withheld wages to pay child support obligations of an employee; and (5) direct the Office to develop a national parent locator network which would build on comprehensive statewide child support enforcement systems to allow States to carry out specified parent locator activities. 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study and report to specified congressional committees on how the successful efforts of States in enforcing obligations of absent parents to pay (and obtain medical insurance coverage with respect to) the health and dental expenses of their children should be rewarded through an incentive payments program.


Ex Input:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Child Health Care Quality Research 
Improvement Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) There is increased emphasis on using evidence of 
        improved health care outcomes and cost effectiveness to justify 
        changes in our health care system.
            (2) There is a growing movement to use health care quality 
        measures to ensure that health care services provided are 
        appropriate and likely to improve health.
            (3) Few health care quality measures exist for children, 
        especially for the treatment of acute and chronic conditions.
            (4) A significant number of children in the United States 
        have health problems, and the percentage of children with 
        special health care needs is increasing.
            (5) Children in the health care marketplace have unique 
        health attributes, including a child's developmental 
        vulnerability, differential morbidity, and dependency on 
        adults, families, and communities.
            (6) Children account for less than 15 percent of the 
        national health care spending, and do not command a large 
        amount of influence in the health care marketplace.
            (7) The Federal government is the major payer of children's 
        health care in the United States.
            (8) Numerous scientifically sound measures exist for 
        assessing quality of health care for adults, and similar 
        measures should be developed for assessing the quality of 
        health care for children.
            (9) The delivery structures and systems that provide care 
        for children are necessarily different than systems caring for 
        adults, and therefore require appropriate types of quality 
        measurements and improvement systems.
            (10) Improving quality measurement and monitoring will--
                    (A) assist health care providers in identifying 
                ways to improve health outcomes for common and rare 
                childhood health conditions;
                    (B) assist consumers and purchasers of health care 
                in determining the value of the health care products 
                and services they are receiving or buying; and
                    (C) assist providers in selecting effective 
                treatments and priorities for service delivery.
            (11) Because of the prevalence and patterns of children's 
        medical conditions, research on improving care for relatively 
        rare or specific conditions must be conducted across multiple 
        institutions and practice settings in order to guarantee the 
        validity and generalizability of research results.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) High priority areas.--the term ``high priority areas'' 
        means areas of research that are of compelling scientific or 
        public policy significance, that include high priority areas of 
        research identified by the Conference on Improving Quality of 
        Health Care for Children: An Agenda for Research (May, 1997), 
        and that--
                    (A) are consistent with areas of research as 
                defined in paragraphs (1)(A) and (2) of section 1142(a) 
                of the Social Security Act;
                    (B) are relevant to all children or to specific 
                subgroups of children; or
                    (C) are consistent with such other criteria as the 
                Secretary may require.
            (2) Local community.--The term ``local community'' means 
        city, county, and regional governments, and research institutes 
        in conjunction with such cities, counties, or regional 
        governments.
            (3) Pediatric quality of care and outcomes research.--The 
        term ``pediatric quality of care and outcomes research'' means 
        research involving the process of health care delivery and the 
        outcomes of that delivery in order to improve the care 
        available for children, including health promotion and disease 
        prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation services, 
        including research to--
                    (A) develop and use better measures of health and 
                functional status in order to determine more precisely 
                baseline health status and health outcomes;
                    (B) evaluate the results of the health care process 
                in real-life settings, including variations in medical 
                practices and patterns, as well as functional status, 
                clinical status, and patient satisfaction;
                    (C) develop quality improvement tools and evaluate 
                their implementation in order to establish benchmarks 
                for care for specific childhood diseases, conditions, 
                impairments, or populations groups;
                    (D) develop specific measures of the quality of 
                care to determine whether a specific health service has 
                been provided in a technically appropriate and 
                effective manner, that is responsive to the clinical 
                needs of the patient, and that is evaluated in terms of 
                the clinical and functional status of the patient as 
well as the patient's satisfaction with the care; or
                    (E) assess policies, procedures, and methods that 
                can be used to improve the process and outcomes of the 
                delivery of care.
            (4) Provider-based research networks.--The term ``provider-
        based research network'' refers to 1 of the following which 
        exist for the purpose of conducting research:
                    (A) A hospital-based research network that is 
                comprised of a sufficient number of children's 
                hospitals or pediatric departments of academic health 
                centers.
                    (B) A physician practice-based research network 
                that is comprised of a sufficient number of groups of 
                physicians practices.
                    (C) A managed care-based research network that is 
                comprised of a sufficient number of pediatric programs 
                of State-licensed health maintenance organizations or 
                other State certified managed care plans.
                    (D) A combination provider-based research network 
                that is comprised of all or part of a hospital-based 
                research network, a physician practice-based research 
                network, and a managed care-based research network.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.

SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF THE HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH WORKFORCE.

    (a) Grants.--The Secretary shall annually award not less than 10 
grants to eligible entities at geographically diverse locations 
throughout the United States to enable such entities to carry out 
research training programs that are dedicated to child health services 
research training initiatives at the doctoral, post-doctoral, and 
junior faculty levels.
    (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
subsection (a), an entity shall--
            (1) be a public or nonprofit private entity; and
            (2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application, at 
        such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
        the Secretary may require.
    (c) Limitation.--A grant awarded under this section shall be for an 
amount that does not exceed $500,000.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $5,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 1999 through 2003.

SEC. 5. DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD HEALTH IMPROVEMENT RESEARCH CENTERS AND 
              PROVIDER-BASED RESEARCH NETWORKS.

    (a) Grants.--In order to address the full continuum of pediatric 
quality of care and outcomes research, to link research to practice 
improvement, and to speed the dissemination of research findings to 
community practice settings, the Secretary shall award grants to 
eligible entities for the establishment of--
            (1) not less that 10 national centers for excellence in 
        child health improvement research at geographically diverse 
        locations throughout the United States; and
            (2) not less than 5 national child health provider quality 
        improvement research networks at geographically diverse 
        locations throughout the United States, including at least 1 of 
        each type of network as described in section 3(4).
    (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
subsection (a), an entity shall--
            (1) for purposes of--
                    (A) subsection (a)(1), be a public or nonprofit 
                entity, or group of entities, including universities, 
                and where applicable their schools of Public Health, 
                research institutions, or children's hospitals, with 
                multi-disciplinary expertise including pediatric 
                quality of care and outcomes research and primary care 
                research; or
                    (B) subsection (a)(2), be a public or nonprofit 
                institution that represents children's hospitals, 
                pediatric departments of academic health centers, 
                physician practices, or managed care plans; and
            (2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application, at 
        such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
        the Secretary may require, including--
                    (A) in the case of an application for a grant under 
                subsection (a)(1), a demonstration that a research 
                center will conduct 2 or more research projects 
                involving pediatric quality of care and outcomes 
                research in high priority areas; or
                    (B) in the case of an application for a grant under 
                subsection (a)(2)--
                            (i) a demonstration that the applicant and 
                        its network will conduct 2 or more projects 
                        involving pediatric quality of care and 
                        outcomes research in high priority areas;
                            (ii) a demonstration of an effective and 
                        cost-efficient data collection infrastructure;
                            (iii) a demonstration of matching funds 
                        equal to the amount of the grant; and
                            (iv) a plan for sustaining the financing of 
                        the operation of a provider-based network after 
                        the expiration of the 5-year term of the grant.
    (c) Limitations.--A grant awarded under subsection (a)(1) shall not 
exceed $1,000,000 per year and be for a term of more that 5 years and a 
grant awarded under subsection (a)(2) shall not exceed $750,000 per 
year and be for a term of more than 5 years.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated--
            (1) to carry out subsection (a)(1), $10,000,000 for each of 
        the fiscal years 1999 through 2003; and
            (2) to carry out subsection (a)(2), $3,750,000 for each of 
        the fiscal years 1999 through 2003.

SEC. 6. RESEARCH IN SPECIFIC HIGH PRIORITY AREAS.

    (a) Additional Funds for Grants.--From amounts appropriated under 
subsection (c), the Secretary shall provide support, through grant 
programs authorized on the date of enactment of this Act, to entities 
determined to have expertise in pediatric quality of care and outcomes 
research. Such additional funds shall be used to improve the quality of 
children's health, especially in high priority areas, and shall be 
subject to the same conditions and requirements that apply to funds 
provided under the existing grant program through which such additional 
funds are provided.
    (b) Advisory Committee.--
            (1) In general.--To evaluate progress made in pediatric 
        quality of care and outcomes research in high priority areas, 
        and to identify new high priority areas, the Secretary shall 
        establish an advisory committee which shall report annually to 
        the Secretary.
            (2) Membership.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
        advisory committee established under paragraph (1) includes 
        individuals who are--
                    (A) health care consumers;
                    (B) health care providers;
                    (C) purchasers of health care;
                    (D) representative of health plans involved in 
                children's health care services; and
                    (E) representatives of Federal agencies including--
                            (i) the Agency for Health Care Policy and 
                        Research;
                            (ii) the Centers for Disease Control and 
                        Prevention;
                            (iii) the Health Care Financing 
                        Administration;
                            (iv) the Maternal and Child Health Bureau;
                            (v) the National Institutes of Health; and
                            (vi) the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
                        Services Administration.
            (3) Evaluation of research.--The advisory committee 
        established under paragraph (1) shall evaluate research in high 
        priority areas using criteria that include--
                    (1) the generation of research that includes both 
                short and long term studies;
                    (2) the ability to foster public and private 
                partnerships; and
                    (3) the likelihood that findings will be 
                transmitted rapidly into practice.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $12,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 1999 through 2003.

SEC. 7. IMPROVING CHILD HEALTH DATA AND DEVELOPING BETTER DATA 
              COLLECTION SYSTEMS.

    (a) Survey.--The Secretary shall provide assistance to enable the 
appropriate Federal agencies to--
            (1) conduct ongoing biennial supplements and initiate and 
        maintain a longitudinal study on children's health that is 
        linked to the appropriate existing national surveys (including 
        the National Health Interview Survey and the Medical 
        Expenditure Panel Survey) to--
                    (A) provide for reliable national estimates of 
                health care expenditures, cost, use, access, and 
                satisfaction for children, including uninsured 
                children, poor and near-poor children, and children 
                with special health care needs;
                    (B) enhance the understanding of the determinants 
                of health outcomes and functional status among children 
                with special health care needs, as well as an 
                understanding of these changes over time and their 
                relationship to health care access and use; and
                    (C) monitor the overall national impact of Federal 
                and State policy changes on children's health care; and
            (2) develop an ongoing 50-State survey to generate reliable 
        State estimates of health care expenditures, cost, use, access, 
        satisfaction, and quality for children, including uninsured 
        children, poor and near-poor children, and children with 
        special health care needs.
    (b) Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants to public and 
nonprofit entities to enable such entities to develop the capacity of 
local communities to improve child health monitoring at the community 
level.
    (c) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
subsection (b), an entity shall--
            (1) be a public or nonprofit entity; and
            (2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application, at 
        such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
        the Secretary may require.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $14,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 1999 through 2003, of which--
            (1) $6,000,000 shall be made available in each fiscal year 
        for grants under subsection (a)(1);
            (2) $4,000,000 shall be made available in each fiscal year 
        for grants under subsection (a)(2); and
            (3) $4,000,000 shall be made available in each fiscal year 
        for grants under subsection (b).

SEC. 8. OVERSIGHT.

    Not later than ________ after the date of enactment of this Act, 
The Secretary shall prepare and submit a report to Congress on progress 
made in pediatric quality of care and outcomes research, including the 
extent of ongoing research, programs, and technical needs, and the 
Department of Health and Human Services' priorities for funding 
pediatric quality of care and outcomes research.

Ex Output:

Child Health Care Quality Research Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award at least ten grants annually to eligible public or nonprofit private entities at geographically diverse locations throughout the United States for research training programs dedicated to child health services research training initiatives at the doctoral, post-doctoral, and junior faculty levels.  Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2003. 
Requires the Secretary to award grants to eligible public or nonprofit entities for the establishment of at least ten national centers for excellence in child health improvement research and five national child health provider quality improvement research networks at geographically diverse locations throughout the United States. Describes eligibility requirements.  Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2003. 
Requires the Secretary to:  (1) provide support to entities with expertise in pediatric quality of care and outcomes research for improving the quality of children's health, especially in high priority areas (areas of compelling scientific or public policy significance); and (2) establish an advisory committee to evaluate progress in such activities and to identify new high priority areas.  Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2003. 
Directs the Secretary to provide assistance to enable Federal agencies to:  (1) conduct ongoing biennial supplements and initiate and maintain a longitudinal study on children's health linked to existing national surveys to provide for reliable national estimates of health care expenditures, cost, use, access, and satisfaction for children and for other related purposes; and (2) develop an ongoing 50-State survey to generate such estimates. 
Requires the Secretary to award grants to eligible public and nonprofit entities for developing the capacity of local communities to improve child health monitoring.  Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2003. 
Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on progress made in pediatric quality of care and outcomes research.