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 Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Student Dropout Prevention 
and Recovery Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Lowering the student dropout rate is one of the most 
        significant challenges facing educators today. Students must 
        stay in school in order to receive the education they need to 
        succeed in the new economy and contribute fully to American 
        society.
            (2) The ability of local educational agencies to lower the 
        student dropout rate has been inhibited by the lack of focus at 
        the Federal level and the limited availability of appropriate 
        dropout prevention-focused curriculum, instruction, 
        professional development, and administrative support services.
            (3) According to the National Dropout Prevention Network, 
        it is at the local and community level where school 
        improvements and change occur that will eventually have an 
        impact on the graduation rate of students. The focus of these 
        efforts should be concentrated on the most successful 
        strategies that research has identified as having an impact on 
        increasing the graduation rate. These strategies encompass--
                    (A) systemic renewal;
                    (B) community collaboration;
                    (C) professional development;
                    (D) family involvement;
                    (E) early childhood education;
                    (F) reading and writing programs;
                    (G) individualized instruction;
                    (H) instructional technologies;
                    (I) mentoring and tutoring;
                    (J) service learning;
                    (K) learning styles and multiple intelligences;
                    (L) violence prevention and conflict resolution;
                    (M) career education and workforce readiness;
                    (N) out-of-school experiences; and
                    (O) alternative public schooling.
            (4) The National Dropout Prevention Network has found that 
        the strategies described in paragraph (3) have been successful 
        in all school levels from K-12 in rural, suburban, or urban 
        centers. When schools or school districts develop a program 
        improvement plan that encompasses most or all of these 
        strategies, positive outcomes will result.
            (5) It is necessary to develop a number of model dropout 
        prevention programs to fully develop the effective strategies 
        listed above into comprehensive dropout prevention programs. 
        These model programs should be used as examples by schools 
        across the country that wish to implement similar programs. 
        Subsequently, a nationwide dropout prevention program, in order 
        to be effective, should be based on these model programs.
            (6) Dropout prevention and recovery programs which are 
        proven to be successful in lowering dropout rates need to be 
        disseminated to school and community leaders willing to adapt 
        and support these innovative programs in their schools and 
        community.

SEC. 3. SCHOOL DROPOUT PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAMS.

    Part C of title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7261 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:

           ``PART C--SCHOOL DROPOUT PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAMS

       ``Subpart 1--Model School Dropout Prevention Grant Program

``SEC. 5311. AUTHORIZATION.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director of the Office of Dropout Prevention 
and Program Completion shall award grants to public elementary schools, 
middle schools, and secondary schools that have established and are 
carrying out school dropout prevention programs to provide those 
schools with additional resources to develop such programs further, 
develop methods to assist other schools to implement similar programs, 
and provide for research on the effects of such programs on the student 
populations of the schools involved.
    ``(b) Duration.--A grant under subsection (a) shall be awarded for 
a period of not more than 5 years. A school that desires to continue to 
receive funding for the purposes described in subsection (a) shall 
apply for a grant under the national school dropout prevention grant 
program under subpart 2.

``SEC. 5312. REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.

    ``A school that receives a grant under section 5311 shall use 
amounts under the grant to establish and carry out, or further develop, 
school dropout prevention programs, intervention programs, and recovery 
programs, including as many of the following activities as possible: 
systemic renewal, community and family participation, professional 
development, early childhood education, reading and writing programs, 
alternative public schooling, individualized instruction, use of 
instructional technologies, mentoring and tutoring, service learning, 
instruction that recognizes that students learn in different ways 
(commonly referred to as `learning styles instruction'), violence 
prevention and conflict resolution, career education and workforce 
readiness, out-of-school experiences, and a comprehensive plan for 
dropout prevention.

``SEC. 5313. APPLICATION; SELECTION OF SCHOOLS; FISCAL AGENT.

    ``(a) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each school desiring a grant under 
        section 5311 shall submit an application, after review by the 
        local educational agency of the school, to the Director at such 
        time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as 
        the Director may require.
            ``(2) Contents.--A school desiring a grant under section 
        5311 shall submit an application, through the local educational 
        agency of the school under paragraph (1), that contains a 
        description of the current dropout prevention program of the 
        school.
    ``(b) Selection of Schools.--
            ``(1) Limitation.--The Director may award grants to not 
        more than 20 schools under section 5311. Such schools shall 
        have demonstrated success in establishing and carrying out 
        activities described in section 5312.
            ``(2) Allocation.--Grants awarded under section 5311 shall 
        be allocated among schools that meet the following 
        requirements:
                    ``(A) 4 elementary schools that have established 
                and are carrying out early childhood education 
                programs.
                    ``(B) 4 secondary schools that have established and 
                are carrying out academic intervention programs and 
                mediation programs.
                    ``(C) 4 secondary schools that have established and 
                are carrying out intervention programs and recovery 
                programs.
                    ``(D) 4 schools (either elementary, middle, or 
                secondary) that are located in rural school districts 
                and that have demonstrated success in establishing and 
                carrying out 12 or more of the activities described in 
                section 5312.
                    ``(E) 4 schools (either elementary, middle, or 
                secondary) that are located in urban school districts 
                and that have demonstrated success in establishing and 
                carrying out all of the activities described in section 
                5312.
            ``(3) Priority.--In awarding grants under section 5311, the 
        Director shall give priority to schools that have demonstrated 
        success in establishing and carrying out the highest number of 
        activities described in section 5312.
    ``(c) Fiscal Agent.--The local educational agency of the school 
shall act as the fiscal agent for the school and shall accept and 
administer the grant awarded to the school under section 5311, except 
that all funds shall be expended at the school level.

     ``Subpart 2--National School Dropout Prevention Grant Program

``SEC. 5321. AUTHORIZATION.

    ``(a) In General.--Beginning in the third year of the Model School 
Dropout Prevention Grant Program under subpart 1, the Director of the 
Office of Dropout Prevention and Program Completion shall award grants 
to public elementary schools, middle schools, and secondary schools to 
enable the schools to implement, or further carry out, effective, 
sustainable, and coordinated school dropout prevention programs.
    ``(b) Duration.--A grant under subsection (a) shall be awarded for 
a period of not less than 2 years but not more than 5 years.

``SEC. 5322. REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.

    ``A school that receives a grant under section 5321 shall use 
amounts under the grant to establish and carry out, or further develop, 
school dropout prevention programs, intervention programs, and recovery 
programs, including as many of the following activities as possible: 
systemic renewal, community and family participation, professional 
development, early childhood education, reading and writing programs, 
alternative public schooling, individualized instruction, use of 
instructional technologies, mentoring and tutoring, service learning, 
instruction that recognizes that students learn in different ways 
(commonly referred to as `learning styles instruction'), violence 
prevention and conflict resolution, career education and workforce 
readiness, out-of-school experiences, and a comprehensive plan for 
dropout prevention.

``SEC. 5323. APPLICATION; SELECTION OF SCHOOLS; FISCAL AGENT.

    ``(a) Application.--Each school desiring a grant under section 5321 
shall submit an application, after review by the local educational 
agency of the school, to the Director at such time, in such manner, and 
accompanied by such information as the Director may require.
    ``(b) Selection of Schools.--The Director shall establish clear and 
specific selection criteria for awarding grants to schools under 
section 5321, including the number of grants to award and the type of 
schools to be awarded grants. Such criteria shall be based on school 
dropout rates and other relevant factors, such as the quality of the 
existing or proposed dropout prevention program, the number of students 
who are dropouts, the number of students who are eligible to receive 
free or reduced price lunches under the Richard B. Russell National 
School Lunch Act, the number of students who are below their grade 
level in basic skills, the number of students who are involved in 
family court or the juvenile justice system, and the number of students 
who are teen mothers.
    ``(c) Fiscal Agent.--The local educational agency of the school 
shall act as the fiscal agent for the school and shall accept and 
administer the grant awarded to the school under section 5321, except 
that all funds shall be expended at the school level.

  ``Subpart 3--Additional Requirements for Model and National Dropout 
                        Prevention Grant Program

``SEC. 5331. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES.

    ``Each school that receives a grant under section 5311 or 5321, or 
the local educational agency of the school, shall provide information 
and technical assistance, including presentations, document-sharing, 
and joint staff development, to other schools within their school 
district and to other schools in their State that are desiring to 
receive grants under section 5311 or 5321, as the case may be.

``SEC. 5332. SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE CALCULATION.

    ``For purposes of calculating a school dropout rate under subparts 
1 and 2, a school shall use--
            ``(1) the annual event school dropout rate for students 
        leaving a school in a single year determined in accordance with 
        the National Center for Education Statistics' Common Core of 
        Data, if available;
            ``(2) the standard method used by the State agency; or
            ``(3) in other cases, a standard method for calculating the 
        school dropout rate as determined by the Director.

``SEC. 5333. REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

    ``(a) Reporting.--In order to receive funding under subpart 1 or 2 
for a fiscal year after the first fiscal year a school receives funding 
under subpart 1 or 2, as the case may be, the school shall provide, on 
an annual basis, to the Director a report regarding the status of the 
implementation of activities funded under subpart 1 or 2 and 
certification of progress from the eligible entity whose strategies the 
school is implementing.
    ``(b) Accountability.--On the basis of the reports submitted under 
subsection (a), the Director shall evaluate the effect of the 
activities assisted under subpart 1 or 2, as the case may be, on school 
dropout prevention compared to a control group, to the extent 
practicable.

    ``Subpart 4--National Clearinghouse on Effective School Dropout 
                               Prevention

``SEC. 5341. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE.

    ``Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this part, 
the Director shall establish a national clearinghouse on effective 
school dropout prevention, intervention programs, and reentry programs. 
The clearinghouse shall be established through a competitive grant or 
contract awarded to an organization with a demonstrated capacity to 
provide technical assistance and disseminate information in the area of 
school dropout prevention, intervention programs, and reentry programs. 
The clearinghouse shall--
            ``(1) collect and disseminate to educators, parents, and 
        policymakers information on research, effective programs, best 
        practices, and available Federal resources with respect to 
        school dropout prevention, intervention programs, and reentry 
        programs, including dissemination by an electronically 
        accessible database, a worldwide Web site, and a national 
        journal;
            ``(2) provide technical assistance regarding securing 
        resources with respect to, and designing and implementing, 
        effective and comprehensive school dropout prevention, 
        intervention programs, and reentry programs; and
            ``(3) provide professional development opportunities 
        through workshops, seminars, and institutes for educators and 
        program providers responsible for planning, implementing, and 
        evaluating comprehensive school dropout prevention, 
        intervention programs, and recovery programs.

       ``Subpart 5--Definitions; Authorization of Appropriations

``SEC. 5351. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
        the Office of Dropout Prevention and Program Completion 
        established under section 218 of the General Education 
        Provisions Act.
            ``(2) Intervention programs.--The term `intervention 
        programs' means programs or strategies that are designed to 
        improve academic or personal problems of students that 
        negatively affect the students' performance or ability to 
        remain in school and graduate from school with a diploma.
            ``(3) Prevention programs.--The term `prevention programs' 
        means programs that anticipate, forestall, or relate to 
        cognitive, social, or personal problems of students before such 
        problems impair a student's ability to perform in school.
            ``(4) Recovery programs.--The term `recovery programs' 
        means programs or strategies designed to offer another 
        schooling option to an individual who has dropped out of 
        school.
            ``(5) School dropout.--The term `school dropout' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4(17) of the School-to-Work 
        Opportunities Act of 1994.

``SEC. 5352. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) Subpart 1.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out subpart 1 such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001 and 
for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
    ``(b) Subpart 2.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out subpart 2 such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003 and 
for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
    ``(c) Subpart 4.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out subpart 4 such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001 and 
for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.''.

SEC. 4. OFFICE OF DROPOUT PREVENTION AND PROGRAM COMPLETION.

    (a) Establishment.--Title II of the Department of Education 
Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3411 et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:

         ``office of dropout prevention and program completion

    ``Sec. 218. (a) Establishment.--There shall be in the Department of 
Education an Office of Dropout Prevention and Program Completion 
(hereafter in this section referred to as the `Office'), to be 
administered by the Director of the Office of Dropout Prevention and 
Program Completion. The Director of the Office shall report directly to 
the Under Secretary of Education and shall perform such additional 
functions as the Under Secretary may prescribe.
    ``(b) Duties.--The Director of the Office of Dropout Prevention and 
Program Completion (hereafter in this section referred to as the 
`Director'), through the Office, shall--
            ``(1) help coordinate Federal, State, and local efforts to 
        lower school dropout rates and increase program completion by 
        elementary, middle, and secondary school students;
            ``(2) recommend Federal policies, objectives, and 
        priorities to lower school dropout rates and increase program 
        completion;
            ``(3) oversee the implementation of subparts 1 and 2 of 
        part C of title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
        of 1965;
            ``(4) annually prepare and submit to Congress and the 
        Secretary a national report describing efforts and recommended 
        actions regarding school dropout prevention and program 
        completion;
            ``(5) recommend action to the Secretary and the President, 
        as appropriate, regarding school dropout prevention and program 
        completion; and
            ``(6) consult with and assist State and local governments 
        regarding school dropout prevention and program completion.
    ``(c) Scope of Duties.--The scope of the Director's duties under 
subsection (b) shall include examination of all Federal and non-Federal 
efforts related to--
            ``(1) promoting program completion for children attending 
        elementary, middle, or secondary school;
            ``(2) programs to obtain a secondary school diploma or its 
        recognized equivalent (including general equivalency diploma 
        (GED) programs); and
            ``(3) reentry programs for individuals aged 12 to 24 who 
        are out of school.
    ``(d) Detailing.--In carrying out the Director's duties under this 
section, the Director may request the head of any Federal department or 
agency to detail personnel who are engaged in school dropout prevention 
activities to another Federal department or agency in order to 
implement the National School Dropout Prevention Strategy.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents of the Department 
of Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3401 note) is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 217 the following new 
item:

``Sec. 218. Office of Dropout Prevention and Program Completion.''.
[EX A]: Requires the Director of the Office of Dropout Prevention and Program Completion (established by this Act in the Department of Education) to carry out provisions for: (1) a model school dropout prevention grant program; (2) a national school dropout prevention grant program; and (3) a national clearinghouse on effective school dropout prevention, intervention programs, and reentry programs.
Authorizes appropriations for such part C programs.
Amends the Department of Education Organization Act to establish an Office of Dropout Prevention and Program Completion, to be administered by a Director who shall report directly to the Under Secretary of Education. Sets forth the Director's duties and their scope.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Farm-To-Cafeteria 
Projects Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO SUPPORT FARM-TO-CAFETERIA PROJECTS.

     Section 12 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C.1760) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(q) Grants to Support Farm-To-Cafeteria Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--To improve access to local foods in 
        schools and institutions receiving funds under this Act and the 
        Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) (other 
        than section 17 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1786)), the Secretary 
        shall provide competitive grants to nonprofit entities and 
        educational institutions to establish and carry out farm-to-
        cafeteria projects under paragraph 2.
            ``(2) Project requirements.--Farm-to-cafeteria projects 
        eligible to receive assistance under this subsection shall be 
        projects designed to--
                    ``(A) procure local foods from small and medium-
                sized farms for the provision of foods for school 
                meals;
                    ``(B) support nutrition education activities or 
                curriculum planning that incorporates the participation 
                of school children in farm and agriculture education 
                projects; and
                    ``(C) develop a sustained commitment to farm-to-
                cafeteria projects in the community by linking schools, 
                agricultural producers, parents, and other community 
                stakeholders.
            ``(3) Technical assistance and related information.--
                    ``(A) Technical assistance.--In carrying out this 
                subsection, the Secretary may provide technical 
                assistance regarding farm-to-cafeteria projects, 
                processes, and development to an entity seeking the 
                assistance.
                    ``(B) Sharing of information.--The Secretary may 
                provide for the sharing of information concerning farm-
                to-cafeteria projects and issues among and between 
                government, private for-profit and nonprofit groups, 
                and the public through publications, conferences, and 
                other appropriate means.
            ``(4) Grants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--From amounts made available to 
                carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall make 
                grants to assist private non-profit entities and 
                educational institutions to establish and carry out 
                farm-to-cafeteria projects.
                    ``(B) Maximum amount.--The maximum amount of a 
                grant provided to an entity under this subsection shall 
                be $100,000.
                    ``(C) Matching funds requirements.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Federal share of the 
                        cost of establishing or carrying out a farm-to-
                        cafeteria project that receives assistance 
                        under this subsection may not exceed 75 percent 
                        of the cost of the project during the term of 
                        the grant, as determined by the Secretary.
                            ``(ii) Form.--In providing the non-Federal 
                        share of the cost of carrying out a farm-to-
                        cafeteria project, the grantee shall provide 
                        the share through a payment in cash or in kind, 
                        fairly evaluated, including facilities, 
                        equipment, or services.
                            ``(iii) Source.--An entity may provide the 
                        non-Federal share through State or local 
                        government, or through private sources.
                    ``(D) Administration.--
                            ``(i) Single grant.--A farm-to-cafeteria 
                        project may be supported by only a single grant 
                        under this subsection.
                            ``(ii) Term.--The term of a grant made 
                        under this subsection may not exceed 3 years.
            ``(5) Evaluation.--Not later than January 30, 2008, the 
        Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) provide for the evaluation of the projects 
                funded under this subsection; and
                    ``(B) submit to the Committee on Education and the 
                Workforce of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
                the Senate a report on the results of the evaluation.
            ``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2004 through 2009 to carry out this 
        subsection, to remain available until expended.''.
[EX A]: Farm-To-Cafeteria Projects Act of 2003 - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants to private nonprofit entities and educational institutions to establish and carry out Farm-to-Cafeteria projects to improve access to local foods in schools and institutions receiving funds under NSLA and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) (except the special supplemental program for women, infants, and children (WIC) which already has a WIC Farmers Market Nutrition program).

Requires such projects to be designed to: (1) procure local foods from small and medium-sized farms to provide foods for school meals; (2) support nutrition education activities or curriculum planning incorporating school children's participation in farm and agriculture education projects; and (3) develop a sustained commitment to farm-to-cafeteria projects in the community by linking schools, agricultural producers, parents, and other community stakeholders.

[EX Q]: SECTION 1. DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS DISASTER RELIEF.

    (a) Truth in Lending Act; Expedited Funds Availability Act.--
            (1) Truth in lending act.--During the 240-day period 
        beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Board of 
        Governors of the Federal Reserve System may make exceptions to 
        the Truth in Lending Act for transactions within an area in 
        which the President, pursuant to section 401 of the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, has 
        determined, on or after July 1, 1994, that a major disaster 
        exists, or within an area determined to be eligible for 
        disaster relief under other Federal law by reason of damage 
        related to the 1994 flooding in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida 
        resulting from Tropical Storm Alberto, if the Board determines 
        that the exception can reasonably be expected to alleviate 
        hardships to the public resulting from such disaster that 
        outweigh possible adverse effects.
            (2) Expedited funds availability act.--During the 240-day 
        period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the 
        Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System may make 
        exceptions to the Expedited Funds Availability Act for 
        depository institution offices located within any area referred 
        to in paragraph (1) of this section if the Board determines 
        that the exception can reasonably be expected to alleviate 
        hardships to the public resulting from such disaster that 
        outweigh possible adverse effects.
            (3) Time limit on exceptions.--Any exception made under 
        this subsection shall expire not later than January 1, 1996.
            (4) Publication required.--The Board of Governors of the 
        Federal Reserve System shall publish in the Federal Register a 
        statement that--
                    (A) describes any exception made under this 
                subsection; and
                    (B) explains how the exception can reasonably be 
                expected to produce benefits to the public that 
                outweigh possible adverse effects.
    (b) Deposit of Insurance Proceeds.--
            (1) In general.--The appropriate Federal banking agency 
        may, by order, permit an insured depository institution to 
        subtract from the institution's total assets, in calculating 
        compliance with the leverage limit prescribed under section 38 
        of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, an amount not exceeding 
        the qualifying amount attributable to insurance proceeds, if 
        the agency determines that--
                    (A) the institution--
                            (i) had its principal place of business 
                        within an area in which the President, pursuant 
                        to section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford 
                        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 
                        has determined, on or after July 1, 1994, that 
                        a major disaster exists, or within an area 
                        determined to be eligible for disaster relief 
                        under other Federal law by reason of damage 
                        related to the 1994 flooding in Georgia, 
                        Alabama, and Florida resulting from Tropical 
                        Storm Alberto, on the day before the date of 
                        any such determination;
                            (ii) derives more than 60 percent of its 
                        total deposits from persons who normally reside 
                        within, or whose principal place of business is 
                        normally within, areas of intense devastation 
                        caused by the major disaster;
                            (iii) was adequately capitalized (as 
                        defined in section 38 of the Federal Deposit 
                        Insurance Act) before the major disaster; and
                            (iv) has an acceptable plan for managing 
                        the increase in its total assets and total 
                        deposits; and
                    (B) the subtraction is consistent with the purpose 
                of section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
            (2) Time limit on exceptions.--Any exception made under 
        this subsection shall expire not later than January 1, 1996.
            (3) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        following definitions shall apply:
                    (A) Appropriate federal banking agency.--The term 
                ``appropriate Federal banking agency'' has the same 
                meaning as in section 3 of the Federal Deposit 
                Insurance Act.
                    (B) Insured depository institution.--The term 
                ``insured depository institution'' has the same meaning 
                as in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
                    (C) Leverage limit.--The term ``leverage limit'' 
                has the same meaning as in section 38 of the Federal 
                Deposit Insurance Act.
                    (D) Qualifying amount attributable to insurance 
                proceeds.--The term ``qualifying amount attributable to 
                insurance proceeds'' means the amount (if any) by which 
                the institution's total assets exceed the institution's 
                average total assets during the calendar quarter ending 
                before the date of any determination referred to in 
                paragraph (1)(A)(i), because of the deposit of 
                insurance payments or governmental assistance made with 
                respect to damage caused by, or other costs resulting 
                from, the major disaster.
    (c) Banking Agency Publication Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--A qualifying regulatory agency may take 
        any of the following actions with respect to depository 
        institutions or other regulated entities whose principal place 
        of business is within, or with respect to transactions or 
        activities within, an area in which the President, pursuant to 
        section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act, has determined, on or after July 1, 
        1994, that a major disaster exists, or within an area 
        determined to be eligible for disaster relief under other 
        Federal law by reason of damage related to the 1994 flooding in 
        Georgia, Alabama, and Florida resulting from Tropical Storm 
        Alberto, if the agency determines that the action would 
        facilitate recovery from the major disaster:
                    (A) Procedure.--Exercising the agency's authority 
                under provisions of law other than this subsection 
                without complying with--
                            (i) any requirement of section 553 of title 
                        5, United States Code; or
                            (ii) any provision of law that requires 
                        notice or opportunity for hearing or sets 
                        maximum or minimum time limits with respect to 
                        agency action.
                    (B) Publication requirements.--Making exceptions, 
                with respect to institutions or other entities for 
                which the agency is the primary Federal regulator, to--
                            (i) any publication requirement with 
                        respect to establishing branches or other 
                        deposit-taking facilities; or
                            (ii) any similar publication requirement.
            (2) Publication required.--A qualifying regulatory agency 
        shall publish in the Federal Register a statement that--
                    (A) describes any action taken under this 
                subsection; and
                    (B) explains the need for the action.
            (3) Qualifying regulatory agency defined.--For purposes of 
        this subsection, the term ``qualifying regulatory agency'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
                System;
                    (B) the Comptroller of the Currency;
                    (C) the Director of the Office of Thrift 
                Supervision;
                    (D) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;
                    (E) the Financial Institutions Examination Council;
                    (F) the National Credit Union Administration; and
                    (G) with respect to chapter 53 of title 31, United 
                States Code, the Secretary of the Treasury.
            (4) Expiration.--Any exception made under this subsection 
        shall expire not later than January 1, 1996.
    (d) Sense of the Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that 
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Comptroller 
of the Currency, the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union 
Administration should encourage depository institutions to meet the 
financial services needs of their communities and customers located in 
areas affected by the 1994 flooding in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida 
resulting from Tropical Storm Alberto.
    (e) Other Authority Not Affected.--Nothing in this section limits 
the authority of any department or agency under any other provision of 
law.

            Passed the Senate August 25 (legislative day, August 18), 
      1994.

            Attest:

                                                MARTHA S. POPE,

                                                             Secretary.
[EX A]:
Directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to make exceptions to the Truth in Lending Act and the Expedited Funds Availability Act for a specified time for transactions within an area eligible for disaster relief due to the 1994 flood damage from Tropical Storm Alberto (the Storm) in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida (if it determines that this can alleviate hardships to the public that outweigh possible adverse effects). 
Cites circumstances under which the appropriate Federal banking agency may permit an insured depository institution in the disaster area, in calculating compliance with the leverage limit prescribed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, to subtract from its total assets an amount not exceeding the qualifying amount attributable to insurance proceeds. 
Expresses the sense of the Congress that specified Federal banking regulatory agencies should encourage depository institutions to meet the financial services needs of their communities and customers located in such disaster areas affected by the Storm.