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

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge 
Complex Expansion and Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge 
Expansion Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the western basin of Lake Erie, as part of the Great 
        Lakes ecosystem--
                    (A) is the largest freshwater ecosystem in the 
                world; and
                    (B) is vitally important to the economic and 
                environmental future of the United States;
            (2) over the 30-year period preceding the date of enactment 
        of this Act, the citizens and governmental institutions of the 
        United States and Canada have devoted increasing attention and 
        resources to the restoration of the water quality and fisheries 
        of the Great Lakes, including the western basin;
            (3) that increased awareness has been accompanied by a 
        gradual shift toward a holistic ecosystem approach that 
        highlights a growing recognition that shoreline areas, commonly 
        referred to as nearshore terrestrial ecosystems, are an 
        integral part of the western basin and the Great Lakes 
        ecosystem;
            (4) the Great Lakes account for more than 90 percent of the 
        surface freshwater in the United States;
            (5) the western basin of Lake Erie receives approximately 
        90 percent of its flow from the Detroit River and only 
        approximately 10 percent from tributaries;
            (6) the western basin is an important ecosystem that 
        includes a number of distinct islands, channels, rivers, and 
        shoals that support dense populations of fish, wildlife, and 
        aquatic plants;
            (7) coastal wetland of Lake Erie supports the largest 
        diversity of plant and wildlife species in the Great Lakes;
            (8) because Lake Erie is located at a more southern 
        latitude than other Great Lakes, the moderate climate of Lake 
        Erie is appropriate for many species that are not found in or 
        along the northern Great Lakes;
            (9) more than 300 species of plants, including 37 
        significant species, have been identified in the aquatic and 
        wetland habitats of the western basin;
            (10) the shallow western basin of Lake Erie, extending from 
        the Lower Detroit River to Sandusky Bay, is home to the 
        greatest concentration of marshes in Lake Erie, including--
                    (A) Mouille, Metzger, and Magee marshes;
                    (B) the Maumee Bay wetland complex;
                    (C) the wetland complexes flanking Locust Point; 
                and
                    (D) the wetland in Sandusky Bay;
            (11) the larger islands of the United States in western 
        Lake Erie have wetland in small embayments;
            (12) the wetland in the western basin comprises some of the 
        most important waterfowl habitat in the Great Lakes;
            (13) waterfowl, wading birds, shore birds, gulls and terns, 
        raptors, and perching birds use the wetland in the western 
        basin for migration, nesting, and feeding;
            (14) hundreds of thousands of diving ducks stop to rest in 
        the Lake Erie area during autumn migration from Canada to 
        points east and south;
            (15) the wetland of the western basin provides a major 
        stopover for sea ducks, such as migrating common goldeneye, 
        common mergansers, and ruddy duck;
            (16) the international importance of Lake Erie is indicated 
        in the United States by congressional designation of the Ottawa 
        and Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuges;
            (17)(A) Lake Erie has an international reputation for 
        walleye, perch, and bass fishing, recreational boating, 
        birding, photography, and duck hunting; and
            (B) on an economic basis, tourism in the Lake Erie area 
        accounts for an estimated $1,500,000,000 in retail sales and 
        more than 50,000 jobs;
            (18)(A) many of the 417,000 boats that are registered in 
        the State of Ohio are used in the western basin, in part to 
        fish for the estimated 10,000,000 walleye that migrate from the 
        lake to spawn; and
            (B) that internationally renowned walleye fishery drives 
        much of the $2,000,000,000 sport fishing industry in the State 
        of Ohio;
            (19) coastal wetland in the western basin has been 
        subjected to intense pressure for 150 years;
            (20) prior to 1850, the western basin was part of an 
        extensive coastal marsh and swamp system consisting of 
        approximately 122,000 hectares that comprised a portion of the 
        Great Black Swamp;
            (21) by 1951, only 12,407 wetland hectares remained in the 
        western basin;
            (22) 50 percent of that acreage was destroyed between 1972 
        and 1987, leaving only approximately 5,000 hectares in 
        existence today;
            (23) along the Michigan shoreline, coastal wetland was 
        reduced by 62 percent between 1916 and the early 1970s;
            (24) the development of the city of Monroe, Michigan, has 
        had a particularly significant impact on the coastal wetland at 
        the mouth of the Raisin River;
            (25) only approximately 100 hectares remain physically 
        unaltered today in an area in which, 70 years ago, marshes were 
        10 times more extensive;
            (26) in addition to the actual loss of coastal wetland 
        acreage along the shores of Lake Erie, the quality of much 
        remaining dike wetland has been degraded by numerous stressors, 
        especially excessive loadings of sediments and nutrients, 
        contaminants, shoreline modification, exotic species, and the 
        diking of wetland; and
            (27) protective peninsula beach systems, such as the former 
        Bay Point and Woodtick, at the border of Ohio and Michigan near 
        the mouth of the Ottawa River and Maumee Bay, have been eroded 
        over the years, exacerbating erosion along the shorelines and 
        negatively affecting breeding and spawning grounds.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to establish a national wildlife refuge 
complex in the State of Ohio--
            (1)(A) to protect the remaining high-quality fish and 
        wildlife habitats of the western basin before those habitats 
        are lost to further development; and
            (B) to restore and enhance degraded wildlife habitats 
        associated with the western basin;
            (2) in partnership with nongovernmental and private 
        organizations and private individuals dedicated to habitat 
        enhancement, to conserve, enhance, and restore the native 
        aquatic and terrestrial community characteristics of the 
        western basin (including associated fish, wildlife, and plant 
        species);
            (3) to facilitate partnerships among the United States Fish 
        and Wildlife Service, Canadian national and provincial 
        authorities, State and local governments, local communities in 
        the United States and Canada, conservation organizations, and 
        other non-Federal entities to promote public awareness of the 
        resources of the western basin; and
            (4) to advance the collective goals and priorities that--
                    (A) were established in the report entitled ``Great 
                Lakes Strategy 2002--A Plan for the New Millennium'', 
                developed by the United States Policy Committee, 
                comprised of Federal agencies (including the United 
                States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic 
                and Atmospheric Administration, the United States 
                Geological Survey, the Forest Service, and the Great 
                Lakes Fishery Commission) and State governments and 
                tribal governments in the Great Lakes basin; and
                    (B) include the goals of cooperating to protect and 
                restore the chemical, physical, and biological 
                integrity of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Cedar point refuge.--The term ``Cedar Point Refuge'' 
        means the Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge established by 
        the Secretary in accordance with the Migratory Bird 
        Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715 et seq.).
            (2) International refuge.--The term ``International 
        Refuge'' means the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge 
        established by section 5(a) of the Detroit River International 
        Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd note; 115 
        Stat. 894).
            (3) Ottawa refuge.--The term ``Ottawa Refuge'' means the 
        Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, established by the Secretary 
        in accordance with the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 
        U.S.C. 715 et seq.).
            (4) Refuge complex.--The term ``Refuge Complex'' means the 
        national wildlife refuge complex established by section 5(a).
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (6) Western basin.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``western basin'' means 
                the western basin of Lake Erie, consisting of the land 
                and water in the watersheds of Lake Erie extending from 
                the watershed of the Lower Detroit River in the State 
                of Michigan to and including Sandusky Bay and the 
                watershed of Sandusky Bay in the State of Ohio.
                    (B) Inclusion.--The term `western basin' includes 
                the Bass Island archipelago in the State of Ohio.
            (7) West sister island refuge.--The term ``West Sister 
        Island Refuge'' means the West Sister Island National Wildlife 
        Refuge established by Executive Order 7937, dated August 2, 
        1937.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPLEX.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a national wildlife refuge 
complex in the State of Ohio, consisting of--
            (1) the Ottawa Refuge, as modified by subsection (b);
            (2) the West Sister Island Refuge; and
            (3) the Cedar Point Refuge.
    (b) Expansion of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall expand the boundaries 
        of the Ottawa Refuge to include surrounding land and water in 
        the State of Ohio extending from the eastern boundary of the 
        Maumee Bay State Park to the eastern boundary of the Darby Unit 
        (including the Bass Island archipelago) as depicted on the map 
        entitled ``Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex Expansion 
        and Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Expansion 
        Act'', dated September 6, 2002.
            (2) Availability of map.--The map referred to in paragraph 
        (1) shall be available for inspection in appropriate offices of 
        the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
    (c) Boundary Revisions.--The Secretary may make such revisions of 
the boundaries of the Refuge Complex as the Secretary determines to be 
appropriate--
            (1) to facilitate the acquisition of property within the 
        Refuge Complex; or
            (2) to carry out this Act.
    (d) Acquisition.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
        may acquire by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated 
        funds, or exchange the land and water, and interests in land 
        and water (including conservation easements), within the 
        boundaries of the Refuge Complex.
            (2) Consent.--No land, water, or interest in land or water 
        described in paragraph (1) may be acquired by the Secretary 
        without the consent of the owner of the land, water, or 
        interest.
    (e) Transfers From Other Agencies.--Administrative jurisdiction 
over any Federal property that is located within the boundaries of the 
Refuge Complex and under the administrative jurisdiction of an agency 
of the United States other than the Department of the Interior may, 
with the concurrence of the head of the administering agency, be 
transferred without consideration to the Secretary for the purpose of 
this Act.
    (f) Study of Associated Area.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Director 
        of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall conduct a 
        study of fish and wildlife habitat and aquatic and terrestrial 
        communities in and around the 2 dredge spoil disposal sites 
        that are--
                    (A) referred to by the Toledo-Lucas County Port 
                Authority as ``Port Authority Facility Number Three'' 
                and ``Grassy Island'', respectively; and
                    (B) located within Toledo Harbor near the mouth of 
                the Maumee River.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
        enactment of the Act, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) complete the study under paragraph (1); and
                    (B) submit to Congress a report on the results of 
                the study.

SEC. 6. EXPANSION OF INTERNATIONAL REFUGE BOUNDARIES.

    The Secretary shall expand the southern boundary of the 
International Refuge to include additional land and water in the State 
of Michigan located east of Interstate Route 75, extending from the 
southern boundary of Sterling State Park to the Ohio State line, as 
depicted on the map referred to in section 5(b)(1).

SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Refuge Complex.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer all 
        federally owned land, water, and interests in land and water 
        that are located within the boundaries of the Refuge Complex in 
        accordance with--
                    (A) the National Wildlife Refuge System 
                Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.); 
                and
                    (B) this Act.
            (2) Additional authority.--The Secretary may use such 
        additional statutory authority available to the Secretary for 
        the conservation of fish and wildlife, and the provision of 
        opportunities for fish- and wildlife-dependent recreation, as 
        the Secretary determines to be appropriate to carry out this 
        Act.
    (b) Priority Uses.--In providing opportunities for compatible fish- 
and wildlife-dependent recreation, the Secretary, in accordance with 
paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge 
System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)), shall ensure, 
to the maximum extent practicable, that hunting, trapping, fishing, 
wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and 
interpretation are the priority public uses of the Refuge Complex.
    (c) Cooperative Agreements Regarding Non-Federal Land.--To promote 
public awareness of the resources of the western basin and encourage 
public participation in the conservation of those resources, the 
Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the State of Ohio 
or Michigan, any political subdivision of the State, or any person for 
the management, in a manner consistent with this Act, of land that--
            (1) is owned by the State, political subdivision, or 
        person; and
            (2) is located within the boundaries of the Refuge Complex.
    (d) Use of Existing Greenway Authority.--The Secretary shall 
encourage the State of Ohio to use authority under the recreational 
trails program under section 206 of title 23, United States Code, to 
provide funding for acquisition and development of trails within the 
boundaries of the Refuge Complex.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
necessary--
            (1) to acquire land and water within the Refuge Complex 
        under section 5(d);
            (2) to carry out the study under section 5(f); and
            (3) to develop, operate, and maintain the Refuge Complex.
Example Output: Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex Expansion and Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act - Establishes a national wildlife refuge complex in Ohio, consisting of the Ottawa, West Sister Island, and Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuges.Requires the Secretary of the Interior to expand the Ottawa Refuge to include specified land and water in Ohio. Permits the Secretary to acquire by donation, purchase, or exchange the land and water and interests in land and water within the boundaries of the Complex.Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to study and report to Congress on fish and wildlife habitat and aquatic and terrestrial communities in and around two specified dredge spoil disposal sites in Toledo Harbor.Requires the Secretary to expand the southern boundary of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (the Refuge) to include additional land and water located in the State of Michigan east of Interstate Route 75.Prescribes requirements for administration of the Complex.Directs the Secretary to ensure that hunting, trapping, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation shall be the priority public uses of the Complex.Requires the Secretary to encourage the State of Ohio to use authority under the Federal recreational trails program to provide funding for the acquisition and development of trails within the boundaries of the Complex.

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Empowering Jobs Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF RULES FOR TAX-EXEMPT ENTERPRISE ZONE FACILITY 
              BONDS.

    (a) In General.--Clause (i) of section 1394(b)(3)(B) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``References'' and inserting the following:
                                    ``(I) In general.--Except as 
                                provided in subclause (II), 
                                references'', and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subclause:
                                    ``(II) Special rule for employee 
                                residence test.--For purposes of 
                                subsection (b)(6) and (c)(5) of section 
                                1397C, an employee shall be treated as 
                                a resident of an empowerment zone if 
                                such employee is a resident of an 
                                empowerment zone, an enterprise 
                                community, or a qualified low-income 
                                community within an applicable 
                                nominating jurisdiction.''.
    (b) Definitions.--
            (1) Qualified low-income community.--Paragraph (3) of 
        section 1394(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended 
        by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (D) 
        and (E), respectively, and by inserting after subparagraph (B) 
        the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) Qualified low-income community.--For purposes 
                of subparagraph (B)--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term `qualified low-
                        income community' means any population census 
                        tract if--
                                    ``(I) the poverty rate for such 
                                tract is at least 20 percent, or
                                    ``(II) the median family income for 
                                such tract does not exceed 80 percent 
                                of statewide median family income (or, 
                                in the case of a tract located within a 
                                metropolitan area, metropolitan area 
                                median family income if greater).
                        Subclause (II) shall be applied using 
                        possessionwide median family income in the case 
                        of census tracts located within a possession of 
                        the United States.
                            ``(ii) Targeted populations.--The Secretary 
                        shall prescribe regulations under which 1 or 
                        more targeted populations (within the meaning 
                        of section 103(20) of the Riegle Community 
                        Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 
                        1994) may be treated as a qualified low-income 
                        communities.
                            ``(iii) Areas not within census tracts.--In 
                        the case of an area which is not tracted for 
                        population census tracts, the equivalent county 
                        divisions (as defined by the Bureau of the 
                        Census for purposes of defining poverty areas) 
                        shall be used for purposes of determining 
                        poverty rates and median family income.
                            ``(iv) Modification of income requirement 
                        for census tracts within high migration rural 
                        counties.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--In the case of a 
                                population census tract located within 
                                a high migration rural county, clause 
                                (i)(II) shall be applied to areas not 
                                located within a metropolitan area by 
                                substituting `85 percent' for `80 
                                percent'.
                                    ``(II) High migration rural 
                                county.--For purposes of this clause, 
                                the term `high migration rural county' 
                                means any county which, during the 20-
                                year period ending with the year in 
                                which the most recent census was 
                                conducted, has a net out-migration of 
                                inhabitants from the county of at least 
                                10 percent of the population of the 
                                county at the beginning of such 
                                period.''.
            (2) Applicable nominating jurisdiction.--Subparagraph (D) 
        of section 1394(b)(3) of such Code, as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1), is amended by adding at the end the following 
        new clause:
                            ``(iii) Applicable nominating 
                        jurisdiction.--The term `applicable nominating 
                        jurisdiction' means, with respect to any 
                        empowerment zone or enterprise community, any 
                        local government that nominated such community 
                        for designation under section 1391.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Clause (iii) of section 1394(b)(3)(B) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``or an enterprise community'' and 
        inserting ``, an enterprise community, or a qualified low-
        income community within an applicable nominating 
        jurisdiction''.
            (2) Subparagraph (D) of section 1394(b)(3) of such Code, as 
        redesignated by subsection (b)(1), is amended by striking 
        ``Definitions'' and inserting ``Other definitions''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to bonds issued before, on, or after the date of the enactment of 
this Act and not redeemed before the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF EMPOWERMENT ZONE TAX INCENTIVES.

    (a) In General.--Clause (i) of section 1391(d)(1)(A), as amended by 
the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014, is amended by striking 
``December 31, 2014'' and inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
    (b) Treatment of Certain Termination Dates Specified in 
Nominations.--In the case of a designation of an empowerment zone the 
nomination for which included a termination date which is 
contemporaneous with the date specified in subparagraph (A)(i) of 
section 1391(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as in effect 
before the enactment of this Act), subparagraph (B) of such section 
shall not apply with respect to such designation if, after the date of 
the enactment of this section, the entity which made such nomination 
amends the nomination to provide for a new termination date in such 
manner as the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary's designee) 
may provide.
    (c) Effective Dates.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to periods after December 31, 2014.
Example Output: Empowering Jobs Act of 2015 Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to tax-exempt enterprise zone facility bonds and empowerment zones, to: (1)&nbsp;include as employees of a qualified business entity employees who are residents of&nbsp;an empowerment zone, an enterprise community, or a qualified low-income community; and (2)&nbsp;extend the period of designation for empowerment zones through December 31, 2016 (thus extending the eligibility of such zones for certain tax benefits). 

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Millennium Digital Commerce Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The growth of electronic commerce and electronic 
        government transactions represent a powerful force for economic 
        growth, consumer choice, improved civic participation and 
        wealth creation.
            (2) The promotion of growth in private sector electronic 
        commerce through Federal legislation is in the national 
        interest because that market is globally important to the 
        United States.
            (3) A consistent legal foundation, across multiple 
        jurisdictions, for electronic commerce will promote the growth 
        of such transactions, and that such a foundation should be 
        based upon a simple, technology neutral, nonregulatory, and 
        market-based approach.
            (4) The Nation and the world stand at the beginning of a 
        large scale transition to an information society which will 
        require innovative legal and policy approaches, and therefore, 
        States can serve the national interest by continuing their 
        proven role as laboratories of innovation for quickly evolving 
        areas of public policy, provided that States also adopt a 
        consistent, reasonable national baseline to eliminate obsolete 
        barriers to electronic commerce such as undue paper and pen 
        requirements, and further, that any such innovation should not 
        unduly burden inter-jurisdictional commerce.
            (5) To the extent State laws or regulations do not provide 
        a consistent, reasonable national baseline or in fact create an 
        undue burden to interstate commerce in the important burgeoning 
        area of electronic commerce, the national interest is best 
        served by Federal preemption to the extent necessary to provide 
        such consistent, reasonable national baseline or eliminate said 
        burden, but that absent such lack of a consistent, reasonable 
        national baseline or such undue burdens, the best legal system 
        for electronic commerce will result from continuing 
        experimentation by individual jurisdictions.
            (6) With due regard to the fundamental need for a 
        consistent national baseline, each jurisdiction that enacts 
        such laws should have the right to determine the need for any 
        exceptions to protect consumers and maintain consistency with 
        existing related bodies of law within a particular 
        jurisdiction.
            (7) Industry has developed several electronic signature 
        technologies for use in electronic transactions, and the public 
        policies of the United States should serve to promote a dynamic 
        marketplace within which these technologies can compete. 
        Consistent with this Act, States should permit the use and 
        development of any authentication technologies that are 
        appropriate as practicable as between private parties and in 
        use with State agencies.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to permit and encourage the continued expansion of 
        electronic commerce through the operation of free market forces 
        rather than proscriptive governmental mandates and regulations;
            (2) to promote public confidence in the validity, integrity 
        and reliability of electronic commerce and online government 
        under Federal law;
            (3) to facilitate and promote electronic commerce by 
        clarifying the legal status of electronic records and 
        electronic signatures in the context of contract formation;
            (4) to facilitate the ability of private parties engaged in 
        interstate transactions to agree among themselves on the 
        appropriate electronic signature technologies for their 
        transactions; and
            (5) to promote the development of a consistent national 
        legal infrastructure necessary to support of electronic 
        commerce at the Federal and State levels within areas of 
        jurisdiction.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Electronic.--The term ``electronic'' means relating to 
        technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, 
        optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities.
            (2) Electronic agent.--The term ``electronic agent'' means 
        a computer program or an electronic or other automated means 
        used to initiate an action or respond to electronic records or 
        performances in whole or in part without review by an 
        individual at the time of the action or response.
            (3) Electronic record.--The term ``electronic record'' 
        means a record created, generated, sent, communicated, 
        received, or stored by electronic means.
            (4) Electronic signature.--The term ``electronic 
        signature'' means an electronic sound, symbol, or process 
        attached to or logically associated with a record and executed 
        or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.
            (5) Governmental agency.--The term ``governmental agency'' 
        means an executive, legislative, or judicial agency, 
        department, board, commission, authority, or institution of the 
        Federal Government or of a State or of any county, 
        municipality, or other political subdivision of a State.
            (6) Record.--The term ``record'' means information that is 
        inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an 
        electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable 
        form.
            (7) Transaction.--The term ``transaction'' means an action 
        or set of actions relating to the conduct of commerce, between 
        2 or more persons, neither of which is the United States 
        Government, a State, or an agency, department, board, 
        commission, authority, or institution of the United States 
        Government or of a State.
            (8) Uniform electronic transactions act.--The term 
        ``Uniform Electronic Transactions Act'' means the Uniform 
        Electronic Transactions Act as provided to State legislatures 
        by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State 
        Law in the form or any substantially similar variation.

SEC. 5. INTERSTATE CONTRACT CERTAINTY.

    (a) In General.--In any transaction affecting interstate commerce, 
a contract may not be denied legal effect or enforceability solely 
because an electronic signature or electronic record was used in its 
formation.
    (b) Methods.--Parties to a transaction are permitted to determine 
the appropriate electronic signature technologies for their 
transaction, and the means of implementing such technologies.
    (c) Presentation of Contracts.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), if 
a law requires that a contract be in writing, the legal effect, or 
enforceability of an electronic record of such contract shall be denied 
under such law, unless it is delivered to all parties in a form that--
            (1) can be retained by all parties for later reference; and
            (2) can be used to prove the terms of the agreement.
    (d) Specific Exclusions.--The provisions of this section shall not 
apply to a statute, regulation, or other rule of law governing any of 
the following:
            (1) The Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect in a State, 
        other than section 1-107 and 1-206, article 2, and article 2A.
            (2) Premarital agreements, marriage, adoption, divorce or 
        other matters of family law.
            (3) Documents of title which are filed of record with a 
        governmental unit until such time that a State or subdivision 
        thereof chooses to accept filings electronically.
            (4) Residential landlord-tenant relationships.
            (5) The Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act as in effect in a 
        State.
    (e) Electronic Agents.--A contract relating to a commercial 
transaction affecting interstate commerce may not be denied legal 
effect solely because its formation involved--
            (1) the interaction of electronic agents of the parties; or
            (2) the interaction of an electronic agent of a party and 
        an individual who acts on that individual's own behalf or as an 
        agent, for another person.
    (f) Insurance.--It is the specific intent of the Congress that this 
section apply to the business of insurance.
    (g) Application in UETA States.--This section does not apply in any 
State in which the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act is in effect.

SEC. 6. PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE USE OF ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES IN 
              INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS.

    To the extent practicable, the Federal Government shall observe the 
following principles in an international context to enable commercial 
electronic transaction:
            (1) Remove paper-based obstacles to electronic transactions 
        by adopting relevant principles from the Model Law on 
        Electronic Commerce adopted in 1996 by the United Nations 
        Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
            (2) Permit parties to a transaction to determine the 
        appropriate authentication technologies and implementation 
        models for their transactions, with assurance that those 
        technologies and implementation models will be recognized and 
        enforced.
            (3) Permit parties to a transaction to have the opportunity 
        to prove in court or other proceedings that their 
        authentication approaches and their transactions are valid.
            (4) Take a nondiscriminatory approach to electronic 
        signatures and authentication methods from other jurisdictions.

SEC. 7. STUDY OF LEGAL AND REGULATORY BARRIERS TO ELECTRONIC COMMERCE.

    (a) Barriers.--Each Federal agency shall, not later than 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, provide a report to the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Secretary of 
Commerce identifying any provision of law administered by such agency, 
or any regulations issued by such agency and in effect on the date of 
enactment of this Act, that may impose a barrier to electronic 
transactions, or otherwise to the conduct of commerce online or be 
electronic means. Such barriers include, but are not limited to, 
barriers imposed by a law or regulation directly or indirectly 
requiring that signatures, or records of transactions, be accomplished 
or retained in other than electronic form. In its report, each agency 
shall identify the barriers among those identified whose removal would 
require legislative action, and shall indicate agency plans to 
undertake regulatory action to remove such barriers among those 
identified as are caused by regulations issued by the agency.
    (b) Report to Congress.--The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation 
with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall, within 
18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and after the 
consultation required by subsection (c) of this section, report to the 
Congress concerning--
            (1) legislation needed to remove barriers to electronic 
        transactions or otherwise to the conduct of commerce online or 
        by electronic means; and
            (2) actions being taken by the Executive Branch and 
        individual Federal agencies to remove such barriers as are 
        caused by agency regulations or policies.
    (c) Consultation.--In preparing the report required by this 
section, the Secretary of Commerce shall consult with the General 
Services Administration, the National Archives and Records 
Administration, and the Attorney General concerning matters involving 
the authenticity of records, their storage and retention, and their 
usability for law enforcement purposes.
    (d) Include Findings If No Recommendations.--If the report required 
by this section omits recommendations for actions needed to fully 
remove identified barriers to electronic transactions or to online or 
electronic commerce, it shall include a finding or findings, including 
substantial reasons therefore, that such removal is impracticable or 
would be inconsistent with the implementation or enforcement of 
applicable laws.
Example Output:
Authorizes parties to an interstate transaction to determine the appropriate electronic signature technologies for their transaction, and the means of implementing such technologies. Denies the legal effect of an electronic record of a contract required by law to be in writing, unless it is delivered to all parties in a form that can be: (1) retained for later reference; and (2) used to prove agreement terms. Provides exclusions. Prohibits a contract relating to a commercial transaction from being denied legal effect solely because its formation involved electronic agents (computers or other automated means). States as the specific intent of Congress that this section apply to the business of insurance.
Directs the Federal Government, to the extent practicable, to observe certain principles governing the use of electronic signatures in international commercial transactions, including to: (1) remove paper-based obstacles to electronic transactions by adopting relevant principles from the Model Law on Electronic Commerce adopted in 1996 by the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL); (2) permit parties to a transaction to determine the appropriate authentication technologies for such transactions, with assurance that they will be recognized and enforced; (3) permit such parties to have the opportunity to prove in court that such authentication approaches and transactions are valid; and (4) take a nondiscriminatory approach to electronic signatures and authentication methods from other jurisdictions.
Directs each Federal agency to report to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Secretary of Commerce on any provision of law administered, or regulation issued, by it that imposes a barrier to electronic transactions. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress concerning any legislation needed or Executive or Federal agency action being taken to remove such barriers.