TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Closed-Loop Pumped Storage 
Hydropower Act''.

SEC. 2. CLOSED-LOOP PUMPED STORAGE PROJECTS.

    Part I of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 792 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 34. CLOSED-LOOP PUMPED STORAGE PROJECTS.

    ``(a) Expedited Licensing Process for Closed-Loop Pumped Storage 
Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--As provided in this section, the 
        Commission may issue and amend licenses and preliminary 
        permits, as appropriate, for closed-loop pumped storage 
        projects.
            ``(2) Rule.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Commission shall issue a rule 
        establishing an expedited process for issuing and amending 
        licenses and preliminary permits for closed-loop pumped storage 
        projects under this section.
            ``(3) Interagency task force.--In establishing the 
        expedited process under this section, the Commission shall 
        convene an interagency task force, with appropriate Federal and 
        State agencies and Indian tribes represented, to coordinate the 
        regulatory processes associated with the authorizations 
        required to construct and operate closed-loop pumped storage 
        projects.
            ``(4) Length of process.--The Commission shall ensure that 
        the expedited process under this section will result in final 
        decision on an application for a license by not later than 2 
        years after receipt of a completed application for such 
        license.
    ``(b) Dam Safety.--Before issuing any license for a closed-loop 
pumped storage project, the Commission shall assess the safety of 
existing dams and other structures related to the project (including 
possible consequences associated with failure of such structures).
    ``(c) Exemptions From Other Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--In issuing or amending a license or 
        preliminary permit pursuant to the expedited process 
        established under this section, the Commission may grant an 
        exemption from any other requirement of this part with respect 
        to any part of the closed-loop pumped storage project (not 
        including any dam or other impoundment).
            ``(2) Consultation.--In granting an exemption under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall consult with the United 
        States Fish and Wildlife Service and the State agency 
        exercising administration over the fish and wildlife resources 
        of the State in which the closed-loop pumped storage project is 
        or will be located, in the manner provided by the Fish and 
        Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).
            ``(3) Terms and conditions.--In granting an exemption under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall include in any such 
        exemption--
                    ``(A) such terms and conditions as the Fish and 
                Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
                and the State agency described in paragraph (2) each 
                determine are appropriate to prevent loss of, or damage 
                to, fish and wildlife resources and to otherwise carry 
                out the purposes of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination 
                Act; and
                    ``(B) such terms and conditions as the Commission 
                deems appropriate to ensure that such closed-loop 
                pumped storage project continues to comply with the 
                provisions of this section and terms and conditions 
                included in any such exemption.
            ``(4) Fees.--The Commission, in addition to the 
        requirements of section 10(e), shall establish fees which shall 
        be paid by an applicant for a license for a closed-loop pumped 
        storage project that is required to meet terms and conditions 
        set by fish and wildlife agencies under paragraph (3). Such 
        fees shall be adequate to reimburse the fish and wildlife 
        agencies referred to in paragraph (3) for any reasonable costs 
        incurred in connection with any studies or other reviews 
        carried out by such agencies for purposes of compliance with 
        this section. The fees shall, subject to annual appropriations 
        Acts, be transferred to such agencies by the Commission for use 
        solely for purposes of carrying out such studies and shall 
        remain available until expended.
    ``(d) Transfers.--Notwithstanding section 5, and regardless of 
whether the holder of a preliminary permit for a closed-loop pumped 
storage project claimed municipal preference under section 7(a) when 
obtaining the permit, the Commission may, to facilitate development of 
a closed-loop pumped storage project--
            ``(1) add entities as joint permittees following issuance 
        of a preliminary permit; and
            ``(2) transfer a license in part to one or more 
        nonmunicipal entities as co-licensees with a municipality, if 
        the municipality retains majority ownership of the project for 
        which the license was issued.
    ``(e) Interagency Communications.--Interagency cooperation in the 
preparation of environmental documents under the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) with respect to an 
application for a license for a closed-loop pumped storage project 
submitted pursuant to this section, and interagency communications 
relating to licensing process coordination pursuant to this section, 
shall not--
            ``(1) be considered to be ex parte communications under 
        Commission rules; or
            ``(2) preclude an agency from participating in a licensing 
        proceeding under this part.
    ``(f) Developing Abandoned Mines for Pumped Storage.--
            ``(1) Workshop.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Commission shall hold a workshop 
        to explore potential opportunities for development of closed-
        loop pumped storage projects at abandoned mine sites.
            ``(2) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Commission shall issue guidance 
        to assist applicants for licenses or preliminary permits for 
        closed-loop pumped storage projects at abandoned mine sites.
    ``(g) Qualifying Criteria for Closed-Loop Pumped Storage 
Projects.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall establish criteria 
        that a pumped storage project shall meet in order to qualify as 
        a closed-loop pumped storage project eligible for the expedited 
        process established under this section.
            ``(2) Inclusions.--In establishing the criteria under 
        paragraph (1), the Commission shall include criteria requiring 
        that the pumped storage project--
                    ``(A) cause little to no change to existing surface 
                and groundwater flows and uses; and
                    ``(B) is unlikely to adversely affect species 
                listed as a threatened species or endangered species 
                under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.''.

SEC. 3. OBLIGATION FOR PAYMENT OF ANNUAL CHARGES.

    Section 10(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 803(e)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(5) Any obligation of a licensee for payment of annual charges 
under this subsection shall commence when the construction of the 
applicable facility commences.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives December 12, 2017.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

SOLUTION: Promoting Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower Act (Sec.2)This bill amends the Federal Power Act to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish an expedited licensing process for issuing and amending licenses and preliminary permits for closed-loop pumped storage projects (in which the upper and lower reservoirs do not impound or directly withdraw water from navigable waters, or that are not continuously connected to a naturally flowing water feature). In establishing the expedited process, FERC shall convene an interagency task force with appropriate federal and state agencies and Indian tribes to coordinate the regulatory process associated with the authorizations required to construct and operate closed-loop pumped storage projects. FERC must assess the safety of existing dams and other structures related to the project before issuing any license for a closed-loop storage project. FERC must hold a workshop to explore potential opportunities for development of storage projects at abandoned mine sites. FERC must also establish criteria that a project shall meet to qualify as a closed-loop pumped storage under this bill, including requiring that the project cause little to no change to existing surface and groundwater flows and uses and that the project is unlikely to adversely affect species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. (Sec.3)Licensees are not required to pay an annual charge for administrative expenses until construction commences.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``America's Law Enforcement and Mental 
Health Project''.

SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION COURTS.

    (a) Amendment.--Part V of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and 
Safe Streets Act of 1968 is amended to read as follows:

                ``PART V--MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION COURTS

``SEC. 2201. GRANT AUTHORITY.

    ``The Attorney General may make grants to States, State courts, 
local courts, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments, 
acting directly or through agreements with other public or nonprofit 
entities, for 25 programs that involve--
            ``(1) continuing judicial supervision, including periodic 
        review at least every 45 days, over preliminarily qualified 
        offenders with mental illness, mental retardation, or co-
        occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders who are 
        charged with nonviolent misdemeanors, for a period not to 
        exceed 1 year; and
            ``(2) the integrated administration of services, which 
        includes--
                    ``(A) specialized training of law enforcement and 
                judicial personnel to identify and address the unique 
                needs of a mentally ill or mentally retarded offender;
                    ``(B) voluntary diversion into outpatient or 
                inpatient mental health treatment that carries with it 
                the possibility of prosecution of the original criminal 
                charge if the mentally ill or mentally retarded 
                defendant is noncompliant with program requirements;
                    ``(C) centralized case management involving the 
                consolidation of all of a mentally ill or mentally 
                retarded defendant's misdemeanor cases, including 
                violations of misdemeanor probation, and the 
                coordination of all treatment plans of mental health 
                and social service providers; and
                    ``(D) life skills training, such as housing 
                placement, vocational training, education, job 
                placement, health care, and relapse prevention for each 
                participant who requires such services.

``SEC. 2202. DEFINITION.

    ``In this part the term `preliminarily qualified offender with 
mental illness, mental retardation, or co-occurring mental and 
substance abuse disorders' means a person who--
            ``(1)(A) previously or currently has been diagnosed by a 
        qualified mental health professional as having a mental 
        illness, mental retardation, or co-occurring mental illness and 
        substance abuse disorders; or
            ``(B) manifests obvious signs of mental illness, mental 
        retardation, or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse 
        disorders during arrest or confinement or before any court; and
            ``(2) is deemed eligible for diversion by designated 
        judges.

``SEC. 2203. ADMINISTRATION.

    ``(a) Consultation.--The Attorney General shall consult with the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services and any other appropriate 
officials in carrying out this part.
    ``(b) Use of Components.--The Attorney General may utilize any 
component or components of the Department of Justice in carrying out 
this part.
    ``(c) Regulatory Authority.--The Attorney General shall issue 
regulations and guidelines necessary to carry out this part which 
include, but are not limited to, the methodologies and outcome measures 
proposed for evaluating each applicant program.
    ``(d) Applications.--In addition to any other requirements that may 
be specified by the Attorney General, an application for a grant under 
this part shall--
            ``(1) include a long-term strategy and detailed 
        implementation plan;
            ``(2) explain the applicant's inability to fund the program 
        adequately without Federal assistance;
            ``(3) certify that the Federal support provided will be 
        used to supplement, and not supplant, State, Indian tribal, and 
        local sources of funding that would otherwise be available;
            ``(4) identify related governmental or community 
        initiatives which complement or will be coordinated with the 
        proposal;
            ``(5) certify that there has been appropriate consultation 
        with all affected agencies and that there will be appropriate 
        coordination with all affected agencies in the implementation 
        of the program;
            ``(6) certify that participating offenders will be 
        supervised by one or more designated judges with responsibility 
        for the mental health diversion court program;
            ``(7) specify plans for obtaining necessary support and 
        continuing the proposed program following the conclusion of 
        Federal support; and
            ``(8) describe the methodology and outcome measures that 
        will be used in evaluating the program.

``SEC. 2204. APPLICATIONS.

    ``To request funds under this part, the chief executive or the 
chief justice of a State or the chief executive or chief judge of a 
unit of local government or Indian tribal government shall submit an 
application to the Attorney General in such form and containing such 
information as the Attorney General may reasonably require.

``SEC. 2205. FEDERAL SHARE.

    ``The Federal share of a grant made under this part may not exceed 
75 percent of the total costs of the program described in the 
application submitted under section 2205 for the fiscal year for which 
the program receives assistance under this part, unless the Attorney 
General waives, wholly or in part, the requirement of a matching 
contribution under this section. The use of the Federal share of a 
grant made under this part shall be limited to new expenses 
necessitated by the proposed diversion program, including the 
development of treatment services and the hiring and training of 
personnel. In-kind contributions may constitute a portion of the non-
Federal share of a grant.

``SEC. 2206. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.

    ``The Attorney General shall ensure that, to the extent 
practicable, an equitable geographic distribution of grant awards is 
made that considers the special needs of rural communities, Indian 
tribes, and Alaska Natives.

``SEC. 2207. REPORT.

    ``A State, Indian tribal government, or unit of local government 
that receives funds under this part during a fiscal year shall submit 
to the Attorney General a report in March of the following year 
regarding the effectiveness of this part.

``SEC. 2208. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, AND EVALUATION.

    ``(a) Technical Assistance and Training.--The Attorney General may 
provide technical assistance and training in furtherance of the 
purposes of this part.
    ``(b) Evaluations.--In addition to any evaluation requirements that 
may be prescribed for grantees, the Attorney General may carry out or 
make arrangements for evaluations of programs that receive support 
under this part.
    ``(c) Administration.--The technical assistance, training, and 
evaluations authorized by this section may be carried out directly by 
the Attorney General, in collaboration with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, or through grants, contracts, or other cooperative 
arrangements with other entities.''.
    (b) Technical Amendment.--The table of contents of title I of the 
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3711 et 
seq.), is amended by inserting after part U the following:

                ``Part V--Mental Health Diversion Courts

``Sec. 2201. Grant authority.
``Sec. 2202. Definition.
``Sec. 2203. Administration.
``Sec. 2204. Applications.
``Sec. 2205. Federal share.
``Sec. 2206. Geographic distribution.
``Sec. 2207. Report.
``Sec. 2208. Technical assistance, training, and evaluation.''.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 1001(a) of title I of 
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 
3793(a)), is amended by inserting after paragraph (19) the following:
    ``(20) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part V, 
$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2004.''.

SOLUTION: America's Law Enforcement and Mental Health Project - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Attorney General to make grants to States, State courts, local courts, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments, acting directly or through agreements with other public or nonprofit entities, for 25 programs that involve: (1) continuing judicial supervision, including periodic review at least every 45 days, over preliminarily qualified offenders with mental illness, mental retardation, or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse disorders who are charged with non-violent misdemeanors, for a period not to exceed one year; and (2) the integrated administration of services, which includes specialized training of law enforcement and judicial personnel to identify and address the unique needs of a mentally ill or mentally retarded offender, voluntary diversion into outpatient or inpatient mental health treatment that carries with it the possibility of prosecution of the original criminal charge if the mentally ill or mentally retarded defendant is noncompliant with program requirements, centralized case management involving the consolidation of all of a mentally ill or mentally retarded defendant's misdemeanor cases (including violations of misdemeanor probation) and the coordination of all treatment plans of mental health and social service providers, and life skills training. 
Defines "preliminarily qualified offender with mental illness, mental retardation, or co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders" to mean a person who: (1) previously or currently has been diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional as having a mental illness, mental retardation, or co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders or who manifests obvious signs of mental illness, mental retardation, or co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders during arrest or confinement or before any court; and (2) is deemed eligible for diversion by designated judges. 
Directs the Attorney General to issue regulations and guidelines necessary to carry out this Act, including the methodologies and outcome measures proposed for evaluating each applicant program. 
Sets forth provisions regarding application requirements, the Federal cost share (75 percent), geographic distribution of grants, reporting requirements, and technical assistance, training, and evaluation.  Authorizes appropriations.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Regulations Endanger Democracy Act 
of 2015'' or the ``RED Tape Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. REPEAL OF RULES REQUIRED BEFORE ISSUING OR AMENDING RULE.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section--
            (1) the term ``agency'' has the meaning given that term in 
        section 551 of title 5, United States Code;
            (2) the term ``covered rule'' means a rule of an agency 
        that causes a new financial or administrative burden on 
        businesses in the United States or on the people of the United 
        States, as determined by the head of the agency;
            (3) the term ``rule''--
                    (A) has the meaning given that term in section 551 
                of title 5, United States Code; and
                    (B) includes--
                            (i) any rule issued by an agency pursuant 
                        to an Executive order or Presidential 
                        memorandum; and
                            (ii) any rule issued by an agency due to 
                        the issuance of a memorandum, guidance 
                        document, bulletin, or press release issued by 
                        an agency; and
            (4) the term ``Unified Agenda'' means the Unified Agenda of 
        Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions.
    (b) Prohibition on Issuance of Certain Rules.--
            (1) In general.--An agency may not--
                    (A) issue a covered rule that does not amend or 
                modify an existing rule of the agency, unless--
                            (i) the agency has repealed 1 or more 
                        existing covered rules of the agency; and
                            (ii) the cost of the covered rule to be 
                        issued is less than or equal to the cost of the 
                        covered rules repealed under clause (i), as 
                        determined and certified by the head of the 
                        agency; or
                    (B) issue a covered rule that amends or modifies an 
                existing rule of the agency, unless--
                            (i) the agency has repealed or amended 1 or 
                        more existing covered rules of the agency; and
                            (ii) the cost of the covered rule to be 
                        issued is less than or equal to the cost of the 
                        covered rules repealed or amended under clause 
                        (i), as determined and certified by the head of 
                        the agency.
            (2) Penalty for failure to repeal or amend rules.--During 
        the period beginning on the date of failure to comply by an 
        agency with paragraph (1) in issuing a covered rule, and ending 
        on the date on which the agency complies with paragraph (1) 
        with respect to that covered rule, no statutory pay adjustment 
        (as defined in section 147(b) of the Continuing Appropriations 
        Act, 2011 (5 U.S.C. 5303 note)) shall take effect with respect 
        to any employee of the agency.
            (3) Application.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the 
        issuance of a covered rule by an agency that--
                    (A) relates to the internal policy or practice of 
                the agency or procurement by the agency; or
                    (B) is being revised to be less burdensome to 
                decrease requirements imposed by the covered rule or 
                the cost of compliance with the covered rule.
    (c) Considerations for Repealing Rules.--In determining whether to 
repeal a covered rule under subparagraph (A)(i) or (B)(i) of subsection 
(b)(1), the head of the agency that issued the covered rule shall 
consider--
            (1) whether the covered rule achieved, or has been 
        ineffective in achieving, the original purpose of the covered 
        rule;
            (2) any adverse effects that could materialize if the 
        covered rule is repealed, in particular if those adverse 
        effects are the reason the covered rule was originally issued;
            (3) whether the costs of the covered rule outweigh any 
        benefits of the covered rule to the United States;
            (4) whether the covered rule has become obsolete due to 
        changes in technology, economic conditions, market practices, 
        or any other factors; and
            (5) whether the covered rule overlaps with a covered rule 
        to be issued by the agency.
    (d) Publication of Covered Rules in Unified Agenda.--
            (1) Requirements.--Each agency shall, on a semiannual 
        basis, submit jointly and without delay to the Office of 
        Information and Regulatory Affairs for publication in the 
        Unified Agenda a list containing--
                    (A) each covered rule that the agency intends to 
                issue during the 6-month period following the date of 
                submission;
                    (B) each covered rule that the agency intends to 
                repeal or amend in accordance with subsection (b) 
                during the 6-month period following the date of 
                submission; and
                    (C) the cost of each covered rule described in 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B).
            (2) Prohibition.--An agency may not issue a covered rule 
        unless the agency complies with the requirements under 
        paragraph (1).

SOLUTION:
Regulations Endanger Democracy Act of 2015 or the RED Tape Act of 2015 Prohibits a federal agency from issuing a covered rule (a rule that causes a new financial or administrative burden on businesses or people in the United States) that either amends or modifies an existing agency rule or does not amend or modify an existing rule unless the agency has repealed one or more existing covered rules and the cost of the rule to be issued is less than or equal to that of the covered rules repealed. Exempts a covered rule that: (1) relates to the internal policy or practice of, or procurement by, the agency; or (2) is being revised to be less burdensome by decreasing requirements imposed by, or compliance costs of, the rule. Prohibits any statutory pay adjustment from taking effect for any employee of an agency during any period during which the agency is not in compliance with such requirement.  Directs an agency, in determining whether to repeal a covered rule, to consider: (1) whether the rule has achieved its purpose, has become obsolete, or overlaps with a covered rule to be issued; (2) any adverse effects that could materialize if the rule is repealed; and (3) whether the costs of the rule outweigh it benefits. Requires each agency, semiannually, to submit to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for publication in the Unified Agenda a list containing each covered rule the agency intends to issue, repeal, or amend during the following six months and the cost of each such rule.