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

    This Act may be cited as the ``Educational Empowerment Act''.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT ZONES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:

             ``Subchapter X--Educational Empowerment Zones

        ``Sec. 1400E. Designation of educational empowerment zones.

``SEC. 1400E. DESIGNATION OF EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT ZONES.

    ``(a) Designation.--
            ``(1) Educational empowerment zone.--For purposes of this 
        title, the term `educational empowerment zone' means any area--
                    ``(A) which is nominated by one or more local 
                governments and the State or States in which it is 
                located for designation as an educational empowerment 
                zone (hereinafter in this section referred to as a 
                `nominated area'), and
                    ``(B) which the Secretary of Health and Human 
                Services and the Secretary of Education (hereinafter in 
                this section referred to as the `Secretaries 
                concerned') jointly designate as an educational 
                empowerment zone.
            ``(2) Number of designations.--The Secretaries concerned 
        may designate not more than 30 nominated areas as educational 
        empowerment zones.
            ``(3) Areas designated based on degree of poverty, etc.--
        Except as otherwise provided in this section, the nominated 
        areas designated as educational empowerment zones under this 
        subsection shall be those nominated areas with the highest 
        average ranking with respect to the criteria described in 
        subsection (c)(3). For purposes of the preceding sentence, an 
        area shall be ranked within each such criterion on the basis of 
        the amount by which the area exceeds such criterion, with the 
        area which exceeds such criterion by the greatest amount given 
        the highest ranking.
            ``(4) Limitation on designations.--
                    ``(A) Publication of regulations.--The Secretaries 
                concerned shall prescribe by regulation no later than 4 
                months after the date of the enactment of this 
                section--
                            ``(i) the procedures for nominating an area 
                        under paragraph (1)(A).
                            ``(ii) the parameters relating to the size 
                        and population characteristics of an 
                        educational empowerment zone, and
                            ``(iii) the manner in which nominated areas 
                        will be evaluated based on the criteria 
                        specified in subsection (c).
                    ``(B) Time limitations.--The Secretaries concerned 
                may designate nominated areas as educational 
                empowerment zones only during the 24-month period 
                beginning on the first day of the first month following 
                the month in which the regulations described in 
                subparagraph (A) are prescribed.
                    ``(C) Procedural rules.--The Secretaries concerned 
                shall not make any designation of a nominated area as 
                an educational empowerment zone under paragraph (2) 
                unless--
                            ``(i) a nomination regarding such area is 
                        submitted in such a manner and in such form, 
                        and contains such information, as the 
                        Secretaries concerned shall by regulation 
                        prescribe, and
                            ``(ii) the Secretaries concerned determine 
                        that any information furnished is reasonably 
                        accurate.
            ``(5) Nomination process for indian reservations.--For 
        purposes of this subchapter, in the case of a nominated area on 
        an Indian reservation, the reservation governing body (as 
        determined by the Secretary of the Interior) shall be treated 
        as being both the State and local governments with respect to 
        such area.
    ``(b) Period for Which Designation is in Effect.--Any designation 
of an area as an educational empowerment zone shall remain in effect 
during the period beginning on the date of the designation and ending 
on the earliest of--
            ``(1) December 31, 2007,
            ``(2) the termination date designated by the State and 
        local governments in their nomination, or
            ``(3) the date the Secretaries concerned revoke such 
        designation.
    ``(c) Area and Eligibility Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce may designate 
        a nominated area as an educational empowerment zone under 
        subsection (a) only if the area meets the requirements of 
        paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection.
            ``(2) Area requirements.--For purposes of paragraph (1), a 
        nominated area meets the requirements of this paragraph if--
                    ``(A) the area is within the jurisdiction of one or 
                more local governments,
                    ``(B) the boundary of the area is continuous, and
                    ``(C) the area does not include an empowerment zone 
                (as defined in section 1393(b)) other than such a zone 
                designated under section 1391(g).
            ``(3) Eligibility requirements.--For purposes of paragraph 
        (1), a nominated area meets the requirements of this paragraph 
        if the State and the local governments in which it is located 
        certify that the nominated area satisfies such conditions as 
        the Secretary of Education deems appropriate.
            ``(4) Consideration of dropout rate, etc.--The Secretary of 
        Education, in setting forth the conditions for eligibility 
        pursuant to paragraph (3), shall take into account the extent 
        to which an area has low-income families, a high dropout rate, 
        a high rate of teen pregnancy, and large school class size.
    ``(d) Coordination With Treatment of Enterprise Communities.--For 
purposes of this title, if there are in effect with respect to the same 
area both--
            ``(1) a designation as an educational empowerment zone, and
            ``(2) a designation as an enterprise community,
both of such designations shall be given full effect with respect to 
such area.
    ``(e) Definitions and Special Rules.--For purposes of this 
subchapter, rules similar to the rules of paragraphs (2), (3), (5), and 
(7) of section 1393 shall apply.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of subchapters for chapter 1 is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item:

                              ``Subchapter X. Educational Empowerment 
                                        Zones.''.

SEC. 3. CREDIT FOR DONATIONS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN EDUCATIONAL 
              EMPOWERMENT ZONES.

    (a) In General.--Subpart B of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after 
section 30A the following new section

``SEC. 30B. CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN EDUCATIONAL 
              EMPOWERMENT ZONES.

    ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--There shall be allowed as a credit 
against the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year an amount 
equal to the amount of qualified educational empowerment zone 
contributions made by the taxpayer during such year.
    ``(b) Maximum Credit.--The amount of the credit allowed by 
subsection (a)--
            ``(1) in the case of an individual, shall not exceed 
        $2,000, and
            ``(2) in the case of any other taxpayer, shall not exceed 
        $10,000.
    ``(c) Definition of Qualified Educational Empowerment Zone 
Contributions.--For purposes of this section, the term `qualified 
educational empowerment zone contributions' means cash contributions 
made to any school district located in an educational empowerment zone 
(as designated under section 1400E) if such contributions--
            ``(1) but for subsection (d), would be allowable as a 
        deduction under section 170, and
            ``(2) are used for any of the following purposes by the 
        school district:
                    ``(A) Hiring new teachers.
                    ``(B) Increasing teacher salaries.
                    ``(C) Training teachers.
    ``(d) Denial of Double Benefit.--No deduction shall be allowed 
under this chapter for any contribution taken into account in computing 
the credit under this section.
    ``(e) Election.--This section shall apply to any taxpayer for any 
taxable year only if such taxpayer elects (at such time and in such 
manner as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe) to have this 
section apply for such taxable year.
    ``(f) Application With Other Credits; Carryover of Excess Credit.--
The credit allowed by subsection (a) for any taxable year shall not 
exceed the excess (if any) of--
            ``(1) the regular tax for the taxable year reduced by the 
        sum of the credits allowable under subpart A and the preceding 
        sections of this subpart, over
            ``(2) the tentative minimum tax for the taxable year.
If the credit under subsection (a) exceeds the limitation of the 
preceding sentence, such excess shall be added to the credit allowable 
under subsection (a) for the succeeding taxable year.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart B of 
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 30A the following new 
item:

        ``Sec. 30B. Contributions to school districts in educational 
                            empowerment zones.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2003.

SEC. 4. TEACHER LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM.

    Part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is amended 
by inserting after section 428K (20 U.S.C. 1078-11) the following new 
section:

``SEC. 428L. LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHERS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to encourage more 
individuals to enter and stay in the field of teaching mathematics, 
science, and related fields.
    ``(b) Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a program 
        of assuming the obligation to repay, pursuant to subsection 
        (c), a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under this part or 
        part D (excluding loans made under sections 428B and 428C or 
        comparable loans made under Part D) for any new borrower after 
October 12, 1998, who--
                    ``(A) has been employed as a full-time teacher for 
                3 consecutive complete school years in a school that is 
                located in an educational empowerment zone, as such 
                term is defined in section 1400E of the Internal 
                Revenue Code of 1986;
                    ``(B) is a fully qualified teacher; and
                    ``C) is not in default on a loan for which the 
                borrower seeks forgiveness.
            ``(2) Award basis; priority.--
                    ``(A) Award basis.--Subject to subparagraph (B), 
                loan repayment under this section shall be on a first-
                come, first-served basis and subject to the 
                availability of appropriations.
                    ``(B) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority 
                in providing loan repayment under this section for a 
                fiscal year to student borrowers who received loan 
                repayment under this section for the preceding fiscal 
                year.
            ``(3) Regulations.--The Secretary is authorized to 
        prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the 
        provisions of this section.
    ``(c) Loan Repayment.--
            ``(1) Eligible amount.--The amount the Secretary may repay 
        on behalf of any individual under this section shall not 
        exceed--
                    ``(A) 80 percent of the sum of the principal 
                amounts outstanding of the individual's qualifying 
                loans at the end of 3 consecutive complete school years 
                of service described in subsection (b)(1)(A);
                    ``(B) an additional 10 percent of such sum at the 
                end of each of the next 2 consecutive complete school 
                years of such service; and
                    ``(C) a total of more than $10,000.
            ``(2) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
        construed to authorize the refunding of any repayment of a loan 
        made under this part or part D.
            ``(3) Interest.--If a portion of a loan is repaid by the 
        Secretary under this section for any year, the proportionate 
        amount of interest on such loan which accrues for such year 
        shall be repaid by the Secretary.
            ``(4) Double benefits prohibited.--No borrower may, for the 
        same service, receive a benefit under both this section and 
        subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act 
        of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.). No borrower may receive a 
        reduction of loan obligations under both this section and 
        section 428J or 460.
    ``(d) Repayment to Eligible Lenders.--The Secretary shall pay to 
each eligible lender or holder for each fiscal year an amount equal to 
the aggregate amount of loans which are subject to repayment pursuant 
to this section for such year.
    ``(e) Application for Repayment.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each eligible individual desiring loan 
        repayment under this section shall submit a complete and 
        accurate application to the Secretary at such time, in such 
        manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
        require.
            ``(2) Conditions.--An eligible individual may apply for 
        loan repayment under this section after completing the required 
        number of years of qualifying employment.
            ``(3) Fully qualified teachers.--An application for loan 
        repayment under this section shall include such information as 
        is necessary to demonstrate that the applicant--
                    ``(A) if teaching in a public elementary or 
                secondary school (other than as a teacher in a public 
                charter school), has obtained State certification as a 
                teacher (including certification obtained through 
                alternative routes to certification) or passed the 
                State teacher licensing exam and holds a license to 
                teach in such State; and
                    ``(B) if teaching in--
                            ``(i) an elementary school, holds a 
                        bachelor's degree and demonstrates knowledge 
                        and teaching skills in reading, writing, 
                        mathematics, science, and other areas of the 
                        elementary school curriculum; or
                            ``(ii) a middle or secondary school, holds 
                        a bachelor's degree and demonstrates a high 
                        level of competency in all subject areas in 
                        which he or she teaches through--
                                    ``(I) a high level of performance 
                                on a rigorous State or local academic 
                                subject areas test; or
                                    ``(II) completion of an academic 
                                major in each of the subject areas in 
                                which he or she provides instruction.
    ``(f) Evaluation.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct, by grant or 
        contract, an independent national evaluation of the impact of 
        the program assisted under this section.
            ``(2) Competitive basis.--The grant or contract described 
        in subsection (b) shall be awarded on a competitive basis.
            ``(3) Contents.--The evaluation described in this 
        subsection shall--
                    ``(A) determine the number of individuals who were 
                encouraged by the program assisted under this section 
                to pursue teaching careers;
                    ``(B) determine the number of individuals who 
                remain employed in teaching mathematics, science, or 
                related fields as a result of participation in the 
                program;
                    ``(C) identify the barriers to the effectiveness of 
                the program;
                    ``(D) assess the cost-effectiveness of the program; 
                and
                    ``(E) identify the number of years each individual 
                participates in the program.
            ``(4) Interim and final evaluation reports.--The Secretary 
        shall prepare and submit to the President and the Congress such 
        interim reports regarding the evaluation described in this 
        subsection as the Secretary deems appropriate, and shall 
        prepare and so submit a final report regarding the evaluation 
        by January 1, 2006''.

Answer: Educational Empowerment Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for qualified educational empowerment zone contributions. Allows the designation of up to 30 such zones. Bases designations on the degree of poverty.Establishes a teacher loan forgiveness program for mathematics and science teachers.


Question: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Commission of the Federal 
Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a National Commission of 
the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Commission is to examine the 
Federal preparedness, response, and recovery to the 2017 natural 
disasters in Puerto Rico, including the Federal Government's 
consideration of the following aspects:
            (1) Federal preparedness activities prior to Hurricanes 
        Irma and Maria, including Federal plans for the 2017 hurricane 
        season and decisionmaking regarding prepositioning contracts 
        and supplies.
            (2) Federal response activities during Hurricanes Irma and 
        Maria, including Federal coordination, distribution of 
        assistance, and contracting.
            (3) Federal recovery activities after Hurricanes Irma and 
        Maria, including Federal efforts to obtain accurate accounting 
        of the death toll, damage impacts, and long-term rebuilding 
        assistance for survivors.

SEC. 3. CONSIDERATIONS.

    To carry out its examination, the Commission shall take into 
consideration the Federal preparedness, response, and recovery efforts 
in Puerto Rico as compared to other jurisdictions that were impacted by 
the 2017 hurricane season, as well as the following issues:
            (1) The impact and destruction of Hurricane Irma, Hurricane 
        Maria, the resulting landslides, and flooding.
            (2) The adequacy of the death toll methodology and 
        processes, and whether previous death counts and mortality 
        estimates slowed or otherwise affected Federal response 
        efforts.
            (3) The Federal emergency and contingency plans in place 
        before the 2017 hurricane season.
            (4) The Federal preparedness guidelines issued ahead of the 
        2017 hurricane season.
            (5) The vulnerability of Puerto Rico's economic situation 
        on Federal preparedness.
            (6) The implications of Puerto Rico's reliance on imported 
        oil for power generation.
            (7) The adequacy of the telecommunications network in 
        Puerto Rico.
            (8) The capacity of the local government and Federal 
        Government to quickly mobilize and respond to disasters and 
        emergencies in Puerto Rico.
            (9) The impact of the uncertainty in long-term Federal 
        health care funding on medical and emergency readiness.
            (10) The implication of Puerto Rico's treatment under the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and its impact on readiness.
            (11) The adequacy of available data and its effects on the 
        Federal response.
            (12) The geographic, ecological, and infrastructure issues 
        that could have affected response efforts.
            (13) A comparison of response efforts in other United 
        States jurisdictions vis-a-vis efforts in Puerto Rico for the 
        2017 hurricane season.

SEC. 4. COMPOSITION AND COMPENSATION OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Members.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 members, of 
whom two shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, two shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the 
Senate, two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of 
Representatives, and two shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of 
the Senate.
    (b) Chair and Vice Chair.--The Commission, by majority vote, shall 
choose a Chair and Vice Chair.
    (c) Qualifications and Restrictions.--
            (1) In general.--Individuals shall be selected for 
        appointment on the Commission solely on the basis of their 
        professional qualifications, experience, and expertise in 
        relevant fields, including disaster response and emergency 
        preparedness.
            (2) Restrictions.--Individuals may not be an officer or 
        employee of the Federal Government or any State, or a current 
        elected official of the local government.
    (d) Appointment.--
            (1) In general.--All members of the Commission shall be 
        appointed not later than 30 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
            (2) Presidential authority.--The President shall have no 
        authority to terminate the appointment of any member of the 
        commission.
    (e) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its 
powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original 
appointment was made not later than 60 days after the date on which the 
vacancy occurs.
    (f) Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--Members of the Commission may be 
        compensated for travel expenses necessary to conduct the work 
        and services for the Commission.
            (2) Travel expenditures.--Members shall be allowed travel 
        expenditures, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the 
        same manner as persons employed intermittently in the 
        Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of 
        title 5, United States Code.
    (g) Staff.--
            (1) In general.--With a majority vote of the Commission, 
        members may recruit personnel to assist with the Commission's 
        work, including the creation of the report.
            (2) Personnel.--Any such personnel may include private 
        citizens, employees or detailees of the Federal Government, or 
        employees of the territorial government.

SEC. 5. FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Quorum.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date on 
        which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the 
        Commission shall meet and begin the operations of the 
        Commission.
            (2) Subsequent meetings.--Each subsequent meeting shall 
        occur upon the call of the Chair or a majority of its members.
            (3) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission 
        shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold 
        meetings.
    (b) Public Meetings.--The Commission shall host not less than 10 
public meetings in locations that are accessible to individuals of 
every municipality with elected officials, local community leaders, 
academic institutions, for-profit and non-for-profit organizations, and 
individuals in Puerto Rico to the extent appropriate.
    (c) Written Input.--The Commission shall allow participants both in 
Puerto Rico and the mainland to provide written input to be included in 
an appendix of the final report.
    (d) Hearings.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission may hold hearings, take 
        testimony, and receive evidence for its investigation.
            (2) Protection of information.--Any public hearings of the 
        Commission shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the 
        protection of information provided to or developed for or by 
        the Commission as required by any applicable statute, 
        regulation, or Executive order.
    (e) Subpoenas.--The Commission may issue subpoenas requiring the 
attendance and testimony of witnesses, and requiring the submission of 
data, books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, documents, 
electronic files, metadata, tapes, and materials of any nature relating 
to any matter under investigation.
    (f) Information From Agencies.--The Commission may secure directly 
from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, commission, 
office, independent establishment, or instrumentality of the 
Government, information, suggestions, estimates, and statistics.
    (g) GSA Services.--The Administrator of General Services shall 
provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis administrative 
support and other services for the performance of the Commission's 
functions.
    (h) Federal Assistance From Other Agencies.--Departments and 
agencies of the United States may provide to the Commission such 
services, funds, facilities, staff, and other support services as they 
may determine advisable and as may be authorized by law.
    (i) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
departments and agencies of the United States.

SEC. 6. REPORTS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President and 
Congress a final report on the causes and circumstances surrounding the 
natural disasters in Puerto Rico, including preparedness and immediate 
response, and providing recommendations to guard against future natural 
disasters outside of the continental United States, which shall contain 
findings, conclusions, and recommendations as have been agreed to by a 
majority of Commission members and shall--
            (1) be made available to the public in the English and 
        Spanish languages;
            (2) include findings for the issues described in section 2; 
        and
            (3) include--
                    (A) the number and nature of complaints filed to 
                the Inspectors General for Federal agencies responsible 
                in the aftermath of the 2017 natural disasters;
                    (B) details on Federal procurement and acquisition 
                practices in the aftermath of the 2017 natural 
                disasters;
                    (C) details on disaster mitigation protocols given 
                cultural and language differences; and
                    (D) disaster response processes taking into account 
                demographics (age, race, gender, income) and the impact 
                on segments of the population with disabilities.
    (b) Appendix.--An appendix to the final report shall include 
written input of participants in Puerto Rico and the mainland.
    (c) Interim Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall provide to Congress an 
interim report.

SEC. 7. SUNSET.

    The Commission shall terminate on the day that is 90 days after the 
date on which the final report is submitted.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 to carry out this 
Act, to remain available until expended.

Answer: National Commission of the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico Act of 2018 This bill establishes a National Commission of the Federal Response to Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico to examine the federal preparedness, response, and recovery to the 2017 natural disasters in Puerto Rico. The commission shall take into consideration the federal preparedness, response, and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico as compared to other jurisdictions impacted by the 2017 hurricane season, and consider other issues, including the impact and destruction of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the vulnerability of Puerto Rico's economic situation on preparedness, the implications of Puerto Rico's reliance on imported oil for power generation, and the adequacy of the telecommunications network in Puerto Rico.


Question: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

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

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

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

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

SEC. 4. HEALTH CARE SUPPORT.

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

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

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

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

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

SEC. 7. NATIONAL PARENT LOCATOR NETWORK.

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

                                 

HR 2396 IH----2

Answer:

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