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 ''Depressed Smaller Cities Improvement
Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON DEPRESSED SMALLER CITIES.

(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established an interagency task
force to be known as the Interagency Task Force on Depressed Smaller
Cities (in this Act referred to as the ''Task Force'').
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Task Force shall be composed of 9
members as follows:
(A) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development,
or the Secretary's delegate.
(B) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, or
the Secretary's delegate.
(C) The Attorney General of the United States, or
the Attorney General's delegate.
(D) The Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary's
delegate.
(E) 5 members appointed by the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, not later than the expiration of
the 6-month period beginning on the date of the
enactment of this Act, who shall be public officials of
depressed smaller cities.
(2) Geographical diversity.--No 2 members appointed under
paragraph (1)(E) may be residents of the same State.
(c) Terms.--Members of the Task Force shall be appointed for the
life of the Task Force. Any vacancy in the Task Force shall be filled
in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(d) Chairperson.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
shall be the chairperson of the Task Force.
(e) Prohibition of Compensation.--Members of the Task Force shall
not receive pay or other compensation on account of their service on
the Task Force.
(f) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Task Force shall receive
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE.

(a) Study.--The Task Force shall carry out a study of the problems
affecting depressed smaller cities, including problems involving crime,
the environment, housing, labor and unemployment, education, health,
and poverty. The study shall examine and analyze Federal, State, and
local programs to alleviate such problems, the coordination or lack of
coordination among such programs, and the effectiveness and efficiency
of such programs, and shall determine the proper scope and extent of
Federal assistance and programs to reduce the problems affecting such
cities. In conducting the study, the Task Force shall consult with
officials of local governments to obtain and provide advice regarding
measures that may be implemented before the completion of the study to
alleviate such problems and to coordinate the ongoing efforts of the
local governments with the various Federal agencies.
(b) Reports.--
(1) Annual reports.--
(A) In general.--The Task Force shall submit a
report to the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the
Senate, not less than annually until the termination of
the Task Force under section 5.
(B) Contents.--Each report shall describe the
activities of the Task Force during the previous year
in conducting the study under subsection (a) and the
findings and determinations of the Task Force resulting
from the study. Each report shall also--
(i) identify the most pervasive problems
affecting depressed smaller cities and the
extent of such problems;
(ii) describe any efforts to alleviate such
problems that the Task Force considers to have
been effective and efficient;
(iii) identify the immediate and long-term
needs of such cities in alleviating such
problems;
(iv) identify any existing Federal programs
that may be useful to such cities in
alleviating such problems;
(v) include an agenda of actions to be
taken to alleviate such problems, which
describes the priorities of such actions; and
(vi) include recommendations of the Task
Force for actions and legislation by the
Federal Government to assist State and local
governments to alleviate the problems affecting
depressed smaller cities.
(2) Final report.--Not later than the termination of the
Task Force under section 5, the Task Force shall submit to the
Committees referred to in paragraph (1)(A) a final report
describing the study conducted by the Task Force, the
activities of the Task Force, and the findings, conclusions,
and recommendations of the Task Force upon the completion of
the study.
(c) Meetings.--To carry out the study under subsection (a) and
prepare the reports under subsection (b), the Task Force shall meet not
less than quarterly in each year.

SEC. 4. IDENTIFICATION OF DEPRESSED SMALLER CITIES.

For purposes of this Act, the term ''depressed smaller city'' means
any unit of general local government that, as determined by the Task
Force for the most recent 12-month period for which statistics are
available, is classified as a municipality by the United States Bureau
of the Census, has a population of less than 50,000 and more than
5,000, and meets any 3 of the following 5 criteria:
(1) Unemployment.--The total rate of unemployment for the
unit of general local government (as determined by appropriate
available data) is 12 percent or more.
(2) Crime rate.--For the unit of general local government,
the ratio of the aggregate number of violent crimes in the unit
(according to statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation) to the population of the unit, is 5 percent or
greater.
(3) Lack of municipal health facilities.--The unit of
general local government does not own or operate any municipal
health facilities.
(4) Income level.--The median annual household income for
households residing in the unit of general local government (as
determined by the Bureau of the Census of the Department of
Commerce) does not exceed $15,000.
(5) Environmental problems.--The unit of general local
government has substantial environmental problems resulting
from industrial activities, as determined by the Task Force.

SEC. 5. TERMINATION.

The Commission shall terminate upon the expiration of the 3-year
period beginning on the date of the appointment of the entire
membership of the Task Force under section 2(b).

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act
$750,000, which shall be available during fiscal years 1995, 1996, and
1997.
Example Output: Depressed Smaller Cities Improvement Act of 1993 - Establishes the Interagency Task Force on Depressed Smaller Cities to study problems affecting depressed smaller cities and to determine the proper scope and extent of Federal assistance and programs to reduce the problems affecting such cities.
Authorizes appropriations.

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

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

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

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

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

SEC. 4. HEALTH CARE SUPPORT.

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

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

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

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

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

SEC. 7. NATIONAL PARENT LOCATOR NETWORK.

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

HR 2396 IH----2
Example Output: Child Support Enforcement Improvements Act of 1993 - Makes depository institutions not liable under any Federal or State law to any person for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency attempting to establish, modify, or enforce a child support obligation of such individual. Prohibits such an agency from disclosing such a record for any other purpose and provides for civil damages for unauthorized disclosures.
Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to permit credit reporting agencies to grant access to certain consumer reports to a State child support enforcement agency that is seeking to establish, modify, or enforce a child support obligation against the consumer.
Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to: (1) require State laws to provide for the use of procedures requiring child support orders to provide for coverage of the health care costs of the child in accordance with State guidelines; (2) include under the incentive payments program any dependent medical insurance coverage which is provided due to the successful application of such procedures; (3) direct HHS' Office of Child Support Enforcement to report to the Congress annually on State compliance with specified standards establishing time limits for State response to certain child support assistance requests; (4) require States to assess a penalty against any employer who fails to make timely payment of withheld wages to pay child support obligations of an employee; and (5) direct the Office to develop a national parent locator network which would build on comprehensive statewide child support enforcement systems to allow States to carry out specified parent locator activities.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study and report to specified congressional committees on how the successful efforts of States in enforcing obligations of absent parents to pay (and obtain medical insurance coverage with respect to) the health and dental expenses of their children should be rewarded through an incentive payments program.

Example Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation
Act Amendments of 1997''.

SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION AND AMENDMENT OF ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS
CONSERVATION ACT.

The Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 1851 note) is
amended to read as follows:

''SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

''This Act may be cited as the 'Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation
Act'.

''SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

''(a) Findings.--The Congress finds and declares the following:
''(1) Atlantic striped bass are of historic commercial and
recreational importance and economic benefit to the Atlantic
coastal States and to the Nation.
''(2) No single government entity has full management authority
throughout the range of the Atlantic striped bass.
''(3) The population of Atlantic striped bass--
''(A) has been subject to large fluctuations due to natural
causes, fishing pressure, environmental pollution, loss and
alteration of habitat, inadequacy of fisheries conservation and
management practices, and other causes; and
''(B) risks potential depletion in the future without
effective monitoring and conservation and management measures.
''(4) It is in the national interest to implement effective
procedures and measures to provide for effective
interjurisdictional conservation and management of this species.
''(b) Purpose.--It is therefore declared to be the purpose of the
Congress in this Act to support and encourage the development,
implementation, and enforcement of effective interstate action
regarding the conservation and management of the Atlantic striped bass.

''SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

''As used in this Act--
''(1) the term 'Magnuson Act' means the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
''(2) The term 'Atlantic striped bass' means members of stocks
or populations of the species Morone saxatilis, which ordinarily
migrate seaward of the waters described in paragraph (3)(A)(i).
''(3) The term 'coastal waters' means--
''(A) for each coastal State referred to in paragraph
(4)(A)--
''(i) all waters, whether salt or fresh, of the coastal
State shoreward of the baseline from which the territorial
sea of the United States is measured; and
''(ii) the waters of the coastal State seaward from the
baseline referred to in clause (i) to the inner boundary of
the exclusive economic zone;
''(B) for the District of Columbia, those waters within its
jurisdiction; and
''(C) for the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, those
waters of the Potomac River within the boundaries established
by the Potomac River Compact of 1958.
''(4) The term 'coastal State' means--
''(A) Pennsylvania and each State of the United States
bordering on the Atlantic Ocean north of the State of South
Carolina;
''(B) the District of Columbia; and
''(C) the Potomac River Fisheries Commission established by
the Potomac River Compact of 1958.
''(5) The term 'Commission' means the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission established under the interstate compact
consented to and approved by the Congress in Public Laws 77-539 and
81-721.
''(6) The term 'exclusive economic zone' has the meaning given
such term in section 3(6) of the Magnuson Act (16 U.S.C. 1802(6)).
''(7) The term 'fishing' means--
''(A) the catching, taking, or harvesting of Atlantic
striped bass, except when incidental to harvesting that occurs
in the course of commercial or recreational fish catching
activities directed at a species other than Atlantic striped
bass;
''(B) the attempted catching, taking, or harvesting of
Atlantic striped bass; and
''(C) any operation at sea in support of, or in preparation
for, any activity described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
The term does not include any scientific research authorized by the
Federal Government or by any State government.
''(8) The term 'moratorium area' means the coastal waters with
respect to which a declaration under section 5(a) applies.
''(9) The term 'moratorium period' means the period beginning
on the day on which moratorium is declared under section 5(a)
regarding a coastal State and ending on the day on which the
Commission notifies the Secretaries that that State has taken
appropriate remedial action with respect to those matters that were
the case of the moratorium being declared.
''(10) The term 'Plan' means a plan for managing Atlantic
striped bass, or an amendment to such plan, that is prepared and
adopted by the Commission.
''(11) The term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of Commerce or
a designee of the Secretary of Commerce.
''(12) The term 'Secretaries' means the Secretary of Commerce
and the Secretary of the Interior or their designees.

''SEC. 4. MONITORING OF IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT BY COASTAL
STATES.

''(a) Determination.--During December of each fiscal year, and at
any other time it deems necessary the Commission shall determine--
''(1) whether each coastal State has adopted all regulatory
measures necessary to fully implement the Plan in its coastal
waters; and
''(2) whether the enforcement of the Plan by each coastal State
is satisfactory.
''(b) Satisfactory State Enforcement.--For purposes of subsection
(a)(2), enforcement by a coastal State shall not be considered
satisfactory by the Commission if, in its view, the enforcement is
being carried out in such a manner that the implementation of the Plan
within the coastal waters of the State is being, or will likely be,
substantially and adversely affected.
''(c) Notification of Secretaries.--The Commission shall
immediately notify the Secretaries of each negative determination made
by it under subsection (a).

''SEC. 5. MORATORIUM.

''(a) Secretarial Action After Notification.--Upon receiving notice
from the Commission under section 4(c) of a negative determination
regarding a coastal State, the Secretaries shall determine jointly,
within 30 days, whether that coastal State is in compliance with the
Plan and, if the State is not in compliance, the Secretaries shall
declare jointly a moratorium on fishing for Atlantic striped bass
within the coastal waters of that coastal State. In making such a
determination, the Secretaries shall carefully consider and review the
comments of the Commission and that coastal State in question.
''(b) Prohibited Acts During Moratorium.--During a moratorium
period, it is unlawful for any person--
''(1) to engage in fishing within the moratorium area;
''(2) to land, or attempt to land, Atlantic striped bass that
are caught, taken, or harvested in violation of paragraph (1);
''(3) to land lawfully harvested Atlantic striped bass within
the boundaries of a coastal State when a moratorium declared under
subsection (a) applies to that State; or
''(4) to fail to return to the water Atlantic striped bass to
which the moratorium applies that are caught incidental to
harvesting that occurs in the course of commercial or recreational
fish catching activities, regardless of the physical condition of
the striped bass when caught.
''(c) Civil Penalties.--
''(1) Civil penalty.--Any person who commits any act that is
unlawful under subsection (b) shall be liable to the United States
for a civil penalty as provided by section 308 of the Magnuson Act
(16 U.S.C. 1858).
''(2) Civil forfeitures.--
''(A) In general.--Any vessel (including its gear,
equipment, appurtenances, stores, and cargo) used, and any fish
(or the fair market value thereof) taken or retained, in any
manner, in connection with, or as the result of, the commission
of any act that is unlawful under subsection (b) shall be
subject to forfeiture to the United States as provided in
section 310 of the Magnuson Act (16 U.S.C. 1860).
''(B) Disposal of fish.--Any fish seized pursuant to this
Act may be disposed of pursuant to the order of a court of
competent jurisdiction, or, if perishable, in a manner
prescribed in regulations.
''(d) Enforcement.--A person authorized by the Secretaries or the
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may
take any action to enforce a moratorium declared under subsection (a)
that an officer authorized by the Secretary under section 311(b) of the
Magnuson Act (16 U.S.C. 1861(b)) may take to enforce that Act (16
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). The Secretaries may, by agreement, on a
reimbursable basis or otherwise, utilize the personnel, services,
equipment (including aircraft and vessels), and facilities of any other
Federal department or agency and of any agency of a State in carrying
out that enforcement.
''(e) Regulations.--The Secretaries may issue regulations to
implement this section.

''SEC. 6. CONTINUING STUDIES OF STRIPED BASS POPULATIONS.

''(a) In General.--For the purposes of carrying out this Act, the
Secretaries shall conduct continuing, comprehensive studies of Atlantic
striped bass stocks. These studies shall include, but shall not be
limited to, the following:
''(1) Annual stock assessments, using fishery-dependent and
fishery-independent data, for the purposes of extending the long-
term population record generated by the annual striped bass study
conducted by the Secretaries before 1994 and understanding the
population dynamics of Atlantic striped bass.
''(2) Investigations of the causes of fluctuations in Atlantic
striped bass populations.
''(3) Investigations of the effects of water quality, land use,
and other environmental factors on the recruitment, spawning
potential, mortality, and abundance of Atlantic striped bass
populations, including the Delaware River population.
''(4) Investigations of--
''(A) the interactions between Atlantic striped bass and
other fish, including bluefish, menhaden, mackerel, and other
forage fish or possible competitors, stock assessments of these
species, to the extent appropriate; and
''(B) the effects of interspecies predation and competition
on the recruitment, spawning potential mortality, and abundance
of Atlantic striped bass.
''(b) Socio-Economic Study.--The Secretaries, in consultation with
with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, shall conduct a
study of the socio-economic benefits of the Atlantic striped bass
resource. The Secretaries shall issue a report to the Congress
concerning the findings of this study no later than September 30, 1998.
''(c) Reports.--The Secretaries shall make biennial reports to the
Congress and to the Commission concerning the progress and findings of
studies conducted under subsection (a) and shall make those reports
public. Such reports shall, to the extent appropriate, contain
recommendations of actions which could be taken to encourage the
sustainable management of Atlantic striped bass.

''SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.

''(a) Authorization.--For each of fiscal years 1998, 1999, and
2000, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--
''(1) $800,000 to the Secretary of Commerce; and
''(2) $250,000 to the Secretary of the Interior.
''(b) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretaries may enter into
cooperative agreements with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission or with States, for the purpose of using amounts
appropriated pursuant to this section to provide financial assistance
for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

''SEC. 8. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PREPARATION OF MANAGEMENT PLANS AND
AMENDMENTS.

''(a) Standards and Procedures.--In order to ensure the opportunity
for public participation in the preparation of management plans and
amendments to management plans for Atlantic striped bass, the
Commission shall prepare such plans and amendments in accordance with
the standards and procedures established under section 805(a)(2) of the
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act.
''(b) Application.--Subsection (a) shall apply to management plans
and amendments adopted by the Commission after the 6-month period
beginning on the date of enactment of the Atlantic Striped Bass
Conservation Act Amendments of 1997.

''SEC. 9. PROTECTION OF STRIPED BASS IN THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE.

''(a) Regulation of Fishing in Exclusive Economic Zone.--The
Secretary shall promulgate regulations governing fishing for Atlantic
striped bass in the exclusive economic zone that the Secretary
determines--
''(1) are consistent with the national standards set forth in
section 301 of the Magnuson Act (16 U.S.C. 1851);
''(2) are compatible with the Plan and each Federal moratorium
in effect on fishing for Atlantic striped bass within the coastal
waters of a coastal State;
''(3) ensure the effectiveness of State regulations on fishing
for Atlantic striped bass within the coastal waters of a coastal
State; and
''(4) are sufficient to assure the long-term conservation of
Atlantic striped bass populations.
''(b) Consultation; Periodic Review of Regulations.--In preparing
regulations under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, the appropriate Regional
Fishery Management Councils, and each affected Federal, State, and
local government entity. The Secretary shall periodically review
regulations promulgated under subsection (a), and if necessary to
ensure their continued consistency with the requirements of subsection
(a), shall amend those regulations.
''(c) Applicability of Magnuson Act Provisions.--The provisions of
sections 307, 308, 309, 310, and 311 of the Magnuson Act (16 U.S.C.
1857, 1858, 1859, 1860, and 1861) regarding prohibited acts, civil
penalties, criminal offenses, civil forfeitures, and enforcement shall
apply with respect to regulations and any plan issued under subsection
(a) of this section as if such regulations or plan were issued under
the Magnuson Act.''.

SEC. 3. REPEALS.

(a) Anadromous Fish Conservation Act.--Section 7 of the Anadromous
Fish Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 757g) is repealed.
(b) Albemarle Sound-Roanoke River Basin.--Section 5 of the Act
entitled ''An Act to authorize appropriations to carry out the Atlantic
Striped Bass Conservation Act for fiscal years 1989 through 1991, and
for other purposes'', approved November 3, 1988 (16 U.S.C. 1851 note;
102 Stat. 2984), relating to studies of the Albermarle Sound-Roanoke
River Basin striped bass stock, is repealed.
(c) Regulation of Fishing in Exclusive Economic Zone.--Section 6 of
the Act entitled ''An Act to authorize appropriations to carry out the
Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act for fiscal years 1989 through
1991, and for other purposes'', approved November 3, 1988 (16 U.S.C.
1851 note; 102 Stat. 2986) is repealed.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.
Example Output:
Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act Amendments of 1997 - Amends the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act to replace the existing Act with provisions requiring a moratorium on fishing for Atlantic striped bass in the coastal waters of a State that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior determine is not complying with the Commission's plan for managing Atlantic striped bass. Provides for civil penalties and forfeiture of vessels, gear, and fish for violations of the moratorium. Mandates continuing, comprehensive studies of Atlantic striped bass stocks and a study of the socio-economic benefits of the Atlantic striped bass resource. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the Act. Authorizes cooperative agreements between the Secretaries and the Commission or States to use amounts appropriated under the Act. Requires the Commission to prepare such management plans in accordance with standards and procedures of the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act relating to the preparation of coastal fishery management plans. Mandates regulations governing fishing for Atlantic striped bass in the Exclusive Economic Zone that are consistent with the national standards in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, ensure the effectiveness of State regulations on fishing for Atlantic striped bass in the coastal waters of a coastal State, and meet other requirements. Applies provisions of that Act regarding prohibited acts, civil penalties, criminal offenses, civil forfeitures, and enforcement concerning regulations and any plan issued under this paragraph. Repeals provisions of the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act relating to studies of the anadromous stocks of Atlantic striped bass. Repeals provisions of Federal law relating to a study of the striped bass fishery resources and habitats of the Albemarle Sound-Roanoke River basin area. Repeals provisions of Federal law relating to regulations governing the fishing for Atlantic striped bass in the Exclusive Economic Zone.