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

[Q]: SECTION 1. BAN ON DISCLOSURE OF MEDICAL QUALITY ASSURANCE INFORMATION.

Subsection (a) of section 5705 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by inserting ''(1)'' after ''(a)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
''(2)(A) Except as provided in subsection (b), no part of any
medical quality assurance record or document described in subsection
(a)(1) may be subject to discovery or admitted into evidence in any
judicial or administrative proceeding.
''(B) An individual who reviews or creates medical quality
assurance records or documents for the Department or who participates
in any proceeding that reviews or creates such records or documents may
not be permitted or required to testify in any judicial or
administrative proceeding with respect to such records or documents or
with respect to any finding, recommendation, evaluation, opinion, or
action taken by such person in connection with such records or
documents except as provided in this section.''.

SEC. 2. DISCLOSURE AUTHORITY.

(a) Clarification of Coverage.--Subsection (b)(1) of section 5705
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking out ''or
document'' in the matter above subparagraph (A) and inserting in lieu
thereof '', document, or testimony''.
(b) Disclosure for Professional Use.--Such subsection is further
amended by adding at the end the following:
''(E) In an administrative or judicial proceeding commenced
by a criminal or civil law enforcement agency or
instrumentality referred to in subparagraph (C), but only
concerning the subject of such proceeding.
''(F) To a governmental board or agency or to a
professional health care society or organization, if such
record or document is needed by the board, agency, society, or
organization to issue a professional license or credential to
or to monitor the compliance with professional standards of any
health care provider who is or was an employee of the
Department.
''(G) To a hospital, medical center, or other institution
that provides health care services, if such record or document
is needed by the institution to assess the professional
qualifications of any health care provider who is or was an
employee of the Department and who has applied for or been
granted authority or employment to provide health care services
in or on behalf of such institution.
''(H) To an administrative or judicial proceeding commenced
by a present or former Department health care provider
concerning the termination, suspension or limitation of the
clinical privileges of such health care provider, or concerning
any adverse action involving such health care provider, but
only to the extent that such records or documents relate to the
clinical conduct or performance of the individual who has
commenced the action.''.
(c) Removal of Identities.--Subsection (b)(2) of such section is
amended by striking out ''if disclosure'' and all that follows through
''personal privacy'' and inserting in lieu thereof ''subparagraphs
(1)(A) and (1)(B) of this subsection''.

SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON DISCLOSURE.

Paragraph (3) of section 5705(b) of title 38, United States Code,
is amended to read as follows:
''(3) A person or entity having possession of, or access to,
information, records, or documents, or testimony relating thereto, that
is subject to the provisions of this section may not disclose such
information, records, or documents, or any testimony relating thereto,
in any manner or for any purpose except for a purpose as provided in
this subsection. No person or entity to whom a record or document has
been disclosed under this subsection shall make further disclosure of
such record or document except for a purpose provided in this
subsection.''.

SEC. 4. ACCESS TO RECORDS.

Subsection (b) of section 5705 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
''(7) Medical quality assurance records and documents described in
subsection (a) which are subject to section 552a of title 5 may not be
disclosed in accordance with that section except to the extent that
such disclosure is also authorized under this section.
''(8) Medical quality assurance records or documents described in
subsection (a) which are also subject to section 552a of title 5--
''(A) shall not be subject to the access provisions of such
section 552a to the extent that such access would reveal the
identities of participants in the quality assurance process
which generated the records or documents; and
''(B) are not subject to the amendment provisions of such
section 552a.
''(9) Medical quality assurance records and documents described in
subsection (a) may not be made available to any person under section
552 of title 5.''.

SEC. 5. REGULATIONS.

Subsection (d)(2) of section 5705 of title 38, United States Code,
is amended by striking out ''specified in'' and inserting in lieu
thereof ''accomplished in accordance with''.
[A]: Prohibits Department of Veterans Affairs medical quality assurance records from being subject to discovery or admitted into evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding. Prohibits an individual who participates in the production of such records from being required to testify at such a proceeding.
Allows testimony concerning such records (currently, only the records or documents themselves) to be disclosed to Federal agencies for certain limited purposes (licensing, accreditation). Specifies additional uses for which such information may be disclosed.
Includes information and testimony related to such records within certain disclosure limitation provisions.
Prohibits the disclosure of such records by the Department as public information to the extent that such disclosure would reveal the identities of the participants in the quality assurance process which generated the records or documents.

[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Government Accountability Office
Improvement Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO OBTAIN RECORDS.

(a) Authority To Obtain Records.--Section 716 of title 31, United
States Code, is amended in subsection (a)--
(1) by striking ''(a)'' and inserting ''(2)''; and
(2) by inserting after the section heading the following:
''(a)(1) The Comptroller General is authorized to obtain such
agency records as the Comptroller General requires to discharge his
duties (including audit, evaluation, and investigative duties),
including through the bringing of civil actions under this section. In
reviewing a civil action under this section, the court shall recognize
the continuing force and effect of the authorization in the preceding
sentence until such time as the authorization is repealed pursuant to
law.''.
(b) Interviews.--Section 716(a) of title 31, United States Code, as
amended by subsection (a), is further amended in the second sentence of
paragraph (2) by inserting ''and interview agency officers and
employees'' after ''agency record''.

SEC. 3. ADMINISTERING OATHS.

Section 711 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking
paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
''(4) administer oaths to witnesses, except that, in
matters other than auditing and settling accounts, the
authority of an officer or employee to administer oaths to
witnesses pursuant to a delegation under paragraph (2) shall
not be available without the prior express approval of the
Comptroller General (or a designee).''.

SEC. 4. ACCESS TO CERTAIN INFORMATION.

(a) Access to Certain Information.--Subchapter II of chapter 7 of
title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
''Sec. 721. Access to certain information
''(a) No provision of the Social Security Act shall be construed to
limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to
obtain any information, to inspect any record, or to interview any
officer or employee under section 716 of this title, including with
respect to any information disclosed to or obtained by the Secretary of
Health and Human Services under part C or D of title XVIII of the
Social Security Act.
''(b) No provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the
Comptroller General to obtain any information, to inspect any record,
or to interview any officer or employee under section 716 of this
title, including with respect to any information concerning any method
or process which as a trade secret is entitled to protection.
''(c) No provision of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements
Act of 1976 and the amendments made by that Act shall be construed to
limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to
obtain any information, to inspect any record, or to interview any
officer or employee under section 716 of this title, including with
respect to any information disclosed to the Assistant Attorney General
of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice or the Federal
Trade Commission for purposes of pre-merger review under section 7A of
the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18a).
''(d)(1) The Comptroller General shall prescribe such policies and
procedures as are necessary to protect from public disclosure
proprietary or trade secret information obtained consistent with this
section.
''(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed--
''(A) to alter or amend the prohibitions against the
disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information
prohibited by section 1905 of title 18 and other applicable
laws; or
''(B) to affect the applicability of section 716(e) of this
title, including the protections against unauthorized
disclosure contained in that section, to information obtained
consistent with this section.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 7 of title 31,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 720 the following:

''721. Access to certain information.''.

SEC. 5. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORTS.

Section 719 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(B), by striking ''and'' at the
end;
(2) in subsection (b)(1)(C), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ''; and'';
(3) by adding at the end of subsection (b)(1) the
following:
''(D) for agencies subject to sections 901 to 903 and other
agencies designated by the Comptroller General, an assessment
of their overall degree of cooperation in making personnel
available for interview, providing written answers to
questions, submitting to an oath authorized by the Comptroller
General under section 711, granting access to records,
providing timely comments to draft reports, adopting
recommendations in reports and responding to such other matters
as the Comptroller General deems appropriate.'';
(4) in subsection (c)(2)(B), by striking ''and'' at the
end;
(5) in subsection (c)(3), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ''; and'', and
(6) by adding at the end of subsection (c) the following:
''(4) as soon as practicable when an agency does not,
within a reasonable time, respond to a request by the
Comptroller General regarding any matter described in
subsection (b)(1)(D).''.

Passed the House of Representatives July 29, 2008.

Attest:

LORRAINE C. MILLER,

Clerk.
[A]: Government Accountability Office Improvement Act of 2008 - Authorizes the Comptroller General to: (1) obtain federal agency records required to discharge his or her duties, including through bringing civil actions under this Act; (2) interview agency officers and employees to get information about agency duties, powers, activities, organization, and financial transactions; and (3) administer oaths to witnesses (currently, the Comptroller General may administer oaths to witnesses when auditing and settling accounts).

Requires the Comptroller General to prescribe such policies and procedures as are necessary to protect from public disclosure proprietary or trade secret information obtained under this Act.

Declares that no provision of the Social Security Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 shall be construed to limit, amend, or supersede the authority of the Comptroller General to obtain information, inspect records, or interview specified agency officers or employees, including with respect to: (1) information disclosed to or obtained by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the Social Security Act; (2) information concerning any method or process protected as a trade secret; and (3) information disclosed to the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for purposes of pre-merger review under the Clayton Act. Declares that this Act shall not be construed to: (1) alter or amend the prohibitions against the disclosure of trade secret or other sensitive information; and (2) affect the applicability of requirements governing the availability of agency information to information obtained.

Requires the Comptroller General to: (1) report annually on the cooperation of agencies subject to the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 and other agencies designated by the Comptroller General in making personnel available for interviews, providing written answers to questions, submitting to an oath authorized by the Comptroller General, granting access to records, providing timely comments to draft reports, adopting report recommendations, and responding to such matters as the Comptroller General deems appropriate; and (2) report to Congress when agencies do not respond to requests regarding such matters.

[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS; PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ''Academic
Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act'' or the ''A PLUS Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; purpose; definitions.
Sec. 2. Declaration of intent.
Sec. 3. Transparency for results of public education.
Sec. 4. Maintenance of funding levels spent by States on education.
Sec. 5. Administrative expenses.
Sec. 6. Equitable participation of private schools.
(c) Purpose.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:
(1) To give States and local communities maximum
flexibility to determine how to improve academic achievement
and implement education reforms.
(2) To reduce the administrative costs and compliance
burden of Federal education programs in order to focus Federal
resources on improving academic achievement.
(3) To ensure that States and communities are accountable
to the public for advancing the academic achievement of all
students, especially disadvantaged children.
(d) Definitions.--
(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided, the terms
used in this Act have the meanings given the terms in section
9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7801 et seq.).
(2) Other terms.--In this Act:
(A) Accountability.--The term ''accountability''
means that public schools are answerable to parents and
other taxpayers for the use of public funds and shall
report student progress to parents and taxpayers
regularly.
(B) Declaration of intent.--The term ''declaration
of intent'' means a decision by a State, as determined
by State Authorizing Officials or by referendum, to
assume full management responsibility for the
expenditure of Federal funds for certain eligible
programs for the purpose of advancing, on a more
comprehensive and effective basis, the educational
policy of such State.
(C) State.--The term ''State'' has the meaning
given such term in section 1122(e) of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
6332(e)).
(D) State authorizing officials.--The term ''State
Authorizing Officials'' means the State officials who
shall authorize the submission of a declaration of
intent, and any amendments thereto, on behalf of the
State. Such officials shall include not less than 2 of
the following:
(i) The governor of the State.
(ii) The highest elected education official
of the State, if any.
(iii) The legislature of the State.
(E) State designated officer.--The term ''State
Designated Officer'' means the person designated by the
State Authorizing Officials to submit to the Secretary,
on behalf of the State, a declaration of intent, and
any amendments thereto, and to function as the point-
of-contact for the State for the Secretary and others
relating to any responsibilities arising under this
Act.

SEC. 2. DECLARATION OF INTENT.

(a) In General.--Each State is authorized to submit to the
Secretary a declaration of intent permitting the State to receive
Federal funds on a consolidated basis to manage the expenditure of such
funds to advance the educational policy of the State.
(b) Programs Eligible for Consolidation and Permissible Use of
Funds.--
(1) Scope.--A State may choose to include within the scope
of the State's declaration of intent any program for which
Congress makes funds available to the State if the program is
for a purpose described in the Elementary and Education
Secondary Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301). A State may not include
any program funded pursuant to the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.).
(2) Uses of funds.--Funds made available to a State
pursuant to a declaration of intent under this Act shall be
used for any educational purpose permitted by State law of the
State submitting a declaration of intent.
(c) Contents of Declaration.--Each declaration of intent shall
contain--
(1) a list of eligible programs that are subject to the
declaration of intent;
(2) an assurance that the submission of the declaration of
intent has been authorized by the State Authorizing Officials,
specifying the identity of the State Designated Officer;
(3) the duration of the declaration of intent;
(4) an assurance that the State will use fiscal control and
fund accounting procedures;
(5) an assurance that the State will meet the requirements
of applicable Federal civil rights laws in carrying out the
declaration of intent and in consolidating and using the funds
under the declaration of intent;
(6) an assurance that in implementing the declaration of
intent the State will seek to advance educational opportunities
for the disadvantaged; and
(7) a description of the plan for maintaining direct
accountability to parents and other citizens of the State.
(d) Duration.--The duration of the declaration of intent shall not
exceed 5 years.
(e) Review and Recognition by the Secretary.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall review the declaration
of intent received from the State Designated Officer not more
than 60 days after the date of receipt of such declaration, and
shall recognize such declaration of intent unless the
declaration of intent fails to meet the requirements under
subsection (c).
(2) Recognition by operation of law.--If the Secretary
fails to take action within the time specified in paragraph
(1), the declaration of intent, as submitted, shall be deemed
to be approved.
(f) Amendment to Declaration of Intent.--
(1) In general.--The State Authorizing Officials may direct
the State Designated Officer to submit amendments to a
declaration of intent that is in effect. Such amendments shall
be submitted to the Secretary and considered by the Secretary
in accordance with subsection (e).
(2) Amendments authorized.--A declaration of intent that is
in effect may be amended to--
(A) expand the scope of such declaration of intent
to encompass additional eligible programs;
(B) reduce the scope of such declaration of intent
by excluding coverage of a Federal program included in
the original declaration of intent;
(C) modify the duration of such declaration of
intent; or
(D) such other modifications that the State
Authorizing Officials deem appropriate.
(3) Effective date.--The amendment shall specify an
effective date. Such effective date shall provide adequate time
to assure full compliance with Federal program requirements
relating to an eligible program that has been removed from the
coverage of the declaration of intent by the proposed
amendment.
(4) Treatment of program funds withdrawn from declaration
of intent.--Beginning on the effective date of an amendment
executed under paragraph (2)(B), each program requirement of
each program removed from the declaration of intent shall apply
to the State's use of funds made available under the program.

SEC. 3. TRANSPARENCY FOR RESULTS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

(a) In General.--
(1) Informing the public about assessment and
proficiency.--Each State operating under a declaration of
intent under this Act shall inform parents and the general
public regarding the student achievement assessment system,
demonstrating student progress relative to the State's
determination of student proficiency, as described in paragraph
(2), for the purpose of accountability.
(2) Assessment and standards.--Each State operating under a
declaration of intent under this Act shall establish and
implement a single system of academic standards and academic
assessments, including the development of student proficiency
goals. Such State may apply the academic assessments and
standards described under section 1111 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311) or establish
and implement different academic assessments and standards.
(b) Accountability System.--The State shall determine and establish
an accountability system to ensure accountability under this Act.
(c) Report on Student Progress.--Not later than 1 year after the
effective date of the declaration of intent, and annually thereafter, a
State shall disseminate widely to parents and the general public a
report that describes student progress. The report shall include--
(1) student performance data disaggregated in the same
manner as data are disaggregated under section
1111(b)(3)(C)(xiii) of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3)(C)(xiii)); and
(2) a description of how the State has used Federal funds
to improve academic achievement, reduce achievement disparities
between various student groups, and improve educational
opportunities for the disadvantaged.

SEC. 4. MAINTENANCE OF FUNDING LEVELS SPENT BY STATES ON EDUCATION.

(a) In General.--For each State consolidating and using funds
pursuant to a declaration of intent under this Act, for each school
year of the declaration of intent, the aggregate amount of funds spent
by the State on elementary and secondary education shall be not less
than 90 percent of the aggregate amount of funds spent by the State on
elementary and secondary education for the school year that coincides
with the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) Exception.--
(1) State waiver claim.--The requirement of subsection (a)
may be waived by the State Authorizing Officials if the State
having a declaration of intent in effect makes a determination,
supported by specific findings, that uncontrollable or
exceptional circumstances, such as a natural disaster or
extreme contraction of economic activity, preclude compliance
for a specified period, which may be extended. Such
determination shall be presented to the Secretary by the State
Designated Officer.
(2) Action by the secretary.--The Secretary shall accept
the State's waiver, as described in paragraph (1), if the State
has presented evidence to support such waiver. The Secretary
shall review the waiver received from the State Designated
Officer not more than 60 days after the date of receipt. If the
Secretary fails to take action within that time frame, the
waiver, as submitted, shall be deemed to be approved.

SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the amount
that a State with a declaration of intent may expend for administrative
expenses shall be limited to 1 percent of the aggregate amount of
Federal funds made available to the State through the eligible programs
included within the scope of such declaration of intent.
(b) States Not Consolidating Funds Under Part A of Title I.--If the
declaration of intent does not include within its scope part A of title
I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311
et seq.), the amount spent by the State on administrative expenses
shall be limited to 3 percent of the aggregate amount of Federal funds
made available to the State pursuant to such declaration of intent.

SEC. 6. EQUITABLE PARTICIPATION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

Each State consolidating and using funds pursuant to a declaration
of intent under this Act shall provide for the participation of private
school children and teachers in the activities assisted under the
declaration of intent in the same manner as participation is provided
to private school children and teachers under section 9501 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7881).
[A]:
Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act or the A PLUS Act - Allows each state to submit to the Secretary of Education a declaration of intent, applicable for up to five years, permitting it to receive federal funds on a consolidated basis that would otherwise be directed toward specific programs furthering the stated purpose of title I (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Requires each declaration to be formulated by a combination of specified State Authorizing Officials or by referendum and to list the programs for which consolidated funding is requested. Allows states to use such funds for any educational purpose permitted by state law, but requires them to make certain assurances that they will use fiscal control and fund accounting procedures, abide by federal civil rights laws, and advance educational opportunities for the disadvantaged. Allows states to amend their declarations. Allows each declaration state to adopt new academic assessments and standards or apply those described under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, but requires each state to have a single system of assessments and standards that includes student proficiency goals. Requires each declaration state to: (1) inform the public about its student achievement assessment system; (2) report annually on student progress toward the state's proficiency standards, disaggregating performance data by specified student groups; and (3) keep aggregate spending on elementary and secondary education at no less than 90% of such spending for the school year coinciding with this Act's enactment. Limits administrative expenses. Requires each declaration state to provide for the equitable participation of private school children and teachers in the activities assisted under its declaration of intent.