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

This Act may be cited as the ''Territorial Health Parity Act of
2009''.

SEC. 2. MEDICAID PAYMENT PARITY FOR THE TERRITORIES.

(a) Elimination of Funding Limitations for Puerto Rico, the Virgin
Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.--
(1) In general.--Section 1108 of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1308) is amended--
(A) in subsection (f), in the matter before
paragraph (1), by striking ''subsection (g)'' and
inserting ''subsections (g) and (h)'';
(B) in subsection (g)(2), in the matter before
subparagraph (A), by inserting ''and subsection (h)''
after ''paragraph (3)''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
''(h) Sunset of Funding Limitations for Puerto Rico, the Virgin
Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.--
Subsections (f) and (g) shall not apply to Puerto Rico, the Virgin
Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa for any
fiscal year after fiscal year 2009.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 1903(u) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 1396c(u)) is amended by striking paragraph (4).
(3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection
shall apply beginning with fiscal year 2010.
(b) Parity in FMAP.--
(1) In general.--Section 1905(b)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
1396d(b)(2)) is amended by inserting after ''50 per centum''
the following: ''(except that, beginning with fiscal year 2012,
the Federal medical assistance percentage for Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and
American Samoa shall be the Federal medical assistance
percentage determined by the Secretary in consultation (for the
Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and
American Samoa) with the Secretary of the Interior)''.
(2) 2-fiscal-year transition.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, during fiscal years 2010 and 2011, the
Federal medical assistance percentage established under section
1905(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(b)) for
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana
Islands, and American Samoa shall be the highest such Federal
medical assistance percentage applicable to any of the 50
States or the District of Columbia for the fiscal year
involved, taking into account the application of subsections
(a) and (b)(1) of 5001 of division B of the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) to such States
and District for calendar quarters during such fiscal years for
which such subsections apply respectively.
(3) Per capita income data.--
(A) Report to congress.--Not later than October 1,
2010, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
submit to Congress a report that describes the per
capita income data used to promulgate the Federal
medical assistance percentage in the territories and
how such data differ from the per capita income data
used to promulgate Federal medical assistance
percentages for the 50 States and the District of
Columbia. The report should include recommendations on
how the Federal medical assistance percentages can be
calculated for the territories to ensure parity with
the 50 States and the District of Columbia.
(B) Application.--Section 1101(a)(8)(B) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1308(a)(8)(B)) is
amended--
(i) by striking ''(other than Puerto Rico,
the Virgin Islands, and Guam)'' and inserting
''(including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands,
Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and
American Samoa)''; and
(ii) by inserting ''(or, if such
satisfactory data are not available in the case
of the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern
Mariana Islands, or American Samoa,
satisfactory data available from the Department
of the Interior for the same period, or if such
satisfactory data are not available in the case
of Puerto Rico, satisfactory data available
from the Government of the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico for the same period)'' after
''Department of Commerce''.
(4) Relation to american recovery and reinvestment act of
2009.--For any period and territory in which the provisions of
this subsection apply to a territory, the provisions of section
5001(b)(2) of division B of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) shall not apply
(except as otherwise specifically provided in paragraph (2)).

SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR CITIZENS OF FREELY
ASSOCIATED STATES.

(a) In General.--Section 402(b)(2) of the Personal Responsibility
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(b)(2))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
''(G) Medicaid exception for citizens of freely
associated states.--With respect to eligibility for
benefits for the program defined in paragraph (3)(C)
(relating to the Medicaid program), paragraph (1) shall
not apply to any individual who lawfully resides in the
United States (including territories and possessions of
the United States) in accordance with the Compacts of
Free Association between the Government of the United
States and the Governments of the Federated States of
Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and
the Republic of Palau.''.
(b) Conforming Definition of Qualified Alien.--Section 431(b) of
such Act (8 U.S.C. 1641(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ''or'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ''; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
''(8) an individual who lawfully resides in the United
States (including territories and possessions of the United
States) in accordance with a Compact of Free Association
referred to in section 402(b)(2)(G), but only with respect to
the program defined in section 402(b)(3)(C) (relating to the
Medicaid program).''.
(c) Setting FMAP at 100 Percent.--The third sentence of section
1905(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(b)) is amended by
inserting before the period at the end the following: ''and as medical
assistance for individuals described in section 402(b)(2)(G) of the
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
1996''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act take effect on
October 1, 2009, Act and apply to benefits and assistance provided on
or after that date.

SOLUTION: Territorial Health Parity Act of 2009 - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act (SSA) to sunset at the end of FY2009 the limitation on Medicaid payments to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to: (1) repeal, as of the end of FY2011, the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) of 50% that applies to such territories; and (2) set the new FMAP for such territories at one determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior. Specifies a transitional FMAP for such territories for FY2010-FY2011.

Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the per capita income data used to promulgate the FMAP in the territories and how such data differ from the per capita income data used to promulgate FMAPs for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Requires the report to include recommendations on how FMAPs can be calculated for the territories to ensure parity with the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to extend the Medicaid program to the citizens of the Freely Associated States (Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau).

Amends SSA title XIX to set a 100% FMAP for otherwise qualified services rendered to such citizens.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Educational Technology Utilization
Extension Assistance Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

It is the purpose of this Act to improve the utilization of
educational technologies in elementary and secondary education by
creating an educational technology extension service based at
undergraduate institutions of higher education.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:
(1) Extension services such as the Manufacturing Extension
Partnership and the Agricultural Extension Service have proven
to be effective public/private partnerships to integrate new
technologies and to improve utilization of existing
technologies by small to medium sized manufacturers and the
United States agricultural community.
(2) Undergraduate institutions of higher education working
with non-profit organizations, State, and Federal agencies can
tailor educational technology extension programs to meet
specific local and regional requirements.
(3) Undergraduate institutions of higher education, often
with the assistance of the National Science Foundation, have
for the past 20 years been integrating educational technologies
into their curricula, and as such they can draw upon their own
experiences to advise elementary and secondary school educators
on ways to integrate a variety of educational technologies into
the educational process.
(4) Many elementary and secondary school systems,
particularly in rural and traditionally under served areas,
lack general information on the most effective methods to
integrate their existing technology infrastructure, as well as
new educational technology, into the educational process and
curriculum.
(5) Most Federal and State educational technology programs
have focused on acquiring educational technologies with less
emphasis on the utilization of those technologies in the
classroom and the training and infrastructural requirements
needed to efficiently support those types of technologies. As a
result, in many instances, the full potential of educational
technology has not been realized.
(6) Our global economy is increasingly reliant on a
workforce not only comfortable with technology, but also able
to integrate rapid technological changes into the production
process. As such, in order to remain competitive in a global
economy, it is imperative that we maintain a work-ready labor
force.
(7) According to ''Teacher Quality: A Report on the
Preparation and Qualifications of Public School Teacher'',
prepared by the Department of Education, only 1 in 5 teachers
felt they were well prepared to work in a modern classroom.
(8) The most common form of professional development for
teachers continue to be workshops that typically last no more
than one day and have little relevance to teachers' work in the
classroom.
(9) A 1998 national survey completed by the Department of
Education found that only 19 percent of teachers had been
formally mentored by another teacher, and that 70 percent of
these teachers felt that this collaboration was very helpful to
their teaching.

SEC. 4. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

(a) General Authority.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation, in cooperation with the Secretary of Education and the
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, shall
provide assistance for the creation and support of regional centers for
the utilization of educational technologies (hereinafter in this Act
referred to as ''ETU Centers'').
(b) Functions of Centers.--
(1) Establishment.--ETU Centers may be established at any
institution of higher education, but such centers may include
the participation of non-profit entities, organizations, or
groups thereof.
(2) Objectives of centers.--The objective of the ETU
Centers is to enhance the utilization of educational
technologies in elementary and secondary education through--
(A) advising of elementary and secondary school
administrators, school boards, and teachers on the
adoption and utilization of new educational
technologies and the utility of local schools' existing
educational technology assets and infrastructure;
(B) participation of individuals from the private
sector, universities, State and local governments, and
other Federal agencies;
(C) active dissemination of technical and
management information about the use of educational
technologies; and
(D) utilization, where appropriate, of the
expertise and capabilities that exists in Federal
laboratories and Federal agencies.
(3) Activities of centers.--The activities of the ETU
Centers shall include the following:
(A) The active transfer and dissemination of
research findings and ETU Center expertise to local
school authorities, including but not limited to school
administrators, school boards, and teachers.
(B) The training of teachers in the integration of
local schools existing educational technology
infrastructure into their instructional design.
(C) The training and advising of teachers,
administrators, and school board members in the
acquisition, utilization, and support of educational
technologies.
(D) Support services to teachers, administrators,
and school board members as agreed upon by ETU Center
representatives and local school authorities.
(E) The advising of teachers, administrators, and
school board members on current skill set standards
employed by private industry.
(c) Program Administration.--
(1) Proposed rules.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation, after consultation with the Secretary of Education
and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, shall publish in the Federal Register, within 90
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, a proposed
rules for the program for establishing ETU Centers, including--
(A) a description of the program;
(B) the procedure to be followed by applicant;
(C) the criteria for determining qualified
applicants; and
(D) the criteria, including those listed in the
following sections, for choosing recipients of
financial assistance under this section from among
qualified applicants.
(2) Final rules.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation shall publish final rules for the program under this
Act after the expiration of a 30-day comment period on such
proposed rules.
(d) Eligibility and Selection.--
(1) Applications required.--Any undergraduate institution
of higher education, consortia of such institutions, non-profit
organizations, or groups thereof may submit an application for
financial support under this section in accordance with the
procedures established under subsection (c). In order to
receive assistance under this Act, an applicant shall provide
adequate assurances that will contribute 50 percent or more of
the proposed Center's capital and annual operating and
maintenance costs.
(2) Selection.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation, in conjunction with the Secretary of Education and
the Director of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, shall subject each application to competitive,
merit review. In making a decision whether to approve such
application and provide financial support under this section,
the Director of the National Science Foundation shall consider
at a minimum--
(A) the merits of the application, particularly
those portions of the application regarding the
adaption of training and educational technologies to
the needs of particular regions;
(B) the quality of service to be provided;
(C) the geographical diversity and extent of
service area, with particular emphasis on rural and
traditionally underdeveloped areas; and
(D) the percentage of funding and amount of in-kind
commitment from other sources.
(3) Evaluation.--Each ETU Center which receives financial
assistance under this section shall be evaluated during its
third year of operation by an evaluation panel appointed by the
Director of the National Science Foundation. Each evaluation
panel shall measure the involved Center's performance against
the objectives specified in this section. Funding for an ETU
Center shall not be renewed unless the evaluation is positive.

SEC. 6. DEFINITION.

As used in this Act, the term ''institution of higher education''
has the meaning given that term by section 101 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

SOLUTION: Educational Technology Utilization Extension Assistance Act - Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), in cooperation with the Secretary of Education and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to provide assistance for the creation and support of regional centers for the utilization of educational technologies (ETU Centers). Allows ETU Centers to be established at any institution of higher education, and to include the participation of non-profit entities and organizations.
Requires ETU Centers to enhance the use of educational technologies in elementary and secondary education through: (1) advising school administrators, school boards, and teachers on adopting and using new educational technologies and the usefulness of local schools' existing educational technology assets and infrastructure; (2) participation of individuals from the private sector, universities, State and local governments, and other Federal agencies; (3) active dissemination of technical and management information about the use of educational technologies; and (4) appropriate use of the expertise and capabilities that exist in Federal laboratories and Federal agencies.
Requires ETU Centers' activities to include: (1) active transfer and dissemination of research findings and ETU Center expertise to local school authorities; (2) training teachers in integrating schools' existing educational technology infrastructure into their instructional design; (3) training and advising teachers, administrators, and school board members in acquiring, using, and supporting educational technologies; (4) support services to teachers, administrators, and school board members; and (5) advising teachers, administrators, and school board members on current skill set standards employed by private industry.
Sets forth requirements for program administration and application and selection procedures. Allows any undergraduate institution of higher education, consortia of such institutions and non-profit organizations to apply for financial support in accordance with the procedures. Requires each applicant to provide adequate assurances that it will contribute 50 percent or more of the proposed ETU Center's capital and annual operating and maintenance costs.
Requires the NSF Director, in conjunction with the Secretary of Education and the NIST Director, to subject each application to competitive merit review, including specified considerations. Requires each ETU Center to be evaluated during its third year of operation. Requires a positive evaluation for renewal of funding.

PROBLEM: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Small Business Lending Stimulus Act
of 2008''.

SEC. 2. ECONOMIC STIMULUS SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.

(a) Reduction of Fees.--
(1) Small business act loans.--
(A) In general.--For fiscal year 2008, and to the
extent the cost of such reduction in fees is offset by
appropriations, with respect to each loan guaranteed
under section 7(a) of Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
636(a)), the Administrator shall--
(i) in lieu of the fee otherwise applicable
under section 7(a)(23)(A) of the Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(23)(A)), collect an
annual fee in an amount equal to a maximum of
.25 percent of the outstanding balance of the
deferred participation share of that loan;
(ii) in lieu of the fee otherwise
applicable under section 7(a)(18)(A) of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(18)(A)),
collect a guarantee fee in an amount equal to a
maximum of--
(I) 1 percent of the deferred
participation share of a total loan
amount that is not more than $150,000;
(II) 2.5 percent of the deferred
participation share of a total loan
amount that is more than $150,000 and
not more than $700,000; and
(III) 3 percent of the deferred
participation share of a total loan
amount that is more than $700,000; and
(iii) in lieu of the fee otherwise
applicable under section 7(a)(18)(A)(iv) of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
636(a)(18)(A)(iv)), collect no fee.
(B) Implementation.--In carrying out this
paragraph, the Administrator shall reduce the fees for
a loan guaranteed under section 7(a) of Small Business
Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)) to the maximum extent possible,
subject to the availability of appropriations.
(2) Debentures.--For fiscal year 2008, and to the extent
the cost of such reduction in fees is offset by appropriations,
the Administrator shall, in lieu of the fee otherwise
applicable under section 503(d)(2) of the Small Business
Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 697(d)(2)) for an institution
described in subclause (I), (II), or (III) of section
502(3)(B)(i) of that Act (15 U.S.C. 696(3)(B)(i)), collect no
fee.
(b) Application of Fee Reductions.--If funds are made available to
carry out subsection (a), the Administrator shall reduce the fees under
subsection (a) for any loan guarantee or project subject to such
subsection for which the application is pending approval on or after
the date of enactment of this Act, until the amount provided for such
purpose is expended.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Administrator for fiscal year 2008--
(1) $150,000,000 to carry out subsection (a)(1);
(2) $45,000,000 to carry out subsection (a)(2);
(3) $2,000,000 for direct loans under the Microloan Program
under section 7(m) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
636(m)), in addition to any other amounts authorized to be
appropriated for such purposes; and
(4) $10,000,000 for marketing, management, and technical
assistance under section 7(m)(4) of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 636(m)(4)) by intermediaries that make microloans under
the Microloan Program, in addition to any other amounts
authorized to be appropriated for such purposes.
(d) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) the terms ''Administration'' and ''Administrator'' mean
the Small Business Administration and the Administrator
thereof, respectively; and
(2) the term ''small business concern'' has the same
meaning as in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
632).

SEC. 3. REFINANCING UNDER THE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM.

Section 502 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C.
696) is amended by adding at the end the following:
''(7) Permissible debt refinancing.--A financing under this
title may include refinancing of existing indebtedness, in an
amount not to exceed 50 percent of the projected cost of the
project financed under this title, if--
''(A) the project financed under this title
involves the expansion of a small business concern;
''(B) the existing indebtedness is collateralized
by fixed assets;
''(C) the existing indebtedness was incurred for
the benefit of the small business concern;
''(D) the proceeds of the existing indebtedness
were used to acquire land (including a building
situated thereon), to construct or expand a building
thereon, or to purchase equipment;
''(E) the borrower has been current on all payments
due on the existing indebtedness for not less than 1
year preceding the proposed date of refinancing;
''(F) the financing under this title will provide
better terms or a better rate of interest than exists
on the existing indebtedness on the proposed date of
refinancing;
''(G) the financing under this title is not being
used to refinance any debt guaranteed by the
Government; and
''(H) the financing under this title will be used
only for--
''(i) refinancing existing indebtedness; or
''(ii) costs relating to the project
financed under this title.''.

SOLUTION:
Small Business Lending Stimulus Act of 2008 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to reduce in 2008 the rate of certain loan fees imposed under the Small Business Act and debenture fees under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2008: (1) to cover such rate reductions; and (2) for direct loans and assistance under the SBA Microloan Program.

Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to authorize the SBA to refinance certain existing debt of small businesses that received prior loans for plant acquisition, construction, conversion, or expansion.