Detailed Instructions: 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 ''Pension Assistance and Counseling
Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. PENSION COUNSELING PROGRAMS.

Title VII of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3058 et
seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subtitle C as subtitle D;
(2) by redesignating sections 761 through 764 as sections
791 through 794, respectively; and
(3) by inserting after subtitle B the following:

''Subtitle C--Pension Counseling

''SEC. 761. PENSION COUNSELING PROGRAM.

''(a) Definitions.--In this section:
''(1) Pension and other retirement benefits.--The term
'pension and other retirement benefits' means private, civil
service, and other public pensions and retirement benefits,
including benefits provided under--
''(A) the Social Security program carried out under
title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et
seq.);
''(B) the railroad retirement program carried out
under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C.
231 et seq.);
''(C) the government retirement benefits programs
carried out under--
''(i) the Civil Service Retirement System
set forth in subchapter III of chapter 83 of
title 5, United States Code;
''(ii) the Federal Employees Retirement
System set forth in chapter 84 of title 5,
United States Code;
''(iii) title 10, United States Code; or
''(iv) any other government retirement
system, including any Government pension plan
as such term is defined under section 9502 of
title 31, United States Code; or
''(D) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
''(2) Pension counseling program.--The term 'pension
counseling program' means a program described in subsection
(c).
''(b) Establishment.--The Assistant Secretary shall establish and
carry out pension counseling projects. In carrying out the projects,
the Assistant Secretary shall award grants under subsection (c) and
(d).
''(c) Pension Counseling Programs.--
''(1) Use of funds.--In carrying out the projects specified
in subsection (b), the Assistant Secretary shall award grants
to eligible entities to establish programs that create or
continue a sufficient number of pension assistance and
counseling projects to provide outreach, information,
counseling, referral, and other assistance regarding pension
and other retirement benefits, and rights related to such
benefits, to individuals throughout the United States.
''(2) Award of grants.--
''(A) Type of entity.--The Assistant Secretary
shall award under this subsection--
''(i) grants to State agencies or area
agencies on aging; and
''(ii) grants to nonprofit organizations
with a proven record of providing--
''(I) services related to
retirement of older individuals; or
''(II) specific pension counseling.
''(B) Panel.--In awarding grants under this
subsection, the Assistant Secretary shall use a citizen
advisory panel that shall include representatives of
business, labor, national senior advocates, and
national pension rights advocates.
''(C) Criteria.--In awarding grants under this
subsection, the Assistant Secretary, after consultation
with the panel, shall use as criteria--
''(i) evidence of commitment of an agency
or organization to carry out a proposed pension
counseling program;
''(ii) the ability of the agency or
organization to perform effective outreach to
affected populations, particularly populations
identified as in need of special outreach;
''(iii) reliable information that the
population to be served by the agency or
organization has a demonstrable need for the
services proposed to be provided under the
program; and
''(iv) evidence of ability of the agency or
organization to provide services under the
program on a statewide or regional basis.
''(3) Application.--
''(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a
grant under this subsection, an entity shall submit an
application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the
Assistant Secretary may require, including, at a
minimum--
''(i) a plan for the establishment of a
pension counseling program to serve a specific
geographic area; and
''(ii) an assurance that staff members
(including volunteer staff members) have no
conflict of interest in providing the services
described in the plan.
''(B) Plan.--The plan described in subparagraph (A)
shall provide for a program that--
''(i) establishes or continues a State or
area pension counseling service;
''(ii) provides counseling (including
direct counseling and assistance to individuals
needing information) and information that may
assist individuals in establishing rights to,
obtaining, and filing claims or complaints
related to, pension and other retirement
benefits;
''(iii) provides information on sources of
pension and other retirement benefits,
including the benefits under programs described
in subsection (a)(1);
''(iv) makes referrals to legal services
and other advocacy programs;
''(v) establishes a system of referral to
Federal, State, and local departments or
agencies related to pension and other
retirement benefits;
''(vi) provides a sufficient number of
staff positions (including volunteer positions)
to ensure information, counseling, referral,
and assistance regarding pension and other
retirement benefits;
''(vii) provides training programs for
staff members, including volunteer staff
members of the programs described in subsection
(a)(1);
''(viii) makes recommendations to the
Administration, the Department of Labor, and
other Federal, State, and local agencies
concerning issues for older individuals related
to pension and other retirement benefits; and
''(ix) establishes or continues to provide
projects to provide outreach, information,
counseling, referral, and other assistance
regarding pension and other retirement
benefits, with particular emphasis on outreach
to women, minorities, and low-income retirees.
''(d) Training and Technical Assistance Program.--
''(1) Use of funds.--In carrying out the projects described
in subsection (b), the Assistant Secretary shall award a grant
to an eligible entity to establish a training and technical
assistance program to provide--
''(A) information and technical assistance to the
staffs of entities operating pension counseling
programs; and
''(B) assistance to the entities, including
assistance in designing program evaluation tools.
''(2) Eligible entity.--Entities eligible to receive grants
under this subsection include nonprofit private organizations
with records of providing national information, referral, and
advocacy in matters related to pension and other retirement
benefits.
''(3) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this subsection, an entity shall submit an application to the
Assistant Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may
require.
''(e) Pension Assistance Hotline and Interagency Coordination.--The
Assistant Secretary shall enter into interagency agreements for the
establishment and operation of, and dissemination of information about,
a telephone hotline for individuals seeking outreach, information,
counseling, referral, and assistance regarding pension and other
retirement benefits, and rights related to such benefits. The Assistant
Secretary shall also enter into agreements with the Secretary of Labor
and with the heads of other Federal agencies that regulate the
provision of pension and other retirement benefits, as the Assistant
Secretary determines to be appropriate, in order to carry out this
subsection and to develop a nationwide public-private pension
assistance system.
''(f) Report to Congress.--
''(1) Preparation.--The Assistant Secretary shall prepare a
report that--
''(A) summarizes the distribution of funds
authorized for grants under this section and the
expenditure of such funds;
''(B) summarizes the scope and content of training
and assistance provided under a program carried out
under this section and the degree to which the training
and assistance can be replicated;
''(C) outlines the problems that individuals
participating in programs funded under this section
encountered concerning rights related to pension and
other retirement benefits; and
''(D) makes recommendations regarding the manner in
which services provided in programs funded under this
section can be incorporated into the ongoing programs
of State agencies, area agencies on aging, multipurpose
senior centers, and other similar entities.
''(2) Submission.--Not later than 30 months after the date
of enactment of this section, the Assistant Secretary shall
submit the report described in paragraph (1) to the Committee
on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate.
''(g) Administrative Expenses.--Of the funds appropriated under
subsection (h) to carry out this section for a fiscal year, not more
than $100,000 may be used by the Administration for administrative
expenses in carrying out this section.
''(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary
for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2003.''.

SEC. 3. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

(a) Repealer.--Section 429J of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42
U.S.C. 3035r) is repealed.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (b) of section 794 of the
Older Americans Act of 1965 (as redesignated in section 2(2)) is
amended by striking ''entities described in section 751(c)'' and
inserting ''persons and entities described in section 793(b)''.
Solution:
Specifies that such grants shall be awarded to: (1) State agencies or area agencies on aging; (2) nonprofit organizations with a proven record of providing services related to retirement of older individuals or specific pension counseling; and (3) an eligible entity to establish a training and technical assistance program to provide information and technical assistance to the staffs of entities operating pension counseling programs and assistance to such entities, including assistance in designing program evaluation tools. Makes nonprofit private organizations with records of providing national information, referral, and advocacy in matters related to pension and other retirement benefits eligible to receive training and technical assistance grants.
Requires the Assistant Secretary to enter into: (1) interagency agreements for the establishment and operation of, and dissemination of information about, a telephone hotline for individuals seeking outreach, information, counseling, referral, and assistance regarding pension and other retirement benefits, and rights related to such benefits; and (2) agreements with the Secretary of Labor and with the heads of other Federal agencies that regulate the provision of pension and other retirement benefits, as appropriate, in order to carry out this Act and to develop a nationwide public-private pension assistance system.
Authorizes appropriations.
Repeals provisions of the Act that establish pension rights demonstration projects.