zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Caregivers Expansion and Improvement Act of 2015

Extends to all veterans with a serious service-connected injury the eligibility to participate in the Department of Veterans Affairs program of comprehensive assistance to family caregivers of such veterans. (Under current law, such eligibility is limited to those veterans who incurred such an injury on or after September 11, 2001.)

Date: 2015-04-21
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Wounded Warrior Research Enhancement Act

Directs the Secretary of Defense to award grants to carry out research for the advancement of orthotic and prosthetic clinical care for members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and civilians who have undergone amputation, traumatic brain injury, and other serious physical injury as a result of combat or military experience.

Includes under such research the prevention of amputations, orthotic and prosthetic intervention, and orthotics and prosthetic materials and technology research.

Date: 2015-04-21
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Improving the Integrity of Disability Evidence Act

This bill amends the Social Security Act to prohibit the Commissioner of Social Security from considering (except for good cause) any medical evidence with respect to whether an individual is under a disability which is furnished by: (1) any individual convicted of a felony relating to Medicare fraud, (2) any individual or entity excluded from participation in any federal health care program, and (3) any person with respect to whom a civil monetary penalty or assessment has been imposed for the submission of false evidence.

Date: 2015-04-22
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
Improving Oversight and Accountability in Medicaid Non-DSH Supplemental Payments Act 

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) issue guidance to states that identifies permissible methods for calculation of non-DSH (disproportionate share) supplemental payments to providers, (2) establish annual reporting requirements for states making non-DSH supplemental payments, and (3) establish requirements for states making non-DSH supplemental payments to conduct and submit to the Secretary an annual independent certified audit.

No federal payment under Medicaid may be made to a state for any expenditures to make non-DSH supplemental payments unless the state complies with the reporting and auditing requirements of this Act.

Date: 2015-04-30
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Health
Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Improvement Act of 2015

Allows a veteran to pursue a course of education and training as part of a rehabilitation program only if the course is approved under Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) vocational rehabilitation requirements.

Makes veterans enrolled in a VA vocational rehabilitation program eligible for VA specially adapted housing.

 Bars dual eligibility for home adaptation services.

Authorizes the VA to prioritize vocational rehabilitation services based on need and upon consideration of disability ratings, the severity of employment handicaps, qualification for a program of independent living, income, and other appropriate factors.

 Directs the VA to reduce information technology redundancy and inefficiencies in the rehabilitation claims process.

Date: 2015-05-14
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Disability Fraud Reduction and Unethical Deception (FRAUD) Prevention Act 

Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to authorize the Social Security Administration (SSA) to disqualify or suspend immediately from appearing as a claimant representative before it any individual who has been convicted of a felony in a federal or state court, or, in the case of an attorney, upon the individual's disbarment from any court or bar to which he or she was previously admitted to practice.

Amends SSAct titles II, VIII (Special Benefits for Certain World War II Veterans), and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) to subject to criminal penalties for fraud any conspiracy to commit specified offenses, and increase criminal as well as civil monetary penalties for certain individuals in positions of trust who commit fraud.

Amends SSAct title II to direct the SSA to establish rules under which fines and other appropriate sanctions may be imposed on claimant representatives for failure to comply with the SSA rules and regulations.

Amends SSAct title XI to: (1) establish a civil monetary penalty for any claimant representative who knowingly charges for services rendered in excess of the maximum fee prescribed by the SSA or allowed by a court, and (2) direct the SSA periodically to adjust civil monetary penalty maximum amounts for inflation.

Requires federal courts (which currently are merely authorized) to order defendants convicted of Social Security fraud to provide restitution to victims in certain cases.

Amends SSAct title II to ban any payment of benefits to individuals on whom a civil monetary penalty is imposed for fraudulently concealing work activity.

Directs the Inspector General of the SSA to conduct biennial reviews of the practices of a sample of the highest earning claimant representatives to ensure compliance with SSA policies.

Date: 2015-05-15
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
School Attendance Improves Lives Act of 2015 

 Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act to condition SSI benefits for disabled children aged 16 or 17 on school attendance, except where the Social Security Administration determines that the individual has good medical cause to not attend school for part or all of a month.

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
Sanchez-Young Social Security Disability Insurance for the Terminally Ill Act 

 This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the waiting period for disability insurance benefits for terminally ill individuals with a life expectancy of 12 months or less, as determined by a primary care provider, medical specialist, or other qualified provider, or who would otherwise suffer undue hardship by application of a waiting period.

Date: 2015-06-01
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
National Care Corps Act of 2015 

 Establishes in the Department of Health and Human Services the National Care Corps through which Corps volunteers provide certain services to individuals in need who are age 65 or older or have a disability and have difficulty with self-care or living independently.

Date: 2015-06-04
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Health
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to repeal the seven-year restriction on eligibility for widow's and widower's insurance benefits based on disability.

Date: 2015-06-15
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
Building on Local District Flexibility in IDEA Act

This bill amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to add exceptions to the maintenance of effort requirement for local education agencies (LEAs). Specifically, an LEA may reduce its level of expenditures for the education of children with disabilities below the level of those expenditures for the preceding fiscal year where such reduction is attributable to: (1) improved efficiencies that do not result in a reduction of special education services; or (2) the reduction of expenditures for employment-related benefits provided to special education personnel, provided that such reduction of expenditures does not result in a reduction in special education services.

Furthermore, a state may waive the maintenance of effort requirement for an LEA for one fiscal year at a time if the state determines that: (1) all children with disabilities have available to them a free, appropriate public education; or (2) the LEA has not reduced the level of expenditures for the education of children with disabilities for such fiscal year disproportionately to other expenditures, and granting a waiver would be equitable due to exceptional or uncontrollable circumstances or a precipitous and unforeseen decline in the LEA's financial resources.

Date: 2015-07-08
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Education
Refueling Assistance Act of 2015

 Directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to study motor vehicle refueling assistance to qualified individuals with disabilities.

Requires the DOT to report to Congress the study results and any recommendations for imposing feasible and cost-effective requirements on gas stations to improve motor vehicle refueling assistance for such individuals.

Authorizes the DOT to impose a civil penalty on persons who knowingly violate any regulations issued under this Act.

Date: 2015-07-27
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Requires post offices, within two years after enactment of this Act, to comply with public accommodation standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Date: 2015-07-27
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Government operations and politics
This bill amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to waive applicable general and Medicaid requirements of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in order to conduct demonstration projects through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMS Innovation Center) that involve PACE.

 HHS may not, as part of a CMS Innovation Center demonstration, waive: (1) the requirement to offer items and services under Medicare and Medicaid without limitation to PACE program enrollees, and (2) certain requirements regarding enrollment in and disenrollment from PACE programs.

Date: 2015-07-28
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Health
Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2015

 Requires newly constructed, federally assisted single family houses and town houses to include at least one level that complies with the Standards for Type C (Visitable) Units of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (1005-ICC ANSI A117.1-2009) and any future revisions.

Requires: (1) each applicant for federal financial assistance to submit compliance assurances to the relevant federal agency, and (2) each person who arranges for design or construction of a covered dwelling to submit architectural and construction plans for state or local approval. Prohibits federal financial assistance to a state or local government unit unless the recipient is taking certain enforcement actions with regard to covered dwellings.

Permits: (1) private civil actions in a U.S. district court or state court for violations of this Act, and (2) the Attorney General to commence civil actions or intervene in civil actions under this Act.

Date: 2015-07-28
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2015

This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act with respect to determining entitlement to and the amount of any monthly benefit, including any lump-sum death payment, payable under OASDI on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of any individual. Wages shall be deemed to have been paid (according to a specified formula) during each month in which the individual was engaged for at least 80 hours in providing care to a dependent relative without monetary compensation for up to five years of such service. This bill is not applicable in the case of any monthly benefit or lump-sum death payment if a larger benefit or payment would be payable without its application.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
Disability Insurance Protection and Fraud Prevention Act of 2015 

 Requires the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration to increase the number of cooperative disability investigative units to 54 and distribute them equally among the most densely populated areas.

Prohibits the Commissioner of Social Security, in determining whether an individual is under a disability for insurance benefit payment purposes, from considering: (1) an individual as approaching advanced age unless he or she has attained age 58; (2) an individual as having attained advanced age unless he or she has attained age 61; and (3) the individual's inability to communicate in English as a vocational factor.

Amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act to eliminate consideration of the combined effect of impairments in disability determinations.

Makes appropriations for continuing disability reviews for FY2016-FY2020. Directs the Commissioner to assess for Congress after FY2018 the amount of savings attained as a result of such appropriations in the federal disability program under the OASDI and the SSI programs.

Requires the Commissioner to describe for Congress the designs of: (1) a disability demonstration program, (2) a state demonstration program to revise specified existing funding streams for specific populations to improve outcomes and reduce participation in SSI or Social Security disability insurance, and (3) a demonstration program that encourages employers to reduce the incidence of disability among their employees by 20% through a voluntary program that provides the employers with a tax credit if their employees do not file for Social Security disability insurance.

Date: 2015-09-10
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
ADA Education and Reform Act of 2015

This bill requires the Disability Rights Section of the Department of Justice to develop a program to educate state and local governments and property owners on strategies for promoting access to public accommodations for persons with a disability. The program may include training for professionals to provide a guidance of remediation for potential violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

The bill prohibits persons from, and subjects violators to a criminal fine for, sending demand letters or other pre-suit notifications alleging a violation of ADA public accommodation requirements if the notification does not specify the circumstances under which an individual was actually denied access. The notification must specify: (1) the address of property, (2) the specific ADA sections alleged to have been violated, (3) whether a request for assistance in removing an architectural barrier was made, and (4) whether the barrier was permanent or temporary.

The bill also prohibits commencement of civil action based on the failure to remove an architectural barrier to access into an existing public accommodation unless: (1) the aggrieved person has provided to the owners or operators a written notice specific enough to identify the barrier, and (2) the owners or operators fail to provide the person with a written description outlining improvements that will be made to improve the barrier or they fail to remove the barrier or make substantial progress after providing such a description.

The Judicial Conference of the United States must develop a model program to promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to resolve such claims. The model program should include an expedited method for determining relevant facts related to such barriers and steps to resolve accessibility issues before litigation.

Date: 2015-10-20
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
IDEA High Cost Pool Funding Act

This bill amends the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) to establish additional grants for the purpose of assisting states in addressing the needs of high-need children with disabilities. The bill establishes limitations on grant amounts and how grant funds may be used.

To be eligible to receive such a grant, a state shall: (1) provide matching funds equal to at least 25% of the grant amount; and (2) provide any information that the Department of Education may require, as specified by the bill.

A state may request a waiver of certain grant requirements that are incompatible with aspects of the state's governmental structure.

Date: 2015-11-17
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Education
Avonte's Law Act of 2015

 This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to law enforcement agencies to: (1) reduce the risk of injury and death relating to the wandering characteristics of some individuals with autism and other disabilities, and (2) safeguard the well-being of individuals with disabilities during interactions with law enforcement.

It requires grant awards to be used to: (1) provide education and resources to law enforcement agencies, first responders, schools, clinicians, and the public in order to reduce the risk of wandering by such individuals, help to identify signs of abuse in such individuals, increase their personal safety and survival skills, and facilitate effective communication with individuals who have communication-related disabilities; (2) provide training and emergency protocols for school administrators, staff, and families; (3) provide response tools and training for law enforcement and search-and-rescue agencies, including tracking technology; or (4) provide response tools and training to law enforcement agencies in order to recognize and respond to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

 DOJ must establish standards and best practices relating to the use of tracking technology to monitor children with autism and other disabilities. It requires each law enforcement agency that receives a grant to comply with any such standards and best practices.

Date: 2015-12-15
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Gas Pump Access Act of 2016

This bill declares that it shall be a prohibited form of discrimination against individuals with disabilities in a place of public accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 for a gas station or convenience store to fail to clearly display at each self-service gas pump a decal that includes its telephone number and the words "Call for Assistance."

A gas station or convenience store that is open for business to the public with at least two attendants on duty must provide gas pumping assistance to a qualified individual with a disability who makes a request for such assistance. But it shall not be considered discrimination for a gas station or convenience store with one attendant on duty to fail to provide such requested gas pumping assistance if such attendant notifies the individual that assistance cannot be provided because there is only one attendant on duty.

The Department of Transportation and the Department of Justice must promulgate regulations necessary to ensure compliance with this bill and make graphics for the decals publicly available on their websites.

Date: 2016-02-12
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Correcting Obstructions to Mediate, Prevent, and Limit Inaccessibility Act or the COMPLI Act

This bill amends the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to prohibit persons aggrieved by certain public accommodation violations from commencing a civil action for discrimination unless they: (1) provide the owner or operator of the accommodation with a written notice that is specific enough to identify the violation; (2) specify in the notice that the owner or operator has 90 days to remove or correct the violation before an action will be brought; and (3) refrain from sending demand letters, requests for settlement, or other communications to the owner or operator during such 90-day period.

An owner or operator of a public accommodation who is provided such a notice must notify the public of the alleged violation and the steps being taken to remedy it.

Owners or operators are entitled to an additional 30 days to comply if they make a good faith effort but are unable to correct the violation within the original 90-day period.

A civil action for discrimination based on such a violation may not be commenced while a civil action relating to the same violation is pending.

Date: 2016-03-07
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
ABLE Financial Planning Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax-free rollovers of amounts in qualified tuition programs (529 plans) to qualified ABLE programs and from qualified ABLE programs to qualified tuition programs. (Tax-favored ABLE [Achieving a Better Life Experience] accounts are designed to enable individuals with disabilities to save for and pay for disability-related expenses.)

Date: 2016-03-17
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Taxation
ABLE to Work Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to ABLE accounts (tax-exempt savings accounts for persons with a disability), to allow: (1) an ABLE account beneficiary to make contributions to an ABLE account equal to the lesser of such beneficiary's compensation or an amount equal to the federal poverty line for a one-person household, and (2) a retirement savings tax credit for contributions to an ABLE account.

Date: 2016-03-17
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Taxation
ABLE Age Adjustment Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to qualified ABLE programs, to increase the  threshold for eligibility for such programs from age 26 to age 46. (Tax-favored ABLE [Achieving a Better Life Experience] accounts are designed to enable individuals with disabilities to save for and pay for disability-related expenses.)

Date: 2016-03-17
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Taxation
Elder Protection and Abuse Prevention Act 

This bill amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Administration on Aging of the Department of Health and Human Services to: (1) ensure that all programs funded under such Act include appropriate training in elder abuse prevention and services addressing elder justice and exploitation; and (2) update periodically the need for such training related to prevention of abuse, neglect, and exploitation (including financial exploitation) of older adults.

The Administration has a duty and function to: (1) establish priority information and assistance services for older individuals; and (2) develop a National Eldercare Locator Service, with a nationwide toll free number.

The Administration shall establish a National Adult Protective Services Resources Center.

Each area plan shall provide that the area agency on aging: (1) increases public awareness of elder abuse and financial exploitation, and removes barriers to elder abuse education, prevention, investigation, and treatment; and (2) reports instances of elder abuse.

The Administration shall make grants to states with approved plans for elder abuse and neglect screening.

A state operating a nutrition project shall encourage distributors of nutrition services to distribute information on diabetes, elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and the annual Medicare wellness exam.

A state, an area agency on aging, a nonprofit organization, or a tribal organization shall use a grant for an older individuals' protection from violence project to replicate successful prevention and training models.

The Administration shall award grants to and contract with eligible organizations for projects to engage volunteers over age 50 in supporting older adults (and their families or caretakers) who have experienced or are at risk of elder abuse.

A state may use funds under the National Family Caregiver Support Program to support the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

Date: 2016-04-21
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Health
ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2016

This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period for disability insurance benefits for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and require their payment starting the first month during all of which the individual is under a disability and in which the individual becomes entitled to the benefits.

Date: 2016-05-10
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
529 and ABLE Account Improvement Act of 2016 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the tax treatment of qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans) and ABLE accounts. (Tax-favored ABLE [Achieving a Better Life Experience] accounts are designed to enable individuals with disabilities to save for and pay for disability-related expenses.)

The bill excludes from gross income a fringe benefit consisting of up to $100 per year (adjusted for inflation after 2016) of employer contributions to an employee's 529 or ABLE account. The employer contribution must be made: (1) to an account for which the designated beneficiary is the employee or a member of the employee's family, and (2) in connection with a payroll deduction contribution program established by the employer.

The bill also: (1) expands the tax credit for small employer pension plan startup costs to include the costs of establishing a payroll deduction contribution program for 529 plans and ABLE accounts;(2) permits 529 funds to be used for transfers to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), education loan payments, or charitable contributions without being subject to the additional tax for distributions that are not used for qualified higher education expenses; and (3) permits tax-free rollovers of funds between 529 and ABLE accounts for the benefit of the same beneficiary or a family member of the beneficiary.

For the purpose of current law restrictions on the frequency of investment directions that a beneficiary or contributor may provide for a 529 or ABLE account, rebalancing investments among broad-based investment strategies established under the program is not an investment direction unless the beneficiary or contributor directs the specific investments within the strategies.

Date: 2016-05-11
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Taxation
Social Security Disability Fairness Act of 2016 

 This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to prescribe formulae for payment of Social Security Disability Insurance benefits over a period of 24 consecutive calendar months for individuals determined to be under a disability upon submission of a diagnosis of a terminal illness.

Date: 2016-05-26
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
Social Security Disability Insurance Return to Work Act 

This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to: (1) establish specified new disability classifications, and (2) require periodic continuing disability reviews for beneficiaries classified as "medical improvement possible" or "medical improvement not likely."

The bill revises the standard of review for termination of disability benefits regarding an individual engaged in substantial gainful work as part of a certain process.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) shall promulgate or revise, as appropriate, regulations relating to the determination, classification, and review of the disability status of individuals who apply for or receive disability insurance benefits.

SSAct title II is amended to: (1) prescribe time limits for disability benefits classified "medical improvement expected" or "medical improvement likely," and (2) direct the SSA to establish a process for an individual entitled to a disability insurance benefit to elect to return to employment and receive an adjusted disability insurance benefit amount.

The SSA shall determine the amount of any reduction in expenditures from the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund during the preceding calendar year. 10% of that amount shall be made available for continuing disability reviews.

Date: 2016-06-08
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
Disability Integration Act of 2016

This bill prohibits states or local governments that provide institutional placements for individuals with disabilities who need long-term assistance with daily living activities or health-related tasks, and prohibits insurance providers that fund such long-term services, from denying community-based services that would enable such individuals, as an alternative to institutionalization, to live in the community and lead an independent life.

States, local governments, or insurance providers may not discriminate against such individuals in the provision of community-based services by: (1) imposing prohibited eligibility criteria, cost caps, waiting lists, or payment structures; (2) failing to provide a specific community-based service; or (3) requiring an individual to receive a service in a congregate or disability-specific setting.

Community-based services must be offered to individuals with such disabilities prior to institutionalization. Institutionalized individuals must be notified regularly of community-based alternatives.

States, local governments, and public insurance providers must assess: (1) transportation barriers that prevent individuals from receiving services in integrated settings, and (2) the availability of integrated employment opportunities.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must issue regulations requiring states, local governments, or insurance providers to offer community-based long-term services as an alternative to institutional placement. State and local governments, in conjunction with housing agencies, must ensure sufficient availability of affordable, accessible, and integrated housing that is not a disability-specific residential setting or a setting where services are tied to tenancy.

Such regulations must also require states and local governments to begin implementing a transition plan to achieve the requirements of this Act within 12 years after its enactment. For 10 years after issuance of the regulations, HHS must determine annually whether each state is complying with the transition plan. If a state is complying, HHS must increase by five percentage points the federal medical assistance percentage for a state requesting an increase for expenditures on home and community-based services furnished under the state Medicaid plan under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, or a waiver of such plan, that are identified as: (1) improvements to ensure accessibility or self-directed receipt of such services, (2) funding shifts from institutional settings to integrated community-based services, or (3) environmental modifications for housing targeted toward the lowest income individuals.

The bill provides for DOJ enforcement and allows civil actions by individuals subjected to, or about to be subjected to, a violation of this bill.

Date: 2016-07-08
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Transition to Independence Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a demonstration program over five fiscal years, beginning with FY2018, under which a Medicaid Buy-In State meeting certain criteria may receive bonus payments for:

 meeting specific measurable benchmarks in expanding individual integrated employment and reducing subminimum wage work, congregate setting work, or facility-based day habilitation placements for working-age individuals with a disability receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services; and taking other actions conducive to expanding employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities within the state.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Health
Safe Recovery and Community Empowerment Act

This bill amends the Fair Housing Act to authorize a local, state, or federal government body to:

 limit the number of residential recovery facilities within a particular area zoned for residential housing, provided that the limitation is necessary to preserve the residential character of the area, allows for a reasonable number of such facilities to be located within such area, and does not place an overall cap on their number within a municipality or state; and require a facility to obtain an operating license or use permit or satisfy a set of consumer protection standards. A residential recovery facility is a residence that provides housing to individuals in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction with the promise of providing a clean and sober environment in return for direct or indirect payment to an owner, operator, or compensated staff person.

Facilities receiving payments from a federal health care program, or via private insurance purchased on a federal exchange or federally subsidized, for either housing, recovery services, or testing or monitoring for drugs or alcohol, shall ensure that residents be provided a safe living environment completely free from illicit drugs, alcohol, firearms, harassment, abuse, or harm.

Date: 2016-09-20
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit of up to $500 in a taxable year for the purchase of a hearing aid that is authorized under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for commercial distribution and is intended for use by the taxpayer or a dependent of the taxpayer.

Date: 2015-01-29
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Taxation
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)

Special Needs Trust Fairness Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act with respect to the treatment of revocable trusts for the benefit of an individual for purposes of meeting income requirements for Medicaid coverage.

Extends the supplemental needs trust exemption from treatment of a trust as resources available to the individual to supplemental needs trusts for Medicaid beneficiaries established by those beneficiaries.

Date: 2015-02-03
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Health
IDEA MOE Adjustment Act

Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to alter the formula for reallocating the federal special education funding that is denied to states that reduce their level of special education funding from one fiscal year to the next.

Reallocates:

 85% of those funds on the basis of each nonpenalized state's share of children aged 3 through 21 who are of the same age as children with disabilities for whom the state provides a free appropriate public education, and 15% of those funds on the basis of each nonpenalized state's share of those children who are impoverished. Prohibits the Secretary of Education from considering those penalties or redistributions when calculating the amount of special education funds a state received in a preceding fiscal year for purposes of determining the state's current share of federal special education funds.

Limits the application of the penalty imposed on a state that reduces its special education funding from one fiscal year to the next to a reduction of federal special education funds (equal to the amount of the state shortfall) that is imposed: (1) the following fiscal year, or (2) over a multi-year period that is no more than five consecutive fiscal years. (Currently, that penalty may be imposed on a state for any fiscal year after the fiscal year the state reduces its special education funding.)

Date: 2015-02-09
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Education
Huntington's Disease Parity Act of 2015 

Directs the Commissioner of Social Security, for purposes of determining cognitive, behavioral, and physical disability under titles II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act (SSAct), to amend specified Listings of Impairments by providing medical and evaluation criteria for Huntington's Disease.

Amends SSAct title II to waive the 24-month waiting period for coverage under the program under SSAct title XVIII (Medicare) for individuals diagnosed with Huntington's Disease.

Date: 2015-04-16
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Health
Guiding Responsible and Improved Disability Decisions Act of 2015 or the GRIDD Act of 2015 

The Commissioner of Social Security shall prescribe rules and regulations that update medical-vocational guidelines used in disability determinations.

Date: 2015-05-05
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
Promoting Opportunity through Informed Choice Act

Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to make on-line tools publicly available through the Social Security Administration website to allow all individuals eligible for disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits under titles II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) and XVI of the Social Security Act to assess the impact of earnings on their eligibility for, and amount of, benefits received through federal and state benefit programs.

Date: 2015-05-05
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
Improving the Integrity of Disability Evidence Act

This bill amends the Social Security Act to prohibit the Commissioner of Social Security from considering (except for good cause) any medical evidence with respect to whether an individual is under a disability which is furnished by: (1) any individual convicted of a felony relating to Medicare fraud, (2) any individual or entity excluded from participation in any federal health care program, and (3) any person with respect to whom a civil monetary penalty or assessment has been imposed for the submission of false evidence.

Date: 2015-05-05
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2015 

 Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to increase from $240 to $1,344 (increased for inflation each calendar year after 2016) the first amount of general income per year excluded in determining SSI program eligibility.

Increases from $780 to $4,368 (similarly increased) the first amount of earned income similarly excluded (including for a blind or disabled individual or spouse under age 65).

Sets at: (1) $15,000 in calendar year 2016 (increased for inflation) the resource limit for couples, and (2) $10,000 in calendar year 2016 (similarly increased) the resource limit for individuals without a spouse.

Prescribes an inflation adjustment in benefits in any calendar year after 2016.

Removes support and maintenance furnished in kind from determination of unearned income.

Repeals the administrative penalty which renders individuals (and spouses) ineligible for SSI for a certain period of time if after the look-back date (usually 36 months preceding their application for SSI) they dispose of their resources for less than market value.

Date: 2015-05-19
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
Disability Fraud Reduction and Unethical Deception (FRAUD) Prevention Act 

Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to authorize the Social Security Administration (SSA) to disqualify or suspend immediately from appearing as a claimant representative before it any individual who has been convicted of a felony in a federal or state court, or, in the case of an attorney, upon the individual's disbarment from any court or bar to which he or she was previously admitted to practice.

Amends SSAct titles II, VIII (Special Benefits for Certain World War II Veterans), and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) to subject to criminal penalties for fraud any conspiracy to commit specified offenses, and increase criminal as well as civil monetary penalties for certain individuals in positions of trust who commit fraud.

Amends SSAct title II to direct the SSA to establish rules under which fines and other appropriate sanctions may be imposed on claimant representatives for failure to comply with the SSA rules and regulations.

Amends SSAct title XI to: (1) establish a civil monetary penalty for any claimant representative who knowingly charges for services rendered in excess of the maximum fee prescribed by the SSA or allowed by a court, and (2) direct the SSA periodically to adjust civil monetary penalty maximum amounts for inflation.

Requires federal courts (which currently are merely authorized) to order defendants convicted of Social Security fraud to provide restitution to victims in certain cases.

Amends SSAct title II to ban any payment of benefits to individuals on whom a civil monetary penalty is imposed for fraudulently concealing work activity.

Directs the Inspector General of the SSA to conduct biennial reviews of the practices of a sample of the highest earning claimant representatives to ensure compliance with SSA policies.

Date: 2015-08-04
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act or the TIME Act

This bill prohibits the Secretary of Labor, for a three-year period, from issuing any special wage certificate under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to certain entities, allowing them to pay individuals with disabilities subminimum wages, except as a renewal of a special wage certificate previously issued to the entity.

Any such special wage certificate issued or renewed shall be void three years after enactment of this Act.

Authority for such special wage certificates is repealed as of three years after enactment of this Act.

Date: 2015-08-05
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Labor and employment
Social Security Disability Insurance and Unemployment Benefits Double Dip Elimination Act

This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to declare that for any week in whole or in part within a month that an individual is paid or determined to be eligible for unemployment compensation he or she shall be deemed to have engaged in substantial gainful activity and so be disqualified from receiving Social Security disability benefits after a certain period has elapsed.

States that, for purposes of determining services rendered by an individual during a period of trial work which will not disqualify the individual for disability benefits, the individual shall be deemed to have rendered services in a month if he or she is entitled to unemployment compensation or trade adjustment assistance for that month.

Date: 2015-08-06
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
Expedited Disability Insurance Payments for Terminally Ill Individuals Act of 2015 

 Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to prescribe formulae for payment of Social Security Disability Insurance benefits over a period of 24 consecutive calendar months for individuals determined to be under a disability upon submission of a diagnosis of a terminal illness.

Date: 2015-09-09
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
Credit for Caring Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an eligible caregiver a new tax credit for 30% of the cost of long-term care expenses that exceed $2,000, up to $3,000 in a taxable year. The bill defines "eligible caregiver" as an individual who pays or incurs expenses for providing care to a spouse or other dependent relative with long-term care needs and who has earned income for the taxable year in excess of $7,500.

Date: 2016-04-07
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Taxation
ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2016

This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the five-month waiting period for disability insurance benefits for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and require their payment starting the first month during all of which the individual is under a disability and in which the individual becomes entitled to the benefits.

Date: 2016-05-09
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
Social Security Disability Insurance Return to Work Act of 2016 

This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to: (1) establish specified new disability classifications, and (2) require periodic continuing disability reviews for beneficiaries classified as "medical improvement possible" or "medical improvement not likely."

The bill revises the standard of review for termination of disability benefits regarding an individual engaged in substantial gainful work as part of a certain process.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) shall promulgate or revise, as appropriate, regulations relating to the determination, classification, and review of the disability status of individuals who apply for or receive disability insurance benefits.

SSAct title II is amended to: (1) prescribe time limits for disability benefits classified "medical improvement expected" or "medical improvement likely," and (2) direct the SSA to establish a process for an individual entitled to a disability insurance benefit to elect to return to employment and receive an adjusted disability insurance benefit amount.

The SSA shall determine the amount of any reduction in expenditures from the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund during the preceding calendar year. 10% of that amount shall be made available for continuing disability reviews.

Date: 2016-06-08
Topic: Social Welfare (Disabled Assistance)
Subject: Social welfare
First Amendment Restoration Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to repeal: (1) a requirement that persons making disbursements for electioneering communications file reports on such disbursements with the Federal Election Commission; (2) a prohibition against the making of disbursements for electioneering communications by corporations and labor organizations; and (3) a provision treating coordinated communications as contributions.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Political Convention Reform Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal provisions providing for the use of funds from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund for presidential nominating conventions.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Full Disclosure in Lobbying Act - Amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 to require a registered lobbyist's semiannual disclosure report, in the case of a registrant (subcontractor) retained by another person or entity to engage in lobbying activities on behalf of a third person or entity, to include: (1) the name, address, and principal place of business of the other person or entity that retained the subcontractor; (2) the name, address, and principal place of business of the third person or entity on whose behalf the lobbying activities were performed; and (3) the amount of funds paid, during such reporting period, to the subcontractor as well as to the other person or entity who retained the subcontractor for such lobbying activities.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Government Operations (Political Campaigns)
Subject: Government operations and politics