P.L. 103-296 SEC. 208 [42 U.S.C. 1382 note] CONTINUING DISABILITY REVIEWS. (a) TEMPORARY ANNUAL MINIMUM NUMBER OF REVIEWS.-During each year of the 3-year period that begins on October 1, 1995, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall apply section 221(i) of the Social Security Act in making disability determinations under title XVI of such Act with respect to at least 100,000 recipients of supplemental security income benefits under such title. (b) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS.-Not later than October 1, 1998, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on the activities conducted under subsection (a). * SEC. 301 [42 U.S.C. 401 note] ISSUANCE OF PHYSICAL DOCUMENTS IN THE FORM OF BONDS, NOTES, OR * (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.— (1) IN GENERAL.-The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to obligations issued, and payments made, after 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) TREATMENT OF OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS.-Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall issue to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, as applicable, a paper instrument, in the form of a bond, note, or certificate of indebtedness, for each obligation which has been issued to the Trust Fund under section 201(d) of the Social Security Act and which is outstanding as of such date. Each such document shall set forth the principal amount, date of maturity, and interest rate of the obligation, and shall state on its face that the obligation shall be incontestable in the hands of the Trust Fund to which it was issued, that the obligation is supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, and that the United States is pledged to the payment of the obligation with respect to both principal and interest. SEC. 302 [42 U.S.C. 902 note] GAO STUDY REGARDING TELEPHONE ACCESS TO LOCAL OFFICES OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. (a) STUDY.-The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of telephone access to local offices of the Social Security Administration. (b) MATTERS TO BE STUDIED.-In conducting the study under this section, the Comptroller General shall make an independent assessment of the Social Security Administration's use of innovative technology (including attendant call and voice mail) to increase public telephone access to local offices of the Administration. Such study shall include (1) an assessment of the aggregate impact of such technology on public access to the local offices, and (2) a separate assessment of the impact of such technology on public access to those local offices to which access was restricted on October 1, 1989. (c) REPORT.-Not later than January 31, 1996, the Comptroller General shall submit a report on the results of the study conducted pursuant to this section to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate. P.L. 103-296 SEC. 306 [26 U.S.C. 1402 note] LIMITED EXEMPTION FOR CANADIAN MINISTERS FROM CERTAIN SELF- if (a) IN GENERAL.-Notwithstanding any other provision of law, (1) an individual performed services described in section 1402(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which are subject to tax under section 1401 of such Code, (2) such services were performed in Canada at a time when no agreement between the United States and Canada pursuant to section 233 of the Social Security Act was in effect, and (3) such individual was required to pay contributions on the earnings from such services under the social insurance system of Canada, then such individual may file a certificate under this section in such form and manner, and with such official, as may be prescribed in regulations issued under chapter 2 of such Code. Upon the filing of such certificate, notwithstanding any judgment which has been entered to the contrary, such individual shall be exempt from payment of such tax with respect to services described in paragraphs (1) and (2) and from any penalties or interest for failure to pay such tax or to file a self-employment tax return as required under section 6017 of such Code. (b) PERIOD FOR FILING.-A certificate referred to in subsection (a) may be filed only during the 180-day period commencing with the date on which the regulations referred to in subsection (a) are issued. (c) TAXABLE YEARS AFFECTED BY CERTIFICATE.-A certificate referred to in subsection (a) shall be effective for taxable years ending after December 31, 1978, and before January 1, 1985. (d) RESTRICTION ON CREDITING OF EXEMPT SELF-EMPLOYMENT INCOME.-In any case in which an individual is exempt under this section from paying a tax imposed under section 1401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, any income on which such tax would have been imposed but for such exemption shall not constitute self-employment income under section 211(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 411(b)), and, if such individual's primary insurance amount has been determined under section 215 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415), notwithstanding section 215(f)(1) of such Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (prior to March 31, 1995) or the Commissioner of Social Security (after March 30, 1995) shall recompute such primary insurance amount so as to take into account the provisions of this subsection. The recomputation under this subsection shall be effective with respect to benefits for months following approval of the certificate of exemption. SEC. 310 * * MAXIMUM FAMILY BENEFITS IN GUARANTEE CASES. (c) [42 U.S.C. 403 note] EFFECTIVE DATE.-The amendments made by this section shall apply for the purpose of determining the total monthly benefits to which beneficiaries may be entitled under sections 202 and 223 of the Social Security Act based on the wages and self-employment income of an individual who (1) becomes entitled to an old-age insurance benefit under section 202(a) of such Act, (2) becomes reentitled to a disability insurance benefit under section 223 of such Act, or (3) dies, after December 1995. MISUSE OF SYMBOLS, EMBLEMS, OR NAMES IN REFERENCE TO SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION OR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. (k) [42 U.S.C. 1320b-10 note] REPORTS. (1) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Commissioner of Social Security shall each submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate 3 reports on the operation of section 1140 of the Social Security Act with respect to the Social Security Administration or the Department of Health and Human Services during the period covered by the report, which shall specify(A) the number of complaints of violations of such section received by the Social Security Administration or the Department of Health and Human Services during the period, (B) the number of cases in which the Social Security Administration or the Department, during the period, sent a notice of violation of such section requesting that an individual cease activities in violation of such section, (C) the number of cases in which the Social Security Administration or the Department formally proposed a civil money penalty in a demand letter during the period, (D) the total amount of civil money penalties assessed by the Social Security Administration or the Department under this section during the period, (E) the number of requests for hearings filed during the period by the Social Security Administration or the Department pursuant to sections 1140(c)(1) and 1128A(c)(2) of the Social Security Act, (F) the disposition during the period of hearings filed pursuant to sections 1140(c)(1) and 1128A(c)(2) of the Social Security Act, and (G) the total amount of civil money penalties collected under this section and deposited into the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Health Insurance and Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Funds, as applicable, during the period. (2) WHEN DUE.-The reports required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted not later than December 1, 1995, not later than December 1, 1997, and not later than December 1, 1999, respectively. (d) [42 U.S.C. 401 note] RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. (1) The preceding provisions of this section shall be construed only as technical and clerical corrections and as reflecting the original intent of the provisions amended thereby. (2) Any reference in title II of the Social Security Act to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be construed to include a reference to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to the extent necessary to carry out the provisions of paragraph (1). * [Internal References.-S.S. Act §§205, 207; 208; 701, 704, 1140, and 1631 and Title XVI (SSI) catchlines and §205(c) and 226A(c), have footnotes referring to P.L. 103-296.] P.L. 103-432 SEC. 3 P.L. 103-387, Approved October 22, 1994 (108 Stat.4071) Social Security Domestic Employment Reform Act of 1994 (d) [None assigned] STUDY ON RISING COSTS OF DISABILITY BENEFITS.— (1) IN GENERAL.-As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall conduct a comprehensive study of the reasons for rising costs payable from the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund. (2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED IN STUDY.-In conducting the study under this subsection, the Commissioner of Social Security shall (A) determine the relative importance of the following factors in increasing the costs payable from the Trust Fund: (i) increased numbers of applications for benefits; (ii) higher rates of benefit allowances; and (iii) decreased rates of benefit terminations; and (B) identify, to the extent possible, underlying social, economic, demographic, programmatic, and other trends responsible for changes in disability benefit applications, allowances, and terminations. (3) REPORT.-Not later than October 1, 1995, the Commissioner of Social Security shall transmit a report to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate setting forth the results of the study conducted under this subsection, together with any recommendations for legislative changes which the Commissioner determines appropriate. [Internal References.-S.S. Act Title II catchline and §201(b), have footnotes referring to P. L. 103-387.] P.L. 103-432, Approved October 31, 1994 (108 Stat. 4398) Social Security Act Amendments of 1994 SEC. 141 AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTER SERVICES. (b) [42 U.S.C. 13951] ADJUSTMENTS TO PAYMENT AMOUNTS FOR NEW TECHNOLOGY INTRAOCULAR LENSES. (1) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCESS FOR REVIEW OF AMOUNTS.-Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this subsection referred to as the "Secretary") shall develop and implement a process under which interested parties may request review by the Secretary of the appropriateness of the reimbursement amount provided under section 1833(i)(2)(A)(iii) of the Social Security Act with respect to a class P.L. 103-432 of new technology intraocular lenses. For purposes of the preceding sentence, an intraocular lens may not be treated as a new technology lens unless it has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. (2) FACTORS CONSIDERED.—In determining whether to provide an adjustment of payment with respect to a particular lens under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall take into account whether use of the lens is likely to result in reduced risk of intraoperative or postoperative complication or trauma, accelerated postoperative recovery, reduced induced astigmatism, improved postoperative visual acuity, more stable postoperative vision, or other comparable clinical advantages. (3) NOTICE AND COMMENT.-The Secretary shall publish notice in the Federal Register from time to time (but no less often than once each year) of a list of the requests that the Secretary has received for review under this subsection, and shall provide for a 30-day comment period on the lenses that are the subjects of the requests contained in such notice. The Secretary shall publish a notice of the Secretary's determinations with respect to intraocular lenses listed in the notice within 90 days after the close of the comment period. (4) EFFECTIVE DATE OF ADJUSTMENT.-Any adjustment of a payment amount (or payment limit) made under this subsection shall become effective not later than 30 days after the date on which the notice with respect to the adjustment is published under paragraph (3). * SEC. 232. [42 U.S.C. 1314a] MEASUREMENT AND REPORTING OF WELFARE RECEIPT. (a) CONGRESSIONAL POLICY.-The Congress hereby declares that (1) it is the policy and responsibility of the Federal Government to reduce the rate at which and the degree to which families depend on income from welfare programs and the duration of welfare receipt, consistent with other essential national goals; (2) it is the policy of the United States to strengthen families, to ensure that children grow up in families that are economically self-sufficient and that the life prospects of children are improved, and to underscore the responsibility of parents to support their children; (3) the Federal Government should help welfare receipients as well as individuals at risk of welfare receipt to improve their education and job skills, to obtain child care and other necessary support services, and to take such other steps as may be necessary to assist them to become financially independent; and (4) it is the purpose of this section to provide the public with generally accepted measures of welfare receipt so that it can track such receipt over time and determine whether progress is being made in reducing the rate at which and, to the extent feasible, the degree to which, families depend on income from welfare programs and the duration of welfare receipt. (b) DEVELOPMENT OF WELFARE INDICATORS AND PREDICTORS.-The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the "Secretary") in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture shall (1) develop— (A) indicators of the rate at which and, to the extent feasible, the degree to which, families depend on income from welfare programs and the duration of welfare receipt; and (B) predictors of welfare receipt; (2) assess the data needed to report annually on the indicators and predictors, including the ability of existing data collection efforts to provide such data and any additional data collection needs; and (3) not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, provide an interim report containing conclusions resulting from the development and assessment described in paragraphs (1) and (2), to— (A) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives; |