PL 105-18 1997 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery from Natural Disasters, and for Overseas Peacekeeping Efforts, Including Those in Bosnia (enacted 6/12/97)

Unless specified in the statute, legislation is effective upon enactment. For full text of legislation visit the website of the Library of Congress.

Section 6005 provides an extension of SSI eligibility for noncitizens who were receiving benefits on 8/22/96 and who would not continue to be eligible under PL 104-193 by changing the date that such redeterminations have to be completed from 8/22/97 to 9/30/97.

PL 105-33 Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (enacted 8/5/97)

Section 4313 requires the COSS to verify the accuracy of SSNs of Medicare providers supplied by the HHS Sec., who is to reimburse the COSS for related costs; effective 90 days after the HHS Sec. submits a report to Congress on protecting SSNs and information.
Section 4732 expands the current level of Part B premium assistance by providing block grants to states for use in assisting Medicaid enrollees whose income ranges between 120% - 135% of poverty level.
Section 4733 allows for state option to permit disabled workers whose family income is less than 250% of poverty level to buy into Medicaid.
Section 4913  continues Medicaid eligibility for disabled children who lost SSI benefits under PL 104-193; effective for medical assistance furnished on or after 7/1/97.
Section 5101 extends by 6 months (or as soon as is practicable thereafter) the deadline to perform childhood disability redeterminations under PL 104-193; effective 8/22/96 (retroactive).
Section 5102(a) sets the fees for the Federal administration of Optional and Mandatory State Supplementary Payments for FYs 1997 to 2002, and gives the COSS discretion to set fees beginning in FY 2003; effective 8/5/97.
Section 5102(b) provides that some of the funds raised go into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts, and the rest go into a special fund to defray the expenses incurred in carrying out this title and related laws.
Section 5301(a) provides that qualified aliens receiving SSI on 8/22/96 are not covered by PL 104-193, and will continue to be eligible; effective 8/22/96 (retroactive).
Section 5301(b) provides that blind or disabled aliens receiving SSI on 8/22/96 are not covered by PL 104-193, and will continue to be eligible; effective 8/22/96 (retroactive).
Section 5301(c) extends the grandfather provision relating to SSI eligibility in PL 104-193 for 1 year, to 9/30/98; effective 8/22/96 (retroactive).
Section 5302(a) extends the SSI eligibility period for certain refugees and aliens from 5 to 7 years; effective 8/22/96 (retroactive).
Section 5302(c) extends the definition of qualified alien for purposes of PL 104-193 to include Cuban and Haitian entrants; effective 8/22/96 (retroactive).
Section 5303 excepts certain Native Americans from the limitations on SSI eligibility in PL 104-193; effective 8/22/96 (retroactive).
Section 5304 makes an exception to the restriction on SSI participation for very old applications (filed before 1/1/79) as long as there is no evidence the alien is ineligible; effective 8/22/96 (retroactive).
Section 5306 classifies certain Amerasian immigrants as refugees, changing their eligibility for SSI and the 5-year exception under PL 104-193; effective 8/22/96 (retroactive).
Section 5521(b) clarifies the definition of "institution" for purposes of suspending SSI benefits to include jail, prison, penal institution and correctional facility; effective 8/22/96 (retroactive).
Section 5522(a) provides SSA the authority to make redeterminations of disabled childhood SSI recipients who attain age 18 using adult eligibility criteria, and also allows CDRs of a low birth-weight child to be scheduled beyond attainment of 1 year of age, if such individual’s impairment is not expected to improve within 12 months of birth.
Section 5522(c)(1) clarifies that a hospital, extended care facility, nursing home or intermediate care facility is a "medical institution or nursing facility" for purposes of SSI; effective 8/5/97.
Section 5525 makes technical amendments to SSI DA&A provisions (from PL 104-121), including when a claim is finally adjudicated, representative payment and treatment referrals; effective 3/29/96 (retroactive) and repeals reporting requirements contained in sections 201(a)(3)(B) and 203(b)(3)(B)(ii) of PL 103-296; effective 8/5/97.
Section 5527 sets the payment date for 10/00 SSI benefits as 10/2/00; effective 8/5/97 (repealed by PL 106-246).
Section 5562 makes corrections related to aliens whose deportation is withheld for benefit limitation exceptions; effective 8/5/97.

PL 105-34  Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (enacted 8/5/97)

Section 1024 authorizes the IRS to collect overdue Federal tax debts through the Federal Payment Levy Program of individuals who receive Federal benefits, like Social Security, at a rate of up to 15 percent until paid in full; effective 8/5/97.
Section 1090 requires SSA to collect the SSNs of each parent in addition to required evidence of age, identity, and citizenship on any application for a Social Security number for a person under age 18; requires SSA to share this information with IRS for administration of tax benefits based on support or residency of a child: effective 10/1/98. This section also requires States to make available to SSA each parent’s name and SSN collected in the birth certification process; it requires SSA to share this information with IRS, applies to information obtained on, before, or after enactment.
Section 1224 requires partnerships with more than 100 partners to report wages on magnetic media.

Continuing Appropriations Resolutions

PL 105-46 (9/30/97 - 10/23/97) (enacted 9/30/97)
PL 105-64 (10/23/97 - 11/7/97) (enacted 10/23/97)
PL 105-68 (11/7/97 - 11/9/97) (enacted 11/7/97)
PL 105-69 (11/9/97 - 11/10/97) (enacted 11/9/97)
PL 105-71 (11/10/97 - 11/14/97) (enacted 11/10/97)
Making continuing appropriations for FY 1998 at FY 1997 levels until enactment of permanent FY 1998 appropriations.

PL 105-61 Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 1998 (enacted 10/10/97)

Title I provides funds of not more than $10 million to implement section 1090 of PL 105-34.
Section 602 requires that all entities receiving appropriations have a written policy designed to insure that all of their workplaces are free from illegal controlled substances.
Section 603 provides, for agencies that provide child care services for its employees, that the agency may reimburse the employee (or any person employed to provide such services) for expenses incurred for training or meetings in connection with the provision of such services.
Section 608 provides that, in addition to appropriated funds, all agencies may use funds raised by the sale of certain materials for purposes authorized by law. 
Section 619 requires that all entities receiving appropriations have a written policy designed to insure that all of their workplaces are free from discrimination and sexual harassment.
Section 622 defines parameters for content of employee training.
Section 626 prohibits agencies from disclosing the name and/or home address of any employee to a labor organization unless authorized by the employee or court order.
Section 636 prohibits paying Sunday premium pay unless work was actually performed during that time.

PL 105-78  Depts. of Labor, HHS and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 (enacted 11/13/97)

Title IV makes SSA appropriations for FY 1998, including payments to the Trust Funds, special benefits for disabled coal miners, SSI (including CDRs) and a state-of-the-art computing network.
Section 516(a) sets the fees for Federal administration of Optional and Mandatory State Supplementary Payments for FYs 1997 to 2002, and gives the COSS discretion to set fees beginning in FY 2003.
Section 516(b) provides that some of the funds raised go into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts, and the rest go into a special fund to defray the expenses incurred in carrying out this title and related laws.
Section 517 extends voluntary separation incentive payments to employees who separate before 12/31/97.
Section 605 adds employers to the contributors shown on a Social Security Account Statement (PEBES).
Section 606 provides that certain payments made by DOD to former Vietnam POWs will not be considered as I&R for SSI purposes.

PL 105-143  Michigan Indian Land Claims Settlement Act (enacted 12/15/97)

Section 111 provides that funds received pursuant to this Act will not be considered as I&R for SSI purposes.

Continuing Appropriations Resolutions

PL 105-240 (9/25/98 - 10/9/98) (enacted 9/25/98)
PL 105-249 (10/9/98 - 10/12/98) (enacted 10/9/98)
PL 105-254 (10/12/98 - 10/14/98) (enacted 10/12/98)
PL 105-257 (10/14/98 - 10/16/98) (enacted 10/14/98)
PL 105-260 (10/16/98 - 10/20/98) (enacted 10/16/98)
PL 105-273 (10/20/98 - 10/21/98) (enacted 10/20/98)
Making continuing appropriations for FY 1999 at FY 1998 levels until enactment of permanent FY 1999 appropriations.

PL 105-264 Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 (enacted 10/19/98)

Section 2 revises and establishes parameters for use of Federal charge cards by Federal employees, and lists required actions by agency heads regarding official use of such cards; agency heads may collect, by deduction from pay, delinquent funds that the employee owes to a contractor; effective 10/1/83 (retroactive).
Section 3 requires agencies to verify the accuracy of their transportation costs when prepayment audits are inadequate, using their appropriated transportation funds; effective 4/19/00.
Section 4 authorizes the agency head to pay Federal, State or local income tax liability incurred by an employee (and spouse, if a joint return is filed) out of a travel or transportation reimbursement (including penalties and interest); effective only for tax years 1993 and 1994.
Section 5 authorizes travel and relocation expenses test programs and requires any agency with such programs to report to Congress and the GSA Administrator on the process and results.

PL 105-266  Federal Employees Health Care Protection Act of 1998 9enacted 10/19/98)

Section 3 provides that coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) supersedes any State or local law on health insurance or plans.
Section 4 establishes that continuing coverage under FEHBP is limited to individuals voluntarily terminating coverage in any other plan on or before 1/2/99.

PL 105-270 Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act of 1998 (enacted 10/19/98)

Section 2 requires each agency head to submit to OMB every FY not later than the third quarter, a list of activities performed by government sources that are not inherently governmental, to publish the list, to review the list and use competition to select nongovernmental sources for activities on the list and to perform fair cost comparisons between performing the activities and outsourcing them.
Section 3 sets forth procedures for interested parties to challenge the list (challenge/appeal process); requires inventory submission to OMB by June 30 each year; inventories of commercial activities must be made public and Congress must be notified of this; effective 10/1/98.

PL 105-277 Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 (enacted 10/21/98)

Title IV makes SSA appropriations for FY 1999, including payments to the Trust Funds, special benefits for disabled coal miners, SSI (including CDRs) and directs the COSS to direct $6 million for Federal-State partnerships to evaluate means to promote Medicare buy-in programs targeted to the elderly and disabled.
Section 362 prohibits DOT from using funds appropriated in this law to issue the final regulations required by section 656(b) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act of 1996. Section 656(b) prohibits Federal agencies from accepting as proof of identification a driver’s license that does not meet standards promulgated by DOT. The standards include a document that contains a Social Security number that can be read electronically or visually and is in a form that includes security features to limit tampering and counterfeiting.
Title XVII - Government Paperwork Elimination Act
Section 1704
provides that the OMB Director shall ensure that agencies allow the option of electronic maintenance, submission or disclosure of information and the use of electronic signatures not more than 5 years from enactment (by 10/21/03).
Section 1705 requires the OMB Director to develop procedures to permit private employers to electronically store and file employee records with agencies by 4/21/00.
Section 1707 provides that electronic records and signatures developed in compliance with this Act shall not be denied legal effect, validity or enforceability because they are electronic.
Division J - Tax and Trade Relief Extension Act of 1998
Division J, Section 2023 allows States to modify their Social Security coverage agreements with the COSS between 1/1/99 and 3/31/99 to exclude from coverage services performed by students employed by State schools, colleges or universities; effective for services performed after 6/30/00.
Division J, Section 4005 amends section 207 of the Social Security Act to allow voluntary withholdings from benefits for income tax purposes; effective 12/1/98 (note: this provision implements section 702 of PL 103-465) .

PL 105-285 Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services Act of 1998 (enacted 10/27/98)

Title IV - Assets for Independence Act
Section 415 provides that only the funds deposited by the individual in an individual development account, including interest, may be considered I&R for SSI purposes.

PL 105-306  Noncitizen Benefit Clarification and Other Technical Amendments Act of 1998 (enacted 10/28/98)

Section 2 continues eligibility for non-qualified aliens receiving SSI benefits as of 8/22/96.
Section 7 provides that up to $2,000 per year in cash gifts made by tax exempt organizations to children with life-threatening illnesses will not be considered as I&R for SSI purposes.
Section 8 provides for the cross-program recovery of SSI overpayments owed by persons not currently eligible for SSI from the Social Security benefits to which they are entitled. The amount of the Social Security benefit payable may be reduced by no more than 10 percent of the amount payable in any month (unless fraud was involved) and the reduction in Social Security benefits due to this recovery action shall have no effect on SSI eligibility or payment amounts of any individual.

PL 105-311  Federal Employees Life Insurance Improvement Act (enacted 10/30/98)

Section 2 directs OPM to conduct a study and submit report to Congress on life insurance options by surveying Federal employees.
Section 5 protects coverage of an employee who erroneously became insured, or erroneously continued insurance upon retirement, if the findings occur after 2 years of being in force.
Section 6 allows an employee whose pay is insufficient to cover withholdings to pay directly into the Employees' Life Insurance Fund.
Section 8 provides for optional life insurance on family members of each eligible employee.
Section 9 requires not later than 180 days after enactment (4/30/99) an open enrollment period of at least 8 weeks.

PL 105-318 Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998 (enacted 10/30/98)

Section 3 provides criminal penalties for any person who knowingly uses or transfers, without lawful authority, the means of identification (e.g., name, SSN, date of birth, etc.) of another person with the intent to commit, aid or abet any unlawful activity.

PL 105-349 Joint Resolution (enacted 11/2/98)

Recognizing the accomplishments of Inspectors General since their creation in 1978 in preventing and detecting waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement, and in promoting economy, efficiency, and effective in the Federal Government.

PL 105-369  Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act of 1998 (enacted 11/12/98)

Section 201 provides that money received from this fund, as well as payments made from any fund established pursuant to a class settlement in the case of Susan Walker v. Bayer Corporation, et al., 96-C-5024 (N.D.III.); and payments made pursuant to a release of all claims in a case that is entered into in lieu of the class settlement that is signed by all parties on or after the later December 31, 1997 or the date that is 270 days after the date on which such release is first sent to the persons to whom the payment is made, will not be considered I&R for SSI purposes.

PL 105-379  An Act to Amend the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (enacted 11/12/98)

Section 1 requires State agencies to work with the COSS to obtain information about deceased individuals to ensure that food stamp benefits are not issued to them.