113 S1592 PCS: Delay Until Fully Functional Act of 2013 U.S. Senate 2013-10-28 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IICalendar No. 225113th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 1592IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESOctober 28, 2013Mr. Rubio (for himself, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Moran, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Johanns, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Sessions, and Mr. Thune) introduced the following bill; which was read the first timeOctober 29, 2013Read the second time and placed on the calendarA BILLTo provide for a delay of the individual mandate under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act until the American Health Benefit Exchanges are functioning properly.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Delay Until Fully Functional Act of 2013.

2.

Delay in the individual mandate and exemption from penalty

(a)

Delay in applicability

Section 1501(d) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18091(d)) is amended to read as follows:(d)

Effective date

(1)

In general

The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning 6 months after the date on which the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services submits to Congress the certification described in paragraph (3).(2)

GAO study and report

(A)

In general

Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of the Delay Until Fully Functional Act of 2013, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to determine whether the American Health Benefit Exchanges, including the Exchange administered by the Federal Government, and all other point of enrollment options (including telephone and postal options), are fully functional and operating in a manner consistent with the role envisioned for Exchanges under this Act, and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report concerning the results of such study.(B)

Subsequent studies and reports

If, based on the results of the study conducted under subparagraph (A), the Comptroller General determines that the Exchanges are not fully functional and operating in a manner consistent with the role envisioned for Exchanges under this Act, the Comptroller General shall conduct one or more subsequent studies every 60 days (and submit reports based on the results of such studies) until the Comptroller General determines that the Exchanges are fully functional and operating in such manner.(3)

Certification

Upon the submission of a report under paragraph (2) that determines that the American Health Benefit Exchanges are fully functional and operating in a manner consistent with the role envisioned for Exchanges under this Act, the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a certification (in writing) of the results of such report.(4)

Adjustment of dates

In applying section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Secretary of the Treasury shall adjust the dates in such section accordingly based on the application of this subsection..(b)

Exemption from penalty

Section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following:(h)

Exemption

The provisions of this section shall not apply to an individual who is unable to enroll in a qualified health plan because of the technical or customer service issues of an American Health Benefit Exchange, as determined by the Secretary..

October 29, 2013Read the second time and placed on the calendar