113 HR 5260 IH: Stop Disability Fraud Act of 2014
U.S. House of Representatives
2014-07-30
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.
1.This Act may be cited as the Stop Disability Fraud Act of 2014
.
2.The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Title I—Combating Conspiracy Fraud
Sec. 101. Expansion of cooperative disability investigations units.
Sec. 102. Exclusion of certain medical sources of evidence.
Sec. 103. Immediate suspension of claimant representatives upon certain convictions or disbarment.
Sec. 104. New and stronger penalties.
Sec. 105. Review of highest-earning claimant representatives.
Title II—Strengthening Program Protections
Sec. 201. Pre-effectuation and post-effectuation quality reviews of hearing dispositions.
Sec. 202. Uniform qualification standards for disability determination decision makers.
Sec. 203. Increased transparency.
Sec. 204. Data exchange standardization.
Title III—Modernizing Disability Programs
Sec. 301. Updating of medical-vocational guidelines.
Sec. 302. Research and demonstration projects.
Sec. 303. Referrals to vocational rehabilitation or other public or private return-to-work service
providers.
Sec. 304. Online benefit assessment tools.
Title IV—Other Program Improvements
Sec. 401. Real property acquired by the Trust Funds.
Sec. 402. Rules relating to distribution of death information furnished to or maintained by the
Social Security Administration.
Sec. 403. Reconsiderations of disability cessation determinations.
<enum>I</enum><header>Combating Conspiracy Fraud</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE9BB4CCFEDCA48CEA41441005E65D319"><enum>101.</enum><header>Expansion of cooperative disability investigations units</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than October 1, 2016, the Commissioner of Social Security shall take any necessary
actions to ensure that cooperative disability investigations units have
been established that would cover each of the 50 States, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin
Islands, and American Samoa.</text>
</section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7B8112692BBB42AFAF32E0417A15498E"><enum>102.</enum><header>Exclusion of certain medical sources of evidence</header>
<subsection id="H05499F135ADA49AC9101A07638190E7C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 223(d)(5) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/423">42 U.S.C. 423(d)(5)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end
the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0280D5A09A8443809539BA2B6B4F5E5D" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H35397326E3104FC58E804A1B4492964D" indent="up2"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In making any determination with respect to whether an individual is under a disability or
continues to be under a disability, the Commissioner of Social Security
may not consider any evidence furnished by an unlicensed or sanctioned
physician or health care practitioner.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H979539115F8C4E32BFC410F87084FFE6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to determinations of disability made
on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of
this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HFD68D2C952574DD29900544FE8DA58FC"><enum>103.</enum><header>Immediate suspension of claimant representatives upon certain convictions or disbarment</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 206(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/406">42 U.S.C. 406(a)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H972FA14BBECA4F5AAB88E3FD643338BB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the third sentence, by striking <quote>disbarred or</quote> each place it appears; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6D6763CD80984022BB209F47E834369A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after the third sentence the following: <quote>Upon conviction of an individual for a felony or a crime of moral turpitude in a Federal or State
Court or, in the case of an attorney, upon disbarment from any court or
bar to which he or she was previously admitted to practice, the
Commissioner may, after due notice, immediately disqualify or suspend the
individual from appearing as a claimant representative before the Social
Security Administration, pending an expedited hearing.</quote></text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H07ED48F930D5440C81331A26E5ECDD27"><enum>104.</enum><header>New and stronger penalties</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5D1C4FF1863946AABAA67B48B2D87AE0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Conspiracy To commit Social Security fraud</header>
<paragraph id="H84E0D8911D414E589FD7DCBF05FEFCDF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Amendment to title II</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 208(a) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/408">42 U.S.C. 408(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H331DDEF964CE4B8BB6893F60FED12C52"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (7)(C), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2A0FFF8DA79043B79138A7DD7B297E87"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (8), by adding <quote>or</quote> at the end; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9E42A45DC3CB4FF9A85C769D8DD70572"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2A4DDA77FC1D4A14940A8B30C783F878" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H008C1AE5D3374034A6D54CEA727B59C6" indent="up1"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conspires to commit any offense described in any of paragraphs (1) through (8),</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6C167DEACA2C465EB50A119CF96CD07B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Amendment to title VIII</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 811(a) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1011">42 U.S.C. 1011(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H84C45EEB936241B08AA062E378B5A9C5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB7E83DBC269D4F32B7408715E242F8F7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), by striking the comma and adding <quote>; or</quote> at the end; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1BF8BC31037E45D9854F35A50D677280"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6EFFBEA369EC46B6A6F94D5BA37D9F79" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H9567F67667914C3993FAD65DE9FA7B22" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conspires to commit any offense described in any of paragraphs (1) through (4),</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4197878C5BD046F193C5E18664C647BB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Amendment to title XVI</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1632(a) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1383a">42 U.S.C. 1383a(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H3C60094119BF48999657E9F766D57E19"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE23DF3CC64F24DD1AAE6206AEEE72472"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), by adding <quote>or</quote> at the end; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEA9CC23ECB984441910D825280560AEE"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1AB0B638BBEF48DB9022B1DDBFB191BE" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H1F5D213E2E2E447BB202744F5A0E8319" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conspires to commit any offense described in any of paragraphs (1) through (4),</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6A7278D9486C4C6B9FF475F2F4035935"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Increased criminal penalties for certain individuals in positions of trust</header>
<paragraph id="H595787753C604ECAB707641477B46696"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Amendment to title II</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 208(a) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/408">42 U.S.C. 408(a)</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (a), is
further amended by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>, except that in the case of a person who receives a fee or other income for services performed in
connection with any determination with respect to benefits under this
title (including a claimant representative, translator, or current or
former employee of the Social Security Administration), or who is a
physician or other health care provider who submits, or causes the
submission of, medical or other evidence in connection with any such
determination, such person shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction
thereof shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned
for not more than ten years, or both.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9053ECA34AAA490A97BB830A1A25E88F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Amendment to title VIII</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 811(a) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1011">42 U.S.C. 1011(a)</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by
striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>, except that in the case of a person who receives a fee or other income for services performed in
connection with any determination with respect to benefits under this
title (including a claimant representative, translator, or current or
former employee of the Social Security Administration), or who is a
physician or other health care provider who submits, or causes the
submission of, medical or other evidence in connection with any such
determination, such person shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction
thereof shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned
for not more than ten years, or both.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H919E0AA02EFF466FAE46E8F9D8D24B76"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Amendment to title XVI</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1632(a) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1383a">42 U.S.C. 1383a(a)</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended
by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>, except that in the case of a person who receives a fee or other income for services performed in
connection with any determination with respect to benefits under this
title (including a claimant representative, translator, or current or
former employee of the Social Security Administration), or who is a
physician or other health care provider who submits, or causes the
submission of, medical or other evidence in connection with any such
determination, such person shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction
thereof shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned
for not more than ten years, or both.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBE34DB94A33849D4A24ED74245AB8AF7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Increased civil monetary penalties for certain individuals in positions of trust</header><text>Section 1129(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.1320a-8(a)(1)) is amended, in the matter
following subparagraph (C), by inserting after <quote>withholding disclosure of such fact</quote> the following: <quote>, except that in the case of such a person who receives a fee or other income for services
performed in connection with any such determination (including a claimant
representative, translator, or current or former employee of the Social
Security Administration) or who is a physician or other health care
provider who submits, or causes the submission of, medical or other
evidence in connection with any such determination, the amount of such
penalty shall be not more than $7,500</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H810604FEF3744921A8834D17116F6A0D"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Establishment of sanctions for violations by claimant representatives</header>
<paragraph id="H391F1E5E6CE141D0B32BEADEA68DFFCB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 206(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/406">42 U.S.C. 406(a)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after <quote>or who violates any provision of this section for which a penalty is prescribed.</quote> the following: <quote>The Commissioner of Social Security shall establish rules under which fines and other sanctions the
Commissioner determines to be appropriate may be imposed for failure to
comply with the Commissioner's rules and regulations.</quote></text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFFC8AA8CCBEC49D5A0F46FF59675099B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Collection of fines</header><text>Section 206(d)(3) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/406">42 U.S.C. 406(d)(3)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after <quote>under paragraph (1)</quote> the following: <quote>, and any fine imposed on the attorney under subsection (a)(1),</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFAFFB9250D95488E883E6FA7C7FE2B5E"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Civil monetary penalty on claimant representatives</header><text>Section 1129(a) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1320a-8">42 U.S.C. 1320a–8(a)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end
the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE4E77E144A554977B11E5EF6876ABCD2" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="HAF216BD2E7674844860342C846072B56"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any person (including an organization, agency, or other entity) who, while acting as a claimant
representative pursuant to section 206, knowingly charges, demands,
receives, or collects for services rendered in excess of the maximum fee
prescribed by the Commissioner of Social Security or allowed by a court in
connection with proceedings before the court to which section 206(b)(1) is
applicable, shall be subject to, in addition to any other penalties that
may be prescribed by law, a civil monetary penalty of not more than $7,500
for each violation. Such person shall also be subject to an assessment, in
lieu of damages sustained by the United States resulting from the improper
payment, of not more than twice the amount of any payments so received.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HB00463A40F5E4EBF92A49614DB46FD73"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Inflation adjustment of certain civil monetary penalties</header><text>Title XI of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1301">42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after section
1129B the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFC1D3A7C89CF4E4492239455C82E1108" style="OLC">
<section id="H11E0342588ED41DFBA3FABA6AF03C75F"><enum>1129C.</enum><header>Civil monetary penalty inflation adjustment</header>
<subsection id="HA69708C907E944679512A9F9C19B415A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Adjustment by regulation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commissioner of Social Security shall, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
the <short-title>Stop Disability Fraud Act of 2014</short-title>, and at least once every 4 years thereafter—</text>
<paragraph id="H884A231B6D2B4C0FB3036C22D209960A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by regulation adjust the maximum amount of each civil monetary penalty by the inflation adjustment
described under subsection (b); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE876C5FCFFD8414AABC7910EA6178794"><enum>(2)</enum><text>publish each such regulation in the Federal Register.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6FFAAED09D1944C88174C477819347E6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amount of adjustment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The inflation adjustment under subsection (a) shall be determined by increasing the maximum amount
of each civil monetary penalty by the cost-of-living adjustment. Any
increase determined under this subsection shall be rounded to the nearest—</text>
<paragraph id="HA188521C1BC8410C911D9E151816ED03"><enum>(1)</enum><text>multiple of $1,000 in the case of penalties greater than $1,000 but less than or equal to $10,000;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFD707DCD10FE4572A9714DA36D13B9B0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>multiple of $5,000 in the case of penalties greater than $10,000 but less than or equal to
$100,000.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4C4E19871A0343BF9EC90D694B3B2AF1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>For purposes of this section—</text>
<paragraph id="H350C6DD6935B4369B1DB33AC01EE9673"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term <quote>civil monetary penalty</quote> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6115707EF888446186703CDB04C7B31C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a penalty imposed by paragraph (1) or (3) of section 1129(a); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAB8DC7C2315743CC85F0D2C59D3315BA"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a penalty imposed by paragraph (1) or (2) of section 1140(b).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H75A7BFC805BC4D5890F46A58C4611CDC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term <quote>cost-of-living adjustment</quote> means the percentage (if any) for each civil monetary penalty by which—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE7D64CD8FA3B42A78D6606D88DD22E4B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI–U) for the month of June of the calendar year
preceding the adjustment, exceeds</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H097A3829B81544AAB9C7760884A5D10C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the CPI–U for the month of June of the calendar year in which the amount of such civil monetary
penalty was last set or adjusted pursuant to law.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H34B376C91C2546A8A5A6C375B5FEFEBE"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Application of increase</header><text>Any increase under this Act in a civil monetary penalty shall apply only to violations which occur
after the date the increase takes effect.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H1EE8EB5655534CDE83692B084419C38F"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Mandatory restitution in Social Security fraud cases</header>
<paragraph id="H03B532CDBF7D4722A7BED3760D6821FF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Amendments to title II</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 208(b) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/408">42 U.S.C. 408(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCB427EBD7FE1488BAE8501510B3348A9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>may order</quote> and inserting <quote>shall order</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H797E57D61F304C4BA59E446CC73C4338"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>3663</quote> and inserting <quote>3663A</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF26B6B916DDB4DFAAA8DAC3BD0E44481"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (3); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA1BB7410F2D148878203A8E1BF78A2A3"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA9FCFEEDCA0542DFA7A73FCEE8C7C1DF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Amendments to title VIII</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 811(b) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1011">42 U.S.C. 1011(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="HEA25E638F9794F72B4CC7B8C645ADFF8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>may order</quote> and inserting <quote>shall order</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF77B0E4FAB8C4BD2A665A07DD0FF8BD7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>3663</quote> and inserting <quote>3663A</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4D9E3623FEDE47348C87FFBC0E4098ED"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (3); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF47D1557192F4619A0BA6C93B2A18FF4"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HEE8FB2F95E364D2EB3A5CFD2D8F30F53"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Amendments to title XVI</header><text>Section 1632(b) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1383a">42 U.S.C. 1383a(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H159756166DF44D1C97451A7950A1A2BD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>may order</quote> and inserting <quote>shall order</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8AA3A30FE4CA49AA8A4C57024B6E071E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>3663</quote> and inserting <quote>3663A</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBF3F2EBCE0EB49B8B7F4E5F5EF8A332E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (3); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HABA31187A7A547E4BEB9DB048F32267D"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H0EEF2E4647F6424EB11BABDE6BBEE1BC"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) shall apply with respect to violations
occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB98D5B39D4F8409686061C331727B421"><enum>(h)</enum><header>References to Social Security and Medicare in electronic communications</header>
<paragraph id="H8F0345A591F444AA9881C4E94D42259D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1140(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1320b-10">42 U.S.C. 1320b–10(a)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>(including any Internet or other electronic communication)</quote> after <quote>or other communication</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA458DC084D5947D28FBD6787956A80D8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Each communication treated as separate violation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1140(b) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1320b-10">42 U.S.C. 1320b–10(b)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after the second
sentence the following: <quote>In the case of any items referred to in subsection (a)(1) consisting of Internet or other
electronic communications, each dissemination, viewing, or accessing of
such a communication which contains one or more words, letters, symbols,
or emblems in violation of subsection (a) shall represent a separate
violation.</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H6827E64874F94ED687A1E8822CB2FE7A"><enum>(i)</enum><header>No benefits payable to individuals for whom a civil monetary penalty is imposed for fraudulently
concealing work activity</header><text>Section 222(c)(5) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/422">42 U.S.C. 422(c)(5)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after <quote>conviction by a Federal court</quote> the following: <quote>, or the imposition of a civil monetary penalty under section 1129,</quote>.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8B1450D320434F1083F8457787FDB7F5" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>105.</enum><header>Review of highest-earning claimant representatives</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and biennially thereafter, the
Inspector General of the Social Security Administration shall conduct
biennial reviews of the practices of a sample of the highest earning
claimant representatives to ensure compliance with the policies of the
Social Security Administration.</text>
</section><enum>II</enum><header>Strengthening Program Protections</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H69CE529B52A94C2EA5AAA2514282E539" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header>Pre-effectuation and post-effectuation quality reviews of hearing dispositions</header>
<subsection id="H449366BD4A814A84A533522C22F1313D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Amendments to title II</header><text>Section 205(b) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/405">42 U.S.C. 405(b)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBF9F4643D34A4505A9505B4BBDA99711" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="HD1B39DEC71DC4B1F9FC3512081E92C72" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H70D8B63EA4AA40709CA2D9AA0695301F"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commissioner of Social Security shall conduct pre-effectuation and post-effectuation quality
reviews of hearing dispositions with respect to decisions in connection
with applications for benefits under this title, in a sufficient number to
ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and other guidance issued by the
Commissioner of Social Security.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HD780D1F48F2A4273835C67A3C1121027" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commissioner of Social Security shall annually submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a
report that includes—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="H11EC171AE0964C0893C557E54126FF27"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the total number of cases selected for a quality review as described in paragraph (1);</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="HC9F7200732B4490FB8894BABA65CA014"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the number of such cases in which a decision is remanded; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H5BB38CEEC2E642278023B4AE948DB19F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the number of such cases in which a decision is modified or reversed.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H01B54D7CAC164FF799FFC68CA4BEA11B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amendment to title XVI</header><text>Section 1633 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1383b">42 U.S.C. 1383b</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB2D5B9D02E004214924B64BE5B94093A" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" id="H4F88AF242A02403AAEC07F45AC5DC721"><enum>(f)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H8AF02127B047457C8B1BB72F1698ED68"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commissioner of Social Security shall conduct pre-effectuation and post-effectuation quality
reviews of hearing dispositions with respect to decisions in connection
with applications for benefits under this title, in a sufficient number to
ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and other guidance issued by the
Commissioner of Social Security.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H24C57345711844809968E36400DCC0BD" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commissioner of Social Security shall annually submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a
report that includes—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HF764E4125EEA4E5CAAAA8415EAB0ACC4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the total number of cases selected for a quality review as described in paragraph (1);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HD2C42B31511E40DCAEAA060ACF8A40B7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the number of such cases in which a decision is remanded; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H0358DC1EE0494D6D8206B2DF32AF04F3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the number of such cases in which a decision is modified or reversed.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAF0D8BCE7BE04ED29A7EF7B3E747C890" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>202.</enum><header>Uniform qualification standards for disability determination decision makers</header>
<subsection id="H3E62C7849EA34691BFB8FDDA29391CEE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 221(k)(1) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/421">42 U.S.C. 421(k)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting at the
end before the period the following: <quote>, including standard qualifications for State and Federal decision makers and medical or vocational
advisors involved in the disability determination process</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H1D56787622354FE696C7EAEFA4B4376A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The regulations required to be issued as a result of the amendment made by paragraph (1) shall
become final not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HD195E0B2B7C34D978D145679D1D26DBF"><enum>203.</enum><header>Increased transparency</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the
Commissioner of Social Security shall produce and make publicly available
comprehensive program information to guide disability policy and
procedures and to guide accuracy and consistency in decision making,
including information relating to productivity, processing time, pending
workloads, and decision outcomes with respect to each hearing officer,
hearing office, and region and with respect to the disability insurance
program as a whole. Such program information shall also include the same
data, categorized by office, State, region, and the program as a whole,
with respect to each of the following: initial disability determinations;
reconsiderations; continuing disability reviews; and reconsiderations of
continuing disability reviews.</text>
</section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8709304E769A4169832BB3692A5FD52F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>204.</enum><header>Data exchange standardization</header>
<subsection id="H28508CAEB3AE41389A4CB83A98E12925"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 704 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/904">42 U.S.C. 904</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H4F9C6572EF2A4724A638EB4B93847A6A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HBDAA88AE6DD14A02ACE7F1264927B939"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Data exchange standards for improved interoperability</header>
<paragraph id="H93A128A0F09B498EB436FE5E6C356A19"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Designation</header><text>The Commissioner shall, in consultation with an interagency work group established by the Office of
Management and Budget and considering State and other Federal government
perspectives, designate data exchange standards to govern, under titles
II, VIII, and XVI—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD81A46F91B634AC5899BF395433A52A4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>necessary categories of information that State agencies operating programs under State plans
approved under this part are required under applicable Federal law to
electronically exchange with another State agency; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H07AD222CE2A14FD88FCD56F1E63B2FFE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Federal reporting and data exchange required under applicable Federal law.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H83EF1645D1A94578B49F7E072855B655"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The data exchange standards required by paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable—</text>
<subparagraph id="H10ED35240FE8464DAD7F242FAD262769"><enum>(A)</enum><text>incorporate a widely accepted, non-proprietary, searchable, computer-readable format, such as the
eXtensible Markup Language;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1EBB908D42DF4A96893257209E01AED3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>contain interoperable standards developed and maintained by intergovernmental partnerships, such as
the National Information Exchange Model;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE19FD7C03134461CA181DE71CA18E89B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>incorporate interoperable standards developed and maintained by Federal entities with authority
over contracting and financial assistance;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF1033592E2154C3AB6CB990A0D2FFBAD"><enum>(D)</enum><text>be consistent with and implement applicable accounting principles;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H322FDED210344D518D4A3A70AB119DDF"><enum>(E)</enum><text>be implemented in a manner that is cost-effective and improves program efficiency and
effectiveness; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H88C23766A7964E09A873F4CB88366EAB"><enum>(F)</enum><text>be capable of being continually upgraded as necessary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H53C972C0EF80454A98249DA1087AB2F7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a change to existing data exchange
standards found to be effective and efficient.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HAC07EB7548D242A7BA36D3C4CF4A7649"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Plan for public comment</header><text>The Commissioner shall issue a plan for public comment on its website within 24 months after the
date of the enactment of subsection (a). The plan shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HC12B5A5A6C474F3F8090453507F480B4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identify federally required data exchanges, include specification and timing of exchanges to be
standardized, and address the factors used in determining whether and when
to standardize data exchanges; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2A601F0F019A4382850117DA9D42624E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>specify implementation options and describe future milestones for standardizing data for improved
interoperability.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Modernizing Disability Programs</header>
<section id="HD0BC97C3CF1B4D0DB247D552F534E6A7"><enum>301.</enum><header>Updating of medical-vocational guidelines</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">As soon as possible after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social
Security shall prescribe rules and regulations that update the
medical-vocational guidelines, as set forth in appendix 2 to subpart P of
part 404 of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations, used in disability
determinations, including full consideration of new employment
opportunities made possible by advances in treatment, rehabilitation, and
technology.</text>
</section><section commented="no" id="H2513C85E9608403F928718F1B6460C1D"><enum>302.</enum><header>Research and demonstration projects</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1110 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1310">42 U.S.C. 1310</external-xref>), as amended by section 202(b), is further
amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H16431D21453D419286D699528C9544EC" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H41CE5C35969A442AACBD432EF065186D"><enum>(e)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Research and demonstration projects conducted pursuant to subsection (a)(1) shall include the
following:</text>
<paragraph id="H9003EEE2636647BCA8DF40E64597388B"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To be completed not later than the end of calendar year 2016, development of instruments to assess
function that are rapid, reliable, and objective to inform the disability
determination process.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB6C4372A66C744F1ADD3D3D23FFB29BE"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To be completed not later than the end of calendar year 2016, studies of the availability and
effects of more fully considering assistive devices and workplace
accommodations in the disability determination process.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD1B201E8AB3A424191DB6B00B99E658C"><enum>(f)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HAE775D0E84D440DE8B245A05AAB7DDA8"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than June 9 of each year, the Commissioner shall submit to the Committee on Ways and
Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the
Senate an annual interim report on the progress of any research,
experimental, pilot, and demonstration projects conducted under this
section, including, for each such project, project focus, project design,
project timeframe (including specific start and end dates), past and
estimated future costs, any evaluation progress, and any other related
data and materials that the Commissioner may consider appropriate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H42EF2C16F27F45E4BFCD23C4363E7651" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In the case of any research, experimental, pilot, or demonstration project conducted under this
section that is not in effect as of the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Stop Disability Fraud Act of 2014</short-title>, such project may not be placed into effect until at least 90 days after the Commissioner submits
to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Finance of the Senate a written report on the project,
prepared for purposes of notification and information only and containing
a full and complete description of the project, including project focus,
project design, project timeframe (including specific start and end
dates), estimated costs, and evaluation plan.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H447943C3110A4230B60AF5A6F3BEE872" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each research, experimental, pilot, or demonstration project conducted under this section shall
terminate not later than the end date specified in the reports described
in paragraphs (1) and (2).</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0789F2CE6992470F89ECBA6E71BCCA1D"><enum>303.</enum><header>Referrals to vocational rehabilitation or other public or private return-to-work service providers</header>
<subsection id="H7FDEA2BC0F06498984A559617EC03F78"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Amendment to title II</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 222 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/422">42 U.S.C. 422</external-xref>) is amended by inserting before subsection
(c) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6793CCC01073463EB98505E6234D91B3" style="traditional">
<subsection id="HA45D1E59E8214C2EBF8819509C4A4CED"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Referral for Rehabilitation Services</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H8F90FB648C454B238963698DE3351493"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commissioner of Social Security may make provision for the referral of individuals who are
denied benefits under this title based on an adverse determination of
disability to an appropriate public or private entity for employment
services, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H3401B7684EE24EE89C151A52A0AB20CA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amendment to title XVI</header><text>Section 1615 of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1382d">42 U.S.C. 1382d</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after subsection (a) the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H02370AC8A1FF460BB5AE3B968E99F749" style="traditional">
<subsection id="H93A56350F7E04DFB831A27724A0137B4"><enum>(b)</enum>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HAB5278D2A53E4C079E3CB62B7FBE5612"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of any individual who has not attained age 65 and is denied benefits under this title
based on an adverse determination of disability, the Commissioner of
Social Security may make provision for referral of such individual to an
appropriate public or private entity for employment services, vocational
rehabilitation services, or other support services.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H1387DF5EDFC84522A6048E30F7631F4F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply with respect to applications for monthly
insurance benefits filed on or after the date that is 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H06E833BE69B0470CAB7FC074DC1D3325"><enum>304.</enum><header>Online benefit assessment tools</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social
Security shall make publicly available through the website of the Social
Security Administration on-line tools to allow all individuals eligible
for benefits based on disability under titles II and XVI of the Social
Security Act to assess the impact of earnings on the individual’s
eligibility for, and amount of, benefits received through Federal and
State benefit programs.</text>
</section><enum>IV</enum><header>Other Program Improvements</header>
<section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD4B9BE0F99E445CAA879B58CD1106C73" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>401.</enum><header>Real property acquired by the Trust Funds</header>
<subsection id="H8300364081564D5FBC3C872DCDD4F1CB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 201(g) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/401">42 U.S.C. 401(g)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD7D492E6D9C343188F97483C95CFACFF" style="OLC">
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5FF41CC7421B477E98410486086CA608" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HCF56B3177D5E464F9D339FBED5ED2E52"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for any real property acquired using funds derived from
the Trust Funds—</text>
<clause display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9BCF29FD7CD14008A33E60F55920F722" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Managing Trustee shall record such property as an asset of the Trust Fund from which such funds
were derived;</text>
</clause><clause id="H06E747BB139B4783B00FFC849364600D" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any net proceeds from the disposition of such property sold at any time shall be deposited in such
Trust Fund, to be invested by the Managing Trustee in the same manner and
to the same extent as the other assets of such Trust Fund; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HEE8D7818091D43D98FF5A19674137A2C" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the use of such real property shall be restricted to purposes of carrying out the duties of the
Commissioner as authorized by this Act and any other Federal law.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="H3627D367F40A4B73B3D7A05A3A84298B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prohibition on use of Trust Funds for certain administrative costs</header><text>Section 201(g)(5) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/401">42 U.S.C. 401(g)(5)</external-xref>), as added by subsection (a), is
further amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3D9C338BD04A45AE8CDF4DE2A37F9495" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H9C55513D9BC8495483A438B2785A1EC8" indent="up2"><enum>(B)</enum>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H9BE2C240235F44BBAFFDB54776C0AD67"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funds made available for expenditure pursuant to the authorization in this subsection may not be
used for the operation and maintenance of real property in amounts that
exceed the actual costs of such operation and maintenance, including any
amounts for overhead, space and services, repair, replacement, or
depreciation.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H720F68F4874C458295FE38899CAE05E4" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of this subparagraph, funds made available for the replacement of the National
Computer Center shall be deemed to be funds made available as described in
clause (i).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HAF10E8C41FA7426CB4E2349720DA8EDC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>Section 201(c) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/401">42 U.S.C. 401(c)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after the
second sentence in the matter following paragraph (5) the following: <quote>Such statement of assets shall include an estimate of the fair market value of all real property
recorded as an asset of the Trust Funds at the end of the preceding fiscal
year.</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H037EC348AD004FF6B1DA02EE5C492D34"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to real property acquired using
funds solely derived from the Trust Funds and disposed of on, before, or
after the date of enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HB6D63CEB940948F8A7C342ED814ECF96"><enum>402.</enum><header>Rules relating to distribution of death information furnished to or maintained by the Social
Security Administration</header>
<subsection id="H37DB332654564B7894E055AEC8EB0BCD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 205(r) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/405">42 U.S.C. 405(r)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HCED5E5FDDDE44BA6AEDA80FB664D80BC"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2), by inserting <quote>, and to ensure completeness, timeliness, and accuracy of, </quote> after <quote>transmitting</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6112DCC945DA4585B698FD0EED751D33"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8468E4D7B4034B7E829425A0F66EFCF0" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H14E2A3F8D5BF4B3EBFA25B93769BC7A4" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Commissioner of Social Security shall, to the extent feasible, provide for the use of
information regarding deceased individuals furnished to or maintained by
the Commissioner, subject to such safeguards as the Commissioner of Social
Security determines are necessary or appropriate to protect the
information from unauthorized use or disclosure, to any Federal or State
agency providing or administering Federally funded benefits to
individuals, other than benefits under this Act, through a cooperative
arrangement with such agency designed to ensure proper payment of those
benefits with respect to such individuals if—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD62D93C2021D47FAB4777AFD2CDF5B05"><enum>(A)</enum><text>under such arrangement the agency provides reimbursement to the Commissioner of Social Security for
the reasonable costs of carrying out such arrangement, including the
reasonable costs associated with the collection and maintenance of
information regarding deceased individuals furnished to the Commissioner
pursuant to paragraph (1); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H83A6AB059CB644F699A81BD06227734E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>such arrangement does not conflict with the duties of the Commissioner of Social Security under
paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD1954C7BBD9C4385A46371ABAC7E4679"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (4), by inserting <quote>or in benefit and pension plans for employees of the States or local governments</quote> after <quote>by the States</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3F698385040F428496B1E38DB909F4BC"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCB934BCE35AB4881BD28B76668F63F66" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>403.</enum><header>Reconsiderations of disability cessation determinations</header>
<subsection id="HEAFAA50B563C4E8D882870FD9494AE5A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 205(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/405">42 U.S.C. 405(b)(2)</external-xref>) is amended, in the matter
following subparagraph (C)—</text>
<paragraph id="HC3239B35537143D1A094A233F3DF66AD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the second sentence, by striking <quote>where the finding was originally made by the State agency, and shall be made by the Commissioner of
Social Security where the finding was originally made by the Commissioner
of Social Security</quote> and inserting <quote>regardless of whether the finding was originally made by the State agency or the Commissioner of
Social Security</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H096BC4BE2C894A2D8D368A188BF24ACA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the third sentence, by striking <quote>which was originally made by such State agency</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8314E02DF7184A529C99821D4770C1CC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in the fourth sentence, by striking <quote>which was originally made by the Commissioner of Social Security</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBD1018F1069C431488BAD9D54ED51220"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to determinations of disability made
on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act.</text>
</subsection></section>