Field offices

(a)

In general

Title VII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

714.

Field offices

(a)

In general

The Commissioner shall operate a sufficient number of field offices and employ an adequate number of personnel at each field office to— (1)provide wide-ranging, convenient, and accessible services to the public; (2)meet current and projected workloads, taking into account any anticipated demographic shifts in the geographic area served by each field office; and (3)minimize wait-times at each field office. (b)

Procedure To close or reduce access to a field office

(1)

In general

(A)

Requirement to follow procedure

The Commissioner may not take any action described in subparagraph (B) with respect to a field office except in accordance with this subsection. (B)

Covered actions

The actions described in this subparagraph with respect to a field office are the following: (i)Closing the field office for a period of more than 60 days. (ii)Ending, or electing not to renew, a lease for any field office. (iii)Consolidating the field office with one or more other field offices. (iv)Reassigning personnel of the field office to one or more other field offices. (v)Any other action that would result in the field office reducing face-to-face services to the public. (2)

Notification of anticipated action

(A)

In general

Not later than 90 days before the date on which the Commissioner intends any action described in paragraph (1)(B) with respect to a field office to take effect, the Commissioner shall promulgate a public notification of such action that includes the following information: (i)An identification of the field office. (ii)The date on which such action is intended to take effect. (iii)The reasons for taking such action, including, if applicable, the reasons for rejecting any available alternative actions such as relocation of the field office. (iv)The date, time, and location of the public hearings to be held pursuant to paragraph (3). (v)Any alternative means of receiving assistance related to social security which may be used by individuals served by the field office. (vi)Contact information, including by phone and Internet, by which individuals may inquire for more information related to such action.

In promulgating a notification under this paragraph, the Commissioner shall post such notification at the affected field office and other nearby field offices, mail such notification to residents in the area served by such field offices, publish such notification in newspapers printed in such area, or take such other actions as the Commissioner determines to be necessary.

(B)

Congressional notification

As soon as practicable and not later than 90 days before the date on which the Commissioner intends any action described in paragraph (1)(B) with respect to a field office to take effect, the Commissioner shall provide written notification to each member of Congress and Senator whose constituents are served by such field office. (3)

Opportunity for public comment

(A)

Public hearing

Not earlier than 30 days and not later than 60 days after a notification is published under paragraph (2) with respect to any action described in paragraph (1)(B) with respect to a field office, the Commissioner shall hold not fewer than two public hearings in the geographic area served by the field office, at which the Commissioner shall— (i)present the reasons for taking such action, including the criteria used to select the field office for such action and, if applicable, the reasons for rejecting any available alternative actions such as relocation of the field office; (ii)address whether impacts on vulnerable populations, such as the elderly population, the disabled population, and those with language proficiency or mobility challenges, were considered; and (iii)provide an opportunity for public comment, including an opportunity to recommend alternatives to such action. (B)

Submission of written comments

The Commissioner shall accept written comments from the public relating to such action during the period described in subparagraph (A), which shall be posted on the website of the Social Security Administration. (4)

Public report on hearing

Not later than 15 days before the date on which any action described in paragraph (1)(B) with respect to a field office takes effect, the Commissioner shall prominently publish on the website of the Social Security Administration a written report that describes the action the Commissioner intends to take with respect to the field office after giving full consideration to any public comments received during the period described in paragraph (3)(A). Such report shall include a response by the Commissioner, to the extent the Commissioner determines to be practicable, to each unique written comment received during such period. Not later than 3 days after such report has been published, the Commissioner shall notify each person who submitted written comments under paragraph (3)(B). The Commissioner shall submit a copy of such report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate. (5)

Approval by Inspector General of the Social Security Administration

No action described in paragraph (1)(B) may go into effect until the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration has determined that the Commissioner substantially and procedurally complied with all applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to such action.

(b)

Moratorium

The Commissioner may not take any action described in section 714(b)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 914(b)(1)(B)) with respect to a field office until the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration determines that the amendments made by subsection (a) have been fully implemented by the Social Security Administration, except that in the case of such an action related to health and safety, such action may take effect for a period not to exceed 30 days unless the Commissioner provides public notice explaining the need to extend such period.