[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2476 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2476

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage individuals to 
  save through individual retirement accounts, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

           September 29 (legislative day, September 12), 1994

  Mr. Chafee introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
                  referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage individuals to 
  save through individual retirement accounts, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; AMENDMENT OF 1986 CODE.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Individual 
Retirement Account Equity and Enhancement Act of 1994''.
    (b) Amendment of 1986 Code.--Except as otherwise expressly 
provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in 
terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, 
the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other 
provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

SEC. 2. HOMEMAKERS ELIGIBLE FOR FULL IRA DEDUCTION.

    (a) Spousal IRA Computed on Basis of Compensation of Both 
Spouses.--Subsection (c) of section 219 (relating to special rules for 
certain married individuals) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Special Rules for Certain Married Individuals.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the case of an individual to whom 
        this paragraph applies for the taxable year, the limitation of 
        paragraph (1) of subsection (b) shall be equal to the lesser 
        of--
                    ``(A) $2,000, or
                    ``(B) the sum of--
                            ``(i) the compensation includible in such 
                        individual's gross income for the taxable year, 
                        plus
                            ``(ii) the compensation includible in the 
                        gross income of such individual's spouse for 
                        the taxable year reduced by the amount 
                        allowable as a deduction under subsection (a) 
                        to such spouse for such taxable year.
            ``(2) Individuals to whom paragraph (1) applies.--Paragraph 
        (1) shall apply to any individual if--
                    ``(A) such individual files a joint return for the 
                taxable year, and
                    ``(B) the amount of compensation (if any) 
                includible in such individual's gross income for the 
                taxable year is less than the compensation includible 
                in the gross income of such individual's spouse for the 
                taxable year.''
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Paragraph (2) of section 219(f) (relating to other 
        definitions and special rules) is amended by striking 
        ``subsections (b) and (c)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)''.
            (2) Section 408(d)(5) is amended by striking ``$2,250'' and 
        inserting ``$2,000''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1994.

SEC. 3. DISTRIBUTIONS FROM CERTAIN PLANS MAY BE USED WITHOUT PENALTY TO 
              PURCHASE FIRST HOMES, TO PAY HIGHER EDUCATION OR 
              QUALIFIED LONG-TERM CARE EXPENSES, OR BY THE LONG-TERM 
              UNEMPLOYED.

    (a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 72(t) (relating to 
exceptions to 10-percent additional tax on early distributions from 
qualified retirement plans) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraph:
            ``(D) Distributions from certain plans for first home 
        purchases or educational or long-term care expenses.--
        Distributions to an individual from an individual retirement 
        plan, or from amounts attributable to employer contributions 
        made pursuant to elective deferrals described in subparagraph 
        (A) or (C) of section 402(g)(3) or section 501(c)(18)(D)(iii)--
                    ``(i) which are qualified first-time homebuyer 
                distributions (as defined in paragraph (6)), or
                    ``(ii) to the extent such distributions do not 
                exceed the sum of the qualified higher education 
                expenses (as defined in paragraph (7)) and the 
                qualified long-term care expenses (as defined in 
                paragraph (8)) of the taxpayer for the taxable year.''
    (b) Definitions.--Section 72(t) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraphs:
            ``(6) Qualified first-time homebuyer distributions.--For 
        purposes of paragraph (2)(D)(i)--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified first-time 
                homebuyer distribution' means any payment or 
                distribution received by an individual to the extent 
                such payment or distribution is used by the individual 
                before the close of the 60th day after the day on which 
                such payment or distribution is received to pay 
                qualified acquisition costs with respect to a principal 
                residence of a first-time homebuyer who is such 
                individual, the spouse of such individual, or the child 
                or grandchild of such individual or the individual's 
                spouse.
                    ``(B) Qualified acquisition costs.--For purposes of 
                this paragraph, the term `qualified acquisition costs' 
                means the costs of acquiring, constructing, or 
                reconstructing a residence. Such term includes any 
                usual or reasonable settlement, financing, or other 
                closing costs.
                    ``(C) First-time homebuyer; other definitions.--For 
                purposes of this paragraph--
                            ``(i) First-time homebuyer.--The term 
                        `first-time homebuyer' means any individual 
                        if--
                                    ``(I) such individual (and if 
                                married, such individual's spouse) had 
                                no present ownership interest in a 
                                principal residence during the 3-year 
                                period ending on the date of 
                                acquisition of the principal residence 
                                to which this paragraph applies, and
                                    ``(II) subsection (a)(6), (h), or 
                                (k) of section 1034 did not suspend the 
                                running of any period of time specified 
                                in section 1034 with respect to such 
                                individual on the day before the date 
                                the distribution is applied pursuant to 
                                subparagraph (A)(ii).
                            ``(ii) Principal residence.--The term 
                        `principal residence' has the same meaning as 
                        when used in section 1034.
                            ``(iii) Date of acquisition.--The term 
                        `date of acquisition' means the date--
                                    ``(I) on which a binding contract 
                                to acquire the principal residence to 
                                which subparagraph (A) applies is 
                                entered into, or
                                    ``(II) on which construction or 
                                reconstruction of such a principal 
                                residence is commenced.
                    ``(D) Special rule where delay in acquisition.--If 
                any distribution from any individual retirement plan 
                fails to meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) 
                solely by reason of a delay or cancellation of the 
                purchase or construction of the residence, the amount 
                of the distribution may be contributed to an individual 
                retirement plan as provided in section 408(d)(3)(A)(i) 
                (determined by substituting `120 days' for `60 days' in 
                such section), except that--
                            ``(i) section 408(d)(3)(B) shall not be 
                        applied to such contribution, and
                            ``(ii) such amount shall not be taken into 
                        account in determining whether section 
                        408(d)(3)(A)(i) applies to any other amount.
            ``(7) Qualified higher education expenses.--For purposes of 
        paragraph (2)(D)(ii)--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified higher 
                education expenses' means tuition, fees, books, 
                supplies, and equipment required for the enrollment or 
                attendance of--
                            ``(i) the taxpayer,
                            ``(ii) the taxpayer's spouse, or
                            ``(iii) the child (as defined in section 
                        151(c)(3)) or grandchild of the taxpayer or the 
                        taxpayer's spouse,
                at an eligible educational institution (as defined in 
                section 135(c)(3)).
                    ``(B) Coordination with savings bond provisions.--
                The amount of qualified higher education expenses for 
                any taxable year shall be reduced by any amount 
                excludable from gross income under section 135.
            ``(8) Qualified long-term care expenses.--For purposes of 
        paragraph (2)(D)(ii)--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified long-term 
                care expenses' means amounts paid or incurred for 
                qualified long-term care services, including amounts 
                for insurance covering such services.
                    ``(B) Qualified long-term care services.--For 
                purposes of subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term `qualified 
                        long-term care services' means necessary 
                        diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, 
                        rehabilitative, and maintenance (including 
                        personal care) services--
                                    ``(I) which are required by an 
                                individual during any period during 
                                which such individual is a functionally 
                                impaired individual,
                                    ``(II) which have as their primary 
                                purpose the provision of needed 
                                assistance with 1 or more activities of 
                                daily living which a functionally 
                                impaired individual is certified as 
                                being unable to perform under clause 
                                (ii)(I), and
                                    ``(III) which are provided pursuant 
                                to a continuing plan of care prescribed 
                                by a licensed health care practitioner 
                                (other than a relative of such 
                                individual).
                            ``(ii) Functionally impaired individual.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The term 
                                `functionally impaired individual' 
                                means any individual who is certified 
                                by a licensed health care practitioner 
                                (other than a relative of such 
                                individual) as being unable to perform, 
                                without substantial assistance from 
                                another individual (including 
                                assistance involving verbal reminding, 
                                physical cueing, or substantial 
                                supervision), at least 3 activities of 
                                daily living described in clause (iii).
                                    ``(II) Special rule for home health 
                                care services.--In the case of services 
                                which are provided during any period 
                                during which an individual is residing 
                                within the individual's home (whether 
                                or not the services are provided within 
                                the home), subclause (I) shall be 
                                applied by substituting `2' for `3'. 
                                For purposes of this subclause, a 
                                nursing home or similar facility shall 
                                not be treated as a home.
                            ``(iii) Activities of daily living.--Each 
                        of the following is an activity of daily 
                        living:
                                    ``(I) Eating.
                                    ``(II) Transferring.
                                    ``(III) Toileting.
                                    ``(IV) Dressing.
                                    ``(V) Bathing.
                    ``(C) Licensed health care practitioner.--For 
                purposes of subparagraph (B)--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term `licensed 
                        health care practitioner' means--
                                    ``(I) a physician or registered 
                                professional nurse,
                                    ``(II) a qualified community care 
                                case manager (as defined in clause 
                                (ii)), or
                                    ``(III) any other individual who 
                                meets such requirements as may be 
                                prescribed by the Secretary after 
                                consultation with the Secretary of 
                                Health and Human Services.
                            ``(ii) Qualified community care case 
                        manager.--The term `qualified community care 
                        case manager' means an individual or entity 
                        which--
                                    ``(I) has experience or has been 
                                trained in providing case management 
                                services and in preparing individual 
                                care plans;
                                    ``(II) has experience in assessing 
                                individuals to determine their 
                                functional and cognitive impairment;
                                    ``(III) is not a relative of the 
                                individual receiving case management 
                                services; and
                                    ``(IV) meets such requirements as 
                                may be prescribed by the Secretary 
                                after consultation with the Secretary 
                                of Health and Human Services.
                    ``(D) Relative.--For purposes of this paragraph, 
                the term `relative' means an individual bearing a 
                relationship to another individual which is described 
                in paragraphs (1) through (8) of section 152(a).''
    (c) Penalty-Free Distributions for Certain Unemployed 
Individuals.--Paragraph (2) of section 72(t) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(E) Distributions to unemployed individuals.--A 
                distribution from an individual retirement plan to an 
                individual after separation from employment, if--
                            ``(i) such individual has received 
                        unemployment compensation for 12 consecutive 
                        weeks under any Federal or State unemployment 
                        compensation law by reason of such separation, 
                        and
                            ``(ii) such distributions are made during 
                        any taxable year during which such unemployment 
                        compensation is paid or the succeeding taxable 
                        year.''
    (d) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 401(k)(2)(B)(i) is amended by striking ``or'' 
        at the end of subclause (III), by striking ``and'' at the end 
        of subclause (IV) and inserting ``or'', and by inserting after 
        subclause (IV) the following new subclause:
                                    ``(V) the date on which qualified 
                                first-time homebuyer distributions (as 
                                defined in section 72(t)(6)), or 
                                distributions for qualified higher 
                                education expenses (as defined in 
                                section 72(t)(7)), or for qualified 
                                long-term care expenses (as defined in 
                                section 72(t)(18)), are made, and''.
            (2) Section 403(b)(11) is amended by striking ``or'' at the 
        end of subparagraph (A), by striking the period at the end of 
        subparagraph (B) and inserting ``, or'', and by inserting after 
        subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) for qualified first-time homebuyer 
                distributions (as defined in section 72(t)(6)) or for 
                the payment of qualified higher education expenses (as 
                defined in section 72(t)(7)) or qualified long-term 
                care expenses (as defined in section 72(t)(8)).''
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to payments and distributions after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.
                                 <all>