[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4793 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4793

  To amend title 5, United States Code, to allow Federal agencies to 
        reimburse their employees for certain adoption expenses.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 10, 1998

  Mr. Bliley (for himself and Mr. Oberstar) introduced the following 
  bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform and 
                               Oversight

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 5, United States Code, to allow Federal agencies to 
        reimburse their employees for certain adoption expenses.

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

SECTION 1. REIMBURSEMENT FOR ADOPTION EXPENSES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 79 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 7906. Reimbursement for adoption expenses
    ``(a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) the term `qualifying adoption expenses', as used with 
        respect to an employee, means reasonable and necessary adoption 
        fees, court costs, attorney fees, and other expenses--
                    ``(A) which are directly related to, and the 
                principal purpose of which is for, the legal adoption 
                of an eligible child by the employee;
                    ``(B) which are not incurred in violation of State 
                or Federal law or in carrying out any surrogate 
                parenting arrangement; and
                    ``(C) which are not expenses in connection with the 
                adoption by an individual of a child who is the child 
                of such individual's spouse;
            ``(2) the term `eligible child' means any individual who--
                    ``(A) has not attained age 18; or
                    ``(B) is physically or mentally incapable of caring 
                for himself; and
            ``(3) the term `agency' means--
                    ``(A) an Executive agency;
                    ``(B) the United States Postal Service;
                    ``(C) the Postal Rate Commission; and
                    ``(D) the judicial branch.
    ``(b) Authorization To Reimburse.--The head of each agency may 
carry out a program under which an employee of such agency may be 
reimbursed, as provided in this section, for qualifying adoption 
expenses incurred by such employee.
    ``(c) Treatment of Other Benefits.--A benefit may not be paid under 
this section for any expense paid to or for an employee under any other 
adoption benefits program administered by the Federal Government or 
under any such program administered by a State or local government.
    ``(d) Limitation.--Not more than $2,000 may be paid under this 
section to an employee, or to two such employees who are spouses of 
each other, for expenses incurred in the adoption of a child.
    ``(e) Source of Funds.--Any benefit or payment pursuant to this 
section shall be paid out of funds available for salaries and expenses 
of the relevant agency.
    ``(f) Regulations.--Any regulations necessary to carry out this 
section may be prescribed by the head of the relevant agency.
    ``(g) Agency Head.--The functions of an agency head under this 
section shall, with respect to the judicial branch, be carried out by 
the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States 
Courts.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 79 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``7906. Reimbursement for adoption expenses.''.
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