[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 948 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 948

  To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to improve the provisions 
           relating to pension rights demonstration projects.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 20, 1997

  Mr. Grassley (for himself and Mr. Breaux) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and 
                            Human Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to improve the provisions 
           relating to pension rights demonstration projects.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Pension Assistance and Counseling 
Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. PENSION RIGHTS DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

    (a) Pension Rights Counseling Programs.--Section 429J of the Older 
Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3035r) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``Pension rights 
        information program.--The term `pension rights information 
        program'' and inserting ``Pension rights counseling program.--
        The term `pension rights counseling program'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                ``Pension Rights Information Programs.--'' and 
                inserting ``Pension Rights Counseling Programs.--''; 
                and
                    (B) in paragraphs (2)(C)(i) and (3)(A)(i), by 
                striking ``pension rights information program'' and 
                inserting ``pension rights counseling program''; and
            (3) in subsection (d)(1)(A), by striking ``pension rights 
        information programs'' and inserting ``pension rights 
        counseling programs''.
    (b) Number of Grants.--Section 429J(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
3035r(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``six''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(A)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``four''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``two''.
    (c) Criteria.--Section 429J(c)(2)(C) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
3035r(c)(2)(C)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in clause (iii), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iv) evidence of ability of the agency or 
                        organization to provide services under the 
                        program on a statewide or regional basis.''.
    (d) Toll-Free Number.--Section 429J(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
3035r(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Toll-free telephone number.--The Assistant Secretary 
        shall enter into interagency agreements for the establishment 
        and operation of, and dissemination of information about, a 
        toll-free telephone number for individuals seeking outreach, 
        information, counseling, referral, and assistance regarding 
        pension and other retirement benefits, and rights related to 
        such benefits. The Assistant Secretary shall enter into the 
        agreements with the Secretary of Labor and with the heads of 
        such other Federal agencies that regulate the provision of 
        pension and other retirement benefits as the Assistant 
        Secretary determines to be appropriate to carry out this 
        paragraph.''.
    (e) Duration.--Section 429J(e) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3035r(e)) is 
amended by striking ``18 months'' and inserting ``3 years''.
                                 <all>