[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3169 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3169

       To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate 
    reconsideration as an intervening step between initial benefit 
  entitlement decisions and subsequent hearings on the record on such 
                               decisions.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 24, 2003

  Mr. Goode introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
       To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate 
    reconsideration as an intervening step between initial benefit 
  entitlement decisions and subsequent hearings on the record on such 
                               decisions.

    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 ``Social Security Disability Determination 
Simplification Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF RECONSIDERATION IN THE REVIEW PROCESS GOVERNING 
              DECISIONS ON BENEFIT ENTITLEMENT.

    (a) In General.--Section 205(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 405(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
sentence: ``Opportunity for a hearing under this title in accordance 
with this subsection with respect to any initial decision or 
determination under this title shall be available without any 
requirement for intervening reconsideration.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 205(b) of such Act is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (2); and
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2).
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to initial decisions and determinations (subject to 
opportunity for a hearing to the extent provided under section 205(b) 
of the Social Security Act) issued after 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
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