[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1578 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1578

    To amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, (commonly 
     referred to as the Federal Torts Claim Act) to extend medical 
malpractice coverage to free clinics and the officers, governing board 
members, employees, and contractors of free clinics in the same manner 
         and extent as certain Federal officers and employees.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 5, 2009

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

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                                 A BILL


 
    To amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, (commonly 
     referred to as the Federal Torts Claim Act) to extend medical 
malpractice coverage to free clinics and the officers, governing board 
members, employees, and contractors of free clinics in the same manner 
         and extent as certain Federal officers and employees.

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

SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE COVERAGE TO FREE CLINICS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, is 
amended by adding after section 2680 the following:
``Sec. 2681. Medical malpractice coverage for free clinics
    ``For purposes of applying the remedy against the United States 
provided by sections 1346(b) and 2672 of this title and for purposes of 
section 224 of Public Law 78-410 (42 U.S.C. 233) a free clinic defined 
under section 224(o)(3)(A) of that Act shall be treated as an entity 
described under section 224(g)(4) of that Act. The authorization of 
appropriations under section 224(o)(6)(A) of that Act shall apply to 
the acts or omissions of officers, governing board members, employees, 
and contractors of free clinics''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Table of sections.--The table of sections for chapter 
        171 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
        the end the following:

``2681. Medical malpractice coverage for free clinics.''.
            (2) Reference.--Section 224(g)(4) of the Public Law 78-410 
        (42 U.S.C. 233(g)(4)) is amended by inserting ``or a free 
        clinic as provided under section 2681 of title 28, United 
        States Code'' before the period.

SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of 
enactment of this Act and apply to any act or omission which occurs on 
or after that date.
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