BillCam

Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures

Number	Legislature	Summary	Subjects
HB-1367	Federal	To improve the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire and retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. (Sec. 2) This bill provides that the annual determination of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) staff shortages shall include shortages for a minimum of five clinical and five non-clinical occupations for each network. (Such determination currently includes the five occupations for which there are the largest Department of Veterans Affairs [VA]-wide shortages.) (Sec. 3) The bill establishes in the VA an executive management fellowship program to provide eligible employees of: (1) the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and the VHA with private sector training and experience, and (2) a private-sector entity with VA training and experience. The VA shall: (1) annually select between 18 and 30 eligible VHA and VBA employees and between 18 and 30 eligible private sector employees for such one-year fellowships, and (2) select such employees in a manner that reflects U.S. veteran demographics and that provides a preference for employees who represent or service rural areas. (Sec. 4) The VA shall conduct an annual performance plan for each political appointee that is similar to the plan conducted for VA career senior executive employees. Each plan shall assess whether an appointee is meeting specified goals, including: (1) recruiting and retaining well-qualified individuals, and (2) motivating and developing employees for future VA leadership roles. (Sec. 5) Veterans federal employment preference provisions are amended to: (1) make all retired members of the armed forces preference eligible, and (2) provide preference eligible individuals with a senior executive position hiring preference. (Sec. 6) The VA may noncompetitively appoint a qualified former employee to any VA position within the competitive service that is one grade or equivalent higher than the position most recently occupied by the employee. (Sec. 7) The VA shall establish a single database that lists each vacant VA position that is: (1) critical, difficult to fill, or both; or (2) for a mental health professional. (Sec. 8) The VA shall provide VHA human resources professionals with employee recruitment and retention training as soon as practicable after being hired and annually thereafter. (Sec. 9) The VA shall establish a promotional track system for employees who are technical experts to advance without being required to transition to management positions. (Sec. 10) The Government Accountability Office shall conduct a study of succession planning at: (1) each VA medical facility, including each medical center, domiciliary facility, outpatient clinic, community-based outpatient clinic, and vet center; and (2) the VBA and the VA National Cemetery Administration. (Sec. 11) The VA shall prescribe regulations to allow for excepted service appointments of qualifying students and recent graduates leading to career or career conditional employment. Such conversion authority shall apply to individuals who: (1) are employed in a qualifying VA internship or fellowship program, (2) are employed in the VA in a volunteer capacity or under a contract or agreement with an external nonprofit organization and are performing duties comparable to individuals in internship or fellowship programs, (3) have received Post-9/11 educational assistance, or (4) are under 30 years old and graduated from a qualifying educational institution. (Sec. 12) The VA shall develop, in consultation with an appropriate non-VA entity, and carry out a standardized exit survey for career and noncareer VA employees and executives who voluntarily separate from the VA. Survey results shall be shared annually with directors and managers of VA and VISN facilities. (Sec. 13) The VA shall establish a program to encourage an individual who serves in the Armed Forces with a military health care specialty to seek post-military employment with the VHA. (14) The VA shall: (1) develop a plan to hire qualified directors for each VA medical center that lacks a permanent director, and (2) prioritize such hiring for medical centers that have not had a permanent director for the longest periods. (Sec. 15) The VA shall ensure that a VISN recruiter visits at least annually each allopathic and osteopathic teaching institution with a graduate medical education program within the network to recruit individuals for the VHA. Republican: 80% (4) Democrat: 20% (1) 80% Republican support 20% Democrat support	Armed Forces And National Security Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Congressional Oversight Department Of Veterans Affairs Employee Performance Federal Officials Government Employee Pay, Benefits, Personnel Management Government Information And Archives Government Studies And Investigations Health Facilities And Institutions
HB-1372	Federal	Homeland Security for Children Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act to include among the functions of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans to review and incorporate into DHS policy feedback from organizations representing the needs of children. (Sec. 3) The bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify and integrate the needs of children into activities to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the risk of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, including by appointing a technical expert to coordinate such integration. Democrat: 66% (2) Unaffiliated: 33% (1) 66% Democrat support 33% Unaffiliated support	Emergency Management Congressional Oversight Department Of Homeland Security Disaster Relief And Insurance Executive Agency Funding And Structure Federal Emergency Management Agency (fema) Natural Disasters Terrorism Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Child Health
SJR-33	Federal	A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to savings arrangements established by qualified State political subdivisions for non-governmental employees. This joint resolution nullifies a rule submitted by the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration regarding savings arrangements established by qualified state political subdivisions for non-governmental employees. (The rule amends a final regulation that describes how states may design and operate payroll deduction savings programs for private-sector employees, including programs that use automatic enrollment, without causing the states or private-sector employers to have established employee pension benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 [ERISA]. The amendment expands the regulation beyond states to cover qualified state political subdivisions and their programs that otherwise comply with the regulation.) Republican: 100% (9) 100% Republican support	Labor And Employment Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Congressional Oversight Department Of Labor Employee Benefits And Pensions State And Local Government Operations
HB-1368	Federal	Animal Welfare Accountability and Transparency Act This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to maintain and publicly disclose records relating to the administration of the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act, including specified details regarding inspections, enforcement actions, regulations, registrations, and licenses under the two laws. Within 90 days of the enactment of this bill, USDA must make the records available to the public in an online searchable database in a machine-readable format on its website. The bill also amends the Internal Revenue Code to require a taxpayer who has been convicted or assessed civil penalties for violating certain provisions of the Animal Welfare Act or the Horse Protection Act to use the alternative depreciation system that increases the number of years over which property is depreciated. The taxpayer must use the system for any property placed in service during the five-year period beginning with the year in which the period for seeking judicial review of a civil penalty has lapsed or in which there has been a final judgment entered with respect to the violation, whichever is earlier. Democrat: 100% (53) 100% Democrat support	Animals Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Animal Protection And Human-animal Relationships Business Investment And Capital Civil Actions And Liability Department Of Agriculture Government Information And Archives Income Tax Deductions Judicial Review And Appeals Licensing And Registrations
SJR-32	Federal	A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to savings arrangements established by States for non-governmental employees. This joint resolution nullifies a rule submitted by the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration regarding savings arrangements established by states for non-governmental employees. (The rule describes circumstances in which state payroll deduction savings programs with automatic enrollment would not give rise to the establishment of employee pension benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 [ERISA]. It provides guidance to states designing the programs to reduce the risk of ERISA preemption of state laws and private-sector employers that may be covered by the state laws.) Republican: 100% (9) 100% Republican support	Labor And Employment Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Congressional Oversight Department Of Labor Employee Benefits And Pensions State And Local Government Operations
HB-1332	Federal	Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act This bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to revise several provisions related to the child and adult care food program. Under current law: (1) an institution that provides child or day care under the program may be reimbursed for up to two meals and one supplement per day per child; and (2) a family or group day care home sponsoring organization may receive the same maximum reimbursement, but only with respect to a child maintained in a child care setting for at least eight hours per day. The bill eliminates this distinction between institutions and sponsoring organizations, and increases maximum reimbursement for both to: (1) two meals and one supplement or one meal and two supplements per day per child; or (2) three meals and one supplement or two meals and two supplements per day per child, for each child maintained in a child care setting for at least eight hours per day. Reimbursements to family or group day care home sponsoring organizations must be adjusted annually to reflect the Consumer Price Index for food away from home, rather than the Consumer Price Index for food at home used under current law. A determination of a for-profit day care center's eligibility to participate in the program shall be in effect for six months. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must issue guidance and, as appropriate, regulations to assist in ensuring a fair and effective process for the identification, review, and correction of serious program deficiencies. USDA shall establish an advisory committee to examine the feasibility of reducing unnecessary or duplicative paperwork for those participating or seeking to participate in the program. Democrat: 66% (2) Republican: 33% (1) 66% Democrat support 33% Republican support	Agriculture And Food Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Adult Day Care Advisory Bodies Child Care And Development Department Of Agriculture Food Assistance And Relief Government Information And Archives Government Studies And Investigations Nutrition And Diet
SJR-27	Federal	A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Clarification of Employer's Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness". This joint resolution nullifies the Department of Labor's rule that was published on December 19, 2016, about employers' ongoing obligation to make and maintain records of work-related injuries and illnesses. Republican: 100% (27) 100% Republican support	Labor And Employment Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Business Records Congressional Oversight Government Information And Archives Worker Safety And Health
HB-1338	Federal	Horse Protection Amendments Act This bill amends the Horse Protection Act to replace the Designated Qualified Persons program responsible for inspecting horses for soring with a new inspection system. (The soring of horses is any of various actions taken on a horse's limb to produce a higher gait that may cause pain, distress, inflammation, or lameness.) The Department of Agriculture must establish a single Horse Industry Organization (HIO) in order to establish a formal affiliation with the management of each horse sale, horse exhibition, and horse sale or auction, appoint inspectors to conduct inspections, and otherwise ensure compliance with the Horse Protection Act. The Commissioners of Agriculture for Tennessee and Kentucky must appoint individuals to the HIO. Those individuals must appoint individuals representing the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. Republican: 100% (11) 100% Republican support	Animals Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Animal Protection And Human-animal Relationships Department Of Agriculture Mammals Medical Tests And Diagnostic Methods Museums, Exhibitions, Cultural Centers Public-private Cooperation Veterinary Medicine And Animal Diseases
S.503	Federal	Animal Welfare Accountability and Transparency Act This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to maintain and publicly disclose records relating to the administration of the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act, including specified details regarding inspections, enforcement actions, regulations, registrations, and licenses under the two laws. Within 90 days of the enactment of this bill, USDA must make the records available to the public in an online searchable database in a machine-readable format on its website. The bill also amends the Internal Revenue Code to require a taxpayer who has been convicted or assessed civil penalties for violating certain provisions of the Animal Welfare Act or the Horse Protection Act to use the alternative depreciation system that increases the number of years over which property is depreciated. The taxpayer must use the system for any property placed in service during the five-year period beginning with the year in which the period for seeking judicial review of a civil penalty has lapsed or in which there has been a final judgment entered with respect to the violation, whichever is earlier. Democrat: 100% (10) 100% Democrat support	Animals Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Animal Protection And Human-animal Relationships Business Investment And Capital Civil Actions And Liability Department Of Agriculture Government Information And Archives Income Tax Deductions Judicial Review And Appeals Licensing And Registrations
HB-1324	Federal	Securing IoT Act of 2017 Securing the Internet of Things Act of 2017 This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish cybersecurity standards that radio frequency equipment must meet throughout its lifecycle (design, installation, and retirement) in order to be certified under the FCC's technical standards for equipment authorization. Democrat: 100% (1) 100% Democrat support	Science, Technology, Communications Federal Communications Commission (fcc) Internet And Video Services Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Computer Security And Identity Theft
S.517	Federal	Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act This bill amends the Clean Air Act to address the limitations on Reid vapor pressure (a measure of gasoline's volatility) that are placed on gasoline during the summer ozone season. The bill applies the Reid vapor pressure requirements that are applicable to gasoline blended with 10% ethanol (E10) to gasoline blended with more than 10% ethanol. Thus, the waiver given to E10 gasoline, which allows an increase in the Reid Vapor Pressure volatility, is extended to gasoline blended with more than 10% ethanol. Republican: 52% (10) Democrat: 47% (9) 52% Republican support 47% Democrat support	Environmental Protection Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Air Quality Alternative And Renewable Resources Environmental Protection Agency (epa) Environmental Regulatory Procedures Motor Fuels
HB-1315	Federal	RFS Reform Act of 2017 This bill amends the Clean Air Act to revise the renewable fuel standard program. Beginning in 2017, the renewable fuel that is required to be blended into gasoline must be advanced biofuel, which cannot be ethanol derived from corn starch. This bill revises the renewable fuel standards by decreasing the total volume of renewable fuel that must be contained in gasoline sold or introduced into commerce for years 2017 through 2022. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must determine the target amount of cellulosic biofuel to be blended into transportation fuel based on the actual volume of cellulosic biofuel produced in the current year. The EPA must reduce the required volume of renewable fuel in transportation fuel by the same volume of cellulosic biofuel in the fuel. The EPA may not allow gasoline containing greater than 10% ethanol by volume to be introduced into commerce. Waivers that allow gasoline containing a greater percentage of ethanol are nullified. Republican: 87% (49) Democrat: 12% (7) 87% Republican support 12% Democrat support	Environmental Protection Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Administrative Remedies Air Quality Alternative And Renewable Resources Climate Change And Greenhouse Gases Environmental Protection Agency (epa) Environmental Regulatory Procedures Motor Fuels
HB-1343	Federal	Encouraging Employee Ownership Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Securities and Exchange Commission to increase, from $5 million to $10 million, the 12-month sales threshold beyond which an issuer is required to provide investors with additional disclosures related to compensatory benefit plans. Republican: 50% (4) Democrat: 50% (4) 50% Republican support 50% Democrat support	Finance And Financial Sector Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Employee Benefits And Pensions Financial Services And Investments Securities Securities And Exchange Commission (sec)
HB-1335	Federal	Cybersecurity Responsibility Act of 2017 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue cybersecurity rules for communications networks (wireline or mobile telephone service, Internet access service, radio or television broadcasting, cable service, direct broadcast satellite service, or other communications service) to: (1) secure networks through managing, assessing, and prioritizing cyber risks and actions to reduce such risks; and (2) address the treatment of critical infrastructure information relating to such networks that is submitted to the FCC. The bill requires communications networks to be treated as critical infrastructure and protected systems under the Homeland Security Act of 2002. The FCC is subject to the same requirements as the Department of Homeland Security concerning the protection of critical infrastructure information relating to communications networks that is voluntarily submitted to the FCC. Democrat: 100% (1) 100% Democrat support	Science, Technology, Communications Telephone And Wireless Communication Television And Film Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Broadcasting, Cable, Digital Technologies Computer Security And Identity Theft Federal Communications Commission (fcc) Internet And Video Services
HB-1329	Federal	Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of December 1, 2017, the rates of veterans' wartime disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Each such increase shall be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date. The VA may adjust administratively, consistent with such increases, the rates of disability compensation payable to persons entitled to veterans benefits under public laws administered by the VA on December 31, 1958, who have not received benefits under provisions governing veterans compensation for service-connected disability or death. (Sec. 3) The VA shall publish such increased rates in the Federal Register not later than the date on which certain social security increases are required to be published in FY2018. Republican: 30% (4) Democrat: 69% (9) 30% Republican support 69% Democrat support	Armed Forces And National Security Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Department Of Veterans Affairs Disability Assistance Inflation And Prices Veterans' Pensions And Compensation
HB-1346	Federal	To repeal the rule issued by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration entitled "Metropolitan Planning Organization Coordination and Planning Area Reform". (Sec. 1) This bill nullifies the Federal Highway Administration's and the Federal Transit Administration's rule published on December 20, 2016, that revises transportation planning regulations with regard to the alignment of planning regulations with statutory provisions relating to the establishment of metropolitan planning area boundaries and the designation of metropolitan planning organizations. Democrat: 50% (15) Republican: 50% (15) 50% Democrat support 50% Republican support	Transportation And Public Works Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Department Of Transportation Regional And Metropolitan Planning Urban And Suburban Affairs And Development Armed Forces And National Security Public Transit Roads And Highways
S.515	Federal	United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act of 2017 This bill requires a business that employs 50 or more call center employees, excluding part-time employees, or 50 or more call center employees who in the aggregate work at least 1,500 hours per week, exclusive of overtime, to notify the Department of Labor at least 120 days before relocating such center outside of the United States. Violators are subject to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day. Labor must make publicly available a list of all such employers that relocate a call center. It may remove from the list an employer that has relocated the call center from a location outside the United States to a location inside the United States. Employers must remain on the list for up to three years after each relocation. An employer is ineligible for federal grants or federal guaranteed loans for five years after being added to the list, except where the employer demonstrates that a lack of such loan or grant would threaten national security, result in substantial job loss in the United States, or harm the environment. Federal or state executive agencies or military departments, when awarding a civilian or defense-related contract, must give preference to a U.S. employer that does not appear on the list. Businesses that initiate or receive a customer service communication must require each of their employees or agents participating in the communication to disclose their physical location at the beginning of each such communication unless all involved employees or agents are located in the United States. The bill exempts any communication: (1) initiated by a consumer if the consumer knows or reasonably should know that the employee or agent is located outside the United States, or (2) related to the provision of emergency services. Upon request, businesses must transfer a customer to a customer service agent who is physically located in the United States. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may exclude certain classes or types of business entities or customer service communications from the requirements of this bill under exceptionally compelling circumstances. The bill sets forth authority for the FTC to enforce against violations. Democrat: 100% (20) 100% Democrat support	Commerce Consumer Affairs Federal Trade Commission (ftc) Government Information And Archives Government Lending And Loan Guarantees Military Procurement, Research, Weapons Development Public Contracts And Procurement Telephone And Wireless Communication Unemployment Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures
S.496	Federal	A bill to repeal the rule issued by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration entitled "Metropolitan Planning Organization Coordination and Planning Area Reform". (Sec. 1) This bill nullifies the Federal Highway Administration's and the Federal Transit Administration's rule published on December 20, 2016, that revises transportation planning regulations with regard to the alignment of planning regulations with statutory provisions relating to the establishment of metropolitan planning area boundaries and the designation of metropolitan planning organizations. Democrat: 50% (2) Republican: 50% (2) 50% Democrat support 50% Republican support	Transportation And Public Works Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Department Of Transportation Regional And Metropolitan Planning Urban And Suburban Affairs And Development Public Transit Roads And Highways
S.512	Federal	Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act This bill directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to modify the licensing process for commercial advanced nuclear reactor facilities. In addition, the bill amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to revise how the NRC preserves budgeted funds for conducting and accelerating license reviews of commercial advanced nuclear reactor facilities. The NRC must implement a licensing process that is designed to be predictable and efficient while conforming to existing NRC regulatory guidelines. The Department of Energy (DOE) must provide cost sharing grants to license applicants for the purpose of funding a portion of the NRC review fees. The NRC must also develop a new technology-inclusive, regulatory framework by the end of 2024 that encourages greater technological innovation for the advanced nuclear reactor program. The NRC must publish necessary revisions to the guidance on the baseline examination schedule and any subsequent examinations for baffle-former bolts in pressurized water reactors with down-flow configurations. The NRC may issue licenses for utilization facilities that are used in conducting research and development activities related to nuclear energy. The NRC must report to Congress on the status of the licensing process for accident tolerant fuel. The NRC must: (1) report to Congress on the safety and feasibility of extending the duration of uranium recovery licenses from 10 to 20 years, and (2) complete a voluntary pilot program to determine the feasibility of establishing a flat fee structure for routine licensing matters relating to uranium recovery. DOE must issue a long-term federal excess uranium inventory management plan at least every 10 years that details the management of DOE excess uranium inventories. Republican: 57% (11) Democrat: 42% (8) 57% Republican support 42% Democrat support	Energy Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Congressional Oversight Department Of Energy Emergency Planning And Evacuation Energy Research Executive Agency Funding And Structure Government Studies And Investigations Licensing And Registrations Mining
HB-1311	Federal	Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act This bill amends the Clean Air Act to address the limitations on Reid vapor pressure (a measure of gasoline's volatility) that are placed on gasoline during the summer ozone season. The bill applies the Reid vapor pressure requirements that are applicable to gasoline blended with 10% ethanol (E10) to gasoline blended with more than 10% ethanol. Thus, the waiver given to E10 gasoline, which allows an increase in the Reid Vapor Pressure volatility, is extended to gasoline blended with more than 10% ethanol. Republican: 66% (32) Democrat: 31% (15) Unaffiliated: 2% (1) 66% Republican support 31% Democrat support 2% Unaffiliated support	Environmental Protection Environmental Regulatory Procedures Motor Fuels Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Air Quality Alternative And Renewable Resources Environmental Protection Agency (epa)

Title: To improve the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hire and retain physicians and other employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.