,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ceee ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,november #bj1 #bjac,mrs4 ,bustos 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,gibson1 ,mr4 ,murphy of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,enyart1 ,mr4 ,quigley1 ,mr4 ,ribble1 ,mr4 ,fortenberry1 ,mr4 ,cooper1 ,mr4 ,carney1 ,mr4 ,owens1 ,mr4 ,welch1 ,ms4 ,kelly of ,illinois1 ,ms4 ,kuster1 ,mr4 ,braley of ,iowa1 ,mrs4 ,kirkpatrick1 ,mr4 ,kind1 ,mr4 ,rush1 ,mr4 ,maffei1 ,mr4 ,loebsack1 ,mr4 ,ruiz1 ,mr4 ,himes1 ,mr4 ,cummings1 ,mr4 ,peters of ,michigan1 ,ms4 ,schwartz1 ,mr4 ,walz1 ,mr4 ,rodney ,davis of ,illinois1 ,mr4 ,barber1 ,ms4 ,frankel of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,clay1 ,ms4 ,michelle ,lujan ,grisham of ,new ,mexico1 ,mr4 ,cohen1 ,mr4 ,yarmuth1 ,mr4 ,hastings of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,cleaver1 ,mr4 ,carson of ,indiana1 ,mr4 ,delaney1 ,mr4 ,moran1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 ,mr4 ,shimkus1 ,mr4 ,honda1 ,mr4 ,schrader1 ,mr4 ,matheson1 ,mr4 ,barrow of ,georgia1 ,mr4 ,lipinski1 ,mr4 ,dingell1 ,ms4 ,brownley of ,california1 ,ms4 ,titus1 ,ms4 ,meng1 ,mr4 ,peters of ,california1 ,mr4 ,connolly1 ,mr4 ,lowenthal1 ,mr4 ,perlmutter1 ,ms4 ,de,gette1 ,ms4 ,sinema1 ,mr4 ,holt1 and ,mr4 ,fitzpatrick7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,oversight and ,government ,reform1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,ways and ,means1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,improper ,payments ,elimination and ,recovery ,improvement ,act of #bjab1 including making changes to the ,do ,not ,pay initiative1 for improved detection1 prevention1 and recovery of improper payments to deceased individuals1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,improper ,payments ,agency ,cooperation ,enhancement ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,improving the sharing and use of death data by ,government agencies to curb improper payments 7a7 ,in general ,the ,improper ,payments ,elimination and ,recovery ,improvement ,act of #bjab 7#ca ,u4,s4,c4 #ccba note7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #g4 ,improving the sharing and use of death data by ,government agencies to curb improper payments 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section-- 7#a7 the term ,commissioner means the ,commissioner of ,social ,security2 7#b7 the term ,director means the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget2 7#c7 the term ,inspector ,general has the meaning defined by section #e7;e77#a72 7#d7 the term local government means the government of a political subdivision of a ,state2 7#e7 the term payment has the meaning given that term under section #b7;g7 of the ,improper ,payment ,information ,act of #bjjb 7#ca ,u4,s4,c4 #ccba note72 7#f7 the term ,registry means the ,national ,deaths ,registry established under subsection 7b77#a72 and 7#g7 the term tribal government means the government of an ,indian tribe1 as that term is defined in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dej;b74 7b7 ,establishment of ,registry 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commissioner shall establish and maintain a registry of information relating to the deaths of individuals1 to be known as the ,national ,deaths ,registry4 7#b7 ,inclusion of information ,as provided under this section and in accordance with the guidance issued under subsection 7f71 the ,commissioner shall include information relating to the deaths of individuals in the ,registry for the purpose of supporting the ,do ,not ,pay ,initiative under section #e and otherwise preventing1 identifying1 or recovering improper payments4 7c7 ,use of the ,registry 7#a7 ,availability to ,federal agencies ,the ,commissioner shall enter into cooperative agreements with agencies1 including ,inspectors ,general-- 7,a7 under which the ,commissioner shall provide the information in the ,registry 7in full and without limitation1 as provided in subsection 7h77#a77 to the agency or ,inspector ,general for purposes of facilitating-- 7i7 the making of authorized payments or the prevention1 identification1 or recovery of improper payments2 7ii7 carrying out section #e2 7iii7 in the case of the ,bureau of the ,census1 verifying information obtained as part of a decennial census conducted under section #ada7;a7 of title #ac1 ,united ,states ,code2 or 7iv7 other agency functions1 including public health or safety1 law enforcement1 tax administration1 health administration oversight1 and debt collection1 as determined appropriate by the ,commissioner and in accordance with guidance issued under subsection 7f72 and 7,b7 which shall require the agency or ,inspector ,general to provide reimbursement to the ,commissioner for the reasonable cost of carrying out the agreement4 7#b7 ,availability to ,states and local and tribal governments 7,a7 ,for making federally funded payments or avoiding federally funded improper payments ,the ,commissioner shall1 to the extent feasible1 enter into cooperative agreements with ,states and local and tribal governments-- 7i7 to provide the information in the ,registry to the ,state or local or tribal government for purposes of facilitating the making of authorized payments and the prevention1 identification1 or recovery of improper payments under federally funded programs2 and 7ii7 which shall require the ,state or local or tribal government to provide reimbursement to the ,commissioner for the reasonable cost of carrying out the agreement4 7,b7 ,for programs wholly funded by ,states and local and tribal governments ,the ,commissioner may enter into cooperative agreements with ,states and local and tribal governments-- 7i7 to provide the information in the ,registry for purposes relating to programs wholly funded by the ,state or local or tribal governments2 and 7ii7 which shall require the ,state or local or tribal government to provide reimbursement to the ,commissioner for the reasonable cost of carrying out the agreement4 7#c7 ,exceptional circumstances ,the ,commissioner may withhold information that would otherwise be required to be disclosed under a cooperative agreement under this subsection if the ,commissioner determines there are exceptional circumstances warranting an exception 7such as safety of the individual or interference with an investigation74 7#d7 ,confidentiality ,information provided by the ,commission under an agreement under this subsection or by an individual to any agency that has entered into a cooperative agreement under this subsection shall be-- 7,a7 considered as strictly confidential2 and 7,b7 used only for the purposes described in this subsection and for carrying out an agreement under this subsection4 7d7 ,registry requirements ,the ,commissioner shall-- 7#a7 implement procedures for identifying and correcting errors1 including those identified-- 7,a7 by agencies2 7,b7 by ,states and local and tribal governments2 and 7,c7 by members of the public2 7#b7 include a process for determining the accuracy of death records in the ,registry1 including estimates of accuracy through the use of statistical sampling of errors on a systematic basis2 7#c7 ensure the ,registry is operated and maintained in accordance with protocols that ensure the secure transfer and storage of any information provided to another entity consistent with applicable laws and best practices of the ,federal ,government relating to information1 privacy1 security1 and disclosure1 including protecting social security numbers and other identifiers determined appropriate by the ,commissioner2 and 7#d7 make the information in the ,registry available to a contractor of an agency1 ,state1 or local or tribal government for carrying out a purpose described in subsection 7c77#a7 or 7c77#b7 and in accordance with the cooperative agreement with the agency1 ,state1 or local or tribal government if the agency1 ,state1 or local or tribal government submits to the ,commissioner a certification that the contractor is in compliance with the requirements of the agency relating to privacy and security described in paragraph 7#c74 7e7 ,reporting by ,federal agencies of additional death data to the ,registry 7#a7 ,improved death data matching by ,federal agencies 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of the ,improper ,payments ,agency ,cooperation ,enhancement ,act of #bjac1 the ,director shall identify each agency or component of an agency that operates or maintains a database of information relating to beneficiaries1 annuity recipients1 or other matters such that improved data matching with the ,registry would be desirable1 as determined by the ,director4 7,b7 ,matching requirement 7i7 ,in general ,the head of each agency identified by the ,director under subparagraph 7,a7 shall establish a data matching procedure under which the agency shall compare information in the database of the agency with information in the ,registry in order to improve the accuracy and completeness of the information in both the database of the agency and in the ,registry relating to the death of individuals and to facilitate the prevention1 identification1 and recovery of improper payments4 7ii7 ,do ,not ,pay program ,the requirement to establish a data matching procedure under this subparagraph shall not be construed to diminish in any way the requirements for an agency under section #e1 relating to preventing identifying1 and recovering improper payments1 including to deceased individuals4 7#b7 ,prompt reporting ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,improper ,payments ,agency ,cooperation ,enhancement ,act of #bjac1 each agency identified by the ,director under paragraph 7#a77;,a7 shall establish a procedure 7consistent with guidance issued under subsection 7f77 under which the agency shall1 promptly and on a regular basis1 submit to the ,commissioner information relating to the death of a ,federal beneficiary1 ,federal annuitant recipient1 or other individual relevant for the purposes of this section4 7f7 ,guidance by the ,office of ,management and ,budget 7#a7 ,guidance to agencies ,not later than #f months after the date of enactment of the ,improper ,payments ,agency ,cooperation ,enhancement ,act of #bjac1 and in consultation with the ,council of ,inspectors ,general on ,integrity and ,efficiency1 the ,commissioner1 and the heads of other relevant agencies1 the ,director shall issue guidance for agencies regarding implementation of this section4 7#b7 ,guidance for ,states and local and tribal governments ,not later than #f months after the date of enactment of the ,improper ,payments ,agency ,cooperation ,enhancement ,act of #bjac1 the ,director shall provide guidance to ,states and local and tribal governments relating to accessing and using information in the ,registry4 7#c7 ,plan to assist ,states and local and tribal governments ,the ,director shall develop a plan to assist ,states and local and tribal governments in providing electronically to the ,commissioner1 for use or inclusion in the ,registry1 records relating to the death of individuals1 which shall include recommendations to ,congress for any statutory changes or financial assistance to ,states and local and tribal governments that are necessary to ensure ,states and local and tribal governments can provide such records electronically not later than ,january #a1 #bjae4 7g7 ,reporting 7#a7 ,report to ,congress on improving data matching regarding payments to individuals who are deceased ,not later than #bgj days after the date of enactment of ,improper ,payments ,agency ,cooperation ,enhancement ,act of #bjac1 the ,director1 after consultation with the ,commissioner1 the heads of other relevant agencies1 and ,states and local and tribal governments1 shall submit to ,congress a plan regarding how ,states and local and tribal governments that provide benefits under a federally funded program will improve data matching with the ,registry4 7#b7 ,annual report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of the ,improper ,payments ,agency ,cooperation ,enhancement ,act of #bjac1 and every year thereafter until the date that is #d years after such date of enactment1 the ,director shall submit to ,congress a report1 which may be included as part of another report submitted to ,congress by the ,director1 regarding the implementation of this section and the ,improper ,payments ,agency ,cooperation ,enhancement ,act of #bjac4 ,the first report under this paragraph shall include the recommendations of the ,director described in subsection 7f77#c74 7h7 ,consistency with the ,social ,security ,act 7#a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding section #bje7r7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dje7r77 or any other provision of that ,act1 the ,commissioner may include in the ,registry any information provided to the ,commissioner pursuant to that ,act 7including any information received from a ,state or any other source7 and may use or provide all such information 7including information received from ,states or any other source7 as authorized under this section to any agency1 including any ,inspector ,general4 7#b7 ,functions ,to the extent any function of the ,commissioner under the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dja et seq47 is the same as a required function of the ,commissioner under this section1 performance of the function under that ,act shall also satisfy the requirement to perform the function under this section4 7#c7 ,use regardless of source of information ,the ,commissioner may use any information in the ,registry for any purpose authorized under the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dja et seq471 regardless of whether the information was provided to the ,commissioner under authority of this section or any provision of the ,social ,security ,act4 4 7b7 ,technical and conforming amendment ,section #b7;g77#c7 of the ,improper ,payments ,information ,act of #bjjb 7#ca ,u4,s4,c4 #ccba note7 is amended by striking ,federal employee1 and inserting ,federal employee or any other individual in ,federal service14 #c4 ,enhancement of prepayment and pre-award procedures ,section #e7;a7 of the ,improper ,payments ,elimination and ,recovery ,improvement ,act of #bjab 7#ca ,u4,s4,c4 #ccba note7 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#b7 by adding1 after subparagraph 7,e71 the following3 7,f7 ,the registry of people who are deceased established by the ,commissioner of ,social ,security under section #g4 2 and 7#b7 by adding1 after paragraph 7#b71 the following3 7#c7 ,agencies to provide access ,each agency that operates or maintains a database described in paragraph 7#b7 shall provide each other agency with access to the information contained in that database for purposes of complying with paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b71 subject to such reasonable and permissible conditions as the agency operating or maintaining the database establishes4 4 #d4 ,data ,analytics ,section #e of the ,improper ,payments ,elimination and ,recovery ,improvement ,act of #bjab 7#ca ,u4,s4,c4 #ccba note7 is amended by adding at the end the following-- 7h7 ,report on improper payments data analysis ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of the ,improper ,payments ,agency ,cooperation ,enhancement ,act of #bjac1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury shall submit to ,congress a report1 which may be included as part of another report submitted to ,congress1 which shall include a description of-- 7#a7 data analytics performed as part of the ,do ,not ,pay ,initiative for the purpose of detecting1 preventing1 and recovering improper payments through pre-award1 post-award pre-payment1 and post-payment analysis1 which shall include a description of any analysis or investigations incorporating-- 7,a7 review and data matching of payments and beneficiary enrollment lists of ,state programs carried out using ,federal funds for the purposes of identifying eligibility duplication1 residency ineligibility1 duplicate payments1 or other potential improper payment issues2 7,b7 review of multiple ,federal agencies and programs for which comparison of data could show payment duplication2 and 7,c7 review of other information the ,secretary of the ,treasury determines are effective1 which may include investigation or review of information from multiple ,federal agencies or programs2 and 7#b7 the metrics used in determining whether the analytic and investigatory efforts have reduced1 or contributed to the reduction of1 improper payments or improper awards4 4 #e4 ,curbing improper payment of ,federal retirement annuities to deceased individuals 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget shall convene a task force of agencies 7in this section referred to as the task force7 to-- 7#a7 identify ways to improve the sharing of information relating to the death of an individual receiving an annuity under a ,federal retirement program2 and 7#b7 share best practices for identifying deceased annuitants4 7b7 ,membership ,the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget shall appoint the members of the task force1 which shall include a representative of-- 7#a7 the ,department of ,defense2 7#b7 the ,social ,security ,administration2 7#c7 the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs2 7#d7 the ,office of ,personnel ,management2 and 7#e7 any other agency that provides annuities or is relevant to the oversight of annuity payments4 7c7 ,plan ,not later than #bgj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the task force shall establish a plan to carry out the purposes described in subsection 7a74 7d7 ,reports ,the task force shall-- 7#a7 not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 submit to ,congress a report on the plan established under subsection 7c72 and 7#b7 not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 submit to ,congress a report on implementation of the plan by agencies4 7e7 ,termination ,the task force shall terminate on the day after the date on which the task force submits the report required under subsection 7d77#b74 #f4 ,agency access to postal database ,section #dab of title #ci1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by striking subsection 7b7 and inserting subsection 7b7 or 7c72 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7c7 7#a7 ,for purposes of this subsection-- 7,a7 the term agency means an executive agency as that term is defined under section #ajb of title #ca2 7,b7 the term improper payment has the meaning given that term in section #b7;g7 of the ,improper ,payments ,information ,act of #bjjb 7#ca ,u4,s4,c4 #ccba note72 and 7,c7 the term ,inspector ,general has the meaning given that term in section #e7;e77#a7 of the ,improper ,payments ,elimination and ,recovery ,improvement ,act of #bjab 7#ca ,u4,s4,c4 #ccba note74 7#b7 ,the ,postal ,service shall provide to agencies 7including to ,inspectors ,general7 access to information concerning delivery addresses1 including the ,commercial ,mail ,receiving ,agency lists of known locations of commercial mailbox offices1 for purposes of improved detection1 prevention1 and recovery of improper payments4 7#c7 ,the provision of information under this subsection shall be in accordance with such mutually agreeable terms and conditions1 including reimbursability1 as the ,postal ,service and the agency or ,inspector ,general determine appropriate4 4