,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #diaj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ca1 #bjbd,mr4 ,casey 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,mr4 ,welch1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 and ,ms4 ,duckworth7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,finance ,a ,,bill ,to direct ,federal agencies to provide information on ,,able accounts and to provide grants for increasing awareness of ,,able accounts4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,,able ,awareness ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 #bjbd is the ten-year anniversary of the passage of the ,stephen ,beck1 ,jr41 ,achieving a ,better ,life ,experience ,act of #bjad that made it possible for individuals with disabilities to save for qualified disability expenses using ,,able accounts4 7#b7 ,as of ,march #bjbd1 there were over #aga1jjj ,,able accounts nationwide1 with almost #b1jjj1jjj1jjj invested in those accounts4 7#c7 ,there are an estimated #h1jjj1jjj ,americans eligible for ,,able accounts under the current eligibility requirements1 and another #f1jjj1jjj people will be eligible when the eligibility limitation for the age at which the disability occurred increases to age #df4 7#d7 ,of the #ad1jjj1jjj people who will be eligible to open ,,able accounts in #bjbf1 approximately #b1bjj1jjj are veterans4 7#e7 ,only #a4b percent of people who are eligible and could open an ,,able have done so4 7#f7 ,the benefits of ,,able accounts should be available to more than the existing #aga1jjj account holders4 #c4 ,purpose ,the purposes of this ,act are-- 7#a7 to direct ,federal agencies to inform people with disabilities about ,,able programs when first enroll in certain programs2 and 7#b7 to provide ,states and regions with resources to advertise the ,,able program as the eligibility requirements expand to include millions more people in #bjbf4 #d4 ,directing agencies to inform people with disabilities about ,,able accounts 7a7 ,social ,security ,administration 7#a7 ,in general ,beginning #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commissioner of ,social ,security shall provide the information described in paragraph 7#c7 to any individual who is receiving any of the following on or after such date3 7,a7 ,a supplemental security income benefit under title ,,xvi of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acha et seq474 7,b7 ,a disability insurance benefit under section #bbc of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dbc74 7,c7 ,a monthly insurance benefit under section #bjb of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #djb7 based on such individual's disability 7as defined in section #bbc7;d7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dbc7;d774 7#b7 ,provision of information upon redetermination or overpayment ,beginning #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commissioner of ,social ,security shall1 in addition to providing the information described in paragraph 7#c7 in accordance with paragraph 7#a71 provide such information to any individual receiving a benefit described in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 whenever such individual's eligibility for such benefit is redetermined2 and 7,b7 whenever such individual is found to have received an overpayment of such benefits due to the individual having resources that exceed the amount established under subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,b7 of section #afaa7;a77#c7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #achb7;a77#c771 as applicable to the individual4 7#c7 ,information on ,,able accounts ,the information described in this paragraph is the following3 7,a7 ,information on the existence of-- 7i7 qualified ,,able programs as defined in section #ebi;,a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf2 and 7ii7 resources for people with disabilities1 such as the ,,able ,national ,resource ,center1 the ,national ,association of ,state ,treasurers1 and ,,able ,today4 7,b7 ,instructions on how to open an ,,able account 7as defined in section #ebi;,a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf74 7b7 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs 7#a7 ,in general ,chapter #fc of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #fcba4 ,,able programs ,the ,secretary shall inform each individual who enrolls in a program carried out under the laws administered by the ,secretary about the existence of qualified ,,able programs 7as defined in section #ebi;,a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf7 and resources for people with disabilities1 such as the ,,able ,national ,resource ,center1 the ,national ,association of ,state ,treasurers1 and ,,able ,today1 at the time of such enrollment4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #fc of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item3 #fcba4 ,,able programs4 4 7c7 ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development 7#a7 ,definition ,in this subsection1 the term covered housing program means-- 7,a7 the program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section #haa of the ,cranston-,gonzalez ,national ,affordable ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #hjac72 and 7,b7 the tenant-based assistance program under section #h7o7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7o774 7#b7 ,requirement ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall ensure that when a family or an individual enrolls in a covered housing program or otherwise begins to occupy housing assisted by a covered housing program1 the family or individual is informed about-- 7,a7 the existence of qualified ,,able programs as defined in section #ebi;,a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf2 and 7,b7 resources for people with disabilities1 such as the ,,able ,national ,resource ,center1 the ,national ,association of ,state ,treasurers1 and ,,able ,today4 7d7 ,chapter #he of title #da1 ,united states code ,section #hejc7;d7 of title #da1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking and at the end2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 shall provide regulations providing that1 when a qualified nonprofit agency that produces a product or services for the ,federal ,government under subsection 7c7 enrolls an individual in a program to produce the product or services1 the agency shall inform the individual about-- 7,a7 the existence of qualified ,,able programs as defined in section #ebi;,a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf2 and 7,b7 resources for people with disabilities1 such as the ,,able ,national ,resource ,center1 the ,national ,association of ,state ,treasurers1 and ,,able ,today4 4 7e7 ,state ,medicaid and ,,chip agencies 7#a7 ,medicaid ,section #aijb7;a7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif;a7a77 is amended-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#hf71 by striking 2 and and inserting a semicolon2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#hg71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7,c7 by inserting after paragraph 7#hg7 the following new paragraph3 7#hh7 provide that the ,state will inform any individual who enrolls for medical assistance under the ,state plan 7or under a waiver of such plan7 about the existence of qualified ,,able programs as defined in section #ebi;,a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf1 and resources for people with disabilities1 such as the ,,able ,national ,resources ,center1 the ,national ,association of ,state ,treasurers1 and ,,able ,today1 when they first enroll for such assistance4 4 7#b7 ,,chip ,section #bajg7;e77#a7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acig;gg7e77#a77 is amended-- 7,a7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,h7 through 7,u7 as subparagraphs 7,i7 through 7,v71 respectively2 and 7,b7 by inserting after subparagraph 7,g7 the following new subparagraph3 7,h7 ,section #aijb7;a77#hh7 7relating to the provision of information about ,,able accounts to individuals when they first enroll for medical assistance74 4 7#c7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on the date that is #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7f7 ,state ,,tanf agencies 7#a7 ,in general ,section #djh7;a7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fjh7;a77 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#ac7 ,state requirement to provide information about ,,able accounts ,beginning #ahj days after the date of enactment of the ,,able ,awareness ,act1 a ,state to which a grant is made under section #djc shall provide information about the existence of qualified ,,able programs as defined in section #ebi;,a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf1 and resources for people with disabilities1 such as the ,,able ,national ,resources ,center1 the ,national ,association of ,state ,treasurers1 and ,,able ,today1 to any family receiving or applying for assistance under such grant4 4 7#b7 ,state plan requirement ,section #djb7;a77#a77;,b7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fjb7;a77#a77;,b77 is amended by adding at the end the following new clause3 7vi7 ,the document shall include information about how the ,state will provide information about qualified ,,able programs to individuals as required under section #djh7;a77#ac74 4 7g7 ,nutrition assistance programs ,each ,state shall inform people with disabilities 7as defined in section #c of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abajb77 about the existence of qualified ,,able programs 7as defined in section #ebi;,a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf71 and resources for people with disabilities1 such as the ,,able ,national ,resource ,center1 the ,national ,association of ,state ,treasurers1 and ,,able ,today1 on enrollment in any means-tested nutrition assistance program of the ,department of ,agriculture or the ,department of ,defense1 including-- 7#a7 the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq472 and 7#b7 the special supplemental nutrition program for women1 infants1 and children established by section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf74 7h7 ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc ,section #aja7;a7 of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gba7;a77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#bg7 ,information on ,,able programs ,the ,state plan shall provide that1 when an individual with a disability 7as defined in section #g7bj77;,a77 enrolls in a vocational rehabilitation program1 the designated ,state unit shall inform the person about-- 7,a7 the existence of qualified ,,able programs as defined in section #ebi;,a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf2 and 7,b7 resources for individuals with disabilities1 such as the ,,able ,national ,resource ,center1 the ,national ,association of ,state ,treasurers1 and ,,able ,today4 4 7i7 ,medicare ,beginning #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall provide the information described in subsection 7a77#c77;,a7 to any individual entitled to benefits under title ,,xviii of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acie et seq47 by reason of section #ahaa7b7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acie;c7#b77 at the time such individual becomes entitled to such benefits4 #e4 ,,able awareness grants 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may award grants to eligible entities for the purposes of promoting the availability of ,,able programs and their benefits and encouraging the establishment of ,,able accounts for eligible individuals4 7b7 ,eligible entity ,for purposes of this section1 the term eligible entity means-- 7#a7 any ,state1 or any agency or instrumentality thereof2 7#b7 an ,indian tribal government or any subdivision thereof2 or 7#c7 any consortium of entities described in paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b74 7c7 ,awarding grants 7#a7 ,application ,an eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing or accompanied by such information1 as the ,secretary may reasonably require4 7#b7 ,data collection and reporting ,the ,secretary may not award a grant under this section unless the eligible entity agrees to collect data on the number of ,,able accounts established as a result of activities carried out with the grant funds4 7d7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant to increase awareness of ,,able accounts and to provide information on how to enroll in such accounts4 7#b7 ,activities ,an eligible entity may use a grant under this section for-- 7,a7 media buys2 7,b7 conferences1 meetings1 canvassing1 and recruitment2 and 7,c7 other activities to promote the availability and establishment of ,,able accounts4 7e7 ,other terms ,for purposes of this section3 7#a7 ,,able program2 ,,able account2 eligible individual ,the terms ,,able program1 ,,able account1 and eligible individual have the respective meaning given such terms under section #ebi;,a of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,treasury or the ,secretary's delegate4 7#c7 ,state ,the term ,state includes any territory or possession of the ,united ,states4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbe through #bjbi4