| Listed below is proposed legislation that affects counties and awaits final disposition. County News will publish a follow-up once the dust settles. |
| Comprehensive Retirement Security and Pension Reform Act – H.R. 1102: Would permit county employees to move retirement funds between defined benefit and defined contribution plans and to increase substantially contributions during the last three years of employment. |
| Public Safety Employer - Employee Cooperation Act of 1999 – S. 1016 and H.R. 1093: Would require that states and their political subdivisions grant collective bargaining rights to public safety officers. |
| Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations – H.R. 4577: In its current version, the bill would reduce funding for Title XX programs, maintain funding for Workforce Investment Act programs, and maintain or increase funding for health programs. |
| Minimum Wage – Various Senate and House proposals: Would require public-and private-sector employers to raise employee minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.15 per hour over two or three years. |
| Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2000 – H.R. 4857: Would prohibit counties from selling Social Security numbers (SSNs), displaying SSNs to the general public or employing prisoners in jobs that provide access to SSNs. |
| “Linder-Collins” Clean Air Measure – Would stop the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from designating counties as being in non-attainment status with a new Clean Air Act standard for ozone until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether the standard is enforceable. |
| Alternative Water Source Legislation – H.R. 1106: Would authorize new grants for state and local governments to develop alternative sources for water supply and environmental protection. |
| Pipeline Safety Legislation – S. 2438 and various House bills: Would strengthen federal rules governing oil and natural gas pipeline operations, maintenance and public reporting, and would allow state and local governments flexibility to impose pipeline safety requirements beyond federal requirements. |
| The Older Americans Act (OAA) – S. 1536 and H.R. 782: Would reauthorize the major source of federal funding for services to the elderly, such as senior, congregate and home-delivered meals, through the network of area agencies on aging and would authorize a new support program for family caregivers. |
| The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 – S. 1608: More commonly known as the Forest Safety Net bill, this bill would provide nearly $300 million for roads and schools in National Forest-dependent counties across the country. |
| The Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) – H.R. 701: Would provide nearly $2.9 billion in funds for environmental restoration and conservation efforts, of which about $2.3 billion would be available for state and local government programs, including full funding for the PILT program ($325 million). |
| Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations – H.R. 4578: Most notably, this bill would fund PILT at $200 million, $150 million in the regular bill and $50 million in the “CARA light” section. |
| Commerce, Justice and State Appropriations – H.R. 4690: The House version would provide level funding for state and local block grant justice programs. |
| The Family Opportunity Act – S. 2274: Would allow families with disabled children to purchase Medicaid coverage. |
| National Health Service Corps Reauthorization – Although no bills have been introduced to reauthorize this program, which provides health care providers to medically under- served areas through grants and tuition paybacks, reauthorization language is reportedly being readied for attachment to a year-end spending package. |
| The Beneficiary Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 – H.R. 5291: Commonly known as the Medicare Give Backs/Medicaid Relief act, this bill would halt cuts in funding to public hospitals. |
| Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act – S. 2311/H.R. 4807: Local governments would continue to receive funding for services to AIDS patients. |
| FY2001 Transportation Appropriations – H.R. 4475: Provides substantial funding to counties for highway, mass transit and airport programs, and imposes sanctions on states that do not adopt .08 blood alcohol content level for determining drunk driving. |
| Broadband Internet Access Act of 2000 – S. 2698/H.R. 4728: Provides a tax credit to telecommunications companies that provide high-speed broadband/Internet service to rural and underserved communities. |
| Internet Access Moratorium – H.R. 3709: Would extend the current moratorium on Internet taxes by five years. |
| Community Reinvestment Act – Would increase the state volume caps on private activity bonds and low-income tax credits. |