NAPFE NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2000

LEGISLATION OF INTEREST

Long-Term Care Security Act

The Congress has passed and the President has signed into law legislation making long-term care insurance available to federal employees, retirees and members of the military. This law allows those eligible to buy long-term care insurance for the sick and elderly at group rates. It authorizes the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to negotiate such a package with insurers that would provide an estimated 15 to 20 percent discount for long-term care options such as home health care and nursing home care.

Federal Agency Compliance Act

On September 20, 2000, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law sent to the full committee the Federal Agency Compliance Act, which would require federal agencies to follow court precedents. This bill calls for federal agencies to follow appellate court precedent regarding interpretation and application of statutes. This bill is the result of reports that federal agencies ignore court decisions and deny benefits that the courts would confer. The bill has limited exceptions but would generally apply to all agencies. A similar bill is before the Senate however; it has not yet acted on the issue.

Democratic Rights for Union Members Act of 2000

The Democratic Rights for Union Members Act of 2000 (DRUM) is currently before Employer-Employee Subcommittee of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. The bill addresses issues raised, in part by, court cases between rank and file members and union leaders regarding lack of information for union members about their rights, abuse of the intra-union trusteeship process, and existing union rules which stifle opposition candidates. It would amend the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 by requiring that unions protect and promote the democratic rights of union members and union processes, ensure that unions express the will of their members, and empower union members, in general. The bill calls for unions to provide information to members in a timely manner and revises the laws regarding the establishment of trusteeships and reasonable qualifications in elections.

Medicare Rx 2000 Act

On June 28, 2000, by a very close vote the House of Representatives passed Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit legislation. This bill now before the Senate would amend the Social Security Act to provide a voluntary prescription drug program under Medicare. Under the Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program recipients enrolled in Medicare Part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) would have access to either qualified prescription drug coverage, standard coverage, or alternative coverage.

World AIDS Trust Fund Act

The Congress passed and the President signed into law, the World AIDS Trust Fund Act. This new law requires that the Secretary of the Treasury enter into negotiations with the World Bank or the International Development Association set up a trust fund that would accept contributions from the governments and the private sector to address the AIDS epidemic in developing countries. The bill also authorizes appropriations for the Secretary of the Treasury to contribute to the trust fund. This bill became law on August 19, 2000.