Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 2.djvu/776

 108 STAT. 1492 PUBLIC LAW 103-296—AUG. 15, 1994 resentative payee program. In such study, the Secretary shall examine— (I) the feasibility, cost, and equity of requiring representative payees for all individuals entitled to benefits based on disability under title II or XVI of the Social Security Act who suffer from alcoholism or drug addiction, irrespective of whether the alcoholism or drug addiction was material in any case to the Secretary^'s determination of disability, (II) the feasibility, cost, and equity of providing benefits through non-cash means, including (but not limited to) vouchers, debit cards, and electronic benefits transfer systems, (III) the extent to which child beneficiaries are afflicted by drug addition or alcoholism and ways of addressing such affliction, including the feasibility of requiring treatment, and (IV) the extent to which children's representative payees are afflicted by drug addiction or alcoholism, and methods to identify children's representative payees Eifflicted by drug addition or alcoholism and to ensure that benefits continue to be provided to beneficiaries appropriately. (ii) REPORT. —Not later than December 31, 1995, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report setting forth the findings of the Secretary based on such study. Such report shall include such recommendations for administrative or legislative changes as the Secretary considers appropriate. (2) INCREASED RELIANCE ON PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE PAYEES.— (A) PREFERENCE REQUIRED FOR ORGANIZATIONAL REP- RESENTATIVE PAYEES.—Section 205(j)(2)(C) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 405(j)(2)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the following new clause: "(v) In the case of an individual entitled to benefits based on disability, if alcoholism or drug addiction is a contributing factor material to the Secretary's determination that the individual is under a disability, when selecting such individual's representative payee, preference shall be given to— "(I) a community-based nonprofit social service agency licensed or bonded by the State, "(II) a Federal, State, or local government agency whose mission is to carry out income maintenance, social service, or health care-related activities, "(III) a State or local government agency with fiduciary responsibilities, or "(FV) a designee of an agency (other than of a Federal agency) referred to in the preceding subclauses of this clause, if the Secretary deems it appropriate, unless the Secretary determines that selection of a family member would be appropriate.".

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