Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 113 Part 3.djvu/394

 113 STAT. 1912 PUBLIC LAW 106-170—DEC. 17, 1999 reimbursement for such assessment from the claimant whose claim gave rise to the assessment. "(5) DISPOSITION OF ASSESSMENTS. —Assessments on attorneys collected under this subsection shall be credited to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, as appropriate. "(6) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—The assessments authorized under this section shall be collected and available for obligation only to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts. Amounts so appropriated are authorized to remain available until expended, for administrative expenses in carrying out this title and related laws.". (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— (A) Section 206(a)(4)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 406(a)(4)(A)) is amended by inserting "and subsection (d)" after "subparagraph (B)". (B) Section 206(b)(1)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 406(b)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ", but subject to subsection (d) of this section" after "section 205(i)". (b) ELIMINATION OF 15-DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR PAYMENT OF FEES. — Section 206(a)(4) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 406(a)(4)), as amended by subsection (a)(2)(A) of this section, is amended— (1) by striking "(4)(A)" and inserting "(4)"; (2) by striking "subparagraph (B) and"; and (3) by striking subparagraph (B). 42 USC 406 note. (c) GAG STUDY AND REPORT.— (1) STUDY.— The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study that— (A) examines the costs incurred by the Social Security Administration in administering the provisions of subsection (a)(4) and (b)(1) of section 206 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 406) and itemizes the components of such costs, including the costs of determining fees to attorneys from the past-due benefits of claimants before the Commissioner of Social Security and of certif5ang such fees; (B) identifies efficiencies that the Social Security Administration could implement to reduce such costs; (C) examines the feasibility and advisability of linking the payment of, or the amount of, the assessment under section 206(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 406(d)) to the timeliness of the payment of the fee to the attorney as certified by the Commissioner of Social Security pursuant to subsection (a)(4) or (b)(1) of section 206 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 406); (D) determines whether the provisions of subsection (a)(4) and (b)(1) of section 206 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 406) should be applied to claimants under title XVI of such Act (42 U.S.C 1381 et seq.); (E) determines the feasibility and advisability of stating fees under section 206(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 406(d)) in terms of a fixed dollar amount as opposed to a percentage; (F) determines whether the dollar limit specified in section 206(a)(2)(A)(ii)(II) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 406(a)(2)(A)(ii)(II)) should be raised; and (G) determines whether the assessment on attorneys required under section 206(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 406(d))

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