Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/553

 118 STAT. 523 PUBLIC LAW 108–203—MAR. 2, 2004 for representation is entered into by such non attorney representa tives during the period beginning with the date of the submission of such notice by the Commissioner to Congress and ending with the termination date of the demonstration project. (e) REPORTS BY THE COMMISSIONER; TERMINATION.— (1) INTERIM REPORTS.—On or before the date which is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner shall transmit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Finance of the Senate an annual interim report on the progress of the demonstration project carried out under this section, together with any related data and materials that the Commissioner may consider appropriate. (2) TERMINATION DATE AND FINAL REPORT.—The termi nation date of the demonstration project under this section is the date which is 5 years after the date of the submission of the notice by the Commissioner to each House of Congress pursuant to subsection (d). The authority under the preceding provisions of this section shall not apply in the case of claims for benefits with respect to which the agreement for representa tion is entered into after the termination date. Not later than 90 days after the termination date, the Commissioner shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Finance of the Senate a final report with respect to the demonstration project. SEC. 304. GAO STUDY REGARDING THE FEE PAYMENT PROCESS FOR CLAIMANT REPRESENTATIVES. (a) STUDY.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall study and evaluate the appointment and payment of claimant representatives appearing before the Commissioner of Social Security in connection with benefit claims under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq., 1381 et seq.) in each of the following groups: (A) Attorney claimant representatives who elect fee withholding under section 206 or 1631(d)(2) of such Act. (B) Attorney claimant representatives who do not elect such fee withholding. (C) Non attorney claimant representatives who are eligible for, and elect, such fee withholding. (D) Non attorney claimant representatives who are eligible for, but do not elect, such fee withholding. (E) Non attorney claimant representatives who are not eligible for such fee withholding. (2) MATTERS TO BE STUDIED.—In conducting the study under this subsection, the Comptroller General shall, for each of group of claimant representatives described in paragraph (1)— (A) conduct a survey of the relevant characteristics of such claimant representatives including— (i) qualifications and experience; (ii) the type of employment of such claimant rep resentatives, such as with an advocacy group, State or local government, or insurance or other company; (iii) geographical distribution between urban and rural areas; 42 USC 406 note. Deadlines.

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