H.R. 1721 would amend the Public Health Service Act to help individuals with functional impairments and their families pay for services and supports that they need to maximize their functionality and independence and have choices about community participation, education, and employment.
Detailed Summary
Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act or the CLASS Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to create a national, voluntary disability insurance program (CLASS program) under which: (1) all employees are automatically enrolled, but are allowed to waive enrollment; (2) payroll deductions pay monthly premiums; and (3) two-tiered benefits are provided, based on the level of disability, to purchase nonmedical services and supports that the beneficiary needs to maintain independence.
Establishes the Independence Fund within the Treasury.
Requires the CLASS program to be treated for tax purposes in the same manner as a qualified long-term care insurance contract.
Amends the Social Security Act to require each state to: (1) assess the extent to which personal care services providers are serving or able to serve as fiscal agents, employers, and providers of employment-related benefits for personal care attendant workers, who provide personal care services to individuals receiving benefits under this Act; (2) designate or create entities to serve such purposes; and (3) ensure that such entities will not negatively alter or impede existing programs, models, methods, or administration of service delivery that provide for consumer controlled or self-directed home and community services, impede the ability of individuals to direct and control their home and community services, or inhibit individuals from relying on family members for such services.
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Personal Care Attendants Workforce Advisory Panel to examine and advise the Secretary and Congress on workforce issues related to personal care attendant workers.
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow: (1) a deduction for premiums paid for the CLASS program; (2) a credit CLASS program enrollees with low income; and (3) a credit for employers for the cost incurred to automatically enroll employees and withhold monthly premiums.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 3/26/2009: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Laura Kingsley
July 16, 2009, 2:44pm (report abuse)This bill sounds wonderful, I just wonder about funding.
Art Bedford
April 20, 2010, 8:43pm (report abuse)Stop already! Are we going to let the Federal government feed us, house us, give us a job, and take care of our every need? What happened to rugged individualism and personal responsibility. Here is another government program that is going to cost us, the taxpayers more than they say and more than we have. Have we gone completely crazy? There is no more money!