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<PRE>[DOCID: f:s682is.txt]






107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 682

   To amend title II of the Social Security Act to restore the link 
 between the maximum amount of earnings by blind individuals permitted 
without demonstrating ability to engage in substantial gainful activity 
 and the exempt amount permitted in determining excess earnings under 
                           the earnings test.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 3, 2001

Mr. McCain (for himself, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Warner, Mr. DeWine, 
  Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Helms, Mrs. Murray, Mr. 
   Reid, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Roberts, Mr. 
 Hagel, Mr. Smith of Oregon, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Reed, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. 
  Schumer, Mr. Thurmond, Ms. Snowe, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. 
  Shelby, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Brownback, and Ms. Collins) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                                Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title II of the Social Security Act to restore the link 
 between the maximum amount of earnings by blind individuals permitted 
without demonstrating ability to engage in substantial gainful activity 
 and the exempt amount permitted in determining excess earnings under 
                           the earnings test.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Blind Persons Earnings Equity Act of 
2001''.

SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF LINK BETWEEN RULES RELATING TO SUBSTANTIAL 
              GAINFUL ACTIVITY FOR BLIND INDIVIDUALS AND RULES RELATING 
              TO EXCESS EARNINGS UNDER THE EARNINGS TEST.

    Section 223(d)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 432(d)(4)) 
is amended, in the second sentence, by striking ``, if section 102 of 
the Senior Citizens' Right to Work Act of 1996 had not been enacted''.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendment made by section 2 shall apply to determinations of an 
ability to engage in substantial gainful activity made on or after the 
date of enactment of this Act.
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