text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Consortium on the Impact of 
  Technology in Aging Health Services Act of 2006''.
  
  SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF CONSORTIUM.
  
      (a) Establishment.--There is established a Consortium to be known 
  as the ``Consortium on the Impact of Technology in Aging Health 
  Services'' (referred to in this Act as the ``Consortium'').
      (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Consortium is to evaluate the 
  potential of new technologies to help the United States prepare for the 
  unprecedented demographic changes that will occur during the next 10 
  years in the Nation's healthcare system.
      (c) Membership.--
              (1) Composition.--The Consortium shall be composed of 17 
          members, of whom--
                      (A) 1 member shall be appointed by the President 
                  and designated by the President as Chairperson of the 
                  Consortium;
                      (B) 4 members shall be appointed by the Majority 
                  Leader of the Senate;
                      (C) 4 members shall be appointed by the Minority 
                  Leader of the Senate;
                      (D) 4 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of 
                  the House of Representatives; and
                      (E) 4 members shall be appointed by the Minority 
                  Leader of the House of Representatives.
              (2) Qualifications.--
                      (A) In general.--Appointments to the Consortium 
                  shall be made from individuals who are senior-level 
                  executives from the Federal Government or the private-
                  sector who have demonstrated experience as--
                              (i) providers of senior, geriatric, and 
                          other assistive services, including housing, 
                          nursing care, home-and-community based 
                          services, and assisted living and caregiver 
                          organizations;
                              (ii) technology developers or producers of 
                          products for aged individuals;
                              (iii) Federal, State, or academic 
                          researchers that focus on aging issues;
                              (iv) physicians and other health care 
                          providers;
                              (v) insurers and other payer organizations; 
                          and
                              (vi) representatives of the pharmaceutical 
                          industry.
                      (B) Inclusion of seniors and individuals with 
                  disabilities.--At least 2 appointees shall be--
                              (i) age 65 or older; or
                              (ii) an individual with a disability.
              (3) Date of appointments.--The appointment of a member of 
          the Consortium shall be made not later than 30 days after the 
          date of enactment of this Act.
      (d) Term; Vacancies.--
              (1) Term.--A member shall be appointed for the life of the 
          Consortium.
              (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Consortium--
                      (A) shall not affect the powers of the Consortium; 
                  and
                      (B) shall be filled, not later than 30 days after 
                  the Consortium is given notice of the vacancy, in the 
                  same manner as the original appointment was made.
      (e) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
  which all members of the Consortium have been appointed, the Consortium 
  shall hold the initial meeting of the Consortium.
      (f) Meetings.--The Consortium shall meet at the call of the 
  Chairperson.
      (g) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Consortium shall 
  constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
  
  SEC. 3. DUTIES.
  
      (a) Study.--
              (1) In general.--The Consortium shall conduct a study of 
          all matters relating to the potential use of new technology to 
          assist older adults and their caregivers throughout the aging 
          process.
              (2) Matters to be studied.--The matters to be studied by 
          the Consortium shall include--
                      (A) methods for identifying technology that can be 
                  adapted to meet the needs of seniors, individuals with 
                  disabilities, and the caregivers of such seniors and 
                  individuals across all aging services settings;
                      (B) methods for fostering scientific innovation 
                  with respect to aging services technology within the 
                  business and academic communities;
                      (C) identifying barriers to innovation in aging 
                  services technology and devising strategies for 
                  removing such barriers;
                      (D) developments in aging services technology in 
                  other countries that may be applied in the United 
                  States;
                      (E) methods for ensuring that businesses in the 
                  United States have a leadership role in the rapidly 
                  expanding global market of aging services technology; 
                  and
                      (F) identifying barriers to the adoption of aging 
                  services technology by health care providers and 
                  consumers and devising strategies to removing such 
                  barriers.
      (b) Recommendations.--The Consortium shall develop recommendations 
  with respect to the following:
              (1) Identification of developments in current aging 
          services technologies that may result in increased efficiency 
          and cost savings to the healthcare system.
              (2) Opportunities for ongoing research and development by 
          the public and private sectors to accelerate the development 
          and adoption of aging services technology in order to--
                      (A) promote the independence of seniors and 
                  individuals with disabilities;
                      (B) facilitate early disease detection;
                      (C) delay the physical, cognitive, social, and 
                  emotional decline resulting from disease and the aging 
                  process;
                      (D) support wellness activities and preventive 
                  behaviors;
                      (E) promote greater support to community- and 
                  facility-based caregivers;
                      (F) develop systems that improve the quality and 
                  efficiency of facility-based care, such as pharmacy 
                  distribution programs and secure electronic clinical 
                  records;
                      (G) enhance the utilization of technology by 
                  caregivers to reduce the burden of paperwork ;
                      (H) minimize caregiver burnout; and
                      (I) reduce medication errors and improve overall 
                  compliance.
              (3) Identification of methods to ensure that necessary 
          technology infrastructure is in place to deliver aging services 
          to rural and urban areas.
              (4) Whether to establish--
                      (A) a permanent Federal interagency task force that 
                  will facilitate the development and distribution of 
                  aging services technology; and
                      (B) a National Resource Center that would stimulate 
                  research, oversee demonstration projects, and provide 
                  training and technical assistance to Federal, State, 
                  and private sector organizations and entities that 
                  provide aging services.
              (5) Assignment of responsibilities for aging services with 
          respect to jurisdiction, funding, and reporting relationships.
      (c) Report.--Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment 
  of this Act, the Consortium shall submit to the President and the 
  appropriate committees of Congress a report that contains the 
  recommendations of the Consortium with respect to the following:
              (1) Development of national policy.--The development of a 
          national policy to address issues with respect to technology 
          and assistive health services for seniors, including the 
          appropriate roles and responsibilities for the Federal 
          Government, State and local governments, and the private 
          sector.
              (2) Legislative and program changes.--The specific 
          legislative and regulatory changes with respect to Federal laws 
          and programs that would support and encourage the private 
          sector to develop and make widely available consumer-empowered 
          technology solutions.
              (3) Establishment of national resource center.--The 
          establishment of a National Resource Center on Aging Services 
          Technologies to offer training and assistance to the Federal 
          Government, State and local governments, and the private sector 
          in the application of technology in pilots and trials with 
          respect to assistive health services for seniors.
  
  SEC. 4. POWERS.
  
      (a) Hearings.--The Consortium may hold such hearings, meet and act 
  at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such 
  evidence as the Consortium considers advisable to carry out this Act.
      (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--
              (1) In general.--The Consortium may secure directly from a 
          Federal agency such information as the Consortium considers 
          necessary to carry out this Act.
              (2) Provision of information.--Except as otherwise provided 
          by law, on request of the Chairperson of the Consortium, the 
          head of the agency shall provide the information to the 
          Consortium.
      (c) Postal Services.--The Consortium may use the United States 
  mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
  agencies of the Federal Government.
      (d) Contract Authority.--The Consortium may contract with and 
  compensate government and private agencies or persons for services, 
  without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5).
      (e) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the 
  Consortium may, if authorized by the Consortium, take any action which 
  the Consortium is authorized to take by this section.
      (f) Gifts.--The Consortium may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or 
  donations of services or property.
      (g) Printing.--For purposes of costs relating to printing and 
  binding, including the costs of personnel detailed from the Government 
  Printing Office, the Consortium shall be deemed to be a committee of 
  Congress.
  
  SEC. 5. CONSORTIUM PERSONNEL MATTERS.
  
      (a) Compensation of Members.--Members of the Consortium shall 
  receive no additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their 
  service on the Consortium.
      (b) Travel Expenses.--A member of the Consortium shall be allowed 
  travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 
  authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 
  57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular 
  place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the 
  Consortium.
      (c) Staff.--
              (1) In general.--The Chairperson of the Consortium may, 
          without regard to the civil service laws (including 
          regulations), appoint and terminate an executive director and 
          such other additional personnel as are necessary to enable the 
          Consortium to perform the duties of the Consortium.
              (2) Compensation.--
                      (A) Executive director.--The executive director 
                  shall be paid the rate of basic pay for level V of the 
                  Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, 
                  United States Code.
                      (B) Other staff.--The staff shall be appointed 
                  subject to the provisions of title 5, United States 
                  Code, government appointments in the competitive 
                  service, and shall be paid in accordance with the 
                  provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 
                  53 of that title relating to classification and General 
                  Schedule pay rates.
      (d) Detail of Federal Government Employees.--
              (1) In general.--An employee of the Federal Government may 
          be detailed to the Consortium without reimbursement.
              (2) Civil service status.--The detail of the employee shall 
          be without interruption or loss of civil service status or 
          privilege.
      (e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The 
  Chairperson of the Consortium may procure temporary and intermittent 
  services in accordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 
  Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent 
  of the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for the General 
  Schedule.
      (f) Physical Facilities.--The Administrator of the General Services 
  Administration shall locate suitable office space for the operation of 
  the Consortium. The facilities shall serve as the headquarters of the 
  Consortium and shall include all necessary equipment and incidentals 
  required for the proper functioning of the Consortium.
  
  SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
  $1,500,000, for the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2010, to remain 
  available until expended.
  
  SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF CONSORTIUM.
  
      The Consortium shall terminate 180 days after the date on which the 
  Consortium submits the report required under section 3(c).
target: Consortium on the Impact of Technology in Aging Health Services Act of 2006 - Establishes the Consortium on the Impact of Technology in Aging Health Services. Requires the Consortium to conduct a study of all matters relating to the potential use of new technology to assist older adults and their caregivers, including: (1) methods for identifying technology that may be adapted to meet their needs; (2) methods for fostering scientific innovation in aging services technology within the business and academic communities; (3) barriers to innovation in and the adoption of technology and strategies for removing such barriers; (4) developments in such technology in other countries; and (5) methods for ensuring that U.S. businesses have a leadership role in the global market of such technology.
  
  Requires the Consortium to develop recommendations concerning: (1) developments in current technologies that may result in increased efficiency and cost savings to the healthcare system; (2) opportunities for research and development to accelerate the development and adoption of aging services technology; (3) methods to ensure that technology infrastructure is in place to deliver services; and (4) establishment of a federal interagency task force to facilitate the development and distribution of such technology and a National Resource Center to stimulate research, oversee demonstration projects, and provide training and assistance to entities that provide such services.
  
  Requires the Consortium to report recommendations regarding development of a national policy to address issues concerning technology and assistive health services for seniors, changes to federal laws and programs that would support and encourage the private sector to develop and make widely available consumer-empowered technology solutions, and establishment of a National Resource Center on Aging Services Technologies.
feat_title: A bill to establish a Consortium on the Impact of Technology in Aging Health Services.