text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the `Older and Disabled Americans Criminal 
  Protection Act of 1998'.
  
  SEC. 2. BACKGROUND CHECKS.
  
      (a) In General.--A shared housing referral service, as determined 
  for the purpose of this section by the Attorney General, may request 
  the Attorney General to conduct a search and exchange of records under 
  subsection (b) regarding any applicant for participation in a shared 
  housing arrangement as a service provider resident by--
              (1) submitting, to the Attorney General--
                      (A) fingerprints regarding such applicant; and
                      (B) a written statement authorizing the shared 
                  housing referral service to request the search and 
                  exchange of records regarding the applicant, which is 
                  signed by the applicant; and
              (2) making the submission of the information under 
          paragraph (1) not more than 7 days (not including Saturdays, 
          Sundays, and legal public holidays under section 6103 of title 
          5, United States Code) after completing acquiring the 
          information.
      (b) Search and Exchange of Records.--Pursuant to any submission 
  that complies with subsection (a), the Attorney General shall search 
  the records of the Criminal Justice Information Services Division of 
  the Federal Bureau of Investigation for any criminal history records 
  corresponding to the fingerprints or other positive identification 
  submitted. The Attorney General shall provide any corresponding 
  information identified by the search to the appropriate State or local 
  governmental agency authorized to receive such information.
      (c) Use of Information.--Information regarding any applicant for 
  participation in a shared housing arrangement obtained pursuant to 
  subsection (b) may be used only by the shared housing referral service 
  requesting the information and only for determining the suitability of 
  the applicant for participation in a shared housing arrangement as a 
  service provider resident.
      (d) Fees.--The Attorney General may charge a reasonable fee, which 
  may not exceed $50, to any shared housing referral service requesting a 
  search and exchange of records pursuant to subsection (b) to cover the 
  costs of conducting the search and providing the records.
      (e) Report.--The Attorney General shall submit a report to the 
  House of Representatives and the Senate not later than 2 years after 
  the date of enactment of this Act regarding the number of requests for 
  searches and exchanges of records made under this section by shared 
  housing referral services and the disposition of such requests.
  
  SEC. 3. CRIMINAL PENALTY.
  
      Whoever knowingly uses any information obtained pursuant to section 
  2(b) in violation of section 2(c) shall be fined under title 18, United 
  States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.
  
  SEC. 4. ORGANIZATIONAL LIABILITY.
  
      A shared housing referral agency that, in making a determination 
  regarding any referral for participation in a shared housing 
  arrangement, reasonably relies upon information provided to the agency 
  by the Attorney General pursuant to section 2 shall not be liable, in 
  any action for damages based on the referral determination, for any 
  damages resulting from incompleteness or inaccuracy of the information.
  
  SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
  
      For purposes of this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
              (1) Shared housing arrangement.--The term `shared housing 
          arrangement' means a primary residential arrangement that 
          consists of at least 2 persons--
                      (A) who reside in the same dwelling unit and share 
                  the use of all or part of the facilities of the 
                  dwelling unit;
                      (B) who have no familial relationship;
                      (C) one of whom is the owner or lessee of the 
                  dwelling unit, including any owner or lessee who is an 
                  elderly person or a person with disabilities, and
                      (D) another of whom provides care or other services 
                  for the benefit of the person described in subparagraph 
                  (C) in exchange for free occupancy in the dwelling 
                  unit, a reduction in the cost otherwise charged for 
                  occupancy of the dwelling unit, or other remuneration.
              (2) Shared housing referral service.--The term `shared 
          housing referral service' means any nonprofit organization, 
          person, or other entity that, for consideration, performs 
          services which involve the referral of individuals or families 
          for participation in shared housing arrangements as service 
          provider residents.
              (3) Service provider resident.--The term `service provider 
          resident' means, with respect to a shared housing arrangement, 
          the individual participating in the arrangement who is 
          described in paragraph (1)(D).
              (4) Elderly person; person with disabilities.--The terms 
          `elderly person' and `person with disabilities' have the 
          meanings given such terms in section 3(b) of the United States 
          Housing Act of 1937.
  
  SEC. 6. REGULATIONS.
  
      The Attorney General may prescribe any regulations necessary to 
  carry out this Act, including regulations regarding the security, 
  confidentiality, accuracy, use, and dissemination of information and 
  audits and recordkeeping and the imposition of fees necessary for the 
  recovery of costs.
target: Older and Disabled Americans Criminal Protection Act of 1998 - Defines a "shared housing arrangement" as a residential arrangement under which one person provides care or other services for the owner or lessee of a dwelling unit in exchange for free occupancy or a reduced cost for occupancy of that unit or other remuneration. Authorizes: (1) a shared housing referral agency to request the Attorney General to conduct and share criminal background checks respecting shared housing caretaker applicants; and (2) the Attorney General to charge a fee for such service. 
  Provides a criminal penalty for the knowing use of such information for other than housing determinations. 
  States that an agency that reasonably relies upon such information shall not be liable for damages based on such information's inaccuracy.
feat_title: Older and Disabled Americans Criminal Protection Act of 1998