MAKING OMNIBUS CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997

Subsection 1. Age Discrimination Amendment

(a) REPEAL OF REPEALER- Section 3(b) of the Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1986 (29 U.S.C. 623 note) is repealed.

(b) EXEMPTION- Section 4(j) of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. 623(j)), as in effect immediately before December 31, 1993--

(1) is reenacted as such section; and

(2) as so reenacted, is amended in paragraph (1) by striking `and the individual has attained the age' and all that follows through `1983, and' and inserting the following: `, the employer has complied with section 3(d)(2) of the Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1996 if the individual was discharged after the date described in such section, and the individual has attained--

`(A) the age of hiring or retirement, respectively, in effect under applicable State or local law on March 3, 1983; or

`(B)(i) if the individual was not hired, the age of hiring in effect on the date of such failure or refusal to hire under applicable State or local law enacted after the date of enactment of the Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1996; or

`(ii) if applicable State or local law was enacted after the date of enactment of the Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1996 and the individual was discharged, the higher of--

`(I) the age of retirement in effect on the date of such discharge under such law; and

`(II) age 55; and'.

(c) CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in the repeal, reenactment, and amendment made by subsections (a) and (b) shall be construed to make lawful the failure or refusal to hire, or the discharge of, an individual pursuant to a law that--

(1) was enacted after March 3, 1983 and before the date of enactment of the Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1996; and

(2) lowered the age of hiring or retirement, respectively, for firefighters or law enforcement officers that was in effect under applicable State or local law on March 3, 1983.

Subsection 2. Study and Guidelines for Performance Tests

(a) STUDY- Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (referred to in this section as the `Secretary'), shall conduct, directly or by contract, a study, and shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report based on the results of the study that shall include--

(1) a list and description of all tests available for the assessment of abilities important for the completion of public safety tasks performed by law enforcement officers and firefighters.

(2) a list of the public safety tasks for which adequate tests described in paragraph (1) do not exist;

(3) a description of the technical characteristics that the tests shall meet to be in compliance with applicable Federal civil rights law and policies;

(4) a description of the alternative methods that are available for determining minimally acceptable performance standards on the tests;

(5) a description of the administrative standards that should be met in the administration, scoring, and score interpretation of the tests; and

(6) an examination of the extent to which the tests are cost-effective, are safe, and comply with the Federal civil rights law and policies.

(b) CONSULTATION REQUIREMENT; OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT-

(1) CONSULTATION- The Secretary shall, during the conduct of the study required by subsection (a), consult with--

(A) the Deputy Administrator of the United States Fire Administration:

(B) the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;

(C) organizations that represent law enforcement officers, firefighters, and employers of the officers and firefighters; and

(D) organizations that represent older individuals.

(2) PUBLIC COMMENT- Prior to issuing the advisory guidelines required in subsection (c), the Secretary shall provide an opportunity for public comment on the proposal advisory guidelines.

(c) ADVISORY GUIDELINES- Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and issue, based on the results of the study required by subsection (a), advisory guidelines for the administration and use of physical and mental fitness tests to measure the ability and competency of law enforcement officers and firefighters to perform the requirements of the jobs of the officers and firefighters.

(d) JOB PERFORMANCE TESTS-

(1) IDENTIFICATION OF TESTS- After issuance of the advisory guidelines described in subsection (c), the Secretary shall issue regulations identifying valid, nondiscriminatory job performance tests that shall be used by employers seeking the exemption described in section 4(j) of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 with respect to firefighters or law enforcement officers who have attained an age of retirement described in such section 4(j).

(2) USE OF TESTS- Effective on the date of issuance of the regulations described in paragraph (1), any employer seeking such exemption with respect to a firefighter or law enforcement officer who has attained such age shall provide to each firefighter or law enforcement officer who has attained such age an annual opportunity to demonstrate physical and mental fitness by passing a test described in paragraph (1), in order to continue employment.

(e) DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS FOR WELLNESS PROGRAMS- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall propose advisory standards for wellness programs for law enforcement officers and firefighters.

(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 to carry out this section.