§658c Duties of Director; Statements on Bills and Joint Resolutions Other Than Appropriations Bills and Joint Resolutions

Summary

The Director of the Congressional Budget Office must write a cost statement for any public bill or joint resolution reported by an authorization committee. If the Director estimates that all federal intergovernmental mandates in the bill will cost $50,000,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) or more in the fiscal year the mandates first take effect or in any of the next four fiscal years, the Director must say so, give the estimate, and briefly explain how it was made. That estimate must cover the total direct cost, any new budget authority the bill authorizes each year for up to 10 years to pay those costs (when the bill includes that kind of authorization), and any added federal assistance money the bill provides that state, local, or tribal governments could use for those mandate tasks. For bills that make certain program changes described in section 658(5)(B)(i)(II), the Director must also say whether states can offset any reductions under current law or, if the bill gives extra flexibility, whether the savings from that flexibility would fully offset the reductions if states use it. If a reasonable estimate is not feasible, the Director must say so and explain why; in that case a point of order is limited to section 658d(a)(1) as if that requirement had not been met. The Director must also say and briefly explain when the estimated costs will be below the thresholds. The Director must do the same for federal private-sector mandates that will cost $100,000,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) or more in the first year they take effect or in any of the next four fiscal years. Those statements must include the total direct cost and any new or increased federal assistance the bill provides that the private sector could use for mandate-related activities. If the Director cannot make a reasonable estimate, the Director must say so and give reasons. If a bill is passed in amended form or a conference report adds a new mandate or raises a mandate’s cost, the committee of conference must make sure the Director prepares the required or a supplemental statement.