HR 1483 IH

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance programs, and for other purposes.

April 4, 2001

Mr. Levin (for himself, Mr. Shaw, Mrs. Johnson of Connecticut, Mr. Kildee, Ms. Waters, Mr. McHugh, Mr. Camp, Ms. Lee, Mr. Frost, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Kucinich, Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Barcia, Mr. Filner, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Moakley, Mr. Foley, Mr. Doyle, Ms. Pryce of Ohio, Mr. Houghton, Mr. Evans, Mrs. Thurman, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Etheridge, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Sawyer, Mr. Simmons, Mr. Bereuter, Mr. Jefferson, Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. Horn, Ms. Rivers, Mr. Coyne, Mr. Baldacci, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Farr of California, Mr. English, Mr. Matsui, Mr. Dingell, and Mr. Tierney) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance programs, and for other purposes.

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 `Employee Educational Assistance Act'.

SEC. 2. EMPLOYER-PROVIDED EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

(a) PERMANENT EXTENSION- Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to exclusion for educational assistance programs) is amended by striking subsection (d) and by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-section (d).

(b) REPEAL OF LIMITATION ON GRADUATE EDUCATION- The last sentence of section 127(c)(1) of such Code is amended by striking `, and such term also does not include any payment for, or the provision of any benefits with respect to, any graduate level course of a kind normally taken by an individual pursuing a program leading to a law, business, medical, or other advanced academic or professional degree'.

(c) Effective Dates-

(1) EXTENSION- The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to expenses relating to courses beginning after the date of enactment of this Act.

(2) GRADUATE EDUCATION- The amendment made by subsection (b) shall apply with respect to expenses relating to courses beginning after December 31, 1998.

END