S. 2982 – Reading Mode

One Hundred Tenth Congress of the United States of America

2d Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third day of January, two thousand and eight

S. 2982

AN ACT

To amend the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008.

Findings

Section 302 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

(3)

services to such young people should be developed and provided using a positive youth development approach that ensures a young person a sense of—

(A)

safety and structure;

(B)

belonging and membership;

(C)

self-worth and social contribution;

(D)

independence and control over one's life; and

(E)

closeness in interpersonal relationships.

Basic center program

(a)

Services provided

Section 311 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5711) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)(2)(B), by striking clause (i) and inserting the following:

(i)

safe and appropriate shelter provided for not to exceed 21 days; and

; and

(2)

in subsection (b)(2)—

(A)

by striking (2) The and inserting (2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the;

(B)

by striking $100,000 and inserting $200,000;

(C)

by striking $45,000 and inserting $70,000; and

(D)

by adding at the end the following:

(B)

For fiscal years 2009 and 2010, the amount allotted under paragraph (1) with respect to a State for a fiscal year shall be not less than the amount allotted under paragraph (1) with respect to such State for fiscal year 2008.

(C)

Whenever the Secretary determines that any part of the amount allotted under paragraph (1) to a State for a fiscal year will not be obligated before the end of the fiscal year, the Secretary shall reallot such part to the remaining States for obligation for the fiscal year.

(b)

Eligibility

Section 312(b) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5712(b)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (11), by striking and at the end;

(2)

in paragraph (12), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(13)

shall develop an adequate emergency preparedness and management plan.

Transitional living grant program

(a)

Eligibility

Section 322(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714–2(a)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1)—

(A)

by striking directly or indirectly and inserting by grant, agreement, or contract; and

(B)

by striking services the first place it appears and inserting provide, by grant, agreement, or contract, services,;

(2)

in paragraph (2), by striking a continuous period not to exceed 540 days, except that and all that follows and inserting the following: a continuous period not to exceed 540 days, or in exceptional circumstances 635 days, except that a youth in a program under this part who has not reached 18 years of age on the last day of the 635-day period may, in exceptional circumstances and if otherwise qualified for the program, remain in the program until the youth's 18th birthday;;

(3)

in paragraph (14), by striking and at the end;

(4)

in paragraph (15), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and

(5)

by adding at the end the following:

(16)

to develop an adequate emergency preparedness and management plan.

(b)

Definitions

Section 322(c) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714–2(c)) is amended by—

(1)

striking part, the term and inserting the following:

part—

(1)

the term

;

(2)

striking the period and inserting ; and; and

(3)

adding at the end thereof the following:

(2)

the term ‘exceptional circumstances’ means circumstances in which a youth would benefit to an unusual extent from additional time in the program.

Grants for research evaluation, demonstration, and service projects

Section 343 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714–23) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking special consideration and inserting priority;

(B)

in paragraph (8)—

(i)

by striking to health and inserting to quality health;

(ii)

by striking mental health care and inserting behavioral health care; and

(iii)

by striking and at the end;

(C)

in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and inserting , including access to educational and workforce programs to achieve outcomes such as decreasing secondary school dropout rates, increasing rates of attaining a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, or increasing placement and retention in postsecondary education or advanced workforce training programs; and; and

(D)

by adding at the end the following:

(10)

providing programs, including innovative programs, that assist youth in obtaining and maintaining safe and stable housing, and which may include programs with supportive services that continue after the youth complete the remainder of the programs.

; and

(2)

by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:

(c)

In selecting among applicants for grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1)

give priority to applicants who have experience working with runaway or homeless youth; and

(2)

ensure that the applicants selected—

(A)

represent diverse geographic regions of the United States; and

(B)

carry out projects that serve diverse populations of runaway or homeless youth.

Coordinating, training, research, and other activities

Part D of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714–21 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

345.

Periodic estimate of incidence and prevalence of youth homelessness

(a)

Periodic estimate

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008, and at 5-year intervals thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and make available to the public, a report—

(1)

by using the best quantitative and qualitative social science research methods available, containing an estimate of the incidence and prevalence of runaway and homeless individuals who are not less than 13 years of age but are less than 26 years of age; and

(2)

that includes with such estimate an assessment of the characteristics of such individuals.

(b)

Content

The report required by subsection (a) shall include—

(1)

the results of conducting a survey of, and direct interviews with, a representative sample of runaway and homeless individuals who are not less than 13 years of age but are less than 26 years of age, to determine past and current—

(A)

socioeconomic characteristics of such individuals; and

(B)

barriers to such individuals obtaining—

(i)

safe, quality, and affordable housing;

(ii)

comprehensive and affordable health insurance and health services; and

(iii)

incomes, public benefits, supportive services, and connections to caring adults; and

(2)

such other information as the Secretary determines, in consultation with States, units of local government, and national nongovernmental organizations concerned with homelessness, may be useful.

(c)

Implementation

If the Secretary enters into any contract with a non-Federal entity for purposes of carrying out subsection (a), such entity shall be a nongovernmental organization, or an individual, determined by the Secretary to have appropriate expertise in quantitative and qualitative social science research.

Sexual abuse prevention program

Section 351(b) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714–41(b)) is amended by inserting public and after priority to.

Performance standards

Part F of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714a et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 386 the following:

386A.

Performance standards

(a)

Establishment of performance standards

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008, the Secretary shall issue rules that specify performance standards for public and nonprofit private entities and agencies that receive grants under sections 311, 321, and 351.

(b)

Consultation

The Secretary shall consult with representatives of public and nonprofit private entities and agencies that receive grants under this title, including statewide and regional nonprofit organizations (including combinations of such organizations) that receive grants under this title, and national nonprofit organizations concerned with youth homelessness, in developing the performance standards required by subsection (a).

(c)

Implementation of performance standards

The Secretary shall integrate the performance standards into the processes of the Department of Health and Human Services for grantmaking, monitoring, and evaluation for programs under sections 311, 321, and 351.

Government Accountability Office study and report

(a)

Study

(1)

In general

The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study, including making findings and recommendations, relating to the processes for making grants under parts A, B, and E of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5711 et seq., 5714–1 et seq., 5714–41).

(2)

Subjects

In particular, the Comptroller General shall study—

(A)

the Secretary’s written responses to and other communications with applicants who do not receive grants under part A, B, or E of such Act, to determine if the information provided in the responses and communications is conveyed clearly;

(B)

the content and structure of the grant application documents, and of other associated documents (including grant announcements), to determine if the requirements of the applications and other associated documents are presented and structured in a way that gives an applicant a clear understanding of the information that the applicant must provide in each portion of an application to successfully complete it, and a clear understanding of the terminology used throughout the application and other associated documents;

(C)

the peer review process for applications for the grants, including the selection of peer reviewers, the oversight of the process by staff of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the extent to which such staff make funding determinations based on the comments and scores of the peer reviewers;

(D)

the typical timeframe, and the process and responsibilities of such staff, for responding to applicants for the grants, and the efforts made by such staff to communicate with the applicants when funding decisions or funding for the grants is delayed, such as when funding is delayed due to funding of a program through appropriations made under a continuing resolution; and

(E)

the plans for implementation of, and the implementation of, where practicable, the technical assistance and training programs carried out under section 342 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714–22), and the effect of such programs on the application process for the grants.

(b)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report containing the findings and recommendations resulting from the study.

10.

Definitions

(a)

Homeless youth

Section 387(3) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5732a(3)) is amended—

(1)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking The and all that follows through means and inserting The term homeless, used with respect to a youth, means; and

(2)

in subparagraph (A)—

(A)

in clause (i)—

(i)

by striking not more than each place it appears and inserting less than; and

(ii)

by inserting after age the last place it appears the following: , or is less than a higher maximum age if the State where the center is located has an applicable State or local law (including a regulation) that permits such higher maximum age in compliance with licensure requirements for child-and youth-serving facilities; and

(B)

in clause (ii), by striking age; and inserting the following:

age and either—

(I)

less than 22 years of age; or

(II)

not less than 22 years of age, as of the expiration of the maximum period of stay permitted under section 322(a)(2) if such individual commences such stay before reaching 22 years of age;

(b)

Runaway youth

Section 387 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5732a) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) as paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (8), respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

(4)

Runaway youth

The term runaway, used with respect to a youth, means an individual who is less than 18 years of age and who absents himself or herself from home or a place of legal residence without the permission of a parent or legal guardian.

11.

Authorization of appropriations

Section 388(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5751(a)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1)—

(A)

by striking is authorized and inserting are authorized;

(B)

by striking part E) $105,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 and inserting section 345 and part E) $140,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and

(C)

by striking 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 and inserting 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013;

(2)

in paragraph (3)—

(A)

by striking In and inserting the following:

(A)

In general

;

(B)

by inserting (other than section 345) before the period; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(B)

Periodic estimate

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 345 such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

; and

(3)

in paragraph (4)—

(A)

by striking is authorized and inserting are authorized; and

(B)

by striking such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 and inserting $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate