117 S3182 IS: Safe Shelters Act of 2021 U.S. Senate 2021-11-04 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 3182IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESNovember 4, 2021Mr. Carper (for himself, Mr. Portman, and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsA BILLTo improve the Office of Refugee Resettlement shelter grant process.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Safe Shelters Act of 2021.

2.

Office of Refugee Resettlement shelter grant process

(a)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Adverse action

The term adverse action means an adverse criminal or regulatory action taken by the Federal Government or a State or local government with respect to contracting with a government entity or to the care of children, including—(A)the suspension or revocation of an operating license; and(B)any ongoing or pending investigation by the Federal Government or a State or local government.(2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.(3)

Unaccompanied alien child

The term unaccompanied alien child has the meaning given the term in section 462(g) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279(g)).(b)

Disclosure and licensure

With respect to Office of Refugee Resettlement grants to open or fund shelter facilities for unaccompanied alien children, the Secretary shall require each applicant—(1)to disclose in the grant application any adverse action taken against the applicant during the 5-year period immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted; and(2)to be licensed to operate such a facility in the applicable State as of such date.(c)

Information sharing

In considering an application for a grant referred to in subsection (b), the Secretary shall seek to collaborate with the appropriate regulatory agencies of the State in which the applicant intends to operate to conduct a review of State databases for information on adverse actions taken against the applicant.