[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4186 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4186

  To provide demonstration grants to local governmental agencies and 
           community-based organizations for mentor programs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 13, 1994

   Miss Collins of Michigan introduced the following bill; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide demonstration grants to local governmental agencies and 
           community-based organizations for mentor programs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PURPOSES.

    The purpose of this Act is to award demonstration grants--
            (1) to provide role models for encouraging at-risk youth to 
        become responsible citizens;
            (2) to build a sense of community in distressed urban 
        areas;
            (3) to improve academic and social performance of at-risk 
        youth and encourage educational achievement;
            (4) to improve individual self-concept and multicultural 
        knowledge of history in an effort to instill a positive self-
        image;
            (5) to strengthen family relationships; and
            (6) to encourage at-risk youth to resolve conflicts without 
        violence.

SEC. 2. PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, after consultation with the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, is authorized to award grants 
to eligible entities that serve at-risk students with not less than 
half of such grants awarded to such entities that serve primarily 
minority youth.
    (b) Award Basis.--The Secretary shall award grants under this Act 
on a competitive basis.
    (c) Distribution of Grant.--A grant made under this section shall 
be distributed to a grantee in 1 or more annual installments during a 
period not to exceed 3 years.
    (d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this Act, the Secretary 
shall give priority to eligible entities that have developed broad-
based community support.

SEC. 3. APPLICATION.

    (a) In General.--To request a grant under this Act, a designated 
representative of an eligible entity shall submit an application to the 
Secretary in such form and containing such information as the Secretary 
may reasonably require.
    (b) Program Requirements.--Each application submitted under 
subsection (a) shall include assurances that the eligible entity 
shall--
            (1) establish a mentorship program that includes--
                    (A) participation from adult role models who have 
                made a commitment to serve as a mentor during and after 
                school, including the period between school years; and
                    (B) programs conducted by mentors regarding such 
                topics as culture, values, conflict resolution, and the 
                importance of family, education, and community;
            (2) provide tutors to work with students and mentors;
            (3) describe how activities will take place in the 
        community and community members will be involved;
            (4) describe activities that develop family relationship 
        skills;
            (5) require that students who participate in a mentor 
        program establish written goals, including educational and 
        behavioral goals; and
            (6) require parental consent for children to participate in 
        mentoring programs.

SEC. 4. EVALUATION.

    The Secretary shall evaluate the demonstration program assisted 
under this Act and shall report annually to the Congress regarding the 
overall effectiveness of such program, including recommendations for 
improving the program.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``eligible entity'' means a local governmental 
        agency, a nonprofit community-based organization, or a 
        consortia of such nonprofit agencies and organizations in 
        communities in which--
                    (A) a high percentage of residents are members of 
                low-income families with children; and
                    (B) there is unemployment, pervasive poverty, and 
                general economic distress;
            (2) the term ``at-risk youth'' means a youth at risk of 
        educational failure, including failure to complete graduation 
        requirements or involvement in delinquent activities;
            (3) the term ``mentor'' means an individual who works with 
        an at-risk youth on a one-to-one basis, establishing a 
        supportive relationship with the youth and providing the youth 
        with academic assistance and exposure to new experiences that 
        enhance the youth's ability to become a responsible citizen; 
        and
            (4) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        Education.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for fiscal year 
1994 and $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1995 and 1996 to carry 
out this Act.

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