[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2043 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2043

To require the implementation of a corrective action plan in States in 
                   which child poverty has increased.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 2, 1996

   Mr. Kerry introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
                  referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the implementation of a corrective action plan in States in 
                   which child poverty has increased.

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

SECTION 1. CHILD POVERTY CORRECTIVE ACTION PLANS.

    Section 413 of the Social Security Act, as added by the Personal 
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Child Poverty Rates.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this subsection, and annually thereafter, the 
        chief executive officer of a State shall submit to the 
        Secretary a statement of the child poverty rate in the State as 
        of such date of enactment or the date of such subsequent 
        statements. Such subsequent statements shall include the change 
        in such rate from the previous statement, if any.
            ``(2) Increase in rate.--
                    ``(A) In general.--With respect to a State that 
                submits a statement under paragraph (1) that indicates 
                an increase of 5 percent or more in the child poverty 
                rate of the State from the previous statement, the 
                State shall, not later than 90 days after the date of 
                such statement, prepare and submit to the Secretary a 
                corrective action plan in accordance with paragraph 
                (3).
            ``(3) Corrective action plan.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A corrective action plan 
                submitted under paragraph (2) shall outline that manner 
                in which the State will reduce the child poverty rate 
                within the State. The plan shall include a description 
                of the actions to be taken by the State under such 
                plan.
                    ``(B) Consultation about modifications.--During the 
                60-day period that begins with the date the Secretary 
                receives the corrective action plan of a State under 
                subparagraph (A), the Secretary may consult with the 
                State on modifications to the plan.
                    ``(C) Acceptance of plan.-- A corrective action 
                plan submitted by a State in accordance with 
                subparagraph (A) is deemed to be accepted by the 
                Secretary if the Secretary does not accept or reject 
                the plan during 60-day period that begins on the date 
                the plan is submitted.
            ``(4) Compliance with plan.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A State that submits a 
                corrective action plan under this subsection shall 
                continue to implement such plan until such time as the 
                Secretary makes the determination described in 
                subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Determination.--A determination described in 
                this subparagraph is a determination that the child 
                poverty rate for the State involved has fallen to, and 
                not exceeded for a period of 2-consecutive years, a 
                rate that is not greater than the rate contained in the 
                most recent statement submitted by the State under 
                paragraph (1) which did not trigger the application of 
                paragraph (2).
            ``(5) Methodology.--The Secretary shall promulgate 
        regulations establishing the methodology by which a State shall 
        determine the child poverty rate within such State. Such 
        methodology shall, with respect to a State, take into account 
        factors including the number of children who receive free or 
        reduced-price lunches, the number of food stamp households, and 
        the county by county estimates of children in poverty as 
        determined by the Census Bureau.''.
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