[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 249 Engrossed Amendment House (EAH)]
1st Session
S. 249
_______________________________________________________________________
AMENDMENT
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
May 25, 1999.
Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 249) entitled ``An Act to
provide funding for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, to
reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, and for other purposes'', do
pass with the following
AMENDMENT:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Missing, Exploited, and Runaway
Children Protection Act''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN.
(a) Findings.--Section 402 of the Missing Children's Assistance Act
(42 U.S.C. 5771) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) for 14 years, the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children has--
``(A) served as the national resource center and
clearinghouse congressionally mandated under the
provisions of the Missing Children's Assistance Act of
1984; and
``(B) worked in partnership with the Department of
Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
Department of the Treasury, the Department of State,
and many other agencies in the effort to find missing
children and prevent child victimization;
``(10) Congress has given the Center, which is a private
non-profit corporation, access to the National Crime
Information Center of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and
the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System;
``(11) since 1987, the Center has operated the National
Child Pornography Tipline, in conjunction with the United
States Customs Service and the United States Postal Inspection
Service and, beginning this year, the Center established a new
CyberTipline on child exploitation, thus becoming `the 911 for
the Internet';
``(12) in light of statistics that time is of the essence
in cases of child abduction, the Director of the Federal Bureau
of Investigation in February of 1997 created a new NCIC child
abduction (`CA') flag to provide the Center immediate
notification in the most serious cases, resulting in 642 `CA'
notifications to the Center and helping the Center to have its
highest recovery rate in history;
``(13) the Center has established a national and
increasingly worldwide network, linking the Center online with
each of the missing children clearinghouses operated by the 50
States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, as well as
with Scotland Yard in the United Kingdom, the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, INTERPOL headquarters in Lyon, France, and
others, which has enabled the Center to transmit images and
information regarding missing children to law enforcement
across the United States and around the world instantly;
``(14) from its inception in 1984 through March 31, 1998,
the Center has--
``(A) handled 1,203,974 calls through its 24-hour
toll-free hotline (1-800-THE-LOST) and currently
averages 700 calls per day;
``(B) trained 146,284 law enforcement, criminal and
juvenile justice, and healthcare professionals in child
sexual exploitation and missing child case detection,
identification, investigation, and prevention;
``(C) disseminated 15,491,344 free publications to
citizens and professionals; and
``(D) worked with law enforcement on the cases of
59,481 missing children, resulting in the recovery of
40,180 children;
``(15) the demand for the services of the Center is growing
dramatically, as evidenced by the fact that in 1997, the Center
handled 129,100 calls, an all-time record, and by the fact that
its new Internet website (www.missingkids.com) receives
1,500,000 `hits' every day, and is linked with hundreds of
other websites to provide real-time images of breaking cases of
missing children;
``(16) in 1997, the Center provided policy training to 256
police chiefs and sheriffs from 50 States and Guam at its new
Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center;
``(17) the programs of the Center have had a remarkable
impact, such as in the fight against infant abductions in
partnership with the healthcare industry, during which the
Center has performed 668 onsite hospital walk-throughs and
inspections, and trained 45,065 hospital administrators,
nurses, and security personnel, and thereby helped to reduce
infant abductions in the United States by 82 percent;
``(18) the Center is now playing a significant role in
international child abduction cases, serving as a
representative of the Department of State at cases under The
Hague Convention, and successfully resolving the cases of 343
international child abductions, and providing greater support
to parents in the United States;
``(19) the Center is a model of public/private partnership,
raising private sector funds to match congressional
appropriations and receiving extensive private in-kind support,
including advanced technology provided by the computer industry
such as imaging technology used to age the photographs of long-
term missing children and to reconstruct facial images of
unidentified deceased children;
``(20) the Center was 1 of only 10 of 300 major national
charities given an A+ grade in 1997 by the American Institute
of Philanthropy; and
``(21) the Center has been redesignated as the Nation's
missing children clearinghouse and resource center once every 3
years through a competitive selection process conducted by the
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the
Department of Justice, and has received grants from that Office
to conduct the crucial purposes of the Center.''.
(b) Definitions.--Section 403 of the Missing Children's Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 5772) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) the term `Center' means the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children.''.
(c) Duties and Functions of the Administrator.--Section 404 of the
Missing Children's Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5773) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Annual Grant to National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall annually make a
grant to the Center, which shall be used to--
``(A)(i) operate a national 24-hour toll-free
telephone line by which individuals may report
information regarding the location of any missing
child, or other child 13 years of age or younger whose
whereabouts are unknown to such child's legal
custodian, and request information pertaining to
procedures necessary to reunite such child with such
child's legal custodian; and
``(ii) coordinate the operation of such telephone
line with the operation of the national communications
system referred to in part C of the Runaway and
Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-11);
``(B) operate the official national resource center
and information clearinghouse for missing and exploited
children;
``(C) provide to State and local governments,
public and private nonprofit agencies, and individuals,
information regarding--
``(i) free or low-cost legal, restaurant,
lodging, and transportation services that are
available for the benefit of missing and
exploited children and their families; and
``(ii) the existence and nature of programs
being carried out by Federal agencies to assist
missing and exploited children and their
families;
``(D) coordinate public and private programs that
locate, recover, or reunite missing children with their
families;
``(E) disseminate, on a national basis, information
relating to innovative and model programs, services,
and legislation that benefit missing and exploited
children;
``(F) provide technical assistance and training to
law enforcement agencies, State and local governments,
elements of the criminal justice system, public and
private nonprofit agencies, and individuals in the
prevention, investigation, prosecution, and treatment
of cases involving missing and exploited children; and
``(G) provide assistance to families and law
enforcement agencies in locating and recovering missing
and exploited children, both nationally and
internationally.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this
subsection, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000, 2001,
2002, and 2003.
``(c) National Incidence Studies.--The Administrator, either by
making grants to or entering into contracts with public agencies or
nonprofit private agencies, shall--
``(1) periodically conduct national incidence studies to
determine for a given year the actual number of children
reported missing each year, the number of children who are
victims of abduction by strangers, the number of children who
are the victims of parental kidnapings, and the number of
children who are recovered each year; and
``(2) provide to State and local governments, public and
private nonprofit agencies, and individuals information to
facilitate the lawful use of school records and birth
certificates to identify and locate missing children.''.
(d) National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.--Section
405(a) of the Missing Children's Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5775(a)) is
amended by inserting ``the Center and with'' before ``public
agencies''.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 408 of the Missing
Children's Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5777) is amended by striking
``1997 through 2001'' and inserting ``2000 through 2003''.
SEC. 3. RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH.
(a) Findings.--Section 302 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
(42 U.S.C. 5701) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``accurate reporting of
the problem nationally and to develop'' and inserting ``an
accurate national reporting system to report the problem, and
to assist in the development of''; and
(2) by striking paragraph (8) and inserting the following:
``(8) services for runaway and homeless youth are needed in
urban, suburban, and rural areas;''.
(b) Authority To Make Grants for Centers and Services.--Section 311
of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5711) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) Grants for Centers and Services.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make grants to
public and nonprofit private entities (and combinations of such
entities) to establish and operate (including renovation) local
centers to provide services for runaway and homeless youth and
for the families of such youth.
``(2) Services provided.--Services provided under paragraph
(1)--
``(A) shall be provided as an alternative to
involving runaway and homeless youth in the law
enforcement, child welfare, mental health, and juvenile
justice systems;
``(B) shall include--
``(i) safe and appropriate shelter; and
``(ii) individual, family, and group
counseling, as appropriate; and
``(C) may include--
``(i) street-based services;
``(ii) home-based services for families
with youth at risk of separation from the
family; and
``(iii) drug abuse education and prevention
services.'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``the Trust Territory
of the Pacific Islands,''; and
(3) by striking subsections (c) and (d).
(c) Eligibility.--Section 312 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
(42 U.S.C. 5712) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (8), by striking ``paragraph (6)''
and inserting ``paragraph (7)'';
(B) in paragraph (10), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(C) in paragraph (11), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(12) shall submit to the Secretary an annual report that
includes, with respect to the year for which the report is
submitted--
``(A) information regarding the activities carried
out under this part;
``(B) the achievements of the project under this
part carried out by the applicant; and
``(C) statistical summaries describing--
``(i) the number and the characteristics of
the runaway and homeless youth, and youth at
risk of family separation, who participate in
the project; and
``(ii) the services provided to such youth
by the project.''; and
(2) by striking subsections (c) and (d) and inserting the
following:
``(c) Applicants Providing Street-Based Services.--To be eligible
to use assistance under section 311(a)(2)(C)(i) to provide street-based
services, the applicant shall include in the plan required by
subsection (b) assurances that in providing such services the applicant
will--
``(1) provide qualified supervision of staff, including on-
street supervision by appropriately trained staff;
``(2) provide backup personnel for on-street staff;
``(3) provide initial and periodic training of staff who
provide such services; and
``(4) conduct outreach activities for runaway and homeless
youth, and street youth.
``(d) Applicants Providing Home-Based Services.--To be eligible to
use assistance under section 311(a) to provide home-based services
described in section 311(a)(2)(C)(ii), an applicant shall include in
the plan required by subsection (b) assurances that in providing such
services the applicant will--
``(1) provide counseling and information to youth and the
families (including unrelated individuals in the family
households) of such youth, including services relating to basic
life skills, interpersonal skill building, educational
advancement, job attainment skills, mental and physical health
care, parenting skills, financial planning, and referral to
sources of other needed services;
``(2) provide directly, or through an arrangement made by
the applicant, 24-hour service to respond to family crises
(including immediate access to temporary shelter for runaway
and homeless youth, and youth at risk of separation from the
family);
``(3) establish, in partnership with the families of
runaway and homeless youth, and youth at risk of separation
from the family, objectives and measures of success to be
achieved as a result of receiving home-based services;
``(4) provide initial and periodic training of staff who
provide home-based services; and
``(5) ensure that--
``(A) caseloads will remain sufficiently low to
allow for intensive (5 to 20 hours per week)
involvement with each family receiving such services;
and
``(B) staff providing such services will receive
qualified supervision.
``(e) Applicants Providing Drug Abuse Education and Prevention
Services.--To be eligible to use assistance under section
311(a)(2)(C)(iii) to provide drug abuse education and prevention
services, an applicant shall include in the plan required by subsection
(b)--
``(1) a description of--
``(A) the types of such services that the applicant
proposes to provide;
``(B) the objectives of such services; and
``(C) the types of information and training to be
provided to individuals providing such services to
runaway and homeless youth; and
``(2) an assurance that in providing such services the
applicant shall conduct outreach activities for runaway and
homeless youth.''.
(d) Approval of Applications.--Section 313 of the Runaway and
Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5713) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 313. APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS.
``(a) In General.--An application by a public or private entity for
a grant under section 311(a) may be approved by the Secretary after
taking into consideration, with respect to the State in which such
entity proposes to provide services under this part--
``(1) the geographical distribution in such State of the
proposed services under this part for which all grant
applicants request approval; and
``(2) which areas of such State have the greatest need for
such services.
``(b) Priority.--In selecting applications for grants under section
311(a), the Secretary shall give priority to--
``(1) eligible applicants who have demonstrated experience
in providing services to runaway and homeless youth; and
``(2) eligible applicants that request grants of less than
$200,000.''.
(e) Authority for Transitional Living Grant Program.--Section 321
of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-1) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``purpose and'';
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ``(a)''; and
(3) by striking subsection (b).
(f) Eligibility.--Section 322(a)(9) of the Runaway and Homeless
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-2(a)(9)) is amended by inserting ``, and the
services provided to such youth by such project,'' after ``such
project''.
(g) Coordination.--Section 341 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth
Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-21) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 341. COORDINATION.
``With respect to matters relating to the health, education,
employment, and housing of runaway and homeless youth, the Secretary--
``(1) in conjunction with the Attorney General, shall
coordinate the activities of agencies of the Department of
Health and Human Services with activities under any other
Federal juvenile crime control, prevention, and juvenile
offender accountability program and with the activities of
other Federal entities; and
``(2) shall coordinate the activities of agencies of the
Department of Health and Human Services with the activities of
other Federal entities and with the activities of entities that
are eligible to receive grants under this title.''.
(h) Authority To Make 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 the section heading, by inserting ``evaluation,''
after ``research,'';
(2) in subsection (a), by inserting ``evaluation,'' after
``research,''; and
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking paragraph (2); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (10) as
paragraphs (2) through (9), respectively.
(i) Study.--Part D of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C.
5731 et seq.) is amended by adding after section 344 the following:
``SEC. 345. STUDY
``The Secretary shall conduct a study of a representative sample of
runaways to determine the percent who leave home because of sexual
abuse. The report on the study shall include--
``(1) in the case of sexual abuse , the relationship of the
assaulter to the runaway; and
``(2) recommendations on how Federal laws may be changed to
reduce sexual assaults on children.
The study shall be completed to enable the Secretary to make a report
to the committees of Congress with jurisdiction over this Act, and to
make such report available to the public, within one year of the date
of the enactment of this section.''
(j) Assistance to Potential Grantees.--Section 371 of the Runaway
and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714a) is amended by striking the
last sentence.
(k) Reports.--Section 381 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42
U.S.C. 5715) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 381. REPORTS.
``(a) In General.--Not later than April 1, 2000, and biennially
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit, to the Committee on Education
and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
the Judiciary of the Senate, a report on the status, activities, and
accomplishments of entities that receive grants under parts A, B, C, D,
and E, with particular attention to--
``(1) in the case of centers funded under part A, the
ability or effectiveness of such centers in--
``(A) alleviating the problems of runaway and
homeless youth;
``(B) if applicable or appropriate, reuniting such
youth with their families and encouraging the
resolution of intrafamily problems through counseling
and other services;
``(C) strengthening family relationships and
encouraging stable living conditions for such youth;
and
``(D) assisting such youth to decide upon a future
course of action; and
``(2) in the case of projects funded under part B--
``(A) the number and characteristics of homeless
youth served by such projects;
``(B) the types of activities carried out by such
projects;
``(C) the effectiveness of such projects in
alleviating the problems of homeless youth;
``(D) the effectiveness of such projects in
preparing homeless youth for self-sufficiency;
``(E) the effectiveness of such projects in
assisting homeless youth to decide upon future
education, employment, and independent living;
``(F) the ability of such projects to encourage the
resolution of intrafamily problems through counseling
and development of self-sufficient living skills; and
``(G) activities and programs planned by such
projects for the following fiscal year.
``(b) Contents of Reports.--The Secretary shall include in each
report submitted under subsection (a), summaries of--
``(1) the evaluations performed by the Secretary under
section 386; and
``(2) descriptions of the qualifications of, and training
provided to, individuals involved in carrying out such
evaluations.''.
(l) Evaluation.--Section 384 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
(42 U.S.C. 5732) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 386. EVALUATION AND INFORMATION.
``(a) In General.--If a grantee receives grants for 3 consecutive
fiscal years under part A, B, C, D, or E (in the alternative), then the
Secretary shall evaluate such grantee on-site, not less frequently than
once in the period of such 3 consecutive fiscal years, for purposes
of--
``(1) determining whether such grants are being used for
the purposes for which such grants are made by the Secretary;
``(2) collecting additional information for the report
required by section 384; and
``(3) providing such information and assistance to such
grantee as will enable such grantee to improve the operation of
the centers, projects, and activities for which such grants are
made.
``(b) Cooperation.--Recipients of grants under this title shall
cooperate with the Secretary's efforts to carry out evaluations, and to
collect information, under this title.''.
(m) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 385 of the Runaway
and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5751) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 388. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Authorization.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this title (other than part E) such
sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, and
2003.
``(2) Allocation.--
``(A) Parts a and b.--From the amount appropriated
under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary
shall reserve not less than 90 percent to carry out
parts A and B.
``(B) Part b.--Of the amount reserved under
subparagraph (A), not less than 20 percent, and not
more than 30 percent, shall be reserved to carry out
part B.
``(3) Parts c and d.--In each fiscal year, after reserving
the amounts required by paragraph (2), the Secretary shall use
the remaining amount (if any) to carry out parts C and D.
``(b) Separate Identification Required.--No funds appropriated to
carry out this title may be combined with funds appropriated under any
other Act if the purpose of combining such funds is to make a single
discretionary grant, or a single discretionary payment, unless such
funds are separately identified in all grants and contracts and are
used for the purposes specified in this title.''.
(n) Sexual Abuse Prevention Program.--
(1) Authority for program.--The Runaway and Homeless Youth
Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is amended--
(A) by striking the heading for part F;
(B) by redesignating part E as part F; and
(C) by inserting after part D the following:
``PART E--SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM
``SEC. 351. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may make grants to nonprofit
private agencies for the purpose of providing street-based services to
runaway and homeless, and street youth, who have been subjected to, or
are at risk of being subjected to, sexual abuse, prostitution, or
sexual exploitation.
``(b) Priority.--In selecting applicants to receive grants under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to nonprofit private
agencies that have experience in providing services to runaway and
homeless, and street youth.''.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--Section 388(a) of the
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5751), as amended by
subsection (m) of this section, is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(4) Part e.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out part E such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years
2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.''.
(o) Consolidated Review of Applications.--The Runaway and Homeless
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is amended by inserting after
section 383 the following:
``SEC. 385. CONSOLIDATED REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS.
``With respect to funds available to carry out parts A, B, C, D,
and E, nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit the
Secretary from--
``(1) announcing, in a single announcement, the
availability of funds for grants under 2 or more of such parts;
and
``(2) reviewing applications for grants under 2 or more of
such parts in a single, consolidated application review
process.''.
(p) Definitions.--The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C.
5701 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 386, as amended by
subsection (l) of this section, the following:
``SEC. 387. DEFINITIONS.
``In this title:
``(1) Drug abuse education and prevention services.--The
term `drug abuse education and prevention services'--
``(A) means services to runaway and homeless youth
to prevent or reduce the illicit use of drugs by such
youth; and
``(B) may include--
``(i) individual, family, group, and peer
counseling;
``(ii) drop-in services;
``(iii) assistance to runaway and homeless
youth in rural areas (including the development
of community support groups);
``(iv) information and training relating to
the illicit use of drugs by runaway and
homeless youth, to individuals involved in
providing services to such youth; and
``(v) activities to improve the
availability of local drug abuse prevention
services to runaway and homeless youth.
``(2) Home-based services.--The term `home-based
services'--
``(A) means services provided to youth and their
families for the purpose of--
``(i) preventing such youth from running
away, or otherwise becoming separated, from
their families; and
``(ii) assisting runaway youth to return to
their families; and
``(B) includes services that are provided in the
residences of families (to the extent practicable),
including--
``(i) intensive individual and family
counseling; and
``(ii) training relating to life skills and
parenting.
``(3) Homeless youth.--The term `homeless youth' means an
individual--
``(A) who is--
``(i) not more than 21 years of age; and
``(ii) for the purposes of part B, not less
than 16 years of age;
``(B) for whom it is not possible to live in a safe
environment with a relative; and
``(C) who has no other safe alternative living
arrangement.
``(4) Street-based services.--The term `street-based
services'--
``(A) means services provided to runaway and
homeless youth, and street youth, in areas where they
congregate, designed to assist such youth in making
healthy personal choices regarding where they live and
how they behave; and
``(B) may include--
``(i) identification of and outreach to
runaway and homeless youth, and street youth;
``(ii) crisis intervention and counseling;
``(iii) information and referral for
housing;
``(iv) information and referral for
transitional living and health care services;
``(v) advocacy, education, and prevention
services related to--
``(I) alcohol and drug abuse;
``(II) sexual exploitation;
``(III) sexually transmitted
diseases, including human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and
``(IV) physical and sexual assault.
``(5) Street youth.--The term `street youth' means an
individual who--
``(A) is--
``(i) a runaway youth; or
``(ii) indefinitely or intermittently a
homeless youth; and
``(B) spends a significant amount of time on the
street or in other areas that increase the risk to such
youth for sexual abuse, sexual exploitation,
prostitution, or drug abuse.
``(6) Transitional living youth project.--The term
`transitional living youth project' means a project that
provides shelter and services designed to promote a transition
to self-sufficient living and to prevent long-term dependency
on social services.
``(7) Youth at risk of separation from the family.--The
term `youth at risk of separation from the family' means an
individual--
``(A) who is less than 18 years of age; and
``(B)(i) who has a history of running away from the
family of such individual;
``(ii) whose parent, guardian, or custodian is not
willing to provide for the basic needs of such
individual; or
``(iii) who is at risk of entering the child
welfare system or juvenile justice system as a result
of the lack of services available to the family to meet
such needs.''.
(q) Redesignation of Sections.--Sections 371, 372, 381, 382, and
383 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714b-5851 et
seq.), as amended by this Act, are redesignated as sections 380, 381,
382, 383, and 384, respectively.
(r) Technical Amendments.--The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42
U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 331, in the first sentence, by striking
``With'' and all that follows through ``the Secretary'', and
inserting ``The Secretary''; and
(2) in section 344(a)(1), by striking ``With'' and all that
follows through ``the Secretary'', and inserting ``The
Secretary''.
SEC. 4. STUDY OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE.
(a) Contract for Study.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall enter into
a contract with the National Academy of Sciences for the purposes of
conducting a study regarding the antecedents of school violence in
urban, suburban, and rural schools, including the incidents of school
violence that occurred in Pearl, Mississippi; Paducah, Kentucky;
Jonesboro, Arkansas; Springfield, Oregon; Edinboro, Pennsylvania;
Fayetteville, Tennessee; Littleton, Colorado; and Conyers, Georgia.
Under the terms of such contract, the National Academy of Sciences
shall appoint a panel that will--
(1) review the relevant research about adolescent violence
in general and school violence in particular, including the
existing longitudinal and cross-sectional studies on youth that
are relevant to examining violent behavior;
(2) relate what can be learned from past and current
research and surveys to specific incidents of school shootings;
(3) interview relevant individuals, if possible, such as
the perpetrators of such incidents, their families, their
friends, their teachers, mental health providers, and others;
and
(4) give particular attention to such issues as--
(A) the perpetrators' early development, families,
communities, school experiences, and utilization of
mental health services;
(B) the relationship between perpetrators and their
victims;
(C) how the perpetrators gained access to firearms;
(D) the impact of cultural influences and exposure
to the media, video games, and the Internet; and
(E) such other issues as the panel deems important
or relevant to the purpose of the study.
The National Academy of Sciences shall utilize professionals with
expertise in such issues, including psychiatrists, social workers,
behavioral and social scientists, practitioners, epidemiologists,
statisticians, and methodologists.
(b) Report.--The National Academy of Sciences shall submit a report
containing the results of the study required by subsection (a), to the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President pro tempore of
the Senate, the Chair and ranking minority Member of the Committee on
Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the
Chair and ranking minority Member of the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, not later than January 1,
2001, or 18 months after entering into the contract required by such
subsection, whichever is earlier.
(c) Appropriation.--Of the funds made available under Public Law
105-277 for the Department of Education, $2.1 million shall be made
available to carry out this section.
Attest:
Clerk.