[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1623 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1623

     To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act to direct the President to appoint Children's 
Coordinating Officers for disaster areas in which children have lost 1 
                       or more custodial parents.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 1, 2001

Mrs. Clinton (for herself, Mr. Schumer, and Mr. Corzine) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                      Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
     Assistance Act to direct the President to appoint Children's 
Coordinating Officers for disaster areas in which children have lost 1 
                       or more custodial parents.

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

SECTION 1. CHILDREN'S ASSISTANCE.

    Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act is amended by inserting after section 410 (42 U.S.C. 
5177) the following:

``SEC. 411. CHILDREN'S ASSISTANCE.

    ``(a) Appointment of Children's Coordinating Officer.--If the 
President determines that children have lost 1 or more custodial 
parents in an area that the President has declared to be a disaster 
area under this Act, the President shall appoint an individual to serve 
as a Children's Coordinating Officer for the area.
    ``(b) Functions.--A Children's Coordinating Officer appointed under 
subsection (a) shall--
            ``(1) provide necessary support and assistance for children 
        described in subsection (a) to ensure their immediate care and 
        transition to a permanent and loving family;
            ``(2) enter into partnerships with appropriate Federal, 
        State, and local governmental agencies to direct and coordinate 
        the provision of assistance to children described in subsection 
        (a); and
            ``(3) coordinate all efforts by community-based 
        organizations, foundations, funds, or other organizations to 
        provide assistance to children described in subsection (a).
    ``(c) Services.--A Children's Coordinating Officer appointed under 
subsection (a) shall ensure that children and their caregivers are 
provided with--
            ``(1) immediate temporary care services;
            ``(2) counseling on long-term permanency planning;
            ``(3) legal services for guardianships and adoptions;
            ``(4) information on available services and assistance for 
        victims of the disaster; and
            ``(5) mental health services.''.
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