[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5524 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5524

       To amend the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize 
                appropriations, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 4, 2008

Mr. Yarmuth (for himself, Mrs. Biggert, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Hinojosa, Mr. 
  Cohen, Ms. Berkley, Mr. Chandler, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Holt, Ms. 
  Schakowsky, Ms. Bordallo, and Mr. Davis of Illinois) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
                                 Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
       To amend the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize 
                appropriations, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 
2008''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Section 302 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701) 
is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as 
        paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively, and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) services to such young people should be developed and 
        provided using a positive youth development approach that 
        ensures the young person a sense of--
                    ``(A) safety and structure;
                    ``(B) belonging and membership;
                    ``(C) self-worth and social contribution;
                    ``(D) independence and control over one's life; and
                    ``(E) closeness in interpersonal relationships.''.

SEC. 3. BASIC CENTER PROGRAM.

    (a) Services Provided.--Section 311(a) of the Runaway and Homeless 
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5711(a)) is amended--
            (1) by amending paragraph (2)(B)(i) to read as follows:
                            ``(i) safe and appropriate shelter provided 
                        not to exceed 15 days, or not to exceed 21 days 
                        if the center is located in a State or locality 
                        with a child or youth-serving-facility 
                        licensure law or regulation that permits a 
                        length of stay in excess of 15 days; and'', and
            (2) in subsection (b)(2)--
                    (A) by striking ``$100,000'' and inserting 
                ``$150,000'',
                    (B) by striking ``$45,000'' and inserting 
                ``$70,000'', and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
``Whenever the Secretary determines than any part of the amount 
allotted under paragraph (1) with respect to a State will not be 
obligated before the end of the fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
reallot such part with respect to the remaining States for obligation 
for such fiscal year.''.
    (b) Eligibility.--Section 312(b) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5712(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (11) by striking ``and'' at the end,
            (2) in paragraph (12) by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and'', and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(13) shall develop an adequate emergency preparedness and 
        management plan.''.
    (c) Definition.--Section 387(3)(A) of the Runaway and Homeless 
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5732a(3)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i)--
                    (A) by striking ``not more than 21'' and inserting 
                ``less than 22'';
                    (B) by striking ``not more than 18'' and inserting 
                ``less than 18''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``unless the center is located in 
                a State or locality with a child- or youth-serving 
                facility licensure law or regulation that permits a 
                higher age'' before the semicolon; and
            (2) in clause (ii) by inserting ``less than 22 years of age 
        and'' after ``part B,''.

SEC. 4. TRANSITIONAL LIVING GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Eligibility.--Section 322(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-2(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking ``, except'' and inserting 
                ``(except'', and
                    (B) by striking ``period;'' and inserting the 
                following:
        ``period) or, if the program is located in a State or locality 
        with a child- or youth-serving facility licensure law or 
        regulation that permits a length of stay in excess of such 540-
        day period, a continuous period not to exceed 635 days;'',
            (2) in paragraph (14) by striking ``and'' at the end,
            (3) in paragraph (15) by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and'', and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(16) to develop an adequate emergency preparedness and 
        management plan.''.

SEC. 5. COORDINATING, TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

    Part D of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-21 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 345. PERIODIC ESTIMATE OF INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE OF YOUTH 
              HOMELESSNESS.

    ``(a) Periodic Estimate.--Not later than 2 years after the 
effective date of this section and at 5-year intervals thereafter, the 
Secretary shall prepare, and submit to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate, a written 
report--
            ``(1) by using the best quantitative and qualitative social 
        science research method available, containing an estimate of 
        the incidence and prevalence of runaway and homeless 
        individuals who are less than 26 years of age and not less than 
        13 years of age; and
            ``(2) that includes with such estimate an assessment of the 
        characteristics of such individuals.
    ``(b) Content.--Each assessment required by subsection (a) shall 
include--
            ``(1) the results of conducting a survey of, and direct 
        interviews with, a representative sample of runaway and 
        homeless individuals who are less than 26 years of age and not 
        less than 13 years of age to determine past and current--
                    ``(A) socioeconomic characteristics of such 
                individuals;
                    ``(B) barriers to such individuals obtaining--
                            ``(i) safe, quality, and affordable 
                        housing;
                            ``(ii) comprehensive and affordable health 
                        insurance and health services; and
                            ``(iii) incomes, public benefits, 
                        supportive services, and connections to caring 
                        adults; and
                    ``(C) such other information that the Secretary 
                determines, in consultation with States, units of local 
                government, and national nongovernmental organizations 
                concerned with homelessness, may be useful.
    ``(c) Implementation.--If the Secretary enters into any contract 
with a non-Federal entity for purposes of carrying out subsection (a), 
such entity shall be a nongovernmental organization, or an individual, 
determined by the Secretary to have appropriate expertise in 
quantitative and qualitative social science research.''.

SEC. 6. REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
submit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President 
pro tempore of the Senate, a report based on the best quantitative 
research method available and containing an estimate of--
            (1) the public service costs, including law enforcement, 
        emergent and urgent health services (including crisis mental 
        health and substance abuse services), child welfare services, 
        juvenile and criminal justice services, and public income 
        benefits costs, attributable to such services being provided to 
        runaway and homeless individuals who are less than 26 years of 
        age and not less than 13 years of age, and
            (2) the extent to which the public service cost reductions 
        offset the costs of providing family reunification, emergency 
        shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing, and 
        supportive services to such individuals.
    (b) Implementation.--If the Secretary carries out subsection (a) by 
contract with an non-Federal entity, such entity shall be a 
nongovernmental organization or an individual determined by the 
Secretary to have appropriate expertise in quantitative and qualitative 
social science research.

SEC. 7. NATIONAL HOMELESS YOUTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.

    The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5601 et seq.) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating part F as part G,
            (2) by inserting after part E the following:

          ``PART F--NATIONAL HOMELESS YOUTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

``SEC. 361. NATIONAL HOMELESS YOUTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall, directly or via contract, 
conduct a national homeless youth awareness campaign (referred to in 
this section as the `national awareness campaign') in accordance with 
this section for purposes of--
            ``(1) preventing runaway and homeless situations among 
        youth in the United States;
            ``(2) increasing awareness of individuals of all ages of 
        the issues facing youth in runaway and homeless situations;
            ``(3) assisting youth in crisis situations learn about 
        resources and services available in their communities to 
        intervene in or resolve the crisis; and
            ``(4) encouraging parents and guardians, educators, health 
        care professionals, social service professionals, law 
        enforcement officials, and other interested adults to assist 
        youth in averting or resolving runaway and homeless situations.
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--Amounts made available to carry out this 
        section for the national awareness campaign may only be used 
        for the following:
                    ``(A) The purchase of media time and space, 
                including the strategic planning for, and accounting 
                of, such purchases.
                    ``(B) Creative and talent costs.
                    ``(C) Advertising production costs.
                    ``(D) Testing and evaluation of advertising.
                    ``(E) Evaluation of the effectiveness of the 
                national media campaign.
                    ``(F) The negotiated fees for the winning bidder on 
                requests for proposals issued by the Secretary to enter 
                into contracts to carry out activities authorized by 
                this section.
                    ``(G) Partnerships with national organizations 
                concerned with youth homelessness, community-based 
                youth service organizations, including faith-based 
                organizations, and government organizations related to 
                the national awareness campaign.
                    ``(H) Outreach activities to stakeholders and 
                potential stakeholders in the national awareness 
                campaign.
                    ``(I) Operational and management expenses.
            ``(2) Specific requirements.--
                    ``(A) Testing and evaluation of advertising.--In 
                using amounts for testing and evaluation of advertising 
                under paragraph (1)(D), the Secretary shall test all 
                advertisements prior to use in the national awareness 
                campaign to ensure that the advertisements are 
                effective and meet industry-accepted standards.
                    ``(B) Evaluation of effectiveness of awareness 
                campaign.--In using amounts for the evaluation of the 
                effectiveness of the national awareness campaign under 
                paragraph (1)(E), the Secretary shall--
                            ``(i) designate an independent entity to 
                        evaluate the effectiveness of the national 
                        awareness campaign; and
                            ``(ii) ensure that the effectiveness of the 
                        national awareness campaign is evaluated in a 
                        manner that enables consideration of whether 
                        the national awareness has contributed to 
                        reducing runaway and homeless situations among 
                        youth, linking runaway and homeless youth to 
                        resources and services available in their 
                        communities, and such other measures of 
                        evaluation as the Secretary determinates are 
                        appropriate.
    ``(c) Prohibitions.--None of the amounts made available under 
subsection (b) may be obligated or expended for any of the following:
            ``(1) To supplant pro bono public service time donated by 
        national and local broadcasting networks for the national 
        awareness campaign.
            ``(2) For partisan political purposes, or express advocacy 
        in support of or to defeat any clearly identified candidate, 
        clearly identified ballot initiative, or clearly identified 
        legislative or regulatory proposal.
            ``(3) To fund advertising that features any elected 
        officials, persons seeking elected office, cabinet level 
        officials, or other Federal employees employed pursuant to 
        section 213 of Schedule C of title 5, Code of Federal 
        Regulations.
            ``(4) To fund advertising that does not contain a primary 
        message intended to reduce or prevent runaway and homeless 
        situations among youth.
            ``(5) To fund advertising that solicits contributions from 
        both public and private sources to support the national 
        awareness campaign.
    ``(d) Financial and Performance Accountability.--The Secretary 
shall cause to be performed--
            ``(1) audits and reviews of costs of the national awareness 
        campaign pursuant to section 304C of the Federal Property and 
        Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 254d); and
            ``(2) an audit to determine whether the costs of the 
        national awareness campaign are allowable under section 306 of 
        such Act (41 U.S.C. 256).
    ``(e) Report.--The Secretary shall include in each report submitted 
under section 381(a) a summary of the national awareness campaign that 
describes--
            ``(1) the strategy of the national awareness campaign and 
        whether specific objectives of the media campaign were 
        accomplished;
            ``(2) steps taken to ensure that the national awareness 
        campaign operates in an effective and efficient manner 
        consistent with the overall strategy and focus of the national 
        awareness campaign;
            ``(3) plans to purchase advertising time and space;
            ``(4) policies and practices implemented to ensure that 
        Federal funds are used responsibly to purchase advertising time 
        and space and eliminate the potential for waste, fraud, and 
        abuse; and
            ``(5) all contracts entered into with a corporation, 
        partnership, or individual working on behalf of the national 
        awareness campaign.'', and
            (3) in section 388(a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``part E'' and 
                inserting ``parts E and F'', and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Part f.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        carry out part F $3,000,000 for fiscal years 2009, 2010, 2011, 
        2012, and 2013.''.

SEC. 8. GRANTS FOR RESEARCH EVALUATION, DEMONSTRATION, AND SERVICE 
              PROJECTS.

    Section 343(b) Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-
23(b)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Priorities.--The Secretary--
            ``(1) shall establish priorities for making grants for 
        purposes of carrying out projects under subsection (a); and
            ``(2) not later than 1 year after the effective date of 
        this subsection and at 2-year intervals thereafter, shall 
        provide an opportunity for public comment concerning the 
        priorities proposed under paragraph (1) and maintain an 
        official record of such public comment.''.

SEC. 9. SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM.

    Section 351(b) Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-
41(b)) is amended by inserting ``public and'' after ``priority to''.

SEC. 10. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

    Part G, as so redesignated, of Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
U.S.C. 5714a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 390. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

    ``(a) Establishment of Performance Standards.--Not later than 2 
years after the effective date of this section, the Secretary shall 
issue rules that specify standards of performance for public and 
nonprofit private entities that receive grants under sections 311, 321 
and 351.
    ``(b) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with 
representatives of public and nonprofit entities that receive grants 
under this title, statewide and regional nonprofit organizations (and 
combinations of such organizations) that receive grants under this 
title, and national nonprofit organizations concerned with youth 
homelessness in developing the performance standards required by 
subsection (a).
    ``(c) Public Comment.--The Secretary shall provide an opportunity 
for public comment concerning the establishment of the performance 
standards required by subsection (a) before issuing rules to establish 
such standards and shall maintain an official record of such public 
comment.''.

SEC. 11. APPEALS.

    Part G, as so redesignated and as amended by section 10, of Runaway 
and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714a et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:

``SEC. 391. APPEALS.

    ``(a) Establishment of Appeal Procedure.--Not later than 2 years 
after the effective date of this section, the Secretary shall establish 
by rule a timely appeal procedure applicable to review the amounts of 
grants made, and the denial of grants requested, under this title.
    ``(b) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with 
representatives of public and nonprofit private entities that receive 
grants under this title, statewide and regional nonprofit organizations 
(and combinations of such organizations) that receive grants under this 
title, and national nonprofit organizations concerned with youth 
homelessness in establishing the appeal procedure required by 
subsection (a).
    ``(c) Public Comment.--The Secretary shall provide an opportunity 
for public comment concerning the establishment of the appeal procedure 
required by subsection (a) before issuing rules to establish such 
procedure and shall maintain an official record of such public 
comment.''.

SEC. 12. DEFINITION.

    Section 387 Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5732a) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) as 
        paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (8), respectively, and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) Runaway youth.--The term `runaway youth' means an 
        individual who is less than 18 years of age and who absents 
        himself or herself from home or place of legal residence 
        without the permission of parents or legal guardians.''.

SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 388(a) Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5751(a)) 
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``$105,000,000 for fiscal year 
                2004'' and inserting ``$150,000,000 for fiscal year 
                2009'', and
                    (B) by striking ``2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008'' and 
                inserting ``2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013'' , and
            (2) in paragraph (4) by striking ``such sums as may be 
        necessary for fiscal years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008'' 
        and inserting ``$30,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums 
        as may be necessary for fiscal years 2010, 2011, 2012, and 
        2013''.
                                 <all>