[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2560 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2560

To create the income security conditions and family supports needed to 
 ensure permanency for the Nation's unaccompanied youth, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 28, 2008

Mr. Kerry (for himself and Mrs. Murray) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To create the income security conditions and family supports needed to 
 ensure permanency for the Nation's unaccompanied youth, 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; ETC.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Reconnecting Youth 
to Prevent Homelessness Act of 2007''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--

Sec. 1. Short title; etc.
  TITLE I--PREVENTION OF UNACCOMPANIED SITUATIONS AMONG CHILD WELFARE 
                                 GROUPS

Sec. 101. Curtailment of involuntary separation of children from their 
                            families.
Sec. 102. Unaccompanied youth access to the child welfare system.
Sec. 103. Discharge from child welfare system.
      TITLE II--EXTENSION OF CHILD WELFARE SERVICES TO OLDER YOUTH

Sec. 201. Eligibility for foster care maintenance payments and adoption 
                            assistance payments through age 20.
Sec. 202. Improvements to John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence 
                            Program.
                    TITLE III--YOUNG FAMILY CONCERNS

Sec. 301. TANF State plan amendment.
Sec. 302. Adult-supervised living arrangements.
Sec. 303. Suspension of time limit for young adult parent involved in 
                            education or training.
Sec. 304. Transitional compliance.
Sec. 305. Sanction protections for minor parents.
Sec. 306. Teen parent study and report.
                      TITLE IV--WORK OPPORTUNITIES

Sec. 401. Inclusion of homeless youth as qualified population for Work 
                            Opportunity Credit.

  TITLE I--PREVENTION OF UNACCOMPANIED SITUATIONS AMONG CHILD WELFARE 
                                 GROUPS

SEC. 101. CURTAILMENT OF INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION OF CHILDREN FROM THEIR 
              FAMILIES.

    Section 471(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (26);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (27) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(28) provides that the State shall have in effect such 
        laws and procedures as are necessary to ensure that--
                    ``(A) a child may not be placed in foster care 
                under the responsibility of the State solely because 
                the family with which the child is living is homeless 
                (as defined in paragraph (2) of section 725 of the 
                McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
                11434a)) or living in substandard housing (as defined 
                in section 204(b)(11) of the National Housing Act) or a 
                dwelling unit that is experiencing severe physical 
                problems (as defined in subparagraph (F) of such 
                section); and
                    ``(B) the State will work with the family and State 
                housing authorities to secure permanent housing for any 
                family that includes a minor child and is homeless or 
                at risk of becoming homeless.''.

SEC. 102. GAO REPORT ON UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH ACCESS TO THE CHILD WELFARE 
              SYSTEM.

    Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to 
the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Finance of the Senate on the policies and practices of 
States regarding access to child welfare services (including services 
related to foster care and adoption) that are financed pursuant to part 
B or E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
by children who have attained 13 years of age and that considers the 
use of runaway and homeless situations as risk assessment factors for 
determining the appropriateness of placement in the child welfare 
system. Such report shall include--
            (1) an inventory of such policies and practices;
            (2) an assessment of the effectiveness of such policies and 
        practices; and
            (3) recommendations for such Federal or State legislation 
        or administrative action as the Comptroller General determines 
        appropriate.

SEC. 103. DISCHARGE FROM CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.

    (a) State Plans Required To Describe State Policies and Procedures 
Regarding Runaway or Missing Foster Children.--Section 471(a) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)), as amended by section 101, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (27);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (28) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(29) describes the written policies and procedures of the 
        State that are designed to reduce the incidence of children 
        missing or running away from foster care, and to locate and 
        return such children to foster placements.''.
    (b) Judicial Review of Permanency Plan for Child Leaving Foster 
Care.--Section 475(5)(C) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 675(5)(C)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and (iii)'' and inserting ``(iii)''; and
            (2) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the 
        following: ``; and (iv) procedural safeguards shall be applied 
        to assure that the final permanency hearing regarding the 
        transition of the child from foster care to a planned, 
        permanent living arrangement or independent living is held in a 
        family or juvenile court or another court (including a tribal 
        court) of competent jurisdiction;''.
    (c) Review of Steps Taken To Ensure Appropriate Housing for 
Children Leaving Foster Care.--Section 475(5)(C)(iii) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 675(5)(C)(iii)) is amended by inserting ``, and reviews all 
documentation of the efforts to secure a permanent living arrangement 
for the child upon emancipation from foster care'' before ``; and''.
    (d) Modification of Case Plan Requirements.--Section 475(1)(D) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 675(1)(D)) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(D) Where appropriate, for a child who has 
                attained 14 years of age (and, at State option, any 
                other child), a written description of the programs and 
                services that will facilitate the transition of the 
                child from foster care to independent living, including 
                a discussion of the appropriateness of the services 
                that have been provided to the child under the plan. 
                The plan for such child shall also include 
                documentation of the steps the agency is taking to 
                ensure a permanent placement with a family or other 
                adult connection for the child, and a permanent living 
                arrangement. In the case of a child who has attained 17 
                years of age or with a permanency goal of emancipation, 
                the plan shall include documentation of the child's 
                permanent living arrangement upon emancipation.''.

      TITLE II--EXTENSION OF CHILD WELFARE SERVICES TO OLDER YOUTH

SEC. 201. ELIGIBILITY FOR FOSTER CARE MAINTENANCE PAYMENTS AND ADOPTION 
              ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS THROUGH AGE 20.

    (a) Foster Care Maintenance Payments.--Section 472 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 672) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(1) Eligibility.--Each State with a plan approved under 
        this part shall make foster care maintenance payments on behalf 
        of--
                    ``(A) each child who has been removed from the home 
                of a relative specified in section 406(a) (as in effect 
                on July 16, 1996) into foster care if the removal and 
                foster care placement met, and the placement continues 
                to meet, the requirements of paragraph (2) of this 
                subsection; and
                    ``(B) each child who is an individual described in 
                subsection (j)(2) of this section who has entered 
                foster care under the responsibility of the State if 
                the foster care placement met and continues to meet the 
                requirements of paragraph (3) of this subsection.'';
                    (B) in the heading of paragraph (2), by inserting 
                ``applicable to minors'' after ``requirements''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Foster care placement requirements applicable to 
        children who have attained the age of majority.--The foster 
        care placement of a child who is an individual described in 
        subsection (j)(2) meets the requirements of this paragraph if--
                    ``(A) the foster care placement is in accordance 
                with a voluntary placement agreement entered into by 
                the individual;
                    ``(B) the individual's placement and care meet the 
                requirement of paragraph (2)(B) of this subsection; and
                    ``(C)(i) the individual has been placed in a foster 
                family home, child-care institution, or dwelling 
                described in subsection (b)(3)(C); or
                    ``(ii) the individual has secured a dwelling 
                described in subsection (b)(3)(D).'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (1);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                (2) and inserting ``, or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) in the case of a child who is an individual described 
        in subsection (j)(2)--
                    ``(A) in a home described in paragraph (1), in 
                accordance with the payment rules set forth in 
                paragraph (1);
                    ``(B) in an institution described in paragraph (2), 
                in accordance with the payment rules set forth in 
                paragraph (2);
                    ``(C) in a dwelling operated by an agency that 
                provides social services to children and their families 
                which supplements, supports, or substitutes parental 
                care and supervision for the purpose of safeguarding 
                and promoting the welfare of children, and that meets 
                such standards for licensure or approval as are 
                established by the State for the provision of the 
                services, whether the payments therefor are made to the 
                agency or directly to the individual; or
                    ``(D) in housing rented or leased by the 
                individual.'';
            (3) in subsection (e), by inserting ``minor'' before 
        ``child who'';
            (4) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``a minor'' and inserting 
                        ``a child''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``the minor'' and 
                        inserting ``the child (or, if the child has 
                        attained 18 years of age, the child himself or 
                        herself)''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking ``a minor child'' and 
                        inserting ``a child (or, if the child has 
                        attained 18 years of age, the child himself or 
                        herself)''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``(if the child is a 
                        minor)'' after ``obligations of the parents or 
                        guardians''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(j) In this section, the term `child' means--
            ``(1) a minor child; and
            ``(2) an individual who--
                    ``(A) has not attained 21 years of age; and
                    ``(B) has been emancipated from foster care under 
                the responsibility of the State by reason of attaining 
                the age of majority.''.
    (b) Adoption Assistance Payments.--
            (1) In general.--Section 473(a)(1)(A) of such Act (42 
        U.S.C. 673(a)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ``who have not 
        attained 21 years of age'' after ``special needs''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 473(a)(4)(A) of such Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 673(a)(4)(A)) is amended by striking ``the age of 
        eighteen'' and all that follows through ``twenty-one'' and 
        inserting ``21 years of age''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 474(a)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
674(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``under section 472 for children in 
foster family homes or child-care institutions'' and inserting ``in 
accordance with section 472''.

SEC. 202. IMPROVEMENTS TO JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER CARE INDEPENDENCE 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Increase in Annual Authorization Level.--Section 477(h)(1) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677(h)(1)) is amended by striking 
``$140,000,000'' and inserting ``$200,000,000''.
    (b) Expansion of Eligibility for Services.--Section 477 of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 677) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``18'' and 
                inserting ``14''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``between 18 and 
                21'' and inserting ``who have attained 18 years of age, 
                and who have not attained 25 years of age'';
            (2) in each of subsections (b)(3)(A) and (b)(3)(B), by 
        striking ``21'' and inserting ``25'';
            (3) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``youths adopted 
                from foster care after attaining age 16'' and inserting 
                ``youths in or exiting from foster care after attaining 
                14 years of age''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (3) and redesignating 
                paragraphs (4) through (6) as paragraphs (3) through 
                (5), respectively.
    (c) Authority To Use Program Funds To Provide Independent Living 
Services and Education and Training Vouchers for Children Who Exit 
Foster Care to Guardianship or Adoption After Age 14.--
            (1) Independent living services.--Section 477(a) of such 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 677(a)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (5);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                (6) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) to provide the services referred to in this 
        subsection to children who, after attaining 14 years of age, 
        have left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption.''.
            (2) Education and training vouchers.--Section 477(i)(2) of 
        such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(i)(2)) is amended by striking ``from 
        foster care after attaining age 16'' and inserting ``or 
        entering kinship guardianship from foster care after attaining 
        14 years of age''.
    (d) Eligibility of Private Service Providers for Funds.--Section 
477(b)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
                    ``(G) Distribute funds provided to the State under 
                this section among a diverse range of qualified 
                providers of services that are private entities, and 
                ensure that the entities have equal opportunity to 
                receive the funds.''.
    (e) Expansion of Program Evaluations.--Section 477(g)(1) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 677(g)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence, by inserting ``, and of model 
        programs that focus on improving outcomes for youth aging out 
        of care in the areas of education, employment, personal 
        development, and housing'' after ``significance'';
            (2) in the second sentence, by striking ``and personal 
        development'' and inserting ``mental and physical health, 
        personal development, and housing, and on the use of room and 
        board services and how the use of the services improve housing 
        outcomes for youth''; and
            (3) in the third sentence, by inserting ``, where 
        practicable,'' before ``random assignment''.
    (f) Improving Awareness of Available Services.--
            (1) Duties of the secretary.--Section 477 of such Act (42 
        U.S.C. 677) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(j) Distribution of Information About Other Related Programs.--To 
improve access to the array of services available to youth 
transitioning out of foster care and assist States in leveraging 
available resources, the Secretary shall provide for the efficient 
distribution to States and local areas of information about Federal 
programs, other than the program established by this section, that may 
assist youth in their transition to self-sufficiency and provide 
guidance on how to access services under the programs.''.
            (2) Duties of the state.--Section 477(b)(3) of such Act (42 
        U.S.C. 677(b)(3)) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (H) through (J) 
                as subparagraphs (I) through (K), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the 
                following:
            ``(G) A certification by the chief executive officer that, 
        when or before a child leaves foster care under the 
        responsibility of the State, the State will inform the child of 
        the full range of available financial, housing, counseling, 
        health, public benefit employment, and education services, and 
        other appropriate support and services for which the child is 
        eligible.''.

                    TITLE III--YOUNG FAMILY CONCERNS

SEC. 301. TANF STATE PLAN AMENDMENT.

    Section 402(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
602(a)(1)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:
                            ``(vii) Identify the education and 
                        training, living arrangement, and other 
                        services needs of individuals described in 
                        section 408(a)(5)(B)(ii) who are potentially 
                        eligible to receive assistance under the State 
                        program funded under this part and establish 
                        policies, procedures, and strategies to address 
                        the needs.''.

SEC. 302. ADULT-SUPERVISED LIVING ARRANGEMENTS.

    Section 408(a)(5)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
608(a)(5)(B)) is amended--
            (1) by striking clause (i) and inserting the following:
                            ``(i) Provision of adult-supervised living 
                        arrangement.--In the case of an individual who 
                        is described in clause (ii), the State agency 
                        referred to in section 402(a)(4) shall provide 
                        or ensure the provision of a second chance 
                        home, maternity group home, transitional living 
                        youth project, or other appropriate adult-
                        supervised supportive living arrangement, 
                        taking into consideration the needs, concerns, 
                        and wishes of the individual, unless the State 
                        agency determines that the individual's current 
                        living arrangement is appropriate, and 
                        therefore, shall require that the individual 
                        and the minor child referred to in subparagraph 
                        (A)(ii)(II) reside in such living arrangement 
                        as a condition of the continued receipt of 
                        assistance under the State program funded under 
                        this part attributable to funds provided by the 
                        Federal Government (or in an alternative 
                        appropriate arrangement, should circumstances 
                        change and the current arrangement cease to be 
                        appropriate).'';
            (2) in clause (ii)--
                    (A) by redesignating subclauses (III) and (IV) as 
                subclauses (V) and (VI), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after subclause (II) the 
                following:
                                    ``(III) the individual is a 
                                homeless youth;
                                    ``(IV) the individual is a street 
                                youth;'';
            (3) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (vi) and 
        inserting after clause (ii) the following:
                            ``(iii) Disclosure of adult-supervised 
                        living arrangement options to individual.--The 
                        State agency shall ensure that individuals 
                        described in subparagraph (A)(ii) who are 
                        applicants or recipients of assistance are 
                        fully informed of all adult-supervised living 
                        arrangement options that satisfy the 
                        requirement of this subsection, and provide the 
                        individual the opportunity to request a 
                        specific adult-supervised living arrangement.
                            ``(iv) Determination of adult-supervised 
                        living arrangement.--In determining the 
                        appropriateness of the individual's current 
                        living arrangement in clause (i) and 
                        considering the individual's request for a 
                        specific adult-supervised living arrangement in 
                        clause (iii), the State agency shall provide a 
                        written explanation of the determination, 
                        including a statement regarding the right to 
                        appeal the determination under clause (v), to 
                        the individual, if the determination is other 
                        than the adult-supervised living arrangement 
                        requested by the individual.
                            ``(v) Right to appeal adult-supervised 
                        living arrangement.--If the State agency's 
                        determination of appropriate adult-supervised 
                        living arrangement in clause (i) is other than 
                        the adult-supervised living arrangement 
                        requested by the individual in clause (iii), 
                        the individual shall have a right to appeal the 
                        State agency's decision through appeal and 
                        dispute resolution mechanisms available in the 
                        State.''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(vi) Definitions.--In this subparagraph:
                                    ``(I) Transitional living youth 
                                project.--The term `transitional living 
                                youth project' has the same meaning as 
                                provided in section 387(6) of the 
                                Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
                                Prevention Act of 1974.
                                    ``(II) Homeless youth.--The term 
                                `homeless youth' has the same meaning 
                                as provided in section 387(3) of the 
                                Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
                                Prevention Act of 1974.
                                    ``(III) Street youth.--The term 
                                `street youth' has the same meaning as 
                                provided in section 387(5) of the 
                                Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
                                Prevention Act of 1974.''.

SEC. 303. SUSPENSION OF TIME LIMIT FOR YOUNG ADULT PARENT INVOLVED IN 
              EDUCATION OR TRAINING.

    Section 408(a)(7)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
608(a)(7)(B)) is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by striking ``Minor child exception'' 
        and inserting ``Age exceptions''; and
            (2) by striking clauses (i) and (ii) and inserting the 
        following:
                            ``(i) a minor child, and not the head of a 
                        household or married to the head of a 
                        household; or
                            ``(ii) was pregnant or a parent, and--
                                    ``(I) had not attained 20 years of 
                                age, and was meeting all program 
                                requirements relating to education, 
                                training and living arrangements; or
                                    ``(II) had attained 20 but not 21 
                                years of age, and was scheduled to 
                                complete all program requirements 
                                relating to education or training.''.

SEC. 304. TRANSITIONAL COMPLIANCE.

    Section 408(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``if'' and all that 
        follows and inserting ``if--
                    ``(A) the individual does not participate in--
                            ``(i) educational activities directed 
                        toward the attainment of a high school diploma 
                        or its equivalent; or
                            ``(ii) an alternative educational or 
                        training program that has been approved by the 
                        State; and
                    ``(B) 91 days have elapsed since the State has 
                notified the individual that the individual is in 
                violation of this paragraph.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (5)(A)(i), by inserting ``, and 91 days 
        have elapsed since the State has notified the individual that 
        the individual is in violation of this paragraph'' before the 
        period.

SEC. 305. SANCTION PROTECTIONS FOR MINOR PARENTS.

    Section 408(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(12) A State to which a grant is made under section 403 
        of this Act shall not impose a sanction on a recipient of 
        assistance under the State program funded under this part who 
        is an individual described in paragraph (4) or (5)(B)(ii) of 
        this subsection and whose household includes a minor who has 
        received assistance under the State program funded under this 
        part attributable to funds provided by the Federal Government 
        or under the food stamp program, as defined in section 3(h) of 
        the Food Stamp Act of 1977, unless the State has established 
        procedures that help recipients of assistance under the State 
        program funded under this part understand, avoid, or end 
        sanctions, and has applied the procedures to the recipient.''.

SEC. 306. TEEN PARENT STUDY AND REPORT.

    Section 413 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 613) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Teen Parent Study and Report.--
            ``(1) Study of tanf recipients.--The Secretary shall 
        conduct a study of recipients of assistance under State 
        programs funded under this part who are parents and have not 
        attained 20 years of age to determine the following:
                    ``(A) Whether State data on the number of such 
                recipients is accurately reflected in Federal data, 
                including an examination of the extent to which such 
                recipients who are members of a family are not 
                reflected in the data, and an examination of the extent 
                to which Federal estimation methods do not reflect the 
                number of such recipients in a State.
                    ``(B) What assessment procedures are utilized with 
                such recipients, and whether there appear to be best 
                practices that consider such issues as whether the 
                recipient has an educational barrier such as a learning 
                disability or mental health problem.
                    ``(C) Whether localities appear to have adequate 
                and appropriate services that meet the needs of such 
                recipients in areas such as infant care, education, 
                training, and mental health, for services such as 
                appropriate housing, mental health, and alternative 
                education, whether staff assist teen parents in 
                researching and locating such services including an 
                appropriate living arrangement, and the extent to which 
                such recipients who have not completed high school or 
                the equivalent are encouraged to engage in education or 
                work.
                    ``(D) How State rules providing that, in 
                determining the eligibility of such recipients for such 
                assistance, the income of the recipient is deemed to 
                include the income of any parents with whom such 
                recipient is living appear to have affected the extent 
                to which such recipients who are members of a family 
                with income less than 200 percent of the poverty line 
                (as defined in section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget 
                Reconciliation Act of 1981, including any revision 
                required by such section, applicable to a family of the 
                size involved) are able to participate in State 
                programs funded under this part.
                    ``(E) Demographic information such as--
                            ``(i) the age of such recipients;
                            ``(ii) the amount of time such recipients 
                        received such assistance in a given year;
                            ``(iii) the number of children that such 
                        recipients have;
                            ``(iv) school attainment by such 
                        recipients, by age;
                            ``(v) the employment status of such 
                        recipients, such as whether a recipient has 
                        ever worked or has worked while in school;
                            ``(vi) the child care arrangements of such 
                        recipients; and
                            ``(vii) the living arrangements of such 
                        recipients.
            ``(2) Study of low-income teen parents who are not tanf 
        recipients.--The Secretary shall conduct a study of a 
        representative sample of low-income (as determined by the 
        Secretary) teen parents who are not recipients of assistance 
        under a State program funded under this part, to determine the 
        following:
                    ``(A) Whether the teen parent sought to apply for 
                such assistance.
                    ``(B) Whether a teen parent who indicated to a 
                State a desire to apply for such assistance received an 
                application for such assistance.
                    ``(C) Whether a teen parent who applied for such 
                assistance was subsequently contacted by the State 
                agency responsible for operating a State program funded 
                under this part.
            ``(3) Report to congress.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the 
                date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary 
                shall submit a report to Congress that contains the 
                findings of the studies required by this subsection and 
                recommendations regarding such issues as how to improve 
                data reporting, State plans, State `best practice' 
                information sharing, and assessments.
                    ``(B) Advisory group.--The Secretary shall 
                establish an advisory group consisting of 
                representatives from organizations that work with 
                parents who have not attained 20 years of age, to 
                provide advice to the Secretary on questions relating 
                to such parents that should be investigated and to 
                provide comments to accompany the recommendations 
                contained in the report under subparagraph (A).''.

                      TITLE IV--WORK OPPORTUNITIES

SEC. 401. INCLUSION OF HOMELESS YOUTH AS QUALIFIED POPULATION FOR WORK 
              OPPORTUNITY CREDIT.

    (a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of section 51(d) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``or'' at the end of 
subparagraph (H), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (I) 
and inserting ``, or'', and adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
                    ``(J) a qualified homeless youth.''.
    (b) Qualified Homeless Youth.--Subsection (d) of section 51 of such 
Code is amended by redesignating paragraphs (11) through (13) as 
paragraphs (12) through (14), respectively, and by inserting after 
paragraph (10) the following new paragraph:
            ``(11) Qualified homeless youth.--The term `qualified 
        homeless youth' means any individual who is certified by the 
        designated local agency--
                    ``(A) as having attained age 16 but not age 25 on 
                the hiring date; and
                    ``(B) as being described in paragraph (2) of 
                section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a), as in effect on the date of the 
                enactment of this paragraph, on the hiring date.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to individuals who begin work for the employer after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
                                 <all>