[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2982 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2982
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
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 a 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 of the Runaway and Homeless
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5711) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by striking clause (i) and
inserting the following:
``(i) safe and appropriate shelter provided
for not to exceed 21 days; and''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2)--
(A) by striking ``(2) The'' and inserting ``(2)(A)
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the'';
(B) by striking ``$100,000'' and inserting
``$200,000'';
(C) by striking ``$45,000'' and inserting
``$70,000''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) For fiscal years 2009 and 2010, the amount allotted under
paragraph (1) with respect to a State for a fiscal year shall be not
less than the amount allotted under paragraph (1) with respect to such
State for fiscal year 2008.
``(C) Whenever the Secretary determines that any part of the amount
allotted under paragraph (1) to a State for a fiscal year will not be
obligated before the end of the fiscal year, the Secretary shall
reallot such part to the remaining States for obligation for the 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.''.
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 (1)--
(A) by striking ``directly or indirectly'' and
inserting ``by grant, agreement, or contract''; and
(B) by striking ``services'' the first place it
appears and inserting ``provide, by grant, agreement,
or contract, services,'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``a continuous period not
to exceed 540 days, except that'' and all that follows and
inserting the following: ``a continuous period not to exceed
540 days, or in exceptional circumstances 635 days, except that
a youth in a program under this part who has not reached 18
years of age on the last day of the 635-day period may, in
exceptional circumstances and if otherwise qualified for the
program, remain in the program until the youth's 18th
birthday;'';
(3) in paragraph (14), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(4) in paragraph (15), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(16) to develop an adequate emergency preparedness and
management plan.''.
(b) Definitions.--Section 322(c) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth
Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-2(c)) is amended by--
(1) striking ``part, the term'' and inserting the
following: ``part--
``(1) the term'';
(2) striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) adding at the end thereof the following:
``(2) the term `exceptional circumstances' means
circumstances in which a youth would benefit to an unusual
extent from additional time in the program.''.
SEC. 5. 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 subsection (b)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``special consideration'' and inserting
``priority'';
(B) in paragraph (8)--
(i) by striking ``to health'' and inserting
``to quality health'';
(ii) by striking ``mental health care'' and
inserting ``behavioral health care''; and
(iii) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(C) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``, including access to educational
and workforce programs to achieve outcomes such as
decreasing secondary school dropout rates, increasing
rates of attaining a secondary school diploma or its
recognized equivalent, or increasing placement and
retention in postsecondary education or advanced
workforce training programs; and''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) providing programs, including innovative programs,
that assist youth in obtaining and maintaining safe and stable
housing, and which may include programs with supportive
services that continue after the youth complete the remainder
of the programs.''; and
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) In selecting among applicants for grants under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall--
``(1) give priority to applicants who have experience
working with runaway or homeless youth; and
``(2) ensure that the applicants selected--
``(A) represent diverse geographic regions of the
United States; and
``(B) carry out projects that serve diverse
populations of runaway or homeless youth.''.
SEC. 6. 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 date of
enactment of the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008, and at 5-year
intervals thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the United
States Interagency Council on Homelessness, shall prepare and submit to
the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and make available to
the public, a report--
``(1) by using the best quantitative and qualitative social
science research methods available, containing an estimate of
the incidence and prevalence of runaway and homeless
individuals who are not less than 13 years of age but are less
than 26 years of age; and
``(2) that includes with such estimate an assessment of the
characteristics of such individuals.
``(b) Content.--The report 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 not less than 13 years of age but
are less than 26 years of age, to determine past and current--
``(A) socioeconomic characteristics of such
individuals; and
``(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
``(2) such other information as 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. 7. SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM.
Section 351(b) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C.
5714-41(b)) is amended by inserting ``public and'' after ``priority
to''.
SEC. 8. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Part F of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714a et
seq.) is amended by inserting after section 386 the following:
``SEC. 386A. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
``(a) Establishment of Performance Standards.--Not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act
of 2008, the Secretary shall issue rules that specify performance
standards for public and nonprofit private entities and agencies that
receive grants under sections 311, 321, and 351.
``(b) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with
representatives of public and nonprofit private entities and agencies
that receive grants under this title, including statewide and regional
nonprofit organizations (including 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) Implementation of Performance Standards.--The Secretary shall
integrate the performance standards into the processes of the
Department of Health and Human Services for grantmaking, monitoring,
and evaluation for programs under sections 311, 321, and 351.''.
SEC. 9. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE STUDY AND REPORT.
(a) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United
States shall conduct a study, including making findings and
recommendations, relating to the processes for making grants
under parts A, B, and E of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
(42 U.S.C. 5711 et seq., 5714-1 et seq., 5714-41).
(2) Subjects.--In particular, the Comptroller General shall
study--
(A) the Secretary's written responses to and other
communications with applicants who do not receive
grants under part A, B, or E of such Act, to determine
if the information provided in the responses and
communications is conveyed clearly;
(B) the content and structure of the grant
application documents, and of other associated
documents (including grant announcements), to determine
if the requirements of the applications and other
associated documents are presented and structured in a
way that gives an applicant a clear understanding of
the information that the applicant must provide in each
portion of an application to successfully complete it,
and a clear understanding of the terminology used
throughout the application and other associated
documents;
(C) the peer review process for applications for
the grants, including the selection of peer reviewers,
the oversight of the process by staff of the Department
of Health and Human Services, and the extent to which
such staff make funding determinations based on the
comments and scores of the peer reviewers;
(D) the typical timeframe, and the process and
responsibilities of such staff, for responding to
applicants for the grants, and the efforts made by such
staff to communicate with the applicants when funding
decisions or funding for the grants is delayed, such as
when funding is delayed due to funding of a program
through appropriations made under a continuing
resolution; and
(E) the plans for implementation of, and the
implementation of, where practicable, the technical
assistance and training programs carried out under
section 342 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42
U.S.C. 5714-22), and the effect of such programs on the
application process for the grants.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Comptroller General shall prepare and submit to the
Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate a report containing the
findings and recommendations resulting from the study.
SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS.
(a) Homeless Youth.--Section 387(3) of the Runaway and Homeless
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5732a(3)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``The'' and all that follows through ``means'' and inserting
``The term `homeless', used with respect to a youth, means'';
and
(2) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) in clause (i)--
(i) by striking ``not more than'' each
place it appears and inserting ``less than'';
and
(ii) by inserting after ``age'' the last
place it appears the following: ``, or is less
than a higher maximum age if the State where
the center is located has an applicable State
or local law (including a regulation) that
permits such higher maximum age in compliance
with licensure requirements for child-and
youth-serving facilities''; and
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ``age;'' and
inserting the following: ``age and either--
``(I) less than 22 years of age; or
``(II) not less than 22 years of
age, as of the expiration of the
maximum period of stay permitted under
section 322(a)(2) if such individual
commences such stay before reaching 22
years of age;''.
(b) Runaway Youth.--Section 387 of the 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', used with respect
to a youth, means an individual who is less than 18 years of
age and who absents himself or herself from home or a place of
legal residence without the permission of a parent or legal
guardian.''.
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 388(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C.
5751(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``is authorized'' and inserting
``are authorized'';
(B) by striking ``part E) $105,000,000 for fiscal
year 2004'' and inserting ``section 345 and part E)
$140,000,000 for fiscal year 2009''; and
(C) by striking ``2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008'' and
inserting ``2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013'';
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by striking ``In'' and inserting the following:
``(A) In general.--In'';
(B) by inserting ``(other than section 345)''
before the period; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) Periodic estimate.--There are authorized to
be appropriated to carry out section 345 such sums as
may be necessary for fiscal years 2009, 2010, 2011,
2012, and 2013.''; and
(3) in paragraph (4)--
(A) by striking ``is authorized'' and inserting
``are authorized''; and
(B) by striking ``such sums as may be necessary for
fiscal years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008'' and
inserting ``$25,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such
sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2010, 2011,
2012, and 2013''.
Passed the Senate September 25 (legislative day, September
17), 2008.
Attest:
Secretary.
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2982
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize
appropriations, and for other purposes.