[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2982 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2982
To amend the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize
appropriations, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 6, 2008
Mr. Leahy (for himself and Mr. Specter) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
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 ``Runaway and Homeless Youth
Protection Act''.
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 ``$100,000'' and inserting
``$200,000'';
(B) by striking ``$45,000'' and inserting
``$70,000''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following: ``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 ``indirectly'' and inserting ``by
contract''; and
(B) by striking ``services'' the first place it
appears and inserting ``provide, directly or
indirectly, 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
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, if otherwise qualified for the program, remain in
the program until the earlier of the youth's 18th birthday or
the 180th day after the end of the 635-day period;'';
(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.''.
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 ``give special consideration to'' and
inserting ``prioritize'';
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (9) as
paragraphs (3) through (10), respectively; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) positive youth development service delivery methods,
providing links to community services, promoting mental and
physical health development, enabling youth to obtain and
maintain housing after program completion, and developing self-
sufficiency competencies;''
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) by inserting ``for eligibility and selection''
after ``priority'';
(B) by striking ``shall give'' and inserting the
following: ``shall--''
``(A) give'';
(C) by striking the period and inserting ``; and'';
and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) ensure that the applicants selected--
``(i) are geographically representative of regions
of the United States; and
``(ii) carry out projects that serve diverse
populations of 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 Runaway and Homeless Youth Protection Act, 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 that--
``(1) contains an estimate, obtained by using the best
quantitative and qualitative social science research methods
available, of the incidence and prevalence of runaway and
homeless individuals who are not less than 13 years of age but
less than 26 years of age; and
``(2) 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 not less than 13 years of age but
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 agreement
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. NATIONAL HOMELESS YOUTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating part F as part G; and
(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 through grants
or contracts, 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) increasing awareness of individuals of all ages,
socioeconomic backgrounds, and geographic locations, of the
issues facing runaway and homeless youth (including youth
considering running away); and
``(2) encouraging parents and guardians, educators, health
care professionals, social service professionals, law
enforcement officials, stakeholders, and other community
members to assist youth described in paragraph (1) in averting
or resolving runaway and homeless situations.
``(b) Use of Funds.--Amounts made available to carry out this
section for the national awareness campaign may only be used for the
following:
``(1) Dissemination of educational information and
materials through various media, including television, radio,
the Internet and related technologies, and emerging
technologies.
``(2) Evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities
described in paragraphs (1) and (5).
``(3) Development of partnerships with national
organizations concerned with youth homelessness, community-
based youth service organizations, including faith-based
organizations, and Government organizations to carry out the
national awareness campaign.
``(4) Conducting outreach activities to stakeholders and
potential stakeholders in the national awareness campaign.
``(5) In accordance with applicable laws (including
regulations), development and placement in telecommunications
media (including the Internet and related technologies, and
emerging technologies) of public service announcements that
educate the public on--
``(A) the issues facing runaway and homeless youth
(including youth considering running away); and
``(B) the opportunities that adults have to assist
youth described in subparagraph (A).
``(c) Prohibitions.--None of the amounts made available to carry
out this section may be obligated or expended for any of the following:
``(1) To fund public service time that supplants pro bono
public service time donated by national or local broadcasting
networks, advertising agencies, or production companies for the
national awareness campaign, or to fund activities that
supplant pro bono work for the national awareness campaign.
``(2) To carry out partisan political purposes, or express
advocacy in support of or opposition to any clearly identified
candidate, clearly identified ballot initiative, or clearly
identified legislative or regulatory proposal.
``(3) To fund advertising that features any elected
official, person seeking elected office, cabinet level
official, or other Federal employee employed pursuant to
section 213.3301 or 213.3302 of title 5, Code of Federal
Regulations (or any corresponding similar regulation or
ruling).
``(4) To fund advertising that does not contain a primary
message intended to educate the public on the issues and
opportunities described in subsection (b)(5).
``(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 examinations of records, relating to the
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) audits 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 382(a) a summary of information about the national
awareness campaign that describes--
``(1) the strategy of the national awareness campaign and
whether specific objectives of the campaign were accomplished;
``(2) steps taken to ensure that the national awareness
campaign operated in an effective and efficient manner
consistent with the overall strategy and focus of the national
awareness campaign; and
``(3) all grants or contracts entered into with a
corporation, partnership, or individual working on the national
awareness campaign.''.
SEC. 9. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Reports.--Section 382(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
(42 U.S.C. 5715(a)) is amended by striking ``, and E'' and inserting
``, E, and F''.
(b) Consolidated Review.--Section 385 of the Runaway and Homeless
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5731a) is amended by striking ``, and E'' and
inserting ``, E, and F''.
(c) Evaluation and Information.--Section 386(a) of the Runaway and
Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5732(a)) is amended by striking ``, or
E'' and inserting ``, E, or F''.
SEC. 10. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Part G of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714a et
seq.), as redesignated by section 8, 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 Runaway and Homeless Youth
Protection Act, the Secretary shall issue rules that specify
performance standards 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 private entities 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 parts A, B, and E.''.
SEC. 11. APPEALS.
Part G of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714a et
seq.) as amended by section 10, is further amended by inserting after
section 386A the following:
``SEC. 386B. APPEALS.
``(a) Establishment of Appeal Procedure.--Not later than 6 months
after the date of enactment of the Runaway and Homeless Youth
Protection Act, the Secretary shall establish by rule an appeal
procedure to enable applicants to obtain timely reviews of the amounts
of grants made, and the denials 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, 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 appeal procedure
required by subsection (a).''.
SEC. 12. 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)(ii), by striking ``not less than 16
years of age'' and inserting ``not less than 16 years of age
and not more than 21 years of age, except that nothing in this
clause shall prevent a participant who enters the program
carried out under part B prior to reaching 22 years of age from
being eligible for the 635-day length of stay authorized by
section 322(a)(2); and''.
(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. 13. 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 ``parts E and F) $150,000,000
for fiscal year 2009''; and
(C) by striking ``2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008'' and
inserting ``2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013''; and
(2) 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 ``$30,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such
sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2010, 2011,
2012, and 2013''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Part f.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out part F $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums
as may be necessary for fiscal years 2010, 2011, 2012, and
2013.''.
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