[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6280 Introduced in House (IH)]

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114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6280

To amend title V of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of 
 Health and Human Services to give priority to eligible entities that 
partner with certain community partners with respect to grants awarded 
    under the maternal, infant, and early childhood home visitation 
                    program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 28, 2016

   Mr. Ruiz introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy 
    and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title V of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of 
 Health and Human Services to give priority to eligible entities that 
partner with certain community partners with respect to grants awarded 
    under the maternal, infant, and early childhood home visitation 
                    program, 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 ``Ensuring Healthy Beginnings Act''.

SEC. 2. GIVING PRIORITY TO CERTAIN ELIGIBLE ENTITIES UNDER MATERNAL, 
              INFANT, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITATION PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 511(c) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 711(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs:
            ``(5) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to applications submitted by an 
        eligible entities that are working in partnership with 
        qualified community partners.
            ``(6) Standardized materials.--The Secretary shall develop 
        standard materials on the availability of the items and 
        services described in subsection (k)(5) for dissemination by 
        eligible entities whose applications are given priority under 
        paragraph (5).''.
    (b) Definitions.--Section 511(k) of the Social Security Act is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
            ``(4) Community partner.--The term `community partner' 
        includes any of the following:
                    ``(A) A local educational agency, elementary 
                school, or secondary school (as those terms are defined 
                in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)).
                    ``(B) A law enforcement agency.
                    ``(C) A hospital, community health center, or a 
                local healthcare organization that furnishes items and 
                services primarily to pregnant women, infants, and 
                young children.
            ``(5) Qualified community partner.--The term `qualified 
        community partner' means a community partner that provides, 
        with respect to pregnant women, first-time mothers, and 
        families described in subsection (d)(4), any of the following 
        items and services:
                    ``(A) Outreach services.
                    ``(B) Literature, including pamphlets, newsletters, 
                or online mass distributions.
                    ``(C) Assistance in obtaining any information on 
                assistance which a pregnant woman, first-time mother, 
                or a family described in such subsection may be 
                eligible to receive, including counseling, employment 
                and training assistance, educational assistance, and 
                health care services.
                    ``(D) Assistance in obtaining and coordinating the 
                provision of other public benefits provided through 
                Federal, State or local agencies or other community 
                partners, including any of the following services:
                            ``(i) Marriage counseling.
                            ``(ii) Child assistance services.
                            ``(iii) Suicide prevention services.
                            ``(iv) Substance abuse awareness and 
                        treatment services.
                            ``(v) Mental health awareness and treatment 
                        services.
                            ``(vi) Financial counseling.
                            ``(vii) Anger management counseling.
                            ``(viii) Domestic violence awareness and 
                        prevention services.
                            ``(ix) Employment assistance.
                            ``(x) Transportation services.
                            ``(xi) Child care services.
                            ``(xii) Housing counseling.
                            ``(xiii) Assistance with preparing and 
                        updating family care plans.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to grants awarded on or after the date of the 
enactment of this section.
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