[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 767 Engrossed in House (EH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 767
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness
Training pilot program to address human trafficking in the health care
system.
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 ``Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to
Health and Wellness Act of 2018'' or the ``SOAR to Health and Wellness
Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Human trafficking.--The term ``human trafficking'' has
the meaning given the term ``severe forms of trafficking in
persons'' as defined in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.
SEC. 3. PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a program to be
known as the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness
Training Program or the SOAR to Health and Wellness Training Program
(in this Act referred to as the ``Program'') to provide training to
health care providers and other related providers, at all levels, on
human trafficking in accordance with the purpose described in
subsection (c).
(b) Grants.--The Secretary may carry out the Program through the
award of grants to health care sites and health care professional
organizations that represent diversity in--
(1) geography;
(2) the demographics of the population served;
(3) the predominant types of human trafficking cases; and
(4) health care provider profiles.
(c) Purpose.--The purpose of the Program shall be to train health
care providers and other related providers to enable such providers
to--
(1) identify potential human trafficking victims;
(2) implement proper protocols and procedures for working
with law enforcement to report, and facilitate communication
with, such victims, in accordance with all applicable Federal,
State, local, and tribal requirements, including legal
confidentiality requirements for patients and health care
providers;
(3) implement proper protocols and procedures for referring
such victims to appropriate health care, social, or victims
service agencies or organizations;
(4) provide such victims care that is--
(A) coordinated;
(B) victim centered;
(C) culturally relevant;
(D) comprehensive;
(E) evidence-based;
(F) gender responsive;
(G) age-appropriate, with a focus on care for
youth; and
(H) trauma-informed; and
(5) consider the potential for integrating the training
described in paragraphs (1) through (4) with training programs,
in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, for victims of
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking,
child abuse, child neglect, child maltreatment, and child
sexual exploitation.
(d) Functions.--
(1) In general.--The functions of the Program shall include
the functions of the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health
and Wellness Training program that was operating on the day
before the date of enactment of this Act and the authorized
initiatives described in paragraph (2).
(2) Authorized initiatives.--The authorized initiatives of
the Program shall include--
(A) engaging stakeholders, including victims of
human trafficking and any Federal, State, local, or
tribal partners, to develop a flexible training
module--
(i) for achieving the purpose described in
subsection (c); and
(ii) that adapts to changing needs,
settings, health care providers, and other
related providers;
(B) providing technical assistance for health
education programs and health care professional
organizations to implement health care protocols, or
develop continuing education training materials, that
assist in achieving the purpose described in subsection
(c);
(C) facilitating the dissemination of best
practices and recommendations as the Secretary
determines appropriate; and
(D) developing a reliable methodology for
collecting data, and reporting such data, on the number
of human trafficking victims identified and served in
health care settings or other related provider
settings.
SEC. 4. DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Data Collection.--
(1) In general.--During each of fiscal years 2018 through
2022, the Secretary shall collect data on each of the
following:
(A) The total number of grantees operating under
the Program.
(B) The total number of health care providers and
other related providers trained through the Program.
(2) Initial report.--In addition to the data required to be
collected under paragraph (1), for purposes of the initial
report to be submitted under subsection (b), the Secretary
shall collect data on the total number of facilities and health
care professional organizations that were operating under, and
the total number of health care providers and other related
providers trained through, the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond
to Health and Wellness Training program that was operating
before the establishment under section 3(a) of the Program.
(b) Reporting.--Not later than 90 days after the first day of each
of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, the Secretary shall prepare and
submit to Congress a report on the data collected under subsection (a).
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act
$4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022.
SEC. 6. CUT-GO COMPLIANCE.
Subsection (f) of section 319D of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 247d-4) is amended by striking ``through 2018'' and inserting
``through 2017, and $118,300,000 for fiscal year 2018''.
Passed the House of Representatives February 26, 2018.
Attest:
Clerk.
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 767
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness
Training pilot program to address human trafficking in the health care
system.