[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 154 (Friday, September 26, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H10113-H10115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECONNECTING HOMELESS YOUTH ACT OF 2008

  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 2982) to amend the Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations, and for other purposes, 
and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the Senate bill is as follows:

                                S. 2982

       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

[[Page H10114]]

       (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'';

[[Page H10115]]

       (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''.

  The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the 
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

                          ____________________