A bill to reauthorize programs under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and the Missing Children's Assistance Act, and for other purposes.

Summary: Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children Protection Act - Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) and the Missing Children's Assistance Act (MCAA) to reauthorize and revise programs under such Acts.

Title I: Amendments to Runaway and Homeless Youth Act - (Sec. 102) Renames RHYA part A as the Basic Center Grant Program (currently Runaway and Homeless Youth Grant Program).(Sec. 103) Includes testing for sexually transmitted diseases, at the request of runaway and homeless youth, among the services which local basic centers may provide.(Sec. 106) Provides for an exception to a 20-youth-maximum-capacity requirement for funding a basic center, or a locally controlled temporary shelter, if the applicant assures that there is a State or local law or regulation that requires a higher maximum to comply with licensure requirements for children and youth serving facilities. (Sec. 107) Includes maternity group homes among the types of transitional living youth projects eligible for grants under part B (Transitional Living Grant Program) of RHYA. (Sec. 108) Extends an individual youth's eligibility to remain in a transitional shelter beyond the regular 540-day period until the earlier of the youth's 18th birthday or the 180th day after the end of the 540-day period. (Sec. 109) Revises RHYA part A coordination assurance requirements to provide for coordinating services with school district liaisons designated under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to assure that runaway and homeless youth are provided information about the educational services available to such youth under such Act. (Sec. 110) Requires part B coordination agreements to also provide for coordinating services with McKinney-Vento school district liaisons. (Sec. 111) Requires part B plan development to include referral of homeless youth to: (1) postsecondary education; (2) training services and programs under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998; and (3) welfare programs under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. (Sec. 112) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to consult the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to ensure coordination of programs and services for homeless youth.(Sec. 116) Sets 18 years as the maximum age limit for youth seeking shelter in RHYA part A centers.(Sec. 117) Extends through FY 2008 the authorization of appropriations for programs under: (1) RHYA part E, Sexual Abuse Prevention Program; and (2) all other parts of RHYA. Increases to a minimum 45 percent, and a maximum 55 percent under certain conditions, the part B portion of funds allocated to parts A and B.(Sec. 118) Directs the Secretary to report on strategies to end youth homelessness.(Sec. 119) Directs the Secretary to evaluate RHYA part B programs to report on long-term housing outcomes for youth 12 to 18 months after exiting the program.(Sec. 120) Prohibits use of RHYA funds for any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug. Requires RHYA funds recipients who carry out such distribution programs to account for such program funds separately from RHYA funds. Title II: Amendments to Missing Children's Assistance Act - Amends MCAA to extend through FY 2008 the authorization of appropriations for: (1) an annual grant by the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (in the Department of Justice) to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC); and (2) other programs under MCAA.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Runaway, Homeless, and Missing 
Children Protection Act''.

         TITLE I--AMENDMENTS TO RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH ACT

SEC. 101. AMENDMENT TO FINDINGS.

    Section 302 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701) 
is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 302. FINDINGS.

    ``The Congress finds that--
            ``(1) youth who have become homeless or who leave and 
        remain away from home without parental permission, are at risk 
        of developing, and have a disproportionate share of, serious 
        health, behavioral, and emotional problems because they lack 
        sufficient resources to obtain care and may live on the street 
        for extended periods thereby endangering themselves and 
        creating a substantial law enforcement problem for communities 
        in which they congregate;
            ``(2) many such young people, because of their age and 
        situation, are urgently in need of temporary shelter and 
        services, including services that are linguistically 
        appropriate and acknowledge the environment of youth seeking 
        these services;
            ``(3) in view of the interstate nature of the problem, it 
        is the responsibility of the Federal Government to develop an 
        accurate national reporting system to report the problem, and 
        to assist in the development of an effective system of care 
        (including preventive and aftercare services, emergency shelter 
        services, extended residential shelter, and street outreach 
        services) outside the welfare system and the law enforcement 
        system;
            ``(4) to make a successful transition to adulthood, runaway 
        youth, homeless youth, and other street youth need 
        opportunities to complete high school or earn a general 
        equivalency degree, learn job skills, and obtain employment; 
        and
            ``(5) improved coordination and collaboration between the 
        Federal programs that serve runaway and homeless youth are 
        necessary for the development of a long-term strategy for 
        responding to the needs of this population.''.

SEC. 102. GRANT PROGRAM CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

    The heading for part A of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
U.S.C. 5711 et seq.) is amended by striking ``Runaway and Homeless 
Youth'' and inserting ``Basic Center''.

SEC. 103. GRANTS FOR SERVICES PROVIDED.

    Section 311(a)(2)(C) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
U.S.C. 5711(a)(2)(C)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (ii) by striking ``and'';
            (2) in clause (iii) by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (3) after clause (iii) by inserting the following:
                            ``(iv) at the request of runaway and 
                        homeless youth, testing for sexually 
                        transmitted diseases.''.

SEC. 104. REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISION RELATING TO CERTAIN ALLOTMENTS.

    Section 311(b) the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5711(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Subject to paragraph 
        (3), the'' and inserting ``The'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (3); and
            (3) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3).

SEC. 105. ELIGIBILITY PROVISION.

    Section 312(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5712(a)) is amended by striking ``juveniles'' each place it appears and 
inserting ``youth''.

SEC. 106. RECOGNITION OF STATE LAW RELATING TO CAPACITY LIMITATION ON 
              ELIGIBLE RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH CENTERS.

    Section 312(b)(2)(A) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
U.S.C. 5712(b)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting after ``youth'' the 
following: ``, except where the applicant assures that the State where 
the center or locally controlled facility is located has a State or 
local law or regulation that requires a higher maximum to comply with 
licensure requirements for child and youth serving facilities''.

SEC. 107. MATERNITY GROUP HOMES.

    (a) Eligibility.--Section 322(a)(1) of the Runaway and Homeless 
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-2(a)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting after ``group homes,'' the following: 
        ``including maternity group homes,''; and
            (2) by inserting after ``use of credit,'' the following: 
        ``parenting skills (as appropriate),''.
    (b) Definition.--Section 322 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5714-2) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(c) Definition.--In this part, the term `maternity group home' 
means a community-based, adult-supervised transitional living 
arrangement that provides pregnant or parenting youth and their 
children with a supportive and supervised living arrangement in which 
such pregnant or parenting youth are required to learn parenting 
skills, including child development, family budgeting, health and 
nutrition, and other skills to promote their long-term economic 
independence in order to ensure the well-being of their children.''.

SEC. 108. LIMITED EXTENSION OF 540-DAY SHELTER ELIGIBILITY PERIOD.

    Section 322(a)(2) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5714-2(a)(2)) is amended by inserting after ``days'' the following: ``, 
except that a youth in a program under this part who is under the age 
of 18 years on the last day of the 540-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 540-day 
period''.

SEC. 109. PART A PLAN COORDINATION ASSURANCES.

    Section 312(b)(4)(B) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
U.S.C. 5712(b)(4)(B)) is amended by striking ``personnel'' and all that 
follows through the semicolon and inserting ``McKinney-Vento school 
district liaisons, designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the 
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)), 
to assure that runaway and homeless youth are provided information 
about the educational services available to such youth under subtitle B 
of title VII of that Act;''.

SEC. 110. PART B PLAN COORDINATION AGREEMENT.

    Section 322(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5714-2(a)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of 
        paragraph (13);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (14) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(15) to coordinate services with McKinney-Vento school 
        district liaisons, designated under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of 
        the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)), to assure that runaway and homeless youth 
        are provided information about the educational services 
        available to such youth under subtitle B of title VII of that 
        Act.''.

SEC. 111. PART B PLAN DEVELOPMENT.

    Section 322(a)(7) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5714-2(a)(7)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(7) to develop an adequate plan to ensure proper referral 
        of homeless youth to social service, law enforcement, 
        educational (including post-secondary education), vocational, 
        training (including services and programs for youth available 
        under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998), welfare (including 
        programs under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
        Reconciliation Act of 1996), legal service, and health care 
        programs and to help integrate and coordinate such services for 
        youths;''.

SEC. 112. COORDINATION OF PROGRAMS.

    Section 341 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-
21) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) shall consult, as appropriate, the Secretary of 
        Housing and Urban Development to ensure coordination of 
        programs and services for homeless youth.''.

SEC. 113. CLARIFICATION OF GRANT AUTHORITY.

    Section 343(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5714-23(a)) is amended by inserting after ``service projects'' the 
following: ``regarding activities under this title''.

SEC. 114. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT RELATING TO DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

    The section heading of section 344 of the Runaway and Homeless 
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-24) is amended by striking ``temporary''.

SEC. 115. REPEAL OF OBSOLETE PROVISION RELATING TO STUDY.

    The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is 
amended by striking section 345 (42 U.S.C. 5714-25).

SEC. 116. AGE LIMIT FOR HOMELESS YOUTH.

    Section 387(3)(A)(i) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
U.S.C. 5732a(3)(A)(i)) is amended by inserting after ``of age'' the 
following: ``, or, in the case of a youth seeking shelter in a center 
under part A, not more than 18 years of age''.

SEC. 117. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Other Than Part E.--Section 388(a)(1) of the Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5751(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``such 
sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003'' 
and inserting ``$105,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, and such sums as may 
be necessary for fiscal years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008''.
    (b) Part E.--Section 388(a)(4) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5751(a)(4)) is amended by striking ``2000, 2001, 2002, 
and 2003'' and inserting ``2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008''.
    (c) Part B Allocation.--Section 388(a)(2)(B) of the Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5751(a)(2)(B)) is amended by striking 
``not less than 20 percent, and not more than 30 percent'' and 
inserting ``45 percent and, in those fiscal years in which continuation 
grant obligations and the quality and number of applicants for parts A 
and B warrant not more than 55 percent''.

SEC. 118. REPORT ON PROMISING STRATEGIES TO END YOUTH HOMELESSNESS.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the 
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, shall submit to the 
Congress a report on promising strategies to end youth homelessness.

SEC. 119. STUDY OF HOUSING SERVICES AND STRATEGIES.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study of 
programs funded under part B of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
U.S.C. 5714-1 et seq.) to report on long-term housing outcomes for 
youth after exiting the program. The study of any such program should 
provide information on housing services available to youth upon exiting 
the program, including assistance in locating and retaining permanent 
housing and referrals to other residential programs. In addition, the 
study should identify housing models and placement strategies that 
prevent future episodes of homelessness.

SEC. 120. RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS.

    The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 389. RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS.

    ``(a) In General.--None of the funds contained in this title may be 
used for any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for 
the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.
    ``(b) Separate Accounting.--Any individual or entity who receives 
any funds contained in this title and who carries out any program 
described in subsection (a) shall account for all funds used for such 
program separately from any funds contained in this title.''.

       TITLE II--AMENDMENTS TO MISSING CHILDREN'S ASSISTANCE ACT

SEC. 201. AMENDMENT TO FINDINGS.

    Section 402 of the Missing Children's Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5771) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 402. FINDINGS.

    ``The Congress finds that--
            ``(1) each year thousands of children are abducted or 
        removed from the control of a parent having legal custody 
        without such parent's consent, under circumstances which 
        immediately place the child in grave danger;
            ``(2) many missing children are at great risk of both 
        physical harm and sexual exploitation;
            ``(3) in many cases, parents and local law enforcement 
        officials have neither the resources nor the expertise to mount 
        expanded search efforts;
            ``(4) abducted children are frequently moved from one 
        locality to another, requiring the cooperation and coordination 
        of local, State, and Federal law enforcement efforts;
            ``(5) the National Center for Missing and Exploited 
        Children--
                    ``(A) serves as the national resource center and 
                clearinghouse;
                    ``(B) works in partnership with the Department of 
                Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the 
                Department of the Treasury, the Department of State, 
                and many other agencies in the effort to find missing 
                children and prevent child victimization; and
                    ``(C) operates a national and increasingly 
                worldwide network, linking the Center online with each 
                of the missing children clearinghouses operated by the 
                50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, 
                as well as with Scotland Yard in the United Kingdom, 
                the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, INTERPOL 
                headquarters in Lyon, France, and others, which enable 
                the Center to transmit images and information regarding 
                missing children to law enforcement across the United 
                States and around the world instantly.''.

SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Annual Grant to National Center for Missing and Exploited 
Children.--Section 404(b)(2) of the Missing Children's Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5773(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``2005'' and inserting 
``2008''.
    (b) In General.--Section 408(a) of the Missing Children's 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5777(a)) is amended by striking ``2005.'' and 
inserting ``2008''.

            Passed the Senate September 26, 2003.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
108th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                S. 1451

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 To reauthorize programs under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and 
     the Missing Children's Assistance Act, and for other purposes.