Runaway and Homeless Youth Amendments of 1996

Summary: Runaway and Homeless Youth Amendments of 1996 - Renames the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act the Comprehensive Runaway and Homeless Youth Services Act (the Act).  Revises findings of the Act, including by specifying that services for runaway and homeless youth are needed in urban, suburban, and rural areas. 
Modifies the Act to require:  (1) the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to entities to establish and operate comprehensive local runaway and homeless youth services programs and, in selecting among grant applicants, to ensure that at least 20 percent of the total amount available for such grants for each fiscal year be used for long-term residential care for older homeless youth through the provision of transitional living services; and (2) an applicant, to be eligible for such assistance, to propose to establish, strengthen, or fund an existing or proposed locally controlled comprehensive runaway and homeless youth services program that meets specified requirements. 
Permits a program eligible for assistance to be located in any urban, suburban, or rural area where a need for runaway and homeless youth is demonstrated.  Specifies that youth eligible to receive services from such programs are individuals age 21 or younger. 
Modifies general plan requirements to require that applicants, to be eligible for assistance, provide or make referrals regarding:  (1) alcohol and drug abuse prevention and education activities and services; and (2) appropriate medical, educational, social, recreational, and transportation services. 
Sets forth or modifies provisions concerning plan requirements for programs providing short-term emergency shelter and long-term residential services, approval of applications by the Secretary, evaluation authority, reporting requirements, and the authorization of appropriations.  Directs the Secretary to develop and implement a system that provides information on the quality and quantity of services being provided by comprehensive runaway and homeless youth services programs.  Requires grant recipients to cooperate with Federal data collection efforts and with triennial on-site monitoring activities. 
Repeals provisions regarding:  (1) authority under the Act for street-based and home-based services; (2) temporary demonstration projects to provide services to youth in rural areas; (3) specified requirements regarding informational assistance to potential grantees; and (4) annual program priorities.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES IN ACT.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Amendments of 1996''.
    (b) Except where otherwise specifically provided, references in 
this Act shall be considered to be made to the Runaway and Homeless 
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.), or to a section or other provision 
thereof.

SEC. 2. SHORT TITLE OF ACT; FINDINGS.

    (a) Short Title.--Section 301 (42 U.S.C. 5701 note) is amended by 
striking ``Runaway and Homeless Youth Act'' and inserting 
``Comprehensive Runaway and Homeless Youth Services Act''.
    (b) Findings.--Section 302 (42 U.S.C. 5701) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``accurate reporting of 
        the problem nationally'' and inserting ``an accurate national 
        reporting system'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (8) and inserting a new paragraph 
        reading as follows:
            ``(8) because runaway and homeless youth have a high 
        incidence of alcohol and other drug abuse problems and often 
        less opportunity for intervention, drug abuse prevention and 
        education services need to be provided;'';
            (3) in paragraph (10), by striking ``who require 
        assistance'' and all that follows and inserting instead ``(many 
        of whom have been or are at risk of being subjected to sexual 
        abuse) who need but would not otherwise avail themselves of 
        assistance; and''; and
            (4)(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (9); and
            (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(11) services for this population are needed in urban, 
        suburban, and rural areas.''.

SEC. 3. COMPREHENSIVE GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) General Program Authority.--
            (1) The caption of section 311 (42 U.S.C. 5711) is amended 
        by inserting ``COMPREHENSIVE'' before ``RUNAWAY''.
            (2) Section 311(a) (42 U.S.C. 5711(a)) is amended by 
        striking ``local runaway and homeless youth centers'' and 
        inserting ``comprehensive local runaway and homeless youth 
        services programs''.
    (b) Distribution of Grant Funds.--Section 311(b) is amended by 
striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following new paragraph:
            ``(4) In selecting among applicants for grants under 
        subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that at least 20 
        percent of the total amount available for such grants for each 
fiscal year shall be used for long-term residential care for older 
homeless youth through the provision of transitional living 
services.''.
    (c) Repeal of Separate Authorities for Street-Based and Home-Based 
Services.--Subsections (c) and (d) of section 311 (42 U.S.C. 5711) are 
repealed.

SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY; PLAN REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Program Elements of Eligible Service Programs.--Section 312(a) 
(42 U.S.C. 5712(a)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) Service Programs Eligible for Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible for assistance under 
        section 311(a), an applicant shall propose to establish, 
        strengthen, or fund an existing or proposed locally controlled 
        comprehensive runaway and homeless youth services program that 
        includes at least one of the following:
                    ``(A) Short-term services including--
                            ``(i) emergency shelter for runaway and 
                        homeless youth; and
                            (ii) at the grantee's option, non-
                        residential prevention services on a drop-in 
                        basis for youth who are--
                                  ``(I) contemplating running away from 
                                home;
                                    ``(II) currently living on the 
                                streets; or
                                    ``(III) receiving after-care 
                                services.
                    ``(B) Long-term residential services for homeless 
                youth.
            ``(2) Location.--A program eligible for assistance under 
        this part may be located in any urban, suburban, or rural area 
        where a need for runaway and homeless youth services is 
        demonstrated. A program may be shelter-based, use group homes 
        or host homes, operate street-based services, or employ any 
        combination of these options, as appropriate for the population 
        being served.
    ``(b) Youth Eligible for Services.--Youth eligible to receive 
services from programs assisted under this part are individuals age 21 
or younger.
    (b) General Plan Requirements.--Section 312(b) (42 U.S.C. 5712(b)) 
is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``section 311(a)'' and inserting ``this part'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking ``runaway and homeless youth 
                center'' and inserting ``comprehensive runaway and 
                homeless youth services program''; and
                    (B) by striking ``temporary'';
            (3) by striking paragraphs (1) and (3), and redesignating 
        paragraphs (2) and (4) as paragraphs (1) and (2);
            (4) by adding after paragraph (2), as redesignated, the 
        following new paragraphs:
            ``(3)(A) shall provide, directly or through referral, 
        alcohol and drug abuse prevention and education activities and 
        services; and
                    ``(B) shall, to the extent feasible and necessary, 
                make referrals for alcohol and drug abuse treatment 
                services;
            ``(4) shall to the extent feasible provide, or make 
        referrals to providers of, other appropriate services including 
        medical, educational, social, recreational, and transportation 
        services;''; and
            (5) in paragraph (5), by striking all that follows ``to 
        such youth'' and inserting a semicolon;
            (6) in each of paragraphs (8) and (10), by striking 
        ``center'' and inserting ``program''.
    (c) Repeal of Provisions Relating to Separate Street-Based and 
Home-Based Programs.--Subsections (c) and (d) of section 312 (42 U.S.C. 
5712) are repealed.
    (d) Plan Requirements for Program Providing Short-Term Emergency 
Shelter.--Section 312 (42 U.S.C. 5712) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection:
    ``(c) In order to qualify for assistance under this part, an 
applicant proposing to provide the short-term services described in 
subsection (a)(1)(A) shall submit a plan to the Secretary including 
assurances that the applicant--
            ``(1) shall operate a runaway and homeless youth center 
        which is located in an area demonstrably frequented by 
or easily reachable by runaway and homeless youth, and at which runaway 
and homeless youth can receive services;
            ``(2) shall develop adequate plans, in accordance with the 
        best interests of the youth, for contacting the parents, legal 
        guardians, or other relatives of the youth and ensuring the 
        safe return of the youth, or for providing for other 
        appropriate alternative living arrangements; and
            ``(3) shall develop an adequate plan for encouraging the 
        involvement of parents or legal guardians in counseling, and 
        for ensuring, to the extent possible, that aftercare services 
        will be provided to all youth served, including those who are 
        returned beyond the State in which the program is located.''.
    (e) Plan Requirements for Program Providing Long-Term Residential 
Services.--Section 322(a) (42 U.S.C. 5722(a)) is relocated and 
redesignated as subsection (d) of section 312 (42 U.S.C. 5712), and is 
amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``shall propose'' and inserting 
                ``proposing''; and
                    (B) by striking ``a transitional living youth 
                project for homeless youth and'' and inserting ``long-
                term residential services for older homeless youth in 
                accordance with subsection (a)(1)(R)'';
            (2) by striking paragraphs (4) and (5), redesignating 
        paragraph (6) as paragraph (4), and striking paragraphs (7) 
        through (14); and
            (3) by striking the semicolon at the end of paragraph (4), 
        as redesignated, and inserting a period.

SEC. 5. APPROVAL BY SECRETARY.

    Section 313 (42 U.S.C. 5713) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``section 311 (a), (c), or (d)'' 
                the first place it appears and inserting ``this part''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``section 311 (a), (c), or (d)'' 
                the second place it appears and inserting ``section 
                311'';
            (2) by striking the second sentence; and
            (3) in the third sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``of service''; and
                    (B) by inserting before the period ``of the type of 
                services which such organizations propose to provide''.

SEC. 6. EVALUATION AUTHORITY.

    Section 343 (42 U.S.C. 5714-23) is amended--
            (1) in the caption, by inserting ``EVALUATION,'' after 
        ``DEMONSTRATION,''; and
            (2) in subsection (a), by inserting ``evaluation,'' after 
        ``demonstration,''.

SEC. 7. REPEAL OF EXECUTED DEMONSTRATION AUTHORITY.

    Section 344 (42 U.S.C. 5714-24) is repealed.

SEC. 8. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO POTENTIAL GRANTEES.

    Section 371 (42 U.S.C. 5714a) is amended by striking all that 
follows the first sentence.

SEC. 9. LEASE OF SURPLUS FEDERAL FACILITIES.

    Section 372 (42 U.S.C. 5714b) is repealed.

SEC. 10. REPORTS.

    (a) Reporting Timetable.--Section 381(a) (42 U.S.C. 5715(a)) is 
amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking ``each fiscal 
year'' and inserting ``fiscal year 1997 and each second fiscal year 
thereafter''.
    (b) Federal Evaluation.--Section 381(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 5715(b)(1)) 
is amended to read as follows:
            ``(1) The Secretary shall develop and implement a system 
        that provides information on the quality and quantity of 
        services being provided by comprehensive runaway and homeless 
        youth services programs. Recipients of grants under this part 
        shall cooperate with Federal data collection efforts and with 
        triennial on-site monitoring activities.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 381(a) (42 U.S.C. 5715(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``runaway and homeless youth centers that are funded under 
        parts A, B, C, D, and E'' and inserting ``programs funded under 
        this title'';
            (2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``centers funded under 
        part A'' and inserting ``short-term services programs described 
        in section 312(a)(1)(A)''; and
            (3) in paragraph (2), by striking ``centers funded under 
        part B'' and inserting ``long-term residential service programs 
        described in section 312(a)(1)(B)''.

SEC. 11. REPEAL OF ANNUAL PRIORITIES REQUIREMENT.

    Section 384 (42 U.S.C. 5732) is repealed.

SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Appropriations Authorized.--Section 385(a)(1) (42 U.S.C. 
5751(a)(1)) is amended by striking all that follows ``to carry out this 
title'' and inserting ``$69 million for fiscal year 1997, and such sums 
as necessary for each of fiscal years 1998 through 2001.''.
    (b) Funds for Runaway Hotline.--Section 385(a)(3) (42 U.S.C. 
5751(a)(3)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``such sums as necessary'' after ``shall 
        reserve''; and
            (2) by striking all that follows ``section 331'' and 
        inserting a period.
    (b) Elimination of Separate Earmarks.--Paragraphs (4) and (5) of 
subsection (a), and subsections (b) and (c), of section 385 (42 U.S.C. 
5751) are repealed.
    (c) Subsections (d) and (e) are redesignated as subsections (b) and 
(c).

SEC. 13. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Section 311(b)(2) (42 U.S.C. 5711(b)(2)) is amended by striking 
``the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands,''.
    (b) Section 314 (42 U.S.C. 5714) is amended by striking ``runaway 
and homeless youth center'' and inserting ``comprehensive runaway and 
homeless youth services program''.
    (c) Part B (42 U.S.C. 5714-1 et seq.) is repealed.
    (d) Section 343(b)(7) (42 U.S.C. 5714-23(b)(7)) is amended by 
striking ``runaway and homeless youth centers'' and inserting 
``comprehensive runaway and homeless youth services programs''.
    (e) Section 371 is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ``runaway and homeless youth centers and transitional 
living youth projects'' and inserting ``runaway and homeless youth 
services programs under section 312''.
    (f) Section 385(b) (42 U.S.C. 5751(b)), as redesignated by section 
10 of this Act, is amended by striking ``Office of Youth Development'' 
and inserting ``Administration for Children and Families''.