A bill to amend the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations, and for other purposes.

Summary: Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to revise requirements for services provided under grants from the Secretary of Health and Human Services for centers for runaway and homeless youth and their families. Limits the length of stay in such a center to 21 days.

Increases grant minimum allotments from $100,000 to $200,000 for states and from $45,000 to $70,000 for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Prohibits the allotted amounts for a state for FY2009-FY2010 from being less than the allotted amount for FY2008.

Requires the plan proposed by grant applicants for a runaway and homeless youth center to include an adequate emergency preparedness and management plan.

(Sec. 4) Revises requirements for transitional living programs. Specifies that shelter and services may be provided by grant, agreement, or contract (currently, directly or indirectly) to homeless youth.

Increases the maximum length of continuous stay in such programs from 540 days to 635 days, if a youth would benefit to an usual extent from additional time in the program.

Requires a transitional living program also to develop an adequate emergency preparedness and management plan.

(Sec. 5) Requires the Secretary to give priority (currently, special consideration) to grant applicants for specified research, evaluation, demonstration, and service projects regarding runaway youth and homeless youth.

Requires the Secretary to give special consideration to proposed projects relating to: (1) behavior (currently, mental) health care for runaway and homeless youth; (2) 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 equivalent), or increasing placement and retention in postsecondary education or advanced workforce training programs; and (3) programs, including innovative programs, that assist youth in obtaining and maintaining safe and stable housing (which may include programs with supportive services that continue after the youth completes the remainder of the programs).

Requires the Secretary to ensure that selected grant applicants: (1) represent diverse U.S. geographic regions; and (2) carry out projects that serve diverse populations of runaway or homeless youth.

(Sec. 6) Requires the Secretary to report periodically to specified congressional committees and the public: (1) estimates of the incidence and prevalence of runaway and homeless individuals between 13 to 26 years of age; and (2) an assessment of such individual's characteristics.

(Sec. 7) Requires the Secretary to give priority to public and, as under current law, nonprofit private agencies for sexual abuse prevention programs.

(Sec. 8) Requires the Secretary to establish performance standards for grant recipients.

(Sec. 9) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to specified congressional committees on the processes for making grants under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act.

(Sec. 10) Redefines "homeless youth" to cover an individual seeking shelter in a runaway and homeless center who is less than a maximum age higher than 18, if the center is located in a state or locality with a child or youth-serving-facility licensure law or regulation that permits a higher maximum age.

Allows a homeless youth to participate in a transitional living program up to age 22, as of the expiration of the maximum stay permitted, if the individual commences such stay before attaining age 22.

Defines "runaway youth" as an individual under age 18 who absents himself or herself from home or place of legal residence without the permission of parents or legal guardians.

(Sec. 13) Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013.

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
        (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'';
            (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''.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.