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[110th Congress Public Law 378]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]

[DOCID: f:publ378.110]

[[Page 4067]]

                          RECONNECTING HOMELESS

                            YOUTH ACT OF 2008

[[Page 122 STAT. 4068]]

Public Law 110-378
110th Congress

                                 An Act

 
To amend the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations, 
      and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Oct. 8, 2008 -  [S. 2982]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Reconnecting 
Homeless Youth Act of 2008.>> 
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 42 USC 5601 note.>> 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) <<NOTE: Allotment.>> 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) <<NOTE: Reallotment.>> 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

[[Page 122 STAT. 4069]]

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

[[Page 122 STAT. 4070]]

                          (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. <<NOTE: 42 USC 5714-25.>> PERIODIC ESTIMATE OF 
                        INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE OF YOUTH 
                        HOMELESSNESS.

    ``(a) Periodic Estimate.--Not <<NOTE: Deadline. Public 
information. Reports.>> 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;

[[Page 122 STAT. 4071]]

                          ``(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. <<NOTE: 42 USC 5732-1.>> PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

    ``(a) Establishment of 
Performance <<NOTE: Deadline. Regulations.>> 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;

[[Page 122 STAT. 4072]]

                    (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

[[Page 122 STAT. 4073]]

                                    ``(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

[[Page 122 STAT. 4074]]

                ``$25,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may 
                be necessary for fiscal years 2010, 2011, 2012, and 
                2013''.

    Approved October 8, 2008.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2982 (H.R. 5524):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 154 (2008):
            Sept. 25, considered and passed Senate.
            Sept. 26, considered and passed House.

                                  <all>
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