Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2015

To require certain standards and enforcement provisions to prevent child abuse and neglect in residential programs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2015 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Secretary The term Secretary (2) Child The term child (3) Child abuse and neglect The term child abuse and neglect 42 U.S.C. 5101 (4) Covered program (A) In general The term covered program (i) a program with a wilderness or outdoor experience, expedition, or intervention; (ii) a boot camp experience or other experience designed to simulate characteristics of basic military training or correctional regimes; (iii) a therapeutic boarding school; or (iv) a behavioral modification program. (B) Exclusion The term covered program (i) a hospital licensed by the State; or (ii) a foster family home that provides 24-hour substitute care for children placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom the State child welfare services agency has placement and care responsibility and that is licensed and regulated by the State as a foster family home. (5) Mechanical restraint The term mechanical restraint 42 U.S.C. 290jj(d)(1) (6) Physical restraint The term physical restraint 42 U.S.C. 290jj(d)(2) (7) Protection and Advocacy System The term protection and advocacy system 42 U.S.C. 15043 (8) Seclusion The term seclusion (9) State The term State 42 U.S.C. 5101 3. Standards and enforcement (a) Minimum standards (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall require each covered program, in order to provide for the basic health and safety of children at such a program, to meet the following minimum standards: (A) Prohibition on child abuse and neglect Child abuse and neglect shall be prohibited. (B) Prohibition on certain disciplinary techniques Disciplinary techniques or other practices that involve the withholding of essential food, water, clothing, shelter, or medical care necessary to maintain physical health, mental health, and general safety, shall be prohibited. (C) Prohibition on physical or mental abuse Acts of physical or mental abuse designed to humiliate, degrade, or undermine a child’s self-respect shall be prohibited. (D) Limitation on restraints and seclusion (i) The use of seclusion, mechanical restraints, and physical restraints that impair breathing or communication is prohibited. (ii) Physical restraints other than the restraints described in clause (i) may be used (if not contraindicated) only in emergency situations in which a child presents an imminent danger of harm to self or others and only after less restrictive interventions have been determined to be ineffective. (E) Access to communications Each child at such a program shall have reasonable access to a telephone, and be informed of their right to such access to maintain frequent contact, including making and receiving scheduled and unscheduled calls, unrestricted written correspondence, and electronic communications with as much privacy as possible, and shall have access to existing and appropriate national, State, and local child abuse reporting hotline numbers. (F) Staff-to-Child ratio An appropriate ratio of medical, clinical, and line staff to children, as determined by the Secretary, to ensure child safety and the efficacy of treatment. (G) Senior management Not less than one full-time licensed clinician or mental health practitioner, as defined by State law, shall be employed as a senior manager of such a program. (H) Licensed clinician Not less than one licensed clinician, as defined by State law, shall be present at all times at such a program. (I) Program Policies Policies to require— (i) parents or legal guardians of a child attending such a program to notify, in writing, such program of any medication the child is taking; (ii) a licensed full-time clinician— (I) to obtain consent from the parents or legal guardians of the child to make any change to the child’s medical treatment, except in the case of an emergency; (II) in the case of an emergency, to notify the parents or guardians within 24 hours after any change to the child’s medical treatment and the reason for such change; and (III) to notify the parents or guardians within 24 hours after any changes to the child’s prescribed medication or any missed dosage of prescribed medication, and the reason for such change or occurrence; and (iii) the covered program to notify parents or legal guardians of a child of any changes to their treating provider team within 48 hours. (J) Notification procedures Procedures for notifying immediately, to the maximum extent practicable, but not later than within 6 hours, parents or legal guardians with children at such a program and the appropriate protection and advocacy system of any— (i) on-site investigation of a report of child abuse and neglect; (ii) violation of the health and safety standards described in this paragraph; and (iii) violation of State licensing requirements. (K) Staff disclosures Full disclosure, in writing, of staff qualifications and their roles and responsibilities at such a program, including any medical, emergency response, and mental health training received by such staff, shall be given to parents or legal guardians of children at such a program. (L) Disclosure of right of action Full disclosure, in writing, of the private right of action established under subsection (b)(3) of this Act, shall be given to parents or legal guardians of children at such a program. (M) Child abuse response training Each staff member, including volunteers, at such a program shall be required, as a condition of employment, to become trained in what constitutes child abuse and neglect, State law relating to mandated reporters, and procedures for reporting child abuse and neglect in the State in which such a program is located, and information on existing and appropriate national, State, and local child abuse reporting hotline numbers. (N) Medical response training Each staff member, including volunteers, at such a program shall be required, as a condition of employment, to become trained in recognizing the signs, symptoms, and appropriate responses associated with common medical emergencies and mental health crisis, including suicide and worsening symptoms of mental illness. (O) Criminal history check (i) Each staff member, including volunteers, shall be required, as a condition of employment, to submit to a criminal history check, including a name-based search of the National Sex Offender Registry established pursuant to the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 ( 42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq. (ii) The covered program shall provide an independent process by which an applicant or staff member who is determined to be ineligible as a result of a criminal history check under clause (i) shall have the right— (I) to obtain a copy of the report resulting from the check; and (II) within 10 business days after receipt of the report, to appeal, in order to dispute the accuracy of the information obtained through the check. (P) Informational materials Full disclosure, in writing on promotional and informational materials produced by such a program, shall be given to parents or legal guardians of children at such a program, which shall include— (i) the name and location of a covered program, including the names of any owners and operators; (ii) the numbers and percentages of children who terminated participation prior to completion of that program in the past 5 years, including discharges against medical advice; (iii) any past violations of the standards under section 3(a)(1) and any penalties levied against the program as a result of such violations; (iv) its most updated status with State licensing requirements; (v) the number of deaths that occurred in that program for up to a period of 10 years, including the cause of each death; (vi) the names of owners and operators that have violated State licensing requirements; (vii) information on evidence-based or promising practices employed as treatment of a covered program, including information to aid parents in finding community-based resources; and (viii) any national, State, and local telephone hotline numbers made available to children and staff to report complaints of abuse and violations. (Q) Treatment and discharge plans Covered programs shall work with the parent or legal guardian and the child’s community providers in the development, modification, and implementation of treatment and discharge plans, including a plan for community reintegration and linkage to community-based providers and supports. (R) Prohibition on discrimination Ensure that no person shall, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability, be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity, in whole or in part, covered by this Act. (S) Evidence-based practices Ensure that covered programs employ safe, evidence-based practices, and that children are protected against harmful or fraudulent practices including isolation and restraints. (T) Other standards Any other standards the Secretary determines appropriate to provide for the basic health and safety of children at such a program. (2) Regulations (A) Interim regulations Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate and enforce interim regulations to carry out paragraph (1). (B) Public comment The Secretary shall, for a 90-day period beginning on the date of the promulgation of interim regulations under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, solicit and accept public comment concerning such regulations. Such public comment shall be submitted in written form. (C) Final regulations Not later than 90 days after the conclusion of the 90-day period referred to in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall promulgate and enforce final regulations to carry out paragraph (1). (b) Monitoring and enforcement (1) Review process Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall implement a review process for overseeing, investigating, and evaluating reports of child abuse and neglect at covered programs received by the Secretary from the appropriate State, in accordance with section 114(b)(3) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, as added by section 7 of this Act. Such review process shall— (A) include an investigation to determine if a violation of the standards required under subsection (a)(1) has occurred; and (B) include consultation and collaboration with relevant Federal and State agencies. (2) Civil penalties Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations establishing civil penalties for violations of the standards required under subsection (a)(1). The regulations establishing such penalties shall incorporate the following: (A) Amount Any owner or operator of a covered program at which the Secretary has found a violation of the standards required under subsection (a)(1) may be assessed a civil penalty not to exceed $50,000 per violation. (B) Deposit to Treasury All penalties collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the appropriate account of the Treasury of the United States. (3) Private right of action Any person who suffers injury by reason of a violation of this section may maintain a civil action against the violator to obtain appropriate compensatory damages and injunctive relief or other equitable relief. (c) Action The Secretary shall establish a process to assist States in the oversight and enforcement of this Act, which shall include— (1) assisting States in implementing oversight mechanisms to ensure compliance with the standards under subsection (a)(1); (2) maintaining oversight of covered programs in cases in which a State has not established mechanisms sufficient to ensure compliance with the standards under subsection (a)(1) within 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (3) encouraging the use of local, State, or national hotline numbers for the reporting of child abuse and any other resources the Secretary determines to be appropriate. 4. Enforcement by the Attorney General If the Secretary determines that a violation of section (3)(a)(1) has not been remedied through the enforcement process described in subsection (b)(2) of such section, the Secretary shall refer such violation to the Attorney General for appropriate action. Regardless of whether such a referral has been made, the Attorney General may, sua sponte, file a complaint in any court of competent jurisdiction seeking equitable relief or any other relief authorized by this Act for such violation. 5. Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Attorney General shall submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, a report on the activities carried out by the Secretary and the Attorney General, as authorized and mandated under this Act. 6. Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020 to carry out this Act (excluding the amendment made by section 7 of this Act). 7. Additional eligibility requirements for grants to States to prevent child abuse and neglect at residential programs (a) In general Title I of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5101 et seq. 114. Additional eligibility requirements for grants to States to prevent child abuse and neglect at residential programs (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Child The term child (2) Covered program (A) In general The term covered program (i) a program with a wilderness or outdoor experience, expedition, or intervention; (ii) a boot camp experience or other experience designed to simulate characteristics of basic military training or correctional regimes; (iii) a therapeutic boarding school; or (iv) a behavioral modification program. (B) Exclusion The term covered program (i) a hospital licensed by the State; or (ii) a foster family home that provides 24-hour substitute care for children placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom the State child welfare services agency has placement and care responsibility and that is licensed and regulated by the State as a foster family home. (b) Eligibility requirements To be eligible to receive a grant under section 106, a State shall— (1) not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, develop policies and procedures to prevent child abuse and neglect at covered programs operating in such State, including standards that meet or exceed the standards required under section 3(a)(1) of the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2015; (2) provide a private right of action under State law for any person who suffers injury by reason of a violation of the standards required under paragraph (1); (3) develop policies and procedures to enforce compliance with the requirements developed in accordance with paragraph (1), including— (A) establishing and monitoring health and safety licensing requirements applicable to and necessary for the operation of each location of such covered programs in the State; and (B) conducting unannounced site inspections at each location of a covered program; (4) develop policies and procedures for timely notification to the Secretary and the appropriate protection and advocacy system if— (A) the State determines there is evidence of a pattern of violations of the standards required under paragraph (1) at a covered program operating in the State or by an owner or operator of such a program; or (B) there is a child fatality at a covered program operating in the State; and (5) annually submit to the Secretary a report that includes all covered programs within their jurisdiction, including any violations by each program or any information deemed by the Secretary to be necessary for enforcement of this Act. (c) Oversight if the Secretary determines that the State is not satisfying the requirements of this subsection within 3 years of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide assistance to the State to satisfy such requirements or withhold funding until such policies and procedures are established. . (b) Authorization of Appropriations Section 112(a)(1) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5106h(a)(1) $120,000,000 $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020. (c) Conforming amendments (1) Coordination with available resources Section 103(c)(1)(D) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5104(c)(1)(D) specific (including reports of child abuse and neglect occurring at covered programs (except that such reports shall not contain any personally identifiable information relating to the identity of individuals who were the victims of such child abuse and neglect), as such term is defined in section 114) (2) Further requirement Section 106(b)(1) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5106a(b)(1) (D) Further requirement To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State shall comply with the requirements under section 114(b) and shall include in the State plan submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) a description of the activities the State will carry out to comply with the requirements under such section 114(b). . (3) Annual state data reports Section 106(d) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5106a(d) (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting before the period at the end the following: (including reports of child abuse and neglect occurring at covered programs (except that such reports shall not contain any personally identifiable information relating to the identity of individuals who were the victims of such child abuse and neglect), as such term is defined in section 114) (B) in paragraph (6), by inserting before the period at the end the following: or who were in the care of a covered program, as such term is defined in section 114 (d) Clerical amendment Section 1(b) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5101 Sec. 114. Additional eligibility requirements for grants to States to prevent child abuse and neglect at residential programs. .

Summary: Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2015 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to require each covered program to prohibit child abuse and neglect and meet specified minimum standards. A "covered program" is a facility of a program operated by a public or private entity that, with respect to one or more children who are unrelated to the program owner or operator, purports to provide treatment or modify behaviors in a residential environment. HHS shall: (1) implement a review process for overseeing, investigating, and evaluating reports of child abuse and neglect; and (2) establish a process to assist states in the oversight and enforcement of this Act. HHS must refer any violation of such standards to the Attorney General, who shall file a complaint on his or her own initiative regardless of whether such a referral has been made. The bill amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to establish additional eligibility requirements for grants to states to prevent child abuse and neglect at residential programs. States receiving grants must develop policies and procedures to prevent child abuse and neglect at covered programs, including standards that meet or exceed the standards required under this Act.