I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4792 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to account for the age of certain 
juvenile offenders and to amend title IV of the Social Security Act 
to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award competi-
tive grants to enhance collaboration between State child welfare and 
juvenile justice systems, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 20, 2023 
Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE (for herself, Mr. CA´RDENAS, and Ms. ROSS) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, 
and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to account for the 
age of certain juvenile offenders and to amend title IV 
of the Social Security Act to allow the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services to award competitive grants 
to enhance collaboration between State child welfare and 
juvenile justice systems, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Childhood Offenders 
Rehabilitation and Safety Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—Section 5031 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘person who’’ and inserting 
‘‘person who is at least twelve years of age that has 
not attained their’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘not attained’’ and inserting 
‘‘not attained their’’; and 
(3) by striking ‘‘committed by a person prior 
to’’ and inserting ‘‘committed by a person who has 
reached their twelfth birthday but prior to their’’. 
(b) DELINQUENCY
PROCEEDINGS
IN
DISTRICT 
COURTS; TRANSFER FOR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.—Sec-
tion 5032 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘fifteen’’ and inserting ‘‘six-
teen’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘fifteenth birthday’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘their sixteenth birthday’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘In the application of the pre-
ceding sentence, if the crime of violence is an offense 
under section 113(a), 113(b), 113(c), 1111, 1113, 
or, if the juvenile possessed a firearm during the of-
fense, section 2111, 2113, 2241(a), or 2241(c), 
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‘‘thirteen’’ shall be substituted for ‘‘fifteen’’ and 
‘‘thirteenth’’ shall be substituted for ‘‘fifteenth’’.’’; 
(4) by striking ‘‘However, a juvenile who is al-
leged to have committed an act after his sixteenth 
birthday which if committed by an adult would be a 
felony offense that has as an element thereof the 
use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical 
force against the person of another, or that, by its 
very nature, involves a substantial risk that physical 
force against the person of another may be used in 
committing the offense, or would be an offense de-
scribed in section 32, 81, 844(d), (e), (f), (h), (i) or 
2275 of this title, subsection (b)(1)(A), (B), or (C), 
(d), or (e) of section 401 of the Controlled Sub-
stances Act, or section 1002(a), 1003, 1009, or 
1010(b)(1), (2), or (3) of the Controlled Substances 
Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 952(a), 953, 
959, 960(b)(1), (2), (3)), and who has previously 
been found guilty of an act which if committed by 
an adult would have been one of the offenses set 
forth in this paragraph or an offense in violation of 
a State felony statute that would have been such an 
offense if a circumstance giving rise to Federal juris-
diction had existed, shall be transferred to the ap-
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propriate district court of the United States for 
criminal prosecution.’’; 
(5) by striking ‘‘social background of the juve-
nile’’ and inserting ‘‘social background of the juve-
nile; the juvenile’s prior exposure to adverse child-
hood experiences, childhood trauma, and involvement 
in the child welfare system;’’; 
(6) by striking ‘‘behavioral problems’’ and in-
serting ‘‘juvenile’s behavioral problems; the rehabili-
tative potential of the juvenile within the juvenile 
system; and the best interest of the child’’; 
(7) by striking ‘‘leadership role’’ and inserting 
‘‘juvenile’s level of participation in the offense’’; 
(8) by striking ‘‘in an organization, or other-
wise influenced other persons to take part in crimi-
nal activities, involving the use or distribution of 
controlled substances or firearms. Such a factor, if 
found to exist, shall weigh in favor of a transfer to 
adult status, but the absence of this factor shall not 
preclude such a transfer’’; 
(9) by striking ‘‘juvenile, his parents’’ and in-
serting ‘‘juvenile, their parents’’; and 
(10) by striking ‘‘custodian and to his counsel’’ 
and ‘‘custodian and to their counsel’’. 
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(c) COMMITMENT.—Section 5039 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or correctional institution in 
which he has regular contact with adults incarcer-
ated because they have been convicted of a crime or 
are awaiting trial on criminal charges’’ and inserting 
‘‘, correctional institution, or prison’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘near’’ and insert ‘‘near their’’. 
(d) MURDER.—Section 1111 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(d) A person who was under the age of 18 at the 
time of the perpetration or attempted perpetration of a 
crime listed under subsection (a) in which the death of 
a human being occurs is liable for murder only if one of 
the following is proven: 
‘‘(1) the person who intentionally or knowingly 
causes the death of another person; or 
‘‘(2) the person was not the actual killer, but, 
with the intent to kill, aided, abetted, counseled, 
commanded, induced, solicited, requested, or assisted 
the actual killer in the commission of the unlawful 
killing of another human being. 
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‘‘ ‘A person who is not liable for murder under subsection 
(a) shall be sentenced in accordance with the crime they 
committed or attempted to commit.’.’’. 
SEC. 3. STATISTICS, DATA, AND RESEARCH ON INCARCER-
ATED CHILDREN AND PERSONS CONVICTED 
OF CRIMES AS CHILDREN. 
(a) COMPREHENSIVE STATISTICAL REVIEW.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Bu-
reau of Justice Statistics of the Department of Jus-
tice (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Bureau’’) 
shall publish, for each calendar year, a comprehen-
sive statistical review and analysis of children under 
eighteen years of age who are subject to adjudica-
tion, prosecution, and incarceration by the Federal 
Government. The statistical review and analysis 
shall include the following: 
(A) The number of children adjudicated 
delinquent in the calendar year and the offenses 
they were adjudicated for. 
(B) The number of children transferred to 
district court for criminal prosecution in the 
calendar year and the offenses they were 
charged with. 
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(C) The number of children convicted in 
district court in the calendar year and the of-
fenses they were convicted of. 
(D) The average age of the children at the 
time of the commission of the offense. 
(E) The age of the child at the time of ad-
judication or conviction. 
(F) Demographic information, including 
race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, gender, 
sex, and gender identity of each child. 
(G) The number of children in Federal 
custody who are being detained, housed, or in-
carcerated more than 100 miles from the juris-
diction where they were adjudicated or con-
victed in. 
(H) The length of time or sentence each 
child in Federal custody has been ordered to 
serve for their corresponding offense. 
(I) The number of people incarcerated in 
Federal custody for crimes they committed as 
children. 
(J) Demographic information, including 
race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, gender, 
sex, gender identity, current age, as well as age 
at the time of the offense for each person who 
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is currently incarcerated in Federal custody for 
crimes they committed as children. 
(K) The number of people in Federal cus-
tody for crimes they committed as children who 
are incarcerated more than 100 miles from the 
jurisdiction they were adjudicated or convicted 
in. 
(L) The offense and corresponding sen-
tence each person in Federal custody is serving 
for the crime they committed as a child. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORITY TO AWARD COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO 
ENHANCE COLLABORATION BETWEEN STATE 
CHILD WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE 
SYSTEMS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Childhood Outcomes Need New Efficient Community 
Teams Act’’ or the ‘‘CONNECT Act’’. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—Section 436 of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 629f) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) AUTHORITY TO AWARD GRANTS TO STATES TO 
ENHANCE
COLLABORATION
BETWEEN
STATE
CHILD 
WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS.— 
‘‘(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the subsection 
is to authorize the Secretary to make grants to State 
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child welfare and juvenile justice agencies to collabo-
rate in the collection of data relating to children ex-
cluded from juvenile adjudication by age (under age 
of 12 and over the age of 15 years old), child sur-
vivors of commercial sexual exploitation, dual status 
youth (children in both foster care and juvenile jus-
tice systems), and cross over children (children that 
cross between the foster care and juvenile justice 
systems) and to develop practices, policies, and pro-
tocols to confront the challenges presented and expe-
rienced by these children and their families. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY TO AWARD GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
award competitive grants jointly to a State 
child welfare agency and a State juvenile justice 
agency to facilitate or enhance collaboration be-
tween the child welfare and juvenile justice sys-
tems of the State in order to carry out pro-
grams to address the needs of children includ-
ing those excluded from juvenile adjudication by 
age (under age of 12 and over the age of 15 
years old), child survivors of commercial sexual 
exploitation, dual status youth (children in both 
foster care and juvenile justice systems), and 
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cross over children (children that cross between 
the foster care and juvenile justice systems). 
‘‘(B) 
FUNDING.—Any 
grants 
awarded 
under this subsection shall be awarded from the 
amounts made available under subsection (a) of 
this section, after the application of subsection 
(b) of this section and before the determination 
of allotments under section 433. 
‘‘(C) LENGTH OF GRANTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A grant shall be 
awarded under this subsection for a period 
of not less than 2, and not more than 5, 
fiscal years, subject to clause (ii). 
‘‘(ii) EXTENSION OF GRANT.—On ap-
plication of the grantee, the Secretary may 
extend for not more than 2 fiscal years the 
period for which a grant is awarded under 
this subsection. 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) APPLICATION.—In order for a State 
to be eligible for a grant under this subsection, 
it shall submit an application, to be approved 
by the Secretary, that includes— 
‘‘(i) a description of the proposed 
leadership collaboration group (including 
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the membership of such group), and how 
such group will manage and oversee a re-
view and analysis of current practices while 
working to jointly address enhanced prac-
tices to improve outcomes for children ex-
cluded from juvenile adjudication by age 
(under age of 12 and over the age of 15 
years old), child survivors of commercial 
sexual exploitation, dual status youth (chil-
dren in both foster care and juvenile jus-
tice systems), and cross over children (chil-
dren that cross between the foster care and 
juvenile justice systems); 
‘‘(ii) a description of how the State 
proposes to— 
‘‘(I) identify any eligible children; 
‘‘(II) identify individuals who are 
at risk of becoming eligible children; 
‘‘(III) identify common charac-
teristics shared by any eligible chil-
dren in the State; and 
‘‘(IV) determine the prevalence of 
children excluded from juvenile adju-
dication by age (under age of 12 and 
over the age of 15 years old), child 
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survivors of commercial sexual exploi-
tation, dual status youth (children in 
both foster care and juvenile justice 
systems), and cross over children 
(children that cross between the foster 
care and juvenile justice systems) in 
the State; 
‘‘(iii) a description of current and pro-
posed practices and procedures that the 
State intends to use to— 
‘‘(I) screen and assess children 
excluded from juvenile adjudication by 
age (under age of 12 and over the age 
of 15 years old), child survivors of 
commercial sexual exploitation, dual 
status youth (children in both foster 
care and juvenile justice systems), and 
cross over children (children that 
cross between the foster care and ju-
venile justice systems) for risks and 
treatment needs; 
‘‘(II) provide targeted and evi-
dence-based services, including edu-
cational, behavioral health, and pro- 
social treatment interventions for chil-
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dren excluded from juvenile adjudica-
tion by age (under age of 12 and over 
the age of 15 years old), child sur-
vivors of commercial sexual exploi-
tation, dual status youth (children in 
both foster care and juvenile justice 
systems), and cross over children 
(children that cross between the foster 
care and juvenile justice systems); and 
‘‘(III) provide for a lawful proc-
ess to enhance or ensure the abilities 
of the State and any relevant agencies 
to share information and data about 
children excluded from juvenile adju-
dication by age (under age of 12 and 
over the age of 15 years old), child 
survivors of commercial sexual exploi-
tation, dual status youth (children in 
both foster care and juvenile justice 
systems), and cross over children 
(children that cross between the foster 
care and juvenile justice systems) 
while maintaining confidentiality and 
privacy protections under State and 
Federal law; and 
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‘‘(iv) a certification that the State has 
involved local governments, including tribal 
governments, as appropriate, in the devel-
opment, expansion, modification, operation, 
or improvement of proposed policy and 
practice reforms to address the needs of 
children excluded from juvenile adjudica-
tion by age (under age of 12 and over the 
age of 15 years old), child survivors of 
commercial sexual exploitation, dual status 
youth (children in both foster care and ju-
venile justice systems), and cross over chil-
dren (children that cross between the fos-
ter care and juvenile justice systems). 
‘‘(B) NO
SUPPLANTATION
OF
OTHER 
FUNDS.—Any amounts paid to a State under a 
grant under this subsection shall be used to 
supplement and not supplant other State ex-
penditures on any eligible children involved with 
either the child welfare or juvenile justice sys-
tems. 
‘‘(C) REPORT.—A State child welfare 
agency and a State juvenile justice agency re-
ceiving a grant under this subsection shall 
jointly submit to the Secretary and to the Ad-
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ministrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice 
and Delinquency Prevention of the Department 
of Justice and the Administration for Children 
and Families of the Department of Health and 
Human Services a report on the activities car-
ried out under the grant at the end of each fis-
cal year during the period of the grant. Such 
report shall include— 
‘‘(i) a description of the scope and na-
ture of the children excluded from juvenile 
adjudication by age (under age of 12 and 
over the age of 15 years old), child sur-
vivors of commercial sexual exploitation, 
dual status youth (children in both foster 
care and juvenile justice systems), and 
cross over children (children that cross be-
tween the foster care and juvenile justice 
systems) in the State, including the num-
ber of dual status youth; 
‘‘(ii) a description of the evidence- 
based practices and procedures used by the 
agencies to carry out the activities de-
scribed in subclauses (I) through (III) of 
subparagraph (A)(iii); and 
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‘‘(iii) an analysis of the effects of such 
practices and procedures, including infor-
mation regarding— 
‘‘(I) the collection of data related 
to individual children; 
‘‘(II) aggregate data related to 
the eligible children population, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(aa) characteristics of chil-
dren excluded from juvenile adju-
dication by age (under age of 12 
and over the age of 15 years old), 
child survivors of commercial sex-
ual 
exploitation, 
dual 
status 
youth (children in both foster 
care and juvenile justice sys-
tems), and cross over children 
(children that cross between the 
foster care and juvenile justice 
systems) in the State; 
‘‘(bb) 
case 
processing 
timelines; and 
‘‘(cc) information related to 
case management, the provision 
of targeted services, and place-
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ments within the foster care or 
juvenile justice system; and 
‘‘(III) the extent to which such 
practices and procedures have contrib-
uted to— 
‘‘(aa) higher educational at-
tainment for any eligible chil-
dren; 
‘‘(bb) fewer delinquency re-
ferrals for children excluded from 
juvenile 
adjudication 
by 
age 
(under age of 12 and over the 
age of 15 years old), child sur-
vivors of commercial sexual ex-
ploitation, 
dual 
status 
youth 
(children in both foster care and 
juvenile justice systems), and 
cross over children (children that 
cross between the foster care and 
juvenile justice systems); 
‘‘(cc) shorter stays in inten-
sive restrictive placements for 
children excluded from juvenile 
adjudication by age (under age of 
12 and over the age of 15 years 
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program, developed in consultation with organiza-
tions and agencies with subject matter expertise, of 
training and technical assistance to assist the agen-
cies in developing programs and protocols— 
‘‘(A) to facilitate or enhance collaboration 
between State child welfare agencies and State 
juvenile justice agencies; and 
‘‘(B) for effectively working with Federal 
agencies and child welfare and juvenile justice 
agencies from other States. 
‘‘(5) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this subsection, and every 3 
years thereafter, the Secretary and the Attorney 
General of the Department of Justice shall jointly 
submit to the Committee on Finance and the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means and the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce of the House of Rep-
resentatives, a report on the grants provided under 
this subsection. 
‘‘(6) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) 
COMMERCIAL
SEXUAL
EXPLOI-
TATION.—The term ‘commercial sexual exploi-
tation’ means crimes and activities involving the 
sexual abuse or exploitation of a person under 
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age 18 for the financial benefit of any person 
or in exchange for anything of value, including 
monetary and non-monetary benefits, given or 
received by any person. 
‘‘(B) DUAL
STATUS
YOUTH.—The term 
‘dual status youth’ means a child who has come 
into contact with both the child welfare and ju-
venile justice systems and occupies various 
statuses in terms of the individual’s relationship 
to such systems. 
‘‘(C) 
LEADERSHIP
COLLABORATION 
GROUP.—The term ‘leadership collaboration 
group’ means a group composed of senior offi-
cials from the State child welfare agency, the 
State juvenile justice agency, and other relevant 
youth and family-serving public agencies and 
private organizations, including tribal nations, 
and to the extent practicable, representatives 
from the State judiciary branch. 
‘‘(D) STATE
JUVENILE
JUSTICE
AGEN-
CY.—The term ‘State juvenile justice agency’ 
means the agency of the State or Indian tribe 
responsible for administering grant funds 
awarded under the Juvenile Justice and Delin-
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quency Prevention Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 
5601 et seq.). 
‘‘(E) STATE CHILD WELFARE AGENCY.— 
The term ‘State child welfare agency’ means 
the State agency responsible for administering 
the program under subpart 1, or in the case of 
a tribal organization operating a direct Title 
IV–B (SSA) program or a Title IV–B-funded 
program through tribal-State agreement, or 
that is receiving payments under section 428, 
the tribal agency responsible for administering 
such program.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Subsections (b) 
and (c) of section 433 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 633) are 
each amended by striking ‘‘section 436(b)’’ and inserting 
‘‘subsections (b) and (c) of section 436’’. 
Æ 
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