I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4975 
To establish a grant to provide mental and behavioral health services and 
diversion programs to at-risk youth, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 27, 2023 
Mr. CA´RDENAS (for himself, Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE, Mr. TRONE, Ms. NORTON, 
Ms. ROSS, and Mr. ESPAILLAT) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To establish a grant to provide mental and behavioral health 
services and diversion programs to at-risk youth, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Eliminating Debtor’s 
Prison for Kids Act of 2023’’. 
SEC. 2. YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND DIVERSION PRO-
GRAM GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:15 Aug 18, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4975.IH
H4975
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
General shall carry out a program under which the Attor-
ney General makes grants to eligible States for the pur-
pose of providing evidence-based and trauma-informed 
mental and behavioral health services to at-risk youth, in-
cluding juveniles in secure detention or correctional facili-
ties in the State, and for implementing pre and post-adju-
dication diversion programs for at-risk youth to limit their 
involvement in the juvenile system. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, a State shall— 
(1) certify to the Attorney General that the 
laws of the State prohibit an adjudicated youth or 
a parent or guardian of such a juvenile from being 
ordered to pay probation supervision fees or court 
administrative fees, including the cost of court-ap-
pointed attorneys or public defenders, the cost of 
prosecution, or other administrative costs of the 
court; 
(2) certify to the Attorney General that the 
laws of the State prohibit a parent or guardian of 
an adjudicated youth from paying child support or 
other costs for detention or post-adjudication place-
ment to the State; and 
(3) submit to the Attorney General an applica-
tion at such time, in such manner, and containing 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:15 Aug 18, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4975.IH
H4975
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
such information as the Attorney General may re-
quire. 
(c) USE OF FUNDS.—A State that receives a grant 
under this section shall use the grant to provide evidence- 
based and trauma-informed mental and behavioral health 
services to at-risk youth, including juveniles in secure de-
tention or correctional facilities in the State, to implement 
pre- and post-adjudication diversion programs. 
(d) CONTRACTS AND SUBGRANTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—A State may, in using a 
grant under this section for purposes authorized by 
subsection (c), use all or a portion of that grant to 
contract with or make one or more subgrants to one 
or more units of local government. 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.—An entity that receives a 
contract or a subgrant under this subsection may 
use such funds to provide services or benefits de-
scribed under subsection (c). 
(e) INFORMATION FOR REPORT.—A State that re-
ceives a grant under this section shall provide to an inde-
pendent criminal justice organization, selected by the At-
torney General, such information as is necessary to com-
plete the report described in section 3. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:15 Aug 18, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4975.IH
H4975
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL REPORT. 
(a) INDEPENDENT REPORT.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, an inde-
pendent criminal justice organization, selected by the At-
torney General, shall submit to the Committee on the Ju-
diciary of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary of the Senate a national report 
on fines and fees imposed on adults and juveniles in the 
criminal justice system, including— 
(1) information with respect to the monetary 
amount of fines and fees imposed, including the 
race, ethnicity, tribal affiliation, and other demo-
graphic data of the individuals upon whom such 
fines and fees are imposed and the rate at which in-
dividuals are reincarcerated within 1 year of release 
from a secure detention facility or a secure correc-
tional facility; 
(2) a description of each type of service for 
which a fee is imposed; 
(3) a description of each type of charge for 
which a fine is imposed; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:15 Aug 18, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4975.IH
H4975
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB