I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 706
To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to promote secure 
and healthy families under the temporary assistance to needy families 
program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 11, 2003
Mr. STARK (for himself, Ms. WATSON, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. MCDERMOTT, and 
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act 
to promote secure and healthy families under the tem-
porary assistance to needy families program, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Building Secure and Healthy Families Act of 2003’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Promoting secure and healthy families fund. 
Sec. 3. Equitable treatment for all families. 
Sec. 4. Improvement of addressing the needs of teen parents. 
Sec. 5. Ensuring safety and self-sufficiency for all TANF recipients. 
Sec. 6. Caring for a child or other relative. 
Sec. 7. Elimination of full-family sanctions. 
Sec. 8. Effective date.
SEC. 2. PROMOTING SECURE AND HEALTHY FAMILIES 
FUND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 403(a)(2) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(2) GRANTS TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT SE-
CURE FAMILIES.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
provide grants to States and localities for re-
search, technical assistance, replication, and ad-
aptation of rigorously evaluated programs, and 
demonstration programs which are evaluated by 
independent entities in accordance with gen-
erally accepted evaluation criteria and methods 
(including, to the maximum extent feasible, ran-
dom assignment to service recipient and control 
groups) established by the Secretary in the fol-
lowing areas: 
‘‘(i) 
Encouraging 
secure 
families 
through programs designed to strengthen 
families through different approaches to 
income enhancement (including programs
that replicate or adapt the demonstration 
program known as the ‘Minnesota Family 
Investment Program’). 
‘‘(ii) Providing education, opportunity, 
and support to teens to reduce first and 
subsequent pregnancies. 
‘‘(iii) Increasing the ability of low-in-
come parents to financially and emotionally 
support their children by securing and 
maintaining employment and child care, 
fulfilling other basic needs such as hous-
ing, hunger, and health care, paying child 
support, and caring for their children inde-
pendently or in the context of mutually re-
spectful, non-violent, and voluntary co-par-
enting relationships. 
‘‘(B) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.—
‘‘(i) GRANTS
IN
EACH
AREA.—In 
making grants under this paragraph, the 
Secretary shall ensure that not less than 
30 percent of the funds made available 
pursuant to this paragraph for a fiscal 
year are used in each of the areas de-
scribed in subparagraph (A).
‘‘(ii) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.—The 
Secretary may reserve an amount equal to 
up to 5 percent of the funds appropriated 
under subparagraph (F) for a fiscal year 
to provide technical assistance and to con-
duct research through the Office of the 
Secretary regarding the grants made under 
this paragraph. 
‘‘(C) GRANTEE REQUIREMENTS.—An enti-
ty receiving a grant under this paragraph 
shall—
‘‘(i) consult and coordinate with do-
mestic or sexual violence experts and child 
advocates in developing project policies, 
procedures, and training necessary to ap-
propriately address domestic or sexual vio-
lence and child abuse; 
‘‘(ii) provide notice to individuals, 
orally and in writing, that participation in 
a program or activity funded under a grant 
made under this paragraph is voluntary 
and that nonparticipation will not affect 
the individual’s eligibility for assistance or 
services under needs-based assistance pro-
grams;
criteria for selecting proposals to be funded 
with grants made under this paragraph. Such 
criteria shall include, at a minimum, the re-
quirements specified in subparagraph (C) and 
this subparagraph, including criteria that—
‘‘(i) set forth a grant review process 
that—
‘‘(I) includes independent ex-
perts, including individuals receiving, 
or who have ceased to receive, assist-
ance under the State program funded 
under this part and individuals with 
expertise in programs for low-income 
families, programs for low-income fa-
thers who are participants in a pro-
gram funded under this part, pro-
grams addressing teen pregnancy pre-
vention, programs addressing teen 
parenting or youth development, pro-
grams addressing domestic or sexual 
violence, research related to such pro-
grams, or the administration of such 
programs; and 
‘‘(II) provides that an individual 
shall not be involved in the grant se-
lection process if such involvement 
would pose a conflict of interest for 
the individual; 
‘‘(ii) specify grantee qualifications and 
requirements, 
including 
requirements 
that—
‘‘(I) grant applications contain fi-
nancial information, including a copy 
of the applicant’s most recent audit 
report; and 
‘‘(II) grantees agree to maintain 
such records, make such reports, and 
cooperate with such reviews or audits 
as the Secretary may find necessary 
for purposes of oversight of project 
activities and expenditures; 
‘‘(iii) require grant projects funded 
under clause (i) or (iii) of subparagraph 
(A) to predominantly direct resources to 
activities serving low-income individuals or 
groups in low-income communities, cou-
ples, or families; and 
‘‘(iv) specify that proposals which seek 
to replicate or adapt teen pregnancy pre-
vention programs that have been rigorously
evaluated and shown to be successful and 
that provide young women who become 
pregnant with information about resources 
and opportunities that are available to 
them, including the laws prohibiting dis-
crimination against pregnancy in education 
and employment, will be given priority 
within the allocation made available for 
such projects. 
‘‘(E) EVALUATION.—
‘‘(i) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall 
contract with independent entities to evalu-
ate the effectiveness of projects funded 
under grants made by this paragraph. 
Such evaluations shall—
‘‘(I) include, to the maximum ex-
tent feasible, random assignment of 
clients to service delivery and control 
groups and other appropriate com-
parisons of groups of individuals re-
ceiving and not receiving services; 
‘‘(II) describe and measure the 
effectiveness of the projects in achiev-
ing their specific project goals; and
‘‘(III) describe and assess, as ap-
propriate, the impact of such projects 
on marriage, parenting, domestic or 
sexual violence, employment and earn-
ings, payment of child support, child 
well-being, health, and education. 
‘‘(ii) REPORTS.—
‘‘(I) ANNUAL
DESCRIPTION
OF 
USE
OF
FUNDS.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of 
the Building Secure and Healthy 
Families Act of 2003 and annually 
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit 
a report to Congress describing the 
uses of the funds awarded under this 
paragraph. 
‘‘(II) EVALUATION.—Not later 
than January 1, 2007, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report 
evaluating the effectiveness of pro-
grams funded under grants made 
under this section. 
‘‘(III) PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY.—
The Secretary shall ensure that all re-
ports submitted to Congress in ac-
cordance with this clause are publicly 
available. 
‘‘(iii) FUNDING.—Of the amount ap-
propriated under subparagraph (F) for a 
fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve an 
amount equal to 5 percent of such amount 
for each such fiscal year for the purpose of 
carrying out the evaluations required 
under this subparagraph. 
‘‘(F) APPROPRIATION.—Out of any money 
in the Treasury of the United States not other-
wise appropriated, there are appropriated for 
each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008, 
$100,000,000 for grants under this para-
graph.’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
402(a)(1)(A)(v) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
602(a)(1)(A)(v)) is amended by striking ‘‘, and establish 
numerical goals for reducing the illegitimacy ratio of the
State (as defined in section 403(a)(2)(C)(iii)) for calendar 
years 1996 through 2005’’. 
SEC. 3. EQUITABLE TREATMENT FOR ALL FAMILIES. 
Section 408(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
608(a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(12) NONDISCRIMINATION.—A State to which 
a grant is made under section 403 shall not dis-
criminate among needy families based on marital 
status or family structure and shall not condition as-
sistance upon participation in activities or services 
funded 
under 
a 
grant 
made 
under 
section 
403(a)(2).’’. 
SEC. 4. IMPROVEMENT OF ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF 
TEEN PARENTS. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO TEEN-
AGE PARENTS IN ORDER FOR THE PARENTS TO COMPLY 
WITH PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—Section 408(a) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (4)—
(A) by striking ‘‘A State’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), a State’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘participate in’’ and all 
that follows through the period and inserting 
‘‘participate in educational activities directed 
toward the attainment of a high school diploma 
or its equivalent or an alternative educational 
or training program that has been approved by 
the State.’’; and
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—A State may elect to 
provide assistance for a period determined by 
the State (not to exceed the greater of 90 days 
or until the educational activities in which the 
parent is enrolled begins) to assist the parent to 
come into compliance with the requirements of 
this paragraph.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (5)—
(A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking 
‘‘subparagraph (B)’’ and inserting ‘‘subpara-
graphs (B) and (C)’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), in the heading, 
by striking ‘‘EXCEPTION’’ and inserting ‘‘LO-
CATING APPROPRIATE LIVING ARRANGEMENTS’’; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) EXCEPTION.—A State may elect to 
provide assistance for a period determined by 
the State (not to exceed 90 days) to assist the 
parent to come into compliance with the re-
quirements of this paragraph.’’. 
(b) INCLUSION
OF TEEN PARENTS ATTENDING 
SCHOOL
IN
WORK
PARTICIPATION
RATES.—Section
407(c)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
607(c)(2)(C)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(C) TEEN
HEAD
OF
HOUSEHOLD
WHO 
MAINTAINS
SATISFACTORY
SCHOOL
ATTEND-
ANCE DEEMED TO BE MEETING WORK PARTICI-
PATION REQUIREMENTS.—For purposes of de-
termining monthly participation rates under 
subsection (b)(1)(B)(i)—
‘‘(i) a recipient who is a head of 
household and has not yet attained age 20 
is deemed to be engaged in work for a 
month in a fiscal year if the recipient—
‘‘(I) maintains satisfactory at-
tendance at secondary school or the 
equivalent during the month; 
‘‘(II) participates in education di-
rectly related to employment, includ-
ing vocational education and training 
for nontraditional jobs, for at least 20 
hours per week; or 
‘‘(III) participates in post-sec-
ondary education, including study 
time for not less than 1 hour, nor 
more than 2 hours, per every class
hour, for at least 20 hours per week; 
or 
‘‘(ii) a recipient who is a head of 
household is deemed to be engaged in work 
for a month in a fiscal year if the recipient 
is participating in a continuous course or 
program of education or training described 
in clause (i) that the individual began be-
fore attaining age 20.’’. 
(c) EXCLUSION FROM TIME LIMIT FOR RECEIPT OF 
ASSISTANCE.—Section 408(a)(7) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)(7)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(H) TEEN PARENTS.—In determining the 
number of months for which an individual has 
received assistance under the State program 
funded under this part, the State shall dis-
regard any month during which a head of 
household, who has not yet attained age 20, is
satisfactorily participating in a course or pro-
gram of education or training, including sec-
ondary school or its equivalent, vocational edu-
cation, or post-secondary school.’’.
(d) OPTIONS UNDER MINOR PARENT LIVING AR-
RANGEMENT.—Section 408(a)(5)(B) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)(5)(B)) is amended—
(1) by striking clause (i) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(i) PROVISION OF LIVING ARRANGE-
MENT.—In the case of an individual who is 
described in clause (ii), the State agency 
referred to in section 402(a)(4) shall pro-
vide or ensure the provision of a second 
chance home, maternity group home, tran-
sitional living youth project, or other ap-
propriate living arrangement, taking into 
consideration the needs, concerns, and re-
quests of the individual, unless the State 
agency determines that the individual’s 
current living arrangement is appropriate, 
and therefore, shall require that the indi-
vidual and the minor child referred to in 
subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) reside in such liv-
ing arrangement as a condition of the con-
tinued receipt of assistance under the 
State program funded under this part at-
tributable to funds provided by the Federal 
Government (or in an alternative appro-
priate arrangement, should circumstances 
change and the current arrangement cease 
to be appropriate).’’; 
(2) in clause (ii)—
(A) by inserting after subclause (II) the 
following: 
‘‘(III) the individual is a home-
less youth; 
‘‘(IV) the individual is a street 
youth;’’; and 
(B) by redesignating subclauses (III) and 
(IV) as subclauses (V) and (VI), respectively; 
and 
(3) by inserting after clause (ii) the following: 
‘‘(iii) DISCLOSURE
OF
LIVING
AR-
RANGEMENT
OPTIONS
TO
INDIVIDUAL.—
The State agency shall ensure that individ-
uals described in subparagraph (A)(ii) are 
fully informed of all living arrangement op-
tions that satisfy the requirement of this 
subsection, and provide the individual the 
opportunity to request a specific living ar-
rangement.’’
‘‘(iv) DETERMINATION OF LIVING AR-
RANGEMENT.—In determining the appro-
priateness of the individual’s current living 
arrangement in subparagraph (B)(i) and 
considering the individual’s request for a 
specific living arrangement in subpara-
graph (B)(iii), the State agency shall pro-
vide a written explanation of the deter-
mination, including a statement regarding 
the right to appeal the determination 
under clause (v), to the individual, if the 
determination is other than the living ar-
rangement requested by the individual. 
‘‘(v) RIGHT
TO
APPEAL
LIVING
AR-
RANGEMENT.—If the State agency’s deter-
mination of appropriate living arrangement 
in subparagraph (B)(i) is other than the 
living arrangement requested by the indi-
vidual in subparagraph (B)(iii), the indi-
vidual shall have a right to appeal the 
State agency’s decision through appeal and 
dispute resolution mechanisms available in 
the State. 
‘‘(vii) TRANSITIONAL
LIVING
YOUTH 
PROJECT.—For purposes of this section, 
the term ‘transitional youth living project’ 
has the same meaning as provided in sec-
tion 387(6) of the Juvenile Justice and 
Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974. 
‘‘(viii) HOMELESS YOUTH.—For pur-
poses of this section, the term ‘homeless 
youth’ has the same meaning as provided 
in section 387(3) of the Juvenile Justice 
and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974. 
‘‘(ix) STREET YOUTH.—For purposes 
of this section, the term ‘street youth’ has 
the same meaning as provided in section 
387(5) of the Juvenile Justice and Delin-
quency Prevention Act of 1974.’’. 
(e) REPORTS ON TEEN PREGNANCIES AND TEEN 
PARENTS.—
(1) ELIMINATION FROM SECRETARIAL REPORT 
OF OUT-OF-WEDLOCK PREGNANCIES AND INCLUSION 
OF
TEENAGE
PREGNANCIES.—Section 
411(b)(1)(B)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 611(b)(1)(B)(ii)) is amended by striking 
‘‘out-of-wedlock’’ and inserting ‘‘teenage’’. 
(2) STUDIES ON TEEN PARENTS.—Section 413 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 613) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) TEEN PARENT STUDY AND REPORT.—
‘‘(1) STUDY OF TANF RECIPIENTS.—The Sec-
retary shall conduct a study of a representative sam-
ple of recipients of assistance under State programs 
funded under this part who are parents and have 
not attained age 20 to determine the following: 
‘‘(A) Whether State data on the number of 
such recipients is accurately reflected in Fed-
eral data, including an examination of the ex-
tent to which such recipients who are members 
of a family are not reflected in the data, and 
an examination of the extent to which Federal 
estimation methods do not reflect the number 
of such recipients in a State. 
‘‘(B) What assessment procedures are uti-
lized with such recipients, and whether there 
appear to be best practices that consider such 
issues as whether the recipient has an edu-
cational barrier such as a learning disability or 
mental health problem. 
‘‘(C) Whether localities appear to have 
adequate and appropriate services that meet the
needs of such recipients in areas such as infant 
care, education, training, and mental health, for 
services such as appropriate housing, mental 
health, and alternative education, whether staff
assist teen parents in researching and locating 
such services including an appropriate living ar-
rangement, and the extent to which such recipi-
ents who have not completed high school or the 
equivalent are encouraged to engage in edu-
cation or work. 
‘‘(D) How State rules providing that, in 
determining the eligibility of such a recipient 
for such assistance, the income of the recipient 
is deemed to include the income of any parents 
with whom the recipient is living, appear to 
have affected the extent to which such a recipi-
ent is able to participate in a State program 
funded under this part. 
‘‘(E) Demographic information such as—
‘‘(i) the age of such recipients; 
‘‘(ii) the amount of time such recipi-
ents received such assistance in a given 
year; 
‘‘(iii) the number of children that 
such recipients have; 
‘‘(iv) school attainment by such recipi-
ents, by age; 
‘‘(v) the employment status of such 
recipients, such as whether a recipient has
ever worked or has worked while in school; 
and 
‘‘(vi) the child care arrangements of 
such recipients. 
‘‘(2) STUDY OF LOW-INCOME TEEN PARENTS 
WHO ARE NOT TANF RECIPIENTS.—The Secretary 
shall conduct a study of a representative sample of 
low-income (as determined by the Secretary) teen 
parents who are not recipients of assistance under a 
State program funded under this part to determine 
the following: 
‘‘(A) Whether the teen parent sought to 
apply for such assistance. 
‘‘(B) Whether a teen parent who indicated 
to a State a desire to apply for such assistance 
received an application for such assistance. 
‘‘(C) Whether a teen parent who applied 
for such assistance was subsequently contacted 
by the State agency responsible for operating a 
State program funded under this part. 
‘‘(3) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Within 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this subsection, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
that contains the findings of the study required
ments, shall conduct a multi-State study regarding 
sanctions imposed on teen parents to examine the 
nature, extent, and impact of such sanctions. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The study conducted pursu-
ant to paragraph (1) shall include information on—
‘‘(A) which rules are generating the most 
sanctions; 
‘‘(B) whether families with teen parents 
and those headed by teen parents are sanc-
tioned at rates higher than families headed by 
adults; 
‘‘(C) whether sanction policies are under-
stood by teen parents in advance of sanction; 
‘‘(D) whether sanction notice procedures 
and mechanisms for cure are understood by 
teen parents; 
‘‘(E) whether sanction notice procedures 
and mechanisms for cure are understood by 
local welfare officials; 
‘‘(F) best practices from the study sites or 
elsewhere that would help States improve their 
sanctions systems; 
‘‘(G) what is known about the impacts of 
sanctions on families with teen parents; and
‘‘(H) how a State might best collect and 
analyze local teen parent sanction data in order 
to use the data as an in-State program manage-
ment tool. 
‘‘(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 
September 30, 2005, the Secretary shall submit to 
Congress the results of the study conducted pursu-
ant to paragraph (1).’’. 
SEC. 5. ENSURING SAFETY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR 
ALL TANF RECIPIENTS. 
(a) ADDRESSING DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE 
IN THE TANF PROGRAM.—Section 402(a)(7) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(7)) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(7) CERTIFICATIONS
REGARDING
DOMESTIC 
OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE.—
‘‘(A) GENERAL
PROVISIONS.—A certifi-
cation by the chief executive officer of the State 
that the State has established and is enforcing 
standards and procedures to ensure domestic or
sexual violence is comprehensively addressed, 
and a written document outlining how the State 
will do the following: 
‘‘(i) Address the needs of applicants 
or recipients or their families who are or
have been subjected to domestic or sexual 
violence or are at risk of future such vio-
lence, including how the State will—
‘‘(I) have trained caseworkers 
identify, and, at the option of the in-
dividual, assess individuals who are or 
have been subjected to domestic or 
sexual violence or are at risk of future 
such violence; 
‘‘(II) adequately inform each in-
dividual of eligibility and program re-
quirements, confidentiality provisions, 
domestic or sexual violence services 
available within the community and 
within the program funded under this 
part, good cause exemptions modifica-
tion and waiver of program require-
ments on the basis of domestic or sex-
ual violence, benefits eligibility for im-
migrant victims of domestic or sexual 
violence, and the procedures to obtain 
such modifications, waivers, benefits, 
and services; 
‘‘(III) refer individuals who are 
or have been subjected to domestic or
sexual violence or are at risk of future 
such violence to community-based do-
mestic or sexual violence programs or 
other supportive services, modify or 
waive eligibility or program require-
ments or prohibitions to address do-
mestic or sexual violence barriers, and 
ensure such individual’s access to job 
training, 
vocational 
rehabilitation, 
child care, and other employment-re-
lated services as appropriate; 
‘‘(IV) implement procedures to 
maintain the privacy and confiden-
tiality of applicants and recipients 
identified as being or having been 
subjected to domestic or sexual vio-
lence and restrict the disclosure of 
any identifying information obtained 
through any process or procedure im-
plemented pursuant to this paragraph 
absent the individual’s written consent 
or unless otherwise required to do so 
under law; 
‘‘(V) pursuant to a determination 
of good cause, waive, without time
limit, any Federal or State eligibility 
or program requirement or prohibition 
for so long as necessary, in every case 
in which domestic or sexual violence 
has been verified for any individual or 
family receiving assistance under this 
part and the requirement makes it 
more difficult for the individual to ad-
dress, escape or recover from the vio-
lence, unfairly penalizes the indi-
vidual, or makes the individual or any 
child of the individual unsafe; and 
‘‘(VI) provide policies and proce-
dures regarding verification of past, 
present, or the risk of future domestic 
or sexual violence that are flexible and 
not unduly burdensome, including ac-
cepting any one of the following forms 
of verification: documentation from 
police, court, medical or social service 
agencies, domestic or sexual violence 
counselors or organizations or others 
who have had contact with the appli-
cant or recipient, written statements 
from third parties knowledgeable of
the individual’s circumstances, and 
signed written statements from the 
applicant or recipient. 
‘‘(ii) Coordinate or contract with 
State or tribal domestic or sexual violence 
coalitions or domestic or sexual violence 
programs in the development and imple-
mentation of standards, procedures, train-
ing, and programs required under this part 
to address domestic or sexual violence. 
‘‘(iii) Train caseworkers for recipients 
of assistance under the State program 
funded under this part in—
‘‘(I) the nature and dynamics of 
domestic or sexual violence and the 
ways in which such violence may act 
to obstruct the economic security or 
safety of the individual and any child 
of the individual;
‘‘(II) the standards, policies, and 
procedures implemented pursuant to 
this part, including the individual’s 
rights and protections, such as notice 
and confidentiality;