SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reconnecting Home-
less 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) inserting after paragraph (2) the following: 
‘‘(3) services to such young people should be de-
veloped and provided using a positive youth develop-
ment approach that ensures the 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 relation-
ships;’’. 
SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR CENTERS AND SERVICES. 
Section 311 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5711) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(B)(i) by inserting be-
fore the semicolon the following:
‘‘provided for a continuous period not to 
exceed 15 days, except that such shelter 
may be provided for a continuous period 
not to exceed 21 days if the State where 
the center is located has an applicable 
State or local law or regulation that per-
mits a length of stay in excess of such 15 
days in compliance with licensure require-
ments for child and youth serving facili-
ties’’, 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘The’’ and inserting 
‘‘(A) Except as provided in subparagraph 
(B) and to the extent that sufficient funds 
are available, the’’, 
(ii) by striking ‘‘$100,000’’ and in-
serting ‘‘$150,000’’, 
(iii) by striking ‘‘$45,000’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘$70,000’’, and 
(iv) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) 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 alotted with respect to such State for fiscal 
year 2008.’’, 
(B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (4), and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following: 
‘‘(3) Whenever the Secretary determines that 
any part of the amount allotted under paragraph (1) 
with respect to a State will not be obligated before 
the end of the fiscal year, the Secretary shall reallot 
such part under paragraph (1) with respect to the 
remaining States for obligation for such fiscal 
year.’’. 
SEC. 4. BASIC CENTER GRANT PROGRAM 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 at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’, and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(13) shall develop an adequate emergency pre-
paredness and management plan.’’.
SEC. 5. TRANSITIONAL LIVING GRANT PROGRAM ELIGI-
BILITY. 
Section 322(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Act (42 U.S.C. 2714-2(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘indirectly’’ the 1st place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘by contract’’, and 
(B) by striking ‘‘and services’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘, and to provide, directly or indirectly, 
services’’, 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘except that a youth’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘except that in the case of— 
‘‘(i) a youth’’, 
(B) by inserting ‘‘such youth may’’ after 
‘‘program,’’, and 
(C) by striking ‘‘period;’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘period; and 
‘‘(ii) a program that is located in a 
State that has an applicable State or local 
law or regulation that permits a length of 
stay in excess of such 540-day period in 
compliance with licensure requirements for 
child and youth serving facilities, a youth
may remain in such program throughout a 
continuous period not to exceed 635 
days;’’, 
(3) in paragraph (14) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end, 
(4) in paragraph (15) by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’, and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(16) to develop an adequate emergency pre-
paredness and management plan.’’. 
SEC. 6. 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)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘special consideration’’ 
and inserting ‘‘priority’’, and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘relating to’’ and in-
serting ‘‘focused on’’, 
(B) in paragraph (8)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘quality’’ after ‘‘ac-
cess to’’,
‘‘(A) are geographically representative of 
different regions of the United States; and 
‘‘(B) carry out projects that serve diverse 
populations of runaway or homeless youth.’’. 
SEC. 7. ESTIMATE OF INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE OF 
YOUTH HOMELESSNESS. 
Part D of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
U.S.C. 5714-21–5714-24) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 345. PERIODIC ESTIMATE OF INCIDENCE AND PREVA-
LENCE OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS. 
‘‘(a) PERIODIC ESTIMATE.—Not later than 2 years 
after the effective date of this section, and at 5-year inter-
vals thereafter, the Secretary, in coordination 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 Judiciary of the Senate, and make public, a report— 
‘‘(1) by using the best quantitative and quali-
tative social science research method available, con-
taining an estimate of the incidence and prevalence 
of runaway and homeless individuals who are less 
than 26 years of age and not less than 13 years of 
age; and
‘‘(2) that includes with such estimate an assess-
ment 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 less than 
26 years of age and not less than 13 years of age, 
to determine past and current— 
‘‘(A) socioeconomic characteristics of such 
individuals; 
‘‘(B) barriers to such individuals obtain-
ing— 
‘‘(i) safe, quality, and affordable hous-
ing; 
‘‘(ii) comprehensive and affordable 
health insurance and health services; and 
‘‘(iii) incomes, public benefits, sup-
portive services, and connections to caring 
adults; and 
‘‘(C) such other information that the Sec-
retary determines, in consultation with States, 
units of local government, and national non-
governmental 
organizations 
concerned 
with 
homelessness, may be useful.
‘‘(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—If the Secretary enters into 
any contract with a non-Federal entity for purposes of car-
rying out subsection (a), such entity shall be a nongovern-
mental organization, or an individual, determined by the 
Secretary to have appropriate expertise in quantitative 
and qualitative social science research.’’. 
SEC. 8. 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. 9. NATIONAL HOMELESS YOUTH AWARENESS CAM-
PAIGN. 
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5701 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating part F as part G, and 
(2) by inserting after part E the following: 
‘‘PART F—NATIONAL HOMELESS YOUTH 
AWARENESS CAMPAIGN 
‘‘SEC. 361. NATIONAL HOMELESS YOUTH AWARENESS CAM-
PAIGN. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, directly or 
through grants or contracts, conduct a national homeless 
youth awareness campaign (referred to in this section as 
the ‘national awareness campaign’) in accordance with 
this section for purposes of—
‘‘(1) increasing awareness of individuals of all 
ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and geographic lo-
cations, of the issues facing runway and homeless 
youth, the resources available for these youth, and 
the tools available for the prevention of youth run-
away and homeless situations; and 
‘‘(2) encouraging parents, guardians, educators, 
health care professionals, social service professionals, 
law enforcement officials, and other community 
members to seek to prevent runaway youth and 
youth homelessness by assisting youth in averting or 
resolving runaway and homeless situations. 
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Funds made available to carry 
out this section for the national awareness campaign may 
be used only for the following: 
‘‘(1) The dissemination of educational informa-
tion and materials through various media, including 
television, radio, the Internet and related tech-
nologies, and emerging technologies. 
‘‘(2) Partnerships, including outreach activities, 
with national organizations concerned with youth 
homelessness, community-based youth service orga-
nizations (including faith-based organizations), and 
government organizations related to the national 
awareness campaign.
‘‘(3) In accordance with applicable laws and 
regulations, the development and placement of public 
service announcements in telecommunications media, 
including the Internet and related technologies and 
emerging technologies, that educate the public on 
the issues facing runaway and homeless youth (or 
youth considering running away) and on the oppor-
tunities that adults have to assist such youth. 
‘‘(4) Evaluation of the effectiveness of the na-
tional awareness campaign. 
‘‘(c) PROHIBITIONS.—None of the funds made avail-
able under subsection (b) may be obligated or expended 
for any of the following: 
‘‘(1) To supplant pro bono public service time 
donated by national or local broadcasting networks, 
advertising agencies, production companies, or other 
pro bono work for the national awareness campaign. 
‘‘(2) For partisan political purposes, or express 
advocacy in support of or to defeat any clearly iden-
tified candidate, clearly identified ballot initiative, or 
clearly identified legislative or regulatory proposal. 
‘‘(3) To fund advertising that features any 
elected officials, persons seeking elected office, cabi-
net level officials, or other Federal employees em-
ployed in positions in schedule C of part 213 of title
5 of the Code of Federal Regulations (January 1, 
2008), as amended from time to time. 
‘‘(4) To fund advertising that does not contain 
a primary message intended to educate the public on 
the issues facing runaway and homeless youth (or 
youth considering running away) or on the opportu-
nities for adults to help such youth. 
‘‘(5) To fund advertising that solicits contribu-
tions to support the national awareness campaign. 
‘‘(d) FINANCIAL
AND
PERFORMANCE
ACCOUNT-
ABILITY.—The Secretary shall perform— 
‘‘(1) audits and reviews of costs of the national 
awareness campaign pursuant to section 304C of the 
Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 
1949 (41 U.S.C. 254d); and 
‘‘(2) an audit to determine whether the costs of 
the national awareness campaign are allowable 
under section 306 of such Act (41 U.S.C. 256). 
‘‘(e) REPORT.—The Secretary shall include in each 
report submitted under section 382 a summary of the na-
tional awareness campaign that describes— 
‘‘(1) the activities undertaken by the national 
awareness campaign; 
‘‘(2) steps taken to ensure that the national 
awareness campaign operates in an effective and ef-
ficient manner consistent with the overall strategy 
and focus of the national awareness campaign; and 
‘‘(3) each grant made to, or contract entered 
into with, a particular corporation, partnership, or 
individual working on the national awareness cam-
paign.’’. 
SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 387 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5732a) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)(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 until attaining a higher maximum 
age if the State where the center is located 
has an applicable State or local law or reg-
ulation that permits such higher maximum 
age in compliance with licensure require-
ments for child and youth serving facili-
ties’’, and 
(B) in clause (ii) by striking ‘‘age;’’ and in-
serting the following:
‘‘age and either— 
‘‘(I) less than 22 years of age; or 
‘‘(II) an age exceeding 22 years 
of age as of the expiration of the max-
imum period of stay permitted under 
section 322(a)(2)(ii) if such individual 
commences such stay before attaining 
22 years of age;’’, and 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through 
(7) as paragraphs (5) through (8), respectively. 
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 388(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5751(a)) is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out this title (other than 
parts E and F, and section 345) $150,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary 
for fiscal years 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.’’, 
(2) by amending paragraph (4) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(4) PART E.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to carry out part E $30,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary 
for fiscal years 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.’’, and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) PART F.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out part F $3,000,000 for each of 
the fiscal years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. 
‘‘(6) SECTION 345.—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.’’. 
SEC. 12. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. 
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5701 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 390. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF PERFORMANCE STAND-
ARDS.—Not later than 1 year after the effective date of 
this section, the Secretary shall establish by rule perform-
ance standards applicable to public and nonprofit private 
entities and agencies that receive grants under sections 
311, 321, and 351. 
‘‘(b) IMPLEMENTATION OF PERFORMANCE STAND-
ARDS.—The Secretary shall integrate performance stand-
ards established under subsection (a) into the Secretary’s
processes for grant-making, monitoring, and evaluation 
for programs under sections 311, 321, and 351. 
‘‘(c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult 
with representatives of public and private entities and 
agencies that receive grants under this title, statewide and 
regional nonprofit organizations (and combinations of 
such organizations) that receive grants under this title, 
and national nonprofit organizations concerned with youth 
homelessness in developing the performance standards re-
quired by subsection (a). 
‘‘(d) PUBLIC COMMENT.—The Secretary shall pro-
vide an opportunity for public comment concerning the es-
tablishment of the performance standards required by sub-
section (a) before issuing rules to establish such stand-
ards, and shall maintain an official record of such public 
comment.’’. 
SEC. 13. GAO STUDY AND REPORT. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General shall conduct 
a study of, and make findings and recommendations relat-
ing to, the process for making grants under parts A, B, 
and E of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, with re-
spect to— 
(1) the written responses made by the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services to (and any other 
methods for communicating with) grant applicants
who are do not receive a grant under part A, B, or 
E of such Act, to determine if the information pro-
vided in such responses to such applicants is con-
veyed clearly, 
(2) the structure of the grant application and 
associated documents (including announcements that 
grants are available under such parts), to determine 
if such application is structured so that the appli-
cant has a clear understanding of what is required 
in each provision to successfully complete the appli-
cation, including a clear explanation of terminology 
required to be used by the applicant throughout the 
document, 
(3) the peer review process (if any) used to re-
view grant applications (including the selection of 
peer reviewers) and the oversight of the peer review 
process by employees of the Department of Health 
and Human Services, as well as the extent to which 
such employees make funding determinations based 
on the comments and scores of the individuals who 
perform peer reviews, 
(4) the typical time frame and the process used 
by such employees, including employee responsibil-
ities, for responding to applicants and the efforts 
taken to communicate with applicants when there is
a delay of decisions on applications or when funds 
to carry out this title are not appropriated before 
the beginning of the then current fiscal year, and 
(5) the plans for and implementation of, where 
practicable, the new training and technical assist-
ance programs and their effect on the grant applica-
tion process. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit a report to the Committee on Education and Labor 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Judiciary of the Senate, containing a summary of the re-
sults of the study conducted under subsection (a), together 
with the findings and recommendations made by the 
Comptroller General based on such results. 
Passed the House of Representatives June 9, 2008. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5524 
AN ACT 
To amend the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act 
to authorize appropriations, and for other purposes.