To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to support the placement of students and licensed professional social workers in public libraries, and for other purposes.
Bill: H.R.8822 | Sponsor: Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. (D-TX)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
This bill establishes a grant program for social work schools, as well as a technical resource center, to incorporate social workers in public libraries to assist patrons with accessing health, nutrition, and other social services.

To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to 
  support the placement of students and licensed professional social 
          workers in public libraries, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. GRANTS FOR PLACEMENT OF STUDENTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS IN 
              PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

    (a) In General.--Beginning not later than one year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education (referred to in 
this section as the ``Secretary'') shall carry out a program under 
which the Secretary makes grants, on a competitive basis, to 
institutions of higher education to support the placement of students 
and licensed professional social workers in public libraries.
    (b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, an institution of higher education shall submit to the 
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as the Secretary may require.
    (c) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate with the 
Institute of Museum and Library Services in the development and review 
of grant applications under this section.
    (d) Use of Funds.--An institution of higher education that receives 
a grant under this section shall use the grant to carry out the 
following activities:
            (1)(A) to employ one or more licensed professional social 
        workers whom the institution shall seek to place on a full-time 
        basis in public libraries in the geographic region surrounding 
        the institution; or
            (B) to arrange placements of one or more licensed 
        professional social workers who are employed by other entities, 
        whom the institution shall seek to place on a full-time basis 
        in public libraries in the geographic region surrounding the 
        institution; and
            (2) to arrange and fully fund internships and field 
        placements at such libraries for students of the institution 
        who are majoring in social work, including students pursuing a 
        bachelor's or master's degree in social work.
    (e) Additional Requirements.--
            (1) Payment and supervision.--An institution of higher 
        education that receives a grant under this section shall--
                    (A) be responsible for the payment and employment-
                related administration of the social workers placed at 
                public libraries pursuant to subsection (d)(1)(A) and 
                the interns placed at such libraries pursuant to 
                subsection (d)(2);
                    (B) pay a wage of not less than $15 per hour to 
                each intern serving in a public library pursuant to 
                subsection (d)(2); and
                    (C) ensure that each such intern is supervised by a 
                licensed professional social worker (who may be a 
                social worker employed by the institution or a social 
                worker otherwise employed at the public library at 
                which the intern serves).
            (2) Duties of social workers.--
                    (A) In general.--The duties of a social worker 
                placed at a public library pursuant to subsection 
                (d)(1) shall be to provide library patrons with--
                            (i) information on health, nutrition, and 
                        other social services for which the patron may 
                        be eligible; and
                            (ii) assistance in applying for and 
                        accessing such services.
                    (B) Limitations.--A licensed professional social 
                worker or intern placed at a library pursuant to 
                subsection (d)--
                            (i) shall not be required to report an 
                        alien who is not in lawful immigration status 
                        to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and 
                        may provide such alien with appropriate 
                        professional services; and
                            (ii) shall not be required to provide 
                        healthcare services directly to library 
                        patrons, such as the administration of 
                        diagnostic medical tests.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Education shall establish an 
evaluation, documentation, dissemination, and technical assistance 
resource center to provide appropriate information, training, and 
technical assistance to States, political subdivisions of States, 
federally recognized Indian Tribes, tribal organizations, institutions 
of higher education, State and local educational agencies, and 
individual students and educators with respect to hiring and retaining 
social workers in libraries.
    (b) Responsibilities of the Center.--The center established under 
subsection (a) shall conduct activities for the purpose of--
            (1) developing and continuing statewide or tribal 
        strategies for improving the effectiveness of the social work 
        workforce;
            (2) studying the costs and effectiveness of library social 
        work programs at institutions of higher education to identify 
        areas of improvement and provide information on relevant issues 
        of importance to State, Tribal, and national policymakers;
            (3) working with Federal agencies and other State, Tribal, 
        and national stakeholders to collect, evaluate, and disseminate 
        data regarding social work ratios, outcomes and best practices 
        of mental health services, and the impact of expanding the 
        number of social workers within libraries; and
            (4) establishing partnerships among National, State, 
        Tribal, and local governments, and local educational agencies, 
        institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and 
        State and national trade associations for the purposes of--
                    (A) data collection and dissemination;
                    (B) establishing a library social work workforce 
                development program;
                    (C) documenting the success of library social work 
                methods on a national level; and
                    (D) conducting other activities as determined 
                appropriate by the Secretary of Education.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) The term ``institution of higher education'' means an 
        institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of 
        the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) acting 
        through a school of social work within the institution that is 
        accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
            (2) The term ``licensed professional social worker'' means 
        a social worker who has a master's or doctoral degree in social 
        work.
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