Title: Increasing Opportunity and Success for Children and Parents through Evidence-Based Home Visiting Act
Policy area: Social Welfare

Summary:
Increasing Opportunity through Evidence-Based Home Visiting Act
This bill amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to reauthorize through FY2022, and otherwise revise, the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.
Under current law, grantees were required, after three years of program implementation, to demonstrate improvement in specified benchmark areas. The bill requires grantees to continue, in subsequent years, to track and demonstrate improvement in applicable benchmark areas. A grantee that fails to do so must develop and implement a corrective action plan, subject to approval by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS shall terminate a program grant made to a grantee that implements such a plan but continues to fail to demonstrate improvement.
As a condition for receiving grant funds under the program, a state must conduct a statewide needs assessment by October 1, 2019, and at least once every five years thereafter.
A grantee may use program grant funds to support a "pay-for-outcomes initiative" (a performance-based grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, awarded by a public entity, in which a commitment is made to pay for improved outcomes that result in social benefit and public-sector cost savings).
Grantees must provide matching funds under the program beginning in FY2020.
HHS must designate data-exchange standards applicable to the program.
The bill also amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) under the SSAct to prohibit the payment of SSI benefits to an individual who is subject to an arrest warrant for: (1) committing, or attempting to commit, a felony; or (2) violating a condition of parole or probation.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2824 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2824

  To amend title V of the Social Security Act to extend the Maternal, 
           Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 8, 2017

Mr. Smith of Nebraska (for himself, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Tiberi, Mr. Reed, 
  Mr. Meehan, Mrs. Noem, and Mrs. Walorski) introduced the following 
  bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in 
 addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title V of the Social Security Act to extend the Maternal, 
           Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Increasing Opportunity through 
Evidence-Based Home Visiting Act''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
 TITLE I--REAUTHORIZING THE MATERNAL, INFANT, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME 
                            VISITING PROGRAM

Sec. 101. Continuing evidence-based home visiting program.
Sec. 102. Continuing to demonstrate results to help families.
Sec. 103. Reviewing statewide needs to target resources.
Sec. 104. Improving the likelihood of success in high-risk communities.
Sec. 105. Building evidence to increase program effectiveness.
Sec. 106. Measuring improvements in family economic self-sufficiency.
Sec. 107. Option to fund evidence-based home visiting on a pay for 
                            outcome basis.
Sec. 108. Strengthening evidence-based home visiting through state, 
                            local, and private partnerships.
Sec. 109. Data exchange standards for improved interoperability.
               TITLE II--CONTROL UNLAWFUL FUGITIVE FELONS

Sec. 201. Revisions to provisions limiting payment of benefits to 
                            fugitive felons under title XVI of the 
                            Social Security Act.

 TITLE I--REAUTHORIZING THE MATERNAL, INFANT, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME 
                            VISITING PROGRAM

SEC. 101. CONTINUING EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAM.

    Section 511(j)(1)(H) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
711(j)(1)(H)) is amended by striking ``fiscal year 2017'' and inserting 
``each of fiscal years 2017 through 2022''.

SEC. 102. CONTINUING TO DEMONSTRATE RESULTS TO HELP FAMILIES.

    (a) Require Service Delivery Models To Demonstrate Improvement in 
Applicable Benchmark Areas.--Section 511 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 711) is amended in each of subsections (d)(1)(A) and (h)(4)(A) 
by striking ``each of''.
    (b) Demonstration of Improvements in Subsequent Years.--Section 
511(d)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 711(d)(1)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
                    ``(D) Demonstration of improvements in subsequent 
                years.--
                            ``(i) Continued measurement of improvement 
                        in applicable benchmark areas.--The eligible 
                        entity, after demonstrating improvements for 
                        eligible families as specified in subparagraphs 
                        (A) and (B), shall continue to track and report 
                        each year, subject to the approval of the 
                        Secretary, quantifiable, measurable benchmarks 
                        for demonstrating that the program continues to 
                        result in improvements for the eligible 
                        families participating in the program in at 
                        least 4 of the areas specified in subparagraph 
                        (A) that the service delivery model or models 
                        selected by the entity are intended to improve.
                            ``(ii) Corrective action plan.--If the 
                        eligible entity fails to demonstrate 
                        improvement in at least 4 of the areas 
                        specified in subparagraph (A), the entity shall 
                        develop and implement a plan to improve 
                        outcomes in each of the areas specified in 
                        subparagraph (A) that the service delivery 
                        model or models selected by the entity are 
                        intended to improve, subject to approval by the 
                        Secretary. The plan shall include provisions 
                        for the Secretary to monitor implementation of 
                        the plan and conduct continued oversight of the 
                        program, including through submission by the 
                        entity of regular reports to the Secretary.
                            ``(iii) Technical assistance.--The 
                        Secretary shall provide an eligible entity 
                        required to develop and implement an 
                        improvement plan under clause (ii) with 
                        technical assistance to develop and implement 
                        the plan. The Secretary may provide the 
                        technical assistance directly or through 
                        grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements.
                            ``(iv) No improvement or failure to submit 
                        report.--If the Secretary determines after a 
                        period of time specified by the Secretary that 
                        an eligible entity implementing an improvement 
                        plan under clause (ii) has failed to 
                        demonstrate any improvement in at least 4 of 
                        the areas specified in subparagraph (A), or if 
                        the Secretary determines that an eligible 
                        entity has failed to submit the report required 
                        by clause (i), the Secretary shall terminate 
                        the grant made to the entity under this section 
                        and may include any unexpended grant funds in 
                        grants made to nonprofit organizations under 
                        subsection (h)(2)(B).''.
    (c) Including Information on Applicable Benchmarks in 
Application.--Section 511(e)(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 711(e)(5)) is 
amended by inserting ``that the service delivery model or models 
selected by the entity are intended to improve'' before the period at 
the end.

SEC. 103. REVIEWING STATEWIDE NEEDS TO TARGET RESOURCES.

    Section 511(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 711(b)(1)) 
is amended by striking ``Not later than'' and all that follows through 
``statewide'' the 2nd place it appears and inserting ``Each State 
shall, as a condition of receiving payments from an allotment for the 
State under section 502, conduct a statewide needs assessment not later 
than October 1, 2019, at least once every 5 years (which may be 
separate from but in coordination with the statewide''.

SEC. 104. IMPROVING THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS IN HIGH-RISK COMMUNITIES.

    Section 511(d)(4)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
711(d)(4)(A)) is amended by inserting ``, taking into account the 
staffing, community resource, and other requirements of the service 
delivery model or models that are necessary for the model to operate 
and demonstrate improvements for eligible families'' before the period.

SEC. 105. BUILDING EVIDENCE TO INCREASE PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS.

    (a) Addition of Replicated Models With Sizeable Impacts on Outcomes 
as Approved Service Delivery Models.--Section 511(d)(3)(A) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 711(d)(3)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i)--
                    (A) by striking ``(I) or in subclause (II)'' and 
                inserting ``(I), in subclause (II), or in subclause 
                (III)''; and
                    (B) by redesignating subclause (II) as subclause 
                (III) and inserting after subclause (I) the following:
                                    ``(II) The model meets the 
                                requirements of subclause (I) and has 
                                been shown to produce statistically-
                                significant, sizeable, and sustained 
                                effects on participant outcomes as 
                                described in the benchmark areas 
                                specified in clauses (i) through (v) of 
                                paragraph (1)(A) when evaluated using 
                                well-designed and rigorous randomized 
                                controlled research designs, the 
                                evaluation results have been published 
                                in a peer-reviewed journal, and the 
                                effects have been replicated across 
                                more than 1 study or study site with no 
                                strong countervailing evidence.''; and
            (2) in clause (ii), by striking ``(i)(II)'' and inserting 
        ``(i))(III)''.
    (b) Research and Evaluation Activities To Increase Program 
Effectiveness.--Section 511(h)(3)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
711(h)(3)(A)) is amended by inserting ``with a focus on testing the 
replication of service delivery models meeting the requirements of 
subsection (d)(3)(A)(i)(I) to determine whether the models meet the 
requirements of subsection (d)(3)(A)(i)(II),'' before ``using''.
    (c) Report and Recommendation.--Section 511(h)(4) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 711(h)(4)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Not later than December 31, 2015, the 
        Secretary shall submit a report'' and inserting ``The Secretary 
        shall submit annual reports''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or (d)(1)(D)(iii)'' 
        after ``(d)(1)(B)(iii)(I)''.

SEC. 106. MEASURING IMPROVEMENTS IN FAMILY ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

    Section 511(d)(1)(A)(v) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
711(d)(1)(A)(v)) is amended by inserting ``(which shall include 
measures of employment, earnings, and receipt of means-tested 
benefits)'' before the period.

SEC. 107. OPTION TO FUND EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING ON A PAY FOR 
              OUTCOME BASIS.

    (a) In General.--Section 511(c) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 711(c)) is amended by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively, and by inserting after paragraph 
(2) the following:
            ``(3) Authority to use grant for a pay for outcomes 
        initiative.--An eligible entity to which a grant is made under 
        paragraph (1) may use the grant for a pay for outcomes 
        initiative that satisfies the requirements of subsection 
        (d).''.
    (b) Definition of Pay for Outcomes Initiative.--Section 511(k) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 711(k)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(4) Pay for outcomes initiative.--The term `pay for 
        outcomes initiative' means a performance-based grant, contract, 
        or cooperative agreement awarded by a public entity in which a 
        commitment is made to pay for improved outcomes that result in 
        social benefit and direct cost savings or cost avoidance to the 
        public sector. Such an initiative shall include--
                    ``(A) a feasibility study that describes how the 
                proposed intervention is based on evidence of 
                effectiveness;
                    ``(B) a rigorous, third-party evaluation that uses 
                experimental or quasi-experimental design or other 
                research methodologies that allow for the strongest 
                possible causal inferences to determine whether the 
                initiative has met its proposed outcomes;
                    ``(C) an annual, publicly available report on the 
                progress of the initiative; and
                    ``(D) a requirement that payments are made to the 
                recipient of a grant, contract, or cooperative 
                agreement only when agreed upon outcomes are achieved, 
                except that this requirement shall not apply with 
                respect to payments to a third party conducting the 
                evaluation described in subparagraph (B).''.
    (c) Extended Availability of Funds.--Section 511(j)(3) of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 711(j)(3)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(3) Availability.--Funds'' and inserting 
        the following:
            ``(3) Availability.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), funds''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(B) Funds for pay for outcomes initiatives.--
                Funds made available to an eligible entity under this 
                section for a fiscal year (or portion of a fiscal year) 
                for a pay for outcomes initiative shall remain 
                available for expenditure by the eligible entity for 
                not more than 10 years after the funds are so made 
                available.''.

SEC. 108. STRENGTHENING EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING THROUGH STATE, 
              LOCAL, AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

    Section 511 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 711) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
    ``(l) Matching Requirement.--
            ``(1) Federal home visiting share.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An eligible entity to which a 
                grant is made under this subsection for fiscal year 
                2020 or any succeeding fiscal year shall not use the 
                grant to cover more than the applicable percentage of 
                the costs of providing services or conducting 
                activities under this section during the fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Applicable percentage.--In subparagraph (A), 
                the term `applicable percentage' means, with respect to 
                a fiscal year--
                            ``(i) 70 percent, in the case of fiscal 
                        year 2020;
                            ``(ii) 60 percent, in the case of fiscal 
                        year 2021; or
                            ``(iii) 50 percent, in the case of fiscal 
                        year 2022 or any succeeding fiscal year.
            ``(2) Eligible entity home visiting share.--The cost of 
        services provided or activities conducted under a grant awarded 
        under this subsection may be paid in cash or in kind. The 
        Secretary may attribute fair market value to goods, services, 
        and facilities provided from non-Federal sources.''.

SEC. 109. DATA EXCHANGE STANDARDS FOR IMPROVED INTEROPERABILITY.

    (a) In General.--Section 511(h) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 711(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Data exchange standards for improved 
        interoperability.--
                    ``(A) Designation and use of data exchange 
                standards.--
                            ``(i) Designation.--The head of the 
                        department or agency responsible for 
                        administering a program funded under this 
                        section shall, in consultation with an 
                        interagency work group established by the 
                        Office of Management and Budget and considering 
                        State perspectives, designate data exchange 
                        standards for necessary categories of 
                        information that a State agency operating the 
                        program is required to electronically exchange 
                        with another State agency under applicable 
                        Federal law.
                            ``(ii) Data exchange standards must be 
                        nonproprietary and interoperable.--The data 
                        exchange standards designated under clause (i) 
                        shall, to the extent practicable, be 
                        nonproprietary and interoperable.
                            ``(iii) Other requirements.--In designating 
                        data exchange standards under this paragraph, 
                        the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, 
                        incorporate--
                                    ``(I) interoperable standards 
                                developed and maintained by an 
                                international voluntary consensus 
                                standards body, as defined by the 
                                Office of Management and Budget;
                                    ``(II) interoperable standards 
                                developed and maintained by 
                                intergovernmental partnerships, such as 
                                the National Information Exchange 
                                Model; and
                                    ``(III) interoperable standards 
                                developed and maintained by Federal 
                                entities with authority over 
                                contracting and financial assistance.
                    ``(B) Data exchange standards for federal 
                reporting.--
                            ``(i) Designation.--The head of the 
                        department or agency responsible for 
                        administering a program referred to in this 
                        section shall, in consultation with an 
                        interagency work group established by the 
                        Office of Management and Budget, and 
                        considering State government perspectives, 
                        designate data exchange standards to govern 
                        Federal reporting and exchange requirements 
                        under applicable Federal law.
                            ``(ii) Requirements.--The data exchange 
                        reporting standards required by clause (i) 
                        shall, to the extent practicable--
                                    ``(I) incorporate a widely 
                                accepted, nonproprietary, searchable, 
                                computer-readable format;
                                    ``(II) be consistent with and 
                                implement applicable accounting 
                                principles;
                                    ``(III) be implemented in a manner 
                                that is cost-effective and improves 
                                program efficiency and effectiveness; 
                                and
                                    ``(IV) be capable of being 
                                continually upgraded as necessary.
                            ``(iii) Incorporation of nonproprietary 
                        standards.--In designating data exchange 
                        standards under this paragraph, the Secretary 
                        shall, to the extent practicable, incorporate 
                        existing nonproprietary standards, such as the 
                        eXtensible Mark up Language.
                            ``(iv) Rule of construction.--Nothing in 
                        this paragraph shall be construed to require a 
                        change to existing data exchange standards for 
                        Federal reporting about a program referred to 
                        in this section, if the head of the department 
                        or agency responsible for administering the 
                        program finds the standards to be effective and 
                        efficient.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--This Act and the amendments and repeals made 
by this Act shall take effect 2 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.

               TITLE II--CONTROL UNLAWFUL FUGITIVE FELONS

SEC. 201. REVISIONS TO PROVISIONS LIMITING PAYMENT OF BENEFITS TO 
              FUGITIVE FELONS UNDER TITLE XVI OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY 
              ACT.

    (a) Fugitive Felon Warrant Requirement.--Section 1611(e)(4)(A)(i) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(e)(4)(A)(i)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``fleeing to avoid'' and inserting ``the 
        subject of an arrest warrant for the purpose of'';
            (2) by striking ``the place from which the person flees'' 
        the first place it appears and inserting ``the jurisdiction 
        issuing the warrant''; and
            (3) by striking ``the place from which the person flees'' 
        the second place it appears and inserting ``the jurisdiction''.
    (b) Probation and Parole Warrant Requirement.--Section 
1611(e)(4)(A)(ii) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(e)(4)(A)(ii)) is amended 
to read as follows:
                            ``(ii) the subject of an arrest warrant for 
                        violating a condition of probation or parole 
                        imposed under Federal or State law.''.
    (c) Disclosure.--Section 1611(e)(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
1382(e)(5)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``any recipient of'' and inserting ``any 
        individual who is a recipient of (or would be such a recipient 
        but for the application of paragraph (4)(A))''; and
            (2) by striking ``the recipient'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``the individual''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall be 
effective with respect to benefits payable for months that begin after 
the date that is 1 year following the date of the enactment of this 
section.
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