Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-14
Sponsor: Rep. Hoekstra, Peter [R-MI-2]
Introduced: 2003-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Families
Subjects: AIDS (Disease)
Abandonment of family
Administration of justice
Adoption
Alcoholism
Authorization
Case management
Child abuse
Child development
Child health
Child sexual abuse
Child welfare
Citizen participation
Community organization
Confidential communications
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime prevention
Criminal investigation
Criminal justice information
Criminal statistics
Data banks
Department of Health and Human Services
Disabled
Drug abuse
Drug abuse prevention
Drug abuse treatment
Drugs and youth
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Electronic government information
Elementary and secondary education
Employee training
English language
Evaluation research (Social action programs)
Family services
Family violence
Federal aid to health facilities
Federal aid to housing
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Forensic medicine
Foster home care
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Guardian and ward
Health
Health education
Higher education
Homeless
Homicide
Housing and Community Development
Human immunodeficiency viruses
Identification of criminals
Infants
Information technology
Informers
Internet
Judicial statistics
Juvenile delinquency
Labor and Employment
Law
Legal education
Medical tests
Mental health services
Minorities
Nonprofit organizations
Parent and child
Performance measurement
Physical examinations
Police training
Poverty
Pregnancy
Prosecution
Public service advertising
Research
Respite care
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Social work
Telephone
Victims of crimes
Violence
Women
Women's health
Women's shelters
Youth services

Summary:
action_date: 2003-01-07
text: Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 - Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to revise requirements for: (1) national clearinghouse dissemination of information on child abuse programs, including community-based programs; (2) related research and assistance activities; (3) grants for additional demonstration projects, including enhanced linkage between child protective service agencies and public health, mental health, and developmental disabilities agencies; (4) additional discretionary grants; and (5) development and operation grants to the States.
Repeals the authority for existing grants to: (1) the Community-based Family Resource programs; (2) the Family Support Center programs; (3) the Emergency Child Abuse Prevention Services grant program; and (4) programs under the Temporary Child Care for Children with Disabilities and Crisis Nurseries act of 1986.
Includes parents with disabilities within the eligibility and performance guidelines governing community-based grants for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for the implementation of programs that increase the number of older foster care children placed in adoptive families, with a special emphasis on child-specific recruitment strategies, including a grants program to eliminate barriers to placing children for adoption across jurisdictional boundaries.
Amends the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988 to prohibit the Secretary from making a grant unless the grantee agrees to give priority to abandoned infants and young children who: (1) are infected with, or have been perinatally exposed to, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or have a life-threatening illness or other special medical need; or (2) have been perinatally exposed to a dangerous drug.
action_date: 2003-03-06
text: Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 - 
Title I: Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
 - 
Subtitle A: General Program
 - (Sec. 111) Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act with respect to guidelines governing national clearinghouse dissemination of information on: (1) all effective child abuse programs, including community-based programs that hold potential for broad implementation and replication; (2) technical assistance for prosecution of child physical and sexual abuse cases and for psychological services to child victims; and (3) training resources available to law enforcement personnel and designated persons engaged in delivery of child abuse services.
(Sec. 112) Instructs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) implement an expanded continuing interdisciplinary and longitudinal research program; and (2) provide an opportunity for public comment regarding research priorities.
Removes the "nonprofit" restriction placed upon participating entities receiving Federal technical assistance.
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for time-limited demonstration programs and projects that target: (1) promotion of safe, family-friendly physical environments for visitation and exchange; (2) education identification, prevention, and treatment; (3) research-based risk and safety assessment tools relating to child abuse and neglect; and (4) research-based innovative training for mandated child abuse and neglect reporters.
(Sec. 113) Authorizes grants to States and public or private agencies and organizations for demonstration programs and projects that focus upon: (1) law enforcement, judiciary, social work and child protection, education, and other relevant fields, or individuals such as court appointed special advocates (CASAs) and guardian ad litem; (2) children, youth and family service organizations to prevent child abuse and neglect; (3) enhanced linkage between child protective service agencies and public health, mental health, and developmental disabilities agencies; (4) pediatric and adolescent care facilities; (5) grantee use of scientific evaluation techniques; and (6) enhanced child abuse prevention and treatment.
(Sec. 114) Mandates additional development and operation grants to the States for specified purposes including: (1) obtaining or coordinating necessary services for families of disabled infants with life-threatening conditions; (2) facilitating adoptive placement of any such infants who have been relinquished for adoption; and (3) supporting interagency collaboration between the child protection system and the juvenile justice system for improved delivery of services and treatment.
Requires certain citizen review panels to: (1) provide for public outreach and comment in order to assess the impact of current procedures and practices upon children and families in the community; and (2) submit recommendations to improve child protection services system at the State and local levels.
Requires annual State data reports to include: (1) a summary of the activities of the State citizen review panels; and (2) the number of children under the care of the State child protection system who are transferred into the custody of the State juvenile justice system.
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary should encourage all States and other entities that receive assistance under this Act to ensure that children and families with limited English proficiency who participate in programs under this Act are provided materials and services in an appropriate language other than English.
(Sec. 116) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008.
(Sec. 117) Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the efficacy of certain citizen review panels.

Subtitle B: Community-Based Grants for the Prevention of Child Abuse
 - (Sec. 121) Directs the Secretary to make grants to programs that: (1) demonstrate a commitment to meaningful parent leadership, including parents of children with disabilities, parents with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, and members of other underrepresented or underserved groups; and (2) provide referrals to early health and developmental services.
(Sec. 122) Removes the "Statewide network" requirement for Federal grant eligibility.
(Sec. 124) Repeals the authority for existing grants for: (1) the Community-based Family Resource programs; (2) the Family Support Center programs; (3) the Emergency Child Abuse Prevention Services grant program; and (4) programs under the Temporary Child Care for Children with Disabilities and Crisis Nurseries Act of 1986.
(Sec. 127) Revises the requirements for performance measures for grantee States.
(Sec. 130) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008.

Subtitle C: Conforming Amendments
 - Makes technical and conforming amendments to 

the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.

Title II: Adoption Opportunities
 - (Sec. 202) Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 to direct the Secretary to provide for the implementation of programs that increase the number of older foster care children placed in adoptive families, with a special emphasis on child-specific recruitment strategies, including a grants program to eliminate barriers to placing children for adoption across jurisdictional boundaries.
(Sec. 203) Requires the Secretary to study and report to congressional committees on: (1) how interstate placements are financed across State lines; (2) recommendations on best practice models for both interstate and intrastate adoptions; and (3) how State policies defining special needs children differentiate or group similar categories of children.
(Sec. 204) Requires the Secretary to: (1) study and report to congressional committees on adoption outcomes and the factors affecting those outcomes; and (2) make recommendations to Congress for an action plan to facilitate interjurisdictional adoption of foster children.
(Sec. 205) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008.

Title III: Abandoned Infants Assistance
 - (Sec. 302) Amends the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988 to prohibit the Secretary from making a grant unless the grant applicant agrees to give priority to abandoned infants and young children who: (1) are infected with, or have been perinatally exposed to, the human immunodeficiency virus, or have a life-threatening illness or other special medical need; or (2) have been perinatally exposed to a dangerous drug.
(Sec. 303) Instructs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on: (1) the number of abandoned infants and young children; and (2) effective intervention to prevent such abandonment and to respond to the needs of those children.
(Sec. 304) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008.

Title IV: Family Violence Prevention and Services Act
 - (Sec. 405) Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to extend for FY 2004 through 2008 the authorization of appropriations for specified family violence prevention programs.
Mandates that not less than ten percent of such appropriations be made available for grants to State domestic violence coalitions.
(Sec. 407) Instructs the Secretary to use not more than 2.5 percent of appropriations for evaluation, monitoring and other administrative costs.
(Sec. 408) Repeals: (1) the family member abuse information and documentation project; and (2) model state leadership grants for domestic violence intervention.
(Sec. 410) Sets forth conditions under which the Secretary may extend a national domestic violence hotline grant. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008 for such grant, including: (1) demonstration grants for community initiatives; and (2) transitional housing assistance. Repeals the authorization for model programs of youth education about domestic violence.
action_date: 2003-03-26
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on March 6, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 - 
Title I: Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
 - 
Subtitle A: General Program
 - (Sec. 111) Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act with respect to guidelines governing national clearinghouse dissemination of information on: (1) all effective child abuse programs, including community-based programs that hold potential for broad implementation and replication; (2) technical assistance for prosecution of child physical and sexual abuse cases and for psychological services to child victims; and (3) training resources available to law enforcement personnel and designated persons engaged in delivery of child abuse services.
(Sec. 112) Instructs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) implement an expanded continuing interdisciplinary and longitudinal research program; and (2) provide an opportunity for public comment regarding research priorities.
Removes the "nonprofit" restriction placed upon participating entities receiving Federal technical assistance.
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for time-limited demonstration programs and projects that target: (1) promotion of safe, family-friendly physical environments for visitation and exchange; (2) education identification, prevention, and treatment; (3) research-based risk and safety assessment tools relating to child abuse and neglect; and (4) research-based innovative training for mandated child abuse and neglect reporters.
(Sec. 113) Authorizes grants to States and public or private agencies and organizations for demonstration programs and projects that focus upon: (1) law enforcement, judiciary, social work and child protection, education, and other relevant fields, or individuals such as court appointed special advocates (CASAs) and guardian ad litem; (2) children, youth and family service organizations to prevent child abuse and neglect; (3) enhanced linkage between child protective service agencies and public health, mental health, and developmental disabilities agencies; (4) pediatric and adolescent care facilities; (5) grantee use of scientific evaluation techniques; and (6) enhanced child abuse prevention and treatment.
(Sec. 114) Mandates additional development and operation grants to the States for specified purposes including: (1) obtaining or coordinating necessary services for families of disabled infants with life-threatening conditions; (2) facilitating adoptive placement of any such infants who have been relinquished for adoption; and (3) supporting interagency collaboration between the child protection system and the juvenile justice system for improved delivery of services and treatment.
Requires certain citizen review panels to: (1) provide for public outreach and comment in order to assess the impact of current procedures and practices upon children and families in the community; and (2) submit recommendations to improve child protection services system at the State and local levels.
Requires annual State data reports to include: (1) a summary of the activities of the State citizen review panels; and (2) the number of children under the care of the State child protection system who are transferred into the custody of the State juvenile justice system.
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary should encourage all States and other entities that receive assistance under this Act to ensure that children and families with limited English proficiency who participate in programs under this Act are provided materials and services in an appropriate language other than English.
(Sec. 116) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008.
(Sec. 117) Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the efficacy of certain citizen review panels.

Subtitle B: Community-Based Grants for the Prevention of Child Abuse
 - (Sec. 121) Directs the Secretary to make grants to programs that: (1) demonstrate a commitment to meaningful parent leadership, including parents of children with disabilities, parents with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, and members of other underrepresented or underserved groups; and (2) provide referrals to early health and developmental services.
(Sec. 122) Removes the "Statewide network" requirement for Federal grant eligibility.
(Sec. 124) Repeals the authority for existing grants for: (1) the Community-based Family Resource programs; (2) the Family Support Center programs; (3) the Emergency Child Abuse Prevention Services grant program; and (4) programs under the Temporary Child Care for Children with Disabilities and Crisis Nurseries Act of 1986.
(Sec. 127) Revises the requirements for performance measures for grantee States.
(Sec. 130) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008.

Subtitle C: Conforming Amendments
 - makes technical and conforming amendments to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act .

Title II: Adoption Opportunities
 - (Sec. 202) Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 to direct the Secretary to provide for the implementation of programs that increase the number of older foster care children placed in adoptive families, with a special emphasis on child-specific recruitment strategies, including a grants program to eliminate barriers to placing children for adoption across jurisdictional boundaries.
(Sec. 203) Requires the Secretary to study and report to congressional committees on: (1) how interstate placements are financed across State lines; (2) recommendations on best practice models for both interstate and intrastate adoptions; and (3) how State policies defining special needs children differentiate or group similar categories of children.
(Sec. 204) Requires the Secretary to: (1) study and report to congressional committees on adoption outcomes and the factors affecting those outcomes; and (2) make recommendations to Congress for an action plan to facilitate interjurisdictional adoption of foster children.
(Sec. 205) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008.

Title III: Abandoned Infants Assistance
 - (Sec. 302) Amends the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988 to prohibit the Secretary from making a grant unless the grant applicant agrees to give priority to abandoned infants and young children who: (1) are infected with, or have been perinatally exposed to, the human immunodeficiency virus, or have a life-threatening illness or other special medical need; or (2) have been perinatally exposed to a dangerous drug.
(Sec. 303) Instructs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on: (1) the number of abandoned infants and young children; and (2) effective intervention to prevent such abandonment and to respond to the needs of those children.
(Sec. 304) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008.

Title IV: Family Violence Prevention and Services Act
 - (Sec. 405) Amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to extend for FY 2004 through 2008 the authorization of appropriations for specified family violence prevention programs.
Mandates that not less than ten percent of such appropriations be made available for grants to State domestic violence coalitions.
(Sec. 407) Instructs the Secretary to use not more than 2.5 percent of appropriations for evaluation, monitoring and other administrative costs.
(Sec. 408) Repeals: (1) the family member abuse information and documentation project; and (2) model state leadership grants for domestic violence intervention.
(Sec. 410) Sets forth conditions under which the Secretary may extend a national domestic violence hotline grant. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008 for such grant, including: (1) demonstration grants for community initiatives; and (2) transitional housing assistance. Repeals the authorization for model programs of youth education about domestic violence.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-03-26
text: Laid on the table. See S. 342 for further action.
action_date: 2003-03-26
text: The House took from the Speaker's table and moved to the consideration of S. 342, a similar measure to H.R. 14.
action_date: 2003-03-26
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-03-26
text: On passage Passed by voice vote.
action_date: 2003-03-26
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by voice vote.
action_date: 2003-03-26
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to a previous  order of the House.
action_date: 2003-03-26
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to a previous sepecial order, the House proceeded with two hours of debate on H.R. 14.
action_date: 2003-03-26
text: Considered. (consideration:  CR H2345-2364; text as reported in House: CR H2345-2352)
action_date: 2003-03-26
text: Consideration initiated by a previous order of the House.
action_date: 2003-03-06
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 17.
action_date: 2003-03-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 108-26.
action_date: 2003-03-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 108-26.
action_date: 2003-02-13
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2003-02-13
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-01-07
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
action_date: 2003-01-07
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E8)
action_date: 2003-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-01-07
text: Introduced in House