Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6358
Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-7]
Introduced: 2008-06-24 in the House
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Alcohol and youth
Authorization
Child abuse
Child welfare
Children's rights
Civil actions and liability
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal justice information
Damages
Death
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug abuse
Drug abuse prevention
Drug abuse treatment
Drugs and youth
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic government information
Emergency medicine
Employee selection
Fines (Penalties)
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Grants-in-aid
Group homes
Guardian and ward
Health
Housing and Community Development
Identification of criminals
Injunctions
Law
Legal fees
Mental care facilities
Mental health services
Mental illness
Parent and child
Punitive damages
Science, Technology, Communications
Standards
Telephone
Youth services

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-24
text: 
Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 - Directs the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services to require each location of a covered program to meet specified minimum standards if individually or together with other locations it has an effect on interstate commerce. 
 
Defines &quot;covered program&quot; as one operated by a public or private entity that with respect to one or more children unrelated to the program owner or operator: (1) provides a residential environment; and (2) operates with a focus on serving children with emotional, behavioral, or mental health problems or disorders, or problems with alcohol or substance abuse.
 
Directs the Assistant Secretary to: (1) implement an on-going review process for investigating and evaluating reports of child abuse and neglect; (2) establish public websites with information about each covered program, as well as a national toll-free telephone hotline to receive complaints; (3) establish civil penalties for violations of standards; and (4) establish a process to ensure that complaints received by the hotline are promptly reviewed by persons with appropriate expertise.
 
Requires the Assistant Secretary to refer any violation of such standards to the Attorney General for appropriate action. Authorizes the Attorney General to file such a complaint on his or her own initiative regardless of whether such a referral has been made.

Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to establish additional eligibility requirements for grants to states to prevent child abuse and neglect at residential programs. Require such states to develop policies and procedures to prevent child abuse and neglect at covered programs consistent with the standards specified by this Act.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to Congress on outcomes for children in both private and public covered programs under this Act encompassing a broad representation of treatment facilities and geographic regions.

action_date: 2008-06-25
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Directs the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services to require each location of a covered program to meet specified minimum standards if individually or together with other locations it has an effect on interstate commerce. 
 
Defines &quot;covered program&quot; as one operated by a public or private entity that with respect to one or more children unrelated to the program owner or operator: (1) provides a residential environment; and (2) operates with a focus on serving children with emotional, behavioral, or mental health problems or disorders, or problems with alcohol or substance abuse.
 
Directs the Assistant Secretary to: (1) implement an on-going review process for investigating and evaluating reports of child abuse and neglect; (2) establish public websites with information about each covered program, as well as a national toll-free telephone hotline to receive complaints; (3) establish civil penalties for violations of standards; and (4) establish a process to ensure that complaints received by the hotline are promptly reviewed by persons with appropriate expertise.
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the Assistant Secretary to refer any violation of such standards to the Attorney General for appropriate action if the Assistant Secretary determines that a violation has not been remedied through the enforcement process. Authorizes the Attorney General to file such a complaint on his or her own initiative regardless of whether such a referral has been made.

(Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013. 

(Sec. 7) Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to establish additional eligibility requirements for grants to states to prevent child abuse and neglect at residential programs. Require such states to develop policies and procedures to prevent child abuse and neglect at covered programs consistent with the standards specified by this Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013. 
 
(Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to Congress on outcomes for children in both private and public covered programs under this Act encompassing a broad representation of treatment facilities and geographic regions.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 318 - 103 (Roll no. 459). (text: CR H6075-6078)
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 318 - 103 (Roll no. 459).(text: CR H6075-6078)
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6080-6081)
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6358.
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6075-6080)
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Mr. Miller, George moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2008-06-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
action_date: 2008-06-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-06-24
text: Introduced in House