National Child Abuse Help Hotline Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-886
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2021-03-22
Policy area: Families
Subjects: Crime victims

Crimes against children

Domestic violence and child abuse

Emergency communications systems

Foreign language and bilingual programs

Right of privacy

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2021-03-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1674-1675)

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-03-22
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>National Child Abuse Help Hotline Act of 202</b><strong>1</strong><br> <br> This bill provides for a grant to establish and operate a National Child Abuse Hotline that makes available assistance and information services 24 hours a day to victims of child abuse or neglect, their families, caregivers, and individuals required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The Department of Health and Human Services may award the grant to a nonprofit entity with experience operating a hotline and providing such assistance and support.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 886 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 22, 2021 Ms. Collins (for herself and Ms. Sinema ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To establish a National Child Abuse Hotline.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Child Abuse Help Hotline Act of 2021 . 2. National Child Abuse Hotline (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary ) may award a grant to a nonprofit entity to provide for the establishment and ongoing operation of a National Child Abuse Hotline, which shall provide a 24-hour, national, toll-free telephone hotline to improve capacity for the provision of crisis intervention, assistance, and information services with respect to child abuse or neglect, to victims of child abuse or neglect, and to parents, caregivers, mandated reporters, and other concerned community members, including through implementation of other communication technologies to improve access for such victims and other individuals. (b) Eligibility To be eligible to receive the grant under subsection (a), an entity shall have experience in operating a hotline that provides information and assistance to victims of child abuse or neglect, and to parents, caregivers, and mandated reporters. (c) Application To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), a nonprofit entity shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require, and containing— (1) a complete description of the entity’s plan for the operation of a national child abuse hotline, including descriptions of— (A) the qualifications for hotline personnel; (B) the professional development program for hotline personnel, including technology professional development to ensure that all individuals affiliated with the hotline are able to operate the technological systems used by the hotline; (C) the methods for the creation, maintenance, and updating of a comprehensive database of prevention and treatment services resources; (D) a plan for publicizing the availability of the hotline throughout the United States; (E) a plan for providing service to non-English speaking callers, including service through hotline personnel who have non-English language capability; (F) a plan for facilitating access to the hotline and alternative modality services by individuals with hearing impairments and disabilities; (G) a plan for providing crisis counseling, general assistance, and referrals to youth victims of child abuse; and (H) a plan for utilizing available communications technologies other than the telephone hotline, as appropriate, such as texting or live chat; (2) information to demonstrate that the entity— (A) has the capacity and the expertise to maintain a child abuse and neglect hotline; (B) has the ability to provide information and referrals for contacts, directly connect contacts to such service providers, and employ crisis interventions; and (C) complies with Federal and State privacy laws and has established quality assurance practices; and (3) such other information, assurances, and agreements as the Secretary may require. (d) Authorization of appropriations For purposes of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.