Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008
PL 110-378 (S.2982), enacted 10/08/2008

122 STAT. 4068 
PUBLIC LAW 110–378—OCT. 8, 2008 
Public Law 110–378 
110th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations, 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. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reconnecting Homeless Youth 
Act of 2008’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Section 302 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5701) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as para-
graphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: 
‘‘(3) services to such young people should be developed 
and provided using a positive youth development approach 
that ensures a young person a sense of— 
‘‘(A) safety and structure; 
‘‘(B) belonging and membership; 
‘‘(C) self-worth and social contribution; 
‘‘(D) independence and control over one’s life; and 
‘‘(E) closeness in interpersonal relationships.’’. 
SEC. 3. BASIC CENTER PROGRAM. 
(a) SERVICES PROVIDED.—Section 311 of the Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5711) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by striking clause (i) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) safe and appropriate shelter provided for not 
to exceed 21 days; and’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)(2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(2) The’’ and inserting ‘‘(2)(A) Except 
as provided in subparagraph (B), the’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘$100,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$200,000’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘$45,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$70,000’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) For fiscal years 2009 and 2010, the amount allotted under 
paragraph (1) with respect to a State for a fiscal year shall be 
not less than the amount allotted under paragraph (1) with respect 
to such State for fiscal year 2008. 
‘‘(C) Whenever the Secretary determines that any part of the 
amount allotted under paragraph (1) to a State for a fiscal year 
will not be obligated before the end of the fiscal year, the Secretary 
Reallotment. 
Allotment. 
42 USC 5601 
note. 
Reconnecting 
Homeless Youth 
Act of 2008. 
Oct. 8, 2008 
[S. 2982] 
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122 STAT. 4069 
PUBLIC LAW 110–378—OCT. 8, 2008 
shall reallot such part to the remaining States for obligation for 
the fiscal year.’’. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—Section 312(b) of the Runaway and Homeless 
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5712(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (11), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period and inserting 
‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(13) shall develop an adequate emergency preparedness 
and management plan.’’. 
SEC. 4. TRANSITIONAL LIVING GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ELIGIBILITY.—Section 322(a) of the Runaway and Homeless 
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714–2(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘directly or indirectly’’ and inserting 
‘‘by grant, agreement, or contract’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘services’’ the first place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘provide, by grant, agreement, or contract, 
services,’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘a continuous period not 
to exceed 540 days, except that’’ and all that follows and 
inserting the following: ‘‘a continuous period not to exceed 
540 days, or in exceptional circumstances 635 days, except 
that a youth in a program under this part who has not reached 
18 years of age on the last day of the 635-day period may, 
in exceptional circumstances and if otherwise qualified for the 
program, remain in the program until the youth’s 18th birth-
day;’’; 
(3) in paragraph (14), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(4) in paragraph (15), by striking the period and inserting 
‘‘; and’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(16) to develop an adequate emergency preparedness and 
management plan.’’. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 322(c) of the Runaway and Homeless 
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714–2(c)) is amended by— 
(1) striking ‘‘part, the term’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘part— 
‘‘(1) the term’’; 
(2) striking the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) adding at the end thereof the following: 
‘‘(2) the term ‘exceptional circumstances’ means cir-
cumstances in which a youth would benefit to an unusual 
extent from additional time in the program.’’. 
SEC. 5. GRANTS FOR RESEARCH EVALUATION, DEMONSTRATION, AND 
SERVICE PROJECTS. 
Section 343 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5714–23) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
‘‘special consideration’’ and inserting ‘‘priority’’; 
(B) in paragraph (8)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘to health’’ and inserting ‘‘to quality 
health’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘mental health care’’ and inserting 
‘‘behavioral health care’’; and 
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122 STAT. 4070 
PUBLIC LAW 110–378—OCT. 8, 2008 
(iii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘, including access to educational and 
workforce programs to achieve outcomes such as decreasing 
secondary school dropout rates, increasing rates of 
attaining a secondary school diploma or its recognized 
equivalent, or increasing placement and retention in post-
secondary education or advanced workforce training pro-
grams; and’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(10) providing programs, including innovative programs, 
that assist youth in obtaining and maintaining safe and stable 
housing, and which may include programs with supportive 
services that continue after the youth complete the remainder 
of the programs.’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) In selecting among applicants for grants under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) give priority to applicants who have experience working 
with runaway or homeless youth; and 
‘‘(2) ensure that the applicants selected— 
‘‘(A) represent diverse geographic regions of the United 
States; and 
‘‘(B) carry out projects that serve diverse populations 
of runaway or homeless youth.’’. 
SEC. 6. COORDINATING, TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND OTHER ACTIVI-
TIES. 
Part D of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5714–21 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 345. PERIODIC ESTIMATE OF INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE OF 
YOUTH HOMELESSNESS. 
‘‘(a) PERIODIC ESTIMATE.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 
2008, and at 5-year intervals thereafter, the Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, 
shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Education and 
Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on the 
Judiciary of the Senate, and make available to the public, a report— 
‘‘(1) by using the best quantitative and qualitative social 
science research methods available, containing an estimate of 
the incidence and prevalence of runaway and homeless individ-
uals who are not less than 13 years of age but are less than 
26 years of age; and 
‘‘(2) that includes with such estimate an assessment of 
the characteristics of such individuals. 
‘‘(b) CONTENT.—The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include— 
‘‘(1) the results of conducting a survey of, and direct inter-
views with, a representative sample of runaway and homeless 
individuals who are not less than 13 years of age but are 
less than 26 years of age, to determine past and current— 
‘‘(A) socioeconomic characteristics of such individuals; 
and 
‘‘(B) barriers to such individuals obtaining— 
‘‘(i) safe, quality, and affordable housing; 
Deadline. 
Public 
information. 
Reports. 
42 USC 5714–25. 
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122 STAT. 4071 
PUBLIC LAW 110–378—OCT. 8, 2008 
‘‘(ii) comprehensive and affordable health insur-
ance and health services; and 
‘‘(iii) incomes, public benefits, supportive services, 
and connections to caring adults; and 
‘‘(2) such other information as the Secretary determines, 
in consultation with States, units of local government, and 
national 
nongovernmental 
organizations 
concerned 
with 
homelessness, may be useful. 
‘‘(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—If the Secretary enters into any contract 
with a non-Federal entity for purposes of carrying out subsection 
(a), such entity shall be a nongovernmental organization, or an 
individual, determined by the Secretary to have appropriate exper-
tise in quantitative and qualitative social science research.’’. 
SEC. 7. SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM. 
Section 351(b) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
U.S.C. 5714–41(b)) is amended by inserting ‘‘public and’’ after ‘‘pri-
ority to’’. 
SEC. 8. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. 
Part F of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 
5714a et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 386 the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 386A. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Reconnecting Home-
less Youth Act of 2008, the Secretary shall issue rules that specify 
performance standards for public and nonprofit private entities 
and agencies that receive grants under sections 311, 321, and 
351. 
‘‘(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult with rep-
resentatives of public and nonprofit private entities and agencies 
that receive grants under this title, including statewide and regional 
nonprofit organizations (including combinations of such organiza-
tions) that receive grants under this title, and national nonprofit 
organizations concerned with youth homelessness, in developing 
the performance standards required by subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) IMPLEMENTATION OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.—The Sec-
retary shall integrate the performance standards into the processes 
of the Department of Health and Human Services for grantmaking, 
monitoring, and evaluation for programs under sections 311, 321, 
and 351.’’. 
SEC. 9. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE STUDY AND REPORT. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study, including making findings and 
recommendations, relating to the processes for making grants 
under parts A, B, and E of the Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5711 et seq., 5714–1 et seq., 5714–41). 
(2) SUBJECTS.—In particular, the Comptroller General shall 
study— 
(A) the Secretary’s written responses to and other 
communications with applicants who do not receive grants 
under part A, B, or E of such Act, to determine if the 
information provided in the responses and communications 
is conveyed clearly; 
Deadline. 
Regulations. 
42 USC 5732–1. 
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122 STAT. 4072 
PUBLIC LAW 110–378—OCT. 8, 2008 
(B) the content and structure of the grant application 
documents, and of other associated documents (including 
grant announcements), to determine if the requirements 
of the applications and other associated documents are 
presented and structured in a way that gives an applicant 
a clear understanding of the information that the applicant 
must provide in each portion of an application to success-
fully complete it, and a clear understanding of the termi-
nology used throughout the application and other associ-
ated documents; 
(C) the peer review process for applications for the 
grants, including the selection of peer reviewers, the over-
sight of the process by staff of the Department of Health 
and Human Services, and the extent to which such staff 
make funding determinations based on the comments and 
scores of the peer reviewers; 
(D) the typical timeframe, and the process and respon-
sibilities of such staff, for responding to applicants for 
the grants, and the efforts made by such staff to commu-
nicate with the applicants when funding decisions or 
funding for the grants is delayed, such as when funding 
is delayed due to funding of a program through appropria-
tions made under a continuing resolution; and 
(E) the plans for implementation of, and the 
implementation of, where practicable, the technical assist-
ance and training programs carried out under section 342 
of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714– 
22), and the effect of such programs on the application 
process for the grants. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall prepare and submit 
to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate 
a report containing the findings and recommendations resulting 
from the study. 
SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS. 
(a) HOMELESS YOUTH.—Section 387(3) of the Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5732a(3)) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘The’’ and all that follows through ‘‘means’’ and inserting ‘‘The 
term ‘homeless’, used with respect to a youth, means’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) in clause (i)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘not more than’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘less than’’; and 
(ii) by inserting after ‘‘age’’ the last place it appears 
the following: ‘‘, or is less than a higher maximum 
age if the State where the center is located has an 
applicable State or local law (including a regulation) 
that permits such higher maximum age in compliance 
with licensure requirements for child-and youth- 
serving facilities’’; and 
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘age;’’ and inserting the 
following: ‘‘age and either— 
‘‘(I) less than 22 years of age; or 
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122 STAT. 4073 
PUBLIC LAW 110–378—OCT. 8, 2008 
‘‘(II) not less than 22 years of age, as of the 
expiration of the maximum period of stay per-
mitted under section 322(a)(2) if such individual 
commences such stay before reaching 22 years of 
age;’’. 
(b) RUNAWAY YOUTH.—Section 387 of the Runaway and Home-
less Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5732a) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) as 
paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (8), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: 
‘‘(4) RUNAWAY
YOUTH.—The term ‘runaway’, used with 
respect to a youth, means an individual who is less than 18 
years of age and who absents himself or herself from home 
or a place of legal residence without the permission of a parent 
or legal guardian.’’. 
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 388(a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 
U.S.C. 5751(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘is authorized’’ and inserting ‘‘are 
authorized’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘part E) $105,000,000 for fiscal year 
2004’’ and inserting ‘‘section 345 and part E) $140,000,000 
for fiscal year 2009’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘In’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘(other than section 345)’’ before the 
period; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) PERIODIC ESTIMATE.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out section 345 such sums as may 
be necessary for fiscal years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 
2013.’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘is authorized’’ and inserting ‘‘are 
authorized’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘such sums as may be necessary for 
fiscal years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008’’ and inserting 
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122 STAT. 4074 
PUBLIC LAW 110–378—OCT. 8, 2008 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2982 (H.R. 5524): 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 154 (2008): 
Sept. 25, considered and passed Senate. 
Sept. 26, considered and passed House. 
‘‘$25,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may 
be necessary for fiscal years 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013’’. 
Approved October 8, 2008. 
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