		I
		111th CONGRESS
		2d Session
		H. R. 6222
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			September 28, 2010
			Mr. McGovern
			 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Ways and
			 Means, and in addition to the Committees on
			 Education and Labor and
			 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 establish the National Competition for Community
		  Renewal to encourage communities to adopt innovative strategies and design
		  principles to programs related to poverty prevention, recovery and response,
		  and for other purposes.

		1.Short title; table of
			 contents
			(a)Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited
			 as the National Opportunity and
			 Community Renewal Act.
			(b)Table of
			 contentsThe table of contents of this Act is as follows:

					Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
					Sec. 2. Findings.
					Sec. 3. Purposes.
					Sec. 4. Definitions.
					TITLE I—National and Local Opportunity Boards
					Sec. 101. National Opportunity Board.
					Sec. 102. Local Opportunity Boards.
					TITLE II—National Competition for Community Renewal
					Sec. 201. Establishment.
					Sec. 202. Duration.
					Sec. 203. Local opportunity funds.
					Sec. 204. Grant awards.
					Sec. 205. Waiver program.
					Sec. 206. Tax incentives.
					Sec. 207. Application and administration.
					TITLE III—Community renewal incentives
					Sec. 301. Community renewal savings.
					Sec. 302. Community tax incentives.
					Sec. 303. Renewal employer refundable credit.
					Sec. 304. Unrelated business taxable income
				deduction.
					Sec. 305. Qualified community renewal contribution.
					Sec. 306. High school graduation tax credit.
					Sec. 307. Modified new markets tax credit.
					Sec. 308. Earned income tax credit.
					Sec. 309. Community renewal bonds.
					Sec. 310. Anti-corruption provision.
					TITLE IV—Competitions for innovation in client advocacy and
				evaluation
					Sec. 401. Client advocacy competition.
					Sec. 402. Evaluation competition.
					TITLE V—Report to Congress
					Sec. 501. Report to Congress.
					TITLE VI—Authorization of appropriations
					Sec. 601. Authorization of appropriations.

			2.FindingsCongress makes the following
			 findings:
			(1)Recent data found
			 that 43,600,000 Americans were living in poverty, with nearly 15,500,000
			 children living in poverty.
			(2)The 2009 Federal
			 Poverty Level for a household of 4 was set at $22,050.
			(3)The Federal
			 Government alone spends approximately $700,000,000,000 on poverty programs,
			 with an additional $200,000,000,000 expended by States.
			(4)Poverty in America
			 has changed remarkably since the last major transformative policy debate on the
			 issue.
			(5)The 1996 welfare
			 reform bill ultimately did not create new systems nor did it drive market-based
			 solutions.
			(6)The economic
			 downturn has exposed the weakness of poverty reduction programs that are not
			 market-driven.
			(7)Effective and
			 meaningful investment in poverty prevention programs will result in greater
			 efficiencies at the Federal level.
			3.PurposesIt is the purpose of this Act to—
			(1)establish a
			 National Competition for Community Renewal to allow eligible communities to
			 draw upon existing and supplemental resources to design and implement
			 innovative poverty reduction and prevention programs;
			(2)significantly
			 reduce the number of people in America living in poverty while also reducing
			 the total amount of Federal dollars spent on poverty reduction;
			(3)refocus
			 poverty-related services toward an asset model that enables and supports each
			 individual to reach his or her full potential; and
			(4)encourage
			 innovation in designing poverty reduction and prevention services and models in
			 American communities, and to assess the successes and failures of innovative
			 designs and non-traditional service delivery models.
			4.DefinitionsIn this Act:
			(1)BoardThe
			 term Board means the National Opportunity Board established under
			 section 101.
			(2)Eligible
			 areaThe term eligible area means a city, county,
			 town, township, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision
			 of a State, including the District of Columbia and insular areas, that meets
			 criteria to be established under this Act by the Board.
			(3)HolisticThe
			 term holistic means encompassing health, education, labor,
			 housing, justice and food.
			(4)Human
			 Development IndexThe term Human Development Index
			 means a summary composite index that measures an area’s average achievements in
			 3 basic aspects of human development (health, knowledge, and a decent standard
			 of living) and is currently calculated on a global scale by the United Nations
			 Development Program and other organizations.
			(5)Local governing
			 bodyThe term local governing body means the
			 executive office of any city, county, town, township, parish, village, or other
			 general purpose political subdivision of a State, including the District of
			 Columbia and insular areas.
			(6)Local
			 Opportunity PlanThe term Local Opportunity Plan
			 means a detailed spending plan, to be developed by the Local Opportunity Board
			 and submitted to the National Opportunity Board under guidelines to be
			 established by the National Opportunity Board.
			(7)National
			 CompetitionThe term National Competition means the
			 National Competition for Community Renewal established under title II.
			(8)Program
			 periodThe term program period means a period of 5
			 years, beginning on the date of the selection of an eligible area by the
			 Board.
			(9)Qualified
			 areaThe term qualified area means an eligible area
			 that has been approved under the National Competition by the Board.
			(10)Qualified
			 military installationThe term qualified military
			 installation means any military installation or facility the number of
			 members of the Armed Forces of the United States assigned to which, as of the
			 date of enactment of this Act, is not less than 1,000.
			(11)Responsible
			 local officialThe term responsible local official
			 means the local official appointed by the Local Opportunity Board to administer
			 the funds in the local opportunity fund for the qualified area involved. Such
			 official shall be so appointed if such official is responsible for
			 administering the majority of funding under the waived programs specified under
			 section 203(b)(2)(B) for the area involved.
			(12)Rural
			 areaThe term rural area means an eligible area
			 within a public use microdata area that meets the definition of rural
			 area as determined by the Census Bureau for the most recent Census for
			 which data is available.
			INational and Local
			 Opportunity Boards
			101.National
			 Opportunity Board
				(a)EstablishmentThere
			 is established a bipartisan, independent entity to be known as the
			 National Opportunity Board to develop and administer the
			 National Competition.
				(b)CompositionThe
			 Board shall be composed of 7 members, of which—
					(1)1
			 member shall be the President's Domestic Policy Advisor;
					(2)1
			 member shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the Majority
			 and Minority leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate, who shall
			 serve as the Chair of the Board;
					(3)1
			 member shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate in consultation
			 with the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, who shall serve as
			 the Vice-Chair of the Board;
					(4)1
			 member shall be appointed by the senior Democratic member of the Senate
			 leadership;
					(5)1
			 member shall be appointed by the senior Republican member of the Senate
			 leadership;
					(6)1
			 member shall be appointed by the senior Democratic member of the House of
			 Representatives leadership; and
					(7)1
			 member shall be appointed by the senior Republican member of the House of
			 Representatives leadership.
					(c)AppointmentsThe
			 members appointed to the Board under subsection (b) shall, to the extent
			 practicable, include—
					(1)representatives of
			 non-profit organizations;
					(2)members of the
			 poverty reduction advocacy community;
					(3)experts in the
			 area of philanthropic giving; and
					(4)members with
			 experience relative to local government administration.
					(d)Ex officio
			 members
					(1)In
			 generalThe following individuals or their designees shall serve
			 as ex officio members of the Board:
						(A)The Secretary of
			 Health and Human Services;
						(B)The Secretary of
			 Commerce;
						(C)The Secretary of
			 Housing and Urban Development;
						(D)The Secretary of
			 Labor;
						(E)The Secretary of
			 Agriculture; and
						(F)The Attorney
			 General.
						(2)LimitationsEx
			 officio members of the board shall—
						(A)not have a vote
			 with respect to the activities of the Board; and
						(B)be required to
			 attend all meetings of the Board.
						(3)DesigneesAn
			 individual who is not at least an Assistant Secretary may not be designated to
			 serve as an ex officio member of the Board under paragraph (1).
					(e)Dismissal,
			 quorum, vacancies
					(1)In
			 generalEach member of the Board appointed under subsection (b)
			 shall serve for a term of 6 years, except that—
						(A)a member of the
			 Board may be removed by a unanimous vote of all remaining voting members of the
			 Board, and only for cause;
						(B)if an individual
			 is appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term of
			 the individual’s predecessor, that individual shall serve only for the
			 remainder of the predecessor’s term; and
						(C)any such
			 appointment to fill a vacancy shall be made within 60 days after the vacancy
			 occurs and shall be made in the same manner in which the original appointment
			 was made.
						(2)QuorumA
			 majority of the members of the Board appointed under subsection (b) shall
			 constitute a quorum to conduct business.
					(3)MeetingsThe
			 Board shall meet at the call of the Chair or a majority of the members
			 appointed under subsection (b), and commence operations as soon as practicable
			 and after its initial meeting.
					(f)Duties
					(1)Guidelines for
			 the National CompetitionThe Board shall design and establish
			 written guidelines for establishing and implementing the National Competition,
			 including the following:
						(A)Criteria for
			 establishing eligible areas, including—
							(i)to
			 the extent practicable, the use by the Board of the Human Development Index or
			 the Supplemental Poverty Measurement to be established by the Census Bureau as
			 a criteria for determining eligible areas; and
							(ii)the
			 demonstrated ability of a Local Opportunity Board to provide local matching
			 funds as established under section 204(e).
							(B)Application
			 requirements to enable eligible areas to apply for grants and other assistance
			 under the National Competition, including the design and content of the Local
			 Opportunity Plan, as described in subsection 102(d)(1).
						(C)Criteria for
			 evaluating applications submitted under the National Competition.
						(D)Eligible program
			 development costs.
						(E)Criteria for
			 accountability measures for eligible areas selected to participate in the
			 National Competition.
						(F)Reporting
			 requirements for eligible areas selected to participate in the National
			 Competition.
						(2)RulemakingThe
			 Board shall have the authority to promulgate regulations for establishment and
			 administration of the National Competition.
					(3)Administration
			 of National CompetitionThe Board shall administer the National
			 Competition, including—
						(A)awarding funding
			 and waivers to eligible areas based on developed criteria; and
						(B)evaluating the
			 performance of participating eligible areas in accordance with this
			 section.
						(4)Evaluations
						(A)In
			 generalNot later than 3 years after the date of enactment of
			 this Act, and annually thereafter, the Local Opportunity Board shall submit to
			 the National Opportunity Board a comprehensive report on the implementation of
			 a spending plan as described in section 102(d)(1)(A).
						(B)Cancellation of
			 awardBased on information received in the report under
			 subparagraph (A), the National Opportunity Board may revoke funding and access
			 to benefits provided under title II if the Board determines that—
							(i)the
			 Local Opportunity Board of the qualified area fails to provide the information
			 required under subparagraph (A), or the information provided by the chief
			 elected official is inadequate;
							(ii)the
			 Local Opportunity Board of the qualified area failed to comply with the
			 provisions established under the Local Opportunity Plan as established under
			 section 102(d)(1); or
							(iii)the Local
			 Opportunity Board of the qualified area failed to meet any additional criteria
			 to be established by the National Opportunity Board.
							(C)Repayment of
			 amountsThe National Opportunity Board may, in accordance with
			 this subsection, require a qualified area to repay any amounts that were not
			 expended by the qualified area in accordance with the Local Opportunity Plan as
			 established under section 102(d)(1), and any such funds shall be returned to
			 the general fund of the Treasury.
						(D)GuidelinesThe
			 National Opportunity Board shall establish guidelines for the conduct of an
			 independent audit, after the second program year, of any qualified area
			 participating in the National Competition. Such guidelines shall require that
			 the qualified area be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing
			 standards by independent certified public accountants and that all books,
			 accounts, financial records, reports, and files necessary to facilitate the
			 audits shall be made available to the person or persons conducting the
			 audits.
						(g)Personnel
			 matters
					(1)Compensation and
			 expenses
						(A)In
			 generalExcept as provided in this paragraph, a member of the
			 Board shall serve without compensation.
						(B)Travel
			 expensesEach member of the Board shall be reimbursed for travel
			 and per diem in lieu of subsistence expenses during the performance of duties
			 of the Board while away from home or his or her regular place of business, in
			 accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title
			 5, United States Code.
						(C)Federal
			 employeesA member of the Board who is an officer or employee of
			 the Federal Government shall serve without compensation in addition to the
			 compensation received for the services of the member as an officer or employee
			 of the Federal Government.
						(2)StaffSubject
			 to such rules as the Board may prescribe, the Chair of the Board, without
			 regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments
			 in the competitive service, and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51
			 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title (relating to classification and
			 General Schedule pay rates), may appoint and fix the pay of a staff director
			 and such other personnel as may be necessary to enable the Board to carry out
			 its functions; except that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may
			 exceed the maximum rate of basic pay payable for GS–15 of the General
			 Schedule.
					(3)Staff of Federal
			 agenciesUpon request of the Chair of the Board, the head of any
			 department or agency described under section 101(d) may detail, on a
			 non-reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to
			 the Board to assist it in carrying out its functions under this Act.
					(h)Authorization of
			 appropriationsFor the purposes of carrying out this section,
			 there are authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, and
			 $2,500,000 each of fiscal years 2012 through 2016.
				102.Local
			 Opportunity Boards
				(a)EstablishmentTo
			 be eligible to receive funds under this Act, the chief elected official of an
			 eligible area shall establish a Local Opportunity Board.
				(b)CompositionThe
			 Local Opportunity Board shall consist of not more than 5 members, to be
			 appointed by the chief elected official of the eligible area, and shall include
			 representatives of—
					(1)State
			 government;
					(2)non-elected
			 community leaders, particularly those providing poverty-related services,
			 including advocates and experts; and
					(3)the head of the
			 lead agency (or his or her designee) in one or more of the following programs
			 operating in the eligible area—
						(A)health
			 programs;
						(B)labor
			 programs;
						(C)housing
			 programs;
						(D)agriculture
			 programs;
						(E)justice programs;
			 or
						(F)commerce
			 programs.
						(c)ChairThe
			 members of the Local Opportunity Board shall select a Chair form among such
			 members.
				(d)DutiesThe
			 Local Opportunity Board shall—
					(1)develop and submit
			 to the Board a Local Opportunity Plan, that at a minimum includes—
						(A)a detailed
			 spending plan for any funds approved under the National Competition by the
			 Board;
						(B)a description of
			 how the spending plan meets the criteria listed for grant eligibility as
			 defined by the Board and including the criteria listed in section
			 205(a);
						(C)a description of
			 coordination with other Federal, State, and local government assistance
			 programs available in the jurisdiction in which the eligible area is located;
			 and
						(D)any other elements
			 as required by the Board;
						(2)submit an
			 application (including the Local Opportunity Plan), pursuant to guidelines
			 established by the Board, to the Board for approval; and
					(3)establish a
			 reporting system, as described in section 101(f)(1)(F), through which the Chair
			 of the Local Opportunity Board shall report to the National Opportunity Board
			 in compliance with that subsection.
					IINational
			 Competition for Community Renewal
			201.EstablishmentThe Board shall develop and publish
			 guidelines for the establishment of the National Competition for Community
			 Renewal to provide for the awarding of competitive grants, targeted waivers,
			 and targeted tax incentives.
			202.DurationThe National Competition shall be effective
			 beginning with the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of
			 this Act and ending after the fifth such fiscal year.
			203.Local
			 opportunity funds
				(a)EstablishmentTo
			 be eligible to receive assistance under this Act, the Local Opportunity Board
			 for the qualified area shall—
					(1)establish a local
			 opportunity fund; and
					(2)otherwise comply
			 with the requirements of this section.
					(b)Amounts in
			 fund
					(1)In
			 generalPrior to awarding a grant to a qualified area under
			 section 204, the Local Opportunity Board of the qualified area shall have
			 established a local opportunity fund.
					(2)DepositsThere
			 shall be deposited into the local opportunity fund the following:
						(A)Any funds provided
			 to the qualified area under the grant program established under section
			 204.
						(B)Funds made
			 available for use during the program period in the qualified area under the
			 following:
							(i)The
			 Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9901 et seq.).
							(ii)The
			 Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.).
							(iii)The Low-Income
			 Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.).
							(iv)The
			 supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Richard B. Russell National
			 School Lunch Act (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
							(v)The
			 Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons Program under the Energy
			 Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6861 et seq.).
							(vi)The
			 Jobs Corps program under subtitle C of title I of the Workforce Investment Act
			 of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2881 et seq.).
							(vii)The Temporary
			 Assistance to Needy Families Program under title IV of the Social Security Act
			 (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
							(viii)The Workforce
			 Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.).
							(C)Any matching funds
			 provided by the qualified area.
						(c)Accounting
			 regulationsThe Board shall promulgate regulations with respect
			 to accounting for the amounts in the local opportunity funds established under
			 subsection (a).
				(d)Use of
			 fundsThe responsible local official shall have a fiduciary
			 responsibility to administer funds in the local opportunity fund established
			 under subsection (a)—
					(1)in accordance with
			 the Local Opportunity Plan (as approved by the Board); and,
					(2)notwithstanding
			 the provisions of law referred to in subsection (b)(2)(B).
					(e)State
			 fundsThe Local Opportunity Plan described in section 102(d)(1)
			 shall provide satisfactory assurance that Federal funds and assistance made
			 available under this title shall not be comingled with State funds, except as
			 provided for under subsection (b)(2)(C).
				204.Grant
			 awards
				(a)AuthorizationThe
			 Board shall award competitive grants to qualified areas that meet criteria to
			 be established by the Board.
				(b)AdministrationAmount
			 made available under a grant under this section to a qualified area shall be
			 deposited in the local opportunity fund established by the chief elected
			 official for the qualified area.
				(c)AmountThe
			 amount of a grant under this section shall not exceed $10,000,000.
				(d)Use of
			 amountsThe responsible local official shall have a fiduciary
			 responsibility to administer funds in accordance with the priorities
			 established in the Local Opportunity Plan by the Local Opportunity Board and
			 approved by the National Opportunity Board.
				(e)Matching
			 fund
					(1)In
			 generalThe Board may require a qualified area to provide
			 non-Federal matching funds with respect to grants awarded under this section,
			 except that the amount of any matching requirements shall not exceed the amount
			 of the grant award.
					(2)Sliding
			 scaleThe amount of matching funds required under paragraph (1)
			 shall be established based on a sliding scale that takes into account—
						(A)the poverty of the
			 population to be targeted by the qualified entity; and
						(B)the ability of the
			 qualified entity to obtain such matching funds.
						(3)In-kind
			 contributionsThe Board shall permit qualified areas to comply
			 with a matching requirement under paragraph (2) in whole or in part with
			 in-kind contributions, including administrative expenses.
					205.Waiver
			 program
				(a)EstablishmentThe
			 Board shall develop and publish guidelines to provide for a waiver of the
			 application of any or all of the provisions of law described in subsection (c),
			 with respect to a qualified area under the National Competition.
				(b)AuthorizationThe
			 Board shall grant a waiver to a qualified areas that has been selected by the
			 Board as a winner under the National Competition.
				(c)Provisions of
			 law To be waivedThe provisions of law described in this
			 subsection are the following:
					(1)The Community
			 Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9901 et seq.).
					(2)The Head Start Act
			 (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.).
					(3)The Low-Income
			 Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.).
					(4)The supplemental
			 nutrition assistance program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch
			 Act (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
					(5)The Weatherization
			 Assistance for Low-Income Persons Program under the Energy Conservation and
			 Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6861 et seq.).
					(6)The Jobs Corps
			 program under subtitle C of title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29
			 U.S.C. 2881 et seq.).
					(7)The Temporary
			 Assistance to Needy Families Program under title IV of the Social Security Act
			 (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
					(8)The Workforce
			 Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.).
					(d)Hold
			 harmlessNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the amount
			 received by an individual under this Act in any program year shall not be less
			 than the amount that individual would otherwise have received under any
			 provision of law described in subsection (c) during such year.
				206.Tax
			 incentivesA qualified area
			 that is selected to participate in the National Competition by the Board shall
			 be eligible for targeted tax incentives as established under title III.
			207.Application and
			 administration
				(a)Design
			 principlesIn approving an application for participation in the
			 National Competition under this title, the Board may give preference to
			 eligible areas that include the creation of an individual opportunity plan (as
			 described in subsection (b)) as well as the following design principles as
			 contained in the Local Opportunity Plan (as established in section
			 102(d)(1)):
					(1)Basing poverty
			 reduction and prevention services on the Human Development Index as a measure
			 of the level of poverty for individuals and households.
					(2)A
			 model of poverty reduction and prevention that includes the varying levels of
			 service for individuals and is adjusted to reflect the needs of individuals and
			 households at different stages of poverty. The different levels of service may
			 be structured to reflect the following levels of assistance:
						(A)For low-income
			 individuals and families requiring services to prevent reliance on more
			 expensive government programs, services shall focus on intervention, including
			 such services as mortgage assistance, debt relief, housing and voucher
			 assistance, and job development and placement.
						(B)For low-income
			 individuals and families currently relying on at least one government program
			 for basic needs such as food or housing, services shall be tailored to meet
			 specific needs identified in a unique individual opportunity plan adopted by
			 intensive client advocacy.
						(C)For individuals at
			 or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines, the continued provision of long term
			 services shall be made available.
						(3)An individual
			 opportunity plan (as provided for in subsection (b).
					(4)Intensive client
			 advocacy, as defined in guidelines to be developed and published by the
			 Board.
					(5)Detailed
			 evaluation practices, as defined in guidelines to be developed and published by
			 the Board.
					(b)Individual
			 opportunity plansThe Board shall develop and publish guidelines
			 for the establishment of individual opportunity plans, which, at a minimum
			 shall consist of—
					(1)an assessment of
			 the unique strengths and needs of the individual and the identification of
			 services appropriate to meet such needs; and
					(2)a
			 written individualized opportunity plan developed by a multidisciplinary team,
			 including a description of measurable results and outcomes expecting to be
			 achieved as a result of implementation of the plan.
					(c)Participation in
			 National CompetitionThe Board shall select a total of 10
			 qualified areas for participation in the National Competition. Such areas shall
			 include—
					(1)not less than 3
			 rural areas as defined by this Act; and,
					(2)not less than 1
			 qualified area that is located in a county in which a qualified military
			 installation or a county adjacent to a qualified military installation is
			 located.
					IIICommunity
			 renewal incentives
			301.Community
			 renewal savings
				(a)In
			 generalEach Local Opportunity Board shall implement a method to
			 calculate the community renewal savings achieved through the implementation of
			 its Local Opportunity Plan.
				(b)Community
			 renewal savingsFor the purposes of this Act, the term
			 community renewal savings means the present dollar value of the
			 total Federal and State funds directly or indirectly saved by the Local
			 Opportunity Board for individuals successfully assisted through the Local
			 Opportunity Plan.
				(c)FactorsThe
			 community renewal savings shall be measured by criteria identified by the Local
			 Opportunity Board in valuing the effectiveness of each program in the Local
			 Opportunity Plan, but shall include the following:
					(1)Present dollar
			 value of increasing the income of an individual successfully assisted by a
			 Local Opportunity Plan.
					(2)Present dollar
			 value of an individual graduating high school.
					(3)Funds expended by
			 the jurisdiction to assist an individual in each Local Opportunity Plan.
					(4)Funds expended if
			 an individual does not graduate high school.
					(d)AllocationThe
			 community renewal savings of a Local Opportunity Board shall be allocated as
			 following:
					(1)50 percent to
			 reduce the public deficit.
					(2)25 percent to fund
			 community tax incentives.
					(3)25 percent to
			 fund, reinvest in, and expand programs and services under this Act.
					(e)Program
			 cost-Benefit ratioEach Local Opportunity Board shall calculate
			 the program cost-benefit ratio for each program under the Local Opportunity
			 Plan, which shall be the ratio of—
					(1)the cost of the
			 program measured by dollars; over
					(2)the benefit of the
			 program expressed in dollars.
					(f)ExampleThe
			 program cost-benefit ratio of a job training program is equal to the cost of
			 the program in dollars over the amount the program raises the earnings of the
			 enrollee during his or her lifetime, taking into account what the individual
			 would have earned without the job training program using local job market
			 data.
				302.Community tax
			 incentives
				(a)In
			 generalA dollar amount equal to 25 percent of the community
			 renewal savings shall be allocated to the community tax incentives.
				(b)Community tax
			 incentivesThe community tax incentives shall consist of the
			 following:
					(1)Renewal employer
			 refundable credit.
					(2)Unrelated business
			 taxable income deduction.
					(3)Qualified
			 community renewal contribution.
					(4)High school
			 graduation tax credit.
					(5)Modified new
			 markets tax credit.
					(6)Community renewal
			 bonds.
					303.Renewal
			 employer refundable credit
				(a)In
			 generalIn the case of any taxable year during the program
			 period, there shall be allowed a current year business credit in the amount of
			 $3,000 under section 38(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, with respect
			 to each retained worker employed by a qualified opportunity employer with
			 respect to which subsection (b)(4) is first satisfied during such taxable
			 year.
				(b)Retained
			 workerFor purposes of this section, the term retained
			 worker means any individual—
					(1)whose principal
			 place of abode is within the qualified area;
					(2)substantially all
			 of the services performed by such individual during the taxable year are
			 rendered within the qualified area;
					(3)who begins
			 employment with a qualified opportunity employer after the commencement of the
			 program period;
					(4)who certifies by
			 signed affidavit, under penalties of perjury, that such individual has not been
			 employed for more than 40 hours during the 90-day period ending on the date
			 such individual begins such employment;
					(5)who is not
			 employed by the qualified opportunity employer to replace another employee of
			 such employer unless such other employee separated from employment voluntarily
			 or for cause;
					(6)who is not an
			 individual described in section 51(i)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
			 (applied by substituting qualified opportunity employer for
			 taxpayer each place that term appears);
					(7)who was employed
			 by the qualified opportunity employer on any date during the taxable
			 year;
					(8)who was so
			 employed by the qualified opportunity employer for a period of not less than 52
			 consecutive weeks;
					(9)whose wages (as
			 defined in section 3401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) for such
			 employment during the last 26 weeks of such period equaled at least 110 percent
			 of such wages for the first 26 weeks of such period; and
					(10)who receives
			 health benefits at least equal to essential health benefits, as defined under
			 section 1302 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
					(c)Qualified
			 opportunity employer
					(1)In
			 generalFor purposes of this section, the term qualified
			 opportunity employer means any employer—
						(A)having a place of
			 business in the qualified area;
						(B)subject to remit
			 withholding and employment taxes to the United States; and
						(C)designated by the
			 Local Opportunity Board, at its sole discretion, as a qualified opportunity
			 employer based on its hiring standards, employee benefits, and employee
			 retention statistics.
						(2)Types of
			 qualified opportunity employersA qualified opportunity employer
			 includes any person employing individuals within the qualified area as long as
			 such person meets the requirements under paragraph (1) and is not limited to
			 persons subject to income tax under subpart A of the Internal Revenue Code of
			 1986.
					(d)Limitation on
			 carrybacksNo portion of the unused credit under section 38 of
			 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any taxable year which is attributable to
			 the increase in the current year business credit under this section may be
			 carried to a taxable year beginning before the date of the enactment of this
			 section.
				304.Unrelated
			 business taxable income deduction
				(a)In
			 generalIn the case of any taxable year during the program
			 period, there shall be allowed a deduction under section 512(a) of the Internal
			 Revenue Code of 1986 equal to the amount of 25 percent for any community
			 renewal expenditure during such taxable year.
				(b)Community
			 renewal expenditureFor purposes of this section, the term
			 community renewal expenditure means an expenditure made by a
			 qualified opportunity organization in furtherance of a qualified opportunity
			 program or service.
				(c)Qualified
			 opportunity organizationFor purposes of this section, the term
			 qualified opportunity organization means an organization—
					(1)which is described
			 in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from
			 tax under section 501(a) of such Code (other than a private foundation, as
			 defined in section 509(a) of such Code, which is not an operating foundation,
			 as defined in section 4942(j)(3) of such Code); and
					(2)is designated by
			 the Local Opportunity Board as being an eligible recipient of qualified
			 community renewal contributions based on the programs and services it proposes
			 to offer in furtherance of the Local Opportunity Plan.
					(d)Qualified
			 opportunity program or serviceFor purposes of this section, the
			 term qualified opportunity program or service means a program or
			 service conducted by a qualified opportunity organization that is designated by
			 the Local Opportunity Board as contributing importantly in accomplishing the
			 Local Opportunity Plan.
				305.Qualified
			 community renewal contribution
				(a)In
			 generalIn the case of any taxable year during the program
			 period, there shall be allowed a charitable contribution deduction under
			 section 170(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 equal to the amount of 120
			 percent of any qualified community renewal contribution donated during such
			 taxable year.
				(b)Qualified
			 community renewal contributionFor purposes of this section, the
			 term qualified community renewal contribution means a charitable
			 contribution of property described in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue
			 Code of 1986, by an individual or corporation to a qualified opportunity
			 organization (as defined in section 304(c)).
				(c)Increased
			 charitable contribution deduction limitationFor the purposes of
			 this section, section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is
			 applied—
					(1)in the flush
			 language of subsection (b)(1)(A), by substituting 75 percent for
			 50 percent; and
					(2)in subsection
			 (b)(2)(A), by substituting 15 percent for 10
			 percent.
					(d)Exclusion from
			 alternative minimum taxable incomeIn any taxable year during
			 which a qualified community renewal contribution is properly claimed or carried
			 over, the amount of such qualified community renewal contribution shall not be
			 included in limiting the claimant’s total itemized deductions under the
			 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (other than under subsection (c)) and shall be
			 excluded from the claimant’s calculation of alternative minimum taxable income
			 under such Code.
				306.High school
			 graduation tax credit
				(a)In
			 generalIn the case of any taxable year during the program
			 period, there shall be allowed to any eligible graduate or any taxpayer
			 claiming an eligible graduate as a dependent a credit against tax imposed by
			 subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of a high school graduation tax
			 credit in the amount of $500.
				(b)Eligible
			 graduateFor the purposes of this section, the term
			 eligible graduate means any individual who graduates from a
			 qualified opportunity school.
				(c)Qualified
			 opportunity schoolFor the purposes of this section, the term
			 qualified opportunity school means—
					(1)a
			 secondary school located in the qualified area that includes grade 12;
			 and
					(2)is designated by
			 the Local Opportunity Board as a qualified opportunity school based on certain
			 predetermined criteria, such as the average graduation rate.
					(d)No
			 limitationThe high school graduation tax credit shall be
			 considered a refundable tax credit under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and
			 is allowable based solely on the requirements stated in this section.
				307.Modified new
			 markets tax credit
				(a)In
			 generalIn the case of any taxable year during the program
			 period, the term low-income community as defined in section 45D of
			 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall include the area within a qualified
			 area.
				(b)Qualified equity
			 investmentA qualified equity investment made pursuant to section
			 45D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in a qualified area in accordance with
			 subsection (a) shall qualify as such at the time of investment and shall not
			 fail to be considered a qualified equity investment upon termination of the
			 National Competition for Community Renewal.
				308.Earned income
			 tax credit
				(a)In
			 generalIn the case of any taxable year during the program
			 period, the Local Opportunity Board may submit to the National Opportunity
			 Board revisions to section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that modify
			 the eligibility or percentage requirements, or both, of the earned income tax
			 credit allowable to individuals residing in the qualified area.
				(b)AdoptionThe
			 National Opportunity Board, in its sole discretion, may approve all or part of
			 the modifications to the earned income tax credit by the Local Opportunity
			 Board. The National Opportunity Board shall base its decision to approve the
			 Local Opportunity Board’s proposed revisions to the earned income tax credit on
			 comprehensive data presented to the National Opportunity Board that the
			 proposed revisions will better serve the individuals residing in the qualified
			 area.
				(c)TerminationAt
			 the end of the program period, any revisions made to the earned income tax
			 credit requirements under the authority granted in this section shall terminate
			 and individuals residing in the qualified area shall be subject to the
			 provisions as stated in section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
				(d)ReportsBy
			 the end of each subsequent year following a taxable year of the program period,
			 the Local Opportunity Board shall report to the National Opportunity Board the
			 number of persons filing and the amount of credit allowed under the approved
			 revisions to the earned income tax credit as compared with the same statistics
			 in taxable years before the commencement of the program period.
				309.Community
			 renewal bonds
				(a)In
			 generalThe National Opportunity board, acting through the Local
			 Opportunity Boards, is hereby granted the authority to act on behalf of the
			 Secretary of Treasury to issue and sell community renewal bonds in face value
			 increments of $100 up to a maximum amount of $50,000,000 to assist the
			 financing of Local Opportunity Plans. Community renewal bonds shall bear a
			 coupon rate of 25 percent.
				(b)Community
			 renewal bondsCommunity renewal bonds shall be backed by the full
			 faith and credit of the United States Government.
				(c)AllocationProceeds
			 from the sale of community renewal bonds shall be allocated evenly among the
			 Local Opportunity Boards.
				(d)TermCommunity
			 renewal bonds shall have a maturity date of 7 years from the date of
			 issuance.
				(e)RepaymentRepayment
			 of community renewal bonds allocated to each Local Opportunity Board shall be
			 made from a portion of the community renewal savings allocated to the community
			 tax incentives for such Board.
				310.Anti-corruption
			 provisionIt shall be unlawful
			 for any person—
				(1)to claim a
			 community renewal incentive who does not meet the requirements set forth in
			 this Act; and
				(2)to use funds
			 appropriated under this Act for any purpose for which such funds were not
			 authorized.
				IVCompetitions for
			 innovation in client advocacy and evaluation
			401.Client advocacy
			 competition
				(a)In
			 generalThe Board shall be authorized to establish and administer
			 a program to award competitive grants, in the amount of $5,000,000, to eligible
			 entities to provide for the development of a client advocacy and consumer
			 services technology platform.
				(b)Eligible
			 entityThe Board shall establish criteria that an entity must
			 comply with to be considered an eligible entity for purposes of this
			 section
				(c)Priority
			 considerationThe Board shall establish criteria for the awarding
			 of grants under this section and shall give priority consideration to eligible
			 entities that establish a platform which shall include—
					(1)single source data
			 entry that will be imported into multiple data entry points;
					(2)a
			 user-friendly interface;
					(3)data that is
			 interoperable across numerous programs;
					(4)calculations based
			 on the Human Development Index or another alternative poverty
			 measurement;
					(5)security
			 requirements;
					(6)assisting the case
			 manager and consumer with establishing short and long term goals; and
					(7)low-cost or
			 cost-effective replication abilities.
					(d)Client advocacy
			 and consumer services technologyIn awarding grants under this
			 section the Board shall give preference to those eligible entities that are, on
			 the date of enactment of this Act, operating a client advocacy and consumer
			 services technology platform.
				402.Evaluation
			 competition
				(a)In
			 generalThe Board shall be authorized to establish and administer
			 a program to award competitive grants, in the amount of $5,000,000, to eligible
			 entities to provide for the development of a social services evaluation
			 method.
				(b)Eligible
			 entityThe Board shall establish criteria that an entity must
			 comply with to be considered an eligible entity for purposes of this section,
			 with preference to be given to those entities in academia or research-oriented
			 fields.
				(c)Social service
			 evaluationThe Board shall establish criteria for the awarding of
			 grants under this section and may consider, in establishing such criteria, the
			 extent to which the proposed social service evaluation method to be developed
			 under the grant would uniquely measure social service interventions with high
			 predictability for programs that will be successful when serving a high volume
			 of individuals.
				VReport to
			 Congress
			501.Report to
			 Congress
				(a)BoardNot
			 later than 1 year after the end of the third and fifth fiscal years during
			 which the program under this Act is implemented, the Board shall submit to the
			 Congress a report that—
					(1)summarizes all
			 activities carried out under this Act; and
					(2)sets forth any
			 findings, conclusions, or recommendations of the Board as a result of such
			 activities.
					(b)Government
			 accountability officeNot later the end of the third and the
			 fifth fiscal year during which the program under this Act is implemented, the
			 Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to Congress that
			 contains—
					(1)a
			 description of the savings in Federal programs accrued as a result of this
			 Act;
					(2)a
			 description of the success and effectiveness of the reforms contained in this
			 Act; and
					(3)recommendations
			 for improvement in the administration of the programs under this Act.
					VIAuthorization of
			 appropriations
			601.Authorization
			 of appropriationsFor the
			 purposes of carrying out this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated
			 $125,000,000 for the first fiscal year in which the National Competition is
			 implemented, and for each of the five succeeding fiscal years.


		II
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		S. 2747
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

			November 6, 2009
			Mr. Bingaman (for
			 himself and Mr. Baucus) introduced the
			 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
			 Committee on Energy and Natural
			 Resources

		A BILL
		To amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965
		  to provide consistent and reliable authority for, and for the funding of, the
		  land and water conservation fund to maximize the effectiveness of the fund for
		  future generations, and for other purposes.

		1.Short
			 titleThis Act may be cited as
			 the Land and Water Conservation
			 Authorization and Funding Act of 2009.
		2.Permanent
			 authorization; full funding
			(a)PurposesThe purposes of the amendments made by
			 subsection (b) are—
				(1)to provide consistent and reliable
			 authority for, and for the funding of, the land and water conservation fund
			 established under section 2 of the Land and
			 Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l–5); and
				(2)to maximize the effectiveness of the fund
			 for future generations.
				(b)Amendments
				(1)Permanent
			 authorizationSection 2 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C.
			 460l–5) is amended—
					(A)in the matter
			 preceding subsection (a), by striking During the period ending September
			 30, 2015, there and inserting There; and
					(B)in subsection
			 (c)(1), by striking through September 30, 2015.
					(2)Full
			 fundingSection 3 of the Land and
			 Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l–6) is amended to
			 read as follows:

						3.Availability of
				fundsMonies covered into the
				fund under section 2 shall be available for expenditure to carry out the
				purposes of this Act, without further
				appropriation.
						.


113 HR 1935 IH: For the relief of John Castellano.
U.S. House of Representatives
2013-05-09
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		113th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 1935
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 9, 2013
			Ms. Hahn introduced
			 the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on the
			 Judiciary

		A BILL
		For the relief of John Castellano.

		1.Granting posthumous
			 citizenship to John Castellano
			(a)Authority of
			 secretary of homeland securityNotwithstanding the Immigration
			 and Nationality Act or any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland
			 Security shall grant, in accordance with this Act, posthumous citizenship at
			 the time of death to John Castellano, who died July 7, 1937, if the Secretary
			 approves an application for posthumous citizenship under subsection (b).
			(b)Request for
			 posthumous citizenshipA request for the granting of posthumous
			 citizenship to the individual referred to in subsection (a) may be filed on
			 behalf of the individual only by the next-of-kin (as determined by the
			 Secretary of Homeland Security) or another representative (as determined by the
			 Secretary). The Secretary shall approve such a request respecting the
			 individual referred to in subsection (a) if the request is filed not later than
			 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act and the Secretary finds
			 that the individual satisfied the requirements of subsection (c).
			(c)Criteria for
			 granting of posthumous citizenshipThe requirements referred to
			 in subsection (b) are that the individual referred to in subsection (a) is a
			 person who, while an alien or a noncitizen national of the United States served
			 honorably in an active-duty status in the military, air, or naval forces of the
			 United States during any period described in the first sentence of section
			 329(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1440(a)), and satisfied
			 the requirements of clause (1) or (2) of the first sentence of section 329(a).
			 The executive department under which the person so served shall determine
			 whether the individual satisfied the requirements of paragraphs (1) and
			 (2).
			(d)Documentation of
			 posthumous citizenshipIf the Secretary of Homeland Security
			 approves such a request to grant the individual referred to in subsection (a)
			 posthumous citizenship, the Secretary shall send to the person who filed the
			 request a suitable document which states that the United States considers the
			 person to have been a citizen of the United States at the time of the
			 individual’s death.
			(e)No benefits to
			 survivorsNothing in this Act shall be construed as providing for
			 any benefits under this Act for any spouse, son, daughter, or other relative of
			 a person granted posthumous citizenship under this section.


110 HR 2188 IH: Kinship Caregiver Support

U.S. House of Representatives
2007-05-07
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		I
		110th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 2188
		IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

			May 7, 2007
			Mr. Davis of Illinois
			 (for himself and Mr. Johnson of
			 Illinois) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
			 Committee on Ways and
			 Means, and in addition to the Committee on
			 Education and Labor, 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 establish kinship navigator programs, to establish
		  kinship guardianship assistance payments for children, and for other
		  purposes.

		1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the
			 Kinship Caregiver Support
			 Act.
		2.Table of
			 contentsThe table of contents
			 of this Act is as follows:

				Sec. 1. Short title.
				Sec. 2. Table of contents.
				Title I—Kinship Navigator Program
				Sec. 101. Findings.
				Sec. 102. Purpose.
				Sec. 103. Definitions.
				Sec. 104. Grants.
				Sec. 105. Federal share.
				Sec. 106. Applications.
				Sec. 107. Use of grant funds.
				Sec. 108. Administration of the program.
				Sec. 109. Reservation.
				Sec. 110. Authorization of appropriations.
				Title II—Subsidized Guardianship Option for Title
				IV–E
				Sec. 201. Findings.
				Sec. 202. Kinship guardianship assistance payments for
				children.
				Sec. 203. Kinship guardianship demonstration
				projects.
				Title III—Notice of Children Entering Foster Care
				Sec. 301. Notice to relatives when children enter foster
				care.
				Sec. 302. Flexibility to establish separate standards for
				relative foster family homes.
				Sec. 303. Expansion of definition of family support services to
				include assisting kinship caregivers in locating and accessing needed
				services.
				Sec. 304. Requirement that states inform case workers and
				families considering guardianship of all permanency options and service
				eligibility.

		IKinship Navigator
			 Program
			101.FindingsCongress finds the following:
				(1)The 2000 decennial
			 census states that—
					(A)more that
			 4,500,000 children in the United States are living in grandparent-headed
			 households, a 30 percent increase from 1990 to 2000; and
					(B)an additional
			 1,500,000 children in the United States are living in households headed by
			 other relatives.
					(2)In the 2000
			 decennial census, over 2,400,000 grandparents reported that they were primarily
			 responsible for meeting the basic needs of their grandchildren, and parents
			 were not present in about 1/3 of the families
			 involved.
				(3)According to the
			 2000 decennial census, almost 1/5 of grandparents
			 responsible for their grandchildren live in poverty.
				(4)Kinship caregivers
			 (as defined in section 103) often face a variety of unnecessary barriers,
			 including difficulties enrolling children in school, authorizing medical
			 treatment, maintaining public housing leases, obtaining affordable legal
			 services, obtaining custody of children or otherwise achieving permanency for
			 children in their care, and accessing a variety of Federal benefits and
			 services.
				(5)Kinship caregivers
			 can help to keep children from entering the foster care system, and provide
			 safe and permanent homes, but need services and supports to do so. They need
			 better access to health insurance, respite care, child care, special education,
			 housing, and other benefits.
				(6)Surveys and
			 research on the needs of kinship caregivers report that one of their greatest
			 challenges in raising children is getting accurate information about—
					(A)the benefits and
			 services that are available to their families, such as health and mental health
			 care, assistance provided under the program of block grants to States for
			 temporary assistance for needy families established under part A of title IV of
			 the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601
			 et seq.), kinship or foster care, kinship assistance and adoption assistance,
			 child care and early education, special education, and other services for
			 children with disabilities; and
					(B)the legal
			 authority, responsibilities, and rights of kinship caregivers.
					(7)Funding for
			 kinship navigator programs can—
					(A)help kinship care
			 families better use existing programs and services; and
					(B)increase the
			 capacity of public and private not-for-profit agencies, including
			 community-based and faith-based agencies, and including agencies carrying out
			 related Federal programs, such as the National Family Caregiver Support Program
			 under part E of title III of the Older
			 Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030s et seq.), to better serve the
			 needs of kinship care families.
					102.PurposeThe purposes of this title are—
				(1)to establish
			 kinship navigator programs in States, large metropolitan areas, and tribal
			 areas to assist kinship caregivers in navigating their way through programs and
			 services, to help the caregivers learn about and obtain assistance to meet the
			 needs of the children they are raising and their own needs; and
				(2)to
			 promote effective partnerships among public and private not-for-profit
			 agencies, including community-based and faith-based agencies, to help the
			 agencies described in this paragraph more effectively and efficiently serve
			 kinship care families and address the fragmentation that creates barriers to
			 meeting the needs of those families.
				103.DefinitionsIn this title:
				(1)Assistant
			 secretaryThe term Assistant Secretary means the
			 Assistant Secretary for Children and Families of the Department of Health and
			 Human Services.
				(2)Kinship care
			 familyThe term kinship care family means a family
			 with a kinship caregiver.
				(3)Kinship
			 caregiverThe term kinship caregiver means a
			 grandparent or stepgrandparent of a child, a relative of a child by blood,
			 marriage, or adoption, who—
					(A)lives with the
			 child;
					(B)is the primary
			 caregiver of the child because the biological or adoptive parent of the child
			 is unable or unwilling to serve as the primary caregiver of the child;
			 and
					(C)has a legal
			 relationship to the child or is raising the child informally.
					(4)Large
			 metropolitan areaThe term large metropolitan area
			 means a metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the Bureau of the Census,
			 with a population of not less than 1,000,000.
				(5)Metropolitan
			 agencyThe term metropolitan agency means an agency
			 serving a large metropolitan area, or a county or political subdivision of a
			 large metropolitan area.
				(6)StateThe
			 term State means any of the several States, the District of
			 Columbia, the Virgin Islands of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto
			 Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
			 Islands.
				(7)Tribal
			 areaThe term tribal area means the area served by a
			 tribal organization.
				(8)Tribal
			 organizationThe term tribal organization—
					(A)means a tribal
			 organization, as defined in section 658P of the
			 Child Care and Development Block Grant Act
			 of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n); and
					(B)includes a
			 consortium of tribal organizations described in subparagraph (A).
					104.Grants
				(a)In
			 generalThe Assistant Secretary may make grants to eligible
			 entities to pay for the Federal share of the cost of carrying out kinship
			 navigator programs.
				(b)Eligible
			 entitiesTo be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an
			 entity shall be a State agency, metropolitan agency, or tribal organization,
			 with experience in—
					(1)addressing the
			 needs of kinship caregivers or children; and
					(2)connecting the
			 children or caregivers with appropriate services and assistance, such as
			 services and assistance provided by—
						(A)an area agency on
			 aging under the Older Americans Act of
			 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.); or
						(B)an agency with
			 jurisdiction over child welfare, income-based financial assistance, human
			 services, or health matters, or a public entity that links family resource and
			 support programs, for the State, large metropolitan area, or Indian tribe
			 involved.
						(c)Allocation of
			 grantsOf the funds made available for grants under this section
			 for each fiscal year, the Assistant Secretary shall use not less than 50
			 percent to make grants to State agencies.
				(d)Duration of the
			 grantsIn making the grants, the Assistant Secretary shall make
			 grants—
					(1)in
			 fiscal year 2008, for periods of 3 years;
					(2)in fiscal year
			 2009, for periods of 2 years; and
					(3)in fiscal year
			 2010, for periods of 1 year.
					105.Federal
			 share
				(a)In
			 generalThe Federal share of the cost of carrying out a kinship
			 navigator program under a grant shall be—
					(1)100 percent in the
			 first year of the grant period;
					(2)75 percent in the
			 second year (if any) of the grant period; and
					(3)50 percent in the
			 third year (if any) of the grant period.
					(b)Non-Federal
			 shareThe non-Federal share of the cost may be provided in cash.
			 Not more than 50 percent of the non-Federal share of the cost may be provided
			 in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services.
				106.Applications
				(a)In
			 generalTo be eligible to receive a grant under this title, an
			 entity shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, in
			 such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may
			 require, including, at a minimum, the information described in subsection
			 (b).
				(b)ContentsThe
			 application shall include the following:
					(1)A
			 description of the steps the entity will take during the first 6 months of the
			 grant period to—
						(A)identify gaps in
			 services for kinship care families in the State, large metropolitan area, or
			 tribal area to be served and the specific activities that are needed to bridge
			 the gaps;
						(B)convene a group of
			 partners to assist in the operation of the kinship navigator program funded
			 through the grant;
						(C)utilize or develop
			 relevant technology;
						(D)conduct outreach
			 to kinship caregivers about the kinship navigator program; and
						(E)develop a plan for
			 reaching kinship caregivers, ensuring that the caregivers can access the
			 kinship navigator program, and following up to ensure that the caregivers
			 actually receive necessary services and supports.
						(2)An assurance that
			 the entity will provide at least the core activities specified in paragraphs
			 (1) and (2) of section 107(b) for kinship care families through the kinship
			 navigator program.
					(3)A
			 description of the activities the entity expects to offer over the grant period
			 and the entity’s initial projection of the number of children and kinship
			 caregivers likely to be served.
					(4)A
			 description of how the entity will involve in the planning and operation of the
			 kinship navigator program, on an ongoing basis—
						(A)kinship
			 caregivers;
						(B)youth raised or
			 being raised by kinship caregivers;
						(C)representatives of
			 kinship care support organizations;
						(D)relevant
			 government agencies (including agencies with jurisdiction over matters relating
			 to aging, mental health, mental retardation or developmental disabilities,
			 substance abuse treatment, criminal justice, health, youth services, human
			 services, education, income-based financial assistance, child welfare, child
			 custody, guardianship, adoption, or child support enforcement);
						(E)(i)not-for-profit service
			 providers, including community-based and faith-based agencies; and
							(ii)educational institutions;
			 and
							(F)other State or
			 local agencies or systems that promote service coordination or provide
			 information and referral services, including the entities that provide the
			 2–1–1 or 3–1–1 information systems where applicable.
						(5)A
			 description of—
						(A)how the entity
			 will coordinate its activities with other State or local agencies or systems
			 that promote service coordination or provide information and referral services
			 for children, families, or older individuals, including the entities that
			 provide the 2–1–1 or 3–1–1 information systems where applicable, so as to avoid
			 duplication of services and the fragmentation of services that prevents kinship
			 care families from getting the help the families need; and
						(B)how the entity
			 will encourage regional cooperation among agencies, particularly agencies
			 serving border communities that may cross jurisdictional lines, to ensure that
			 kinship care families will get help.
						(6)An assurance that
			 the entity will report at least annually to the Assistant Secretary, in a
			 manner prescribed by the Assistant Secretary, to ensure comparability of data
			 across States, on—
						(A)activities
			 established with the funds made available through grants made under this
			 title;
						(B)the numbers and
			 ages of the children and caregivers assisted through the grants;
						(C)the types of the
			 assistance provided;
						(D)the outcomes
			 achieved with the assistance; and
						(E)the barriers
			 identified to meeting the needs of kinship care families and plans for
			 addressing the barriers.
						(7)An assurance that
			 the entity, not later than 3 months after the end of the final year of the
			 grant period, will submit a final report to the Administration for Children and
			 Families that describes—
						(A)the numbers and
			 ages of the children and caregivers assisted through the grants;
						(B)the types of
			 assistance provided;
						(C)the outcomes
			 achieved with the assistance;
						(D)the barriers to
			 meeting the needs of kinship care families that were addressed through the
			 grants;
						(E)the plans of the
			 entity to continue the kinship navigator program after the grant period has
			 ended;
						(F)lessons learned
			 during the grant period; and
						(G)recommendations
			 about the considerations that should be taken into account as the program
			 carried out under this title is expanded throughout the Nation.
						(c)PreferenceIn
			 awarding grants under this title, the Assistant Secretary shall give preference
			 to agencies or organizations that can demonstrate that the agencies and
			 organizations will offer the full array of activities described in section
			 107(b).
				107.Use of grant
			 funds
				(a)In
			 generalAn entity that receives a grant under this title may use
			 the funds made available through the grant directly, or through grants or
			 contracts with other public or private not-for-profit agencies, including
			 community-based or faith-based agencies, that have experience in connecting
			 kinship caregivers with appropriate services and assistance.
				(b)Use of
			 fundsAn entity that receives a grant under this title may use
			 the funds made available through the grant for activities that help to connect
			 kinship caregivers with the services and assistance required to meet the needs
			 of the children the caregivers are raising and their own needs, such as—
					(1)establishing and
			 maintaining information and referral systems that—
						(A)assist, through
			 toll free access that includes access to a live operator, kinship caregivers,
			 kinship care service providers, kinship care support group facilitators, and
			 others to learn about and link to—
							(i)local kinship care
			 service providers, support groups, respite care programs, and special services
			 for incarcerated parents;
							(ii)eligibility and
			 enrollment information for Federal, State, and local benefits, such as—
								(I)education
			 (including preschool, elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and special
			 education);
								(II)family support
			 services, early intervention services, mental health services, substance abuse
			 prevention and treatment services, services to address domestic violence
			 problems, services to address HIV or AIDS, legal services, child support,
			 housing assistance, and child care;
								(III)the disability
			 insurance benefits program established under title II of the
			 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et
			 seq.);
								(IV)the program of
			 block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families established
			 under part A of title IV of the Social Security
			 Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
								(V)the supplemental
			 security income program established under title XVI of the
			 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et
			 seq.);
								(VI)the medicaid
			 program established under title XIX of the Social
			 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.);
								(VII)the State
			 children’s health insurance program established under title XXI of the
			 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa
			 et seq.);
								(VIII)the program of
			 Federal payments for foster care and adoption assistance established under part
			 E of title IV of the Social Security
			 Act (42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.), including the program of kinship
			 guardianship assistance payments for children established under section 472A of
			 that Act; and
								(IX)the food stamp
			 program established under the Food Stamp Act of
			 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
								(iii)relevant
			 training to assist kinship caregivers in obtaining benefits and services and
			 performing their caregiving activities; and
							(iv)relevant legal
			 assistance and help in obtaining access to legal services, including access to
			 legal aid service providers and statewide elder law hotlines;
							(B)provide outreach to
			 kinship care families, in collaboration with schools, pediatric care clinics,
			 kinship care organizations, senior citizen centers, agencies with jurisdiction
			 over child welfare or human services, and others to link the families to the
			 kinship navigator program and to services and assistance; and
						(C)establish,
			 distribute, and regularly update kinship care resource guides, websites, or
			 other relevant outreach materials;
						(2)promoting
			 partnerships between public and private not-for-profit agencies, including
			 community-based and faith-based agencies—
						(A)to help the
			 agencies described in this paragraph more effectively and efficiently meet the
			 needs of kinship care families; and
						(B)to familiarize the
			 agencies about the special needs of kinship care families, policies that affect
			 their eligibility for a range of education, health, mental health, social,
			 child care, and child welfare services, income-based financial assistance,
			 legal assistance, and other services and benefits, and the means for making
			 policies more supportive of kinship care families;
						(3)establishing and
			 supporting a kinship care ombudsman who has the authority to actively intervene
			 with State agency staff or service providers with which the State agency
			 contracts to help ensure, through various appropriate means including working
			 with individual families in an ongoing manner, that kinship caregivers get the
			 services they need and for which they are eligible; and
					(4)supporting other
			 activities that are designed to assist kinship caregivers in obtaining
			 benefits, services, and activities designed to improve their caregiving.
					(c)LimitationExcept
			 as provided in subsection (b)(4), the entity may not use any of the funds made
			 available through the grant for direct services to children in kinship care
			 families or to kinship caregivers.
				108.Administration
			 of the program
				(a)ConsultationIn
			 administering the program carried out under this title, the Assistant Secretary
			 shall periodically consult with the Assistant Secretary for Aging of the
			 Department of Health and Human Services.
				(b)Regulations and
			 guidanceNot later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
			 this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall issue regulations or guidance that
			 announces the availability of funds under this title and specifies the
			 procedures for applying for the funds.
				109.ReservationThe Assistant Secretary may reserve not more
			 than 1 percent of the funds made available under this title for a fiscal year
			 to provide technical assistance to the recipients of grants under this title
			 related to the purposes of the grants.
			110.Authorization
			 of appropriationsThere is
			 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $25,000,000 for fiscal
			 year 2008, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, and $75,000,000 for fiscal year
			 2010.
			IISubsidized
			 Guardianship Option for Title IV–E
			201.FindingsThe Congress finds the following:
				(1)By enacting the Adoption and Safe Families
			 Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–89) and the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare
			 Act of 1980 (Public Law 96–272), the Congress recognized the need to align
			 Federal incentives with the desired goal of providing abused and neglected
			 children safe, permanent homes.
				(2)According to the nonpartisan Pew Commission
			 on Children in Foster Care composed of former Members of Congress of both
			 parties and other child welfare experts, between 1997 and 2002, adoptions
			 increased by 64 percent, and each State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto
			 Rico has earned an award for increasing adoptions.
				(3)Adoption represents only one avenue to
			 permanency for children in the foster care system, affecting only 9 percent of
			 children in foster care in 2003. Adoption is not a viable option for many
			 children in foster care. Children living with relatives are less likely to use
			 adoption, and courts explicitly rule out this permanency option for thousands
			 of children each year.
				(4)Moreover, due to cultural norms, adoption
			 is not equally availed by children and families of all races and ethnicities.
			 African-American children live in kinship care arrangements more than in other
			 types of care arrangements and have a lower rate of adoption than other
			 children, making reunification and kinship guardianship important permanency
			 options for this population.
				(5)Reunification and kinship guardianship are
			 central avenues by which any child in foster care may enter stable, caring
			 homes. In 2002, 54 percent of children in foster care were reunified with their
			 parents and 4 percent obtained kinship guardianship.
				(6)Unfortunately, studies show that the focus
			 on adoption has had the unintended consequence of reducing the likelihood of
			 reunifying children with their birth families.
				(7)Moreover, Federal guidelines create a
			 financial disincentive to kinship guardianship because important Federal
			 support ceases once kinship guardianship is established, presenting an
			 overwhelming hardship for caretakers given the known health and mental health
			 problems of children who have been in foster care. Research indicates that 30
			 to 40 percent of youth in foster care experience chronic medical
			 problems.
				(8)To help meet the
			 needs of foster children with special needs who are adopted, approximately $308
			 per month in Federal funds is provided to their adoptive families. The Federal
			 Government pays approximately $387 per month to cover all adoption assistance
			 program costs, including monthly payments to families, administration, and
			 training.
				(9)Remaining in foster care when stable,
			 permanent families are available places unnecessary burdens on States,
			 caseworkers, and families, requiring regular court appearances, quarterly case
			 reviews, monthly caseworker visits, and government involvement in routine
			 family activities and decisions.
				(10)Since 1997, many States have developed
			 subsidized kinship guardianship programs. Empirical research demonstrates that
			 this option dramatically increases the number of children in permanent homes,
			 with the largest reductions in foster care caseloads occurring when the Federal
			 Government provides the funding and when the financial benefits for foster care
			 match those of kinship guardianship.
				202.Kinship
			 guardianship assistance payments for children
				(a)In
			 generalPart E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670–679b) is
			 amended by inserting after section 472 the following:

						472A.Kinship
				guardianship assistance payments for children
							(a)In
				generalEach State with a
				plan approved under this part may, at State option, enter into kinship
				guardianship assistance agreements to provide kinship guardianship assistance
				payments on behalf of children to grandparents and other relatives who have
				assumed legal guardianship (as defined in section 475(7)) of children for whom
				they have cared as foster parents and whom they have committed to care for on a
				permanent basis.
							(b)Kinship
				guardianship assistance agreement
								(1)In
				generalIn order to receive payments under section
				474(a)(5)—
									(A)a State
				shall—
										(i)negotiate and
				enter into a written kinship guardianship assistance agreement with the
				prospective relative guardian of a child who meets the requirements of
				subsection (d);
										(ii)provide the
				prospective relative guardian with a copy of the agreement; and
										(iii)certify that any
				child on whose behalf kinship guardianship assistance payments are made under
				such an agreement shall be provided medical assistance under title XIX in
				accordance with section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(I).
										(2)Minimum
				requirementsThe agreement shall specify, at a minimum—
									(A)the amount of, and
				manner in which, each kinship guardianship assistance payment, if any, will be
				provided under the agreement;
									(B)the additional
				services and assistance for which the child and relative guardian will be
				eligible under the agreement;
									(C)the procedure by
				which the relative guardian may apply for additional services as needed,
				provided the agency and relative guardian agree on the additional services as
				specified in the case plan; and
									(D)subject to
				paragraph (4), that the State will pay the nonrecurring expenses associated
				with obtaining legal guardianship of the child.
									(3)Interstate
				applicationThe agreement shall provide—
									(A)that the agreement
				shall remain in effect without regard to the State residency of the relative
				guardian; and
									(B)for the protection
				(under an interstate compact approved by the Secretary or otherwise) of the
				interests of the child in any case where the relative guardian and the child
				move to another State while the agreement is in effect.
									(4)Nonrecurring
				expenses associated with obtaining legal guardianship
									(A)In
				generalFor purposes of paragraph (2)(D), the term
				nonrecurring expenses associated with obtaining kinship
				guardianship includes the reasonable and necessary fees, court costs,
				attorneys’ fees, and other expenses that are directly related to obtaining
				legal guardianship of the child and are not incurred in violation of Federal or
				State law.
									(B)Federal
				shareA State’s payment of the nonrecurring expenses associated
				with obtaining legal guardianship shall be treated as an expenditure made for
				the proper and efficient administration of the State plan under section
				474(a)(3)(E).
									(c)Kinship
				guardianship assistance payment
								(1)Requirements
									(A)In
				generalThe kinship guardianship assistance payment shall
				be—
										(i)negotiated as part
				of the kinship guardianship assistance agreement required under subsection
				(b)(1)(A)(i) between the relative guardian and the State or local agency
				responsible for administering the agreement;
										(ii)based on
				consideration of the circumstances and the needs of the relative guardian and
				the child; and
										(iii)equal to the
				amount of the foster care maintenance payment which would have been payable
				with respect to the child if the child had remained in foster care.
										(B)ReadjustmentThe
				kinship guardianship assistance payment may be readjusted periodically, with
				the concurrence of the relative guardian, based on relevant changes in the
				needs of the child.
									(2)Limitation
									(A)In
				generalExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), no kinship
				guardianship assistance payment may be made to a relative guardian for any
				child who has attained 18 years of age.
									(B)ExceptionsA
				kinship guardianship assistance payment may be made to a relative guardian with
				respect to a child who—
										(i)is
				a full-time student in a secondary school or in the equivalent level of a
				vocational or technical training program, and has not attained 19 years of age;
				or
										(ii)the State
				determines has a mental or physical disability that warrants the continuation
				of assistance until the child attains 21 years of age.
										(d)Child’s
				eligibility for a kinship guardianship assistance payment
								(1)In
				generalA child is eligible for a kinship guardianship assistance
				payment under this section if the State agency determines the following:
									(A)The child—
										(i)has been under the
				care of the State agency for the 12-month period ending on the date of the
				agency determination; and
										(ii)while under such care, was eligible for
				foster care maintenance payments under section 472 or would have been eligible
				for such payments but for his or her placement in the home of a relative
				determined by the courts and the State agency responsible for child protective
				services to meet all applicable State safety standards (other than
				licensure).
										(B)Being returned
				home or adopted are not appropriate permanency options for the child.
									(C)The child
				demonstrates a strong attachment to the prospective relative guardian and the
				prospective relative guardian has a strong commitment to caring permanently for
				the child.
									(D)With respect to a
				child who has attained 14 years of age, the child has been consulted regarding
				the kinship guardianship arrangement.
									(2)Treatment of
				siblingsWith respect to a child described in paragraph (1) whose
				sibling or siblings are not so described—
									(A)the child and any
				minor sibling of the child may be placed in the same kinship guardianship
				arrangement if the State agency and the prospective relative agree on the
				appropriateness of the arrangement for the siblings; and
									(B)kinship
				guardianship assistance payments may be paid for the child and each sibling so
				placed.
									.
				(b)Maintaining
			 eligibility for adoption assistance programSection 473(a) of
			 such Act (42 U.S.C. 673(a)) is amended by adding at the end the
			 following:

						(7)The adoptive parents of a child who has
				been determined by the State, pursuant to subsection (c), to be a child with
				special needs and on whose behalf kinship guardianship assistance payments have
				been made under section 472A shall be eligible for adoption assistance as if no
				kinship guardianship agreement or payments had been made. The State shall make
				payments of nonrecurring adoption expenses under this section to the adoptive
				parents of such a child. The State may make adoption assistance payments under
				this section even if the child fails to meet the requirements of subparagraphs
				(A) and (B) of paragraph (2), if the child would meet the requirements of such
				subparagraphs if the child were treated as if the child were in the same
				financial and other circumstances the child was in at the time the kinship
				guardianship assistance agreement was
				made.
						.
				(c)Expansion of
			 eligibility for foster care independence programSection 477 of
			 such Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended—
					(1)in
			 subsection (a)(1), by striking 18 and inserting
			 14; and
					(2)in subsection
			 (i)(2), by striking youths adopted from foster care after attaining age
			 16 and inserting youths in or exiting from foster care after
			 attaining 14 years of age.
					(d)Authority To use
			 foster care independence program funds To provide independent living services
			 and education and training vouchers for children who exit foster care to
			 guardianship or adoption after age 14
					(1)Independent
			 living servicesSection 477(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(a)) is
			 amended—
						(A)by striking
			 and at the end of paragraph (5);
						(B)by striking the
			 period at the end of paragraph (6) and inserting ; and;
			 and
						(C)by adding at the
			 end the following:

								(7)to provide the
				services referred to in this subsection to children who, after attaining 14
				years of age, have left foster care for kinship guardianship or
				adoption.
								.
						(2)Education and
			 training vouchersSection 477(i)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
			 677(i)(2)) is amended by striking from foster care after attaining age
			 16 and inserting or entering kinship guardianship from foster
			 care after attaining 14 years of age.
					(e)Conforming
			 amendments
					(1)State plan
			 requirementSection 471(a)(20)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
			 671(a)(20)) is amended in the matter preceding clause (i) by striking
			 foster or adoptive parent before the foster or adoptive parent may be
			 finally approved for placement of a child on whose behalf foster care
			 maintenance payments or adoption assistance payments and inserting
			 foster parent, adoptive parent, or relative guardian before the foster
			 parent, adoptive parent, or relative guardian may be finally approved for
			 placement of a child on whose behalf foster care maintenance payments, adoption
			 assistance payments, or kinship guardianship assistance
			 payments.
					(2)Payments to
			 statesSection 474(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 674(a)) is
			 amended—
						(A)in paragraph
			 (3)(B), by striking foster or adoptive parents and the members of the
			 staff of State-licensed or State-approved child care institutions providing
			 care to foster and adopted children receiving assistance under this part, in
			 ways that increase the ability of such current or prospective parents, staff
			 members, and institutions to provide support and assistance to foster and
			 adopted children, and inserting foster parents, adoptive
			 parents, or relative guardians and the members of the staff of State-licensed
			 or State-approved child care institutions providing care to foster children,
			 adoptive children, or children living with a relative guardian, who are
			 receiving assistance under this part, in ways that increase the ability of such
			 current or prospective parents, relative guardians, staff members, and
			 institutions to provide support and assistance to foster children, adoptive
			 children, or children living with a relative guardian,;
						(B)in paragraph
			 (4)(B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; plus;
			 and
						(C)by adding at the
			 end the following:

								(5)an amount equal to
				the Federal medical assistance percentage (as defined in section 1905(b)) of
				the total amount expended during such quarter as kinship guardianship
				assistance payments under section 472A pursuant to kinship guardianship
				assistance
				agreements.
								.
						(3)DefinitionsSection
			 475(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 675(1)) is amended by adding at the end the
			 following:

							(F)In the case of a
				child with respect to whom the permanency plan is placement with a relative and
				receipt of kinship guardianship assistance payments under section 472A, a
				description of—
								(i)the steps that the
				agency has taken to determine that it is not appropriate for the child to be
				returned home or adopted;
								(ii)the reasons why a
				permanent placement with a fit and willing relative through a kinship
				guardianship assistance arrangement is in the child’s best interests;
								(iii)the ways in
				which the child meets the eligibility requirements for a kinship guardianship
				assistance payment;
								(iv)the efforts the
				agency has made to discuss adoption by the child’s relative foster parent as a
				more permanent alternative to legal guardianship and, in the case of a relative
				foster parent who has chosen not to pursue adoption, documentation of the
				reasons therefor; and
								(v)the efforts made
				by the State agency to secure the consent of the child’s parent or parents to
				the kinship guardianship assistance arrangement, or the reasons why the efforts
				were not
				made.
								.
					(f)Effective
			 date
					(1)In
			 generalThe amendments made by this section take effect on the
			 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter that begins after the date of the enactment
			 of this Act, and shall apply to payments under part E of title IV of the Social
			 Security Act for calendar quarters beginning on or after such day, without
			 regard to whether regulations to implement the amendments have been
			 issued.
					(2)Delay permitted
			 if State legislation requiredIn the case of a State plan under
			 part E of title IV of the Social Security
			 Act which the Secretary determines requires State legislation in
			 order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by the
			 amendments made by this Act, the effective date of the amendments imposing the
			 additional requirements shall be the 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter
			 beginning after the close of the 1st regular session of the State legislature
			 that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the
			 preceding sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative
			 session, each year of the session shall be considered to be a separate regular
			 session of the State legislature.
					203.Kinship guardianship
			 demonstration projects
				(a)Authority To
			 conduct projectsThe Secretary shall enter into agreements with
			 eligible entities to conduct demonstration projects for the purpose of
			 providing kinship guardianship assistance payments on behalf of children to
			 grandparents and other relatives who have assumed legal guardianship (as
			 defined in section 475(7) of the Social Security
			 Act (42 U.S.C. 675(7)) of the children for whom they have cared as
			 foster parents and for whom they have committed to care for on a permanent
			 basis in States that have not elected the option to provide kinship
			 guardianship assistance payments for children under section 472A of the
			 Social Security Act (as added by
			 section 201 of this Act).
				(b)Terms and
			 conditionsThe terms and
			 conditions applicable to demonstration projects conducted under this section
			 shall be consistent with the terms and conditions applicable to the State
			 option to provide kinship guardianship assistance payments for children under
			 section 472A of the Social Security Act.
				(c)ReportNot
			 later than October 1, 2009, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit
			 a report to Congress on the demonstration projects conducted under this
			 section.
				(d)Authorization of
			 appropriationsThere are
			 authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to conduct
			 demonstration projects under this section for fiscal years beginning with
			 fiscal year 2008.
				(e)DefinitionsIn
			 this section:
					(1)Eligible
			 entityThe term eligible entity means—
						(A)an agency of a State or of a political
			 subdivision of a State, a tribal organization (as defined in section 103(8)),
			 or a consortium of any number of such agencies or organizations; and
						(B)any other entity
			 that the Secretary determines is qualified to conduct a demonstration project
			 under this section.
						(2)SecretaryThe
			 term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human
			 Services.
					IIINotice of
			 Children Entering Foster Care
			301.Notice to
			 relatives when children enter foster care
				(a)In
			 generalSection 471(a)(19) of
			 the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
			 671(a)(19)) is amended—
					(1)by striking “that
			 the State” and inserting “that—

							(A)the
				State
							;
					(2)by adding
			 and after the semicolon; and
					(3)by
			 adding at the end the following:

							(B)within 60 days of
				the removal of the child from the custody of the child’s parent or parents, the
				State shall identify and give notice to all adult grandparents and other adult
				relatives of the child (including any other adult relatives suggested by the
				parents), subject to exceptions due to family or domestic violence,
				that—
								(i)specifies that the
				child has been or is being removed from the custody of the child’s parent or
				parents; and
								(ii)explains the
				options the relative has under Federal, State, and local law to participate in
				the child’s care and placement, including any options that may be lost by
				failing to respond to the
				notice;
								.
					(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by this section take effect on October
			 1, 2007.
				302.Flexibility to
			 establish separate standards for relative foster family homes
				(a)In
			 GeneralSection 471(a)(10) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(10)) is
			 amended—
					(1)by striking “which
			 shall be responsible” and inserting “which—

							(A)shall be
				responsible
							;
					(2)by inserting
			 and after the semicolon; and
					(3)by adding at the
			 end the following:

							(B)may—
								(i)establish and
				maintain separate standards for foster family homes in which a foster parent is
				a relative of the foster child that, at a minimum, protect the safety of the
				child and provide for criminal records checks, as described in paragraph (20);
				and
								(ii)apply the
				standards referred to in clause (i) to any such relative foster care provider
				to whom funds are paid pursuant to section 472 or part B in lieu of the
				standards that would otherwise apply to a foster family
				home;
								.
					(b)Effective
			 dateThe amendments made by this section take effect on October
			 1, 2007.
				303.Expansion of
			 definition of family support services to include assisting kinship caregivers
			 in locating and accessing needed services
				(a)In
			 generalSection 431(a)(2) of
			 the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)(2)) is amended by inserting
			 to assist kinship caregivers or guardians in locating and accessing
			 needed services, after marriages,.
				(b)Effective
			 dateSection 202(f) of this
			 Act shall apply to the amendment made by this section.
				304.Requirement
			 that states inform case workers and families considering guardianship of all
			 permanency options and service eligibility
				(a)In
			 generalSection 472A(b)(1) of
			 the Social Security Act, as added by section 202(a) of this Act, is
			 amended—
					(1)by adding
			 and at the end of subparagraph (A); and
					(2)by adding after
			 and below the end the following:

							(B)the chief executive officer of the State
				shall certify to the Secretary that the State will—
								(i)inform the individuals who prepare the case
				plan for a child of the full range of permanency options available to children,
				including guardianship, and provide or otherwise make accessible to the
				individuals information on the range of physical and mental health, financing,
				housing, counseling, employment, education, and other support services which
				guardians and children may receive; and
								(ii)inform families
				considering guardianship of all permanency options available to the child and
				of the range of physical and mental health, financial, housing, counseling,
				employment, education, and other support services which guardians and children
				may
				receive.
								.
					(b)Effective
			 dateSection 202(f) of this
			 Act shall apply to the amendments made by this section.