In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Protecting Student Athletes From
Concussions Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. MINIMUM STATE REQUIREMENTS.

Part F of title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7881 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:

''Subpart 6--State Requirements for the Prevention and Treatment of
Concussions

''SEC. 8581. MINIMUM STATE REQUIREMENTS.

''(a) In General.--Beginning fiscal year 2019, as a condition of
receiving funds under this Act for a fiscal year, a State shall, not
later than July 1 of the preceding fiscal year, certify to the
Secretary in accordance with subsection (b) that the State has in
effect and is enforcing a law or regulation that, at a minimum,
establishes the following requirements:
''(1) Local educational agency concussion safety and
management plan.--Each local educational agency in the State
(including each charter school that is considered a local
educational agency under State law), in consultation with
members of the community in which the local educational agency
is located, shall develop and implement a standard plan for
concussion safety and management for public schools served by
the local educational agency that includes--
''(A) the education of students, parents, and
school personnel about concussions, including--
''(i) the training of school personnel on
evidence-based concussion safety and
management, including on prevention,
recognition, risk, academic consequences, and
response for both initial and any subsequent
concussions; and
''(ii) using, maintaining, and
disseminating to students and parents release
forms, treatment plans, observation,
monitoring, and reporting forms, recordkeeping
forms, and post-injury and prevention fact
sheets about concussions;
''(B) supports for each student recovering from a
concussion, including--
''(i) guiding the student in resuming
participation in school-sponsored athletic
activities and academic activities with the
help of a multidisciplinary concussion
management team, which shall include--
''(I) a health care professional,
the parents of such student, and other
relevant school personnel; and
''(II) an individual who is
assigned by the public school in which
the student is enrolled to oversee and
manage the recovery of the student;
''(ii) providing appropriate academic
accommodations aimed at progressively
reintroducing cognitive demands on such a
student; and
''(iii) if the student's symptoms of
concussion persist for a substantial period of
time--
''(I) evaluating the student in
accordance with section 614 of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (20 U.S.C. 1414) to determine
whether the student is eligible for
services under part B of such Act (20
U.S.C. 1411 et seq.); or
''(II) evaluating whether the
student is eligible for services under
section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794); and
''(C) best practices designed to ensure, with
respect to concussions, the uniformity of safety
standards, treatment, and management, including--
''(i) disseminating information on
concussion safety and management to the public;
and
''(ii) applying best practice and uniform
standards for concussion safety and management
to all students enrolled in the public schools
served by the local educational agency.
''(2) Posting of information on concussions.--Each public
school in the State shall post on school grounds, in a manner
that is visible to students and school personnel, and make
publicly available on the school website, information on
concussions that--
''(A) is based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence
or consensus (such as information made available by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention);
''(B) shall include--
''(i) the risks posed by sustaining a
concussion or multiple concussions;
''(ii) the actions a student should take in
response to sustaining a concussion, including
the notification of school personnel; and
''(iii) the signs and symptoms of a
concussion; and
''(C) may include--
''(i) the definition of a concussion under
section 8582(1);
''(ii) the means available to the student
to reduce the incidence or recurrence of a
concussion; and
''(iii) the effects of a concussion on
academic learning and performance.
''(3) Response to a concussion.--If any school personnel of
a public school in the State suspect that a student has
sustained a concussion during a school-sponsored athletic
activity or other school-sponsored activity--
''(A) the student shall be--
''(i) immediately removed from
participation in such activity; and
''(ii) prohibited from resuming
participation in school-sponsored athletic
activities--
''(I) on the day the student
sustained the concussion; and
''(II) until the day the student is
capable of resuming such participation,
according to the student's written
release, as described in paragraph (4);
''(B) the school personnel shall report to the
concussion management team--
''(i) that the student may have sustained a
concussion; and
''(ii) all available information with
respect to the student's injury; and
''(C) the concussion management team shall confirm
and report to the parents of the student--
''(i) the type of injury, and the date and
time of the injury, suffered by the student;
and
''(ii) any actions that have been taken to
treat the student.
''(4) Return to athletics.--If a student enrolled in a
public school in the State sustains a concussion, before the
student resumes participation in school-sponsored athletic
activities, the relevant school personnel shall receive a
written release from a health care professional, that--
''(A) may require the student to follow a plan
designed to aid the student in recovering and resuming
participation in such activities in a manner that--
''(i) is coordinated, as appropriate, with
periods of cognitive and physical rest while
symptoms of a concussion persist; and
''(ii) reintroduces cognitive and physical
demands on the student on a progressive basis
so long as such increases in exertion do not
cause the reemergence or worsening of symptoms
of a concussion; and
''(B) states that the student is capable of
resuming participation in such activities once the
student is asymptomatic.
''(5) Return to academics.--If a student enrolled in a
public school in the State has sustained a concussion, the
concussion management team (as described under paragraph
(1)(B)(i)) of the school shall consult with and make
recommendations to relevant school personnel and the student to
ensure that the student is receiving the appropriate academic
supports, including--
''(A) providing for periods of cognitive rest over
the course of the school day;
''(B) providing modified academic assignments;
''(C) allowing for gradual reintroduction to
cognitive demands; and
''(D) other appropriate academic accommodations or
adjustments.
''(b) Certification Requirement.--The certification required under
subsection (a) shall be in writing and include a description of the law
or regulation that meets the requirements of subsection (a).

''SEC. 8582. DEFINITIONS.

''In this subpart:
''(1) Concussion.--The term 'concussion' means a type of
mild traumatic brain injury that--
''(A) is caused by a blow, jolt, or motion to the
head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly in
the skull;
''(B) disrupts normal brain functioning and alters
the physiological state of the individual, causing the
individual to experience--
''(i) any period of observed or self-
reported--
''(I) transient confusion,
disorientation, or altered
consciousness;
''(II) dysfunction of memory around
the time of injury; or
''(III) disruptions in gait or
balance; and
''(ii) symptoms that may include--
''(I) physical symptoms, such as
headache, fatigue, or dizziness;
''(II) cognitive symptoms, such as
memory disturbance or slowed thinking;
''(III) emotional symptoms, such as
irritability or sadness; or
''(IV) difficulty sleeping; and
''(C) occurs--
''(i) with or without the loss of
consciousness; and
''(ii) during participation--
''(I) in a school-sponsored
athletic activity; or
''(II) in any other activity
without regard to whether the activity
takes place on school property or
during the school day.
''(2) Health care professional.--The term 'health care
professional' means a physician (including a medical doctor or
doctor of osteopathic medicine), nurse, athletic trainer,
physical therapist, neuropsychologist, or other qualified
individual--
''(A) who is registered, licensed, certified, or
otherwise statutorily recognized by the State to
provide medical treatment; and
''(B) whose scope of practice and experience
includes the diagnosis and management of traumatic
brain injury among a pediatric population.
''(3) Public school.--The term 'public school' means a
public elementary school or public secondary school.
''(4) School personnel.--The term 'school personnel'
includes teachers, principals, administrators, counselors,
social workers, psychologists, nurses, librarians, coaches and
athletic trainers, and other support staff who are employed by
a school or who perform services for the school on a
contractual basis.
''(5) School-sponsored athletic activity.--The term
'school-sponsored athletic activity' means--
''(A) any physical education class or program of a
public school;
''(B) any athletic activity authorized by a public
school that takes place during the school day on the
school's property;
''(C) any activity of an extra-curricular sports
team, club, or league organized by a public school; and
''(D) any recess activity of a public school.''.

SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

The table of contents in section 2 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 is amended by inserting after the item relating
to section 8574 the following:

''subpart 6--state requirements for the prevention and treatment of
concussions

''Sec. 8581. Minimum State requirements.
''Sec. 8582. Definitions.''.

Output: Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act of 2017 This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to condition each state's receipt of ESEA funds, beginning in FY2019, on the state's enforcement of specifiedminimum requirements for the prevention and treatment of concussions. Each local educational agency must develop and implement a standard plan for concussion safety and management that includes: (1) the education of students, parents, and school personnel about concussions; (2) specified supports for each student recovering from a concussion; and (3) best practices designed to ensure the uniformity of safety standards, treatment, and management. Each public school must post on school grounds andpublish on the school website specified informationabout concussions. If any public school personnel suspects that a student has sustained a concussion during a school-sponsored activity, the student must be immediately removed from participation in that activity and prohibited from participating in any school-sponsored athletic activities until the student submits a written release from a health care professional. Furthermore, the school personnel mustreport all available information regarding the injury to a concussion management team that will confirm and reportdetails of the injuryto the student's parents. The school's concussion management team shall consult with and make recommendations to relevant school personnel and the student to ensure that the student is receiving the appropriate academic supports.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. PERMANENT EXTENSION OF ESTATE TAX AS IN EFFECT IN 2009.

(a) Restoration of Unified Credit Against Gift Tax.--Paragraph (1)
of section 2505(a) (relating to general rule for unified credit against
gift tax), after the application of subsection (f), is amended by
striking ''(determined as if the applicable exclusion amount were
$1,000,000)''.
(b) Exclusion Equivalent of Unified Credit Equal to $3,500,000.--
Subsection (c) of section 2010 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(relating to unified credit against estate tax) is amended to read as
follows:
''(c) Applicable Credit Amount.--
''(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the
applicable credit amount is the amount of the tentative tax
which would be determined under section 2001(c) if the amount
with respect to which such tentative tax is to be computed were
equal to the applicable exclusion amount.
''(2) Applicable exclusion amount.--
''(A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection,
the applicable exclusion amount is $3,500,000.
''(B) Inflation adjustment.--In the case of any
decedent dying in a calendar year after 2010, the
dollar amount in subparagraph (A) shall be increased by
an amount equal to--
''(i) such dollar amount, multiplied by
''(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment
determined under section 1(f)(3) for such
calendar year by substituting 'calendar year
2009' for 'calendar year 1992' in subparagraph
(B) thereof.
If any amount as adjusted under the preceding sentence
is not a multiple of $10,000, such amount shall be
rounded to the nearest multiple of $10,000.''.
(c) Maximum Estate Tax Rate Equal to 45 Percent.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 2001 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to imposition and rate
of tax) is amended--
(A) by striking ''but not over $2,000,000'' in the
table contained in paragraph (1),
(B) by striking the last 2 items in such table,
(C) by striking ''(1) in general.--'', and
(D) by striking paragraph (2).
(2) Conforming amendment.--Paragraphs (1) and (2) of
section 2102(b) of such Code are amended to read as follows:
''(1) In general.--A credit in an amount that would be
determined under section 2010 as the applicable credit amount
if the applicable exclusion amount were $60,000 shall be
allowed against the tax imposed by section 2101.
''(2) Residents of possessions of the united states.--In
the case of a decedent who is considered to be a 'nonresident
not a citizen of the United States' under section 2209, the
credit allowed under this subsection shall not be less than the
proportion of the amount that would be determined under section
2010 as the applicable credit amount if the applicable
exclusion amount were $175,000 which the value of that part of
the decedent's gross estate which at the time of the decedent's
death is situated in the United States bears to the value of
the decedent's entire gross estate, wherever situated.''.
(d) Modifications of Estate and Gift Taxes To Reflect Differences
in Unified Credit Resulting From Different Tax Rates.--
(1) Estate tax.--
(A) In general.--Section 2001(b)(2) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to computation of tax)
is amended by striking ''if the provisions of
subsection (c) (as in effect at the decedent's death)''
and inserting ''if the modifications described in
subsection (g)''.
(B) Modifications.--Section 2001 of such Code is
amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
''(g) Modifications to Gift Tax Payable To Reflect Different Tax
Rates.--For purposes of applying subsection (b)(2) with respect to 1 or
more gifts, the rates of tax under subsection (c) in effect at the
decedent's death shall, in lieu of the rates of tax in effect at the
time of such gifts, be used both to compute--
''(1) the tax imposed by chapter 12 with respect to such
gifts, and
''(2) the credit allowed against such tax under section
2505, including in computing--
''(A) the applicable credit amount under section
2505(a)(1), and
''(B) the sum of the amounts allowed as a credit
for all preceding periods under section 2505(a)(2).
For purposes of paragraph (2)(A), the applicable credit amount
for any calendar year before 1998 is the amount which would be
determined under section 2010(c) if the applicable exclusion
amount were the dollar amount under section 6018(a)(1) for such
year.''.
(2) Gift tax.--Section 2505(a) of such Code (relating to
unified credit against gift tax) is amended by adding at the
end the following new flush sentence:
''For purposes of applying paragraph (2) for any calendar year, the
rates of tax in effect under section 2502(a)(2) for such calendar year
shall, in lieu of the rates of tax in effect for preceding calendar
periods, be used in determining the amounts allowable as a credit under
this section for all preceding calendar periods.''.
(e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to estates of decedents dying, generation-skipping transfers, and
gifts made, after December 31, 2009.
(f) Additional Modifications to Estate Tax.--
(1) In general.--The following provisions of the Economic
Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, and the
amendments made by such provisions, are hereby repealed:
(A) Subtitles A and E of title V.
(B) Subsection (d), and so much of subsection
(f)(3) as relates to subsection (d), of section 511.
(C) Paragraph (2) of subsection (b), and paragraph
(2) of subsection (e), of section 521.
The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be applied as if such
provisions and amendments had never been enacted.
(2) Sunset not to apply.--
(A) Subsection (a) of section 901 of the Economic
Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 is
amended by striking ''this Act'' and all that follows
and inserting ''this Act (other than title V) shall not
apply to taxable, plan, or limitation years beginning
after December 31, 2010.''.
(B) Subsection (b) of such section 901 is amended
by striking '', estates, gifts, and transfers''.
(3) Repeal of deadwood.--
(A) Sections 2011, 2057, and 2604 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 are hereby repealed.
(B) The table of sections for part II of subchapter
A of chapter 11 of such Code is amended by striking the
item relating to section 2011.
(C) The table of sections for part IV of subchapter
A of chapter 11 of such Code is amended by striking the
item relating to section 2057.
(D) The table of sections for subchapter A of
chapter 13 of such Code is amended by striking the item
relating to section 2604.

SEC. 2. UNIFIED CREDIT INCREASED BY UNUSED UNIFIED CREDIT OF DECEASED
SPOUSE.

(a) In General.--Section 2010(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended by section 1(b), is amended by striking paragraph (2)
and inserting the following new paragraphs:
''(2) Applicable exclusion amount.--For purposes of this
subsection, the applicable exclusion amount is the sum of--
''(A) the basic exclusion amount, and
''(B) in the case of a surviving spouse, the
aggregate deceased spousal unused exclusion amount.
''(3) Basic exclusion amount.--
''(A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection,
the basic exclusion amount is $3,500,000.
''(B) Inflation adjustment.--In the case of any
decedent dying in a calendar year after 2010, the
dollar amount in subparagraph (A) shall be increased by
an amount equal to--
''(i) such dollar amount, multiplied by
''(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment
determined under section 1(f)(3) for such
calendar year by substituting 'calendar year
2009' for 'calendar year 1992' in subparagraph
(B) thereof.
If any amount as adjusted under the preceding sentence
is not a multiple of $10,000, such amount shall be
rounded to the nearest multiple of $10,000.
''(4) Aggregate deceased spousal unused exclusion amount.--
For purposes of this subsection, the term 'aggregate deceased
spousal unused exclusion amount' means the lesser of--
''(A) the basic exclusion amount, or
''(B) the sum of the deceased spousal unused
exclusion amounts computed with respect to each
deceased spouse of the surviving spouse.
''(5) Deceased spousal unused exclusion amount.--For
purposes of this subsection, the term 'deceased spousal unused
exclusion amount' means, with respect to the surviving spouse
of any deceased spouse dying after December 31, 2009, the
excess (if any) of--
''(A) the basic exclusion amount of the deceased
spouse, over
''(B) the amount with respect to which the
tentative tax is determined under section 2001(b)(1) on
the estate of such deceased spouse.
''(6) Special rules.--
''(A) Election required.--A deceased spousal unused
exclusion amount may not be taken into account by a
surviving spouse under paragraph (5) unless the
executor of the estate of the deceased spouse files an
estate tax return on which such amount is computed and
makes an election on such return that such amount may
be so taken into account. Such election, once made,
shall be irrevocable. No election may be made under
this subparagraph if such return is filed after the
time prescribed by law (including extensions) for
filing such return.
''(B) Examination of prior returns after expiration
of period of limitations with respect to deceased
spousal unused exclusion amount.--Notwithstanding any
period of limitation in section 6501, after the time
has expired under section 6501 within which a tax may
be assessed under chapter 11 or 12 with respect to a
deceased spousal unused exclusion amount, the Secretary
may examine a return of the deceased spouse to make
determinations with respect to such amount for purposes
of carrying out this subsection.
''(7) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe such
regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out
this subsection.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Paragraph (1) of section 2505(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by section 1(a), is amended to
read as follows:
''(1) the applicable credit amount in effect under section
2010(c) which would apply if the donor died as of the end of
the calendar year, reduced by''.
(2) Section 2631(c) of such Code is amended by striking
''the applicable exclusion amount'' and inserting ''the basic
exclusion amount''.
(3) Section 6018(a)(1) of such Code is amended by striking
''applicable exclusion amount'' and inserting ''basic exclusion
amount''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to estates of decedents dying, generation-skipping transfers, and
gifts made, after December 31, 2009.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING REVENUE NEUTRALITY.

It is the sense of the Senate that any reduction in Federal
revenues resulting from the provisions of, and amendments made by, this
Act should be fully offset.

Output: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish a permanent estate tax exclusion of $3.5 million ($7 million for married couples filing joint tax returns) and a maximum 45% tax rate for decedents dying, generation-skipping transfers, and gifts made, after December 31, 2009; (2) allow an annual inflation adjustment to the exclusion amount after 2010; and (3) allow a surviving spouse an increase in the estate tax exclusion by the unused exclusion amount of a deceased spouse.

Expresses the sense of the Senate that any reduction in federal revenues resulting from this Act should be fully offset.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Research shows that caring adults can make a difference
in children's lives. Forty five percent of mentored teens are
less likely to use drugs. Fifty nine percent of mentored teens
have better academic performance. Seventy three percent of
mentored teens achieve higher goals generally.
(2) Children that have mentors have better relationships
with adults, fewer disciplinary referrals, and more confidence
to achieve their goals.
(3) In 2001, over 163,000 children in the foster care
system were under the age of 5 years.
(4) In 2001, over 124,000 children were under the age of 10
when they were removed from their parents or caretakers.
(5) The International Day of the Child, sponsored by
Children United Nations, has served as a great tool to recruit
mentors and partner them with needy foster care children.
(6) On November 10, 2002, as many as 3,000 children will be
matched with mentors as a result of the International Day of
the Child.
(7) States should be encouraged to incorporate mentor
programs into the delivery of their foster care services. The
State of California serves as a great example, matching close
to half a million mentors with needy children.
(8) Mentor programs that serve foster children are unique
and require additional considerations including specialized
training and support necessary to provide for consistent, long
term relationships for children in care.
(9) Mentor programs are cost-effective approaches to
decreasing the occurrence of so many social ills such as teen
pregnancy, substance abuse, incarceration and violence.

SEC. 3. PROGRAMS FOR MENTORING CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.

Subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 629 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

''SEC. 440. PROGRAMS FOR MENTORING CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.

''(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to authorize the
Secretary to make grants to eligible applicants to support the
establishment or expansion and operation of programs using a network of
public and private community entities to provide mentoring for children
in foster care.
''(b) Definitions.--In this section:
''(1) Children in foster care.--The term 'children in
foster care' means children who have been removed from the
custody of their biological or adoptive parents by a State
child welfare agency.
''(2) Mentoring.--The term 'mentoring' means a structured,
managed program in which children are appropriately matched
with screened and trained adult volunteers for one-on-one
relationships, that involves meetings and activities on a
regular basis, and that is intended to meet, in part, the
child's need for involvement with a caring and supportive adult
who provides a positive role model.
''(3) Political subdivision.--The term 'political
subdivision' means a local jurisdiction below the level of the
State government, including a county, parish, borough, or city.
''(c) Grant Program.--
''(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a program
to award grants to States to support the establishment or
expansion and operation of programs using networks of public
and private community entities to provide mentoring for
children in foster care.
''(2) Grants to political subdivisions.--The Secretary may
award a grant under this subsection directly to a political
subdivision if the subdivision serves a substantial number of
foster care youth (as determined by the Secretary).
''(3) Application requirements.--To be eligible for a grant
under paragraph (1), the chief executive officer of the State
or political subdivision shall submit to the Secretary an
application containing the following:
''(A) Program design.--A description of the
proposed program to be carried out using amounts
provided under this grant, including--
''(i) a list of local public and private
organizations and entities that will
participate in the mentoring network;
''(ii) the name, description, and
qualifications of the entity that will
coordinate and oversee the activities of the
mentoring network;
''(iii) the number of mentor-child matches
proposed to be established and maintained
annually under the program;
''(iv) such information as the Secretary
may require concerning the methods to be used
to recruit, screen support, and oversee
individuals participating as mentors, (which
methods shall include criminal background
checks on the individuals), and to evaluate
outcomes for participating children, including
information necessary to demonstrate compliance
with requirements established by the Secretary
for the program; and
''(v) such other information as the
Secretary may require.
''(B) Training.--An assurance that all mentors
covered under the program will receive intensive and
ongoing training in the following areas:
''(i) Child Development, including the
importance of bonding.
''(ii) Family dynamics, including the
effects of domestic violence.
''(iii) Foster care system, principles, and
practices.
''(iv) Recognizing and reporting child
abuse and neglect.
''(v) Confidentiality requirements for
working with children in care.
''(vi) Working in coordination with the
public school system.
''(vii) Other matters related to working
with children in care.
''(C) Screening.--An assurance that all mentors
covered under the program are appropriately screened
and have demonstrated a willingness to comply with all
aspects of the mentor program, including--
''(i) a description of the methods to be
used to conduct criminal background checks on
all prospective mentors; and
''(ii) a description of the methods to be
used to ensure that the mentors are willing and
able to serve as a mentor on a long term,
consistent basis.
''(D) Educational requirements.--An assurance that
all mentors recruited to serve as academic mentors
will--
''(i) have a high school diploma or its
equivalent; and
''(ii) have completed at least 1 year of
study in a program leading to a graduate or
post graduate degree.
''(E) Community consultation; coordination with
other programs.--A demonstration that, in developing
and implementing the program, the State or political
subdivision will, to the extent feasible and
appropriate--
''(i) consult with public and private
community entities, including religious
organizations, and including, as appropriate,
Indian tribal organizations and urban Indian
organizations, and with family members of
potential clients;
''(ii) coordinate the programs and
activities under the program with other
Federal, State, and local programs serving
children and youth; and
''(iii) consult and coordinate with
appropriate Federal, State, and local
corrections, workforce development, and
substance abuse and mental health agencies.
''(F) Equal access for local service providers.--An
assurance that public and private entities and
community organizations, including religious
organizations and Indian organizations, will be
eligible to participate on an equal basis.
''(G) Records, reports, and audits.--An agreement
that the State or political subdivision will maintain
such records, make such reports, and cooperate with
such reviews or audits as the Secretary may find
necessary for purposes of oversight of project
activities and expenditures.
''(H) Evaluation.--An agreement that the State or
political subdivision will cooperate fully with the
Secretary's ongoing and final evaluation of the program
under the plan, by means including providing the
Secretary access to the program and program-related
records and documents, staff, and grantees receiving
funding under the plan.
''(4) Federal share.--
''(A) In general.--A grant for a program under this
subsection shall be available to pay a percentage share
of the costs of the program up to 75 percent for each
year for which the grant is awarded.
''(B) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of
the cost of projects under this subsection may be in
cash or in kind. In determining the amount of the non-
Federal share, the Secretary may attribute fair market
value to goods, services, and facilities contributed
from non-Federal sources.
''(5) Considerations in awarding grants.--In awarding
grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into
consideration--
''(A) the overall qualifications and capacity of
the State or political subdivision program and its
partners to effectively carry out a mentoring program
under this subsection;
''(B) the level and quality of training provided to
mentors under the program;
''(C) evidence of coordination of the program with
the State's or political subdivision's social services
and education programs;
''(D) the ability of the State or political
subdivision to provide supervision and support for
mentors under the program and the youth served by such
mentors;
''(E) evidence of consultation with institutes of
higher learning;
''(F) the number of children in care served by the
State or political subdivision; and
''(G) any other factors that the Secretary
determines to be significant with respect to the need
for or the potential success of carrying out a
mentoring program under this subsection.
''(6) Use of funds.--Of the amount awarded to a State or
political subdivision under a grant under this subsection the
State or subdivision shall--
''(A) use not less than 50 percent of the total
grant amount for the training and ongoing educational
support of mentors; and
''(B) use not more than 10 percent of the total
grant amount for administrative purposes.
''(7) Maximum grant amount.--
''(A) In general.--In awarding grants under this
section, the Secretary shall consider the number of
children served by the jurisdiction and the grant
amount relative to the need for services.
''(B) Limit.--The amount of a grant awarded to a
State or political subdivision under this subsection
shall not exceed $600,000.
''(8) Annual report.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report that
includes the following with respect to the year involved:
''(A) A description of the number of programs
receiving grant awards under this subsection.
''(B) A description of the number of mentors who
serve in the programs described in subparagraph (A).
''(C) A description of the number of mentored
foster children--
''(i) who graduate from high school;
''(ii) who enroll in college; and
''(iii) who are adopted by their mentors.
''(D) Any other information that the Secretary
determines to be relevant to the evaluation of the
program under this subsection.
''(9) Evaluation.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall conduct an
evaluation of the effectiveness of programs funded under this
section, including a comparison between the rate of drug and
alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy, delinquency, homelessness,
and other outcome measures for mentored foster care youth and
non-mentored foster care youth.
''(10) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection,
$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005, and such
sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.
''(d) National Coordination of Statewide Mentoring Partnerships.--
''(1) In general.--The Secretary may award a competitive
grant to an eligible entity to establish a National Hotline
Service or Website to provide information to individuals who
are interested in becoming mentors to youth in foster care.
''(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection,
$4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 and 2005, and such
sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.
''(e) Loan Forgiveness.--
''(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
''(A) Eligible mentor.--The term 'eligible mentor'
means an individual who has served as a mentor in a
statewide mentor program established under subsection
(c) for at least 200 hours in a single calendar year.
''(B) Federal student loan.--The term 'Federal
student loan' means any loan made, insured, or
guaranteed under part B, D, or E of tide IV of the
Higher Education Act of 1965.
''(C) Secretary.--The term 'Secretary' means the
Secretary of Education.
''(2) Relief from indebtedness.--
''(A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a
program to provide for the discharge or cancellation of
the Federal student loan indebtedness of an eligible
mentor.
''(B) Method of discharge or cancellation.--A loan
that will be discharged or canceled under the program
under subparagraph (A) shall be discharged or canceled
as provided for using the method under section 437(a),
455(a)(1), or 464(c)(1)(F) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965, as applicable.
''(C) Amount of relief.--The amount of relief to be
provided with respect to a loan under this subsection
shall--
''(i) be equal to $2,000 for each 200 hours
of service of an eligible mentor; and
''(ii) not exceed a total of $20,000 for an
eligible individual.
''(3) Facilitation of claims.--The Secretary shall--
''(A) establish procedures for the filing of
applications for the discharge or cancellation of loans
under this subsection by regulations that shall be
prescribed and published within 90 days after the date
of enactment of this section and without regard to the
requirements of section 553 of title 5, United States
Code; and
''(B) take such actions as may be necessary to
publicize the availability of the program established
under this subsection for eligible mentors.
''(4) Funding.--Amounts available for the purposes of
making payments to lenders in accordance with section 437(a) of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 for the discharge of
indebtedness of deceased or disabled individuals shall be
available for making payments to lenders of loans to eligible
mentors as provided for in this subsection.''.
Output: Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2003 - Amends title IV part B (Child-Welfare Services) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to States to support the establishment or expansion and operation of programs using networks of public and private community entities to provide mentoring for children in foster care. Authorizes a grant award directly to a political subdivision if the subdivision serves a substantial number of foster care youth.

Prescribes program implementation guidelines, including: (1) application requirements; (2) training; (3) screening; (4) educational requirements; (5) Federal and non-Federal share of funds for the Program; (6) considerations in awarding grants; and (7) use of funds. Sets forth a maximum grant amount to be awarded to a State or political subdivision. Authorizes the Secretary to award a competitive grant to an eligible entity to establish a National Hotline Service or Website to provide information to individuals interested in becoming mentors to youth in foster care. Instructs the Secretary of Education to implement a program to provide for the discharge or cancellation of the Federal student loan indebtedness of an eligible mentor.