zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 

Provides FY2017 appropriations to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies.

Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2017 

Provides appropriations to DOT for:

 the Office of the Secretary, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, the Maritime Administration, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and the Office of Inspector General. Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2017 

Provides appropriations to HUD for:

 Management and Administration, Program Office Salaries and Expenses, Public and Indian Housing Programs, Community Planning and Development, Housing Programs, Housing Counseling Assistance, Other Assisted Housing Programs, the Federal Housing Administration, the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), Policy Development and Research, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, the Information Technology Fund, and the Office of Inspector General. Provides appropriations to related agencies, including:

 the Access Board, the Federal Maritime Commission, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) Office of Inspector General, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, the Surface Transportation Board, and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Rescinds specified unobligated balances from prior appropriations. Sets forth permissible and prohibited uses for funds provided by this and other appropriations Acts.

Date: 2016-06-07
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Mandated Expenses Tax Relief Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a taxpayer to elect to expense the cost of federal compliance property and deduct the cost for the taxable year in which the property is placed in service. "Federal compliance property" is any property that: (1) is of a character with respect to which depreciation (or amortization in lieu of depreciation) is allowable, and (2) is used by the taxpayer to comply with any federal law or regulation.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Taxation
This bill provides continuing FY2017 appropriations to most federal agencies until the earlier of December 9, 2016, or the enactment of the applicable appropriations legislation.

 It prevents a government shutdown that would otherwise occur when FY2017 begins on October 1, 2016, because the FY2017 appropriations bills that fund the federal government have not been enacted. The bill specifies the rates of operations for security and nonsecurity programs for the duration of the continuing appropriations.

The bill enacts, by reference, the provisions of the conference report for H.R. 2577 (Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 and Zika Response and Preparedness Act).

American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015 or the American SAFE Act of 2015 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence must take specified actions to ensure that certain aliens from Iraq or Syria receive thorough background investigations and are certified not to be a security threat prior to being admitted to the United States as refugees.

Protecting Internet Freedom Act 

The Department of Commerce may not allow the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's responsibility for Internet domain name system functions to cease unless a federal statute enacted after enactment of this bill expressly grants Commerce the authority.

Commerce must certify to Congress that the United States: (1) secured sole ownership of the .gov and .mil top-level domains, and (2) entered into a contract with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers that provides the U.S. government with exclusive control and use of those domains in perpetuity.

Date: 2016-09-20
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Social Enterprise Ecosystem and Economic Development Commission Act of 2016 or the SEEED Commission Act of 2016

This bill establishes the Commission on the Advancement of Social Enterprise to examine and make recommendations on ways the federal government can support and utilize social enterprises. The Commission must: (1) establish criteria for identifying social enterprises for purposes of federal programs, and (2) identify opportunities for the federal government to engage social enterprises in creating jobs and strengthening local economies.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Government operations and politics
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 18, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Grants Oversight and New Efficiency Act or the GONE Act

(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget to instruct each agency, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to submit to Congress and HHS by December 31 of the first calendar year beginning after this Act's enactment a report that:

 lists each federal grant award held by such agency; provides the total number of federal grant awards, including the number of grants by time period of expiration, the number with zero dollar balances, and the number with undisbursed balances; describes the challenges leading to delays in grant closeout; and explains, for the 30 oldest federal grant awards, why each has not been closed out. If an agency head is unable to submit all of such information, the report shall include an explanation of why the information was not available, including any shortcomings with and plans to improve existing grant systems, including data systems.

Each agency, within one year after submitting such report, shall provide notice to HHS specifying: (1) whether it has closed out all of the federal grant awards in the report, and (2) which awards have not been closed out. HHS, within 90 days after all of such notices have been provided or by March 31 of the calendar year following the first calendar year beginning after this Act's enactment, whichever is sooner, shall compile, and report to Congress on, such notices.

The Inspector General of an agency with more than $500 million in annual grant funding, within one year after such agency has provided the notice to Congress, shall conduct a risk assessment to determine if an audit or review of the agency's grant closeout process is warranted.

The OMB, within six months after the second such report on notices is submitted, shall report to Congress on recommendations for legislation to improve accountability and oversight in grants management, including the timely closeout of a federal grant award.

The bill defines "federal grant award" as a grant, including a cooperative agreement, in an agency cash payment management system held by the U.S. government for which: (1) the grant award period of performance has been expired for more than two years, and (2) closeout has not yet occurred.

Date: 2015-04-28
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Government operations and politics
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

(Sec. 1) This bill exempts broadcast television stations from the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) amended joint sales agreement (JSA) rules if the stations were parties to a JSA that was in effect on the effective date of the amendment adopted by the FCC on March 31, 2014.

Under the FCC's amended rule, a television station that sells more than 15% of the weekly advertising time of another station in the same market is attributed an ownership interest subject to ownership limitations. The bill exempts stations from being considered in violation of such ownership limitations by reason of the amended rule if they were a party to an existing JSA that was in effect on the effective date of the amendment.

Date: 2015-05-04
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
Electric Transmission Infrastructure Permitting Improvement Act

This bill establishes the Interagency Rapid Response Team for Transmission (Team), composed of specified federal agencies, to expedite the permitting process for electric transmission infrastructure on both federal and non-federal land.

The Team shall:

 facilitate coordination and unified environmental documentation among electric transmission infrastructure project applicants, federal agencies, states, and Indian tribes; establish clear timelines for the review and coordination of projects; ensure that each project is posted on the "e-Trans" federal permitting transmission tracking system; and notify Team members involved in any specific permit of any outstanding agency action required with respect to the permit, and any approval or required comment that has exceeded statutory or agency timelines for completion. The Transmission Ombudsperson, established by this Act within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, shall create a process for permitting maintenance and upgrades to electric transmission lines and resolving complaints.

The Department of the Interior must not take certain actions under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 with respect to rights-of-way reserved for a federal agency or department for an electric transmission system unless the agency or department head proposes to change the use of the right-of-way to support a function other than an electric transmission system.

The actions prohibited unless a change of use is proposed include:

 requiring a new grant, permit, or renewal of the grant or permit relating to the right-of-way; requiring any other authorization or instrument relating to the right-of-way; or imposing new terms or conditions relating to the right-of-way or its use, including proposed changes affecting electric transmission system facilities or appurtenances.

Date: 2015-05-06
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Energy
Condensate Act of 2015

This bill requires the Department of Energy to develop a standard definition of the term "condensate" and, subsequently, advise relevant federal agencies to adopt that definition in order to clarify U.S. energy policy.

The Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy may assess the suitability of condensate separately from crude oil for use in strategic reserves.

The Energy Information Administration must collect data concerning the chemical properties of domestically produced condensate and crude oil.

The Department of the Interior must assess condensate separately from crude oil.

The bill authorizes:

 the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to estimate condensate separately from crude oil as part of the resource assessments regarding domestic geological formations, the Office of Natural Resources Revenue Data Collection to collect condensate data separately from crude oil, and the United States Geological Survey to include estimates of condensate separately from crude oil as part of the resource assessments regarding domestic geological formations. Congress declares that processed condensate is a petroleum product.

Date: 2015-05-06
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Energy
Native American Indian Education Act

 Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Department of Education to pay institutions of higher education the out-of-state tuition of their Indian students if the schools are required to provide a tuition-free education, with the support of their state, to Native American Indian students in fulfillment of a condition under which the college or state received its original grant of land and facilities from the federal government.

Limits that payment each fiscal year to the institution's total out-of-state tuition for Native American Indian students in academic year 2014-2015.

Treats such payments as reimbursements to such institutions from their states.

Rescinds unobligated discretionary appropriations to offset the costs of this program.

Date: 2015-05-20
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Native Americans
This bill modifies requirements that apply to the obligation and release of federal highway funds by states.

Under current law, any funds released by the final payment or a modification for a project must be credited to the same class of funds previously apportioned or allocated to the state for the project and are immediately available for obligation.

This bill permits the funds to be credited to a similar class of funds if the same class is no longer authorized.

Date: 2015-07-15
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Transportation and public works
Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act or the PACT Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal criminal code to revise and expand provisions with respect to animal crushing.

It retains existing criminal offenses that prohibit knowingly creating or distributing an animal crush video using interstate commerce. The bill also adds a new provision to criminalize an intentional act of animal crushing. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to seven years, or both.

It provides additional exceptions for conduct, or a video of conduct, including conduct that is: (1) medical or scientific research, (2) necessary to protect the life or property of a person, (3) performed as part of euthanizing an animal, or (4) unintentional.

Date: 2015-07-22
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Rebuilding Urban Inner Cities Is Long Overdue Act of 2015 or the REBUILD Act 

Provides FY2015 supplemental appropriations for the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Designates each amount provided by this bill as an emergency requirement, pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Provides that the funds are only available if the President subsequently designates the amounts. (Emergency spending is exempt from discretionary spending limits and other budget enforcement rules.)

Provides appropriations to DOJ for: the Office of Justice Programs, including State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance and Juvenile Justice Programs; and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

Provides appropriations to the SBA for Entrepreneurial Development Programs and the Business Loans Program Account.

Provides appropriations to Labor for the Employment and Training Administration.

Provides appropriations to HHS for the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Provides appropriations to HUD for Public and Indian Housing, Community Planning and Development, and the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes.

Requires HUD to extend current Moving to Work agreements of previously designated participating agencies until the end of FY2028, subject to specified requirements and restrictions. (Moving to Work is a demonstration program that provides HUD and local Public Housing Authorities flexibility to test alternative policies for providing housing assistance through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program and the public housing program.)

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
This bill extends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Program through FY2021 at FY2011 funding levels. This Program provides payments to state jurisdictions to compensate for the cost of providing services in tax-exempt federal lands within such jurisdictions.

The bill eliminates the fiscal year limitation on funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Program. This Program compensates local governments for tax revenue lost due to tax-exempt federal lands within their boundaries.

The bill amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act to make permanent the authorization for the Land and and Water Conservation Fund. Amounts in such Funds remain available for expenditure to carry out such Act without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation. Not less than 1.5% the annual authorized funding amount under such Act shall be made available for projects that secure recreational public access to existing federal public land for hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes.

Date: 2015-08-04
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Middle East Refugee Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2016

 This bill provides $1 billion in FY2016 supplemental appropriations to the Department of State's Migration and Refugee Assistance account for expenses to respond to the refugee crisis resulting from conflict in the Middle East, including costs associated with the resettlement of refugees in the United States. The funds are designated as an emergency requirement, which exempts the funds from discretionary spending limits and other budget enforcement rules.

Prior to using funds provided by this bill, the State Department must submit to Congress a report including specified details regarding the refugees who have fled Syria and Iraq, the costs associated with resettlement, and the proposed uses of funds provided by this bill.

The State Department may transfer funds provided by this bill to other federal agencies for the purpose of assisting in the resettlement in the United States of refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East, subject to congressional notification requirements.

Date: 2015-10-06
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: International affairs
This bill extends the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Program through FY2025 at FY2011 funding levels. This Program provides payments to state jurisdictions to compensate for the cost of providing services in tax-exempt federal lands within such jurisdictions. Payments under such Act for FY2016 and each fiscal year thereafter shall be exempt from direct spending reductions under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

The bill eliminates the fiscal year limitation on funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Program. This Program compensates local governments for tax revenue lost due to tax-exempt federal lands within their boundaries.

The bill amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act to make permanent the authorization for the Land and and Water Conservation Fund. Amounts in such Funds remain available for expenditure to carry out such Act without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation. Not less than 1.5% the annual authorized funding amount under such Act shall be made available for projects that secure recreational public access to existing federal public land for hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes.

Date: 2015-10-07
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for the Defense of Israel, 2016 

This bill provides FY2016 emergency supplemental appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) and for the Foreign Military Financing Program to assist Israel in addressing security threats from Iran.

The bill provides funding to DOD for Procurement and Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation to provide to the government of Israel for the procurement of missile defense systems to address security threats from Iran, subject to previously established transfer procedures and in accordance with U.S-Israeli production agreements.

The bill also provides funding to the President for the Foreign Military Financing Program for assistance for Israel to address security threats from Iran.

The funds provided by this bill are designated as an emergency requirement, which exempts the funds from discretionary spending limits and other budget enforcement rules. The funds are only available if the President subsequently designates the amounts as emergency spending and transmits the designations to Congress.

The bill amends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to reauthorize sanctions against Iran until December 31, 2031. (Under current law, the sanctions expire on December 31, 2016.)

Date: 2016-09-20
Topic: Government Operations (General)
Subject: International affairs
Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators Act of 2007 or the KIDS Act of 2007 - Authorizes additional appropriations for FY2008-FY2013 to: (1) evaluate and purchase Internet filtering and monitoring programs and devices; (2) train probation officers in the use of such programs and devices and in the supervision of sex offenders; and (3) hire probation officers and other personnel as required to supervise convicted sex offenders effectively.Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) include as discretionary conditions for the probation and supervised release of a convicted sex offender restricted access to the Internet and monitoring of computers used by such offender by a probation officer; (2) impose a fine and/or prison term of up to 20 years for conducting, or attempting or conspiring to conduct, a financial transaction to facilitate access to, or possession of, child pornography; and (3) include as monetary instruments for money laundering purposes electronic or digital currencies or stored value cards.Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend its sentencing guidelines for sex offenses involving children where the crimes are committed or facilitated by use of the Internet and the offender's age is misrepresented on the Internet or the offender's status as a sex offender is not revealed.Amends the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 to revise the minimum standards, under a pilot program, for electronic monitoring of sex offenders to eliminate requirements that the tracking device: (1) contain cellular technology in a single unit; and (2) provide two- and three-way voice communication.

Date: 2007-01-30
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Internet Stopping Adults Facilitating the Exploitation of Today's Youth Act (SAFETY) of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) financial transactions in interstate or foreign commerce that facilitate access to, or the possession of, child pornography; and (2) Internet content hosting providers or email service providers from facilitating access to, or the possession of, child pornography.Amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to: (1) increase monetary penalties for willful failure of electronic communication service providers to report child pornography; and (2) impose new penalties for negligent failure to report.Requires the Attorney General to issue regulations governing the retention of certain records by Internet Service Providers.Increases criminal penalties for the sexual exploitation of children and for activities involving the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography.Requires commercial website operators to place warning marks prescribed by the Federal Trade Commission on web pages that contain sexually explicit materials.Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012 for the Innocent Images National Initiative.

Date: 2007-02-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
City Youth Violence Recovery Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to partnerships between a state mental health authority and one or more local public or private entities to prevent or alleviate the effects of youth violence in urban communities with a high or increasing incidence of such violence by providing violence-prevention education, mentoring, counseling, and mental health services to children and adolescents. Gives priority to grant applicants that agree to use the grant in communities that lack the resources to address youth violence. Requires grant applicants to agree to use no more than 15% of a grant for violence-prevention education.

Date: 2007-02-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Families
At-Risk Youth Protection Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to states for subgrants to alternative public schools or programs that serve the needs of students at risk of educational failure. Requires subgrantees to require their secondary school students to perform at least 100 hours of community service each school year and receive training or counseling on conflict resolution as a prerequisite to performing such service. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax deduction to a business of: (1) $750 per 100 hours of community service provided by such a student through such business during the taxable year; and (2) $2,000 for each graduate of such alternative school or program who completes one year of employment with such business.

Date: 2007-02-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Education
Youth Crime Deterrence Act of 2007 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to set forth additional requirements for state plans under the juvenile justice and delinquency prevention program (program) relating to juvenile truancy from detention or placement settings and housing, reentry and aftercare services for juveniles released from the juvenile justice system. Authorizes the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to make grants to or contracts with public and nonprofit private agencies for: (1) family and community programs to prevent and reduce the participation of juveniles in criminal gangs; (2) treatment programs for juvenile offenders who are victims of child abuse or neglect and their families; and (3) mentoring programs for at-risk juveniles.Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to states for certain challenge activities under the program. Defines "challenge activity" as a state program maintained to: (1) provide juveniles in the juvenile justice system with basic health, mental health, and education services; (2) increase community-based alternatives to incarceration of juveniles; (3) provide secure settings for the placement of violent juvenile offenders; (4) establish and operate a state ombudsmen office for monitoring out-of-home care for juveniles; or (5) adopt policies for alternatives to suspension and expulsion from school and for prohibiting discrimination against juveniles in program placement or treatment based on perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity.

Date: 2007-03-29
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Judicial Initiative Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to direct the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to make grants to train state juvenile justice system officers and employees regarding appropriate access to mental health and substance abuse treatment services for juveniles. Directs the Attorney General to make grants to partnerships between state and local juvenile justice and mental health agencies for programs to divert juveniles from incarceration and for mental health and substance abuse screening and treatment.Establishes a Federal Coordinating Council on Criminalization of Juveniles to study and coordinate federal criminal and juvenile justice and mental health and substance abuse activities.Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to require states seeking eligibility for violent offender incarceration grants to implement (or begin to implement), not later than January 1, 2008, a program of mental health screening and treatment for juvenile and other offenders during periods of incarceration and supervision.

Date: 2007-06-11
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Youth Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support, and Education Act or the Youth PROMISE Act - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to establish a PROMISE Advisory Panel to assist the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in: (1) assessing and developing standards and evidence-based practices to prevent juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity; and (2) collecting data in designated geographic areas to assess the needs and existing resources for juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity prevention and intervention. Authorizes the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to award grants to local governments and Indian tribes to: (1) plan and assess evidence-based and promising practices for juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity prevention and intervention, especially for at-risk youth; and (2) implement PROMISE plans, developed by local PROMISE Coordinating Councils (PCCs), for coordinating and supporting the delivery of juvenile delinquency and gang prevention and intervention programs in local communities. Establishes a National Center for Proven Practices Research to provide PCCs and the public current research and other information about evidence-based practices related to juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang prevention and intervention. Directs the Administrator to award grants to hire and train law enforcement officers as youth-oriented police to work with PCCs, other community-based organizations, and high-risk youths. Establishes a Center for Youth-Oriented Policing.Amends the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 to authorize grants for the creation and expansion of state, local, and tribal juvenile witness and victim protection programs. Extends and increases funding for juvenile accountability block grants through FY2013.

Date: 2007-10-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Enhancing the Effective Prosecution of Child Pornography Act of 2007 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) include child pornography activities and the production of such pornography for importation into the United States as predicate crimes for money laundering prosecutions; and (2) define "possess" with respect to crimes of child sexual exploitation and child pornography to include accessing by computer visual depictions of child pornography with the intent to view.

Date: 2007-11-09
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Youth Reentry Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to require: (1) information on the number of juveniles released from prison and their living arrangements upon release in the annual report of the Administrator of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Office; (2) states seeking juvenile justice grants to adopt procedures to assure the availability of post-release programs and services for juvenile offenders; and (3) research and evaluation on outcomes for juvenile offenders who have been released from custody and reintegrated into communities. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) award grants to states to establish programs to identify juveniles likely to be released before attaining age 25 and to help such juveniles attain self-sufficiency; (2) develop outcome measures to assess the performance of states in operating juvenile offender reentry programs and track services provided to such offenders; and (3) conduct evaluations of state juvenile offender reentry programs. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to continue health care benefits for juvenile offenders after release from incarceration.

Date: 2008-01-29
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Juvenile Justice Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to: (1) revise and add definitions under such Act relating to the treatment of juveniles held in custody while awaiting trial for criminal offenses; (2) require state plans under such Act to separate juveniles from the adult prison population, eliminate the use of dangerous practices used for holding juveniles in custody, and provide training of prison staff on techniques for effective behavior management of juvenile offenders; (3) provide incentive grants to states to adopt programs for the mental health treatment needs of juveniles in custody and for the placement of such juveniles in the least restrictive detention or correctional settings; and (4) prohibit the placement of juveniles who have not been charged with adult criminal offenses in secure detention or correctional facilities.

Date: 2008-03-05
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit to individuals who provide mentoring services to young adults between the ages of 18 and 22. Requires such individuals to participate in a one-on-one relationship as a positive role model with such young adults and to conduct meetings and activities with them on not less than a monthly basis.

Date: 2008-03-31
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Taxation
Delivering Effective Training and Enforcement Resources (DETER) Act of 2008 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to: (1) include the use of global positioning monitoring technologies to monitor individuals on parole and probation and the hiring of additional parole officers as permissible corrections grant purposes under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program; and (2) provide funding under the grant program to establish the National Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Resource Center for collecting and disseminating information on laws relating to and grants for parole and probation agencies and officers.

Date: 2008-05-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2008 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to: (1) revise the definition of "contact" in such Act to include any sight or sound interaction between a juvenile in custody and an adult inmate; (2) expand eligibility for participation in grant programs under such Act to certain individuals and organizations with an interest in the juvenile justice system ("juvenile justice stakeholders"); (3) require state plans under such Act to provide for increased protections for juveniles in custody, provide for culturally and linguistically appropriate services to juveniles at risk, and establish policies and strategies to identify and reduce racial and ethnic disparities among youths in the juvenile justice system; (4) require the inclusion on state juvenile delinquency prevention advisory boards of individuals with experience and competence in addressing the needs of girls or in implementing gender responsive services; and (5) require the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to assess and report on the effectiveness of treating juveniles as adults for purposes of criminal prosecutions. Amends the Incentive Grants for Local Delinquency Prevention Programs Act of 2002 to require the inclusion of gender specific services in the incentive grant program for juvenile delinquency prevention.

Date: 2008-09-17
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
First Step Forward Act of 2007 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to: (1) require information on the number of juveniles (under age 21) released from prison and their living arrangements upon release in the annual report of the Administrator of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Office; (2) require states seeking juvenile justice grants to adopt procedures to assure the availability of post-release programs and services for juvenile offenders; and (3) require research and evaluation on outcomes for juvenile offenders who have been released from custody and reintegrated into communities. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) award grants to states to establish programs to identify juveniles likely to be released before attaining age 21 and to help such juveniles attain self-sufficiency; (2) develop outcome measures to assess the performance of states in operating juvenile offender reentry programs and track services provided to such offenders; and (3) conduct evaluations of state juvenile offender reentry programs. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to continue health care benefits for juvenile offenders after release from incarceration.

Date: 2007-12-11
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Enhancing the Effective Prosecution of Child Pornography Act of 2008 - Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) include child pornography activities and the production of such pornography for importation into the United States as predicate crimes for money laundering prosecutions; and (2) define "possess" with respect to crimes of child sexual exploitation and child pornography to include accessing by computer visual depictions of child pornography with the intent to view.

Date: 2008-04-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Establishes the Commission on Federal Criminal and Juvenile Justice Assistance Programs to study methods to help revitalize and strengthen Department of Justice (DOJ) justice assistance programs.

Date: 2008-05-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Support 21 Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to establish a program under which at least two campaigns in support of enforcement of the minimum legal drinking age will be implemented per year for each of 2010 through 2014 to: (1) educate the public about the public health and safety benefits and basis for age-21 minimum legal drinking age laws; and (2) build public and parental support for, and cooperation with, enforcement of such laws. Authorizes the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (Administrator) to make supplemental grants to eligible entities to implement strategies to: (1) work with local pediatric health care providers to increase alcohol education, screening, and intervention provided to patients and persons under age 21; (2) give such providers access to the community sectors involved in collaborating on the implementation of comprehensive, community wide programs, strategies, and services to reduce underage alcohol use and abuse; (3) provide science-based alcohol information and education to caregivers of children and young adults through relevant community sectors; and (4) undertake activities to support the national campaigns. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary), acting through the Administrator, to make grants to professional pediatric medical organizations to increase effective practices to reduce the prevalence of alcohol use among individuals under the age of 21. Requires the Secretary to establish within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) a focus on underage drinking prevention, including activities for: (1) expanding and disseminating research on strategies for reducing underage drinking; and (2) public health and state-level surveillance of underage drinking. Requires the National Academy of Sciences to review and report to Congress on research regarding the influence of drinking alcohol on the development of the adolescent brain and the public policy implications.

Date: 2009-02-12
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Health
Child Protection Improvements Act of 2010 - Amends the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to direct the Attorney General to: (1) establish policies and procedures for streamlining the process of obtaining nationwide criminal history background checks and for facilitating widespread access to such background checks by public or private child-serving organizations; (2) establish a criminal history review program to provide reliable and accurate information on the criminal history of an individual who has or seeks to have unsupervised access to a child and who is employed by, volunteers with, or seeks to be employed by or volunteer with, a child-serving organization or who owns or operates, or seeks to own or operate, a child-serving organization (covered individual); (3) conduct an annual assessment of state agencies to determine whether such agencies operate programs to ensure that a wide range of child-serving organizations have affordable and timely access to nationwide criminal history background checks; (4) compile demographic and other data on the implementation of this Act; and (5) submit reports to Congress on the programs and procedures established under this Act and on the data compiled under this Act. Requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to: (1) conduct, upon the request of the Attorney General or a background check designee, a nationwide criminal history background check; (2) provide criminal history records; and (3) investigate and resolve challenges to the accuracy and completeness of criminal history records. Authorizes appropriations for FY2011-FY2014. Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that fees collected by the Attorney General or the background check designee should be sufficient to carry out their duties under this Act and to help support the criminal history review program. Limits the liability of entities participating in the background check system established by this Act resulting from a failure to conduct criminal background checks or to take adverse action against a covered individual after receiving a criminal history report. Imposes restrictions on the disclosure of fingerprints, criminal history records, or information in such records. Requires the Attorney General to promulgate regulations to enforce such disclosure restrictions and to destroy fingerprints and criminal history records after any transaction based upon such fingerprints or records is completed. Amends the PROTECT Act to provide for an extension of the Child Safety Pilot Program.

Date: 2009-03-12
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Juvenile Accountability Block Grants Program Reauthorization Act of 2010 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend through FY2014 the authorization of appropriations for the juvenile accountability block grant program.

Date: 2009-03-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Community Oriented Policing Services and Key Investments in Developmental Services Act of 2009 or the COPS and KIDS Act of 2009 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to increase and extend the authorization of appropriations for the community oriented policing services (COPS) grant program through FY2014. Renames the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 as the Key Investments in Developmental Services Act (KIDS Act). Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2015 for KIDS Act grant programs. Expresses the sense of Congress that the yearly appropriations for the COPS grant program should be equal to the yearly appropriations for juvenile prevention and intervention programs under the KIDS Act.

Date: 2009-03-17
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Juvenile Justice Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to: (1) revise and add definitions under such Act relating to the treatment of juveniles held in custody while awaiting trial for criminal offenses; (2) require state plans under such Act to separate juveniles from the adult prison population, monitor for and eliminate the use of dangerous practices, unnecessary isolation, unnecessary room time, and unreasonable restraint for holding juveniles in custody, and provide training of prison staff on techniques for effective behavior management of juvenile offenders; (3) provide incentive grants to states to adopt programs for the mental health treatment needs of juveniles in custody and for the placement of such juveniles in the least restrictive detention or correctional settings; and (4) prohibit the placement of juveniles who have not been charged with adult criminal offenses in secure detention or correctional facilities.

Date: 2009-04-02
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act - Amends the federal criminal code to impose criminal penalties on anyone who transmits in interstate or foreign commerce a communication intended to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to another person, using electronic means to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior.

Date: 2009-04-02
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Promoting Alternatives to Truancy and Incarceration by Encouraging New and Comprehensive Efforts (PATIENCE) Act of 2009 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to require the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to set aside at least 5% of funding under such Act for incentive grants to states. Requires states receiving such grants to: (1) support evidence-based or promising programs that address the mental health treatment needs of juveniles; (2) support reforms that protect juveniles while incarcerated; and (3) demonstrate improvement in public safety and rehabilitation of delinquent and at-risk youth.

Date: 2009-10-15
Topic: Law and Crime (Juvenile Crime)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement