zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Protecting Adoption and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2010 - Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an automated National Putative Father Registry. Limits disclosure of information in the Registry to: (1) a state unit responsible for administering the State Putative Father Registry established pursuant to this Act; and (2) any state agencies or entities involved in the placement of children for adoption. Directs the Secretary to establish a nationwide responsible fatherhood and putative father registry educational campaign designed to: (1) inform men about the National Putative Father Registry, the advantages of registering with a State Putative Father Registry, and the rights and responsibilities of putative fathers; and (2) inform women about the National Registry and its potential role in a pending or planned adoption or a termination of a putative father's rights. Directs the Secretary to make grants to assist eligible states in developing, establishing, and operating programs designed to: (1) improve the protection of the rights of responsible unwed fathers in legal proceedings involving a planned or pending adoption, the termination of a father's rights to a biological child, or the entry of a child into the state child welfare system; (2) improve the laws and regulations involving the pre-birth abandonment of a child by the biological father and abandonment of a child by the biological father subsequent to birth; (3) assist mothers in making responsible plans for their children's future; and (4) protect the privacy and safety of birth mothers and fathers. Requires the Secretary also to make grants to reimburse states for any costs incurred in meeting these requirements. Requires each state that desires to receive such a grant to: (1) develop and implement a state plan for promoting responsible fatherhood and permanency for children; and (2) provide assurances that it will establish or modify an existing automated State Putative Father Registry to meet the requirements of this Act. Requires a state to: (1) establish centers in various locations so that registration forms for the State Putative Father Registry are easily accessible to putative fathers; and (2) provide assurances that it has in effect or will enact a state law defining pre-birth abandonment and abandonment subsequent to birth, and allowing for implied consent to the child's adoption in the case of pre-birth abandonment or abandonment subsequent to birth.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Working Family Child Assistance Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) lower the income threshold used to calculate the refundable portion of the child tax credit; and (2) repeal the annual inflation adjustment to such threshold amount.Makes provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 modifying the child tax credit permanent.

Date: 2009-01-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Permanent Marriage Penalty Relief Act of 2009 - Makes permanent provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 and the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004 that eliminate the marriage penalty in the standard deduction, the 15-percent tax bracket, and the earned income tax credit.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Child Protection Improvements Act of 2009 - Amends the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to direct the Attorney General to establish a program for national criminal history background checks for child-serving organizations. Amends the PROTECT Act to terminate the Child Safety Pilot Program on the date the program established under this Act is operating and able to enroll any organization using that Program.Requires the Attorney General to: (1) establish an applicant processing center to streamline the process of obtaining nationwide background checks; (2) enter into an agreement with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to establish a criminal history resource center to provide child-serving organizations with reliable and accurate information for interpreting criminal histories; and (3) assess annually the compliance of state criminal background check programs with requirements of this Act.Sets forth the duties of applicant processing centers, procedures for requesting a nationwide criminal background check, and fee schedules for background checks. Grants individuals who are the subject of a background check the right to request full criminal history reports and to challenge the accuracy and completeness of such reports.Grants limited immunity to child-serving organizations and NCMEC for acts and omissions in obtaining or using criminal history background information. Prohibits unauthorized disclosure or use of criminal history records.

Date: 2009-01-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Education Begins at Home Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, to make: (1) grants to states for programs of early childhood home visitation; and (2) competitive grants to local educational agencies and other eligible applicants for early home visitation for families with English language learners. Directs the Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, to make competitive grants to eligible applicants for early home visitation for military families. Directs the Secretary of HHS to develop and implement a public information and educational campaign to inform the public and new parents about the importance of proper care for infants and children under five years of age.

Date: 2009-01-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Education
Affordable Care for Women Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to expand the 340B drug pricing program to allow participation as a covered entity by a public or nonprofit entity that primarily provides family planning services.

Date: 2009-01-22
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
Elimination of the Single Parent Tax Act of 2009 - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of the Social Security Act to repeal the requirement that states impose a $25 annual fee for successful child support collection for a family that has never received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) under SSA title IV part A.

Date: 2009-01-27
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Resource Family Recruitment and Retention Act of 2009 - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to the requirement that state foster care and adoption assistance plans require development of standards to ensure that children in foster care placements in public or private agencies receive quality services that protect their safety and health. Requires such standards to require each public and private placement agency, subject to renewal of its license or other state approval, to certify annually to the state that it provides foster parents with specified services and information. Numbers among such services and information: (1) notifications of scheduled meetings to allow foster parents the opportunity to participate actively in the case planning and decision-making regarding placement of a child in their home; (2) support services to assist with care of the child; (3) information about the child's medical history, educational history, general behaviors, life experiences, the placement circumstances of the child, and the relationship between the child and his or her parents; (4) timely and complete information about all permanency options available to the child; and (5) assistance with the coordination of services for dealing with family loss and separation when a child leaves the foster home. Amends SSA title IV part B (Child and Family Services) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible states for innovative programs to empower, provide leadership for, and improve the recruitment, support, training, and retention of foster care, kinship care, and adoptive parents.

Date: 2009-02-11
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Protecting Incentives for the Adoption of Children with Special Needs Act of 2009 - Amends the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 to repeal the limitation on FY2008 adoption incentive payments to states to the same manner as such incentives were awarded in FY2008 for the previous fiscal year.

Date: 2009-03-30
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Protecting Adoption and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2009 - Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an automated National Putative Father Registry. Limits disclosure of information in the Registry to: (1) a state unit responsible for administering the State Putative Father Registry established pursuant to this Act; and (2) any state agencies or entities involved in the placement of children for adoption. Directs the Secretary to establish a nationwide responsible fatherhood and putative father registry educational campaign designed to: (1) inform men about the National Putative Father Registry, the advantages of registering with a State Putative Father Registry, and the rights and responsibilities of putative fathers; and (2) inform women about the National Registry and its potential role in a pending or planned adoption or a termination of a putative father's rights. Directs the Secretary to make grants to assist eligible states in developing, establishing, and operating programs designed to: (1) improve the protection of the rights of responsible unwed fathers in legal proceedings involving a planned or pending adoption, the termination of a father's rights to a biological child, or the entry of a child into the state child welfare system; (2) improve the laws and regulations involving the pre-birth abandonment of a child by the biological father and abandonment of a child by the biological father subsequent to birth; (3) assist mothers in making responsible plans for their children's future; and (4) protect the privacy and safety of birth mothers and fathers. Requires the Secretary also to make grants to reimburse states for any costs incurred in meeting these requirements. Requires each state that desires to receive such a grant to: (1) develop and implement a state plan for promoting responsible fatherhood and permanency for children; and (2) provide assurances that it will establish or modify an existing automated State Putative Father Registry to meet the requirements of this Act. Requires a state to: (1) establish centers in various locations so that registration forms for the State Putative Father Registry are easily accessible to putative fathers; and (2) provide assurances that it has in effect or will enact a state law defining pre-birth abandonment and abandonment subsequent to birth, and allowing for implied consent to the child's adoption in the case of pre-birth abandonment or abandonment subsequent to birth.

Date: 2009-04-30
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2009 - Amends part B (Child-Welfare Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) 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 nonfederal 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.

Date: 2009-05-06
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Education
Pregnant Women Support Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to increase public awareness of resources available to pregnant women to carry their pregnancy to term and new parents. Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary to make grants for the purchase of ultrasound equipment for examinations of pregnant women. Prohibits a health insurance issuer offering individual coverage from imposing a preexisting condition exclusion or a waiting period or otherwise discriminating against a woman on the basis that she is pregnant. Provides for continuation coverage for newborns. Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (CHIP, formerly known as SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to allow states to extend health care coverage to an unborn child. Requires health facilities that perform abortions to obtain informed consent from a pregnant woman seeking an abortion. Directs the Secretary to provide for: (1) higher education pregnant and parenting student services offices; and (2) programs to work with pregnant or parenting teens to complete high school. Authorizes grants for services to pregnant women who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. Requires states to require a pregnancy determination for homicide victims. Requires the Secretary to provide for supportive services for pregnant women, mothers, and children. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC program). Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to increase the eligibility threshold for food stamps. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990. Authorizes grants to provide to eligible mothers education on the health needs of their infants through visits to their homes by registered nurses. Authorizes grants for collecting and reporting abortion surveillance data.

Date: 2009-05-13
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
Child Custody Protection Act - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit transporting a minor child across a state line to obtain an abortion (deems such transporting to be a de facto abridgment of the right of a parent under any law in the minors state of residence that requires parental involvement in the minors abortion decision). Makes an exception for an abortion necessary to safe the life of the minor. Makes it an affirmative defense to a prosecution or civil action under this Act that a defendant reasonably believed that before the minor obtained the abortion, the required parental consent or notification or judicial authorization took place. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to one year on anyone who has committed an act of incest with a minor and knowingly transports such minor across a state line to obtain an abortion.

Date: 2009-06-04
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include lactation (i.e., breastfeeding or the expressing of milk from the breast) as protected conduct under such Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a business-related tax credit for 50% of their qualified breastfeeding promotion and support expenditures, up to $10,000 for any taxable year. Defines "qualified breastfeeding promotion and support expenditures" as business expenses incurred for breast pumps and other equipment specially designed to assist mothers who are breastfeeding their children and for consultation services relating to breastfeeding. Expands the tax deduction for medical expenses to include expenses for breastfeeding equipment and consultation services. Safe and Effective Breast Pumps Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) effect a performance standard for breast pumps without regard to their classification under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; and (2) issue a compliance policy guide to provide women with information about breast pumps. Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to require employers with 50 or more employees to provide their breastfeeding employees with break time and private areas to express breast milk for their nursing children.

Date: 2009-06-11
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
Evidence-Based Home Visitation Act of 2009 - Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award competitive planning and operating grants to local agencies to provide home visitation services to low-income pregnant women and low-income families with young children. Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to give states the option of providing for simplified billing by approved home visitation agencies.

Date: 2009-06-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
Keeping Families Safe Act of 2009 - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to allow foster care maintenance payments to be made on behalf of a child who is in a residential family treatment center. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to evaluate and report to Congress on the foster care maintenance payments made on behalf of a child who is in a residential family treatment center, including an analysis of the outcomes for such children.

Date: 2009-06-18
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2009 - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to: (1) funding for responsible fatherhood programs; and (2) elimination of separate TANF work participation rate for two-parent families. Amends SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) to prohibit a state from collecting any amount owed it by reason of costs it has incurred for the birth of a child for whom support rights have been assigned. Revises requirements for collection and distribution of child support, including the rules for the distribution of child support collected on behalf of children in foster care beginning with FY2011. Repeals the requirement that states condition receipt of TANF or certain other benefits on assignment to the state of certain support rights. Authorizes states to make such a condition, at their own discretion, as well as to discontinue such assignments. Requires a state to make a full distribution of collected child support to the family. Repeals mandatory fee for child support collection. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to states for an employment demonstration project involving a court- or state child support agency supervised-employment program for noncustodial parents who have barriers to employment and a history of nonpayment, so that they can pay child support obligations. Directs the Secretary of Labor to award grants for transitional jobs programs and for public-private career pathways partnerships. Conditions continued approval of a state plan under part D upon state assessment of its policies with respect to barriers to employment and financial support of children. Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2009 with respect to: (1) deductions from family income for child support received in order to qualify for food stamps; (2) verification of child support payments; and (3) inclusion of economic opportunities programs in qualifying work programs. Amends SSA title IV part A with respect to: (1) grants to healthy family partnerships for domestic violence intervention and prevention; and (2) entities receiving grants and their procedures for addressing domestic violence prevention. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) modify the earned income tax credit; (2) provide an additional tax credit for certain workers required to make child support payments; and (3) provide for marriage penalty relief. Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to: (1) the economic substance doctrine; (2) imposition of a penalty for understatements attributable to transactions lacking economic substance; and (3) denial of a deduction of interest on underpayments attributable to noneconomic substance transactions.

Date: 2009-06-19
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Families for Orphans Act of 2009 - Establishes within the Department of State the Office for Orphan Policy Diplomacy and Development which shall support: (1) the preservation and reunification of families; and (2) the provision of permanent parental care for orphans. Directs the President to establish the Policy Coordinating Committee which shall monitor and support international efforts in family preservation, family reunification, and permanent parental care for orphans. Authorizes the President to provide assistance to foreign countries: (1) for family preservation, family reunification, and orphan care efforts; and (2) to meet minimum standards required for such assistance. Authorizes the Secretary of State to make grants to nongovernmental agencies to promote permanent parental care for orphans. Directs the Secretary to: (1) initiate a study to identify global best practices for preserving and reunifying families and providing permanent parental care for orphans; and (2) carry out a global best practices pilot program.

Date: 2009-07-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: International affairs
Anthony DeJuan Boatwright Act - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require a state to provide assurances that the state includes, as part of its regulatory process for issuance and renewal of licenses to providers of child care services, a recommendation to each provider that it carry current liability insurance. Requires state plans for the use of child care and development block grant funds to certify that there are in effect state or local health and safety requirements that each child care provider: (1) post publicly and conspicuously in the service area of its premises a notice specifying whether it carries current liability insurance; and (2) give written notice to parents about whether it carries such insurance, obtain the signature of at least one parent per child acknowledging receipt of such notice, and maintain records of such signed notice while a child receives services.

Date: 2009-07-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) Act - Sets forth entitlement standards and implementation guidelines for employee use of emergency leave to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (domestic or sexual violence). Permits victims of domestic or sexual violence to substitute existing leave in lieu of emergency leave. Authorizes state use of funds under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) to provide nonrecurrent short-term emergency benefits for victims of domestic or sexual violence on emergency leave. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit denial of unemployment compensation to individuals separated from employment due to their experience of domestic or sexual violence. Amends the Social Security Act to require training of unemployment compensation and TANF personnel to provide necessary services to victims of domestic or sexual violence. Victims' Employment Sustainability Act - Prohibits certain discriminatory employer practices against victims of domestic or sexual violence. Victims of Abuse Insurance Protection Act - Prohibits denial or restriction of insurance coverage (including termination of health insurance coverage) based on the status of the applicant or insured as a victim of domestic or sexual violence.

Date: 2009-10-01
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Labor and employment
Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2009 - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) study state laws and practices relating to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation and report to Congress on such study; (2) develop a long-term plan for elder justice programs and activities; (3) award grants to support and train state and local prosecutors, courts, and law enforcement personnel handling elder justice-related matters; and (4) establish the Elder Serve Victim grant program to facilitate and coordinate programs to provide emergency services to victims of elder abuse.

Date: 2009-10-21
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Child Support Protection Act of 2009 - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to repeal the exclusion from federal matching payments of any amounts expended by a state from child support incentive payments it has received from the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (Thus reinstates federal matching of state spending of child support incentive payments.)

Date: 2009-10-22
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act of 2009 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to: (1) require states receiving Edward Byrne Memorial justice assistance grants to certify the implementation of a policy for requiring all rape kits (DNA evidence relating to sexual assault) to be sent to crime laboratories for forensic analysis: (2) adjust the amount of such grants based upon compliance and noncompliance with rape kit backlog reduction requirements under this Act; (3) eliminate rape kit repayment requirements for sexual assault victims; and (4) provide for sexual assault forensic medical personnel examiners to collect and preserve evidence, provide expert testimony, and provide treatment of trauma relating to sexual assault. Amends the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 to: (1) authorize funding to eliminate rape kit backlogs and ensure that DNA analyses of samples from rape kits are carried out in a timely manner; and (2) require states and local governments to adopt performance measures for reducing rape kit backlogs. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the availability of sexual assault nurse examiners and trained examiners at all Indian Health Service facilities operated under contracts.

Date: 2009-11-05
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Child Care Protection Act of 2009 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require states that receive funds under such Act to: (1) require and conduct criminal background checks for staff members of child care providers; (2) prohibit the employment of a child care staff member who refuses to consent to a criminal background check, makes a false statement in connection with such background check, is registered as a sex offender, or is a convicted felon involving certain crimes; and (3) provide criminal background checks to child care providers upon request. Imposes a financial penalty on states that fail to comply substantially with the requirements of this Act.

Date: 2009-12-17
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
National Child Hunger Relief Act - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to provide semiannual reimbursement rate adjustments for: (1) national school lunch and breakfast programs; (2) the special milk program; (3) the child and adult day care program; and (4) the summer food service program.

Date: 2010-03-09
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Children's Budget Act - Requires the President's annual budget to Congress to include a detailed, separate analysis for the prior fiscal year, the current fiscal year, the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted, and the ensuing fiscal year identifying the amounts of gross and net appropriations or obligational authority and outlays directed to children and children's programs within the United States and territories.

Date: 2010-03-11
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to arrange for the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to review, at least once every 10 years, the most recent nutrition science and make recommendations for changes in the supplemental foods available under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC). Directs the Secretary to alter the supplemental foods available under such program so they reflect the Institute of Medicine's findings.

Date: 2010-03-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to make foster children categorically eligible for free lunches and breakfasts under the school lunch and breakfast programs, provided the appropriate state or local agency provides the children's local educational agency with documentation regarding their status as foster children.

Date: 2010-03-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Education
Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to allow states to certify children for participation in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC) for a one-year period.

Date: 2010-03-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Agriculture and food
Exemplary Breastfeeding Support Act - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement programs in support of breastfeeding in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC).

Date: 2010-03-17
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Agriculture and food
North Korean Refugee Adoption Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive strategy for facilitating the adoption of North Korean children by U.S. citizens.

Date: 2010-03-23
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: International affairs
Juvenile Mentoring Program Act of 2010 or JUMP Act of 2010 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to direct the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to award grants to and enter into contracts with state and local educational agencies or nonprofit organizations to implement mentoring programs that link at-risk youth with responsible adults who, on a one-to-one volunteer basis, provide such youth with supportive relationships and exposure to new experiences that enhance their ability to become responsible citizens. Defines an "at-risk youth" as an individual under age 18 who is at risk of educational failure or involvement in delinquent activities. Requires the Administrator to develop and distribute to program participants specific model guidelines for screening prospective program mentors. Gives grant priority to applicants that: (1) serve at-risk youth in high crime areas; and (2) have at least 60% of their youth eligible to receive funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Date: 2010-05-12
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Supporting Adoptive Families Act - Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to make it a purpose of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program to promote efforts to prevent children from entering the foster care system through the provision of pre- and post-adoptive support services. Extends adoption promotion and support services to those designed to support adoptions from other countries as well as domestic adoptions. Specifies related pre- and post-adoptive support services. Amends SSA title IV part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) to revise requirements for state expenditures for adoption support services. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible entities to develop and implement state-sponsored statewide or tribal post-adoption mental health service programs for all adopted children. Amends SSA title IV part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) to direct the Secretary, as part of the child support and paternity data collection system, to promulgate final regulations requiring the states to collect and report information regarding children adopted within the United States or from other countries who enter into state custody as a result of the disruption of a placement for adoption or the dissolution of an adoption.

Date: 2010-08-05
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
American Child Support Enforcement Immigration Act of 2011 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) from approving a family-based immigration petition or fiance/fiancee nonimmigrant petition by a petitioner certified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) as owing child support arrearages. Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Services to revoke a previously-approved petition (if a visa has not been issued or a status adjustment has not been effected) if such petition would not have been approved had the provisions of this Act been in effect.

Date: 2011-01-05
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Immigration
Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2011- Exempts provisions expanding the adoption tax credit and adoption assistance programs enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 from the general terminating (sunset) provisions of that Act.

Date: 2011-01-05
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Child Tax Credit Preservation Act of 2011- Makes permanent the increases in the child tax credit enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, and the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004. Provides for an annual inflation adjustment to child tax credit amounts, beginning in 2011.

Date: 2011-01-26
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Elder Abuse Prevention Act - Requires a state that is receiving funds for certain law enforcement assistance programs under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to have in effect laws and policies that prohibit parole for any individual who is: (1) convicted of a criminal sexual offense against a victim who is an older individual (defined as age 65 or older); or (2) a sexually violent predator (defined as a person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense and who has been diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional as having a mental abnormality or personality disorder that makes the person likely to engage in predatory sexually violent offenses or who has been determined by a court to suffer from such an illness or disorder). Grants states three years to implement such laws and policies (with one additional two-year extension for states making good faith efforts at implementation). Renders any state that does not implement such laws and policies within the required period ineligible for 10% of funding for its law enforcement assistance programs. Requires the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promptly review its guidelines for sexual offenses committed against the elderly and to consider new guidelines for enhanced sentencing for such crimes.

Date: 2011-02-09
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Jane's Law - Amends the federal criminal code to impose a fine and/or a prison term of up to two years on any person who travels in interstate or foreign commerce to evade compliance with a court-ordered property distribution in a divorce proceeding involving more than $5,000. Requires payment of restitution equal to the total unpaid property distribution from any person convicted of evading payment.

Date: 2011-02-09
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Maternal Health Accountability Act of 2011 - Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to states for: (1) mandatory reporting to the state department of health by health care providers and other entities of pregnancy-related deaths; (2) establishment of a state maternal mortality review committee on pregnancy-related deaths occurring within such state; (3) implementation and use of the comprehensive case abstraction form by such committee to preserve the uniformity of the information collected; and (4) annual public disclosure of committee findings. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to: (1) organize a national workshop to identify definitions for severe maternal morbidity and make recommendations for a research plan to identify and monitor such morbidity in the United States; and (2) develop uniform definitions of severe maternal morbidity, a research plan, and possible data collection protocols to assist states in identifying and monitoring such cases. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary to carry out specified research and demonstration activities to eliminate disparities in maternal health outcomes.

Date: 2011-03-03
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
Taxpayers' Freedom of Conscience Act of 2011 - Prohibits a federal official from expending federal funds for any foreign or domestic population control or population planning program or family planning activity (including any abortion procedure).

Date: 2011-03-15
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit the Secretary of the Treasury to grant a taxpayer equitable relief from liability for unpaid taxes incurred by a spouse (innocent spouse rule) without regard to any time limitation.

Date: 2011-04-08
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Violence Against Women Health Initiative Act of 2011 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize and revise a program to award grants to strengthen the response of state, tribal, territorial, or local health care systems to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including by: (1) placing the program in the Office of Women's Health; (2) making victim services programs eligible for grants; (3) extending the grant period from two years to 36 months; and (4) including as a mandatory strategy under the grant that health information technology be used to improve documentation, identification, assessment, treatment, and follow-up care. Reauthorizes and revises a program to provide training to health care professionals on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, including by: (1) placing the program in the Office of Women's Health; (2) including public health staff and allied health professionals in such program; (3) expanding the types of entities eligible for grants; (4) expanding the use of the grants to include developing training for psychology and social work students or providers; and (5) eliminating the matching requirement. Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 to reauthorize and revise a research program on effective interventions in health care settings that prevent domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault and that prevent the health effects of such violence and improve the safety and health of individuals who are currently being victimized, including by requiring research on: (1) effective health care interventions to domestic and sexual violence and sexual coercion; (2) factors that increase resiliency for children exposed to dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking or individuals who have lifetime exposure to violence and abuse; and (3) effective interventions within community health centers and adolescent health settings.

Date: 2011-04-15
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
Children's Budget Act - Requires the President's annual budget to Congress to include a detailed, separate analysis for the prior fiscal year, the current fiscal year, the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted, and the ensuing fiscal year identifying the amounts of gross and net appropriations or obligational authority and outlays directed to children and children's programs within the United States and territories.

Date: 2011-04-15
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Every Child Deserves a Family Act - Prohibits an entity that receives federal assistance and is involved in adoption or foster care placements from discriminating against prospective adoptive or foster parents solely on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identification, or marital status or on the basis of the sexual orientation or gender identity of the child involved. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in order to ensure compliance with, and ensure understanding of the legal, practice, and culture changes required by this Act in making foster care and adoption placement decisions, to provide specified technical assistance to all entities covered by this Act. Requires a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study of whether states have substantially complied with this Act in eliminating policies, practices, or statutes that deny adoption rights on the basis of these criteria.

Date: 2011-05-03
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Child Care Protection Act of 2011 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require states that receive funds under such Act to: (1) require and conduct criminal background checks for staff members of child care providers; (2) prohibit the employment of a child care staff member who refuses to consent to a criminal background check, makes a false statement in connection with such background check, is registered as a sex offender, or is a convicted felon involving certain crimes; and (3) provide criminal background checks to child care providers upon request. Imposes a financial penalty on states that fail to comply substantially with the requirements of this Act.

Date: 2011-05-04
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Family Engagement in Education Act of 2011 - Amends title I (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to authorize states to reserve school improvement funds to: (1) award grants to nonprofit organizations that partner with local educational agencies (LEAs) or schools to establish and operate Local Family Engagement Centers that assist families in becoming engaged in their childrens' education, (2) establish a State Family Engagement Coordinating Council to coordinate and integrate family engagement activities across the education spectrum, and (3) develop and implement a statewide family engagement in education plan. Requires each state school improvement plan to include a plan for strengthening family engagement in education. Requires each LEA and school receiving school improvement funds to develop policies and practices for family engagement in education that meet specified principles and standards. Increases the percentage of school improvement funds that LEAs must reserve for family engagement activities. Requires states and correctional facilities to work with family members and aftercare providers in developing educational services and transition plans for youth following their stay in state and local institutions for neglected or delinquent youth. Requires states to use part of their grant under part A (Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund) of title II of the ESEA to train teachers and principals to effectively engage families in their children's education. Replaces a Fund for the Improvement of Education program under title V of the ESEA that provided for the establishment of parental information and resource centers with a new program that awards matching grants to statewide nonprofit organizations to establish Statewide Family Engagement Centers that provide comprehensive training, technical assistance, and capacity building to states, LEAs, and organizations that support family-school partnerships to assist them in developing and implementing family engagement programs. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish Local Family Engagement Centers and a national Indian Family Engagement Coordinating Council for Indian schools. Requires the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences to develop recommended metrics on family engagement in education for states and LEAs, and make recommendations on the integration of those metrics into state accountability and longitudinal data systems. Directs the Secretary to conduct research on effective family engagement in education. Requires that there be established in the Department of Education dedicated staff, including a Director, for family and community engagement.

Date: 2011-05-10
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Education
Refundable Child Tax Credit Eligibility Verification Reform Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require taxpayers to provide their social security number on their tax return in order to claim the refundable portion of the child tax credit.

Date: 2011-05-24
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2011 - Amends part B (Child-Welfare Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) 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 nonfederal 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.

Date: 2011-05-26
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Education
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study the recruitment and retention of foster parents of children served by any foster care program funded under part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act.

Date: 2011-05-26
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families