zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Protecting Foster Youth Resources to Promote Self-Sufficiency Act

This bill amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI)) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act to prohibit a state or local government agency serving as representative payee for an eligible individual in foster care under state responsibility from using any OASDI or SSI benefits to reimburse the state for:

 foster care maintenance payments, or other payments made by the state or political subdivision of the state to cover any cost or expense for such an individual. The state plan for foster care and adoption assistance shall require the state agency to:

 develop and implement procedures to ensure that such a child is screened to determine potential eligibility for OASDI and SSI benefits; assist a potentially eligible child in applying for, and (if necessary) appealing any decisions made regarding, such benefits; apply to become the child's representative payee if there is no other suitable candidate available; and develop and implement procedures to ensure that any child potentially eligible for, or receiving, OASDI or SSI benefits, is assisted with applying for such benefits. The state plan for foster care and adoption assistance shall require the state agency, regarding each foster child under state responsibility and on whose behalf the state receives OASDI or SSI benefits, to develop a plan for the child to achieve self-support after leaving foster care.

A representative payee that is a state shall manage the OASDI or SSI benefits paid to it on behalf of an individual in foster care under state responsibility.

Under the SSI program, any assets managed on behalf of an eligible foster child under state responsibility shall be excluded in determining the child's resources, and support and maintenance furnished in cash or in kind shall be disregarded in determining the child's income.

Date: 2016-07-12
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Interstate Sextortion Prevention Act

This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish separate criminal offenses with respect to: (1) interstate coercion of sexual acts, of sexual contact, or of the production of sexually explicit visual depictions; and (2) interstate coercion or extortion involving threats to publish sexually explicit visual depictions.

The bill establishes increased penalties for such offenses that: (1) involve minors, (2) are committed by repeat offenders, or (2) result in death or serious bodily injury.

Date: 2016-07-13
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
National Adoption and Foster Care Home Study Act

This bill amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to direct a state receiving from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) a community-based formula grant for the prevention of child abuse and neglect to establish a demonstration program through which the state:

 adopts a specific evidence-based, uniform, national home study program for the evaluation of prospective foster parents and adoptive parents; and furnishes HHS with data gathered through operation of the program. HHS shall establish a national registry of home study reports filed by home study practitioners using an HHS-developed methodology meeting specified criteria. This registry must be accessible to state foster care and adoption agencies, or a designated entity as determined by the lead agency in the state, to assist with the selection of prospective foster parents and adoptive parents.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Duty to Report Sexual Assault Act of 2016

This bill amends the federal criminal code to impose criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to six months, or both—on an owner or employee of a massage establishment who fails to report known or suspected sexual assault by an employee to an appropriate law enforcement agency.

Additionally, the bill imposes a fine on an owner of a massage establishment who fails to publicly display policies and procedures to prevent and respond to sexual assault.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Expanded Stalking Protections Act of 2016

This bill amends the federal criminal code to broaden the definition of stalking to include conduct that causes a person's friend or co-worker to experience a reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Improved Employment Outcomes for Foster Youth Act of 2016 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include the hiring of qualified foster care transition youth.

(The WOTC permits employers who hire individuals who are members of a targeted group [e.g., qualified veterans, ex-felons, SSI recipients] to claim a tax credit equal to a portion of the wages paid to those individuals.)

A "qualified foster care transition youth" is any individual who is certified by the designated local agency as: (1) not having attained age 27 as of the hiring date, and (2) as having been in foster care after attaining the younger of age 16 or the age specified in provisions of the Social Security Act related to the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program.

Date: 2016-09-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Extending Justice for Sex Crime Victims Act of 2016

This bill amends the federal criminal code to revise the statute of limitations for a victim of a human trafficking offense or federal sexual offense to file a civil action to recover damages.

Under current law, the statute of limitations is 10 years from the date the cause of action arose. This bill sets a 10-year statute of limitations from the date the victim discovers the offense or injury.

Additionally, it extends the statute of limitations for a minor victim of a federal sex offense to file a civil action to 10 years (currently 3 years) from the date such individual reaches age 18.

Date: 2016-09-15
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act of 2016 or the POWER Act 

This bill requires the U.S. Attorney for a judicial district to lead at least one public event that promotes pro bono legal services as a critical way to: (1) empower survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and (2) engage citizens in assisting those survivors.

A special but similar rule applies to districts containing Indian tribes and tribal organizations.

Each U.S. Attorney shall: (1) have discretion on the design, organization, and implementation of such public events; and (2) seek to maximize an event's local impact and the access of such survivors to high-quality pro bono legal services.

Date: 2016-09-22
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Fair Housing for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivors Act of 2016

This bill amends the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination against or regarding survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault in:

 the sale or rental of housing and related activities, residential real estate-related transactions, and the provision of real estate brokerage services. This bill declares that nothing in the Act shall prohibit federal, state, or local government or other assistance or a preference program designed to assist or benefit domestic violence or sexual assault survivors in seeking, securing, or maintaining dwellings, shelters or any other form of housing.

The Civil Rights Act of 1968 is amended to prohibit intimidation in fair housing tranactions regarding survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Housing and community development
This bill requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to establish a program under which the legal guardian of an adopted child may obtain an identity protection personal identification number (IP PIN) for the child to prevent an individual from improperly claiming tax benefits with respect to the child. The IRS may require a child's IP PIN to be included in a tax return as a condition of receiving any tax benefit with respect to the child.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a non-immigrant W-visa category for an alien who: (1) is, and has been for at least 180 days, the spouse of a U.S. national or citizen; or (2) is the child of such an alien and is accompanying or following to join such alien.

The bill provides that: (1) the period of authorized admission for a W-visa alien is 180 days, which may be extended for one additional 180-day period; (2) the total number of principal W-visa aliens who may be admitted during any fiscal is 5,000; (3) adjustment of such an alien to permanent resident status is prohibited; and (4) the Department of Homeland Security shall establish an expedited admissions process for W-visa aliens.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Immigration
Ensuring Healthy Beginnings Act This bill amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services, in awarding grants for maternal, infant, and early childhood home visitation programs, to give priority to applications submitted by certain governmental entities that are working in partnership with qualified community partners. A "qualified community partner" is a local educational agency, elementary or secondary school, a law enforcement agency, or a health care entity that provides specified services and assistance to pregnant women, infants, and young children.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 10, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Overtime Pay for Protective Services Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill temporarily exempts U.S. Secret Service officers, employees, or agents from limitations on their receipt of premium pay (i.e., overtime pay) for their performance of protective services for individuals or events during 2016. Under current law, the aggregate of their basic pay and premium pay may not exceed the greater of: (1) the maximum basic pay for the GS-15 pay level for federal employees, or (2) the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule.

If the exemption results in the payment of additional premium pay of a type that is normally creditable as basic pay for retirement or any other purpose, that additional pay shall not be: (1) considered to be basic pay, or (2) used in computing a lump-sum payment for accumulated and accrued annual leave.

The payment of additional premium pay under this bill shall also not be counted as part of a Secret Service employee's aggregate compensation for purposes of the annual limits on allowances, bonuses, awards, or other similar cash payments.

The bill applies retroactively as if it was enacted on December 31, 2015.

Date: 2016-11-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Care for Life Act 

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and maintain the Pregnant and Parenting Women's Care Information Service database. This database must provide pregnant women and new parents with information on public and private service providers that help such women and parents in alleviating the physical, financial, social, and emotional difficulties encountered during or after pregnancy.

HHS may award grants to: (1) providers to develop best practices for communities to identify optimal ways to provide pregnancy and parenting support services, and (2) academic medical centers to provide specialized training in pregnancy and parenting support services.

The Department of Labor must recognize and publicize the practices of employers who successfully meet the needs of their pregnant or parenting employees.

The grant program of the Department of Education to improve postsecondary education opportunities is expanded to include funding for the development of an online information toolkit about agencies that are working within institutions of higher education to provide pregnancy and child care services for students.

Date: 2016-12-08
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
Child Tax Credit Integrity Preservation Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the identification requirements for the child tax credit to require taxpayers to provide a valid identification number (i.e., a Social Security account number issued by the Social Security Administration) on their tax returns in addition to the name and identification number of each qualifying child.

Date: 2015-01-07
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Supporting Adoptive Families Act

 Amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSAct) 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 SSAct 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, 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 SSAct 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: 2015-02-04
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
21st Century Worker Tax Cut Act

This bill allows a married taxpayer who files a joint tax return and has at least one qualifying child under the age of 12 a tax credit for 10% of the lesser of $10,000 or the earned income of the spouse with the lower amount of earned income for the taxable year. The credit is denied to nonresident aliens and to taxpayers who fail to include certain identifying information on their tax returns.

Date: 2015-03-04
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Foster Care Tax Credit Act

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a partially refundable tax credit for each qualifying foster child who resides in the home of an eligible taxpayer for at least one calendar month during the taxable year. Defines "qualifying foster child" as a child in foster care who has not attained age 17, who is a citizen, national, or resident of the United States, and with respect to whom the child tax credit is not allowable. Requires the name and taxpayer identification number of a foster child to be included on the taxpayer's tax return.

Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to identify provisions in the Internal Revenue Code that can benefit foster families and increase outreach efforts to inform state and Indian tribal foster care agencies and foster families about such provisions.

Date: 2015-03-04
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the tax credit for adoption expenses refundable.

Date: 2015-04-15
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Foster Youth Independence Act of 2015 

This bill amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to allow the chief executive officer of a state to certify that the state will provide assistance and services under the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program to youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained age 23 if:

 the state has elected to extend the eligibility for foster care up to age 21, or the responsible state agency uses state or other funds not provided under the Program to provide assistance and services comparable to those such youths would receive if the state had made such an election.

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act of 2015

This bill amends the federal criminal code to:

 state that the term "intimate partner" includes a dating partner and any other person subject to a protection order under state domestic or family violence law; and expand the term "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" to include the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, by a current or former intimate partner. The bill makes it a crime to knowingly sell or dispose of a firearm to a person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of stalking. It also makes it a crime for such convicted stalker to receive or possess a firearm.

Date: 2015-06-04
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from taking any action to finalize, implement, enforce, or otherwise give effect to the proposed rule entitled "Flexibility, Efficiency, and Modernization in Child Support Enforcement Programs" or any proposal set forth in the proposed rule.

Date: 2015-06-08
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Pet and Women Safety Act of 2015

 Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit threats or acts of violence against a person's pet under the offenses of stalking and interstate violation of a protection order. Defines "pet" to mean a domesticated animal that is kept for pleasure rather than for commercial purposes.

Requires the "full amount of the victim's losses" for purposes of restitution in domestic violence and stalking offenses to include any costs incurred for veterinary services relating to physical care for the victim's pet.

Directs the Department of Agriculture to award grants to eligible entities to carry out programs to provide specified housing assistance, support services, and training of relevant stakeholders to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and their pets.

Expresses the sense of Congress that states should encourage the inclusion of protections against violent or threatening acts against the pet of the person in domestic violence protection orders.

Date: 2015-06-11
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Court-Appointed Guardian Accountability and Senior Protection Act 

 Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services and Elder Justice) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to the highest courts of states to conduct demonstration programs that: (1) assess adult guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, including the appointment and the monitoring of the performance of court-appointed guardians and conservators; and (2) implement changes deemed necessary as a result of the assessments, such as requiring background checks for all potential guardians and conservators, and establishing systems that enable electronic filing and review of the annual accountings and other required conservatorship and guardianship filings.

Requires the highest court of a state awarded such a grant to collaborate with the state's own Unit on Aging and its Adult Protective Services agency in conducting the demonstration program.

Date: 2015-06-18
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Law
Protecting Adoption and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2015 

 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 and maintain an automated National Responsible Father Registry.

Requires the Registry to: (1) contain specified kinds of information sufficient to identify a possible father, and (2) provide a mechanism for men to register such identifying information directly with the Registry.

Limits access to Registry information to eligible parties, including: (1) public and licensed private adoption or child placement agencies, (2) licensed attorneys representing a party in a planned or pending adoption or in the termination of rights of one or more possible fathers, (3) state agencies or entities responsible for the placement of children, and (4) state courts.

Directs the Secretary to establish a nationwide campaign designed to inform possible fathers, unwed mothers, possible adoptive parents, and eligible parties of the National Registry, the advantages of possible fathers registering either in the National Registry or State Responsible Father Registries, or both, the rights and responsibilities of such parties with regard to a proceeding, and the role of such Registries in a proceeding.

Directs the Secretary to use all reasonable efforts to encourage states to enter into agreements to establish automated State Responsible Father Registries and centers that make registration forms easily accessible to possible fathers.

Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to a state to establish a State Registry or modify an existing one to meet the requirements of this Act.

Date: 2015-06-18
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Education Stability for Foster Youth Act

This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require a state plan for academic content and achievement standards to describe how the state will ensure the educational stability of children in foster care. Specifically, a state plan must include assurances that: (1) a foster child will remain or be enrolled in the child’s school of origin absent a determination that such enrollment is not in the child’s best interest; (2) if such a determination is made, the child will be immediately enrolled in a new school, which must immediately contact the child’s previous school to obtain relevant records; and (3) the state will designate a point of contact for child welfare agencies, who shall also oversee implementation of the state’s responsibilities under the bill.

Relatedly, a local educational agency (LEA) plan must provide assurances that the LEA will develop and implement procedures governing the provision and funding of transportation services necessary to maintain a foster child’s enrollment in the child’s school of origin.

This bill amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to alter the definition of “homeless children and youths” to no longer include children who are awaiting foster care placement.

Date: 2015-06-18
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Education
Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage Family Caregivers Act of 2015 or the RAISE Family Caregivers Act

(Sec. 3) This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop, maintain, and periodically update a National Family Caregiving Strategy.

(Sec. 4) HHS shall convene a Family Caregiving Advisory Council to advise it on recognizing and supporting family caregivers.

(Sec. 5) This Act shall terminate on December 31, 2025.

Date: 2015-07-08
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Health
Family Stability and Kinship Care Act of 2015

This bill amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) (renamed by this Act Federal Payments for Foster Care and Permanency) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to give states the option of providing certain time-limited family services, including parenting and family skills training and counseling, to a child meeting certain criteria or the child's parents or kin caregivers.

SSAct title IV part B is also amended to:

 eliminate the time-limit for family reunification services, increase the mandatory funding authorization for the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program, and extend funding for Family Connection Grants for one year.

Date: 2015-08-05
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Child Support Assistance Act of 2015

Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act, with respect to the permissible purposes of consumer reports, to authorize a consumer reporting agency to furnish a consumer report in response to a request by the head of a state or local child support enforcement agency (or an authorized state or local government official), if the requester certifies that the report is needed for enforcing a child support order, award, agreement, or judgment.

Repeals the requirement for 10 days' prior notice to a consumer whose report is requested.

Date: 2015-09-24
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Timely Mental Health for Foster Youth Act

This bill amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act with respect to state plans for the ongoing oversight and coordination of health care services for children in a foster care placement.

An initial mental health screening of any child in foster care must be completed within 30 days after the child enters into foster care. In the case of any child for whom a mental health issue is identified in such initial screening, a comprehensive assessment of the child's mental health must be completed within 60 days after the child's entry into foster care.

Date: 2015-10-08
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Senior$afe Act of 2015

This bill provides that: (1) a supervisor, compliance officer, or legal advisor for a covered financial institution who has received training regarding the identification and reporting of the suspected exploitation of a senior citizen (at least 65 years old) shall not be liable for disclosing such exploitation to a covered agency if such individual made the disclosure in good faith and with reasonable care; and (2) a covered financial institution shall not be liable for such a disclosure by such an individual if such individual was employed by the institution at the time of the disclosure and the institution had provided such training.

A "covered financial institution" means a bank, a credit union, an investment adviser, or a broker-dealer. A "covered agency" means each of the federal financial institutions regulatory agencies or a state financial regulatory agency, law enforcement agency, or adult protective services agency.

A covered financial institution may provide such training to each of its supervisors, compliance officers, or legal advisors who: (1) may come into contact with a senior citizen as a regular part of such employee's duties; or (2) may review or approve the financial documents, records, or transactions of a senior citizen in connection with providing him or her financial services.

Date: 2015-10-28
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Finance and financial sector
Child Tax Credit Improvement Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the child tax credit, to: (1) increase the amount of such credit for children who have not attained age 6 by the close of the taxable year, (2) modify the limitation on such credit based upon taxpayer adjusted gross income and the age of the qualifying child, (3) increase the refundable portion of such credit for children under age 6, and (4) allow an inflation adjustment to the $1,000 credit amount beginning after 2015.

Date: 2015-11-10
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act of 2015 or the POWER Act 

(Sec. 3) This bill requires the U.S. Attorney for a judicial district to lead at least one public event that promotes pro bono legal services as a critical way to: (1) empower survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and (2) engage citizens in assisting those survivors.

A special but similar rule applies to districts containing Indian tribes and tribal organizations.

Each U.S. Attorney shall: (1) have discretion on the design, organization, and implementation of such public events; and (2) seek to maximize an event's local impact and the access of such survivors to high-quality pro bono legal services.

(Sec. 5) The Department of Justice shall use existing funds to carry out this Act.

Date: 2015-11-10
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Family Unification, Preservation, and Modernization Act of 2015

This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 with respect to the Family Unification Program (FUP) under which eligible youth aged 18-24 who left foster care at age 16 or older and who lack adequate housing may receive Housing Choice Vouchers (for section 8 tenant-based or project-based assistance) for a period of time. These Vouchers shall be available also for any such youth who will leave foster care within 90 days and who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

The period of assistance for such youth shall be extended from 18 to 36 months, and may be extended beyond 36 months to accord with the length of the youth's contract of participation in the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. The FSS program helps Voucher program participants and public housing tenants obtain employment that will enable participating families to achieve economic independence.

The bill prescribes requirements for applications for FUP allocations.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shall provide guidance to public child welfare agencies and public housing agencies (PHAs) to improve system coordination and implementation of assistance.

HUD may develop a program for incentive payments to PHAs that improve connections between FUP assistance recipients with FSS programs.

Part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act is amended to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants for FY2017-FY2025 to eligible applicants to cover up to 75% of the costs of supportive services, including case management services, for at least 12 months to recipients of FUP housing assistance.

Date: 2015-11-17
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Housing and community development
Foster EITC Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the earned income tax credit by: (1) making permanent the increase in the rate of such credit for taxpayers with three or more children, (2) increasing the credit for taxpayers with no qualifying children, (3) reducing the qualifying age for such credit for certain childless individuals (from age 25 to age 21) and for youth formerly in foster care (from age 25 to age 18), (4) imposing new reporting requirements for youth in foster care who have attained age 16, and (5) revising eligibility rules relating to married individuals living apart and qualifying children claimed by another family member.

Date: 2015-11-19
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Protecting Families Affected by Substance Abuse Act

This bill amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to reauthorize for FY2017-FY2021 grants to assist children affected by methamphetamine, opioid, or other substance abuse under the promoting safe and stable families program.

Date: 2016-02-23
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act

This bill amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require the procedures a state must have in effect for the orderly and timely interstate placement of children to include a centralized electronic case processing system.

Grants are authorized for development of a centralized electronic system to expedite the interstate placement of children in foster care, guardianship, or adoptive homes.

Discretionary funding shall be continued through FY2017 to promote safe and stable families.

The Department of Health and Human Services shall reserve $5 million of the amount made available for such grants for FY2017, which reserved amount shall remain available through FY2021.

Date: 2016-02-24
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2016

This bill expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress must address the unfair exclusion of professional and hardworking home care providers who are not eligible to receive Social Security or Medicare because they provided paid care to a family member with a disability under programs operated at the state and local level for general health and welfare protection.

This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act with respect to determining entitlement to and the amount of any monthly benefit, including any lump-sum death payment, payable under OASDI on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of any individual.

Such an individual shall be deemed to have been paid a wage (according to a specified formula) during each month during which the individual was engaged for at least 80 hours in providing care to a dependent relative without monetary compensation for up to five years of such service.

This bill shall not apply in the case of any monthly benefit or lump-sum death payment if a larger benefit or payment would be payable without its application.

Date: 2016-03-17
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Social welfare
Family First Prevention Services Act of 2016

This bill amends Part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSAct) regarding: (1) mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services and in-home parenting skill-based programs, (2) foster care maintenance payments for children with parents in a licensed residential family-based treatment facility for substance abuse, and (3) payments for evidence-based kinship navigator programs.

Part B (Child and Welfare Services) of SSAct title IV is amended regarding: (1) time limits for family reunification services for children in foster care or returning home, (2) grants for the development of an electronic interstate case-processing system to expedite the interstate placement of children in foster care or guardianship or for adoption, and (3) targeted grants to increase the well-being of children affected by substance abuse.

The Department of Health and Human Services shall identify reputable model standards for the licensing of foster family homes.

SSAct title IV part B is amended regarding tracking and preventing child maltreatment.

SSAct title IV part E is amended regarding: (1) kinship guardianship assistance and prevention services, (2) foster care maintenance payments program and limited federal financial participation, and (3) assessment and judicial documentation of the need for placement of a child in a qualified residential treatment program.

SSAct title IV part B is amended regarding procedures and protocols a state has established to ensure that children in foster care placements are not inappropriately diagnosed with mental illness, other emotional or behavioral disorders, medically fragile conditions, or developmental disabilities, and as a result placed in settings that are not foster family homes.

SSAct title IV part E is amended regarding children in foster care who have been placed in a child care institution or other setting that is not a foster family home.

SSAct title IV part B to reauthorize through FY2021: (1) the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program, (2) promotion of safe and stable families programs, (3) funding reservations for monthly caseworker visits and regional partnership grants, and (4) funding for state courts.

SSAct title IV part E is amended to: (1) revise the John H. Chaffee Foster Care Independence Program and related programs, and (2) reauthorize the adoption and legal guardianship incentive programs through FY2021.

SSAct title IV part B is amended to delay the adoption assistance phase-in.

The Government Accountability Office shall study the extent to which states comply with certain SSAct requirements relating to the effects of phasing out the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program income eligibility requirements for adoption assistance payments.

Date: 2016-06-16
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Families
Fair Housing for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivors Act of 2016

 This bill amends the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination against or regarding survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault in:

 the sale or rental of housing and related activities, residential real estate-related transactions, and the provision of real estate brokerage services. This bill declares that nothing in the Act shall prohibit federal, state, or local government or other assistance or a preference program designed to assist or benefit domestic violence or sexual assault survivors in seeking, securing, or maintaining dwellings, shelters or any other form of housing.

The Civil Rights Act of 1968 is amended to prohibit intimidation in fair housing tranactions regarding survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault.

Date: 2016-07-12
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Housing and community development
Vulnerable Children and Families Act of 2016

 This bill redesignates the Office of Children's Issues of the Department of State as the Office of Vulnerable Children and Family Security (VCFS).

The President shall appoint an Ambassador-at-Large to promote: (1) oversight of the VCFS; (2) the implementation in foreign countries of child welfare laws and policies in keeping with the goals of the United States Government Action Plan on Children in Adversity; and (3) addressing the gap in U.S. diplomacy, policy, and operations regarding permanent family care for children living without families.

The Ambassador-at-Large shall: (1) advise the State Department and the President about vulnerable children and family security in foreign countries; (2) represent the United States regarding international child welfare, family preservation and reunification, and provision of permanent, safe parental care; (3) develop related policies and programs; and (4) submit an annual report on implementation of such action plan.

 The bill provides the VCFS with lead responsibility for: (1) representing the U.S. government regarding intercountry adoptions, and (2) determining whether a country has met its obligations under the Hague Convention of Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption and is eligible to participate in intercountry adoptions in accordance with U.S. law.

 The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended to: (1) include in the annual country reports on human rights practices information on the conditions of children living in orphanages and group homes, and (2) repeal certain provisions providing assistance for orphans and other vulnerable children.

 The U.S. Agency for International Development's Center of Excellence on Children in Adversity shall work with the Ambassador-at-Large to ensure that U.S. assistance and development programs are focused on:

 child development through the integration of health, nutrition, and family support; facilitating government efforts to protect children from violence, exploitation, and neglect; building integrated child welfare and protection systems; and integrating this plan with U.S. government agencies.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: International affairs
Improved Employment Outcomes for Foster Youth Act of 2016 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to include the hiring of qualified foster care transition youth.

(The WOTC permits employers who hire individuals who are members of a targeted group [e.g., qualified veterans, ex-felons, SSI recipients] to claim a tax credit equal to a portion of the wages paid to those individuals.)

A "qualified foster care transition youth" is any individual who is certified by the designated local agency as: (1) not having attained age 27 as of the hiring date, and (2) as having been in foster care after attaining the younger of age 16 or the age specified in provisions of the Social Security Act related to the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Taxation
Violence Against Women Veterans Act

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a program to assist veterans who have experienced or are experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault in accessing benefits from the VA, including by coordinating access to medical treatment centers, housing assistance, and other benefits. The VA shall carry out the program in partnership with specified health care or other service providers that serve domestic violence or sexual assault victims.

The VA may: (1) conduct training for community-based domestic violence or sexual assault service providers on identifying veterans who have been victims, coordinating with local VA service providers, and connecting veterans with appropriate VA housing, mental health, medical, and other financial assistance or benefits; and (2) provide assistance to service providers to ensure veterans access to domestic violence and sexual assault emergency services.

The VA may establish local coordinators to provide outreach under such program and ensure that each coordinator is knowledgeable about:

 the dynamics of domestic violence and sexual assault, including safety concerns, legal protections, and the need for confidential services; veteran eligibility for VA services and benefits relevant to recovery from domestic violence and sexual assault; and local community resources addressing domestic violence and sexual assault. Each coordinator shall assist domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers in providing services to veterans.

The VA shall: (1) establish a national task force to develop a comprehensive national program to address domestic violence and sexual assault among veterans, and (2) conduct a national baseline study to examine the scope of the problem of domestic violence and sexual assault among veterans and spouses of veterans.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Law and Crime (Family Issues)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Restroom Gender Parity in Federal Buildings Act of 2007 - Requires the Administrator of General Services to include in a prospectus submitted to Congress for approval of a proposed public facility a statement that the number of toilets in women's restrooms in such facility will exceed the number of toilets (including urinals) in men's restrooms by a ratio of two to one or a statement as to why such a ratio is not needed.

Date: 2007-01-24
Topic: Civil Rights (Gender Discrimination)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Hate Crime Statistics Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Hate Crime Statistics Act to require the Attorney General to acquire data about crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on gender.

Date: 2007-02-16
Topic: Civil Rights (Gender Discrimination)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2007 - Repeals current Department of Defense (DOD) policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces. Prohibits the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation against any member of the Armed Forces or any person seeking to become a member. Authorizes the re-accession into the Armed Forces of otherwise qualified individuals previously separated for homosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexual conduct. Requires such Secretaries to ensure that regulations governing the personal conduct of members of the Armed Forces are written and enforced without regard to sexual orientation.

Date: 2007-02-28
Topic: Civil Rights (Gender Discrimination)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 - Prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity by covered entities (employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, or joint labor-management committees). Prohibits preferential treatment or quotas. Allows only disparate treatment claims. Prohibits related retaliation. Makes this Act inapplicable to: (1) religious organizations; and (2) the relationship between the United States and members of the armed forces. States that this Act does not repeal or modify any federal, state, territorial, or local law creating a special right or preference concerning employment for a veteran. Provides for the construction of this Act with regard to: (1) enforcement by employers of rules and policies; (2) sexual harassment; (3) certain shared facilities such as showers or dressing facilities; (4) dress and grooming standards; and (5) certain matters relating to marriage. Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from collecting statistics from covered entities on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity or compelling the collection by covered entities of such statistics. Provides for enforcement, including giving the EEOC, the Librarian of Congress, the Attorney General, and U.S. courts the same enforcement powers as they have under specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, and other specified laws. Allows actions and proceedings against state governments and, subject to limitation, the federal government.

Date: 2007-04-24
Topic: Civil Rights (Gender Discrimination)
Subject: Civil rights and liberties, minority issues
Clarification of Federal Employment Protections Act - Repudiates, in order to dispel any public confusion, any assertion that federal employees are not protected from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Prohibits any federal employee who has authority to take, direct others to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action, from discriminating for or against any federal employee or applicant for federal employment on the basis of sexual orientation. Affirms that, in the absence of such prohibition, discrimination against federal employees and applicants for federal employment on the basis of sexual orientation is already prohibited under current law.

Date: 2007-05-09
Topic: Civil Rights (Gender Discrimination)
Subject: Government operations and politics