II
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 256
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 27, 2015
Mrs. Feinstein (for herself and Mr. Portman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
A BILL
To amend the definition of homeless person
under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to include certain homeless children and youth,
and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2015
.
Amendments to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 et seq.) is amended—
in section 103—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (5)(A)—
by striking are sharing
and all that follows through charitable organizations,
;
by striking 14 days
each place that term appears and inserting 30 days
;
in clause (i), by inserting or
after the semicolon;
by striking clause (ii); and
by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (ii); and
by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
unaccompanied youth and homeless families with children and youth defined as homeless under other Federal statutes who—
are certified as homeless by the director or designee of a director of a program funded under any other Federal statute; or
have been certified by a director or designee of a director of a program funded under this Act or a director or designee of a director of a public housing agency as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, which shall include—
temporarily sharing the housing of another person due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or other similar reason; or
living in a room in a motel or hotel.
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Other definitions
In this section—
the term other Federal statute has the meaning given that term in section 401; and
the term public housing agency means an agency described in section 3(b)(6) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(6)).
;
in section 401—
in paragraph (1)(C)—
by striking clause (iv); and
by redesignating clauses (v), (vi), and (vii) as clauses (iv), (v), and (vi);
in paragraph (7)—
by striking Federal statute other than this subtitle
and inserting other Federal statute
; and
by inserting of
before this Act
;
by redesignating paragraphs (14) through (33) as paragraphs (15) through (34), respectively; and
by inserting after paragraph (13) the following:
Other Federal statute
The term other Federal statute includes—
the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.);
the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.);
subtitle N of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 14043e et seq.);
section 330(h) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(h));
section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786);
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.); and
subtitle B of title VII of this Act.
;
by inserting after section 408 the following:
Availability of HMIS report
In general
The information provided to the Secretary under section 402(f)(3) shall be made publically available on the Internet website of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in aggregate, non-personally identifying reports.
Required data
Each report made publically available under subsection (a) shall be updated on at least an annual basis and shall include—
a cumulative count of the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness;
a cumulative assessment of the patterns of assistance provided under subtitles B and C for the each geographic area involved; and
a count of the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness that are documented through the HMIS by each collaborative applicant.
;
in section 422—
in subsection (a)—
by striking The Secretary
and inserting the following:
In general
The Secretary
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Restriction
In awarding grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary may not consider or prioritize the specific homeless populations intended to be served by the applicant if the applicant demonstrates that the project—
would meet the priorities identified in the plan submitted under section 427(b)(1)(B); and
is cost-effective in meeting the overall goals and objectives identified in that plan.
; and
by striking subsection (j);
in section 424(d), by striking paragraph (5);
in section 427(b)—
in paragraph (1)—
in subparagraph (A)—
in clause (vi), by adding and
at the end;
in clause (vii), by striking and
at the end; and
by striking clause (viii);
in subparagraph (B)—
in clause (iii), by adding and
at the end;
in clause (iv)(VI), by striking and
at the end; and
by striking clause (v);
in subparagraph (E), by adding and
at the end;
by striking subparagraph (F); and
by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (F); and
by striking paragraph (3); and
by amending section 433 to read as follows:
Reports to Congress
In general
The Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report, which shall—
summarize the activities carried out under this subtitle and set forth the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Secretary as a result of the activities; and
include, for the year preceding the date on which the report is submitted—
data required to be made publically available in the report under section 409; and
data on programs funded under any other Federal statute, as such term is defined in section 401.
Timing
A report under subsection (a) shall be submitted not later than 4 months after the end of each fiscal year.
.
