Summary:
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 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.

Amends the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008 to expand the definition of child exploitation to include the offer to engage or engaging in the transfer of permanent custody or control of a minor in contravention of a required legal procedure.

amends child family services title social security act ssact purpose stephanie tubbs jones child welfare services program promote efforts prevent children entering foster care system provision pre- post adoptive support services extends adoption promotion support services designed support adoptions countries domestic adoptions specifies related pre- post adoptive support services amends public_health_service_act direct secretary health_and_human_services acting administrator substance_abuse_and_mental_health_services_administration award grants cooperative agreements eligible entities develop implement state sponsored statewide tribal post adoption mental health service programs adopted children amends ssact title child support establishment paternity direct secretary child support paternity data collection system promulgate final regulations requiring states collect report information children adopted united_states countries enter state custody result disruption placement adoption dissolution adoption amends protect children act expand definition child exploitation include offer engage engaging transfer permanent custody control minor contravention required legal procedure


Summary:
Generational Residences and Nurturing Dwellings Act or the GRAND Act

 Establishes in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) a program to provide assistance for each fiscal year to up to five eligible nonprofit organizations to expand the supply of specialized housing and social services for qualified elderly relatives, age 60 or older, who are raising a child of whom they are not a parent either by blood or marriage.

States that nothing in this Act shall preclude a recipient of such assistance from applying for or receiving financial assistance under any other HUD program.

Provides such assistance in the form of:

 financing for the construction, reconstruction, moderate or substantial rehabilitation, or acquisition of a structure or a portion of a structure to be used as specialized housing; tenant-based rental (voucher) assistance under the United States Housing Act of 1937 for entities meeting certain criteria for use only by qualified relatives who are raising a child and are eligible for such assistance for rental of a dwelling unit that qualifies as specialized housing; elderly housing project rental assistance under the Housing Act of 1959 for entities entities meeting certain criteria in connection with dwelling units that qualify as specialized housing and are made available for occupancy only by qualified relatives who are raising a child and are eligible for occupancy in such housing; and help with ongoing operational expenses of any specialized housing, including costs of supportive services required for such housing.

dwellings act grand act establishes department_of_housing_and_urban_development hud program provide assistance fiscal year eligible nonprofit organizations expand supply specialized housing social services qualified elderly relatives age older raising child parent blood marriage states act shall preclude recipient assistance applying receiving financial assistance hud program provides assistance form financing construction reconstruction moderate substantial rehabilitation acquisition structure portion structure specialized housing tenant based rental voucher assistance united_states housing act entities meeting certain criteria use qualified relatives raising child eligible assistance rental dwelling unit qualifies specialized housing elderly housing project rental assistance housing act entities entities meeting certain criteria connection dwelling units qualify specialized housing available occupancy qualified relatives raising child eligible occupancy housing help ongoing operational expenses specialized housing including costs supportive services required housing


Summary:
Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2015

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

refundability act amends internal revenue code tax credit adoption expenses refundable


Summary: 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.

bill prohibits department_of_health_and_human_services taking action finalize implement enforce effect proposed rule entitled flexibility efficiency modernization child support enforcement programs proposal set forth proposed rule


Summary:
Protecting Adoption Act

 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.

protecting adoption act amends child family services title social security act direct secretary health_and_human_services establish maintain automated national responsible father registry requires registry contain specified kinds information sufficient identify possible father provide mechanism men register identifying information directly registry limits access registry information eligible parties including public licensed private adoption child placement agencies licensed attorneys representing party planned pending adoption termination rights possible fathers state agencies entities responsible placement children state courts directs secretary establish nationwide campaign designed inform possible fathers unwed mothers possible adoptive parents eligible parties national_registry advantages possible fathers registering national_registry_or_state_responsible_father_registries rights responsibilities parties regard proceeding role registries proceeding directs secretary use reasonable efforts encourage states enter agreements establish automated state responsible father registries centers registration forms easily accessible possible fathers authorizes secretary grant state establish state registry modify existing meet requirements act


Summary:
Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), the Social Security Act (SSAct), and other federal laws (including provisions concerning workers' compensation, retirement benefits, disability and death benefits, insurance, inheritances, or immigration) to replace: (1) references to "wife" or "husband" with references to "spouse"; and (2) references to "husband and wife" or "husband or wife" with references to "married couple" or " married person."

For purposes of federal laws or regulations, "marriage" is defined as a legal union between two people as spouses. The bill eliminates a definition of "spouse" that refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.

Requirements concerning compensation to a surviving wife after the disability or death of a person employed at a military, air, or naval base outside the United States are revised to make surviving spouses eligible for such compensation.

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, provisions concerning the amount of leave available to a husband and wife employed by the same employer are revised to apply to a married couple employed by the same employer.

Requirements under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 that make disability and death benefits payable to the wife or widow of a miner are revised to make the benefits payable to the spouse or surviving spouse of a miner.

IRC provisions that require a divorced wife's gross income to include the income of any trust she is entitled to receive that would otherwise be includible in the gross income of her husband, or vice versa, are revised to apply to the gross income of individuals who are divorced from their spouse.

The bill revises title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the SSAct to consolidate separate provisions for a wife's insurance benefits and a husband's insurance benefits into a single standard for a spouse's insurance benefits.

Criminal penalties that currently apply to persons who threaten to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm upon a former President's wife or widow are revised to apply to threats made to a former President's spouse or surviving spouse.

Civil rights and liberties, minority issues

amend code marriage equality act bill amends internal_revenue_code irc social security act ssact federal laws including provisions concerning workers compensation retirement benefits disability death benefits insurance immigration replace references wife husband references spouse references husband wife husband wife references married couple married person purposes federal laws regulations marriage defined legal union people spouses bill eliminates definition spouse refers person opposite sex husband wife requirements concerning compensation surviving wife disability death person employed military air naval base outside united_states revised surviving spouses eligible compensation family medical leave act provisions concerning leave available husband wife employed employer revised apply married couple employed employer requirements federal_mine_safety_and_health_act disability death benefits payable wife widow miner revised benefits payable spouse surviving spouse miner irc provisions require divorced wife gross income include income trust entitled receive includible gross income husband vice versa revised apply gross income individuals divorced spouse bill revises title survivors disability insurance ssact consolidate separate provisions wife insurance benefits husband insurance benefits single standard spouse insurance benefits criminal penalties currently apply persons threaten kill kidnap bodily harm president wife widow revised apply threats president spouse surviving spouse


Summary:
Julia Carson Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2015

 Conditions continued approval of a state plan under part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSAct) upon state assessment of its policies with respect to barriers to employment and financial support of children.

Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 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 their child support obligations.

Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of SSAct title IV with respect to: (1) funding for responsible fatherhood programs, (2) activities promoting responsible fatherhood, (3) elimination of a separate TANF work participation rate for two-parent families, (4) elimination of the requirement that two-parent family recipients participate in certain work activities not fewer than a specified number of hours per week more than 20, (5) elimination of the cap on treating vocational educational training as work participation, and (6) an increase in months of educational vocational training that may be counted as work participation.

Prohibits a state from conditioning receipt of TANF or certain other benefits on participation in a healthy marriage or responsible fatherhood program.

Amends SSAct 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 under SSAct title XIX (Medicaid) for the birth of a child for whom support rights have been assigned.

Requires a state to make a full distribution of collected child support to the family.

Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 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 SSAct title IV part A (TANF) with respect to: (1) grants to healthy family partnerships for domestic violence intervention and prevention, and (2) grant recipients and their procedures for responding to the risks of domestic violence.

Establishes in the Treasury the Employment Fund for Needy Families.

Expresses the sense of Congress that a state to which a TANF grant is made should consider a noncustodial parent of a minor child, if the child receives assistance under a state TANF program, to be a member of the child's family for purposes of providing assistance to the family, the child, and the noncustodial parent under the program.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the earned income tax credit percentage for eligible individuals with no qualifying children.

carson responsible fatherhood healthy_families_act conditions continued approval state plan child support establishment paternity title social security act ssact state assessment policies respect barriers employment financial support children directs department_of_health_and_human_services hhs award grants states employment demonstration project involving state child support agency supervised employment program noncustodial parents barriers employment history nonpayment pay child support obligations amends temporary assistance needy families tanf ssact title respect funding responsible fatherhood programs activities promoting responsible fatherhood elimination separate tanf work participation rate parent families elimination requirement parent family recipients participate certain work activities fewer specified number hours week elimination cap treating vocational educational training work participation increase months educational vocational training counted work participation prohibits state conditioning receipt tanf certain benefits participation healthy marriage responsible fatherhood program amends ssact title child support establishment paternity prohibit state collecting owed reason costs incurred ssact title xix medicaid birth child support rights assigned requires state distribution collected child support family amends food_and_nutrition_act respect deductions family income child support received order qualify food stamps verification child support payments inclusion economic opportunities programs qualifying work programs amends ssact title tanf respect grants healthy family partnerships domestic violence intervention prevention grant recipients procedures responding risks domestic violence establishes treasury expresses sense congress state tanf grant consider noncustodial parent minor child child receives assistance state tanf program member child family purposes providing assistance family child noncustodial parent program amends internal revenue code increase earned income tax credit percentage eligible individuals qualifying children


Summary:
Teach Safe Relationships Act of 2015

This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to authorize the Department of Education (ED) to award competitive four-year grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide: (1) professional development to school administrators, teachers, and staff in safe relationship behavior education; and (2) educational programming and curricula for students regarding safe relationship behavior.

"Safe relationship behavior education" is education that:

 is medically accurate and appropriate for an individual's age, developmental stage, and culture; promotes safe relationships and teaches students to recognize and prevent coercion, violence, or abuse, including physical and emotional relationship abuse; includes education regarding communication skills, emotional health, accountability, and well-being in relationships; and includes education regarding healthy relationships and consent. ED must provide LEAs with policy guidance regarding safe relationship behavior training and the promotion of safe and healthy relationships.

ESEA funds may not be used for sex or HIV-prevention education in schools if that instruction does not include safe relationship behavior education. (Under current law, sex or HIV-prevention education in schools must be age appropriate and include the health benefits of abstinence.)

teach safe relationships act bill amends elementary secondary education act esea authorize award competitive year grants local educational agencies leas provide professional development school administrators teachers staff safe relationship behavior education educational programming curricula students safe relationship behavior safe relationship behavior education education medically accurate appropriate individual age developmental stage culture promotes safe relationships teaches students recognize prevent coercion violence abuse including physical emotional relationship abuse includes education communication skills emotional health accountability relationships includes education healthy relationships consent provide leas policy guidance safe relationship behavior training promotion safe healthy relationships esea funds sex hiv prevention education schools instruction include safe relationship behavior education current law sex hiv prevention education schools age appropriate include health benefits abstinence


Summary:
Health Insurance for Former Foster Youth Act

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to make technical revisions indicating that medical assistance is available to former foster care children regardless of whether they move between states.

bill amends title xix medicaid social security act technical revisions indicating medical assistance available foster care children regardless states


Summary: This bill directs the Social Security Administration to pay, upon the request of a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, family violence, sexual assault, or stalking, the fees charged by any governmental authority associated with obtaining the birth certificate or state residence identification card in order to obtain a replacement Social Security card for such a person.

bill directs social_security_administration pay request victim domestic violence dating violence family violence sexual assault stalking fees charged governmental authority associated obtaining birth certificate state residence identification card order obtain replacement social_security card person


Summary:
Security and Financial Empowerment Act of 2015

This bill amends the Violence Against Women Act to require the National Resource Center on Workplace Response provide information and assistance through domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions and survivor service organizations. These organizations and coalitions shall provide resource materials and assistance to employees, employers, and labor organizations to aid in efforts to develop adequate workplace responses to domestic and sexual violence.

In addition, the bill requires employers to provide employees 30 days of leave per year, including 56 hours of earned paid leave, which can be used as a result of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking of an employee or an employee's family member. States may provide nonrecurring short-term emergency benefits to employees using such leave.

Survivors' Employment Sustainability Act

The Survivors' Employment Sustainability Act prohibits employers, public benefit agencies, and insurers from discriminating against survivors of:

 domestic violence, dating or sexual violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Under the Internal Revenue Code, employers must give unemployment compensation to survivors who are separated from work due to conditions related to the individuals being survivors. The bill amends title IV part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of the Social Security Act to require state agency personnel that administer TANF programs to be adequately trained to assist survivors seeking assistance.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must study the barriers survivors encounter to maintain economic security. HHS may arrange financial literacy support for survivors.

The Department of Labor must establish a public outreach campaign.

security financial empowerment act bill amends violence_against_women_act require national_resource_center workplace response provide information assistance domestic violence sexual assault coalitions survivor service organizations organizations coalitions shall provide resource materials assistance employees employers labor organizations aid efforts develop adequate workplace responses domestic sexual violence addition bill requires employers provide employees days leave year including hours earned paid leave result domestic violence dating violence sexual assault stalking employee employee family member states provide nonrecurring short term emergency benefits employees leave survivors employment sustainability act prohibits employers public benefit agencies insurers discriminating survivors domestic violence dating sexual violence sexual assault stalking internal revenue code employers unemployment compensation survivors separated work conditions related individuals survivors bill amends title temporary assistance needy families tanf social security act require state agency personnel administer tanf programs adequately trained assist survivors seeking assistance department_of_health_and_human_services hhs study barriers survivors encounter maintain economic security hhs arrange financial literacy support survivors department_of_labor establish public outreach campaign


Summary:
Notification of Your Eldercare Rights

 This bill directs the Department of Labor to:

 draft disclosures which describe the rights and liabilities of customers and providers of domestic care services, require that any provider of domestic care services give such disclosures to each customer before entering into a contract with the customer, and disclose to the customer whether the individual or individuals who will provide such services are employees of the provider of domestic care services or independent contractors. It shall be unlawful, and subject to certain civil penalties, for any provider of domestic care services to contract with a customer without first providing the disclosure document required by this Act.

notification eldercare rights bill directs department_of_labor draft disclosures describe rights liabilities customers providers domestic care services require provider domestic care services disclosures customer entering contract customer disclose customer individual individuals provide services employees provider domestic care services independent contractors shall unlawful subject certain civil penalties provider domestic care services contract customer providing disclosure document required act


Summary:
Justice for Victims of Sexual Assault Act of 2016

This bill requires a state that receives funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program to certify within 180 days that its state laws do not impose a time limit (e.g., statute of limitation) on the criminal prosecution of certain sexual assault offenses.

The Department of Justice must reduce by 20% the JAG allocation of a state that fails to submit this certification.

justice victims sexual assault act bill requires state receives funding edward_byrne_memorial_justice assistance grant jag program certify days state laws impose time limit statute limitation criminal prosecution certain sexual assault offenses department_of_justice reduce jag allocation state fails submit certification


Summary:
Justice for Victims of Sexual Assault Act of 2016

This bill requires a state that receives funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program to certify within one year that its state laws do not impose a time limit (e.g., statute of limitation) on the criminal prosecution of certain sexual assault offenses.

The Department of Justice must reduce by 20% the JAG allocation of a state that fails to submit this certification.

justice victims sexual assault act bill requires state receives funding edward_byrne_memorial_justice assistance grant jag program certify year state laws impose time limit statute limitation criminal prosecution certain sexual assault offenses department_of_justice reduce jag allocation state fails submit certification


Summary:
Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act

(Sec. 3) 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 the use of an electronic interstate case-processing system.

(Sec. 4) The bill also authorizes grants for development of an electronic interstate case-processing system to expedite the interstate placement of children in foster care, guardianship, or adoptive homes.

(Sec. 5) Discretionary funding shall continue through FY2017 to promote safe and stable families.

(Sec. 6) 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.

modernizing sec bill amends foster care adoption assistance title social security act require procedures state effect orderly timely interstate placement children include use electronic interstate case processing system sec bill authorizes grants development electronic interstate case processing system expedite interstate placement children foster care guardianship adoptive homes sec discretionary funding shall continue fy2017 promote safe stable families sec department_of_health_and_human_services shall reserve million available grants fy2017 reserved shall remain available fy2021


Summary:
Youth Access to Sexual Health Services Act of 2016

This bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to support the access of marginalized youth to sexual health services such as sexual health education and contraception. Marginalized youth are disadvantaged individuals under the age of 26. Grants may be awarded to state or local health or education agencies, public schools, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations.

Grants may be used to: (1) provide sexual health information to marginalized youth, (2) promote effective communication regarding sexual health among marginalized youth, (3) promote and support opportunities for school-age parents, and (3) train individuals who work with marginalized youth to promote sexual health and the development of safe and supportive environments.

Grants may not be used to provide access to health services that: (1) are medically unsound; (2) withhold sexual health-promoting or lifesaving information; (3) promote gender stereotypes; or (4) are insensitive or unresponsive to the needs of homosexual, bisexual, or transgender youth, sexually active youth, school-age parents, or survivors of sexual abuse or assault.

Unobligated FY2017 appropriations for abstinence education are made available for these grants.

bill authorizes department_of_health_and_human_services award grants support access marginalized youth sexual health services sexual health education contraception marginalized youth disadvantaged individuals age grants awarded state local health education agencies public schools nonprofit organizations hospitals indian tribes tribal organizations grants provide sexual health information marginalized youth promote effective communication sexual health marginalized youth promote support opportunities school age parents train individuals work marginalized youth promote sexual health development safe supportive environments grants provide access health services medically unsound withhold sexual health promoting lifesaving information promote gender stereotypes insensitive unresponsive needs homosexual bisexual transgender youth sexually active youth school age parents survivors sexual abuse assault appropriations abstinence education available grants


Summary:
Young Child Tax Credit Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a new refundable tax credit based on the number of their qualifying children under the age of three and the taxpayer's adjusted gross income. Advance payments of credit amounts shall be made to taxpayers each month.

bill amends internal_revenue_code allow individual taxpayers new refundable tax credit based number qualifying children age taxpayer adjusted gross income advance payments credit amounts shall taxpayers month


Summary:
Working Parents Flexibility Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a tax-exempt parental leave savings account for the care of a child, to which an individual taxpayer who has earned income from employment during the past 12 months may make tax deductible cash contributions of up to $6,750 in a taxable year and not more than an aggregate of  $24,000 for all taxable years. Taxpayers whose adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 in a taxable year are ineligible for such a tax deduction.

The bill excludes from gross income: (1) distributions from a parental leave savings account that are made not later than one year after the birth or adoption of a child of an account holder, and (2) contributions made by an employer to the parental leave savings account of an employee.

flexibility act bill amends internal_revenue_code establish tax exempt parental leave savings account care child individual taxpayer earned income employment past months tax deductible cash contributions taxable year aggregate taxable years taxpayers adjusted gross income exceeds taxable year ineligible tax deduction bill excludes gross income distributions parental leave savings account later year birth adoption child account holder contributions employer parental leave savings account employee


Summary:
Adoption Leave for Military Families Act

This bill revises adoptive leave requirements for dual military couples to permit one service member to take up to 21 days of leave and the other service member to take up to 14 days of leave. (Current law permits up to 21 days of leave for only one service member.)

adoption leave military families act bill revises adoptive leave requirements dual military couples permit service member days leave service member days leave current law permits days leave service member


Summary:
Stopping Sexual Exploitation of Power Act

This bill amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to declare guilty of sexual assault, subject to punishment by court martial, any person who commits a sexual act upon another person by using position, rank, or authority to obtain compliance by the other person.

stopping sexual exploitation power act bill amends uniform code military justice declare guilty sexual assault subject punishment court martial person commits sexual act person position rank authority obtain compliance person


Summary:
No Free Rent for Freeloaders Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) each year, for each public housing agency, to:

 monitor the extent of noncompliance with the community service and economic self-sufficiency requirements of the United States Housing Act of 1937, and determine the aggregate amount provided in federal subsidies for all public housing dwelling units that were occupied by noncompliant tenants. By September 30 of each fiscal year, HUD shall publish this amount in the Federal Register.

In each new fiscal year this amount, as determined and published for the preceding fiscal year, shall be rescinded from funds made available for the Management and Administration account of HUD.

free rent act bill directs department_of_housing_and_urban_development hud year public housing agency monitor extent noncompliance community service economic self sufficiency requirements united_states housing act determine aggregate provided federal subsidies public housing dwelling units occupied noncompliant tenants september fiscal year hud shall publish federal_register new fiscal year determined published preceding fiscal year shall rescinded funds available account hud


Summary:
Family Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 50% of an individual's qualified infertility treatment expenses, subject to specified limits based on dollar amounts and the taxpayer's adjusted gross income. Qualified infertility treatment expenses are amounts paid for the treatment of infertility via in vitro fertilization if such treatment is provided by a licensed physician, surgeon, or other medical practitioner and is administered with respect to a diagnosis of infertility by a physician licensed in the United States.

family act bill amends internal_revenue_code allow tax credit individual qualified infertility treatment expenses subject specified limits based dollar amounts taxpayer adjusted gross income qualified infertility treatment expenses amounts paid treatment infertility vitro fertilization treatment provided licensed physician surgeon medical practitioner administered respect diagnosis infertility physician licensed united_states


Summary:
Credits for Kids Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require taxpayers who are claiming the refundable portion of the child tax credit to include their Social Security number on their tax return.

The bill includes an exception if the return includes a certification from the state in which the taxpayer resides that one or more qualifying children resided in the taxpayer's household for at least six months during the year.

credits kids act bill amends internal_revenue_code require taxpayers claiming refundable portion child tax credit include social_security number tax return bill includes exception return includes certification state taxpayer resides qualifying children resided taxpayer household months year


Summary:
Family First Prevention Services Act of 2016

TITLE I--INVESTING IN PREVENTION AND FAMILY SERVICES Subtitle A--Prevention Activities Under Title IV-E

(Sec. 111) This bill amends Part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to require state plans under SSAct title IV part A (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) (TANF), at state option, to furnish foster care prevention and family services or programs for children who are candidates for foster care or who are pregnant or parenting foster youth, as well as the children's parents or kin caregivers.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may pay a state for delivering for up to 12 months certain mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services and in-home parent skill-based programs for such a child and the child's parents or kin caregivers when the child's or the caregiver's need for them is directly related to the child's safety, permanence, or well-being, or to preventing the child from entering foster care.

HHS shall establish and update annually the following prevention services measures, if specified in a child's foster care prevention plan, based on information and data reported by electing states:

 the percentage of candidates for foster care for whom, or on whose behalf, the services or programs are delivered who do not enter foster care during a specified 24-month period; and the total amount of expenditures made for mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services or in-home parent skill-based programs, respectively, for, or on behalf of, each child. The bill prescribes payments to states for each calendar quarter between October 1, 2019, and October 1, 2025, and for each calendar quarter beginning after September 30, 2025, for delivery of services or programs furnished in accordance with promising, supported, or well-supported practices meeting specified criteria.

HHS shall:

 give technical assistance to states, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal consortia regarding all such services and programs, and disseminate related best practices; and establish a clearinghouse of promising, supporting, and well-supported practices. (Sec. 112) The removal and foster care placement of a child shall meet the requirements for foster care maintenance payments on the child's behalf if the child has been placed with a parent residing in a licensed residential family-based treatment facility.

Placement with such a parent shall meet these requirements, however, only if:

 the placement recommendation is specified in the child's case plan before the placement; the treatment facility offers, as part of substance abuse treatment, parenting skills training, parent education, and individual and family counseling; and this training and counseling are delivered under an organizational structure and treatment framework that involves understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma, and in accordance with recognized principles of a trauma-informed approach and trauma-specific interventions, to address the consequences of trauma and facilitate healing. (Sec. 113) Title IV-E payments to states for evidence-based kinship navigator programs meeting federal practice standards shall equal 50% of state expenditures for such programs, without regard to whether the expenditures are incurred on behalf of children who are, or are potentially, eligible for foster care maintenance payments.

Subtitle B--Enhanced Support Under Title IV-B

(Sec. 121) SSAct title IV part B (Child and Family Services) is amended to eliminate the time limit for family reunification services while a child is in foster care. The current 15-month limit for such services shall apply only when a child returns home from foster care.

(Sec. 122) SSAct title IV part E is amended to require state plans for foster care and adoption assistance to require state procedures for the orderly and timely interstate placement of children to include by October 1, 2026, the use of an electronic interstate case-processing system.

SSAct title IV part B (Child and Family Services) is amended to require the use of state 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.

HHS shall reserve certain FY2017 funds for such grants, to remain available through FY2021.

(Sec. 123) The bill revises requirements for grants to regional partnerships delivering services and producing activities designed to implement IV-E prevention services, improve the well-being of, and improve permanency outcomes for, children and families affected by heroin, opioids and other substance abuse.

A regional partnership shall include as mandatory partners the state agencies responsible for administering:

 the state plans for child and family services and for foster care and adoption assistance, and the substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant under the Public Health Service Act. A partnership proposing to serve children in out-of-home placements shall have as a mandatory partner the Juvenile Court or Administrative Office of the Court that is most appropriate to oversee the administration of court programs in the region to address the population of families who come to court attention because of child abuse or neglect.

The bill reauthorizes such grants for FY2017-FY2021 in amounts between $250,000 (currently $500,000) and $1 million per grant per fiscal year.

Such a grant shall be disbursed in two phases: (1) a planning phase (not to exceed two years); and (2) an implementation phase. The total disbursement to a grantee for the planning phase may not exceed $250,000, and may not exceed the total anticipated funding for the implementation phase.

No payment shall be made for a fiscal year until HHS determines that the eligible partnership has made sufficient progress in meeting the goals of the grant, and that the members of the eligible partnership are coordinating to a reasonable degree with the other partnership members.

Bill revises grant application requirements.

HHS shall:

 review indicators that are used to assess periodically the performance of the grant recipients; and establish a set of core indicators related to child safety, parental recovery, parenting capacity, and family well-being. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous

(Sec. 131) HHS shall identify reputable model standards for the licensing of foster family homes.

State plans for foster care and adoption assistance shall require submission to HHS of information addressing:

 whether the state licensing standards are in accord with HHS-identified model standards, and if not, the reason for the specific deviation and a description of why having a standard that is reasonable in accord with the corresponding national model standards is not appropriate for the state; whether the state has elected to waive certain standards for relative foster family homes, a description of standards most commonly waived, and if the state has not so elected, the reason why; if the state has elected to waive such standards, how caseworkers are trained to use the waiver authority and whether the state has developed a process or offered tools to assist caseworkers in waiving nonsafety standards to quickly place children with relatives; and a description of the steps the state is taking to improve caseworker training or the process, if any. (Sec. 132) State plans for child welfare services shall document steps taken to track and prevent child maltreatment deaths.

TITLE II--ENSURING THE NECESSITY OF A PLACEMENT THAT IS NOT IN A FOSTER FAMILY HOME (Sec. 201) SSAct title IV part E is amended to prohibit federal payments to a state for amounts expended for foster care maintenance payments on behalf of a child unless:

 the child is placed in a child-care institution meeting certain criteria, or a child is placed in a qualified residential treatment meeting certain requirements. Settings for such placement, besides a qualified residential treatment program, include:

 one specializing in providing prenatal, post-partum, or parenting supports for youth; and a supervised independent living setting if the child is age 18 or over. To receive a grant to assess and improve the handling of proceedings relating to foster care and adoption, the highest state court shall provide for the training of judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel in child welfare cases on federal child welfare policies and payment limitations regarding children in foster care who are placed in settings that are not a foster family home.

SSAct title IV part E is amended to require state plans for foster care and adoption assistance to certify that, in response to the limitation imposed by this bill on foster care maintenance payments on behalf of any child placed in a setting that is not a foster family home, the state will not enact or advance policies or practices that would result in a significant increase in the population of youth in the state's juvenile justice system.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall evaluate the impact, if any, on state juvenile justice systems of the limitation imposed by this bill on foster care maintenance payments on behalf of any child who is placed in a setting that is not a foster family home.

(Sec. 202) For approval of the case plan and the case system review procedure for any child placed in a qualified residential treatment program, a trained professional or licensed clinician not employed by the state agency and not connected to, or affiliated with, any placement setting in which the state places children shall:

 assess the strengths and needs of the child using an age-appropriate, evidence-based, validated, HHS-approved functional assessment tool; determine whether the child's needs can be met with family members or through placement in a foster family home or, if not, which setting would give the most effective and appropriate level of care for the child in the least restrictive environment, consistent with the short- and long-term goals for the child specified in the child's permanency plan; and develop a list of child-specific short- and long-term mental and behavioral health goals. The state shall assemble for the child a family and permanency team consisting of all appropriate biological family members, relatives, and fictive kin of the child, as well as teachers, medical or mental health providers who have treated the child, or clergy who are a resource to the child's family.

The bill prescribes procedures for deciding on a child's best placement.

(Sec. 203) SSAct title IV part B is amended, regarding the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program, to require each state plan for child welfare services to require any plan for the ongoing oversight and coordination of health care services for a child in a foster care placement to outline the procedures and protocols the state has established to ensure that children in foster care placements are not inappropriately diagnosed with emotional or behavioral disorders, medically fragile conditions, or developmental disabilities, and placed in settings that are not foster family homes as a result of such diagnoses.

SSAct title IV part E is amended to direct HHS to evaluate these procedures and protocols.

(Sec. 204) SSAct title IV part E is amended to require specified additional information among the state-by-state data in the annual report to Congress on the performance of each state regarding children in foster care who have been placed in a child care institution or other setting that is not a foster family home.

TITLE III--CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES

(Sec. 301) SSA title IV part B is amended to make supporting and retaining foster families a family support service.

The bill makes specified appropriations to HHS for FY2018 for competitive grants to states, Indian tribes, or tribal consortia to support the recruitment and retention of high-quality foster families to increase their capacity to place more children in family settings, focused on states, Indian tribes, or tribal consortia with the highest percentage of children in non-family settings.

(Sec. 302) SSAct title IV part B is amended to reauthorize through FY2021:

 the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services program, the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program, funding for monthly caseworker visits and regional partnership grants, and funding for state courts to assess and improve handling of proceedings relating to foster care and adoption. (Sec. 303) SSAct title IV part E is amended to revise the John H. Foster Care Independence Program to:

 authorize states electing the extend foster care eligibility through age 21 to extend assistance and services to youths who have aged out of foster care but not yet reached age 23, authorize redistribution of unexpended amounts among states that apply for additional program funds, allow states to make individuals eligible for education and training vouchers through age 25 (but only for 5 years), and modify congressional reporting requirements. TITLE IV--CONTINUING INCENTIVES TO STATES TO PROMOTE ADOPTION AND LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP

(Sec. 401) SSAct title IV part E is amended to reauthorize adoption and legal guardianship incentive payments through FY2021.

TITLE V--TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS

(Sec. 501) SSAct title IV part B is amended to make technical corrections regarding data exchange standards to improve program coordination.

(Sec. 502) The bill also makes technical corrections to the requirement that a state plan for child welfare services describe state activities addressing the developmental needs of all vulnerable children under age five who receive benefits or services under the plan.

TITLE VI--ENSURING STATES REINVEST SAVINGS RESULTING FROM INCREASE IN ADOPTION ASSISTANCE

(Sec. 601) SSAct title IV part E is amended to delay the phase-in of the adoption and guardian assistance program by extending the period during which the applicable age is:

 age 4 from October 1, 2015, through March 31, 2019; and age 2 from April 1, 2019, (currently October 1, 2017) through March 31, 2020; and any age starting April 1, 2020 (currently October 1, 2017). (Sec. 602) The GAO shall study the extent to which states are complying with requirements to spend:

 an amount equal to the amount of savings (if any) in state expenditures under SSAct title IV part E resulting from phasing out Aid to Family with Dependent Children program income eligibility requirements for adoption assistance payments to deliver to children any service that may be delivered under SSAct title IV parts B or E; and less than 30% of the amount of any such savings on post-adoption services, post-guardianship services, and services to support and sustain positive permanent outcomes for children who otherwise might enter into foster care under state responsibility, with at least two-thirds of state spending (to comply with the 30% requirement) being spent on post-adoption and post-guardianship services.

title investing prevention family services subtitle prevention activities title sec bill amends foster care adoption assistance title social security act ssact require state plans ssact title temporary assistance needy families tanf state option furnish foster care prevention family services programs children candidates foster care pregnant parenting foster youth children parents kin caregivers department_of_health_and_human_services hhs pay state delivering months certain mental health substance abuse prevention treatment services home parent skill based programs child child parents kin caregivers child caregiver need directly related child safety preventing child entering foster care hhs shall establish update annually following prevention services measures specified child foster care prevention plan based information data reported electing states percentage candidates foster care behalf services programs delivered enter foster care specified month period total expenditures mental health substance abuse prevention treatment services home parent skill based programs respectively behalf child bill prescribes payments states calendar quarter october october calendar quarter beginning september delivery services programs furnished accordance promising supported supported practices meeting specified criteria hhs shall technical assistance states indian tribes tribal organizations tribal consortia services programs disseminate related best practices establish clearinghouse promising supporting supported practices sec removal foster care placement child shall meet requirements foster care maintenance payments child behalf child placed parent residing licensed residential family based treatment facility placement parent shall meet requirements placement recommendation specified child case plan placement treatment facility offers substance abuse treatment parenting skills training parent education individual family counseling training counseling delivered organizational structure treatment framework involves understanding recognizing responding effects types trauma accordance recognized principles trauma informed approach trauma specific interventions address consequences trauma facilitate healing sec title payments states evidence based kinship navigator programs meeting federal practice standards shall equal state expenditures programs regard expenditures incurred behalf children potentially eligible foster care maintenance payments subtitle enhanced support title sec ssact title child family services amended eliminate time limit family reunification services child foster care current month limit services shall apply child returns home foster care sec ssact title amended require state plans foster care adoption assistance require state procedures orderly timely interstate placement children include october use electronic interstate case processing system ssact title child family services amended require use state grants development electronic interstate case processing system expedite interstate placement children foster care guardianship adoption hhs shall reserve certain fy2017 funds grants remain available fy2021 sec bill revises requirements grants regional partnerships delivering services producing activities designed implement prevention services improve improve permanency outcomes children families affected heroin opioids substance abuse regional partnership shall include mandatory partners state agencies responsible administering state plans child family services foster care adoption assistance substance abuse prevention treatment block grant public_health_service_act partnership proposing serve children home placements shall mandatory partner appropriate oversee administration court programs region address population families come court attention child abuse neglect bill reauthorizes grants fy2017-fy2021 amounts currently million grant fiscal year grant shall disbursed phases planning phase exceed years implementation phase total disbursement grantee planning phase exceed exceed total anticipated funding implementation phase payment shall fiscal year hhs determines eligible partnership sufficient progress meeting goals grant members eligible partnership coordinating reasonable degree partnership members bill revises grant application requirements hhs shall review indicators assess periodically performance grant recipients establish set core indicators related child safety parental recovery parenting capacity family subtitle miscellaneous sec hhs shall identify reputable model standards licensing foster family homes state plans foster care adoption assistance shall require submission hhs information addressing state licensing standards accord hhs identified model standards reason specific deviation description having standard reasonable accord corresponding national model standards appropriate state state elected waive certain standards relative foster family homes description standards commonly waived state elected reason state elected waive standards trained use waiver authority state developed process offered tools assist waiving standards quickly place children relatives description steps state taking improve caseworker training process sec state plans child welfare services shall document steps taken track prevent child maltreatment deaths title ensuring necessity placement sec ssact title amended prohibit federal payments state amounts expended foster care maintenance payments behalf child child placed child care institution meeting certain criteria child placed qualified residential treatment meeting certain requirements settings placement qualified residential treatment program include specializing providing prenatal post parenting supports youth supervised independent living setting child age receive grant assess improve handling proceedings relating foster care adoption highest state court shall provide training judges attorneys legal personnel child welfare cases federal child welfare policies payment limitations children foster care placed settings foster family home ssact title amended require state plans foster care adoption assistance certify response limitation imposed bill foster care maintenance payments behalf child placed setting foster family home state enact advance policies practices result significant increase population youth state juvenile justice system government_accountability_office gao shall evaluate impact state juvenile justice systems limitation imposed bill foster care maintenance payments behalf child placed setting foster family home sec approval case plan case system review procedure child placed qualified residential treatment program trained professional licensed employed state agency connected affiliated placement setting state places children shall assess strengths needs child age appropriate evidence based validated hhs approved functional assessment tool determine child needs met family members placement foster family home setting effective appropriate level care child restrictive environment consistent short- long term goals child specified child permanency plan develop list child specific short- long term mental behavioral health goals state shall assemble child family permanency team consisting appropriate biological family members relatives kin child teachers medical mental health providers treated child resource child family bill prescribes procedures deciding child best placement sec ssact title amended stephanie tubbs jones child welfare services program require state plan child welfare services require plan ongoing oversight coordination health care services child foster care placement outline procedures protocols state established ensure children foster care placements inappropriately diagnosed emotional behavioral disorders medically fragile conditions developmental disabilities placed settings foster family homes result diagnoses ssact title amended direct hhs evaluate procedures protocols sec ssact title amended require specified additional information state state data annual report congress performance state children foster care placed child care institution setting foster family home title iii continuing support child family services sec ssa title amended supporting retaining foster families family support service bill makes specified appropriations hhs fy2018 competitive grants states indian tribes tribal consortia support recruitment retention high quality foster families increase capacity place children family settings focused states indian tribes tribal consortia highest percentage children non family settings sec ssact title amended reauthorize fy2021 stephanie tubbs jones child welfare services program funding monthly caseworker visits regional partnership grants funding state courts assess improve handling proceedings relating foster care adoption sec ssact title amended revise authorize states electing extend foster care eligibility age extend assistance services youths aged foster care reached age authorize redistribution unexpended amounts states apply additional program funds allow states individuals eligible education training vouchers age years modify congressional reporting requirements title continuing incentives states promote adoption sec ssact title amended reauthorize adoption legal guardianship incentive payments fy2021 title technical corrections sec ssact title amended technical corrections data exchange standards improve program coordination sec bill makes technical corrections requirement state plan child welfare services describe state activities addressing developmental needs vulnerable children age receive benefits services plan title ensuring states reinvest savings resulting increase sec ssact title amended delay phase adoption guardian assistance program extending period applicable age age october march age april currently october march age starting april currently october sec gao shall study extent states complying requirements spend equal savings state expenditures ssact title resulting phasing aid family dependent children program income eligibility requirements adoption assistance payments deliver children service delivered ssact title parts savings post adoption services post guardianship services services support sustain positive permanent outcomes children enter foster care state responsibility thirds state spending comply requirement spent post adoption post guardianship services


Summary:
Look-back Elimination Act of 2016

 This bill amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to eliminate the requirement that, to be eligible for foster care maintenance payments, a child would have been eligible for aid under the former Aid to Families with Dependent Children program (AFDC) (predecessor of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program under part A of SSAct title IV) at the time of removal from the home.

 The sense of the Congress is expressed that: (1) the AFDC eligibility requirement for federal foster care and adoption assistance benefits should be eliminated and replaced with income eligibility standards that are based on modern, balanced criteria that treat all children equally; and (2) the Department of Health and Human Services should collaborate with Members of Congress and child welfare advocates in developing any modification standards.

look elimination act bill amends foster care adoption assistance title social security act ssact eliminate requirement eligible foster care maintenance payments child eligible aid aid families program afdc predecessor temporary assistance needy families program ssact title time removal home sense congress expressed afdc eligibility requirement federal foster care adoption assistance benefits eliminated replaced income eligibility standards based modern balanced criteria treat children equally department_of_health_and_human_services collaborate members congress child welfare advocates developing modification standards


Summary:
Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act

This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish statutory rights for sexual assault survivors, including the right to: (1) receive a forensic medical examination at no cost; (2) have a sexual assault evidence collection kit (i.e., rape kit) preserved for the maximum applicable statute of limitations; (3) receive written notification prior to destruction or disposal of a rape kit; and (4) be informed of the rights and policies under this section.

Additionally, it makes statutory crime victims' rights applicable to sexual assault survivors.

The bill amends the Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 to include information about sexual assault services, programs, and providers in the description of services provided to victims.

The bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to authorize the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) Office of Justice Programs to make grants to states to develop sexual assault survivors' rights and policies and to disseminate written notice of such rights and policies to medical centers, hospitals, forensic examiners, sexual assault service providers, law enforcement agencies, and other state entities.

DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services must establish a joint working group to develop, coordinate, and disseminate best practices regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the preservation of forensic evidence.

For purposes of this bill, the term "sexual assault survivor" includes a legal representative acting on behalf of a deceased victim of sexual assault.

bill amends federal criminal code establish statutory rights sexual assault survivors including right receive forensic medical examination cost sexual assault evidence collection kit rape kit preserved maximum applicable statute limitations receive written notification prior destruction disposal rape kit informed rights policies section additionally makes statutory crime victims rights applicable sexual assault survivors bill amends include information sexual assault services programs providers description services provided victims bill amends victims_of_crime_act authorize department_of_justice doj office justice programs grants states develop sexual assault survivors rights policies disseminate written notice rights policies medical centers hospitals forensic examiners sexual assault service providers law enforcement agencies state entities doj department_of_health_and_human_services establish joint working group develop coordinate disseminate best practices care treatment sexual assault survivors preservation forensic evidence purposes bill term sexual assault survivor includes legal representative acting behalf deceased victim sexual assault


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 Survivors' Bill of Rights Act of 2016

(Sec. 3) This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish statutory rights for sexual assault survivors, including the right to: (1) not be prevented from receiving a forensic medical examination and not be charged for an examination; (2) have a sexual assault evidence collection kit (i.e., a rape kit) preserved for 20 years or the maximum applicable statute of limitations, whichever is shorter; (3) receive written notification prior to destruction or disposal of a rape kit; and (4) be informed of these rights and policies. Additionally, it makes statutory crime victims' rights applicable to sexual assault survivors.

 The term "sexual assault" means any nonconsensual sexual act prohibited by federal, state, or tribal law, including when a victim lacks capacity to consent.

Funds made available to the Crime Victims Fund under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 must be used to carry out the requirements concerning these rights, subject to specified exceptions.

 The bill amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to authorize the Department of Justice's (DOJ's) Office of Justice Programs to make grants to states to develop sexual assault survivors' rights and policies and to disseminate written notice of such rights and policies to medical centers, hospitals, forensic examiners, sexual assault service providers, law enforcement agencies, and other state entities.

(Sec. 4) DOJ must establish a working group to develop, coordinate, and disseminate best practices regarding the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors and the preservation of forensic evidence.

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure survivors bill rights act sec bill amends federal criminal code establish statutory rights sexual assault survivors including right prevented receiving forensic medical examination charged examination sexual assault evidence collection kit rape kit preserved years maximum applicable statute limitations whichever shorter receive written notification prior destruction disposal rape kit informed rights policies additionally makes statutory crime victims rights applicable sexual assault survivors term sexual assault means sexual act prohibited federal state tribal law including victim lacks capacity consent funds available crime_victims_fund victims_of_crime_act carry requirements concerning rights subject specified exceptions bill amends victims_of_crime_act authorize department_of_justice doj office justice programs grants states develop sexual assault survivors rights policies disseminate written notice rights policies medical centers hospitals forensic examiners sexual assault service providers law enforcement agencies state entities sec doj establish working group develop coordinate disseminate best practices care treatment sexual assault survivors preservation forensic evidence


Summary:
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.

bill amends titles old age survivors disability insurance oasdi xvi supplemental security income ssi social security act prohibit state local government agency serving representative payee eligible individual foster care state responsibility oasdi ssi benefits reimburse state foster care maintenance payments payments state political subdivision state cover cost expense individual state plan foster care adoption assistance shall require state agency develop implement procedures ensure child screened determine potential eligibility oasdi ssi benefits assist potentially eligible child applying necessary appealing decisions benefits apply child representative payee suitable candidate available develop implement procedures ensure child potentially eligible receiving oasdi ssi benefits assisted applying benefits state plan foster care adoption assistance shall require state agency foster child state responsibility behalf state receives oasdi ssi benefits develop plan child achieve self support leaving foster care representative payee state shall manage oasdi ssi benefits paid behalf individual foster care state responsibility ssi program assets managed behalf eligible foster child state responsibility shall excluded determining child resources support maintenance furnished cash kind shall disregarded determining child income


Summary:
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.

bill amends federal criminal code establish separate criminal offenses respect interstate coercion sexual acts sexual contact production sexually explicit visual depictions interstate coercion extortion involving threats publish sexually explicit visual depictions bill establishes increased penalties offenses involve minors committed repeat offenders result death bodily injury


Summary:
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.

bill amends child abuse prevention treatment act direct state receiving department_of_health_and_human_services hhs community based formula grant prevention child abuse neglect establish demonstration program state adopts specific evidence based uniform national home study program evaluation prospective foster parents adoptive parents furnishes hhs data gathered operation program hhs shall establish national registry home study reports filed home study practitioners hhs developed methodology meeting specified criteria registry accessible state foster care adoption agencies designated entity determined lead agency state assist selection prospective foster parents adoptive parents


Summary:
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.

duty report sexual assault act bill amends federal criminal code impose criminal penalties fine prison term months owner employee establishment fails report known suspected sexual assault employee appropriate law enforcement agency additionally bill imposes fine owner establishment fails publicly display policies procedures prevent respond sexual assault


Summary:
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.

bill amends federal criminal code broaden definition stalking include conduct causes person friend worker experience reasonable fear death bodily injury


Summary:
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.

bill amends internal_revenue_code expand include hiring qualified foster care transition youth permits employers hire individuals members targeted group qualified veterans felons ssi recipients claim tax credit equal portion wages paid individuals qualified foster care transition youth individual certified designated local agency having attained age hiring date having foster care attaining younger age age specified provisions social security act related


Summary:
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.

extending justice sex crime victims act bill amends federal criminal code revise statute limitations victim human trafficking offense federal sexual offense file civil action recover damages current law statute limitations years date cause action arose bill sets year statute limitations date victim discovers offense injury additionally extends statute limitations minor victim federal sex offense file civil action years currently years date individual reaches age


Summary:
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.

pro bono work empower power act bill requires attorney judicial district lead public event promotes pro bono legal services critical way empower survivors domestic violence dating violence sexual assault stalking engage citizens assisting survivors special similar rule applies districts containing indian tribes tribal organizations attorney shall discretion design organization implementation public events seek maximize event local impact access survivors high quality pro bono legal services


Summary:
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.

sexual assault survivors act bill amends fair housing act prohibit discrimination survivors domestic violence sexual assault sale rental housing related activities residential real estate related transactions provision real estate brokerage services bill declares act shall prohibit federal state local government assistance preference program designed assist benefit domestic violence sexual assault survivors seeking securing maintaining dwellings shelters form housing civil rights act amended prohibit intimidation fair housing survivors domestic violence sexual assault


Summary: 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.

bill requires internal_revenue_service irs establish program legal guardian adopted child obtain identity protection personal identification number child prevent individual improperly claiming tax benefits respect child irs require child included tax return condition receiving tax benefit respect child


Summary:
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.

bill amends immigration_and_nationality_act establish non immigrant visa category alien days spouse national citizen child alien accompanying following join alien bill provides period authorized admission visa alien days extended additional day period total number principal visa aliens admitted fiscal adjustment alien permanent resident status prohibited department_of_homeland_security shall establish expedited admissions process visa aliens


Summary: 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.

ensuring healthy act bill amends title maternal child health services social security act require department_of_health_and_human_services awarding grants maternal infant early childhood home visitation programs priority applications submitted certain governmental entities working partnership qualified community partners qualified community partner local educational agency elementary secondary school law enforcement agency health care entity provides specified services assistance pregnant women infants young children


Summary:
(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.

measure amended passed senate december summary version repeated overtime pay protective services act sec bill temporarily exempts officers employees agents limitations receipt premium pay overtime pay performance protective services individuals events current law aggregate basic pay premium pay exceed greater maximum basic pay pay level federal employees rate payable level executive schedule exemption results payment additional premium pay type normally creditable basic pay retirement purpose additional pay shall considered basic pay computing lump sum payment accumulated accrued annual leave payment additional premium pay bill shall counted secret_service employee aggregate compensation purposes annual limits allowances bonuses awards similar cash payments bill applies retroactively enacted december


Summary:
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.

care life act bill amends public_health_service_act require department_of_health_and_human_services hhs develop maintain database database provide pregnant women new parents information public private service providers help women parents alleviating physical financial social emotional difficulties encountered pregnancy hhs award grants providers develop best practices communities identify optimal ways provide pregnancy parenting support services academic medical centers provide specialized training pregnancy parenting support services department_of_labor recognize publicize practices employers successfully meet needs pregnant parenting employees grant program department_of_education improve postsecondary education opportunities expanded include funding development online information agencies working institutions higher education provide pregnancy child care services students


Summary:
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.

child_tax_credit_integrity_preservation_act amends internal revenue code expand identification requirements child tax credit require taxpayers provide valid identification number social_security account number issued social_security_administration tax returns addition identification number qualifying child


Summary:
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.

supporting adoptive families act amends child family services title social security act ssact purpose stephanie tubbs jones child welfare services program promote efforts prevent children entering foster care system provision pre- post adoptive support services extends adoption promotion support services designed support adoptions countries domestic adoptions specifies related pre- post adoptive support services amends ssact title foster care adoption assistance revise requirements state expenditures adoption support services amends public_health_service_act direct secretary health_and_human_services acting administrator substance_abuse_and_mental_health_services_administration award grants cooperative agreements eligible entities develop implement state sponsored statewide tribal post adoption mental health service programs adopted children amends ssact title child support establishment paternity direct secretary child support paternity data collection system promulgate final regulations requiring states collect report information children adopted united_states countries enter state custody result disruption placement adoption dissolution adoption


Summary:
Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of 2015

 Directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to furnish fertility treatment and counseling, including through the use of assisted reproductive technology, to a spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate of a severely wounded, ill, or injured member of the Armed Forces who has an infertility condition incurred or aggravated while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces.

 Requires provision of fertility treatment and counseling to a spouse, partner, or gestational surrogate of a member of the Armed Forces without regard to the member's sex or marital status.

 States that, if a member of the Armed Forces is unable to provide gametes for fertility treatment purposes, the Secretary shall, at the member's election, allow the member to be treated with donated gametes and pay or reimburse the reasonable costs of procuring donor gametes.

 Directs DOD to:

 establish procedures for gamete retrieval from a member of the Armed Forces in cases in which the fertility of such member is potentially jeopardized as a result of an injury or illness incurred or aggravated while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces; and give members of the Armed Forces on active duty the opportunity to cryopreserve and store their gametes prior to deployment to a combat zone at no cost to the member. Directs DOD and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to share best practices and facilitate fertility treatment and counseling referrals to eligible individuals.

Includes fertility counseling and treatment within authorized VA medical services.

Authorizes the VA to pay the adoption expenses (for up to three adoptions) for a severely wounded, ill, or injured veteran who has an infertility condition incurred or aggravated in the line of duty and who is enrolled in the VA health care system.

Directs the VA to report annually to Congress on the counseling and treatment provided under this Act; and (2) prescribe regulations on the furnishing of such counseling, treatment, and adoption assistance.

Directs the VA to facilitate research conducted collaboratively by DOD and the Department of Health and Human Services in order to improve the VA's ability to meet the long-term reproductive health care needs of veterans who have a service-connected genitourinary disability or a condition that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty that affects the veterans' reproductive ability.

Requires the VA to enhance the capabilities of the VA women veterans contact center to: (1) respond to requests for assistance with accessing VA health care and benefits, and (2) refer such veterans to federal or community resources to obtain assistance not furnished by the VA.

Amends the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 regarding a pilot program of group retreat reintegration and readjustment counseling for women veterans recently separated from service to: (1) increase the number of counseling locations, and (2) extend the program.

 Establishes VA programs to provide assistance to qualified veterans to obtain child care so that such veterans can receive: (1) regular mental health care services, intensive mental health care services, or other intensive health care services; and (2) readjustment counseling and related mental health services.

women veterans dod furnish fertility treatment counseling including use assisted reproductive technology spouse partner gestational surrogate severely wounded ill injured member armed_forces infertility condition incurred aggravated serving active duty armed_forces requires provision fertility treatment counseling spouse partner gestational surrogate member armed_forces regard member sex marital status states member armed_forces unable provide fertility treatment purposes secretary shall member election allow member treated donated pay reimburse reasonable costs procuring donor directs dod establish procedures retrieval member armed_forces cases fertility member potentially jeopardized result injury illness incurred aggravated serving active duty armed_forces members armed_forces active duty opportunity store prior deployment combat zone cost member directs dod department_of_veterans_affairs share best practices facilitate fertility treatment counseling referrals eligible individuals includes fertility counseling treatment authorized medical services authorizes pay adoption expenses adoptions severely wounded ill injured veteran infertility condition incurred aggravated line duty enrolled health care system directs report annually congress counseling treatment provided act prescribe regulations furnishing counseling treatment adoption assistance directs facilitate research conducted collaboratively dod department_of_health_and_human_services order improve ability meet long term reproductive health care needs veterans service connected disability condition incurred aggravated line duty affects veterans reproductive ability requires enhance capabilities women veterans contact center respond requests assistance accessing health care benefits refer veterans federal community resources obtain assistance furnished amends caregivers veterans_omnibus_health_services act pilot program group retreat reintegration readjustment counseling women veterans recently separated service increase number counseling locations extend program establishes programs provide assistance qualified veterans obtain child care veterans receive regular mental health care services intensive mental health care services intensive health care services readjustment counseling related mental health services


Summary:
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.

21st century worker tax cut act bill allows married taxpayer files joint tax return qualifying child age tax credit lesser earned income spouse lower earned income taxable year credit denied nonresident aliens taxpayers fail include certain identifying information tax returns