A bill to provide a comprehensive legislative program for children, adolescents, and families, and for other purposes.
Children's Survival Act - Title I: Programs for the Improvement of Foster Care - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to extend indefinitely: (1) the conditional ceiling on Federal financial participation in foster care; (2) the provision which permits a State to use, under part B (Child Welfare Services) of title IV, funds made available to it under the conditional ceiling that are not needed under part E; and (3) the provision permitting Federal financial participation for foster care for certain children voluntarily placed in foster care.
Requires a State, under such part E, to: (1) make foster care maintenance payments to foster care children until they reach the age of 21, if they are students who are regularly attending a secondary school or a course of vocational or technical training designed to fit them for gainful employment; and (2) provide financial subsidies (independent living subsidies) to support youths aged 16 through 21, who are in substitute care under the supervision of a child welfare agency, in the transition to financial and social independence.
Amends the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 to make permanent specified provisions which provide for Federal payments for certain dependent children voluntarily placed in foster care.
Title II: Child Care Provisions - Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to provide that the amount of the payment to a State shall be equal to 75 percent of its expenditures for the provision of services directed at the goals set forth in such title, but may not exceed the amount of its allotment.
Sets allotment amounts for FY 1985 through 1988 and each succeeding fiscal year.
Reserves from the allotments set for FY 1986 through 1988 and each succeeding fiscal year specified amounts for: (1) a National Resource Center on Family Day Care; (2) human services personnel training; (3) child day-care services; (4) grants to States for upgrading or implementing their licensing, regulation, and monitoring of child day-care services to meet specified standards; and (5) provision of services (including human services personnel training and child day-care services) generally authorized under title XX.
Provides that the National Resource Center on Family Day Care is to be operated on a regional basis, either directly or through grant or contract. Includes among Center functions: (1) training individuals involved in training family day care providers; (2) serving as a clearinghouse for resource materials; and (3) providing technical assistance with respect to relevant laws and regulations.
Designates specified percentages of the funds reserved for use by States to provide human services personnel training for: (1) training providers, operators, and staffs of licensed or registered child care services and facilities, State licensing and enforcement officials, and parents; (2) making grants to community-based nonprofit organizations (meeting certain requirements) within a State to provide support services and assistance for family day-care providers.
Requires that specified funds reserved for child day-care services be used by States only for the provision of such services to children: (1) who are, or are at risk of being, abused or neglected, and who are in families receiving child protective services; (2) of eligible families who are recipients of aid to families with dependent children (AFDC); and (3) of low-income adolescent parents, working parents, parents enrolled in education or training programs, and parents seeking employment.
Sets forth conditions for State eligibility to receive specified funds reserved for assistance in meeting standards for licensing, regulation, and monitoring of child day-care services.
Sets forth provisions for allotment of the various sorts of reserved funds under title XX.
Amends the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 (ECIA) to add new chapter 3 provisions for school-based child care and early childhood education demonstration projects. (Redesignates the current chapter 3 provisions as chapter 4.)
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 for such projects in the public schools to increase the availability of child care and early childhood education services for children aged four and five, particularly those from low-income families.
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to pay the Federal share of the cost of establishing and supplementing child care services and early childhood education for four- and five-year-old children in the elementary and secondary schools of such LEAs.
Permits such child care services and early childhood education to include: (1) the extension of half-day kindergarten to meet the needs of working parents; (2) services for four-year-old children which shall be available for the full working day throughout the calendar year using public elementary or secondary school facilities; and (3) arrangements to furnish part-day care for children to complement half-day school-based kindergarten or early childhood education programs furnished in elementary schools.
Allows LEAs receiving such assistance to enter into contracts for such services with public agencies and nonprofit private organizations which: (1) represent significant portions of the community to be served; and (2) have experience furnishing child care services.
Sets forth provisions for grant applications and approval. Requires LEA applications to be reviewed by the appropriate State educational agency (SEA) before submission to the Secretary. Requires assurances that project participants will receive the services free of charge for children from families with incomes less than 150 percent of the poverty level. Requires a sliding scale of fees dependent upon the family's income for other participants. Requires a description of measures which the LEA will take to encourage the equitable participation of handicapped and severely handicapped children in such projects. Requires projects to meet specified minimum standards and to encourage parent involvement in project design and operation. Requires specified assurances as to the non-Federal share of such project costs. Requires establishment of community advisory panels.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish objective criteria for application approval; (2) ensure adequate distribution of such grants; and (3) give preference to applications which propose projects serving a significant portion of children from low-income families and projects furnishing services for the entire workday.
Allows such grants to be made for a period of five fiscal years, but requires annual reevaluation to ensure that project goals and objectives have been met. Directs the Secretary, upon finding that an LEA is not making progress toward meeting its project goals and objectives, to discontinue its grant, after notice and opportunity for a hearing.
Limits the maximum Federal share of project costs to: (1) 75 percent in the first year; (2) 60 percent in the second year; and (3) 40 percent in the third, fourth, and fifth years.
Sets forth annual reporting requirements for LEAs receiving such project grants. Directs the Secretary, by September 30, 1989, to report to the Congress and the President on the basis of such annual LEA reports and an independent evaluation of such projects. Limits the amount of funds which may be used for such evaluation.
Sets forth the following provisions which may be cited as the "Public Housing Child Care Demonstration Program Act." Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to: (1) make grants to public housing agencies to contract for lower-income housing project resident child care services; and (2) design such program to determine the extent to which it facilitates resident employability. Requires a report to the Congress on such program within three years after the enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations for such program for FY 1986 through 1988.
Sets forth provisions for grants to States for scholarships for individuals pursuing. child development associate credentials.
Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make a grant for any fiscal year to any State receiving a grant under title XX (Grants to States for Services) of the Social Security Act to enable the State to award scholarships to eligible individuals within the State who are candidates for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Defines "eligible individual" as a CDA candidate whose income does not exceed a specified poverty line by more than 50 percent.
Sets forth requirements for State applications for such grants and for distribution of such grants throughout the Nation.
Requires States receiving such grants to submit specified program information to the Secretary annually.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 and succeeding fiscal years.
Title III: Child Health Programs - Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant) of the Social Security Act to increase the amount authorized to be appropriated for FY 1986 for specified purposes under such title V. Provides that such sums as may be necessary for such purposes shall be authorized for each fiscal year after FY 1986.
Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for FY 1986 through 1988 for: (1) community health centers for primary care; and (2) migrant health centers. Repeals provisions relating to the primary care block grant program.
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require States to make Medicaid assistance available (if the individual's family income and resources do not exceed specified levels) to: (1) medically verified pregnant women; (2) effective October 1, 1985, individuals under age six; and (3) effective October 1, 1986, individuals under age 18. Defines "family," for such purposes.
Provides that medical assistance for pregnant women under Medicaid shall include all of specified care and services without limitation on the amount, duration, or scope of necessary medical assistance, and without regard to whether such care and services are furnished in equal amount, duration, or scope to other individuals entitled to assistance under the State plan.
Provides that, for purposes of eligibility for and extent of Medicaid assistance, the financial responsibility of an individual for the individual's child shall not be taken into account if such child is medically verified as pregnant.
Provides, for purposes of determining Medicaid eligibility, for treating as incurred expenses the amount that would otherwise would be charged by a provider, who is funded in whole or in part under title V (Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant) of the Social Security Act or under provisions for primary care community health centers or migrant health centers under the Public Health Service Act, for services rendered to pregnant women or to individuals under age 21, if such charge has been reduced or not imposed pursuant to specified provisions of such Acts.
Title IV: Child Education Program - Amends Chapter 1 (Financial Assistance to Meet Special Educational Needs of Disadvantaged Children) of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 (ECIA) to authorize appropriations to carry out Chapter 1 for FY 1986 and 1987.
Amends the Bilingual Education Act to specify the amounts which are authorized to be appropriated for FY 1986 through 1988 to carry out such Act.
Amends title VII (Magnet School Assistance) of the Education for Economic Security Act to rename such title "Desegregation Assistance." Deletes aiding local educational agencies (LEAs) as a stated purpose of such title. Replaces that stated purpose with the stated purpose of aiding LEAs to implement desegregation plans. Adds to the current list of stated purposes other purposes relating to: (1) additional staff; (2) new curricula, methods, or materials for a program for children from all social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds; (3) innovative educational activities, including extracurricular activities, involving the joint participation of minority group children and other children; (4) community relations activities in support of the plan; (5) repair, minor remodeling, or alteration of existing school facilities and lease or purchase of mobile education facilities to carry out program activities.
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants under such title to eligible LEAs for use in activities (current law limits this to use in magnet schools) which are part of an approved desegregation plan and which are designed to bring students from different social, economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds together. Increases the amount authorized to be appropriated for such tile in FY 1986 and extends the authorization of appropriations through FY 1990.
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) appropriations for FY 1986 for all programs under the Education of the Handicapped Act should total a specified amount to reflect the authorization levels enacted in the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1983; and (2) the appropriation for FY 1986 for part B of the Education of the Handicapped Act, relating to Assistance for education of All Handicapped Children (the basic State grant program) should equal a specified amount to compensate for the excess cost in educating handicapped students.
Amends Chapter 1 of ECIA to establish a program of early childhood education incentive grants. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 for such program. Directs the Secretary of Education to make such grants to LEAs for programs and projects designed to meet the special educational needs of educationally deprived children who are four years of age. Requires such programs and projects to meet specified conditions under Chapter 1. Sets forth application requirements and formulas for the allocation of such grants. Increases the amount authorized to be appropriated for such title .
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to add a new title X, School Dropout Prevention and Recovery, which may be cited as the Dropout Prevention and Recovery Act of 1985. (Redesignates the current title X and title XI.)
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 for such dropout prevention and recovery program. Provides that specified portions of such funds shall be used for: (1) a nationwide school dropout reporting system; (2) a one-year national study by the Secretary of Education (with a portion of the FY 1986 funds); (3) national dissemination and evaluation (with a portion of the funds for fiscal years after 1986); (4) demonstration projects for potential school dropout identification and prevention; and (5) demonstration projects for school dropout recovery.
Sets forth provisions for the dropout reporting system. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) with approved plans on file for the establishment and operation of comprehensive systems for reporting information on school dropouts. Sets forth formulas for allotments to States and within-State allocations. Sets forth requirements for State and local applications. Sets forth annual reporting requirements for LEAs and SEAs. Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to the Congress on school dropouts. Directs the Secretary to carry out a one-year study to develop: (1) model local and State reporting systems; (2) standard minimum reporting requirements; (3) a standard definition of school dropouts; and (4) a standard list of reasons for dropping out of school. Directs the Secretary to disseminate information on, and requested technical assistance in implementing, model reporting systems to SEAs and LEAs.
Sets forth provisions for dropout prevention projects. Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to LEAs for demonstration projects for the early identification of potential school dropouts and the prevention of their dropping out. Requires each project to consist of at least one secondary school and its feeder junior high or middle school and elementary schools.
Sets forth grant requirements, including LEA establishment of an advisory council representing specified groups. Directs the Secretary to give special consideration to areas with large proportions of potential dropouts and to projects which focus on the problems of teenage parents. Limits such grants to three years, with annual reviews of progress. Sets forth application requirements. Makes the Federal share no more than 75 percent in the second year and 50 percent in the third year.
Sets forth provisions for dropout recovery projects. Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to LEAs for demonstration projects to encourage school dropouts to return to educational programs. Sets forth grant requirements, including operation on a clinical and client-oriented basis, teaching of basic academic skills, career counseling and placement, partnership with labor and business, use of community-based organizations, and involvement of parents. Authorizes the LEA to conduct such a project: (1) under a contract with a community-based organization; (2) in a school or a nonschool community setting; (3) with needed support services, such as child care; (4) combining classroom and workplace instruction; and (5) providing instruction in practical work values and specific vocational skills which reflect labor market demand. Directs the Secretary to give special consideration to projects designed to serve large numbers of dropouts and projects focusing on teenage parents. Limits such grants to three years, with annual reviews of progress. Sets forth application requirements. Makes the Federal share no more than 75 percent.
Sets forth provisions for dissemination of information on demonstration projects relating to school dropouts and for evaluation of such projects and the dropout reporting systems. Directs the Secretary of Education to establish a system to disseminate such information on dropout prevention and recovery projects. Directs the Secretary to arrange for the evaluation of dropout reporting systems and dropout prevention and recovery projects. Sets forth general provisions relating to grants under the dropout prevention and recovery program.
Amends the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 (ECIA) to add a new Chapter 4, School-Based Child Care for Adolescent Parents. (Redesignates the current chapter 4 as chapter 5.)
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants, under such chapter 4 program, to LEAs for school-based child care centers for students who want to continue their education following the birth of a child. Requires that such centers serve predominantly low-income students and be designed to meet the special needs of adolescent parents and their children by providing (either directly or by contract with community-based child care organizations): (1) child care which starts as soon as the mother can return to school and continues at least until the child is 30 months of age; (2) parenting education; and (3) transportation services. Authorizes centers to also use funds to provide specified other services. Requires that such child care services be within walking distance of the school building attended by the student and meet specified standards. Requires LEAs to establish local advisory panels for such chapter 4 projects. Sets forth application requirements. Makes the Federal share no more than 75 percent in the second year and 50 percent in the third and any subsequent year.
Requires such program to continue for five years, with annual reevaluations which are to be summarized in a specified annual report of the Secretary. Authorizes appropriations for such chapter 4 program for FY 1986 through 1990.
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to add a new title XI, School-Based Student Enterprises Program. (Redesignates as title XII of such Act that current title X which was redesignated as title XI earlier in this Act.)
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 for such school-based student enterprises program. Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to LEAs to operate school-based student enterprises within secondary schools. Requires LEAs, in developing such student enterprise programs, to: (1) try to meet community social and economic needs and cooperate with local economic development efforts; and (2) establish an advisory board including representatives of specified groups. Sets forth application and approval requirements. Provides that a grant under such program shall continue for three years, with annual reviews. Allows extensions of such three-year period. Makes the Federal share of such grants 100 percent for the first three years, but no more than 40 percent for the fourth and fifth years. Requires LEAs receiving such grants to report annually to the Secretary.
Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to add a new title VIII, Effective Schools, which may be cited as the Effective Schools Development in Education Act of 1984.
Establishes, under such new title VIII of ESEA, a grants program to promote more effective schools and excellence in education.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 for such grants program.
Allows program grants to be used to: (1) promote State educational agency (SEA) and local educational agency (LEA) awareness of effective schools information through conferences at schools and district and multidistrict offices and through onsite visits to model effective schools; (2) develop and implement systems of data collection, analysis, interpretation, and communication; (3) plan, review, and revise program activities; (4) support related effective schools efforts; (5) obtain technical assistance and consultant services from regional educational laboratories, research and development centers, institutions of higher education, and other nonprofit educational organizations; (6) design, develop, and publish educational materials on effective schools programs; (7) conduct program evaluations; and (8) otherwise identify, document, and disseminate information concerning exemplary effective schools programs.
Requires that program grant applications by SEAs or LEAs demonstrate that: (1) the applicant has an effective schools improvement program in effect; (2) grant funds would be used to pay not more than one-half of the cost of any program or activity; (3) grant funds would be supplementary; and (4) independent annual evaluations will be conducted and reported.
Directs the Secretary of Education, in selecting grant recipients, to: (1) consider the extent to which grant funds would be used to improve schools in districts with the greatest numbers or percentages of educationally deprived children and the extent to which the applicant's ongoing effective schools program has demonstrated the capacity to improve student achievement or behavior; (2) ensure reasonable geographic distribution of grants; and (3) designate grants as being available for a period of at least one but not more than three years.
Sets forth provisions for technical assistance and program evaluation.
Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress by September 1, 1986.
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to add a new title XII, University-High School Partnerships. (Redesignates the current title XII as title XIII.)
Authorizes appropriations for 1986 through 1990 for the new title XII, to encourage partnerships between institutions of higher education and secondary schools serving low-income students in order to support programs that: (1) improve the academic skills of secondary school students; (2) increase their opportunity to continue a program of education after high school; and (3) improve their prospects of employment after high school.
Requires, for purposes of eligibility for a title XII grant, for an institution of higher education and a local education agency to enter into a written partnership agreement. Allows the partnership to include businesses, labor organizations, professional associations, community-based organizations, or other private or public agencies or associations. Requires all partners to sign the agreement. Requires the agreement to include a listing of all participants in the partnership, a description of their responsibilities, and a listing of the resources to be contributed by them.
Directs the Secretary of Education to reserve 65 percent of title XII funds for programs operating during the regular school year and 35 percent for summer programs.
Limits the amount of such a grant to between $250,000 to $1,000,000.
Allows the partnership to use the grant for programs that use college students to tutor high school students and that improve high school students' basic academic skills, their understanding of specified subjects, opportunity to continue a program of education after graduation, and their prospects for employment after graduation.
Directs the Secretary, in making such grants, to give preference to: (1) programs which will serve predominantly low-income communities; (2) partnerships which will run programs during the regular school year and the summer; and (3) programs which will serve educationally disadvantaged students, potential dropouts, pregnant adolescent and teen parents, or the gifted and talented.
Sets forth grant application requirements. Limits the Federal share of the cost of the project to no more than 70 percent in the first year, 60 percent in the second year, and 50 percent in the third year and any subsequent year.
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to add a new title XII, College-Based Child Care Programs. (Redesignates the current title XII as title XIII.)
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 for grants to institutions of higher education for: (1) construction, reconstruction, and renovation of higher education facilities to be used to provide child care services; (2) child care services for disadvantaged college students (with two-thirds of the participants to be low-income students who are first generation college students, and the remainder, to be either low-income or first generation college students); and (3) child care personnel work-experience programs (which provide experience for students by arranging part-time employment for them in child care programs).
Title V: Child Nutrition Programs - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to provide food stamp program eligibility as households for homeless individuals or homeless groups of individuals who do not reside in permanent dwellings or who have no fixed addresses, but who customarily purchase food and prepare meals for their own consumption. Requires the State agency to provide a method for certifying and issuing to individuals who qualify, assuring that such method limits participation in the program to eligible households.
Sets forth requirements, under the food stamp program, for specified annual adjustments of the thrifty food plan.
Excludes child support payments, which are disregarded for AFDC purposes, from household income for purposes of eligibility determinations under the food stamp program.
Raises the earned income deduction to 20 percent for purposes of such food stamp program determinations.
Provides for an excess shelter expense deduction and an excess medical expense deduction for purposes of such food stamp program determinations.
Sets forth provisions for monthly reporting and retrospective accounting for purposes of household income calculations under the food stamp program.
Increases the monetary amounts of household resources which may be owned by households participating in the food stamp program. Excludes from determinations of the amount of such household resources any real or personal property to the extent that it is directly related to the maintenance or use of a licensed vehicle which is used to produce earned income or is necessary for the transportation of a physically disabled member. Requires annual adjustments of the value of vehicles excluded from such resource determinations. Limits the value of such an exclude vehicle to not more than $5,500.
Requires State agencies to undertake effective action (including the use of services provided for other federally funded agencies and organizations) to inform low-income households of the availability and benefits of the food stamp program and insure the participation of eligible households in such program.
Subtitle B: School Lunch Program - Amends the National School Lunch Act to reserve a specified amount of school lunch program appropriations for food service equipment assistance for those programs which served 60 percent or more of their lunches during the second preceding school year for free or at a reduced prices.
Revises income guidelines for determining eligibility for free lunches under the school lunch program. Makes such free lunch income guidelines equal to 130 percent of the applicable family-size income levels contained in the nonfarm income poverty guidelines prescribed by the Office of Management and the Budget, with annual adjustments based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. Eliminates reference to food stamp program eligibility standards for purposes of the school lunch program.
Revises the income guidelines for determining eligibility for reduced price lunches under the school lunch program. Increases such reduced price lunch income guidelines.
Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from requiring local school authorities to verify data contained in school lunch program applications for any fiscal year for which funds have not been appropriated to reimburse the direct costs of such verification. Authorizes appropriations for such reimbursement of verification costs.
Excludes certain medical expenses from household income determinations for purposes of school lunch program eligibility.
Provides for automatic eligibility for free lunch and breakfast, under the school lunch program, for any child who is a member of a household under the food stamp program or a member of an AFDC assistance unit, in a State where the standard of eligibility for such assistance does not exceed 130 percent of the income poverty guidelines.
Prohibits any school or school food authority participating in a program under the National School Lunch Act from contracting with a food service company to provide a la carte food service unless such company agrees to offer free, reduced-price, and full-price reimbursable meals to all eligible children.
Permits local educational agencies to use facilities, equipment, and personnel provided under the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to support nonprofit nutrition programs for the elderly (including programs funded under the Older Americans Act of 1965).
Includes specified types of private nonprofit organizations under the definition of service institutions for purposes of the summer food service program for children. Defines private nonprofit organizations, for such purposes, as only such organizations (including summer camps) which: (1) operate at not more than 15 sites (or 20 sites, if a waiver is granted); and (2) use self-preparation facilities to prepare meals or obtain meals from a public facility (such as a school district, public hospital, or State university). Sets forth requirements for participation in such program by such private non-profit institutions.
Extends through FY 1988 the authorization of appropriations for the summer food service program for children under the National School Lunch Act.
Extends through FY 1988 the responsibility of the Secretary of Agriculture to use certain funds to carry on the commodity distribution program for purposes of programs under the National School Lunch Act, the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and the Older Americans Act of 1965.
Revises provisions relating to reimbursement rates for specified child care food programs of: (1) lunches and suppers under the National School Lunch Act; (2) breakfasts under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966; and (3) supplements (snacks).
Adds one meal and one snack (for a total of three meals and two snacks per day) to the child care food program.
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study to consider: (1) the feasibility of making the school lunch program a universal program for all children; and (2) various methods of operating a self-financing school lunch program for all children, including reserving a separate source of revenue for any such program. Directs the Secretary to report on such study, with recommendations, to the Congress by January 1, 1988.
Extends through the school year ending June 30, 1986, a specified school lunch pilot project study, subject to the availability of appropriations. Requires such study to include: (1) at least 16 of the school districts using the commodity letter of credit approach; (2) at least 16 of the school districts using the cash in lieu of commodities approach; and (3) the six remaining school districts from a specified original study. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in carrying out such pilot project study, to: (1) provide bonus commodities; (2) provide all cash, or all letters of credit, in lieu of commodities; and (3) maintain the control group sites used on the date of enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary, subject to the availability of funds, to provide cash compensation to a school district which was participating in such pilot project study on or before the date of enactment of this Act for losses sustained by the district as a result of the alteration of study methodology during the school year ending June 30, 1983. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress by December 15, 1985, on the results of such study extension. Authorizes appropriations to carry out such study extension and to provide for such compensation.
Subtitle C: School Breakfast Program - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to provide that a limitation relating to certain schools under the special milk program shall not apply to their kindergartens.
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to increase by six cents the annually adjusted payment for each breakfast served under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the National School Lunch Act to assist States in improving the nutritional quality of such breakfasts. Directs the Secretary to review and revise (taking into account certain considerations) the nutrition requirements for meals served under the school breakfast program to improve the nutritional quality of such meals. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations to implement such revisions within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
Permits the local school food authority to allow students in schools that participate in the school breakfast program to refuse not more than one item of such meal which they do not intend to consume. Provides that such refusal shall not affect the full charge to the student or the amount of payments to such school for such breakfast.
Extends through FY 1988 the authorizations of appropriations, under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, for: (1) State administrative expenses for specified programs under such Act and the National School Lunch Act; (2) the special supplemental food program for low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children who are at nutritional risk (WIC) and State and local administrative expenses for such program; and (3) grants to States for nutrition education and information programs (increasing the maximum amount authorized to be appropriated for such grants).
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study of the allocation formula and procedures used under such provisions for payment of State administrative expenses. Requires such study to include an analysis of State costs and contributions for administrative expenses and a State matching requirement. Directs the Secretary to report on such study to the Congress by January 31, 1986.
Replaces the definition of, and references to, "administrative costs" with a definition of, and references to, "costs for nutrition services and administration". Replaces references to "administrative funds" with references to "funds for nutrition services and administration".
Includes coordination with the AFDC program among required provisions in State agency plans for the special supplemental food program.
Includes provision of technical assistance to improve State agency administrative systems among those uses to which the Secretary of Agriculture may put specified reserved funds under the special supplemental food program (WIC).
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to limit to a minimal level specified documentation required of a State agency wanting to expend a lesser amount than required for nutrition education activities under the special supplemental food program (WIC).
Sets forth provisions relating to the apportionment and the expenditure of funds under the special supplemental food program (WIC).
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) fill within 90 days any vacancy on the National Advisory Council on Maternal, Infant, and Fetal Nutrition; and (2) ensure that such Council meets at least once every 12 months. Deletes a provision which declares that 11 members of such Council shall constitute a quorum.
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study of the effect on families of the school breakfast program, the child care food program, and other programs under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Requires such study to consider whether alternative nutrition delivery programs would strengthen families. Directs the Secretary to report on such study, with recommendations, to the Congress by January 1, 1987.
Subtitle D: School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs - Increases the Federal reimbursement for reduced price meals for the school lunch program under the National School Lunch Act and the school breakfast program under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.
Raises the tuition limitation amount for private schools under such programs and provides for annual adjustments in such tuition limitation amount to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.
Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from making any change in the method of calculating income, as in effect on January 1, 1985, used to determine eligibility for free or reduced-price meals, food supplements, or other assistance under the National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 which would result in any reduction in, or denial of, such assistance, except as specifically directed by law. Makes such prohibition effective during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on September 30, 1986.
Makes technical and conforming amendments to the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.
Subtitle E: Effective Dates - Sets forth effective dates for various provisions of this title.
Permits school food authorities to elect to delay implementation of specified provisions for a certain period.
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, within 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, to issue final regulations to implement amendments made by this Act which provide for the exclusion of certain medical expenses from household income determinations under the National School Lunch Act. Makes such amendments effective upon issuance of such final regulations, but permits each school food authority to delay implementation of any such amendments to a date not later than July 1, 1985.
Title VI: Family Support Programs - Amends part A (Aid to Families With Dependent Children) of title IV of the Social Security Act to provide incentives to States to increase AFDC benefit levels. Provides that, in the case of a State increase of AFDC benefit levels, the State share of expenditures attributable to such increase shall be reduced and the Federal share increased.
Requires the adjustment of the State standard of need under the AFDC program by October 1, 1988, to reflect increases in the cost of living since July 1, 1969.
Sets forth requirements for the establishment of a national minimum benefit level under the AFDC program.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make such grants to assist States and localities in establishing and carrying out programs designed to help pregnant individuals and parents residing with young children to become self-sufficient.
States that it shall be the objective of each such program to help achieve self-sufficiency for individuals under the age of 25 who are eligible for AFDC, who are pregnant, or who are parents residing with children under the age of six, and who voluntarily elect to participate in the program by: (1) requiring such individuals to seek a high school diploma or take part in appropriate training; (2) providing each participant with academic or vocational training and job placement; (3) coordinating services available to participants; and (4) providing each participant with other services and assistance designed to meet such objective.
Requires a program to meet certain requirements, including the provision of child care services, necessary transportation, and an outreach program designed to attract individuals who would be eligible for the program.
Limits the size of a grant for such program to: (1) in FY 1985 and 1986, two percent of the State's AFDC Federal payment; (2) in FY 1987, three percent of such payment; and (3) in FY 1988 or any subsequent fiscal year, four percent of such payment.
Directs the Secretary, in consultation with the States, to establish a systematic reporting system capable of yielding comprehensive data on which service figures and program evaluations shall be based. Directs the Secretary to annually report to the Congress, and the States to annually report to the Secretary.
Authorizes appropriations for such grants program.
Provides for modifications of AFDC earned income disregards.
Revises the definition of dependent child to include any eligible needy child who is a student regularly attending secondary school (or a course of vocational or technical training designed to fit him or her for gainful employment) and who is under the age of 21.
Repeals provisions which require consideration of parental and certain other familial income in determining the AFDC eligibility of adolescent parents who live in their parents' home.
Provides for AFDC payments to a pregnant woman from the time her pregnancy is medically verified. Removes restrictions on AFDC payments to meet the needs of an unborn child or to meet the needs of a woman occasioned by or resulting from her pregnancy.
Sets forth program requirements for AFDC eligibility for needy children in two-parent families not otherwise eligible.
Revises the formula for determination of the portion of a stepparent's income which is to be taken into consideration for AFDC program eligibility purposes.
Title VII: Tax Reform Designed to Benefit Families - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to increase the earned income credit. Includes consideration of dependent children under 21 and additional consideration of dependent children under age 6 in determining the amount of such credit. Phases out the credit as the earned income of the taxpayer increases. Provides for a cost-of-living adjustment to the earned income credit.
Sets forth requirements that payments of needs-based governmental benefits be disregarded in determining support and maintenance of household, under IRC provisions relating to definition and special rules.
Increases the zero bracket amount for heads of households to the amount for joint returns.
Increases, and makes refundable, the tax credit for household and dependent care services.
Requires that the earned income credit and the credit for household and dependent care services be disregarded for purposes of determining eligibility for, or amount of, benefits or assistance under any Federal program or under any State or local program financed in whole or part with Federal funds.
Title VIII: Youth Employment and Training Programs - Sets forth provisions which may be cited as the Summer Youth Employment, Training, and Education Act of 1985.
Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to require the addition of an education component to the summer youth employment and training programs under part B of title II (Training Services for the Disadvantaged) of JTPA.
Requires that each service delivery area (SDA) be allotted an amount equal to at least 90 percent of the amount available to such area for the summer youth program in the preceding fiscal year. Requires ratable reductions in the allocation to each SDA if appropriations are not sufficient to provide such amount to each SDA. Requires that allotments to States and allocations to SDAs be: (1) made in accordance with provisions for prompt allocation of funds; and (2) available for planning purposes before the beginning of the summer months for which allotted and allocated.
Requires that summer youth program funds be used so that participants spend a portion of their time on individualized, self-paced, remedial and basic academic and functional competency development and achieve specified types of performance standards established and developed in each SDA.
Requires that the portion of a participant's time spent on such competency development be in addition to, and not in place of, regular employment under the summer youth program.
Prohibits summer youth program funds from being used to provide employment to any individual who fails to comply with attendance standards established by the SDA with respect to such education components.
Prohibits summer youth program funds from being used to compensate or reward participants for attendance at such education components, except under specified provisions which require that a portion of matching funds be used to provide bonuses to participants for achievement of academic and functional competence.
Specifies that planning for summer youth programs does not have to be conducted during the summer months.
Sets forth matching fund requirements for summer youth programs.
Requires each private industry council (PIC), for each program year beginning after June 30, 1987, to make available from non-Federal sources an amount for use in such programs equal to at least one and one-half percent of the amount made available under JTPA for such programs in that SDA for the applicable program year. Allows each PIC, for program years beginning July 1, 1985, and July 1, 1986, to make available such matching amounts. Limits, for any program year beginning after June 30, 1987, such matching amounts to not less than $20,000 and not more than $100,000 per SDA. Requires each PIC to notify the State of the PIC's matching amount by April 1 of the preceding program year.
Requires each State, for program years beginning after June 30, 1987, to provide to each PIC an amount equal to the PIC matching amount. Allows States to provide such State matching amount from non-Federal sources or to use funds available to them under part A (Adult and Youth Programs) of title II of JTPA and under chapter 2 (Consolidation of Federal Programs for Elementary and Secondary Education) of the Educational Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981. Requires each State, for program years beginning July 1, 1985, and July 1, 1986, to reserve one and one-half percent of its State allotment under part A, to be allocated to PICs in proportion to the matching amounts made available by such PICs for such program years.
Requires that such matching amounts be used to: (1) support the education and training components of the summer youth programs; (2) provide bonuses to participants for achievement of academic and functional competence; and (3) after complying with (1) and (2), create additional employment opportunities under the summer youth programs.
Allows matching amounts to be in cash or in-kind, but requires that in-kind matching amounts be in the form of state-of-the-art basic and remedial education materials and equipment suitable for use for summer youth programs for the applicable program year.
Requires each SDA to maintain complete records on the improvements in academic and functional competency attained by participants in the summer youth programs. Requires that such records be compiled by reference to State and locally determined general education diploma and basic education competency requirements. Requires each SDA to submit summaries of such records to the State. Requires States to submit annual reports on such summaries to the Secretary of Labor. Directs the Secretary to include an analysis of such reports in the Secretary's annual report to the Congress on employment and training programs.
Provides that a specified portion of the State allotment under JTPA which is currently available for State education programs shall also be available to carry out matching requirements for summer youth programs.
Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to authorize appropriations in a specified amount for FY 1986. (Continues the authorization of appropriations in such sums as shall be necessary for such program in succeeding fiscal years.)
Revises the definition of "supportive services", under JTPA, to: (1) require inclusion of transportation, child care, and certain needs-based payments (determined with locally developed formula or procedure); and (2) allow inclusion of certain other services.
Includes local social service agencies among those groups which must be represented on private industry councils under JTPA.
Requires that special efforts to recruit teenaged parents and other youth from families receiving public assistance be included under the procedures for identifying and selecting participants which job training plans must contain. Requires that the number of teenaged parents and other youth from public assistance families participating in the job training program be specified in an annual report to the State Governor.
Raises from 30 percent to 35 percent the limitation on the maximum portion of funds available to a service delivery area for any fiscal year for programs under part A (Adult and Youth Programs) of title II (Training Services for the Disadvantaged) of JTPA which may be expended for administrative costs and specified other costs (including certain work experience program expenditures and supportive services). Requires, in the making of expenditures for such specified costs, priority to be given to ensuring that participants' needs for transportation, child care and needs-based payments are met.
Requires, in outreach activities using funds under part A of title IV of JTPA, that particular emphasis be given to informing, and encouraging program participation by, teenaged parents and other youth from public assistance families. Makes technical and conforming amendments.
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the minimum wage to $4.00 an hour after December 31, 1985.
See H.R.3128.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Committee on Finance requested executive comment from OMB, Treasury Department, Health and Human Services Department.
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