H.R. 5524 would amend the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations.

== Detailed Summary ==

<summary>
Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to revise requirements for services provided under grants from the Secretary of Health and Human Services for centers for runaway and homeless youth and their families. Limits the length of stay in such a center, unless it is located in a state or locality with a child or youth-serving-facility licensure law or regulation that permits a longer length of stay.

Increases grant allotments for states and specified U.S. territories. Limits the length of stay in such a center to 15 days, unless it is located in a state or locality with a child or youth-serving-facility licensure law or regulation that permits a longer length of stay not in excess of 21 days.

Requires the plan proposed byIncreases grant applicantsallotments from $100,000 to $150,000 for a runawaystates and homeless youth centerfrom $45,000 to include an adequate emergency preparedness$70,000 for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and management plan.the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Redefines age limits of homeless youth served underProhibits such Act. allotted amounts for a state for FY2009-FY2010 from being less than the allotted amount for FY2008.<br>

Revises requirements(Sec. 4) Requires the plan proposed by grant applicants for transitional living programsa runaway and homeless youth center to provide a longer length of stay if the program is located in a state or locality that permits one.include an adequate emergency preparedness and management plan.

Requires the Secretary(Sec. 5) Revises requirements for transitional living programs. Specifies that shelter may be provided by contract and that services to report periodically to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate estimates of the incidence and prevalence of runaway and homeless individuals between 13 to 25 years of age.youth may be direct or indirect.

RequiresIncreases the Secretary to: (1) conductlength of continuous stay in such programs from 540 days to 635 days if the program is located in a national homeless youth awareness campaign; and (2) establish priorities for making grants for research, evaluation, demonstration, and service projects.state or locality that permits it.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) give prioritya transitional living program also to public and, as under current law, nonprofit private agencies for sexual abuse programs; (2) establish performance standards for grant recipients;develop an adequate emergency preparedness and (3) establish appeals procedures regarding amounts or denials of such grants.management plan.

Defines &quot;runaway youth&quot;(Sec. 6) Requires the Secretary to give priority (currently, special consideration) to grant applicants for specified research, evaluation, demonstration, and service projects regarding runaway youth and homeless youth.

Requires the Secretary to give special consideration to proposed projects relating to: (1) behavior (currently, mental) health care for runaway and homeless youth; (2) access to educational and workforce programs with outcomes such as decreasing the secondary school drop-out rate, increasing diploma or equivalent attainment rates, or increasing placement and retention in postsecondary education or advanced workforce training programs; and (3) programs, including innovative programs, that assist youth in obtaining and maintaining safe and stable housing (which may include programs with supportive services that continue after program completion).

Requires the Secretary to ensure that such selected applicants: (1) are geographically representative of different U.S. regions; and (2) carry out projects that serve diverse populations of runaway or homeless youth.

(Sec. 7) Requires the Secretary, in coordination with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, to report periodically to specified congressional committees and the public: (1) estimates of the incidence and prevalence of runaway and homeless individuals between 13 to 26 years of age; and (2) an individualassessment of such individual's characteristics.



(Sec. 8) Requires the Secretary to: (1) give priority to public and, as under current law, nonprofit private agencies for sexual abuse programs; and (2) conduct, directly or through grants or contracts, a national homeless youth awareness campaign. Specifies the use of, and prohibitions on, the obligation and expenditure of such campaign funds.

(Sec. 10) Redefines &quot;homeless youth&quot; to cover an individual seeking shelter in a runaway and homeless center until attaining a maximum age 18 who absents himselfhigher than 18, if the center is located in a state or herself from homelocality with a child or placeyouth-serving-facility licensure law or regulation that permits a higher maximum age.

Allows a homeless youth to participate in a transitional living program up to age 22 or higher, as of legal residence without the permissionexpiration of parents or legal guardians.<br> the maximum stay permitted under the Act, if the individual commences such stay before attaining age 22.

(Sec. 11) Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2013.

(Sec. 12) Requires the Secretary to establish performance standards for grant recipients.

(Sec. 13) Requires the Comptroller General to study and report to specified congressional committees on the processes for making grants under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act.
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== Status of the Legislation ==

<status>
Latest Major Action: 6/9/2008: Passed/agreed to6/10/2008: Received in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 773.
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== Points in Favor ==

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== Points Against ==

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