119-s2012

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2012 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2012

 To reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, and for other 
 purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 June 10, 2025

 Ms. Collins (for herself, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Warnock, Mr. 
Sullivan, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Welch) introduced the following bill; 
 which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, and for other 
 purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Runaway and Homeless Youth and 
Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

 

Section 302 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11201) 
is amended to read as follows:

``

SEC. 302. FINDINGS.

 ``Congress finds that--
 ``

    (1) youth who have become homeless or who leave and 
 remain away from home without parental permission are at risk 
 of developing, and have a disproportionate share of, trauma, 
 substance use disorders, and serious health, behavioral, 
 social, and emotional challenges because they lack sufficient 
 resources to obtain care and may live on the street for 
 extended periods of time, thereby endangering themselves;
 ``

    (2) many such young people, because of their age and 
 situation, are urgently in need of temporary shelter and 
 services, including services that consider their age, gender, 
 and social and developmental needs, are culturally and 
 linguistically appropriate, and acknowledge the environment of 
 youth seeking these services;
 ``

    (3) research has documented the fluid experiences of 
 homelessness of youth, where many youth experience 2 or more 
 different types of homelessness, including couch surfing, 
 living in motels, and staying on the streets;
 ``

    (4) research has documented that persons who are members 
 of historically marginalized and underserved communities of 
 color, LGBTQ youth, youth who do not complete high school or 
 achieve a high school equivalency, youth involved in the child 
 welfare system, youth who have been involved with the criminal 
 justice system, and pregnant and parenting youth are most 
 likely to experience homelessness in the United States while 
 unaccompanied by a parent or adult;
 ``

    (5) services to such young people should be developed and 
 provided using a positive youth development approach that 
 ensures a young person a sense of--
 ``
        (A) safety and structure;
 ``
        (B) belonging and membership;
 ``
            (C) self-worth, empowerment, voice, and choice;
 ``
            (D) independence and control over one's life; and
 ``
        (E) closeness in interpersonal relationships;
 ``

    (6) in view of the interstate nature of the problem, it 
 is the responsibility of the Federal Government to develop an 
 accurate national reporting system to report the prevalence of 
 youth homelessness, and to assist in the development of an 
 effective system of care (including prevention services and 
 aftercare services, short-term housing with services, extended 
 housing with supportive services, and street outreach services) 
 outside the welfare system and the law enforcement system, in 
 collaboration with public assistance systems, the education 
 system, and the child welfare system;
 ``

    (7) to make a successful transition to adulthood, youth 
 who run away, youth experiencing homelessness, and youth living 
 in the street need a safe and stable place to live, connections 
 to caring adults, and opportunities to complete high school or 
 earn a general equivalency degree, learn job skills, and obtain 
 employment;
 ``

    (8) improved coordination and collaboration at the 
 Federal level between programs that serve runaway and homeless 
 youth are necessary for the development of a long-term strategy 
 for responding to the needs of this population;
 ``

    (9) runaway and homeless youth are at a high risk of 
 substance use disorders and becoming victims of sexual 
 exploitation and trafficking;
 ``

    (10) since research has shown that the prevalence of 
 homelessness among youth is similar in rural and urban 
 communities, runaway and homeless youth programs, such as those 
 funded under this title, are integral services that every 
 community should provide, regardless of the size of the 
 community; and
 ``

    (11) runaway and homeless youth programs, such as those 
 funded under this title--
 ``
        (A) are expert adolescent service providers and 
 integral community partners for the child welfare and 
 juvenile justice systems as many youth exit these 
 systems to homelessness; and
 ``
        (B) work to reunify youth with their family when 
 safe and appropriate.''.

SEC. 3. BASIC CENTER GRANT PROGRAM.

 Part A of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11211 et 
seq.) is amended--

    (1) in 

section 311, by striking subsection

    (a) and 
 inserting the following:
 ``

    (a) Grants for Centers and Services.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall--
 ``
        (A) not later than 90 days before the start date 
 of the grant, award 5-year grants to public and 
 nonprofit private entities, and combinations of such 
 entities, to establish, operate, and maintain 
 (including renovate) local centers to provide--
 ``
            (i) safe shelter and services for runaway 
 and homeless youth, including trauma-informed 
 services; and
 ``
            (ii) if appropriate, services for the 
 families of such youth, including individuals 
 identified by such youth as family; and
 ``
        (B) establish an appeal process for grantees.
 ``

    (2) Services provided.--Services provided under paragraph

    (1) --
 ``
        (A) shall be provided to runaway youth, street 
 youth, homeless youth, or youth at risk of separation 
 from the family;
 ``
        (B) shall include--
 ``
            (i) safe and appropriate shelter for not 
 more than 30 days or the maximum allowed by the 
 State, whichever is greater;
 ``
            (ii) individual, family, or group 
 counseling, as appropriate, including 
 counseling for individuals identified by such 
 youth as family, that considers the age, 
 gender, and social and developmental needs of 
 such youth, and is culturally and 
 linguistically appropriate; and
 ``
            (iii) suicide prevention services; and
 ``
            (C) may include--
 ``
            (i) street-based services;
 ``
            (ii) home-based services for families 
 with youth at risk of separation from the 
 family, to the extent practicable, that 
 consider the ages, genders, and social and 
 developmental needs of the family, and are 
 culturally and linguistically appropriate;
 ``
            (iii) prevention services;
 ``
            (iv) substance use disorder education and 
 prevention services;
 ``
            (v) at the request of runaway youth or 
 homeless youth, testing for sexually 
 transmitted infections;
 ``
            (vi) trauma-informed services, including 
 for such youth who are victims of trafficking; 
 and
 ``
            (vii) an assessment of--
 ``
            (I) family engagement in support 
 and reunification, if reunification is 
 appropriate;
 ``
            (II) interventions; and
 ``
            (III) services for parents or 
 legal guardians of such youth or, if 
 appropriate, individuals identified by 
 such youth as family.'';

    (2) in 

section 312--
        (A) in subsection

    (b) --
            (i) by striking paragraph

    (2) and inserting 
 the following:
 ``

    (2) shall use such assistance to establish, strengthen, 
 or fund a runaway and homeless youth center that provides 
 temporary shelter or a locally controlled project, including a 
 host family home, that has--
 ``
        (A) a minimum capacity of not less than 4 youth, 
 except if there is an established minimum number of 
 beds per youth shelter or project location;
 ``
        (B) a maximum capacity of not more than 20 youth, 
 except where the applicant demonstrates that the State 
 where the center or locally controlled project is 
 located has a State or local law or regulation that 
 allows a higher maximum to comply with licensure 
 requirements for child and youth serving centers or 
 projects;
 ``
            (C) a ratio of staff to youth that is sufficient 
 to ensure adequate supervision and treatment; and
 ``
            (D) if it is a mixed project, not more than 20 
 youth per project, except where the applicant 
 demonstrates that the project has a State or local law 
 or regulation that allows a higher maximum to comply 
 with licensure requirements for child and youth serving 
 projects;'';
            (ii) in paragraph

    (5) , by striking ``or 
 legal guardians'' and inserting ``, legal 
 guardians, or individuals identified by such 
 youth as family, if appropriate,'';
            (iii) by striking paragraphs

    (6) ,

    (7) , and

    (8) , and inserting the following:
 ``

    (6) shall develop an adequate plan, which may include the 
 use of online resources to reach and engage youth, for 
 establishing or coordinating with outreach programs designed to 
 attract persons, including persons who are members of 
 underserved populations, who are eligible to receive services 
 for which a grant under 

section 311

    (a) may be expended;
 ``

    (7) shall keep adequate statistical records profiling the 
 runaway youth or homeless youth and family members of such 
 youth whom the applicant serves, including demographic 
 information and the number of such youth who--
 ``
        (A) are not referred to out-of-home shelter 
 services;
 ``
        (B) are members of vulnerable or underserved 
 populations;
 ``
            (C) are victims of trafficking;
 ``
            (D) are pregnant or parenting;
 ``
        (E) have been involved in the child welfare 
 system; and
 ``
        (F) have been involved in the juvenile justice 
 system;
 ``

    (8) shall ensure that--
 ``
        (A) the information maintained on individual 
 runaway youth or homeless youth contained in the 
 records described in paragraph

    (7) shall not be 
 disclosed without the consent of the individual youth 
 and the parent of the youth, the legal guardian of the 
 youth, or an individual identified by such youth as 
 family, to anyone other than an agency compiling 
 statistical records or a government agency involved in 
 the disposition of criminal charges against such youth; 
 and
 ``
        (B) reports or other documents based on the 
 statistics described in paragraph

    (7) shall not 
 disclose the identity of any individual runaway youth 
 or homeless youth;'';
            (iv) in paragraph

    (12) , by striking 
 subparagraphs
        (B) and
            (C) and inserting the 
 following:
 ``
        (B) detailed information on how the applicant has 
 been able to meet the goals of the plan of the 
 applicant; and
 ``
            (C) statistical summaries describing--
 ``
            (i) the data the Secretary requires to be 
 collected;
 ``
            (ii) the number and characteristics of 
 runaway youth, homeless youth, street youth, 
 and youth at risk of separation from the 
 family, who participate in the project, 
 including information on such youth who--
 ``
            (I) are victims of trafficking;
 ``
            (II) are pregnant or parenting;
 ``
            (III) have been involved in the 
 child welfare system; or
 ``
            (IV) have been involved with the 
 criminal justice system; and
 ``
            (iii) the services provided to such youth 
 by the project;'';
            (v) in paragraph

    (13) , by striking the 
 period at the end and inserting ``for natural 
 disasters, inclement weather, and public health 
 emergencies;''; and
            (vi) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (14) shall provide services to runaway youth and homeless 
 youth that consider the age, gender, and social and 
 developmental needs of such youth, and are culturally and 
 linguistically appropriate, to the extent practicable; and
 ``

    (15) shall inform youth of their status as independent 
 students under 

section 480 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv), provide verification of such status for the 
 purposes of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid 
 described in 

section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
 (20 U.S.C. 1090), and assist youth in completing this 
 application at the request of the youth.'';
        (B) in subsection
            (c) --
            (i) in paragraph

    (3) , by striking ``and'' 
 after the semicolon;
            (ii) in paragraph

    (4) , by striking the 
 period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (iii) by adding at end the following:
 ``

    (5) develop a plan, consistent with local needs, for the 
 use of online resources, if appropriate, to reach and engage 
 youth.'';
            (C) in subsection
            (d) --
            (i) by striking paragraph

    (1) and inserting 
 the following:
 ``

    (1) provide counseling and information that consider the 
 age, gender, and social and developmental needs of such youth, 
 and are culturally and linguistically appropriate, to the 
 extent practicable, to youth and the families of such youth 
 (including unrelated individuals in the family households of 
 such youth and individuals identified by such youth as family), 
 including services relating to basic life skills, interpersonal 
 skill building, educational advancement, job attainment skills, 
 mental and physical health care, suicide prevention, parenting 
 skills, financial planning, and referral to sources of other 
 needed services;'';
            (ii) in paragraph

    (4) , by inserting ``, 
 including training on trauma-informed care'' 
 before the semicolon at the end; and
            (iii) in paragraph

    (5) --
            (I) in subparagraph
        (A) , by 
 striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
            (II) in subparagraph
        (B) , by 
 striking the period at the end and 
 inserting ``; and''; and
            (III) by adding at the end the 
 following:
 ``
            (C) youth are eligible for home-based services 
 when determined by the applicant to be at risk of 
 separation from family.'';
            (D) in subsection

    (e) , by striking the subsection 
 enumerator and all that follows through ``

    (b) --'' and 
 inserting the following:
 ``

    (e) Applicants Providing Substance Use Disorder Education and 
Prevention Services.--To be eligible to use assistance under 

section 311

    (a) to provide substance use disorder education and prevention 
services, an applicant shall include in the plan required by subsection

    (b) --''; and
        (E) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (f) Online Resources for Outreach.--An applicant may develop a 
plan, consistent with local needs, for the use of online resources to 
reach and engage youth.
 ``

    (g) Definition of Underserved Populations.--In this section, the 
term `underserved populations' means victims of homelessness or 
trafficking or runaway youth, who disproportionately face barriers in 
accessing and using victim services, including populations who are 
underserved due to limited English proficiency or are historically 
marginalized and underserved communities of color, and any other 
population determined to be underserved by the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services.''; and

    (3) in 

section 313, by striking subsection

    (b) and 
 inserting the following:
 ``

    (b) Priority.--In selecting applications for grants under 

section 311

    (a) , the Secretary shall give priority to eligible applicants who 
have demonstrated experience in providing services to runaway youth and 
homeless youth.''.

SEC. 4. TRANSITIONAL LIVING GRANT PROGRAM.

 Part B of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11221 et 
seq.) is amended--

    (1) in 

section 321--
        (A) by inserting ``5-year'' after ``to make''; and
        (B) by inserting ``and runaway youth. The Secretary 
 shall award such grants not later than 90 days before 
 the start date of the grant and establish an appeal 
 process for grantees'' after ``homeless youth''; and

    (2) in 

section 322--
        (A) in subsection

    (a) --
            (i) by striking paragraph

    (1) and inserting 
 the following:
 ``

    (1) to provide to homeless youth, by grant, agreement, or 
 contract--
 ``
        (A) shelter, such as group homes, maternity group 
 homes, host family homes, and supervised apartments; 
 and
 ``
        (B) services, such as information and counseling 
 services in basic life skills, which consider the age, 
 gender, and social and developmental needs of such 
 youth, and are culturally and linguistically 
 appropriate, including topics on money management, 
 budgeting, consumer education, use of credit, parenting 
 skills, interpersonal skill building, educational 
 advancement, job attainment skills, mental and physical 
 health care, and suicide prevention services;'';
            (ii) in paragraph

    (2) , by inserting ``and 
 runaway'' after ``to provide such shelter and 
 such services to individual homeless'';
            (iii) by striking paragraph

    (4) and 
 inserting the following:
 ``

    (4) that such shelter project used to carry out such 
 project shall--
 ``
        (A) have a minimum project capacity of not fewer 
 than 4 youth, except if there is an established minimum 
 number of beds per individual shelter or project 
 location;
 ``
        (B) have the capacity to accommodate not more 
 than 20 individuals, excluding staff, within a single 
 project, except where the applicant demonstrates that 
 the State where the project is located has a State or 
 local law or regulation that allows a higher maximum to 
 comply with licensure requirements for child and youth 
 serving projects; and
 ``
            (C) if it is a mixed project, limit runaway and 
 homeless youth shelter beds to 20 youth per project 
 with segregated access and programming, except where 
 the applicant demonstrates that the State where the 
 project is located has a State or local law or 
 regulation that allows a higher maximum to comply with 
 licensure requirements for child and youth serving 
 projects;'';
            (iv) by striking paragraphs

    (6) ,

    (7) ,

    (8) , 
 and

    (9) , and inserting the following:
 ``

    (6) to develop a written transitional living plan in 
 partnership with each youth based on an assessment of the needs 
 of each youth, designed to help the transition from supervised 
 participation in such project to independent living or another 
 appropriate living arrangement;
 ``

    (7) to develop an adequate plan to ensure proper 
 coordination, integration, and referral of homeless youth and 
 runaway youth, which considers the age, gender, and social and 
 developmental needs of such youth, and are culturally and 
 linguistically appropriate, to the extent practicable, to--
 ``
        (A) social service;
 ``
        (B) law enforcement;
 ``
            (C) educational training, including postsecondary 
 education;
 ``
            (D) vocational training, including services and 
 programs for youth available under the Workforce 
 Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et 
 seq.);
 ``
        (E) welfare, including programs amended under the 
 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
 Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193);
 ``
        (F) legal service;
 ``
        (G) mental health service and health care 
 programs;
 ``
        (H) substance use disorder treatment; and
 ``
            (I) programs providing wrap-around services to 
 victims of trafficking and gender-based violence;
 ``

    (8) to provide for the establishment of outreach programs 
 designed to attract individuals who are eligible to participate 
 in the project, which may include the use of online and social 
 media engagements;
 ``

    (9) to submit to the Secretary an annual report that 
 includes information regarding the activities carried out with 
 funds under this part, the achievements of the project under 
 this part carried out by the applicant and statistical 
 summaries describing the number, characteristics, and 
 demographic information of the homeless youth and runaway youth 
 who participate in such project, including the prevalence of 
 trafficking of such youth, and the services provided to such 
 youth by such project, in the year for which the report is 
 submitted;'';
            (v) in paragraph

    (15) , by striking ``and'' 
 after the semicolon;
            (vi) by striking paragraph

    (16) and 
 inserting the following:
 ``

    (16) to develop an adequate emergency preparedness and 
 management plan regarding responses to natural disasters, 
 inclement weather, and mental health emergencies; and'';
            (vii) by redesignating paragraphs

    (3) through

    (5) and

    (6) through

    (16) , as paragraphs

    (5) through

    (7) and

    (9) through

    (19) , 
 respectively;
            (viii) by inserting after paragraph

    (2) the 
 following:
 ``

    (3) to provide counseling to homeless and runaway youth 
 and to encourage, if appropriate, the involvement in such 
 counseling of their parents, legal guardians, or individuals 
 identified by such youth as family;
 ``

    (4) to provide aftercare services, if possible, to 
 homeless and runaway youth who have received shelter and 
 services from a transitional living youth project, including, 
 to the extent practicable, such youth who, after receiving such 
 shelter and services, relocate to a geographic area or State 
 other than the geographic area or State in which such project 
 is located;'';
            (ix) by inserting after paragraph

    (7) , as 
 redesignated by clause
            (vii) , the following:
 ``

    (8) to develop a plan to provide services, which consider 
 the age, gender, and social and developmental needs of such 
 youth, and are culturally and linguistically appropriate, that 
 address the needs of runaway, homeless, and street youth;'';
            (x) by adding at end the following:
 ``

    (20) to inform youth of their status as independent 
 students under 

section 480 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv), provide verification of such status for the 
 purposes of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid 
 described in 

section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
 (20 U.S.C. 1090), and assist the youth in completing this 
 application at the request of the youth.'';
        (B) by striking subsection

    (b) and inserting the 
 following:
 ``

    (b) Priority.--In selecting eligible applicants to receive grants 
under this part, the Secretary shall give priority to entities that 
have experience in providing to homeless youth shelter and services of 
the types described in subsection

    (a)

    (1) .''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (d) Priority for Homeless Youth Less Than 22 Years of Age.--An 
entity that receives a grant under this part--
 ``

    (1) shall, in carrying out activities under the grant, 
 prioritize service to homeless youth who are less than 22 years 
 of age, but not less than 15 years of age; and
 ``

    (2) may use grant funds to serve homeless youth who are 
 ages 22 to less than 26.''.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM.

 

Section 331 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 
11231) is amended by inserting ``, online, and social media'' after 
``telephone''.

SEC. 6. COORDINATING, TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

 Part D of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11241 et 
seq.) is amended--

    (1) in 

section 341--
        (A) by inserting ``safety, well-being,'' after 
 ``health,''; and
        (B) in paragraph

    (2) by striking ``other Federal 
 entities'' and inserting ``the Department of Housing 
 and Urban Development, the Department of Education, the 
 Department of Labor, and the Department of Justice'';

    (2) in 

section 342--
        (A) by inserting ``5-year'' after ``make'';
        (B) by inserting ``(including onsite and web-based 
 techniques, such as on-demand and online learning)'' 
 after ``training''; and
            (C) by striking ``carrying out'' and inserting 
 ``implementing in a trauma-informed manner'';

    (3) in 

section 343

    (b) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (5) --
            (i) in subparagraph
        (A) , by striking 
 ``abuse'' and all that follows through the 
 semicolon at the end and inserting ``abuse, 
 sexual assault, and trafficking;'';
            (ii) in subparagraph
        (B) , by striking 
 ``abuse'' and all that follows through ``; 
 and'' and inserting ``abuse, sexual assault, 
 and trafficking;'';
            (iii) in subparagraph
            (C) , by striking 
 ``who have been sexually victimized''; and
            (iv) by adding at end the following:
 ``
            (D) best practices for identifying and providing 
 services that consider the age, gender, and social and 
 developmental background of an individual, and are 
 culturally and linguistically appropriate, to the 
 extent practicable, to--
 ``
            (i) vulnerable and underserved youth 
 populations; and
 ``
            (ii) youth who are victims of 
 trafficking; and
 ``
        (E) informing youth of their status as 
 independent students under 

section 480 of the Higher 
 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv), providing 
 verification of such status for the purposes of the 
 Free Application for Federal Student Aid described in 
 

section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
 U.S.C. 1090), and assisting youth in completing this 
 application at the request of the youth;'';
        (B) in paragraph

    (9) , by striking ``and'' after the 
 semicolon;
            (C) in paragraph

    (10) , by striking the period at 
 the end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (D) by adding at end the following:
 ``

    (11) examining the intersection between the runaway and 
 homeless youth populations and trafficking, including noting 
 whether such youth who are victims of trafficking were 
 previously involved in the child welfare system or juvenile 
 justice system.'';

    (4) in 

section 344

    (a)

    (2)
        (A) , by striking ``$100,000'' and 
 inserting ``$200,000'';

    (5) in 

section 345--
        (A) in subsection

    (a) --
            (i) by striking ``Not later than'' and all 
 that follows through ``Homelessness'' and 
 inserting ``Not later than 2 years after the 
 date of enactment of the Runaway and Homeless 
 Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025, 
 and at 3-year intervals thereafter, the 
 Secretary, acting through the Associate 
 Commissioner of the Family and Youth Services 
 Bureau'';
            (ii) in paragraph

    (1) --
            (I) by striking ``13'' and 
 inserting ``12''; and
            (II) by striking ``and'' after the 
 semicolon;
            (iii) in paragraph

    (2) , by striking the 
 period at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
 and
            (iv) by adding at end the following:
 ``

    (3) that includes demographic information of such 
 individuals, including youth who are victims of trafficking; 
 and
 ``

    (4) that does not disclose the identity of any such 
 individual.''; and
        (B) in subsection

    (b)

    (1) --
            (i) by striking ``13'' and inserting 
 ``12'';
            (ii) in subparagraph
        (A) , by striking 
 ``and'' after the semicolon;
            (iii) in subparagraph
        (B) --
            (I) in clause
            (ii) , by striking ``; 
 and'' and inserting ``, including 
 mental health services;'';
            (II) in clause
            (iii) , by striking 
 ``and'' after the semicolon; and
            (III) by adding at end the 
 following:
 ``
            (iv) connections to caring adults; and
 ``
            (v) access to secondary education, higher 
 education, and job training; and'';
            (iv) by redesignating subparagraph
        (B) as 
 subparagraph
        (E) ; and
            (v) by inserting after subparagraph
        (A) the 
 following:
 ``
        (B) incidences, if any, of such individuals who--
 ``
            (i) are victims of trafficking;
 ``
            (ii) are victims of sexual exploitation; 
 or
 ``
            (iii) were involved in the child welfare 
 or foster care system;
 ``
            (C) demographic characteristics, including race, 
 color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity 
 (as defined in 

section 249
            (c) of title 18, United 
 States Code), sexual orientation, and disability;
 ``
            (D) statistics on youth who are or were pregnant 
 or parenting; and''.

SEC. 7. SEXUAL ABUSE AND TRAFFICKING PREVENTION PROGRAM; STREET 
 OUTREACH PROGRAM.

 Part E of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11261 et 
seq.) is amended by striking 

section 351 and inserting the following:

``

SEC. 351. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.

 ``

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall make 5-year grants to public 
and nonprofit private entities, and combinations of such entities, for 
the purpose of providing street-based services to runaway, homeless, 
and street youth who have been subjected to, or are at risk of being 
subjected to, sexual abuse or trafficking. The Secretary shall award 
such grants not later than 90 days before the start date of the grant 
and establish an appeal process for grantees.
 ``

    (b) Priority.--In selecting applicants to receive grants under 
subsection

    (a) , the Secretary shall give priority to public and 
nonprofit private entities that have experience in providing services 
to runaway, homeless, and street youth.
 ``
            (c) Eligibility Requirements.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
under subsection

    (a) , an applicant shall certify to the Secretary that 
such applicant has expertise in serving runaway, homeless, and street 
youth and has systems in place to ensure that such applicant can 
provide services that consider the age, gender, and social and 
developmental background of youth described in subsection

    (a) , and are 
culturally and linguistically appropriate.''.

SEC. 8. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

 Part F of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11271 et 
seq.) is amended--

    (1) in the heading, by striking ``part f'' and inserting 
 ``part g'';

    (2) in 

section 381--
        (A) in subsection

    (a)

    (3) , by striking ``facility'' 
 and inserting ``center or project''; and
        (B) in subsection

    (b)

    (1) , by striking ``facility'' 
 both places it appears and inserting ``center or 
 project'';

    (3) in 

section 382

    (a) --
        (A) by striking ``2000'' and inserting ``2026'';
        (B) by striking ``the Workforce'' and inserting 
 ``Workforce'';
            (C) in paragraph

    (1) --
            (i) by redesignating subparagraphs
        (B) through
            (D) as subparagraphs
            (C) through
        (E) , 
 respectively; and
            (ii) by inserting after subparagraph
        (A) the following:
 ``
        (B) identifying youth who are victims of 
 trafficking;''; and
            (D) in paragraph

    (2) --
            (i) by striking subparagraph
        (A) and 
 inserting the following:
 ``
        (A) the number and characteristics of youth 
 served by such projects, including such youth who--
 ``
            (i) are victims of trafficking;
 ``
            (ii) are pregnant or parenting;
 ``
            (iii) have been involved in the child 
 welfare system; or
 ``
            (iv) have been involved in the juvenile 
 or adult criminal justice system, the 
 incarceration system, or legal proceedings 
 related to such systems;''; and
            (ii) by striking subparagraph
        (F) and 
 inserting the following:
 ``
        (F) the ability of such projects to encourage the 
 resolution of problems within the family, including 
 with individuals identified by such youth as family, 
 through counseling and development of self-sufficient 
 living skills; and'';

    (4) in 

section 383

    (a) by striking ``facility's budget'' and 
 inserting ``budget of the center or project'';

    (5) in 

section 384, by adding at the end the following: 
 ``Grantees are encouraged to share data with other programs and 
 systems, without identifying individual youth in any shared 
 records, to improve coordination and maximize the use of 
 resources.'';

    (6) by inserting after 

section 384 the following:

``

SEC. 384A. ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT.

 ``

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Associate 
Commissioner of the Family and Youth Services Bureau, may waive any 
provision under this title for a period of not more than 3 years, 
unless an extension is granted under subsection

    (f) , if--
 ``

    (1) a potential grantee requests a waiver that describes 
 1 or more conflicting or duplicative requirements or 
 circumstances that prevent the effective delivery of services 
 to runaway and homeless youth, such as an extraordinary 
 circumstance, natural disaster, public health emergency, or 
 financial crisis;
 ``

    (2) the Secretary determines that the waiver will, by 
 itself, contribute to or enhance the ability of the grantee to 
 carry out the purposes of this title; and
 ``

    (3) the Secretary determines that the waiver will not be 
 inconsistent with the objectives of this title.
 ``

    (b) Contents.--A request made under subsection

    (a) shall be 
provided to the Secretary in writing and shall--
 ``

    (1) detail each provision within this title for which the 
 grantee seeks relief;
 ``

    (2) describe how a waiver from such provision will, by 
 itself, improve delivery of services to runaway and homeless 
 youth; and
 ``

    (3) certify that the health, safety, and well-being of 
 runaway and homeless youth served through assistance received 
 under this title will not be compromised as a result of the 
 waiver.
 ``
            (c) Notification of Approval or Disapproval.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the receipt 
 of a waiver request made under subsection

    (a) , the Secretary 
 shall inform the grantee of approval or disapproval of the 
 request.
 ``

    (2) Disapproval.--If the request is disapproved, the 
 Secretary shall inform the grantee, the Committee on the 
 Judiciary of the Senate, and the Committee on Education and 
 Workforce of the House of Representatives of the reasons for 
 the disapproval and give the grantee the opportunity to amend 
 the request or appeal the decision.
 ``

    (3) Approval.--If the request is approved, the Secretary 
 shall grant a waiver and, not later than 30 days after granting 
 such waiver, notify and submit a report to the Committee on the 
 Judiciary of the Senate, and the Committee on Education and 
 Workforce of the House of Representatives that describes--
 ``
        (A) each specific provision waived;
 ``
        (B) the reason given by the grantee for the need 
 for a waiver; and
 ``
            (C) the expected impact of the waiver on youth 
 served under this program.
 ``
            (d) External Conditions.--The Secretary shall not require or 
impose any new or additional requirements in exchange for receipt of a 
waiver if such requirements are not specified in this title.
 ``

    (e) Termination.--The Secretary shall terminate approval of a 
request for a waiver authorized under this section if the Secretary 
determines, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, that the 
performance of a grantee who was granted relief under this section has 
been inadequate, or if such relief is no longer necessary to achieve 
its original purposes.
 ``

    (f) Waiver Extension.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Secretary may grant an extension to 
 an existing waiver authorized under this section for a period 
 of not more than 1 year upon a request for a waiver extension 
 from the grantee.
 ``

    (2) Extension request.--A request for a waiver extension 
 described under paragraph

    (1) shall be submitted to the 
 Secretary not later than 30 days before the expiration date of 
 the existing waiver, and shall re-certify the provisions in 
 subsection

    (b) and explain the need for additional time of 
 relief from such provisions provided in this title.
 ``

    (g) Restrictions.--Nothing in this title shall be construed as 
authorizing the Secretary to permit a grantee to alter the eligibility 
requirements for eligible youth. Nothing in this section shall be 
construed as authorizing the Secretary to waive anything related to the 
Secretary's authority under this title.'';

    (7) in 

section 386

    (a) --
        (A) by striking ``3 consecutive'' and inserting ``5 
 consecutive'' both places it appears;
        (B) by inserting ``, acting through the Associate 
 Commissioner of the Family and Youth Services Bureau,'' 
 after ``Secretary''; and
            (C) by inserting `` or virtually when 
 appropriate,'' after ``on-site,'';

    (8) in 

section 386A--
        (A) in subsection

    (a) --
            (i) by striking ``Reconnecting Homeless 
 Youth Act of 2008'' and inserting ``Runaway and 
 Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act 
 of 2025''; and
            (ii) by inserting ``371,'' after 
 ``sections''; and
        (B) in subsection
            (c) , by inserting ``371,'' after 
 ``sections'';

    (9) by inserting after 

section 386A the following:

``

SEC. 386B. NONDISCRIMINATION.

 ``

    (a) In General.--No person in the United States shall be excluded 
from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to 
discrimination under this title on the basis of actual or perceived 
race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity (as 
defined in 

section 249
            (c) of title 18, United States Code), sexual 
orientation, or disability.
 ``

    (b) Exception.--If sex-segregation or sex-specific programming is 
necessary to the essential operation of a program, nothing in this 
section shall prevent any such program or activity from considering the 
sex of an individual. In such circumstances, grantees may meet the 
requirements of this section by providing comparable services to 
individuals who cannot participate in the sex-segregated or sex-
specific programming.
 ``
            (c) Disqualification.--The Secretary shall enforce this section 
pursuant to 

section 654 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9849). The 
provisions of such section relating to the procedure for review of an 
action taken by the Secretary shall apply.
 ``
            (d) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed as 
supplanting, displacing, preempting, or otherwise limiting the 
responsibilities and liabilities under other Federal or State civil 
rights laws with respect to discrimination on a basis described in 
subsection

    (a) .'';

    (10) in 

section 387--
        (A) by redesignating paragraphs

    (1) ,

    (4) ,

    (5) ,

    (6) ,

    (7) , and

    (8) , as paragraphs

    (9) ,

    (6) ,

    (7) ,

    (8) ,

    (11) , 
 and

    (13) , respectively;
        (B) by inserting before paragraph

    (2) the 
 following:
 ``

    (1) Culturally and linguistically appropriate.--The term 
 `culturally and linguistically appropriate', with respect to 
 services, has the meaning given the term `culturally and 
 linguistically appropriate services' in the `National Standards 
 for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in 
 Health and Health Care', issued in April 2013, by the Office of 
 Minority Health of the Department of Health and Human 
 Services.'';
            (C) in paragraph

    (3)
        (A) --
            (i) in clause
            (i) , by striking ``21'' and 
 inserting ``26''; and
            (ii) by striking clause
            (ii) and inserting 
 the following:
 ``
            (ii) for the purposes of part B, not less 
 than 15 years of age but less than 26 years of 
 age, subject to 

section 322
            (d) ;'';
            (D) by inserting after paragraph

    (3) the following:
 ``

    (4) Mixed projects.--The term `mixed projects' means a 
 building, structure, or campus that may house multiple programs 
 serving youth under the age of 26. Any of these programs may be 
 funded as authorized under this Act as well as funded by other 
 entities, including private, public, and other government 
 funding.
 ``

    (5) Prevention services.--The term `prevention services' 
 means services to prevent youth from becoming runaway, 
 homeless, or street youth and may include--
 ``
        (A) individual, family, group, and peer 
 counseling;
 ``
        (B) family mediation;
 ``
            (C) assessing the strengths, vulnerabilities, and 
 needs of youth;
 ``
            (D) connecting youth to public services and 
 housing options;
 ``
        (E) emergency respite care for clients within the 
 allowable age range of the underlying grant award, 
 including care that provides parents and other 
 caregivers with emergency services and temporary 
 shelter that offer relief;
 ``
        (F) connecting youth to education and employment 
 programs;
 ``
        (G) case management and resource navigation; and
 ``
        (H) activities to improve access to local mental 
 health and substance use treatment and prevention.'';
        (E) in paragraph

    (7)
        (B) , as redesignated by 
 subparagraph
        (A) --
            (i) in clause
            (i) , by inserting ``, 
 including the use of online methods of 
 engagement, as appropriate, based on the needs 
 of the community and population served'' after 
 ``street youth''; and
            (ii) by striking clause
            (v) and inserting 
 the following:
 ``
            (v) advocacy, education, and prevention 
 services related to--
 ``
            (I) substance use disorder;
 ``
            (II) trafficking;
 ``
            (III) sexually transmitted 
 infections, including human 
 immunodeficiency virus;
 ``
            (IV) violence, including physical 
 assault, sexual assault, domestic 
 violence, and gender-based violence; 
 and
 ``
            (V) suicide.'';
        (F) in paragraph

    (8)
        (B) , as redesignated by 
 subparagraph
        (A) , by striking ``prostitution, or drug 
 abuse'' and inserting ``trafficking, or substance use 
 disorder'';
        (G) in paragraph

    (9) , as redesignated by 
 subparagraph
        (A) , by striking the paragraph

    (9) enumerator and all that follows through ``services'--
 '', and inserting the following:
 ``

    (9) Substance use disorder education and prevention 
 services.--The term `substance use disorder education and 
 prevention services'--'';
        (H) by inserting after paragraph

    (9) , as 
 redesignated by subparagraph
        (A) , the following:
 ``

    (10) Trafficking.--The term `trafficking' has the meaning 
 given the terms `severe forms of trafficking in persons' and 
 `sex trafficking' in 

section 103 of the Trafficking Victims 
 Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102).'';
            (I) in paragraph

    (11) , as redesignated by 
 subparagraph
        (A) , by inserting ``, to establish family 
 or community supports,'' after ``self-sufficient 
 living'';
        (J) by inserting after paragraph

    (11) , as 
 redesignated by subparagraph
        (A) , the following:
 ``

    (12) Trauma-informed.--The term `trauma-informed' has the 
 meaning given the term in 

section 103 of the Juvenile Justice 
 and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (34 U.S.C. 11103).''; 
 and
        (K) in paragraph

    (13)
        (B) , as redesignated by 
 subparagraph
        (A) --
            (i) in clause
            (ii) --
            (I) by inserting ``or able'' after 
 ``willing''; and
            (II) by striking ``or'' after the 
 semicolon;
            (ii) in clause
            (iii) , by striking the 
 period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
            (iii) by adding at end the following:
 ``
            (iv) who is involved in the child welfare 
 system, juvenile justice system, or criminal 
 justice system, but who is not being housed by 
 any such system.''.

SEC. 9. PREVENTION SERVICES.

 The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11201 et seq.) is 
amended by inserting after part E the following:

 ``PART F--PREVENTION SERVICES

``

SEC. 371. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.

 ``

    (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to make 5-year 
grants to an eligible entity, as described under subsection
            (c) , that 
applies for an optional, additional prevention services grant. Any 
funds provided under this part are in addition to other funds grantees 
receive under other parts in this title.
 ``

    (b) Priority.--In selecting grantees to receive grants under 
subsection

    (a) , the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities 
that are--
 ``

    (1) public entities and nonprofit, private entities that 
 have experience in providing services to runaway, homeless, and 
 street youth, and youth at risk of separation from the family; 
 and
 ``

    (2) public entities and nonprofit, private entities that 
 request prevention services grants of not more than $75,000 per 
 year.
 ``
            (c) Eligibility Requirements.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
under subsection

    (a) --
 ``

    (1) the potential grantee shall--
 ``
        (A) be a successful basic center program or 
 transitional living program, which may include a 
 program that operates a maternity group home, that 
 wants to establish, strengthen, or provide prevention 
 services for youth at risk of homelessness and youth at 
 risk of running away; and
 ``
        (B) submit to the Secretary a plan agreeing, as 
 part of such program, to provide prevention services; 
 and
 ``

    (2) the potential grantee shall certify to the Secretary 
 that such grantee has systems in place to provide services to 
 youth described in subsection

    (a) that consider the age, 
 gender, and social and developmental background of such youth, 
 and are culturally and linguistically appropriate.''.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

 

Section 388

    (a) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 
11280

    (a) ) is amended to read as follows:
 ``

    (a) In General.--
 ``

    (1) Authorization.--There are authorized to be 
 appropriated to carry out this title (other than parts E and F) 
 $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, and such sums as may be 
 necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030.
 ``

    (2) Allocation.--
 ``
        (A) Parts a and b.--From the amount appropriated 
 under paragraph

    (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary 
 shall reserve not less than 90 percent to carry out 
 parts A and B.
 ``
        (B) Part b.--Of the amount reserved under 
 subparagraph
        (A) , 45 percent and, in those fiscal years 
 in which continuation grant obligations and the quality 
 and number of applicants for parts A and B warrant not 
 more than 55 percent, shall be reserved to carry out 
 part B.
 ``

    (3) Parts c and d.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--In each fiscal year, after 
 reserving the amounts required by paragraph

    (2) , the 
 Secretary shall use the remaining amount (if any) to 
 carry out parts C and D (other than 

section 345).
 ``
        (B) Periodic estimate.--Of the amount authorized 
 to be appropriated under paragraph

    (1) , $2,000,000 
 shall be made available to carry out 

section 345 for 
 each of fiscal years 2025, 2028, and 2030.
 ``

    (4) Part e.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
 carry out part E $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, and such 
 sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 
 2030.
 ``

    (5) Part f.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
 carry out part F $67,500,000 for fiscal year 2026, and such 
 sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 
 2030.''.

SEC. 11. APPROVAL OF APPLICATION.

 The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11201 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at end the following:

``

SEC. 390. APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS.

 ``

    (a) In General.--An application by a public or private nonprofit 
entity for a grant under 

section 311, 321, or 351, may be approved by 
the Secretary for an amount for a fiscal year that is--
 ``

    (1) not less than $225,000 and not more than $275,000 if 
 the amount appropriated to carry out this title (other than 
 parts E and F) for the fiscal year is equal to or greater than 
 $200,000,000; or
 ``

    (2) not less than $200,000 and not more than $250,000 if 
 the amount appropriated to carry out this title (other than 
 parts E and F) for the fiscal year is less than $200,000,000.
 ``

    (b) Priority.--In selecting applications for grants under 
sections 311, 321, and 351, the Secretary shall give priority to 
eligible grantees who have demonstrated experience in providing 
services to runaway and homeless youth.''.
 <all>