[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 249 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.249
One Hundred Sixth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the sixth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine
An Act
To provide funding for the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children, 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,

404468a0473770bcc3f5ea652da13b75c783c44f578d2ae4889a902bea62b959

This Act may be cited as the ``Missing, Exploited, and Runaway
Children Protection Act''.

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(a) Findings.--Section 402 of the Missing Children's Assistance Act
(42 U.S.C. 5771) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) for 14 years, the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children has--
``(A) served as the national resource center and
clearinghouse congressionally mandated under the provisions of
the Missing Children's Assistance Act of 1984; and
``(B) worked in partnership with the Department of Justice,
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of the
Treasury, the Department of State, and many other agencies in
the effort to find missing children and prevent child
victimization;
``(10) Congress has given the Center, which is a private
nonprofit corporation, access to the National Crime Information
Center of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Law
Enforcement Telecommunications System;
``(11) since 1987, the Center has operated the National Child
Pornography Tipline, in conjunction with the United States Customs
Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service and,
beginning this year, the Center established a new CyberTipline on
child exploitation, thus becoming `the 911 for the Internet';
``(12) in light of statistics that time is of the essence in
cases of child abduction, the Director of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation in February of 1997 created a new NCIC child
abduction (`CA') flag to provide the Center immediate notification
in the most serious cases, resulting in 642 `CA' notifications to
the Center and helping the Center to have its highest recovery rate
in history;
``(13) the Center has established a national and increasingly
worldwide network, linking the Center online with each of the
missing children clearinghouses operated by the 50 States, the
District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, as well as with Scotland
Yard in the United Kingdom, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,
INTERPOL headquarters in Lyon, France, and others, which has
enabled the Center to transmit images and information regarding
missing children to law enforcement across the United States and
around the world instantly;
``(14) from its inception in 1984 through March 31, 1998, the
Center has--
``(A) handled 1,203,974 calls through its 24-hour toll-free
hotline (1-800-THE-LOST) and currently averages 700 calls per
day;
``(B) trained 146,284 law enforcement, criminal and
juvenile justice, and healthcare professionals in child sexual
exploitation and missing child case detection, identification,
investigation, and prevention;
``(C) disseminated 15,491,344 free publications to citizens
and professionals; and
``(D) worked with law enforcement on the cases of 59,481
missing children, resulting in the recovery of 40,180 children;
``(15) the demand for the services of the Center is growing
dramatically, as evidenced by the fact that in 1997, the Center
handled 129,100 calls, an all-time record, and by the fact that its
new Internet website (www.missingkids.com) receives 1,500,000
`hits' every day, and is linked with hundreds of other websites to
provide real-time images of breaking cases of missing children;
``(16) in 1997, the Center provided policy training to 256
police chiefs and sheriffs from 50 States and Guam at its new Jimmy
Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center;
``(17) the programs of the Center have had a remarkable impact,
such as in the fight against infant abductions in partnership with
the healthcare industry, during which the Center has performed 668
onsite hospital walk-throughs and inspections, and trained 45,065
hospital administrators, nurses, and security personnel, and
thereby helped to reduce infant abductions in the United States by
82 percent;
``(18) the Center is now playing a significant role in
international child abduction cases, serving as a representative of
the Department of State at cases under The Hague Convention, and
successfully resolving the cases of 343 international child
abductions, and providing greater support to parents in the United
States;
``(19) the Center is a model of public/private partnership,
raising private sector funds to match congressional appropriations
and receiving extensive private in-kind support, including advanced
technology provided by the computer industry such as imaging
technology used to age the photographs of long-term missing
children and to reconstruct facial images of unidentified deceased
children;
``(20) the Center was 1 of only 10 of 300 major national
charities given an A+ grade in 1997 by the American Institute of
Philanthropy; and
``(21) the Center has been redesignated as the Nation's missing
children clearinghouse and resource center once every 3 years
through a competitive selection process conducted by the Office of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of
Justice, and has received grants from that Office to conduct the
crucial purposes of the Center.''.
(b) Definitions.--Section 403 of the Missing Children's Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 5772) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) the term `Center' means the National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children.''.
(c) Duties and Functions of the Administrator.--Section 404 of the
Missing Children's Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5773) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Annual Grant to National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall annually make a
grant to the Center, which shall be used to--
``(A)(i) operate a national 24-hour toll-free telephone
line by which individuals may report information regarding the
location of any missing child, or other child 13 years of age
or younger whose whereabouts are unknown to such child's legal
custodian, and request information pertaining to procedures
necessary to reunite such child with such child's legal
custodian; and
``(ii) coordinate the operation of such telephone line with
the operation of the national communications system referred to
in part C of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C.
5714-11);
``(B) operate the official national resource center and
information clearinghouse for missing and exploited children;
``(C) provide to State and local governments, public and
private nonprofit agencies, and individuals, information
regarding--
``(i) free or low-cost legal, restaurant, lodging, and
transportation services that are available for the benefit
of missing and exploited children and their families; and
``(ii) the existence and nature of programs being
carried out by Federal agencies to assist missing and
exploited children and their families;
``(D) coordinate public and private programs that locate,
recover, or reunite missing children with their families;
``(E) disseminate, on a national basis, information
relating to innovative and model programs, services, and
legislation that benefit missing and exploited children;
``(F) provide technical assistance and training to law
enforcement agencies, State and local governments, elements of
the criminal justice system, public and private nonprofit
agencies, and individuals in the prevention, investigation,
prosecution, and treatment of cases involving missing and
exploited children; and
``(G) provide assistance to families and law enforcement
agencies in locating and recovering missing and exploited
children, both nationally and internationally.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this subsection,
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.
``(c) National Incidence Studies.--The Administrator, either by
making grants to or entering into contracts with public agencies or
nonprofit private agencies, shall--
``(1) periodically conduct national incidence studies to
determine for a given year the actual number of children reported
missing each year, the number of children who are victims of
abduction by strangers, the number of children who are the victims
of parental kidnapings, and the number of children who are
recovered each year; and
``(2) provide to State and local governments, public and
private nonprofit agencies, and individuals information to
facilitate the lawful use of school records and birth certificates
to identify and locate missing children.''.
(d) National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.--Section
405(a) of the Missing Children's Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5775(a)) is
amended by inserting ``the Center and with'' before ``public
agencies''.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 408 of the Missing
Children's Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5777) is amended by striking
``1997 through 2001'' and inserting ``2000 through 2003''.

e378c090f42e6b15744f6f116e6212e7a4da34cdb79ccfd188a98ad1f161b8ad

(a) Findings.--Section 302 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
(42 U.S.C. 5701) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``accurate reporting of the
problem nationally and to develop'' and inserting ``an accurate
national reporting system to report the problem, and to assist in
the development of''; and
(2) by striking paragraph (8) and inserting the following:
``(8) services for runaway and homeless youth are needed in
urban, suburban, and rural areas;''.
(b) Authority To Make Grants for Centers and Services.--Section 311
of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5711) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) Grants for Centers and Services.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make grants to public
and nonprofit private entities (and combinations of such entities)
to establish and operate (including renovation) local centers to
provide services for runaway and homeless youth and for the
families of such youth.
``(2) Services provided.--Services provided under paragraph
(1)--
``(A) shall be provided as an alternative to involving
runaway and homeless youth in the law enforcement, child
welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice systems;
``(B) shall include--
``(i) safe and appropriate shelter; and
``(ii) individual, family, and group counseling, as
appropriate; and
``(C) may include--
``(i) street-based services;
``(ii) home-based services for families with youth at
risk of separation from the family; and
``(iii) drug abuse education and prevention
services.'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``the Trust Territory of
the Pacific Islands,''; and
(3) by striking subsections (c) and (d).
(c) Eligibility.--Section 312 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
(42 U.S.C. 5712) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (8), by striking ``paragraph (6)'' and
inserting ``paragraph (7)'';
(B) in paragraph (10), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(C) in paragraph (11), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(12) shall submit to the Secretary an annual report that
includes, with respect to the year for which the report is
submitted--
``(A) information regarding the activities carried out
under this part;
``(B) the achievements of the project under this part
carried out by the applicant; and
``(C) statistical summaries describing--
``(i) the number and the characteristics of the runaway
and homeless youth, and youth at risk of family separation,
who participate in the project; and
``(ii) the services provided to such youth by the
project.''; and
(2) by striking subsections (c) and (d) and inserting the
following:
``(c) Applicants Providing Street-Based Services.--To be eligible
to use assistance under section 311(a)(2)(C)(i) to provide street-based
services, the applicant shall include in the plan required by
subsection (b) assurances that in providing such services the applicant
will--
``(1) provide qualified supervision of staff, including on-
street supervision by appropriately trained staff;
``(2) provide backup personnel for on-street staff;
``(3) provide initial and periodic training of staff who
provide such services; and
``(4) conduct outreach activities for runaway and homeless
youth, and street youth.
``(d) Applicants Providing Home-Based Services.--To be eligible to
use assistance under section 311(a) to provide home-based services
described in section 311(a)(2)(C)(ii), an applicant shall include in
the plan required by subsection (b) assurances that in providing such
services the applicant will--
``(1) provide counseling and information to youth and the
families (including unrelated individuals in the family households)
of such youth, including services relating to basic life skills,
interpersonal skill building, educational advancement, job
attainment skills, mental and physical health care, parenting
skills, financial planning, and referral to sources of other needed
services;
``(2) provide directly, or through an arrangement made by the
applicant, 24-hour service to respond to family crises (including
immediate access to temporary shelter for runaway and homeless
youth, and youth at risk of separation from the family);
``(3) establish, in partnership with the families of runaway
and homeless youth, and youth at risk of separation from the
family, objectives and measures of success to be achieved as a
result of receiving home-based services;
``(4) provide initial and periodic training of staff who
provide home-based services; and
``(5) ensure that--
``(A) caseloads will remain sufficiently low to allow for
intensive (5 to 20 hours per week) involvement with each family
receiving such services; and
``(B) staff providing such services will receive qualified
supervision.
``(e) Applicants Providing Drug Abuse Education and Prevention
Services.--To be eligible to use assistance under section
311(a)(2)(C)(iii) to provide drug abuse education and prevention
services, an applicant shall include in the plan required by subsection
(b)--
``(1) a description of--
``(A) the types of such services that the applicant
proposes to provide;
``(B) the objectives of such services; and
``(C) the types of information and training to be provided
to individuals providing such services to runaway and homeless
youth; and
``(2) an assurance that in providing such services the
applicant shall conduct outreach activities for runaway and
homeless youth.''.
(d) Approval of Applications.--Section 313 of the Runaway and
Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5713) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 313. APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS.
``(a) In General.--An application by a public or private entity for
a grant under section 311(a) may be approved by the Secretary after
taking into consideration, with respect to the State in which such
entity proposes to provide services under this part--
``(1) the geographical distribution in such State of the
proposed services under this part for which all grant applicants
request approval; and
``(2) which areas of such State have the greatest need for such
services.
``(b) Priority.--In selecting applications for grants under section
311(a), the Secretary shall give priority to--
``(1) eligible applicants who have demonstrated experience in
providing services to runaway and homeless youth; and
``(2) eligible applicants that request grants of less than
$200,000.''.
(e) Authority for Transitional Living Grant Program.--Section 321
of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-1) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``purpose and'';
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ``(a)''; and
(3) by striking subsection (b).
(f) Eligibility.--Section 322(a)(9) of the Runaway and Homeless
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-2(a)(9)) is amended by inserting ``, and the
services provided to such youth by such project,'' after ``such
project''.
(g) Coordination.--Section 341 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth
Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-21) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 341. COORDINATION.
``With respect to matters relating to the health, education,
employment, and housing of runaway and homeless youth, the Secretary--
``(1) in conjunction with the Attorney General, shall
coordinate the activities of agencies of the Department of Health
and Human Services with activities under any other Federal juvenile
crime control, prevention, and juvenile offender accountability
program and with the activities of other Federal entities; and
``(2) shall coordinate the activities of agencies of the
Department of Health and Human Services with the activities of
other Federal entities and with the activities of entities that are
eligible to receive grants under this title.''.
(h) Authority To Make Grants for Research, Evaluation,
Demonstration, and Service Projects.--Section 343 of the Runaway and
Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714-23) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ``evaluation,'' after
``research,'';
(2) in subsection (a), by inserting ``evaluation,'' after
``research,''; and
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking paragraph (2); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (10) as
paragraphs (2) through (9), respectively.
(i) Study.--Part D of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C.
5731 et seq.) is amended by adding after section 344 the following:
``SEC. 345. STUDY.
``The Secretary shall conduct a study of a representative sample of
runaways to determine the percent who leave home because of sexual
abuse. The report on the study shall include--
``(1) in the case of sexual abuse, the relationship of the
assaulter to the runaway; and
``(2) recommendations on how Federal laws may be changed to
reduce sexual assaults on children.
The study shall be completed to enable the Secretary to make a report
to the committees of Congress with jurisdiction over this Act, and to
make such report available to the public, within one year of the date
of the enactment of this section.''.
(j) Assistance to Potential Grantees.--Section 371 of the Runaway
and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714a) is amended by striking the
last sentence.
(k) Reports.--Section 381 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42
U.S.C. 5715) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 381. REPORTS.
``(a) In General.--Not later than April 1, 2000, and biennially
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit, to the Committee on Education
and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
the Judiciary of the Senate, a report on the status, activities, and
accomplishments of entities that receive grants under parts A, B, C, D,
and E, with particular attention to--
``(1) in the case of centers funded under part A, the ability
or effectiveness of such centers in--
``(A) alleviating the problems of runaway and homeless
youth;
``(B) if applicable or appropriate, reuniting such youth
with their families and encouraging the resolution of
intrafamily problems through counseling and other services;
``(C) strengthening family relationships and encouraging
stable living conditions for such youth; and
``(D) assisting such youth to decide upon a future course
of action; and
``(2) in the case of projects funded under part B--
``(A) the number and characteristics of homeless youth
served by such projects;
``(B) the types of activities carried out by such projects;
``(C) the effectiveness of such projects in alleviating the
problems of homeless youth;
``(D) the effectiveness of such projects in preparing
homeless youth for self-sufficiency;
``(E) the effectiveness of such projects in assisting
homeless youth to decide upon future education, employment, and
independent living;
``(F) the ability of such projects to encourage the
resolution of intrafamily problems through counseling and
development of self-sufficient living skills; and
``(G) activities and programs planned by such projects for
the following fiscal year.
``(b) Contents of Reports.--The Secretary shall include in each
report submitted under subsection (a), summaries of--
``(1) the evaluations performed by the Secretary under section
386; and
``(2) descriptions of the qualifications of, and training
provided to, individuals involved in carrying out such
evaluations.''.
(l) Evaluation.--Section 384 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
(42 U.S.C. 5732) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 386. EVALUATION AND INFORMATION.
``(a) In General.--If a grantee receives grants for 3 consecutive
fiscal years under part A, B, C, D, or E (in the alternative), then the
Secretary shall evaluate such grantee on-site, not less frequently than
once in the period of such 3 consecutive fiscal years, for purposes
of--
``(1) determining whether such grants are being used for the
purposes for which such grants are made by the Secretary;
``(2) collecting additional information for the report required
by section 384; and
``(3) providing such information and assistance to such grantee
as will enable such grantee to improve the operation of the
centers, projects, and activities for which such grants are made.
``(b) Cooperation.--Recipients of grants under this title shall
cooperate with the Secretary's efforts to carry out evaluations, and to
collect information, under this title.''.
(m) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 385 of the Runaway
and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5751) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 388. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Authorization.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this title (other than part E) such sums as may be
necessary for fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.
``(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), not less than 20 percent, and not more than 30 percent,
shall be reserved to carry out part B.
``(3) Parts c and d.--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.
``(b) Separate Identification Required.--No funds appropriated to
carry out this title may be combined with funds appropriated under any
other Act if the purpose of combining such funds is to make a single
discretionary grant, or a single discretionary payment, unless such
funds are separately identified in all grants and contracts and are
used for the purposes specified in this title.''.
(n) Sexual Abuse Prevention Program.--
(1) Authority for program.--The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
(42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is amended--
(A) by striking the heading for part F;
(B) by redesignating part E as part F; and
(C) by inserting after part D the following:
``PART E--SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM
``SEC. 351. AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may make grants to nonprofit
private agencies for the purpose of providing street-based services to
runaway and homeless, and street youth, who have been subjected to, or
are at risk of being subjected to, sexual abuse, prostitution, or
sexual exploitation.
``(b) Priority.--In selecting applicants to receive grants under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to nonprofit private
agencies that have experience in providing services to runaway and
homeless, and street youth.''.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--Section 388(a) of the
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5751), as amended by
subsection (m) of this section, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(4) Part e.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out part E such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2000,
2001, 2002, and 2003.''.
(o) Consolidated Review of Applications.--The Runaway and Homeless
Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is amended by inserting after
section 383 the following:
``SEC. 385. CONSOLIDATED REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS.
``With respect to funds available to carry out parts A, B, C, D,
and E, nothing in this title shall be construed to prohibit the
Secretary from--
``(1) announcing, in a single announcement, the availability of
funds for grants under 2 or more of such parts; and
``(2) reviewing applications for grants under 2 or more of such
parts in a single, consolidated application review process.''.
(p) Definitions.--The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C.
5701 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 386, as amended by
subsection (l) of this section, the following:
``SEC. 387. DEFINITIONS.
``In this title:
``(1) Drug abuse education and prevention services.--The term
`drug abuse education and prevention services'--
``(A) means services to runaway and homeless youth to
prevent or reduce the illicit use of drugs by such youth; and
``(B) may include--
``(i) individual, family, group, and peer counseling;
``(ii) drop-in services;
``(iii) assistance to runaway and homeless youth in
rural areas (including the development of community support
groups);
``(iv) information and training relating to the illicit
use of drugs by runaway and homeless youth, to individuals
involved in providing services to such youth; and
``(v) activities to improve the availability of local
drug abuse prevention services to runaway and homeless
youth.
``(2) Home-based services.--The term `home-based services'--
``(A) means services provided to youth and their families
for the purpose of--
``(i) preventing such youth from running away, or
otherwise becoming separated, from their families; and
``(ii) assisting runaway youth to return to their
families; and
``(B) includes services that are provided in the residences
of families (to the extent practicable), including--
``(i) intensive individual and family counseling; and
``(ii) training relating to life skills and parenting.
``(3) Homeless youth.--The term `homeless youth' means an
individual--
``(A) who is--
``(i) not more than 21 years of age; and
``(ii) for the purposes of part B, not less than 16
years of age;
``(B) for whom it is not possible to live in a safe
environment with a relative; and
``(C) who has no other safe alternative living arrangement.
``(4) Street-based services.--The term `street-based
services'--
``(A) means services provided to runaway and homeless
youth, and street youth, in areas where they congregate,
designed to assist such youth in making healthy personal
choices regarding where they live and how they behave; and
``(B) may include--
``(i) identification of and outreach to runaway and
homeless youth, and street youth;
``(ii) crisis intervention and counseling;
``(iii) information and referral for housing;
``(iv) information and referral for transitional living
and health care services;
``(v) advocacy, education, and prevention services
related to--
``(I) alcohol and drug abuse;
``(II) sexual exploitation;
``(III) sexually transmitted diseases, including
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and
``(IV) physical and sexual assault.
``(5) Street youth.--The term `street youth' means an
individual who--
``(A) is--
``(i) a runaway youth; or
``(ii) indefinitely or intermittently a homeless youth;
and
``(B) spends a significant amount of time on the street or
in other areas that increase the risk to such youth for sexual
abuse, sexual exploitation, prostitution, or drug abuse.
``(6) Transitional living youth project.--The term
`transitional living youth project' means a project that provides
shelter and services designed to promote a transition to self-
sufficient living and to prevent long-term dependency on social
services.
``(7) Youth at risk of separation from the family.--The term
`youth at risk of separation from the family' means an individual--
``(A) who is less than 18 years of age; and
``(B)(i) who has a history of running away from the family
of such individual;
``(ii) whose parent, guardian, or custodian is not willing
to provide for the basic needs of such individual; or
``(iii) who is at risk of entering the child welfare system
or juvenile justice system as a result of the lack of services
available to the family to meet such needs.''.
(q) Redesignation of Sections.--Sections 371, 372, 381, 382, and
383 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5714b-5851 et
seq.), as amended by this Act, are redesignated as sections 380, 381,
382, 383, and 384, respectively.
(r) Technical Amendments.--The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42
U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 331, in the first sentence, by striking ``With''
and all that follows through ``the Secretary'', and inserting ``The
Secretary''; and
(2) in section 344(a)(1), by striking ``With'' and all that
follows through ``the Secretary'', and inserting ``The Secretary''.

8bc696f0d98aa67d6381b305630dc47b06962cff7a3b62d5a85c2fe7220c184e

(a) Contract for Study.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall enter into
a contract with the National Academy of Sciences for the purposes of
conducting a study regarding the antecedents of school violence in
urban, suburban, and rural schools, including the incidents of school
violence that occurred in Pearl, Mississippi; Paducah, Kentucky;
Jonesboro, Arkansas; Springfield, Oregon; Edinboro, Pennsylvania;
Fayetteville, Tennessee; Littleton, Colorado; and Conyers, Georgia.
Under the terms of such contract, the National Academy of Sciences
shall appoint a panel that will--
(1) review the relevant research about adolescent violence in
general and school violence in particular, including the existing
longitudinal and cross-sectional studies on youth that are relevant
to examining violent behavior;
(2) relate what can be learned from past and current research
and surveys to specific incidents of school shootings;
(3) interview relevant individuals, if possible, such as the
perpetrators of such incidents, their families, their friends,
their teachers, mental health providers, and others; and
(4) give particular attention to such issues as--
(A) the perpetrators' early development, families,
communities, school experiences, and utilization of mental
health services;
(B) the relationship between perpetrators and their
victims;
(C) how the perpetrators gained access to firearms;
(D) the impact of cultural influences and exposure to the
media, video games, and the Internet; and
(E) such other issues as the panel deems important or
relevant to the purpose of the study.
The National Academy of Sciences shall utilize professionals with
expertise in such issues, including psychiatrists, social workers,
behavioral and social scientists, practitioners, epidemiologists,
statisticians, and methodologists.
(b) Report.--The National Academy of Sciences shall submit a report
containing the results of the study required by subsection (a), to the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President pro tempore of
the Senate, the Chair and ranking minority Member of the Committee on
Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the
Chair and ranking minority Member of the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, not later than January 1,
2001, or 18 months after entering into the contract required by such
subsection, whichever is earlier.
(c) Appropriation.--Of the funds made available under Public Law
105-277 for the Department of Education, $2,100,000 shall be made
available to carry out this section.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.

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Missing Children Protection bill — S. 249

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