115th CONGRESS 2d Session |
March 26, 2018
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To establish a Federal Task Force to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act”.
SEC. 2. Federal Task Force to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
(a) Establishment.—There is established a Federal Task Force to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (referred to in this section as the “Task Force”).
(b) Older relative caregiver.—In this section, the term “older relative caregiver” has the meaning given the term under section 372(a)(3) of the National Family Caregiver Support (42 U.S.C. 3030s(a)(3)).
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall be composed of the following members, or their designee:
(A) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(B) The Attorney General.
(C) The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living.
(D) The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(E) The Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.
(F) The Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families.
(G) The Director of the Indian Health Service.
(H) The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
(I) The head of each Federal department, agency, or other governmental entity identified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as having responsibilities, or administering programs, relating to the current health, educational, nutritional, and other needs and current issues affecting older relative caregivers, including grandparents, raising children in their care.
(J) A grandparent raising a grandchild or grandchildren as well as another older relative caregiver of children.
(2) LEAD AGENCY.—The Department of Health and Human Services shall be the lead agency for the Task Force.
(A) INFORMATION.—The Task Force shall identify, coordinate, and disseminate information publicly about Federal information, resources, and best practices available, on the date of the determination, to help older relative caregivers, including grandparents, raising children in their care, including those raising children in their care as a result of the opioid crisis, meet the health, educational, nutritional, and other needs of the children in their care as well as maintain their own physical and mental health and emotional well-being.
(B) NATIVE AMERICANS.—In carrying out the duties described in subparagraph (A), the Task Force shall ensure that the needs of Native Americans (as defined in section 102 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002)) are considered.
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 360 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall submit a report to the Special Committee on Aging, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives that includes—
(i) best practices, resources, and other useful information for older relative caregivers, including grandparents, raising children in their care; and
(ii) an identification of the gaps in needs of older relative caregivers, including grandparents, raising children in their care.
(B) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall submit a final report to the Special Committee on Aging, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives that includes the final findings of the Task Force, recommendations for future actions to address issues faced by older relative caregivers, including grandparents, raising children in their care, and any other useful information.
(3) PROCESS FOR PUBLIC INPUT.—The Task Force shall establish a process for public input to inform the identification of, and updates to, the best practices, resources, and other useful information and the gaps in needs described in paragraph (2), including a process for the public to submit recommendations to the Task Force and an opportunity for public comment.
(e) Sunset.—The Task Force shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(f) Nonapplicability of FACA.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Task Force.
(g) Funding.—No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section. The Task Force shall be carried out with funds otherwise appropriated.
Passed the Senate March 22, 2018.
Attest: | julie e. adams, |
Secretary |