HR856NOV18

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending November 18, 2005

H.R.856 To establish a Federal Youth Development Council to improve the administration and coordination of Federal programs serving youth, and for other purposes.

BRIEF

The bill would establish the Federal Youth Development Council that would essentially assess the needs of American youth and coordinate government agencies to administer programs that would help youth, particularly disadvantaged youth, to develop educationally, socially, emotionally, physically, vocationally and with civic development.

The Council would include most Presidential cabinet members and other political appointees such as the Director of Faith-based and c0mmunity development. Other members would be appointed by the President and Congressional leaders from representatives of faith-based organizations, foundations and universities, non-profits, youth service providers and others for two years.

Five year goals would be set, plans would be made and resources would be garnered to help American youth grow personally and succeed in life.

The Council could provide grants to State councils to carry out the programs and would be earmarked to states that have initiated youth-focused agency interaction, plans to support at least one youth council, demonstrate including non-profits including faith-based and community-based organizations in the work of that state council and shows participation in the council of disadvantaged youths.

the program would end twenty years and 60 days from enactment of the bill.

Sponsor: Representative Tom Osborne (NE-3^rd)

Vote: Passed House 353 to 63 (RC 588) November 17, 2005

Cost to the taxpayers: the bill authorizes such sums as may be necessary. Actual spending amounts will be decided in future budget legislation.

MORE INFORMATION

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT AND MEMBERSHIP.

(a) Members and Terms- There is established the Federal Youth Development Council (in this Act referred to as the `Council') composed of--

(1) the Attorney General, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of National Drug Control Policy, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, the Director of the U.S.A. Freedom Corps, the Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and other Federal officials as directed by the President, to serve for the life of the Council; and

(2) such additional members as the President, in consultation with the majority and minority leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall appoint from among representatives of faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, child and youth focused foundations, universities, nonprofit organizations, youth service providers, State and local government, and youth in disadvantaged situations, to serve for terms of 2 years and who may be reappointed by the President for a second 2-year term.

(b) Chairperson- The Chairperson of the Council shall be designated by the President.

(c) Meetings- The Council shall meet at the call of the Chairperson, not less frequently than 4 times each year. The first meeting shall be not less than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL.

The duties of the Council shall be--

(1) to ensure communication among agencies administering programs designed to serve youth, especially those in disadvantaged situations;

(2) to assess the needs of youth, especially those in disadvantaged situations, and those who work with youth, and the quantity and quality of Federal programs offering services, supports, and opportunities to help youth in their educational, social, emotional, physical, vocational, and civic development;

(3) to set objectives and quantifiable 5-year goals for such programs;

(4) to make recommendations for the allocation of resources in support of such goals and objectives;

(5) to identify target populations of youth who are disproportionately at risk and assist agencies in focusing additional resources on them;

(6) to develop a plan, including common indicators of youth well-being, and assist agencies in coordinating to achieve such goals and objectives;

(7) to assist Federal agencies, at the request of one or more such agency, in collaborating on model programs and demonstration projects focusing on special populations, including youth in foster care, migrant youth, projects to promote parental involvement, and projects that work to involve young people in service programs;

(8) to solicit and document ongoing input and recommendations from--

(A) youth, especially those in disadvantaged situations, by forming an advisory council of youth to work with the Council;

(B) national youth development experts, parents, faith and community-based organizations, foundations, business leaders, youth service providers, and teachers;

(D) State and local government officials; and

(9) to work with Federal agencies to conduct high-quality research and evaluation, identify and replicate model programs, and provide technical assistance, and, subject to the availability of appropriations, to fund additional research to fill identified needs.

SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE OF STAFF.

(a) Director and Staff- The Chairperson, in consultation with the Council, shall employ and set the rate of pay for a Director and any necessary staff to assist in carrying out its duties.

(b) Staff of Federal Agencies- Upon request of the Council, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the Council to assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act.

SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COUNCIL.

(a) Mails- The Council may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United States.

(b) Administrative Support Services- Upon the request of the Council, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Council, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for the Council to carry out its responsibilities under this Act.

SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE TO STATES.

(a) In General- Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Council may provide technical assistance and make grants to States to support State councils for coordinating State youth efforts.

(b) Applications- Applicants for grants must be States. Applications for grants under this section shall be submitted at such time and in such form as determined by the Council.

(1) have already initiated an interagency coordination effort focused on youth;

(2) plan to work with at least 1 locality to support a local youth council for coordinating local youth efforts;

(3) demonstrate the inclusion of nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community-based organizations, in the work of the State council; and

(4) demonstrate the inclusion of young people, especially those in disadvantaged situations, in the work of the State council.

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