H.R. 8547

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8547 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8547

To amend title 18, United States Code, to account for the age of 
certain incarcerated juveniles and to amend title IV of the Social 
Security Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
award competitive grants to enhance collaboration between State child 
welfare and juvenile justice systems, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 28, 2026

Ms. Kamlager-Dove (for herself, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Tlaib, 
Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Ms. Simon, Mr. Cohen, 
and Mr. Thanedar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on 
Ways and Means, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to account for the age of 
certain incarcerated juveniles and to amend title IV of the Social 
Security Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
award competitive grants to enhance collaboration between State child 
welfare and juvenile justice systems, 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 ``'Directly Impacted Child Rehab and 
Safety Act''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS.

(a) Definitions.--Section 5031 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended--
(1) by striking ``person who'' and inserting ``person who 
is at least twelve years of age that has not attained their'';
(2) by striking ``not attained'' and inserting ``not 
attained their''; and
(3) by striking ``committed by a person prior to'' and 
inserting ``committed by a person who has reached their twelfth 
birthday but prior to their''.
(b) Delinquency Proceedings in District Courts; Transfer for 
Criminal Prosecution.--Section 5032 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended--
(1) by striking ``fifteen'' and inserting ``sixteen'';
(2) by striking ``fifteenth birthday'' and inserting 
``their sixteenth birthday'';
(3) by striking ``In the application of the preceding 
sentence, if the crime of violence is an offense under section 
113(a), 113(b), 113(c), 1111, 1113, or, if the juvenile 
possessed a firearm during the offense, section 2111, 2113, 
2241(a), or 2241(c), ``thirteen'' shall be substituted for 
``fifteen'' and ``thirteenth'' shall be substituted for 
``fifteenth'';
(4) by striking ``However, a juvenile who is alleged to 
have committed an act after his sixteenth birthday which if 
committed by an adult would be a felony offense that has as an 
element thereof the use, attempted use, or threatened use of 
physical force against the person of another, or that, by its 
very nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force 
against the person of another may be used in committing the 
offense, or would be an offense described in section 32, 81, 
844(d), (e), (f), (h), (i) or 2275 of this title, subsection 
(b)(1)(A), (B), or (C), (d), or (e) of section 401 of the 
Controlled Substances Act, or section 1002(a), 1003, 1009, or 
1010(b)(1), (2), or (3) of the Controlled Substances Import and 
Export Act (21 U.S.C. 952(a), 953, 959, 960(b)(1), (2), (3)), 
and who has previously been found guilty of an act which if 
committed by an adult would have been one of the offenses set 
forth in this paragraph or an offense in violation of a State 
felony statute that would have been such an offense if a 
circumstance giving rise to Federal jurisdiction had existed, 
shall be transferred to the appropriate district court of the 
United States for criminal prosecution.'';
(5) by striking ``social background of the juvenile'' and 
inserting ``social background of the juvenile; the juvenile's 
prior exposure to adverse childhood experiences, childhood 
trauma, and involvement in the child welfare system;'';
(6) by striking ``behavioral problems'' and inserting 
``juvenile's behavioral problems; the rehabilitative potential 
of the juvenile within the juvenile system; and the best 
interest of the child'';
(7) by striking ``leadership role'' and inserting 
``juvenile's level of participation in the offense'';
(8) by striking ``in an organization, or otherwise 
influenced other persons to take part in criminal activities, 
involving the use or distribution of controlled substances or 
firearms. Such a factor, if found to exist, shall weigh in 
favor of a transfer to adult status, but the absence of this 
factor shall not preclude such a transfer'';
(9) by striking ``juvenile, his parents'' and inserting 
``juvenile, their parents''; and
(10) by striking ``custodian and to his counsel'' and 
``custodian and to their counsel''.
(c) Commitment.--Section 5039 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended--
(1) by striking ``or correctional institution in which he 
has regular contact with adults incarcerated because they have 
been convicted of a crime or are awaiting trial on criminal 
charges'' and inserting ``, correctional institution, or 
prison''; and
(2) by striking ``near'' and insert ``near their''.
(d) Murder.--Section 1111 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) A person who was under the age of 18 at the time of the 
perpetration or attempted perpetration of a crime listed under 
subsection (a) in which the death of a human being occurs is liable for 
murder only if one of the following is proven:
``(1) the person who intentionally or knowingly causes the 
death of another person; or
``(2) the person was not the actual killer, but, with the 
intent to kill, aided, abetted, counseled, commanded, induced, 
solicited, requested, or assisted the actual killer in the 
commission of the unlawful killing of another human being.
```A person who is not liable for murder under subsection (a) shall be 
sentenced in accordance with the crime they committed or attempted to 
commit.'.''.

SEC. 3. STATISTICS, DATA, AND RESEARCH ON INCARCERATED CHILDREN AND 
PERSONS CONVICTED OF CRIMES AS CHILDREN.

(a) Comprehensive Statistical Review.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Bureau of Justice Statistics of 
the Department of Justice (in this section referred to as the 
``Bureau'') shall publish, for each calendar year, a 
comprehensive statistical review and analysis of children under 
eighteen years of age who are subject to adjudication, 
prosecution, and incarceration by the Federal Government. The 
statistical review and analysis shall include the following:
(A) The number of children adjudicated delinquent 
in the calendar year and the offenses they were 
adjudicated for.
(B) The number of children transferred to district 
court for criminal prosecution in the calendar year and 
the offenses they were charged with.
(C) The number of children convicted in district 
court in the calendar year and the offenses they were 
convicted of.
(D) The average age of the children at the time of 
the commission of the offense.
(E) The age of the child at the time of 
adjudication or conviction.
(F) Demographic information, including race, 
ethnicity, nationality, disability, gender, sex, and 
gender identity of each child.
(G) The number of children in Federal custody who 
are being detained, housed, or incarcerated more than 
100 miles from the jurisdiction where they were 
adjudicated or convicted in.
(H) The length of time or sentence each child in 
Federal custody has been ordered to serve for their 
corresponding offense.
(I) The number of people incarcerated in Federal 
custody for crimes they committed as children.
(J) Demographic information, including race, 
ethnicity, nationality, disability, gender, sex, gender 
identity, current age, as well as age at the time of 
the offense for each person who is currently 
incarcerated in Federal custody for crimes they 
committed as children.
(K) The number of people in Federal custody for 
crimes they committed as children who are incarcerated 
more than 100 miles from the jurisdiction they were 
adjudicated or convicted in.
(L) The offense and corresponding sentence each 
person in Federal custody is serving for the crime they 
committed as a child.

SEC. 4. AUTHORITY TO AWARD COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO ENHANCE COLLABORATION 
BETWEEN STATE CHILD WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS.

(a) In General.--Section 436 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
629f) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Authority To Award Grants to States To Enhance Collaboration 
Between State Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems.--
``(1) Purpose.--The purpose of the subsection is to 
authorize the Secretary to make grants to State child welfare 
and juvenile justice agencies to collaborate in the collection 
of data relating to children excluded from juvenile 
adjudication by age (under age of 12 and over the age of 15 
years old), child survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, 
dual status youth (children in both foster care and juvenile 
justice systems), and cross over children (children that cross 
between the foster care and juvenile justice systems) and to 
develop practices, policies, and protocols to confront the 
challenges presented and experienced by these children and 
their families.
``(2) Authority to award grants.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may award 
competitive grants jointly to a State child welfare 
agency and a State juvenile justice agency to 
facilitate or enhance collaboration between the child 
welfare and juvenile justice systems of the State in 
order to carry out programs to address the needs of 
children including those excluded from juvenile 
adjudication by age (under age of 12 and over the age 
of 15 years old), child survivors of commercial sexual 
exploitation, dual status youth (children in both 
foster care and juvenile justice systems), and cross 
over children (children that cross between the foster 
care and juvenile justice systems).
``(B) Funding.--Any grants awarded under this 
subsection shall be awarded from the amounts made 
available under subsection (a) of this section, after 
the application of subsection (b) of this section and 
before the determination of allotments under section 
433.
``(C) Length of grants.--
``(i) In general.--A grant shall be awarded 
under this subsection for a period of not less 
than 2, and not more than 5, fiscal years, 
subject to clause (ii).
``(ii) Extension of grant.--On application 
of the grantee, the Secretary may extend for 
not more than 2 fiscal years the period for 
which a grant is awarded under this subsection.
``(3) Additional requirements.--
``(A) Application.--In order for a State to be 
eligible for a grant under this subsection, it shall 
submit an application, to be approved by the Secretary, 
that includes--
``(i) a description of the proposed 
leadership collaboration group (including the 
membership of such group), and how such group 
will manage and oversee a review and analysis 
of current practices while working to jointly 
address enhanced practices to improve outcomes 
for children excluded from juvenile 
adjudication by age (under age of 12 and over 
the age of 15 years old), child survivors of 
commercial sexual exploitation, dual status 
youth (children in both foster care and 
juvenile justice systems), and cross over 
children (children that cross between the 
foster care and juvenile justice systems);
``(ii) a description of how the State 
proposes to--
``(I) identify any eligible 
children;
``(II) identify individuals who are 
at risk of becoming eligible children;
``(III) identify common 
characteristics shared by any eligible 
children in the State; and
``(IV) determine the prevalence of 
children excluded from juvenile 
adjudication by age (under age of 12 
and over the age of 15 years old), 
child survivors of commercial sexual 
exploitation, dual status youth 
(children in both foster care and 
juvenile justice systems), and cross 
over children (children that cross 
between the foster care and juvenile 
justice systems) in the State;
``(iii) a description of current and 
proposed practices and procedures that the 
State intends to use to--
``(I) screen and assess children 
excluded from juvenile adjudication by 
age (under age of 12 and over the age 
of 15 years old), child survivors of 
commercial sexual exploitation, dual 
status youth (children in both foster 
care and juvenile justice systems), and 
cross over children (children that 
cross between the foster care and 
juvenile justice systems) for risks and 
treatment needs;
``(II) provide targeted and 
evidence-based services, including 
educational, behavioral health, and 
pro-social treatment interventions for 
children excluded from juvenile 
adjudication by age (under age of 12 
and over the age of 15 years old), 
child survivors of commercial sexual 
exploitation, dual status youth 
(children in both foster care and 
juvenile justice systems), and cross 
over children (children that cross 
between the foster care and juvenile 
justice systems); and
``(III) provide for a lawful 
process to enhance or ensure the 
abilities of the State and any relevant 
agencies to share information and data 
about children excluded from juvenile 
adjudication by age (under age of 12 
and over the age of 15 years old), 
child survivors of commercial sexual 
exploitation, dual status youth 
(children in both foster care and 
juvenile justice systems), and cross 
over children (children that cross 
between the foster care and juvenile 
justice systems) while maintaining 
confidentiality and privacy protections 
under State and Federal law; and
``(iv) a certification that the State has 
involved local governments, including tribal 
governments, as appropriate, in the 
development, expansion, modification, 
operation, or improvement of proposed policy 
and practice reforms to address the needs of 
children excluded from juvenile adjudication by 
age (under age of 12 and over the age of 15 
years old), child survivors of commercial 
sexual exploitation, dual status youth 
(children in both foster care and juvenile 
justice systems), and cross over children 
(children that cross between the foster care 
and juvenile justice systems).
``(B) No supplantation of other funds.--Any amounts 
paid to a State under a grant under this subsection 
shall be used to supplement and not supplant other 
State expenditures on any eligible children involved 
with either the child welfare or juvenile justice 
systems.
``(C) Report.--A State child welfare agency and a 
State juvenile justice agency receiving a grant under 
this subsection shall jointly submit to the Secretary 
and to the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile 
Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of 
Justice and the Administration for Children and 
Families of the Department of Health and Human Services 
a report on the activities carried out under the grant 
at the end of each fiscal year during the period of the 
grant. Such report shall include--
``(i) a description of the scope and nature 
of the children excluded from juvenile 
adjudication by age (under age of 12 and over 
the age of 15 years old), child survivors of 
commercial sexual exploitation, dual status 
youth (children in both foster care and 
juvenile justice systems), and cross over 
children (children that cross between the 
foster care and juvenile justice systems) in 
the State, including the number of dual status 
youth;
``(ii) a description of the evidence-based 
practices and procedures used by the agencies 
to carry out the activities described in 
subclauses (I) through (III) of subparagraph 
(A)(iii); and
``(iii) an analysis of the effects of such 
practices and procedures, including information 
regarding--
``(I) the collection of data 
related to individual children;
``(II) aggregate data related to 
the eligible children population, 
including--
``(aa) characteristics of 
children excluded from juvenile 
adjudication by age (under age 
of 12 and over the age of 15 
years old), child survivors of 
commercial sexual exploitation, 
dual status youth (children in 
both foster care and juvenile 
justice systems), and cross 
over children (children that 
cross between the foster care 
and juvenile justice systems) 
in the State;
``(bb) case processing 
timelines; and
``(cc) information related 
to case management, the 
provision of targeted services, 
and placements within the 
foster care or juvenile justice 
system; and
``(III) the extent to which such 
practices and procedures have 
contributed to--
``(aa) higher educational 
attainment for any eligible 
children;
``(bb) fewer delinquency 
referrals for children excluded 
from juvenile adjudication by 
age (under age of 12 and over 
the age of 15 years old), child 
survivors of commercial sexual 
exploitation, dual status youth 
(children in both foster care 
and juvenile justice systems), 
and cross over children 
(children that cross between 
the foster care and juvenile 
justice systems);
``(cc) shorter stays in 
intensive restrictive 
placements for children 
excluded from juvenile 
adjudication by age (under age 
of 12 and over the age of 15 
years old), child survivors of 
commercial sexual exploitation, 
dual status youth (children in 
both foster care and juvenile 
justice systems), and cross 
over children (children that 
cross between the foster care 
and juvenile justice systems); 
or
``(dd) such other outcomes 
for children excluded from 
juvenile adjudication by age 
(under age of 12 and over the 
age of 15 years old), child 
survivors of commercial sexual 
exploitation, dual status 
youths (children in both foster 
care and juvenile justice 
systems), and cross over 
children (children that cross 
between the foster care and 
juvenile justice systems) as 
the State child welfare agency 
and State juvenile justice 
agency may identify.
``(4) Training and technical assistance.--The Secretary may 
support State child welfare agencies and State juvenile justice 
agencies by offering a program, developed in consultation with 
organizations and agencies with subject matter expertise, of 
training and technical assistance to assist the agencies in 
developing programs and protocols--
``(A) to facilitate or enhance collaboration 
between State child welfare agencies and State juvenile 
justice agencies; and
``(B) for effectively working with Federal agencies 
and child welfare and juvenile justice agencies from 
other States.
``(5) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
enactment of this subsection, and every 3 years thereafter, the 
Secretary and the Attorney General of the Department of Justice 
shall jointly submit to the Committee on Finance and the 
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on 
Ways and Means and the Committee on Education and Workforce of 
the House of Representatives, a report on the grants provided 
under this subsection.
``(6) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Commercial sexual exploitation.--The term 
`commercial sexual exploitation' means crimes and 
activities involving the sexual abuse or exploitation 
of a person under age 18 for the financial benefit of 
any person or in exchange for anything of value, 
including monetary and non-monetary benefits, given or 
received by any person.
``(B) Dual status youth.--The term `dual status 
youth' means a child who has come into contact with 
both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems and 
occupies various statuses in terms of the individual's 
relationship to such systems.
``(C) Leadership collaboration group.--The term 
`leadership collaboration group' means a group composed 
of senior officials from the State child welfare 
agency, the State juvenile justice agency, and other 
relevant youth and family-serving public agencies and 
private organizations, including tribal nations, and to 
the extent practicable, representatives from the State 
judiciary branch.
``(D) State juvenile justice agency.--The term 
`State juvenile justice agency' means the agency of the 
State or Indian tribe responsible for administering 
grant funds awarded under the Juvenile Justice and 
Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5601 et 
seq.).
``(E) State child welfare agency.--The term `State 
child welfare agency' means the State agency 
responsible for administering the program under subpart 
1, or in the case of a tribal organization operating a 
direct Title IV-B (SSA) program or a Title IV-B-funded 
program through tribal-State agreement, or that is 
receiving payments under section 428, the tribal agency 
responsible for administering such program.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsections (b) and (c) of section 433 
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 633) are each amended by striking ``section 
436(b)'' and inserting ``subsections (b) and (c) of section 436''.
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