Author Topic: End Institutionalized Child Abuse Bill number HR 1738  (Read 2201 times)

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Offline cherish wisdom

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End Institutionalized Child Abuse Bill number HR 1738
« on: April 25, 2005, 12:02:00 PM »
The Bill has a number to go with the name - HR 1738

Background:  On April 20, 2005, Congressman George Miller (left) introduced HR 1738 -- the "End Institutional Abuse Against Children Act" -- into the United States House of Representatives.  The bill has been assigned to the Committee on Education and the Workforce and to the Committee on International Relations.

The bill would: (1) provide $50 million in funding to states to support the licensing of child residential treatment programs. States would have to monitor the programs regularly to ensure their compliance with licensing requirements; (2) establish federal civil and criminal penalties for the abuse of children in residential treatment programs; (3) expand federal authority to regulate programs located overseas but run by U.S. companies and provide civil penalties for program operators that violate federal regulations; and (4) require the State Department to report any abuse of American children overseas.

A bishop keeps on saying at the age of eighty what he was told to say at the age of eighteen.
--Oscar Wilde

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Offline cherish wisdom

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End Institutionalized Child Abuse Bill number HR 1738
« Reply #1 on: April 26, 2005, 02:19:00 AM »
A BILL
To assure the safety of American children in foreign-based and domestic institutions, 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 `End Institutionalized Abuse Against Children Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATIONS.

(a) In General- In order to assure the safety and welfare of American children residing in foreign-based institutions, the Attorney General shall seek the cooperation of appropriate foreign authorities in order to investigate such facilities or institutions periodically. Such an investigation shall include a determination of the institution's compliance with any local safety, health, sanitation and educational laws and regulations, including all licensing requirements applicable to the staff of the institution and compliance with this section. The Attorney General shall seek the cooperation of appropriate foreign authorities to remedy any threat to the safety or welfare of those children, discovered through such an investigation.

(b) Rules and Enforcement- (1) The Attorney General shall make rules to protect the safety and wellbeing of American children who are kept in a foreign based institution for purposes of behavior modification.

(2) Whoever, being a United States citizen or national, or other private entity organized under the laws of the United States or of any State or political subdivision of the United States, violates a rule made under this subsection shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $50,000.

(c) Definitions- As used in this section--

(1) the term `foreign-based institution' means any facility or institution--

(A) owned, operated, or managed by a United States citizen or other private entity organized under the laws of the United States; and

(B) for persons, including persons who are residing in such facility or institution, for purposes of receiving care or treatment or behavior modification; and

(2) the term `American children' means American citizens or nationals 18 years of age or younger.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES.

(a) Part I of Foreign Assistance Act of 1961- Section 116 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

`(g)(1) The report required by subsection (d) shall include, wherever applicable, a description of the nature and extent of child abuse or human rights violations against persons who are 18 years of age or younger at institutions described in paragraph (2) that are located in each foreign country.

`(2) An institution referred to in paragraph (1) is a facility or institution--

`(A) owned, operated, or managed by a United States citizen or other private entity organized under the laws of the United States; and

`(B) for persons, including persons who are residing in such facility or institution, for purposes of receiving care or treatment or behavior modification.'.

(b) Part II of Foreign Assistance Act of 1961- Section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

`(i)(1) The report required by subsection (b) shall include, wherever applicable, a description of the nature and extent of child abuse or human rights violations against persons who are 18 years of age or younger at institutions described in paragraph (2) that are located in each foreign country.

`(2) An institution referred to in paragraph (1) is a facility or institution--

`(A) owned, operated, or managed by a United States citizen or other private entity organized under the laws of the United States; and

`(B) for persons, including persons who are residing in such facility or institution, for purposes of receiving care or treatment or behavior modification.'.

SEC. 4. GRANTS TO SUPPORT INSPECTIONS OF CHILD RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES.

(a) In General- The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new title:

`TITLE III--GRANTS TO STATES TO SUPPORT INSPECTIONS OF CHILD RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES

`SEC. 301. GRANTS TO STATES.

`The Secretary is authorized to make grants to States to support inspections of child residential treatment facilities.

`SEC. 302. APPLICATION.

`The Secretary may not make a grant to a State under section 301 unless the State submits to the Secretary an application for the grant at such time, in such form and manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.

`SEC. 303. ELIGIBILITY.

`(a) In General- The Secretary may not make a grant to a State under section 301 unless the State has in effect laws to require the licensing of child residential treatment facilities in accordance with the requirements of subsection (b) and the State is enforcing such State laws in accordance with the requirements of subsection (c).

`(b) Licensing Requirements- The licensing requirements referred to in subsection (a) are the following:

`(1) The State requires any person who operates a child residential treatment facility to be issued a license for the operation of the facility, and the license is in effect.

`(2) The facility meets applicable standards of the State for the provision of treatment services for children with emotional, psychological, developmental, or behavioral dysfunctions, impairments, or chemical dependencies.

`(3) In the case of each child who is a resident of the facility and whose domicile is another State, the facility meets the standards of such other State for the operation of such a facility, including any licensing standards.

`(4) With respect to State law that prohibits the physical or mental abuse of children and the neglect of children, the law of the State in which the facility is located applies to the facility standards for the care of children who are residents of the facility, including enforcement standards, that are equivalent to the standards applied by the State to parents or legal guardians.

`(5) The State requires periodic, unannounced inspections of the facility to determine compliance with applicable law, including law regarding the licensing of health professionals and law regarding the standards referred to in paragraph (4).

`(c) Enforcement Requirements- The enforcement requirements referred to in subsection (a) are the following:

`(1) IN GENERAL-

`(A) CIVIL PENALTY- A person who operates a child residential treatment facility in violation of the requirements under subsection (b) is subject to a civil penalty of $250 per day until the violation is corrected, except that the number of days for which the penalty is assessed may not exceed 60 days.

`(B) ORDER TO TERMINATE OPERATIONS- With respect to a violation of the requirements under subsection (b), if a civil penalty under subparagraph (A) for the violation is assessed for 60 days, the State orders that the child residential treatment facility involved terminate all operations.

`(2) ABUSE OR NEGLECT-

`(A) CIVIL PENALTY- If a child residential treatment facility engages in the abuse or neglect of a child who is a resident of the facility, each person who owns or operates the facility, and each of the officers, employees, or contractors thereof who engaged in the abuse or neglect, is subject to a civil penalty for each such violation in an amount determined by the State, but not less than $20,000 for all violations adjudicated in a single proceeding.

`(B) CRIMINAL PENALTY- If a child residential treatment facility engages in the abuse or neglect of a child who is a resident of the facility, each person who owns or operates the facility, and each of the officers, employees, or contractors thereof who engaged in the abuse or neglect, shall be fined in accordance with title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

`(C) ABUSE OR NEGLECT- For purposes of subparagraphs (A) and (B), the term `abuse or neglect', with respect to a child, means a knowing act or omission that the officer, employee, or contractor involved knows or should know will result in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or will present an imminent risk of serious harm.

`SEC. 304. USE OF FUNDS.

`A State that receives a grant under section 301 shall use amounts under the grant to--

`(1) hire and train individuals who have appropriate expertise in the health profession, including the mental health profession, to carry out periodic, unannounced inspections of child residential treatment facilities in accordance with section 303(b)(5); and

`(2) collect and maintain data from the inspections of such child residential treatment facilities to be included in the report required by section 306.

`SEC. 305. MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.

`A State that receives a grant under section 301 shall use amounts under the grant only to supplement the level of non-Federal funds that, in the absence of amounts under the grant, would be expended for activities authorized under the grant, and not to supplant those non-Federal funds.

`SEC. 306. REPORT.

`The Secretary may not make a grant to a State under section 301 unless the State agrees that it will submit to the Secretary for each fiscal year for which it receives a grant under such section a report that contains such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including a detailed description of the number of child residential treatment facilities located in the State, the number of children residing at such facilities, the State domicile of each child prior to entry at such a facility, and the age, gender, and disability (if any) of each child at such a facility.

`SEC. 307. DEFINITIONS.

`In this title:

`(1) CHILD- The term `child' means an individual 18 years of age or younger.

`(2) CHILD RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY; FACILITY- The term `child residential treatment facility' or `facility' means a facility that--

`(A) provides a 24-hour group living environment for one or more children who are unrelated to the owner or operator of the facility; and

`(B) offers for the children room or board and specialized treatment, behavior modification, rehabilitation, discipline, emotional growth or rehabilitation services for youths with emotional, psychological, developmental, or behavioral dysfunctions, impairments, or chemical dependencies.

`(3) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

`(4) STATE- The term `State' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

`SEC. 308. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

`There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 and 2007.'.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of contents of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5101 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:

If you believe that people cannot be trusted to govern themselves,
then can they be trusted to govern others?
 
--Thomas Jefferson

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Offline 001010

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End Institutionalized Child Abuse Bill number HR 1738
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2005, 09:04:00 AM »
If it's passed, it'll be a start in the right direction.

Cops; you wake `em up you gotta dance with `em. They lead.
-- Jack McNulty

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Offline cherish wisdom

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End Institutionalized Child Abuse Bill number HR 1738
« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2005, 05:16:00 PM »
Federal intervention is necessary because local governments are doing nothing. Only fear is that Bush will Veto it because he has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations from Lichfield of Wwasps and others. They may call in their favors when this comes to his desk.

I don't believe in God. My god is patriotism. Teach a man to be a good citizen and you have solved the problem of life.
--Andrew Carnegie, Scottish-born American industrialist and philanthropist

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Offline Anonymous

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End Institutionalized Child Abuse Bill number HR 1738
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2005, 09:25:00 PM »
Are there any sample letters?  How long will this take?  What can we do to help?
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Offline Anonymous

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End Institutionalized Child Abuse Bill number HR 1738
« Reply #5 on: April 26, 2005, 10:45:00 PM »
I have never read that Bush has taken R Litchfield's money.I know Senior Bush is Straights owner's best friend. Please provide the info about Bush and WWASP. Thanks.
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Offline Anonymous

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End Institutionalized Child Abuse Bill number HR 1738
« Reply #6 on: April 26, 2005, 11:19:00 PM »
http://ideas-canada.ca/dfaf.htm  

It's long, so I didn't copy/paste any of it, but it shows the connection between Bush Sr/Nancy Reagan and Straight in this old article.  

 :flame:
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Offline EricasMom

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End Institutionalized Child Abuse Bill number HR 1738
« Reply #7 on: April 27, 2005, 11:30:00 AM »
http://www.oxfamerica.org/newsandpublic ... nciousness

There is great material here about activism and writing your Representative.  

Every letter that a legislator receives is presumed to represent the views of 250 voters--who didn't take the time to write.  Everyone who speaks out or writes a letter *for* or *against* HR1738 will be multiplied 250X in the mind of their Representative.

Take a few minutes to make some noise.  Whether this bill succeeds or fails, at least we can raise the attention level of our law-makers and the Press.
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Offline Anonymous

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End Institutionalized Child Abuse Bill number HR 1738
« Reply #8 on: April 27, 2005, 06:23:00 PM »
Here's a good article on the subject, which may help to let people know what it's about if they don't already:

Mother sues treatment center, claims son was beaten, abused
By Pamela Manson
The Salt Lake Tribune

A California mother is accusing a northern Utah boarding school of physically and emotionally abusing her son while he was being treated there.
    In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City, Jennifer Havlan said Majestic Ranch employee Sean E. Coombs seriously injured her minor son by slamming him against a wall and table, throwing him to the ground and striking him. She also alleges that the boy was "repeatedly restrained and placed in handcuffs" during his 2004 stay at the Randolph facility.
    Majestic Ranch, which is affiliated with the St. George-based Worldwide Association of Speciality Programs and Schools (WWASP), is designed to treat preteens and young teenagers with behavioral and conduct problems. The program has been investigated several times after abuse allegations were lodged, with one probe ending in a criminal conviction when Coombs pleaded guilty last year to a misdemeanor assault charge.
    A school official said Thursday that she had not seen the suit. WWASP officials have said that their treatment programs have a high rate of satisfaction among   clients.
    But Havlan, a Newport Beach resident, is unhappy about her son's experience and alleges battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment and negligence. Her suit seeks unspecified damages.
    On the same day Havlan filed her suit, U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., introduced legislation that would provide more monitoring of residential treatment programs and establish criminal and civil penalties for abuse of children.
    Miller, who unsuccessfully asked then-Attorney General John Ashcroft in 2003
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  to investigate allegations against WWASP, says residential treatment programs in the United States and abroad should be licensed.
    "Parents are sending their children to these programs becaue of a promise that they will help resolve difficult behavioral issues, like substance abuse," Miller said in a written release about his End Institutional Abuse Against Children Act. "But the way kids have been treated at some of these facilities would make any parent shudder."
   [email protected]
   
   
   Proposed federal regulations
   
    Federal legislation to regulate   residential treatment programs in the United States would:
   * Provide $50 million in funding to states for licensing and monitoring.
   * Establish federal civil and criminal penalties for abuse of children.
   * Expand federal authority to regulate programs located overseas but run by U.S. companies.
   * Require the State Department to report any abuse of American children overseas.
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Offline Anonymous

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End Institutionalized Child Abuse Bill number HR 1738
« Reply #9 on: April 27, 2005, 08:29:00 PM »
Hopefully some of these people will show up for the Congressional hearings on this bill. I hope this gets the publicity it deserves.
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Offline Anonymous

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End Institutionalized Child Abuse Bill number HR 1738
« Reply #10 on: May 09, 2005, 12:46:00 PM »
Is there a link to this Bill - I'd like to
email it to people I know.  Thanks.... :wink:
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Offline hurleygurley

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End Institutionalized Child Abuse Bill number HR 1738
« Reply #11 on: May 09, 2005, 04:23:00 PM »
I accidentally posted this as a seperate topic above, but it couldn't hurt to have it both places.

The link below is to nospank's announcement about the bill and there's a pdf link on that page for the full text. I will be pouring over it to make suggestions. I hope you all do too. If this could pass it actually has teeth but besides the significant obstacles presented by our present administration's attitude which adds up to "leave every child behind", Aspen and I'm sure others will try to find loopholes by redefining their programs as educational and somehow (they're good at this) making themselves exempt. They are already in the process of doing this. You'll see subtle ongoing changes in the language they use to describe the programs.

FYI, I saved pages with relevant wording on Aspen pages just in case the page changes. I have used cached (older versions of web pages) a lot in my research and they can come in very handy!! The best way to do this is to Google Aspen or a facilities page and click on "cached" at the end of the google listing of the page. Then save the page as .html NOT text. If it won't save, take a screenshot!

I want to make sure this bill covers these kinds of issues. I will post my comments, in order to get feedback.

http://www.nospank.net/g-miller.htm [ This Message was edited by: hurleygurley on 2005-05-09 13:16 ]
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Offline nite owl

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End Institutionalized Child Abuse Bill number HR 1738
« Reply #12 on: May 16, 2005, 02:19:00 AM »
I hope this Bill gets some more publicity - I haven't heard much about it.  

With soap, baptism is a good thing.
--Robert G. Ingersoll, American politician and lecturer

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