March 5, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 44 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Pages S1611-S1612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CHILD CARE PROTECTION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2019

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 370, S. 2683.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2683) to establish a task force to assist States 
     in implementing hiring requirements for child care staff 
     members to improve child safety.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to proceeding to the 
measure?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause 
and insert in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Child Care Protection 
     Improvement Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. TASK FORCE TO ASSIST IN IMPROVING CHILD SAFETY.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a task force, to 
     be known as the Interagency Task Force for Child Safety 
     (referred to in this section as the ``Task Force'') to 
     identify, evaluate, and recommend best practices and 
     technical assistance to assist Federal and State agencies in 
     fully implementing the requirements of section 658H(b) of the 
     Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
     9858f(b)) for child care staff members.
       (b) Composition.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the President shall appoint the 
     members of the Task Force, which shall include--
       (1) the Director of the Office of Child Care of the 
     Department of Health and Human Services (or the Director's 
     designee), the Associate Commissioner of the Children's 
     Bureau of the Department of Health and Human Services (or the 
     Associate Commissioner's designee), and the Director of the 
     Federal Bureau of Investigation (or the Director's designee); 
     and
       (2) such other Federal officials (or their designees) as 
     may be designated by the President.
       (c) Chairperson.--The chairperson of the Task Force shall 
     be the Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children 
     and Families.
       (d) Consultation.--The Task Force shall consult with 
     representatives from State child care agencies, State child 
     protective services, State criminal justice agencies, and 
     other relevant stakeholders on identifying problems in 
     implementing, and proposing solutions to implement, the 
     requirements of section 658H(b) of the Child Care and 
     Development Block Grant Act of 1990, as described in that 
     section.
       (e) Task Force Duties.--The Task Force shall--
       (1) develop recommendations for improving implementation of 
     the requirements of section 658H(b) of the Child Care and 
     Development Block Grant Act of 1990, including 
     recommendations about how the Task Force and member agencies 
     will collaborate and coordinate efforts to implement such 
     requirements, as described in that section; and
       (2) develop recommendations in which the Task Force 
     identifies best practices and evaluates technical assistance 
     to assist relevant Federal and State agencies in implementing 
     section 658H(b) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant 
     Act of 1990, which identification and evaluation shall 
     include--
       (A) an analysis of available research and information at 
     the Federal and State levels regarding the status of the 
     interstate requirements of that section for child care staff 
     members who have resided in one or more States during the 
     previous 5 years and who seek employment in a child care 
     program in a different State;
       (B) a list of State agencies that are not responding to 
     interstate requests covered by that section for relevant 
     information on child care staff members;
       (C) identification of the challenges State agencies are 
     experiencing in responding to such interstate requests;
       (D) an analysis of the length of time it takes the State 
     agencies in a State to receive such results from State 
     agencies in another State in response to such an interstate 
     request, in accordance with that section;
       (E) an analysis of the average processing time for the 
     interstate requests, in accordance with that section;
       (F) identification of the fees associated with the 
     interstate requests in each State to meet requirements, in 
     accordance with that section;
       (G) a list of States that are participating in the National 
     Fingerprint File program, as administered by the Federal 
     Bureau of Investigation, and an analysis of reasons States 
     have or have not chosen to participate in the program, 
     including barriers to participation such as barriers related 
     to State regulatory requirements and statutes; and
       (H) a list of States that have closed record laws or 
     systems that prevent the States from sharing complete 
     criminal records data or information with State agencies in 
     another State.
       (f) Meetings.--Not later than 3 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall hold its first 
     meeting.
       (g) Final Report.--Not later than 1 year after the first 
     meeting of the Task Force, the Task Force shall submit to the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the 
     Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives a final report containing all of the 
     recommendations required by paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
     subsection (e). The report shall also include a list of the 
     members of the Task Force, the agencies such members 
     represent, and the individuals and entities with whom the 
     Task Force consulted under subsection (d).
       (h) Exemption From FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee 
     Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Task Force.
       (i) Sunset.--The Task Force shall terminate 1 year after 
     submitting its final report, but not later than the end of 
     fiscal year 2021.

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee-reported amendment be withdrawn; that the Alexander 
substitute

[[Page S1612]]

amendment at the desk be agreed to; and that the bill, as amended, be 
considered read a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was 
withdrawn.
  The amendment (No. 1522) was agreed to as follows:

                (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)

        Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Child Care Protection 
     Improvement Act of 2020''.

     SEC. 2. TASK FORCE TO ASSIST IN IMPROVING CHILD SAFETY.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a task force, to 
     be known as the Interagency Task Force for Child Safety 
     (referred to in this section as the ``Task Force'') to 
     identify, evaluate, and recommend best practices and 
     technical assistance to assist Federal and State agencies in 
     fully implementing the requirements of section 658H(b) of the 
     Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
     9858f(b)) for child care staff members.
       (b) Composition.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the President shall appoint the 
     members of the Task Force, which shall--
       (1) consist of only Federal officers and employees; and
       (2) include--
       (A) the Director of the Office of Child Care of the 
     Department of Health and Human Services (or the Director's 
     designee), the Associate Commissioner of the Children's 
     Bureau of the Department of Health and Human Services (or the 
     Associate Commissioner's designee), and the Director of the 
     Federal Bureau of Investigation (or the Director's designee); 
     and
       (B) such other Federal officers and employees (or their 
     designees) as may be appointed by the President.
       (c) Chairperson.--The chairperson of the Task Force shall 
     be the Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children 
     and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services.
       (d) Consultation.--The Task Force shall consult with 
     representatives from State child care agencies, State child 
     protective services, State criminal justice agencies, 
     providers of child care services, including providers in the 
     private sector, and other relevant stakeholders on 
     identifying problems in implementing, and proposing solutions 
     to implement, the requirements of section 658H(b) of the 
     Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, as 
     described in that section. Such consultation shall include 
     consultation with State agencies that are at different stages 
     of such implementation.
       (e) Task Force Duties.--The Task Force shall--
       (1) develop recommendations for improving implementation of 
     the requirements of section 658H(b) of the Child Care and 
     Development Block Grant Act of 1990, including 
     recommendations about how the Task Force and member agencies 
     will collaborate and coordinate efforts to implement such 
     requirements, as described in that section; and
       (2) develop recommendations in which the Task Force 
     identifies best practices and evaluates technical assistance 
     to assist relevant Federal and State agencies in implementing 
     section 658H(b) of the Child Care and Development Block Grant 
     Act of 1990, which identification and evaluation shall 
     include--
       (A) an analysis of available research and information at 
     the Federal and State levels regarding the status of the 
     interstate requirements of that section for child care staff 
     members who have resided in one or more States during the 
     previous 5 years and who seek employment in a child care 
     program in a different State;
       (B) a list of State agencies that are not responding to 
     interstate requests covered by that section for relevant 
     information on child care staff members;
       (C) identification of the challenges State agencies are 
     experiencing in responding to such interstate requests;
       (D) an analysis of the length of time it takes the State 
     agencies in a State to receive such results from State 
     agencies in another State in response to such an interstate 
     request, in accordance with that section;
       (E) an analysis of the average processing time for the 
     interstate requests, in accordance with that section;
       (F) identification of any fees (and entities responsible 
     for paying any such fees) associated with the interstate 
     requests in each State to meet requirements, in accordance 
     with section 658H of the Child Care and Development Block 
     Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858f), including identification 
     of--
       (i) the extent to which such fees are consistent with 
     subsection (f) of that section; and
       (ii) information regarding factors that impact such fees;
       (G) a list of States that are participating in the National 
     Fingerprint File program, as administered by the Federal 
     Bureau of Investigation, and an analysis of reasons States 
     have or have not chosen to participate in the program, 
     including barriers to participation such as barriers related 
     to State regulatory requirements and statutes; and
       (H) a list of States that have closed record laws or 
     systems that prevent the States from sharing complete 
     criminal records data or information with State agencies in 
     another State.
       (f) Meetings.--Not later than 3 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall hold its first 
     meeting.
       (g) Final Report.--Not later than 1 year after the first 
     meeting of the Task Force, the Task Force shall submit to the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the 
     Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives a final report containing all of the 
     recommendations required by paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
     subsection (e). The report shall also include a list of the 
     members of the Task Force, the agencies such members 
     represent, and the individuals and entities with whom the 
     Task Force consulted under subsection (d).
       (h) No Compensation for Members.--A member of the Task 
     Force shall serve without compensation in addition to any 
     compensation received for the service of the member as an 
     officer or employee of the United States.
       (i) Exemption From FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee 
     Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Task Force.
       (j) Sunset.--The Task Force shall terminate 1 year after 
     submitting its final report under subsection (g), but not 
     later than the end of fiscal year 2021.

  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read 
the third time.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the bill, as 
amended?
  The bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the 
bill pass?
  The bill (S. 2683), as amended, was passed.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion 
to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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