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H.R. 5876: Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008

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H.R. 5876: Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008

110th Congress · introduced 2008-04-23 · Families · Latest: DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Bachmann motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to add an amendment requiring parents or legal guardians to give consent before prescription medication is administered to children. During the course of debate, further proceedings on H.R. 5876 were postponed until a time to be announced.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2008-04-23 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-7] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 444 (2008): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR5876 (2008-06-24), Agreed to. See all
  4. Where it stands now: DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Bachmann motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to add an amendment requiring parents or legal guardians to give consent before prescription medication is administered to children. During the course of debate, further proceedings on H.R. 5876 were postponed until a time to be announced. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008

Plain summary

Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 - (Sec. 3) Directs the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services to require each location of a covered program to meet specified minimum standards if individually or together with other locations it has an effect on interstate commerce. Defines "covered program" as one not operated by a governmental entity that for children unrelated to the program owner or operator: (1) provides a residential environment; and (2) operates with a focus on serving children with emotional, behavioral, or mental health problems or disorders, or problems with alcohol or substance abuse. Directs the Assistant Secretary to require each location of a covered program that, individually or together with other locations, has an effect on interstate commerce, to meet certain minimum health and safety standards. Directs the Assistant Secretary also to: (1) establish a process for conducting unannounced site inspections of each covered program location to determine compliance with such standards; (2) implement an ongoing review process for investigating and evaluating reports of child abuse and neglect; (3) establish civil penalties for violations of standards; (4) establish public websites with information about each covered program, as well as a national toll-free telephone hotline to receive complaints; and (5) establish a process to ensure that complaints received by the hotline are promptly reviewed by persons with appropriate expertise. (Sec. 4) Requires the Assistant Secretary to refer any violation of such standards to the Attorney General for appropriate action. Authorizes the Attorney General to file such a complaint on his or her own initiative regardless of whether such a referral has been made. (Sec. 5) Authorizes a private right of action in a U.S. district court for harm caused by a violation of minimum standards. (Sec. 7) Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013. (Sec. 8) Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to establish additional eligibility requirements for grants to states to prevent child abuse and neglect at residential programs. Requires such states to develop policies and procedures to prevent child abuse and neglect at covered programs consistent with the standards specified by this Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House with amendment(s)), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House with amendment(s))

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-7] · 18 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5876, Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 (2008-05-22); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5876, Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 (2008-05-22)

Cosponsors on this site

Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT)

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (2)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Ballot initiative
A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong110-hr5876 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110