SICAA

Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act

SICAA will establish a “Federal Work Group on Youth Residential Programs”

President Joe Biden signed SICAA into law on December 23, 2024.

Overview:

Legislators believe that collecting more data about the Troubled Teen Industry is an important first step before we can pass more laws. They will begin by creating a “Work Group” of government officials who will investigate to find out what is currently happening in the TTI, then make recommendations on laws we can pass to improve things for kids who are in programs now. The Work Group will have to publish a new report every two years.

The Work Group will have 9 members, with at least one member from each of the following: 

  1. The Administration of Children and Families
  2. The Administration for Community Living
  3. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  4. The Department of Education
  5. The Indian Health Service
  6. Department of Justice
  7. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

The Work Group will consult with 

  1. Child advocates (including attorneys experienced in working with youth overrepresented in the child welfare system or the juvenile justice system)
  2. Therapists, social workers, substance use counselors, and other medical providers
  3. Groups and systems that advocate for and/or protect children
  4. People who have experience working with disabled kids, including mental health disabilities
  5. Survivors, including disabled survivors and survivors with substance use disorders
  6. Representatives of state and local child protective services
  7. Guardians of kids with “emotional, mental health, or substance disorder needs”
  8. Experts on institutional child abuse/neglect
  9. Administrators of TTI programs
  10. Teachers and other education professionals who work at TTIs
  11. Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations
  12. State legislators
  13. State licensing agencies
  14. “Others, as appropriate”

The Work Group will be responsible for:

  1. Creating and publishing recommendations about a national database that collects data about important facts like length of stay, use of restraints, use of seclusion, and outcomes for survivors
  2. Every two years, submitting a report containing policy recommendations for
    1. Keeping TTI facilities up to date with best practices 
    2. Keeping State agencies informed about best practices for TTI facilities
    3. Promoting best practices to child welfare systems, licensing agencies, accreditation organizations, and other relevant monitoring and enforcement entities
  3. Create and use tools for assessing whether or not kids at TTI facilities are in danger
  4. Help to create and promote training resources for people who work in health care, law enforcement, social work, child protection, education, child care, and other relevant fields
    1. Regarding needs & outcomes of overrepresented kids
    2. How to communicate effectively with other agencies
    3. Safer alternatives to eliminate use of restraints and seclusion, promote supportive, positive, trauma-informed care including crisis de-escalation interventions
    4. Their legally mandated responsibilities to protect children and their rights
  5. Promote development of community-based alternatives to RTCs and make those alternatives more accessible
  6. Give recommendations for “innovative” community-based programs that remove roadblocks for kids’ participation in school, mentor kids, provide in-home or outpatient substance use disorder treatment, and give resources to families to prevent need for RTCs
  7. Participate in other activities with the aim of advancing care for kids that is least-restrictive, evidence-based, trauma/grief-informed, developmentally appropriate, and culturally competent
  8. Recommend how to best share recommendations with States

Within 45 days of passing the act, “the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall seek to enter into a contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (referred to in this section as the ‘‘National  Academies’’) to conduct a study to examine the state of youth in youth residential programs and make recommendations.”

Study components – to be delivered within 3 years

  1. Identification of all Federal and State funding sources for TTI programs
  2. Identification of Federal data collection sources on kids in TTI programs
  3. Identification of existing Federal/Stage regulation, including alternative licensing standards or licensing exemptions
  4. Identification of “existing standards of care” for agencies that license and/or accredit TTI programs
  5. Identification of roadblocks preventing funding community-based care at State and Federal level
  6. Recommendations on how to coordinate data between Federal and state agencies regarding TTI programs
  7. Recommendations for improving Federal and State oversight on TTI programs that get federal funding

H.R.2955 – Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act

This is the version of SICAA that was passed by the House of Representatives.

Sponsor: Democratic representative Ro Khanna (California, district 17)

Tracker: Introduced 04/27/2023, referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce, referred to Subcommittee on Health 04/28/2023, passed House on December 18, 2024

Bill Cosponsors:

Rep. Carter, Earl L. “Buddy” [R-GA-1]* 04/27/2023

Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]* 04/27/2023

Rep. McClain, Lisa C. [R-MI-9]* 04/27/2023

Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] 05/09/2023

Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9] 05/09/2023

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] 05/09/2023

Rep. Molinaro, Marcus J. [R-NY-19] 05/09/2023

Rep. Carter, Troy [D-LA-2] 05/09/2023

Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1] 05/09/2023

Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7] 05/11/2023

Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17] 05/11/2023

Rep. Allred, Colin Z. [D-TX-32] 05/11/2023

Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24] 06/07/2023

Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7] 06/07/2023

Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1] 06/13/2023

Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] 06/13/2023

Rep. Chavez-DeRemer, Lori [R-OR-5] 06/13/2023

Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11] 06/13/2023

Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11] 06/13/2023

Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1] 06/13/2023

Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3] 06/13/2023

Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] 06/14/2023

Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] 06/14/2023

Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] 06/21/2023

Rep. Ferguson, A. Drew, IV [R-GA-3] 06/21/2023

Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] 07/06/2023

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] 07/06/2023

Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] 07/11/2023

Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] 07/11/2023

Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1] 07/11/2023

Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5] 07/11/2023

Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] 07/11/2023

Rep. Barragan, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] 07/11/2023

Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22] 07/26/2023

Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5] 07/26/2023

Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] 07/27/2023

Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7] 08/01/2023

Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] 08/01/2023

Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6] 08/01/2023

Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23] 08/01/2023

Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] 08/01/2023

Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26] 09/12/2023

Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] 09/12/2023

Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] 09/12/2023

Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] 09/12/2023

Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27] 09/21/2023

Rep. Bucshon, Larry [R-IN-8] 11/14/2023

Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2] 11/14/2023

Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2] 11/14/2023

Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] 11/14/2023

Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1] 11/21/2023

Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5] 11/21/2023

Rep. D’Esposito, Anthony [R-NY-4] 11/21/2023

Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6] 11/21/2023

Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15] 11/21/2023

Rep. Trone, David J. [D-MD-6] 11/21/2023

Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1] 11/29/2023

Rep. Granger, Kay [R-TX-12] 12/04/2023

Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10] 12/04/2023

Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21] 12/04/2023

Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4] 12/04/2023

Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3] 12/11/2023

Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7] 12/11/2023

Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] 12/12/2023

Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4] 01/03/2024

Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] 01/03/2024

Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2] 01/03/2024

Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] 01/03/2024

Rep. Spanberger, Abigail Davis [D-VA-7] 01/10/2024

Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28] 01/10/2024

Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2] 01/17/2024

Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29] 01/18/2024

Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] 01/25/2024

Rep. Nickel, Wiley [D-NC-13] 02/01/2024

Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] 02/06/2024

Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12] 02/14/2024

Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15] 02/14/2024

Rep. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE-At Large] 02/15/2024

Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2] 02/26/2024

Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6] 02/26/2024

Rep. Lesko, Debbie [R-AZ-8] 03/05/2024

Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32] 03/05/2024

Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24] 03/07/2024

Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] 03/12/2024

Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3] 03/19/2024

Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23] 03/19/2024

Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] 03/20/2024

Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4] 03/26/2024

Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25] 03/26/2024

Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] 03/26/2024

Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] 03/26/2024

Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] 03/29/2024

Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] 03/29/2024

Rep. Pascrell, Bill [D-NJ-9] 04/10/2024

Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] 04/10/2024

Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] 04/15/2024

Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] 04/16/2024

Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] 05/14/2024

Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] 05/22/2024

Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] 05/28/2024

Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7] 06/04/2024

Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21] 06/12/2024

Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11] 06/12/2024

Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2] 06/26/2024

Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9] 06/27/2024

Rep. Garcia, Mike [R-CA-27] 06/27/2024

Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2] 06/27/2024

Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] 06/27/2024

Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40] 07/09/2024

Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] 07/22/2024

Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15] 07/30/2024

Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34] 08/02/2024

S.1351 – Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act

Sponsor: Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

04/27/2023 introduced and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, passed Senate on December 11, 2024.

Mr. Merkley introduced bill (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Luján, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. Murphy, and Ms. Collins)

Cosponsors: 

Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]* 04/27/2023

Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM]* 04/27/2023

Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]* 04/27/2023

Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]* 04/27/2023

Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]* 04/27/2023

Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] 05/10/2023

Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY] 05/10/2023

Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] 07/11/2023

Sen. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK] 07/11/2023

Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS] 09/14/2023

Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV] 09/19/2023

Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH] 09/28/2023

Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] 10/04/2023

Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] 10/17/2023

Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE] 10/25/2023

Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL] 11/02/2023

Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] 11/14/2023

Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] 12/14/2023

Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] 01/09/2024

Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA] 01/09/2024

Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] 01/18/2024

Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI] 02/01/2024

Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] 02/26/2024