Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Safe Shelters Act of 2021”.
Safe Shelters Act of 2021
A BILL
To improve the Office of Refugee Resettlement shelter grant process.
Sec. 2 Office of Refugee Resettlement shelter grant process
Definitions— In this section:
Adverse action— The term adverse action means an adverse criminal or regulatory action taken by the Federal Government or a State or local government with respect to contracting with a government entity or to the care of children, including—
the suspension or revocation of an operating license; and
any ongoing or pending investigation by the Federal Government or a State or local government.
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Unaccompanied alien child— The term unaccompanied alien child has the meaning given the term in section 462(g) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279(g)).
Disclosure and licensure— With respect to Office of Refugee Resettlement grants to open or fund shelter facilities for unaccompanied alien children, the Secretary shall require each applicant—
to disclose in the grant application any adverse action taken against the applicant during the 5-year period immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted; and
to be licensed to operate such a facility in the applicable State as of such date.
Information sharing— In considering an application for a grant referred to in subsection (b), the Secretary shall seek to collaborate with the appropriate regulatory agencies of the State in which the applicant intends to operate to conduct a review of State databases for information on adverse actions taken against the applicant.