Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB437

Introduced
1/20/23  
Refer
1/20/23  

Caption

Reporting Accountability and Abuse Prevention Act of 2023 This bill requires recipients of grants for family planning services to demonstrate their compliance with state and local laws that mandate reporting of child abuse, human trafficking, or other mistreatment. If a grantee does not comply, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must first work with the grantee to remedy violations. For subsequent violations, the bill directs HHS to recoup funds received by the grantee. It also bars the grantee from receiving family planning funds for 36 months.

Impact

The bill introduces explicit requirements for grant recipients to maintain documentation that demonstrates their compliance with state notification laws. This includes training staff on the proper procedures for reporting abuse and ensuring that minors receive counseling about coercive situations. The focus is on creating robust systems within grant-funded programs to address and report instances of abuse and violence, which aligns with public health objectives aimed at safeguarding individuals in vulnerable positions.

Summary

House Bill 437, known as the Reporting Accountability and Abuse Prevention Act of 2023, aims to strengthen the compliance of grant recipients under Title X of the Public Health Service Act with state and local laws concerning the reporting of various forms of abuse, including child abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking. This bill mandates that any recipients of family planning grants must demonstrate their adherence to the legal obligations required for reporting such cases, thereby enhancing accountability and protection for vulnerable populations.

Contention

A notable point of contention associated with HB 437 arises from the potential implications for how family planning services operate in various states. Supporters argue that this bill is crucial for holding service providers accountable and preventing cases of abuse from going unreported. Critics, however, may express concerns about the added regulatory burden on healthcare providers and the implications for patient confidentiality. The bill’s requirements could also lead to potential conflicts between local and state laws, particularly regarding the definition of abuse or the obligations to report certain incidents.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US HB343

Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition ActThis bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from awarding family planning grants to entities that perform abortions or provide funding to other entities that perform abortions. To receive a grant, an entity must certify it will refrain from those activities during the grant period.The bill provides exceptions for abortions (1) in cases of rape or incest; or (2) when the life of the woman is in danger due to a physical disorder, injury, or illness. It also exempts hospitals unless they provide funds to non-hospital entities that provide abortions.HHS must submit a report to Congress annually on this prohibition.

US HB330

Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from awarding family planning grants to entities that perform abortions or provide funding to other entities that perform abortions. To receive a grant, an entity must certify it will refrain from those activities during the grant period. The bill provides exceptions for abortions (1) in cases of rape or incest; or (2) when the life of the woman is in danger due to a physical disorder, injury, or illness. It also exempts hospitals unless they provide funds to non-hospital entities that provide abortions. HHS must report annually on this prohibition.

US HB625

Withhold entitlement share for non-compliance with child abuse reporting requirements

US SB76

Standing with Moms Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to disseminate information about pregnancy-related resources. Specifically, HHS must maintain a public website (life.gov) that lists such resources that are available through federal, state, and local governments and private entities. Additionally, HHS must maintain on its website a portal that provides a user, based on the user's responses to a series of questions, tailored information about pregnancy resources available in the user's zip code and risks related to abortion. HHS must develop a plan to conduct follow-up outreach to users of the portal (if the user consents to the outreach). States must recommend resources that meet criteria set by HHS for including through the portal. HHS may award grants to states to establish or support a system that aggregates resources to include on the portal. Further, the Health Resources and Services Administration must share information about life.gov and the portal through the Maternal Mental Health Hotline. HHS must also ensure that the life.gov website and hotline are available to families who speak languages other than English. The bill excludes from life.gov, the portal, and the hotline resources provided by entities that (1) perform, induce, refer for, or counsel in favor of abortions; or (2) financially support such entities. The bill also requires HHS to report on traffic to life.gov and the portal, gaps in services available to pregnant and postpartum individuals, and related matters.

US HB445

HHS Reproductive and Sexual Health Ombuds Act of 2023 This bill creates a position within the Department of Health and Human Services to support access to reproductive and sexual health services (including services relating to pregnancy and the termination of a pregnancy) that are evidence-based and medically accurate. Functions of the position include (1) educating the public about medication abortions and other sexual and reproductive health services, (2) collecting and analyzing data about consumer access to and health insurance coverage for those services, and (3) coordinating with the Federal Trade Commission on issues related to consumer protection and data privacy for those services.

US SB74

Providing for Life Act of 2023 This bill revises various programs and supports for families and children related to taxes, health, and other benefits. First, the bill increases the child tax credit to a maximum of $3,500 per child ($4,500 per child under the age of six) and makes permanent the increased income threshold over which the credit phases out. The bill further eliminates the federal deduction for certain state and local taxes (SALT deduction) and makes the adoption tax credit refundable. The bill allows parents to use a portion of their Social Security benefits for up to three months of paid parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child. Additionally, the bill requires Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to cooperate with states in establishing child support orders. It also provides additional workforce training for noncustodial parents with child support obligations. States must establish requirements for the biological father of a child to pay, at the mother's request, at least 50% of reasonable out-of-pocket medical expenses associated with the mother's pregnancy and delivery. The bill requires institutions of higher education to provide students with certain information about the resources and services (excluding abortion services) available to pregnant students. Additionally, the bill provides grants for community-based maternal mentoring programs and for pregnancy resource centers that do not provide abortions; requires the Department of Health and Human Services to publish a website with specified pregnancy-related information; and extends from one to two years the postpartum benefit eligibility period under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

US HB581

Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide states and tribal entities with grants to increase access to licensed child care services.The grants may be used to develop and expand the child care workforce or child care facilities in locations with insufficient available child care. Specifically, grants cover 50% of the cost of programs to support the education and training of caregivers or projects to build, expand, or renovate child care facilities in these areas.

US SB0042

Health and Human Services Reporting Requirements

US HB245

Grant Integrity and Border Security ActThis bill requires an applicant for a federal grant to certify that the applicant has not violated in the last 10 years, is not currently violating, and will not violate during the term of the grant the federal criminal prohibition against bringing into the United States or harboring certain non-U.S. nationals (i.e., aliens under federal law). Upon determination by the granting agency that a grantee is in violation of this bill, the agency must withhold any federal grant funds from the grantee.The Department of Justice (DOJ) must report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) individuals convicted of, or who admitted to, such a violation. Additionally, the DOJ must report to OMB if DOJ believes there is a reasonable basis to conclude that an individual has committed such a violation.

US HB128

Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2023 This bill restricts federal funding for Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. or any of its affiliates or clinics for one year. Specifically, it prohibits funding those entities unless they certify that the affiliates and clinics will not perform, and will not provide funds to entities that perform, abortions during that year. If the certification requirement is not met, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture must recoup any federal assistance received by those entities. However, the bill's funding restriction does not apply to abortions performed in cases of rape or incest or when necessary to resolve a physical condition that endangers a woman's life. The bill also provides additional funding for community health centers for the one-year period. These funds are subject to the same abortion-related restrictions and exceptions.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.