H.R. 767 — Engrossed in House

115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 767 AN ACT To establish the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training pilot program to address human trafficking in the health care system. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Act of 2018 or the SOAR to Health and Wellness Act of 2018. 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Human trafficking The term human trafficking has the meaning given the term severe forms of trafficking in persons as defined in section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102). (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 3. Program establishment (a) In general The Secretary shall establish a program to be known as the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training Program or the SOAR to Health and Wellness Training Program (in this Act referred to as the Program) to provide training to health care providers and other related providers, at all levels, on human trafficking in accordance with the purpose described in subsection (c). (b) Grants The Secretary may carry out the Program through the award of grants to health care sites and health care professional organizations that represent diversity in— (1) geography; (2) the demographics of the population served; (3) the predominant types of human trafficking cases; and (4) health care provider profiles. (c) Purpose The purpose of the Program shall be to train health care providers and other related providers to enable such providers to— (1) identify potential human trafficking victims; (2) implement proper protocols and procedures for working with law enforcement to report, and facilitate communication with, such victims, in accordance with all applicable Federal, State, local, and tribal requirements, including legal confidentiality requirements for patients and health care providers; (3) implement proper protocols and procedures for referring such victims to appropriate health care, social, or victims service agencies or organizations; (4) provide such victims care that is— (A) coordinated; (B) victim centered; (C) culturally relevant; (D) comprehensive; (E) evidence-based; (F) gender responsive; (G) age-appropriate, with a focus on care for youth; and (H) trauma-informed; and (5) consider the potential for integrating the training described in paragraphs (1) through (4) with training programs, in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, child abuse, child neglect, child maltreatment, and child sexual exploitation. (d) Functions (1) In general The functions of the Program shall include the functions of the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training program that was operating on the day before the date of enactment of this Act and the authorized initiatives described in paragraph (2). (2) Authorized initiatives The authorized initiatives of the Program shall include— (A) engaging stakeholders, including victims of human trafficking and any Federal, State, local, or tribal partners, to develop a flexible training module— (i) for achieving the purpose described in subsection (c); and (ii) that adapts to changing needs, settings, health care providers, and other related providers; (B) providing technical assistance for health education programs and health care professional organizations to implement health care protocols, or develop continuing education training materials, that assist in achieving the purpose described in subsection (c); (C) facilitating the dissemination of best practices and recommendations as the Secretary determines appropriate; and (D) developing a reliable methodology for collecting data, and reporting such data, on the number of human trafficking victims identified and served in health care settings or other related provider settings. 4. Data collection and reporting requirements (a) Data collection (1) In general During each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022, the Secretary shall collect data on each of the following: (A) The total number of grantees operating under the Program. (B) The total number of health care providers and other related providers trained through the Program. (2) Initial report In addition to the data required to be collected under paragraph (1), for purposes of the initial report to be submitted under subsection (b), the Secretary shall collect data on the total number of facilities and health care professional organizations that were operating under, and the total number of health care providers and other related providers trained through, the Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training program that was operating before the establishment under section 3(a) of the Program. (b) Reporting Not later than 90 days after the first day of each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report on the data collected under subsection (a). 5. Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022. 6. Cut-go compliance Subsection (f) of section 319D of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d–4) is amended by striking through 2018 and inserting through 2017, and $118,300,000 for fiscal year 2018. Passed the House of Representatives February 26, 2018.Clerk.