,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #bfee  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,augu/ #a1 #bjbe,mr4   
,murphy 7= himself & ,mr4 ,blum5?al7    
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !     
,judici>y  ,a ,,bill  ,to e/abli% a     
community-bas$ refugee reception program
 to provide initial refugee resettlem5t 
s]vices1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort   
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !         
,community-bas$ ,refugee ,reception ,act
 ( #bjbe4  #b4 ,s5se ( ,congress ,x is !
 s5se ( ,congress t-- 7#a7              
community-bas$ refugee reception is n a 
replacem5t = resettlem5t s]vices provid$
 ?r\gh exp]i5c$ provid]s b s]ves z an   
effective complem5t to exi/+ resettlem5t
 pa?ways by increas+ ! capacity ( local 
communities to resettle refugees 9 !    
,unit$ ,/ates2  7#b7 9 addition to      
support+ self-suffici5cy ( refugees1    
p>ticipation 9 community-bas$ reception 
enc\rages ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s to      
mean+fully engage ) _! neighbors & local

 in/itutions :ile work+ t[>d a common   
goal2  7#c7 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate %\ld    
utilize all available tools to exp&     
av5ues = ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s to       
p>ticipate 9 refugee resettlem5t &      
capitalize on widespread int]e/ 9       
community-bas$ reception models2  7#d7 !
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,refugee ,admissions     
,program is a critical demon/ration (   
ef=ts by ! ,unit$ ,/ates to ext5d hope1 
/r5g!n global security1 & relieve suff]+
 ?r\gh refugee resettlem5t2  7#e7 al?\gh
 less ?an #a p]c5t ( global refugees w  
ev] be resettl$ 9 a ?ird c\ntry1        
refugees resettl$ 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates     
betwe5 #bjje & #bjai contribut$ a /agg]+
 #abc1hjj1jjj1jjj 9 net b5efit to !     
economy accord+ to /udies conduct$ by ! 
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t2  7#f7 ! _w is curr5tly
 fac$ ) ! greate/ displacem5t & refugee 
crisis 9 hi/ory z record numb]s ( p h   
be5 =c$ to flee viol5ce & p]secution1   
includ+ #cf1hjj1jjj refugees1 & ! ,unit$
 ,/ates mu/ set ! b> = a global         
response2  7#g7 :5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates      

inve/s 9 refugee & humanit>ian          
protections1 x /abilizes regional       
security & enc\rages o!r c\ntries to    
exp& access to resettlem5t & o!r pa?ways
 to protection2 &  7#h7 process+ &      
admission ( refugees ?r\gh ! ,unit$     
,/ates ,refugee ,admissions ,program mu/
 imm$iately resume = all nationalities  
"u consid]ation = resettlem5t 9         
accordance ) ,f$]al law & int]national  
obligations4  #c4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is    
,act3 7#a7 ,secret>y ,! t]m ,secret>y   
means ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate4  7#b7        
,reception & placem5t s]vices ,! t]m    
reception & placem5t s]vices means !    
initial reception & placem5t program    
manag$ by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate t provides
 initial resettlem5t assi/ance to       
refugees arriv+ 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 su*  
z-- 7,a7 ! provision ( h\s+1 furni%+s1  
clo?+1 & food2  7,b7 assi/ance ) access 
to m$ical1 employm5t1 educational1 &    
social s]vices2 &  7,c7 conduct+        
cultural & social ori5tation = rec5tly  
arriv+ refugees4  7#c7 ,unit$ ,/ates    

,refugee ,admissions ,program ,! t]m    
,unit$ ,/ates ,refugee ,admissions      
,program means ! program to resettle    
refugees 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates pursuant to !
 au?orities provid$ 9 sections          
#aja7;a77#db71 #bjg1 & #dab ( !         
,immigration & ,nationality ,act 7#h    
,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#db71 #aaeg1 &      
#aebb74  #d4 ,eligibility z refugees (  
special humanit>ian conc]n  7a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,= ! purpose ( admission z a refugee "u
 section #bjg ( ! ,immigration &        
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaeg71 
refugees ( special humanit>ian conc]n   
eligible = process+ "u ! ,unit$ ,/ates  
,refugee ,admissions ,program %all      
include ali5s ref]r$ by eligible        
community sponsor%ip gr\ps subject to ! 
requirem5ts ( section #dae ( !          
,immigration & ,nationality ,act1 z add$
 by section #e4  7b7 ,process+ ,n lat]  
?an #ij days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( 
?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all e/abli% a    
proc$ure = ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,refugee     
,admissions ,program to accept & process

 ref]rals f eligible community          
sponsor%ip gr\ps4  7c7 ,applicability ( 
o!r requirem5ts ,ali5s ref]r$ = process+
 "u ?is section %all satisfy !          
requirem5ts ( section #bjg ( !          
,immigration & ,nationality ,act 7#h    
,u4,s4,c4 #aaeg7 to qualify = admission 
to ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  7d7 ,applicability 
( num]ical limitations ,refugees admitt$
 "u ?is section %all n be subject to !  
num]ical limitations describ$ 9 sections
 #bjb1 #bjc1 #bjd1 & #bjg ( !           
,immigration & ,nationality ,act 7#h    
,u4,s4,c4 #aaeb1 #aaec1 #aaed1 #aaeg74  
7e7 ,rule ( con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ?is     
section may be con/ru$-- 7#a7 to        
au?orize ! ,secret>y to replace or r$uce
 f$]ally fund$ reception & placem5t     
s]vices = ali5s2 or  7#b7 to re/rict !  
au?ority ( ! ,secret>y ( ,homel&        
,security to admit ali5s to ! ,unit$    
,/ates "u any o!r ,act4  #e4            
,community-bas$ ,refugee ,reception     
,program ,*apt] #b ( title ,,iv ( !     
,immigration & ,nationality ,act 7#h    

,u4,s4,c4 #aaja et seq47 is am5d$ by    
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #dae4          
,community-bas$ ,refugee ,reception     
,program  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t  7#a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! enactm5t ( 
?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y1 9 consultation ) 
! ,secret>y ( ,homel& ,security &       
,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices1   
%all e/abli% a program )9 ! ,unit$      
,/ates ,refugee ,admission ,program1 to 
be kn[n z ! ,community-bas$ ,refugee    
,reception ,program 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is    
section z ! ,program71 :i* %all use     
community sponsor%ip1 private           
sponsor%ip1 & p>tn]%ips betwe5          
resettlem5t ag5cies & community gr\ps to
 provide refugees ) initial resettlem5t 
s]vices1 includ+ reception & placem5t ) 
sponsors1 ( refugees 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates =
 a p]iod ( at lea/ #ij days4  7#b7      
,proc$ure ,! ,secret>y %all adm9i/] a   
proc$ure = accept+ & approv+            
applications = community sponsor%ip     
gr\ps to p>ticipate 9 ! ,program1       
subject to requirem5ts describ$ 9       

subsection 7c74  7b7 ,eligibility  7#a7 
,9 g5]al ,a refugee admitt$ to ! ,unit$ 
,/ates is eligible to p>ticipate 9 !    
,program if1 pursuant to processes &    
proc$ures e/abli%$ by ! ,secret>y-- 7,a7
 su* individual has be5 ref]r$ to !     
program to resettle refugees 9 ! ,unit$ 
,/ates pursuant to ! au?orities provid$ 
9 sections #aja7;a77#db71 #bjg1 & #dab  
by a community sponsor%ip gr\p t int5ds 
to provide reception & placem5t s]vices 
to ! refugee & any imm$iate relative or 
b5efici>y ( ! refugee2 &  7,b7 !        
,secret>y det]m9es su* placem5t is 9 !  
int]e/ ( ! refugee to facilitate        
self-suffici5cy aft] consid]+ ! specific
 ne$s ( ! refugee & any imm$iate        
relative or b5efici>y ( ! refugee4  7#b7
 ,exception  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,a refugee   
ref]r$ to ! program to resettle refugees
 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates pursuant to !        
au?orities provid$ 9 sections           
#aja7;a77#db71 #bjg1 & #dab by an entity
 o!r ?an a community sponsor%ip gr\p may
 be plac$ ) a community sponsor%ip gr\p 

pursuant to section #dae7;c77#b71 if !  
,secret>y det]m9es su* placem5t is 9 !  
int]e/ ( ! refugee to facilitate        
self-suffici5cy 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  7,b7
 ,consid]ations ,9 det]m9+ eligibility  
"u ?is p>agraph1 ! ,secret>y %all       
consid] ! specific ne$s ( ! refugee1 or 
( ! imm$iate relatives or b5efici>ies ( 
su* refugee1 includ+ ! availability (   
accommodations = p]sons ) disabilities4 
7c7 ,community sponsor%ip gr\ps  7#a7   
,eligibility ,community sponsor%ip gr\ps
 t apply to p>ticipate 9 ! ,program may 
be eligible if ! ,secret>y det]m9es t ! 
gr\p has-- 7,a7 n less ?an #c ,unit$    
,/ates citiz5s or lawful p]man5t        
resid5ts :o live )9 ! area :]e ! refugee
 & ! b5efici>ies ( su* refugee1 if      
applicable1 int5d to be resettl$2  7,b7 
rais$ suffici5t funds to cov] associat$ 
exp5ses = ! p]iod ( initial sponsor%ip =
 ea* sponsor$ refugee1 :i* %all be an   
am\nt det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate2   
7,c7 complet$ all requir$ pre-arrival   
tra9+ z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y2 &  7,d7 

provid$ all requir$ biographic in=mation
 ( ea* sponsor$ refugee or refugees (   
special humanit>ian conc]n = process+ to
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,refugee ,admission    
,program accord+ to ! proc$ures set =?  
by ! ,secret>y4  7#b7 ,exception        
,p>agraph 7#a77;,c7 %all n apply )      
respect to community sponsor%ip gr\ps t 
h provid$ cons5t to provide = initial   
resettlem5t = any refugee1 & ! imm$iate 
relatives or b5efici>ies ( su* refugee1 
det]m9$ to be eligible = admission "u   
section #bjg & subject to ! p>amet]s    
provid$ by ! community sponsor%ip gr\p4 
7#c7 ,responsibilities  7,a7 ,9 g5]al   
,community sponsor%ip gr\ps %all be     
responsible = provid+ initial reception 
& placem5t s]vices simil> to s]vices    
provid$ by dome/ic resettlem5t ag5cies &
 local affiliates = a refugee & !       
imm$iate relatives or b5efici>ies ( su* 
refugee = n less ?an #ij days aft] !    
admission ( su* refugee1 9 lieu (       
s]vices typically provid$ by dome/ic    
resettlem5t ag5cies & local affiliates4 

7,b7 ,rule ( con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ?is    
p>agraph %all be con/ru$ to limit       
refugees f access+ public b5efits or    
s]vices o!r ?an reception & placem5t    
s]vices4  7d7 ,public-,private ,p>tn]%ip
  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y may make   
grants to1 & ent] into contracts &      
coop]ative agreem5ts )1 "o or m         
organizations to meet co/s associat$ )  
tra9+ & o!r s]vices r5d]$ to community  
sponsor%ip gr\ps4 ,funds "u ?is p>agraph
 %all be provid$ 9 coord9ation ) !      
provision ( o!r assi/ance 9 ?is *apt] & 
n 9 lieu ( paym5ts = any o!r s]vice4    
7#b7 ,organizations ,! ,secret>y %all   
ensure t recipi5ts ( grants aw>d$       
pursuant to p>agraph 7#a7 suffici5tly   
reflect geographic div]sity & are       
inclusive ( organizations ) demon/rat$  
exp]i5ce 9 employ+ community sponsor%ip 
models = refugee reception1 vet]an      
s]vice organizations1 fai?-bas$ gr\ps1 &
 ,private ,sponsor ,organizations4  7#c7
 ,duties ,organizations p>ticipat+ 9 !  
coop]ative agreem5t %all be responsible 

=-- 7,a7 in=m+ implem5tation ( !        
,program2 &  7,b7 assi/+ ! ,secret>y )  
develop+-- 7i7 m&atory tra9+ = all      
community sponsor%ip gr\ps to be        
complet$ prior to application to !      
program1 :i* %all include in=mation on--
 7,i7 all responsibilities ( ! community
 sponsor%ip gr\p ?r\gh\t ! #ij-;day     
initial resettlem5t p]iod & any         
additional duties or expectations beyond
 su* p]iod2  7,,ii7 demon/rat$ be/      
practices = assi/+ refugees to atta9    
self-suffici5cy2  7,,iii7 ! legal rights
 & protections ( refugees2  7,,iv7 !    
g5]al eligibility ( refugees to access  
public b5efits1 includ+ ca% assi/ance1  
job tra9+1 language tra9+1 & o!r support
 au?oriz$ "u ?is *apt]2 &  7,v7 any o!r 
requirem5ts t ! ,secret>y det]m9es is   
necess>y to facilitate resettlem5t (    
refugees 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7ii7       
policies t provide = cont9uity ( support
 to refugees 9 ! ev5t a community       
sponsor%ip gr\p is unable to fulfill its
 responsibilities = ! entirety ( !      

#ij-;day initial resettlem5t p]iod1     
includ+ proc$ures = provid+ reimbursem5t
 to resettlem5t ag5cies = s]vices       
provid$ z a result ( any disruption 9   
s]vice2  7iii7 policies to prohibit     
wa/e1 fraud1 & abuse by community       
sponsor%ip gr\ps2 &  7iv7 a me*anism =  
refugees to indep5d5tly report to !     
,secret>y-- 7,i7 any crim9al or neglig5t
 activity by a community sponsor%ip     
gr\p2 or  7,,ii7 any behavior by a      
community sponsor%ip gr\p t o!rwise     
adv]sely affects ! ability ( ! refugee  
to e/abli% indep5d5ce 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates4
  7e7 ,communication ) ,/ate & local    
gov]nm5ts ,n lat] ?an #fj days aft]     
,septemb] #bj1 #bjbf1 & n lat] ?an #fj  
days aft] ! end ( ea* fiscal ye>        
!reaft]1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to     
repres5tatives ( ,/ate & local gov]nm5t1
 includ+ ,/ate & local heal? ag5cies :]e
 community sponsor%ip gr\ps are active1 
a report on curr5t e/imates ( ! total   
numb] (-- 7#a7 refugees int5d$ to be    
resettl$ ?r\gh ! ,program )9 !          

respective ,/ate or local jurisdiction 9
 ! fiscal ye> foll[+ ! fiscal ye> = :i* 
! report is be+ prep>$2  7#b7 community 
sponsor%ip applications receiv$ f _!    
respective jurisdiction 9 ! prec$+      
fiscal ye>2 &  7#c7 community sponsor%ip
 gr\ps approv$ to p>ticipate 9 !        
,program p5d+ ! arrival ( a refugee4    
7f7 ,eligibility = assi/ance ,no?+ 9 ?is
 section %all be int]pret$ to limit !   
access ( a refugee :o receiv$ initial   
reception & placem5t s]vices f !        
,program to any assi/ance provid$ by !  
,(fice to ali5s au?oriz$ "u section #dab
 or any o!r provision ( law4  7g7       
,regulations ,! ,secret>y may issue su* 
regulations z may be necess>y or        
appropriate to c>ry out ! purposes ( ?is
 section4  7h7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is       
section3 7#a7 ,reception & placem5t     
s]vices ,! t]m reception & placem5t     
s]vices means ! initial reception &     
placem5t program manag$ by ! ,dep>tm5t (
 ,/ate t provides initial resettlem5t   
assi/ance to refugees arriv+ 9 ! ,unit$ 

,/ates1 su* z-- 7,a7 ! provision ( h\s+1
 furni%+s1 clo?+1 & food2  7,b7         
assi/ance ) access to m$ical1 employm5t1
 educational1 & social s]vices2 &  7,c7 
conduct+ cultural & social ori5tation = 
rec5tly arriv+ refugees4  7#b7 ,secret>y
 ,! t]m ,secret>y means ! ,secret>y (   
,/ate4  7i7 ,appropriations ,!re are    
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ = fiscal ye> 
#bjbf & ea* fiscal ye> !reaft] su* sums 
z may be necess>y to c>ry out ?is       
section4  4