S 1570 IS

To amend the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to promote identification of children eligible for benefits under, and enrollment of children in, the medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance programs.

To amend the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to promote identification of children eligible for benefits under, and enrollment of children in, the medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance programs.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `SCHIP Improvement Act of 1999'.

SEC. 2. LIMITED WAIVER OF CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENT.

Section 9(b)(2)(C)(iii) of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(b)(2)(C)(iii)) is amended--

(1) in subclause (II), by striking `and' at the end;

(2) in subclause (III), by striking the period at the end and inserting `; and'; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

`(IV) a person directly connected with the administration of a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) or a State child health plan under title XXI of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.) for the purpose of identifying children eligible for benefits under, and enrolling children in, any such plan, except that this subclause shall apply with respect to the agency from which the information would be obtained only if the State and the agency so elect.'.

SEC. 3. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

(a) IN GENERAL- Section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(q) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT RELATING TO USE OF WIC FUNDS FOR IDENTIFICATION AND ENROLLMENT OF CHILDREN IN CERTAIN HEALTH PROGRAMS-

`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall establish a demonstration project in not more than 40 local agencies in not fewer than 2 States under which costs of nutrition services and administration (as defined in subsection (b)(4)) shall include the costs of identification of children eligible for benefits under, and enrollment of children in--

`(A) a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); and

`(B) a State child health plan under title XXI of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.).

`(2) REPORT ON EVALUATION OF COSTS- Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report evaluating the costs associated with implementation of the demonstration project, including an evaluation of the Federal and State costs per child enrolled in a State plan described in paragraph (1).

`(3) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY- The authority provided by this subsection terminates September 30, 2003.'.

(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS- Section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786)--

(1) in subsection (b)(4), by striking `(4)' and all that follows through `means' and inserting `(4) `Costs of nutrition services and administration' or `nutrition services and administration' means'; and

(2) in subsection (h)(1)(A), by striking `costs incurred by State and local agencies for nutrition services and administration' and inserting `costs of nutrition services and administration incurred by State and local agencies'.

SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR IDENTIFICATION AND ENROLLMENT EFFORTS.

Section 12 of the National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(p) GRANTS FOR IDENTIFICATION AND ENROLLMENT EFFORTS-

`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall make grants to States to carry out State plans to involve eligible entities described in paragraph (2) in the identification of children eligible for benefits under, and enrollment of children in--

`(A) a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); and

`(B) a State child health plan under title XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.).

`(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES- An eligible entity referred to in paragraph (1) is--

`(A) a school or school food authority participating in the school lunch program under this Act;

`(B) an institution participating in the child and adult care food program under section 17;

`(C) a local agency participating in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786); or

`(D) any other nongovernmental social service provider.

`(3) USE OF FUNDS FOR WIC DEMONSTRATION PROJECT- The authorized uses of grant funds under this subsection shall include carrying out the demonstration project under section 17(q) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(q)).

`(4) FUNDING- Out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall provide to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2003. The Secretary shall be entitled to receive the funds and shall accept the funds, without further Act of appropriation.'.