article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Teenage Pregnancy Reduction Act of 1996''. SEC. 2. EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS FOR PREVENTION OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY. (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall (directly or through grants or contracts awarded to public or nonprofit private entities) arrange for the evaluation of a wide variety of promising programs designed in whole or part to prevent pregnancy in teenagers, including programs that do not receive grants from the Federal Government for the operation of the programs. The purpose of the evaluation shall be the determination of-- (1) the factors contributing to the effectiveness of the programs; and (2) methods for replicating the programs in other locations. (b) Participation of Federal Agencies and Private Organizations.-- In carrying out the evaluation under subsection (a), the Secretary shall as appropriate-- (1) provide for the participation of the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Director of the Office of Population Affairs, the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, and the Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; and (2) provide for the participation of private organizations, including the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, a nonpartisan organization. (c) Design of Evaluation.--Subject to subsection (d), the Secretary shall select a design for the evaluation under subsection (a) from among proposals that-- (1) provide for the evaluation of programs in various geographic regions; (2) with respect to the populations served by the programs, provide for determining factors that are specific to various socioeconomic groups and various racial and ethnic minority groups; (3) provide for recommendations for future programs designed to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy; and (4) meet such criteria as the Secretary may establish. (d) Measures of Effectiveness.--The Secretary shall define the measures of effectiveness used in evaluating the programs designed to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy, and shall include a variety of measures of effectiveness in the definition. (e) Scientific Peer Review.--The Secretary may provide funds for a proposal pursuant to subsection (a) only if the proposal has been recommended for approval pursuant to a process of scientific peer review utilizing one or more panels of experts. Such panels shall include experts from public entities and from private entities. (f) Submission of Report to Congress and Secretary.--Not later than December 1, 1999, the evaluation under subsection (a) shall be completed and a report describing the findings made in the evaluation shall be submitted to the Congress and to the Secretary. (g) Dissemination of Information.--After the submission of the report under subsection (f), the Secretary shall disseminate the findings presented in the report. The categories of individuals to whom the information is disseminated shall include administrators of prevention programs, public and private entities that provide financial support to such programs, professional medical associations, entities providing public health services, entities providing social work services, and school administrators. (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $3,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 1997 through 1999. SEC. 3. NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON PREVENTION PROGRAMS. (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the completion of the evaluation under section 2, the Secretary shall (directly or though grants or contracts awarded to public or nonprofit private entities) establish an information clearinghouse to be known as the National Clearinghouse on Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Programs (in this section referred to as the ``Clearinghouse''). (b) Functions.--The Clearinghouse shall carry out the following activities: (1) Collect, maintain, and disseminate information on prevention programs, including information on the following: (A) The state of program development. (B) All types of prevention programs. (C) Findings made in the report submitted under section 2(f). (2) Develop networks of prevention programs for the purpose of sharing and disseminating information. (3) Develop and disseminate materials that provide technical assistance to public and private entities in establishing or improving prevention programs. (4) Participate in activities designed to encourage and enhance public media campaigns regarding pregnancy in teenagers. (5) Such other activities as will assist in the development and carrying out of activities to reduce pregnancy in teenagers. (c) Dissemination to Certain Entities.--The categories of entities to which the Clearinghouse disseminates information shall include administrators of prevention programs, public and private entities that provide financial support to such programs, professional medical associations, entities providing public health services, entities providing social work services, and school administrators. (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2000 through 2003. SEC. 4. ONE-TIME INCENTIVE GRANTS FOR EFFECTIVE PREVENTION PROGRAMS. (a) In General.--In the case of a prevention program that pursuant to the evaluation under section 2 has been found to be effective, the Secretary may under this section make not more than one grant to the entity that operates the program. The purpose of the grant shall be to assist the entity with the expenses of operating the program. (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--For carrying out subsection (a), there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000, in the aggregate, for the fiscal years 2000 through 2003. Such authorization is in addition to any other authorization of appropriations that is available for making grants for the operational expenses of prevention programs. SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. (a) Prevention Programs.-- (1) Rule of construction.--The provisions of this Act apply with respect to a prevention program without regard to which of the various programmatic approaches for the prevention of pregnancy in teenagers (as defined in paragraph (2)) is the focus of the program. (2) Programmatic approaches.--For purposes of this Act, the term ``programmatic approaches'', with respect to prevention programs, includes advocating abstinence from sexual relations; providing family planning services (including contraception); fostering academic achievement; mentoring by adults; providing employment assistance or job training; providing professional counseling or peer counseling; providing for recreational or social events; and any combination thereof. (b) Other Definitions.--For purposes of this Act: (1) The term ``prevention program'' means a program for the prevention of pregnancy in teenagers. (2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
summary: Teenage Pregnancy Reduction Act of 1996 - Mandates evaluation (directly or through grants or contracts) of a wide variety of promising programs to prevent teenage pregnancy, including programs that do not receive Federal grants. Mandates scientific peer review of evaluation proposals. Authorizes appropriations. Mandates establishment (directly or through grants or contracts) of the National Clearinghouse on Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Programs. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes an operating grant to a program found (by the evaluation under this Act) to be effective. Authorizes appropriations.