Library consortium pilot grants

Part A of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 506B. Library consortium pilot grants (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) an eligible library; (B) a library agency that is an official agency of a State or other unit of government and is charged by the law governing it with the extension and development of public library services within its jurisdiction; (C) an eligible library consortium; or (D) a library association that exists on a permanent basis, serves libraries or library professionals on a national, regional, State, or local level, and engages in activities designed to advance the well-being of libraries and the library profession. (2) Eligible library The term eligible library means— (A) a public library; (B) an elementary or secondary school library; (C) a library that is operated by an institution of higher education; (D) a research library or archive that is not an integral part of an institution of higher education and that makes publicly available library services and materials that are suitable for scholarly research and not otherwise available; or (E) a Tribal library. (3) Eligible library consortium The term eligible library consortium means a local, statewide, regional, interstate, or international cooperative association of library entities that provides for the systematic and effective coordination of the resources of eligible libraries, and information centers that work to improve the services delivered to the clientele of these libraries. (b) Grant program From amounts made available under this section for a fiscal year, the Assistant Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable those eligible entities to carry out pilot programs to address the needs of homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness. (c) Use of funds (1) In general Each eligible entity receiving funds under this section may use such funds to provide programs or resources that address the needs of homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness by— (A) connecting them with resources to help them transition to stable, independent or supported living, through the eligible entity’s own activities or through subgrants to eligible libraries, as appropriate; (B) providing homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness with programs on issues such as health, mortgage or rental assistance, and applying for government benefits; or (C) partnering with other community organizations or the locality’s department of public health for outreach activities and connections to other relevant services. (2) Criteria for subgrants In awarding a subgrant under this section, an eligible entity shall— (A) require eligible libraries desiring a subgrant to submit an application containing— (i) the estimated number of homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness that will be served under the homelessness-related programs to be funded by the subgrant; and (ii) any other criteria established by the grantee in the application submitted under subsection (d); and (B) give preference to eligible libraries that propose to carry out programs or develop resources that integrate existing Federal or State programs that serve homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness. (d) Application An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may require. Each application shall include— (1) a description of the homelessness-related programs or resources that the eligible entity will support (in accordance with subsection (c)(1)) either through its own activities or through subgrants to eligible libraries; (2) a description of how community or governmental partners will be involved in the homelessness-related programs or resources provided by the eligible entity; and (3) in the case of projects that the eligible entity intends to carry out through subgrants— (A) a description of how the eligible entity will make subgrants, including any priorities or considerations that will be applied in making such subgrants; (B) a description of how the eligible entity will disseminate, in a timely manner, information regarding the subgrants, and the application process for such subgrants; (C) a description of the criteria that the eligible entity will require for the programs carried out by subgrantees with funds awarded by that eligible entity; and (D) an assurance that each eligible library that receives a subgrant will use the funds from that subgrant to provide programs that primarily serve homeless individuals or individuals at risk of homelessness. (e) Consultation In carrying out this section, the Assistant Secretary— (1) shall consult with the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and (2) may consult with the Interagency Council on Homelessness or any other appropriate Federal agency or office to help ensure that funds are disbursed and utilized effectively. (f) Reports Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this section for a fiscal year shall prepare and submit a report to the Assistant Secretary, in such form and containing such information, as the Assistant Secretary may reasonably require to determine the extent to which funds provided under this section have been effective in carrying out the purposes of this section. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this section and for each of the 9 succeeding fiscal years thereafter..