ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS YOUTH.

SEC. 106. ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS YOUTH. (a) In General.—The Secretary of Education shall provide assistance to local educational agencies serving homeless children and youths displaced by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita, consistent with section 723 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11433), including identification, enrollment assistance, assessment and school placement assistance, transportation, coordination of school services, supplies, referrals for health, mental health, and other needs. (b) Exception and Distribution of Funds.—(1) Exception.—For purposes of providing assistance under subsection (a), subsections (c) and (e)(1) of section 722 and subsections (b) and (c) of section 723 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(c) and (e)(1), 11433(b) and (c)) shall not apply. (2) Disbursement.—The Secretary of Education shall disburse funding provided under subsection (a) to State educational agencies based on demonstrated need, as determined by the Secretary, and such State educational agencies shall distribute funds, that are appropriated under section 109 and available to carry out this section, to local educational agencies based on demonstrated need, for the purposes of carrying out section 723 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11433). 119 STAT. 2798