[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1964 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1964

To amend parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act to invest 
 in funding prevention and family services to help keep children safe 
   and supported at home with their families, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 5, 2015

Mr. Wyden (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Casey, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Brown, 
 Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Schumer, and Mr. Menendez) introduced the following 
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act to invest 
 in funding prevention and family services to help keep children safe 
   and supported at home with their families, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Family Stability 
and Kinship Care Act of 2015''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Purpose.
Sec. 4. Time-limited family services under part E of title IV of the 
                            Social Security Act.
Sec. 5. Ensuring funding under part B of title IV of the Social 
                            Security Act for prevention and post-
                            permanency support.
Sec. 6. Effective date.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Our Nation's child welfare financing system gives 
        States and Indian Tribes few resources to invest in prevention 
        and family services that help keep children safely at home or 
        in the care of other family members.
            (2) Title IV-E of the Social Security Act currently 
        provides States and Indian Tribes with mandatory Federal 
        funding support for children only after they are placed in 
        foster care. Title IV-E provides few incentives for State and 
        tribal efforts to prevent the need for out-of-home placements 
        of children or to reduce the time children spend in foster 
        care.
            (3) In contrast, State and tribal innovations implemented 
        through title IV-E waivers suggest that permitting State and 
        tribal spending under title IV-E for front end prevention and 
        family services may help reduce the prevalence and length of 
        foster care placements while maintaining or improving safety 
        and permanency outcomes for children.
            (4) Additionally, State experiences with subsidized 
        guardianship demonstrate that when children cannot remain with 
        their parents, children placed with relatives or kin experience 
        greater stability than children placed with non-relative foster 
        families. Kinship or relative care reduces the emotional trauma 
        associated with separation from parents, helps keep siblings 
        together, and preserves cultural heritage and community bonds. 
        Providing supportive services to relatives and kin can reduce 
        the number of children entering or re-entering foster care.
            (5) At the same time, current Federal funding for broad, 
        community-based, primary prevention programs through title IV-B 
        is too limited to adequately reach the number of families in 
        need.
            (6) Greater access to prevention and family services will 
        help keep children safe and supported at home with their 
        parents or other family members, give States and Indian Tribes 
        the flexibility to adapt evidence-based support services to the 
        specific needs of each family, and ensure that States and 
        Indian Tribes are held accountable for allocating services in 
        ways that maximize safety and permanency for children, while 
        minimizing the prevalence of lengthy foster care placements.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to enable States to provide enhanced 
support to children and families and prevent foster care placements 
through the provision of time-limited family services and expanded 
kinship supports.

SEC. 4. TIME-LIMITED FAMILY SERVICES UNDER PART E OF TITLE IV OF THE 
              SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.

    (a) Time-Limited Family Services Defined.--Section 475 of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 675) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(13)(A) The term `time-limited family services' means 
        supports and services that are among the services and supports 
        specified in subparagraph (B) and that are provided to a child 
        or to the parents or potential or designated kin caregivers of 
        a child described in subparagraph (C) during a 12-month period 
        that begins on a date described in subparagraph (D). Such 
        individuals shall remain eligible for time-limited family 
        services for a full 12-month period without regard to whether 
        any such individuals cease to be described in subparagraph (C) 
        after the period begins.
            ``(B) The services and supports described in this 
        subparagraph are the following:
                    ``(i) Parenting and family skills training and 
                parent education, including parent advocates, peer-to-
                peer mentoring and support groups for parents, primary 
                caregivers, and potential kinship caregivers.
                    ``(ii) Individual, group, and family counseling, 
                mentoring, and therapy, including intensive family 
                preservation or reunification programs and trauma-
                informed care.
                    ``(iii) Services or assistance to address barriers 
                to family preservation and reunification, including 
                mental health needs, domestic violence, substance 
                abuse, and inadequate housing.
                    ``(iv) Crisis assistance or services to stabilize 
                families in times of crisis or facilitate kinship 
                placement, such as transportation, clothing, household 
                goods, assistance with housing and utility payments, 
                child care, respite care, and assistance connecting 
                families with other community-based services.
            ``(C) Individuals described in this subparagraph are the 
        following:
                    ``(i) A child who is a candidate for foster care 
                (as defined in paragraph 14) but can remain safely at 
                home or in a kinship placement with receipt of 
                specified time-limited family services.
                    ``(ii) A child in foster care (without regard to 
                whether the child is or would be eligible for payments 
                under section 472 or 473).
                    ``(iii) A child in foster care who is a pregnant or 
                parenting foster youth.
                    ``(iv) Parents or potential or designated kin 
                caregivers of a child described in clause (i), (ii), or 
                (iii) when their service needs are directly related to 
                the safety, permanence, or well-being of the child or 
                to the child's ability not to enter or re-enter foster 
                care.
            ``(D) The dates described in this subparagraph are the 
        following:
                    ``(i) The date on which a child is identified in a 
                case plan as a child who is a candidate for foster care 
                (as defined in paragraph (14)).
                    ``(ii) The date on which a child is considered to 
                have entered foster care pursuant to paragraph (5)(F).
                    ``(iii) The date on which a child is identified in 
                a case plan as a pregnant or parenting foster youth in 
                need of time-limited family services.
    ``(14) The term `child who is a candidate for foster care' means, a 
child who is identified in a case plan as being at imminent risk of 
entering or re-entering foster care (without regard to whether the 
child is or would be eligible for payments under section 472 or 473) 
but who can remain safely in the child's current home or in a kinship 
placement as long as the time-limited family services that are 
necessary to prevent the child's entry or reentry into foster care are 
provided. Such term includes a child whose adoption or guardianship 
arrangement is at risk of a disruption or dissolution that would result 
in a foster care placement.''.
    (b) Requirements.--Section 471 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 671) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``and'' and all that 
        follows through the semicolon and inserting ``, adoption 
        assistance in accordance with section 473, and, at the option 
        of the State, time-limited family services in accordance with 
        subsection (e);''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Requirements for Time-Limited Family Services.--
            ``(1) In general.--A State may provide time-limited family 
        services (as defined in section 475(13)) to individuals 
        described in subparagraph (C) of section 475(13) only if the 
        State--
                    ``(A) submits as part of the State plan required 
                under subsection (a) a time-limited family services 
                plan component that meets the requirements of paragraph 
                (2); and
                    ``(B) satisfies the general requirements specified 
                in paragraph (3) and the maintenance of effort 
                requirements specified in (5).
            ``(2) Time-limited family services plan component.--In 
        order to meet the requirements of this paragraph, a time-
        limited family services plan component shall include, with 
        respect to each 5-year period for which the plan component is 
        in operation in the State, the following:
                    ``(A) How the State intends to utilize the Federal 
                funding available for providing time-limited family 
                services, including a description of how Federal funds 
                provided for such services will be used to supplement, 
                and not supplant, the level of State and local funds 
                expended for child welfare.
                    ``(B) How providing time-limited family services is 
                expected to improve outcomes for children and families, 
                including which specific outcomes the State expects to 
                achieve and the means by which those outcomes will be 
                monitored.
                    ``(C) How the State will monitor and oversee the 
                safety of children who receive time-limited family 
                services, including through periodic risk assessments 
                throughout the period in which such services are 
                provided on behalf of a child remaining at home and re-
                examination of the plan for service provision on behalf 
                of a child remaining at home or in foster care if there 
                is a determination that the child's risk of entering or 
                re-entering into foster care, or of being prevented 
                from exiting foster care, remains high over the course 
                of the provision of such services.
                    ``(D) Information on the specific evidence-based 
                programs and promising practice models the State plans 
                to implement to provide time-limited family services, 
                including a description of--
                            ``(i) each such program or model;
                            ``(ii) how the State plans to implement 
                        each such program or model;
                            ``(iii) how the State selected such 
                        programs or models; and
                            ``(iv) the target population for each 
                        model.
                    ``(E) A description of the collaboration between 
                the State agencies responsible for administering the 
                State plans under this part and part B and the State 
                agency responsible for administering the State plan 
                under title XIX, as well as with other public and 
                private agencies with experience in administering child 
                and family services, including community-based 
                organizations, in order to foster a continuum of care 
                and services available for children and families.
                    ``(F) A description of how the State shall assess 
                children and families to determine eligibility for 
                time-limited family services.
                    ``(G) A description of training and support for 
                caseworkers handling prevention cases, including how 
                caseload size and type will be determined, managed, and 
                overseen.
                    ``(H) A description of training and support for 
                parents or potential or designated kin caregivers of a 
                child eligible for time-limited family services.
            ``(3) General requirements.--The general requirements for 
        providing time-limited family services specified in this 
        paragraph are the following:
                    ``(A) Specified services in advance of provision.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in 
                        clause (ii), the specific services necessary to 
                        prevent the child's entry or reentry into 
                        foster care or enable the child's exit from 
                        foster care to be reunified with their family 
                        or placed with kin are specified in the child's 
                        case plan in advance of the provision of such 
                        services.
                            ``(ii) Exception for emergency or other 
                        exigent circumstances.--Clause (i) shall not 
                        apply to the provision of time-limited family 
                        services in emergency or exigent circumstances 
                        but the provision of such services shall be 
                        included in the child's case plan as soon as 
                        practicable after the provision of the 
                        services.
                    ``(B) Promising and evidence-based programs, 
                assistance, or services.--
                            ``(i) Evidence-based programs, assistance, 
                        or services.--Not later than October 1, 2018, 
                        at least 25 percent of the total amount of 
                        expenditures by the State for time-limited 
                        family services are for evidence-based 
                        programs, assistance, or services that have 
                        demonstrated any of the following outcomes, as 
                        determined by the Secretary and based on 
                        rigorous evaluation:
                                    ``(I) Reducing the likelihood or 
                                duration of foster care placement.
                                    ``(II) Decreasing use of congregate 
                                care settings.
                                    ``(III) Increasing use of kinship 
                                care arrangements.
                            ``(ii) Requirement.--The State only 
                        provides time-limited family services that are 
                        promising programs, services, or assistance and 
                        through evidence-informed or culturally 
                        specific or other adaptations of programs.
                            ``(iii) Guidance on criteria and pre-
                        approved programs, services, and assistance.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--Not later than 
                                October 1, 2017, the Secretary shall 
                                issue guidance to States that specifies 
                                the level of evidence required for a 
                                program, service, or form of assistance 
                                to satisfy the requirements of this 
                                subparagraph, and contains a pre-
                                approved list of programs, services and 
                                forms of assistance that meet such 
                                criteria or satisfy such requirements.
                                    ``(II) Updates.--The Secretary 
                                shall issue updates to the guidance 
                                required under this clause as often as 
                                the Secretary determines necessary.
                    ``(C) Payment only if no other federal funding 
                available.--Payment under section 474(a)(6) for 
                expenditures for time-limited family services shall not 
                duplicate other Federal funding sources for services 
                and supports that are provided as time-limited family 
                services and shall only be made to the extent that 
                payment for services and supports provided as time-
                limited family services cannot reasonably be expected 
                to be available under another federally funded program 
                within a reasonable time given the needs of the child 
                and the child's family during the child's 12-month 
                eligibility period.
                    ``(D) Outcome assessment and reporting.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The State shall collect 
                        and report to the Secretary the following with 
                        respect to each child for whom, or on whose 
                        behalf, time-limited family services are 
                        provided during a 12-month period:
                                    ``(I) With respect to each category 
                                of services and supports described in 
                                section 475(13)(B), the specific 
                                services provided and the total 
                                expenditures for each such service.
                                    ``(II) The child's placement status 
                                at the beginning, and at the end, of 
                                the period, respectively.
                                    ``(III) The child's placement 
                                status 1 year after the end of the 
                                period.
                            ``(ii) Siblings.--If time-limited family 
                        services are provided over a 12-month period to 
                        or on behalf of 2 or more siblings, the 
                        aggregate amount of expenditures for such 
                        services to be reported under clause (i)(I) may 
                        be allocated to 1 sibling or divided among such 
                        siblings so long as such siblings are all 
                        included in calculation of the per-child 
                        spending measure under paragraph 
                        (4)(A)(i)(III).
            ``(4) Authorization for outcomes-rewarded increased 
        match.--
                    ``(A) National performance measures.--
                            ``(i) Establishment; annual updates.--
                        Beginning with fiscal year 2021, and annually 
                        thereafter, the Secretary shall establish the 
                        following national performance measures:
                                    ``(I) Percentages of candidates who 
                                do not subsequently enter foster 
                                care.--With respect to all children for 
                                whom, or on whose behalf, time-limited 
                                family services are provided during any 
                                12-month period, the percentages of 
                                such children initially determined to 
                                be candidates for foster care who do 
                                not enter a foster care placement 
                                (other than a kinship placement) during 
                                such period and through the end of the 
                                succeeding 12-month period.
                                    ``(II) Percentages of children who 
                                leave foster care for reunification, 
                                kinship placement, guardianship, or 
                                adoption.--With respect to all children 
                                for whom, or on whose behalf, time-
                                limited family services are provided 
                                during any 12-month period, the 
                                percentages of such children who are 
                                initially in a foster care placement 
                                who are returned to, or are placed with 
                                a biological or adoptive parent or in a 
                                kinship placement or guardianship at 
                                the end of such period and who remain 
                                in each such placement through the end 
                                of the succeeding 12-month period.
                                    ``(III) Per-child spending on time-
                                limited family services.--With respect 
                                to each 12-month period for which 
                                percentages are determined under 
                                subclauses (I) and (II) (other than a 
                                percentage determined for a succeeding 
                                12-month period), the total amount of 
                                expenditures for providing time-limited 
                                family services for, or on behalf of, 
                                each child during the period.
                            ``(ii) Data.--The Secretary shall establish 
                        and update the national performance measures--
                                    ``(I) based on the median State 
                                values of the information reported 
                                under each subclause of clause (i) for 
                                the 3 most recent years; and
                                    ``(II) taking into account State 
                                differences in the price levels of 
                                consumption goods and services using 
                                the most recent regional price parities 
                                published by the Bureau of Economic 
                                Analysis of the Department of Commerce 
                                or such other data as the Secretary 
                                determines appropriate.
                            ``(iii) Publication of state performance.--
                        The Secretary shall annually make available to 
                        the public each State's performance with 
                        respect to the national performance measures.
                    ``(B) Application to matching rate.--
                            ``(i) Criteria for increase.--Beginning 
                        with fiscal year 2022, the Federal percentage 
                        applicable to payments to a State for a fiscal 
                        year under section 474(a)(6) for expenditures 
                        attributable to time-limited family services 
                        shall be increased by such number of percentage 
                        points (not to exceed 10 percentage points) as 
                        the Secretary shall determine, for any State 
                        for which--
                                    ``(I) each of the State-specific 
                                percentages described in subclauses (I) 
                                and (II) of subparagraph (A)(i) are 
                                greater than the national average 
                                percentages determined under such 
                                subclauses for the preceding fiscal 
                                year; and
                                    ``(II) the State-specific per child 
                                spending amount described in subclause 
                                (III) of subparagraph (A)(i) is less 
                                than the national average amount 
                                determined under that subclause for the 
                                preceding fiscal year.
                            ``(ii) Criteria for reduction.--Beginning 
                        with fiscal year 2022, the Federal percentage 
                        applicable to payments to a State for a fiscal 
                        year under section 474(a)(6) for expenditures 
                        attributable to time-limited family services 
                        shall be reduced by such number of percentage 
                        points (not to exceed 10 percentage points) as 
                        the Secretary shall determine, for any State 
                        for which--
                                    ``(I) each of the State-specific 
                                percentages described in subclauses (I) 
                                and (II) of subparagraph (A)(i) are 
                                less than the national average 
                                percentages determined under such 
                                subclauses for the preceding fiscal 
                                year; and
                                    ``(II) the State-specific per child 
                                spending amount described in subclause 
                                (III) of subparagraph (A)(i) is more 
                                than the national average amount 
                                determined under that subclause for the 
                                preceding fiscal year.
                            ``(iii) No change unless all criteria 
                        met.--A State shall not be eligible for an 
                        increase in its applicable Federal matching 
                        rate under section 474(a)(6) for a fiscal year, 
                        or shall not be subject to a reduction in that 
                        rate for a fiscal year, unless the State 
                        satisfies both of the conditions specified in 
                        clause (i) or (ii) (as applicable).
            ``(5) Maintenance of effort.--
                    ``(A) Certification.--The Governor of a State shall 
                certify that payments under this part for time-limited 
                family services are used to supplement, and not 
                supplant, the level of State and local funds expended 
                for child welfare for fiscal year 2015.
                    ``(B) State reports.--A State shall furnish reports 
                to the Secretary, at such times, in such format, and 
                containing such information as the Secretary may 
                require, that demonstrate the State's compliance with 
                subparagraph (A).
            ``(6) Administrative costs associated with the provision of 
        time-limited family services.--Expenditures described in 
        paragraph (6) or (7) of section 474(a)--
                    ``(A) shall not be eligible for payment under 
                paragraph (3) of section 474(a); and
                    ``(B) shall be eligible for payment without regard 
                to whether such expenditures are incurred on behalf of 
                a child who is, or is potentially, eligible for 
                assistance payments under this part.
            ``(7) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
        shall be construed to reduce or limit the responsibility of the 
        State agency responsible for administering the State plan 
        approved under title XIX to administer and provide care and 
        services for children with respect to whom services are 
        provided under the State plan developed pursuant to this 
        subpart.''.
    (c) Payments Under Title IV-E.--
            (1) In general.--Section 474(a) of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 674(a)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; plus''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) subject to section 471(e), for each quarter beginning 
        after September 30, 2015, an amount equal to the Federal 
        medical assistance percentage (which shall be as defined in 
        section 1905(b), in the case of a State other than the District 
        of Columbia, or 70 percent, in the case of the District of 
        Columbia) of the total amount expended during such quarter for 
        the provision of time-limited family services (as defined in 
        section 475(13)) (or, with respect to such payments made during 
        such quarter under a cooperative agreement or contract entered 
        into by the State and an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or 
        tribal consortium for the administration or payment of funds 
        under this part, an amount equal to the Federal medical 
        assistance percentage that would apply under section 479B(d) 
        (in this paragraph referred to as the `tribal FMAP') if such 
        Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium made 
        such payments under a program operated under that section, 
        unless the tribal FMAP is less than the Federal medical 
        assistance percentage that applies to the State); plus
            ``(7) subject to section 471(e)(6), for each quarter 
        beginning after September 30, 2015, an amount equal to the sum 
        of the following proportions of the total amount expended 
        during such quarter--
                    ``(A) 50 percent of so much of such expenditures as 
                found necessary by the Secretary for the proper and 
                efficient administration of the State plan for the 
                provision of time-limited family services (as defined 
                in section 475(13)), including expenditures for 
                activities approved by the Secretary that promote the 
                development of necessary infrastructure to establish 
                and implement the provision of time-limited family 
                services for individuals who are eligible for such 
                services; and
                    ``(B) 50 percent of so much of such expenditures as 
                are for training of personnel employed or preparing for 
                employment by the State agency or by the local agency 
                administering the plan in the political subdivision, 
                with respect to the provision of time-limited family 
                services, including on how to determine who are 
                individuals eligible for such services, how to identify 
                and provide appropriate time-limited family services, 
                and how to oversee and evaluate the ongoing 
                appropriateness of such services.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Subsection (i) of section 472 of 
        such Act (42 U.S.C. 672) is amended by adding after and below 
        paragraph (2)(B) of such subsection the following flush 
        sentence:
``Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to Federal matching payments 
for administrative expenditures that are eligible for payment under 
section 474(a)(7).''.
    (d) Technical Assistance, Data Collection, and Evaluation.--Section 
476 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 676) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
    ``(d) Technical Assistance, Data Collection, and Evaluations 
Relating to Time-Limited Family Services.--
            ``(1) Technical assistance; best practices.--The Secretary 
        shall provide to States and, as applicable, to Indian tribes, 
        tribal organizations, and tribal consortia, technical 
        assistance regarding the provision of time-limited family 
        services under this part and shall disseminate best practices 
        with respect to the provision of such services.
            ``(2) Data collection and evaluations.--The Secretary, 
        directly or through grants, contracts, or interagency 
        agreements, shall collect data and conduct research and 
        evaluations with respect to the provision of time-limited 
        family services under this part for purposes of assessing the 
        extent to which the provision of such services reduces the 
        prevalence and length of foster care placements and improves 
        safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes for children on 
        whose behalf services or assistance are provided under this 
        part.
            ``(3) Reports to congress.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall submit to 
                the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the 
                Senate periodic reports based on the provision of time-
                limited family services under this part and the 
                activities carried out under this subsection.
                    ``(B) Public availability.--The Secretary shall 
                make the reports to Congress submitted under this 
                paragraph publicly available.
            ``(4) Appropriation.--There is appropriated to the 
        Secretary, out of any money in the Treasury of the United 
        States not otherwise appropriated, $2,500,000 for fiscal year 
        2016 and each fiscal year thereafter to carry out this 
        subsection.''.
    (e) Application to Programs Operated by Indian Tribal 
Organizations.--
            (1) In general.--Section 479B of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 679c) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (c)(1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (C)(i)--
                                    (I) in subclause (II), by striking 
                                ``and'' after the semicolon;
                                    (II) in subclause (III), by 
                                striking the period at the end and 
                                inserting ``; and''; and
                                    (III) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                                    ``(IV) at the option of the tribe, 
                                organization, or consortium, time-
                                limited family services (as defined in 
                                section 475(13)) to individuals 
                                described in subparagraph (C) of 
                                section 475(13), in accordance with 
                                section 471(e) and subparagraph (E).''; 
                                and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) Time-limited family services.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In the case of a tribe, 
                        organization, or consortium that elects to 
                        provide time-limited family services (as 
                        defined in section 475(13)) to individuals 
                        described in subparagraph (C) of section 
                        475(13) under the plan, the Secretary shall 
                        specify the requirements applicable to the 
                        provision of such services. Such requirements 
                        shall, to the greatest extent practicable, be 
                        consistent with the requirements applicable to 
                        States under section 471(e) and shall permit 
                        the provision of such services in the form of 
                        programs, assistance, or services that are 
                        adapted to the culture and context of the 
                        tribal communities served.
                            ``(ii) Performance measures.--The Secretary 
                        shall establish specific performance measures 
                        for each tribe, organization, or consortium 
                        that elects to provide time-limited family 
                        services. The performance measures shall, to 
                        the greatest extent practicable, be consistent 
                        with the national performance measures required 
                        for States under paragraph (4)(A) of section 
                        471(e) but shall allow for consideration of 
                        factors unique to the provision of such 
                        services by tribes, organizations, or 
                        consortia.''; and
                    (B) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``and (5)'' 
                and inserting ``(5), and (6)''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--The heading for subsection (d) 
        of section 479B of such Act (42 U.S.C. 679c) is amended by 
        striking ``for Foster Care Maintenance and Adoption Assistance 
        Payments''.
    (f) Modernizing the Title and Purpose of Title IV-E.--
            (1) Part heading.--The heading for part E of title IV of 
        the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.) is amended to 
        read as follows:

      ``PART E--FEDERAL PAYMENTS FOR FOSTER CARE AND PERMANENCY''.

            (2) Purpose.--The first sentence of section 470 of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' before ``adoption 
                assistance'' and inserting a comma;
                    (B) by inserting ``kinship guardianship assistance, 
                and time-limited family services,'' after ``needs,''; 
                and
                    (C) by striking ``(commencing with the fiscal year 
                which begins October 1, 1980)''.

SEC. 5. ENSURING FUNDING UNDER PART B OF TITLE IV OF THE SOCIAL 
              SECURITY ACT FOR PREVENTION AND POST-PERMANENCY SUPPORT.

    (a) Elimination of Time-Limit for Family Reunification Services.--
            (1) In general.--Section 431(a)(7) of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)(7)) is amended--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``Time-
                limited family'' and inserting ``Family''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by striking ``time-limited family'' and 
                        inserting ``family''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``, but only during the 
                        15-month period that begins on the date that 
                        the child, pursuant to section 475(5)(F), is 
                        considered to have entered foster care''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Section 430 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629) is 
                amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``time-limited''.
                    (B) Subsections (a)(4), (a)(5)(A), and (b)(1) of 
                section 432 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629b) are amended by 
                striking ``time-limited'' each place it appears.
    (b) Mandatory Funding for the Promoting Safe and Stable Families 
(PSSF) Program.--
            (1) In general.--
                    (A) Appropriation for fiscal year 2016.--Section 
                436(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629f(a)) 
                is amended by striking ``are authorized'' and all that 
                follows through the period and inserting ``is 
                appropriated $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2016.''.
                    (B) Increase in funding for evaluation, research, 
                training and technical assistance and state court 
                improvements.--Section 436(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                629f(b)) is amended--
                            (i) in paragraph (1), in the matter 
                        preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``$6,000,000'' and inserting ``$10,000,000''; 
                        and
                            (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking 
                        ``$30,000,000'' and inserting ``$33,000,000''.
                    (C) Increase in funding for state court assessments 
                and improvements.--Section 438(c)(3)(A)(i) of such Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 629h(c)(3)(A)(i)) is amended by striking 
                ``$9,000,000'' and inserting ``$12,000,000''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 437(a) of such Act (42 
        U.S.C. 629g(a)) is amended by striking ``2016'' and inserting 
        ``2015''.
    (c) Spending Requirements.--Section 432(a)(4) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629b(a)(4)) is amended by striking ``, with 
significant portions of such expenditures for each such program'' and 
inserting ``with at least 25 percent of the expenditures made for 
adoption promotion and support services''.
    (d) Research, Technical Assistance, and Guidance on Promising 
Program Models and Evidence-Based Programs.--Section 435(c) of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 629e(c)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (1);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) beginning with fiscal year 2016, $4,000,000 for 
        research on promising programs, including culturally specific 
        adaptations, to identify additional evidence-based prevention 
        and intervention programs that prevent child abuse and neglect, 
        reduce the likelihood of foster care placement by supporting 
        birth families and kinship families, increase family 
        reunification with parents or other kin, improve targeted 
        supports for pregnant and parenting teens and their children, 
        and promote post-permanency placement stability for children 
        living with relatives or non-related caregivers, and for 
        providing technical assistance and guidance to States with 
        respect to such programs.''.
    (e) Family Connection Grants.--
            (1) Reauthorization of funding for fiscal year 2016.--
        Section 427(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 627(h)) is 
        amended by inserting ``, and $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2016'' 
        after ``2014''.
            (2) Inclusion of other family stability programs.--Section 
        427(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 627(a)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ``or'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (4)(B) the 
                following:
            ``(5) other programs with evidence to support their 
        effectiveness at preventing foster care placement or supporting 
        family stability post-permanency (or both).''.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the amendments made by 
this Act take effect on October 1, 2015.
    (b) Transition Rule.--
            (1) In general.--In the case of a State plan under part B 
        or E of title IV of the Social Security Act which the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services determines requires State 
        legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in 
        order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed 
        by the amendments made by this Act, the State plan shall not be 
        regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such 
        part solely on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet 
        such additional requirements before the first day of the first 
        calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular 
        session of the State legislature that begins after the date of 
        enactment of this Act. For purposes of the previous sentence, 
        in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, 
        each year of such session shall be deemed to be a separate 
        regular session of the State legislature.
            (2) Application to programs operated by indian tribal 
        organizations.--In the case of an Indian tribe, tribal 
        organization, or tribal consortium which the Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services determines requires time to take 
        action necessary to comply with the additional requirements 
        imposed by the amendments made by this Act (whether the tribe, 
        organization, or tribal consortium has a plan under section 
        479B of the Social Security Act or a cooperative agreement or 
        contract entered into with a State), the Secretary shall 
        provide the tribe, organization, or tribal consortium with such 
        additional time as the Secretary determines is necessary for 
        the tribe, organization, or tribal consortium to take such 
        action before being regarded as failing to comply with such 
        requirements.
                                 <all>