[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3507 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3507
To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to ensure funding for
grants to promote responsible fatherhood and strengthen low-income
families, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 26, 2019
Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois (for himself and Mr. Carson of Indiana)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and
Commerce, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as
fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to ensure funding for
grants to promote responsible fatherhood and strengthen low-income
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 ``Julia Carson
Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2019''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
TITLE I--PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD AND STRENGTHENING LOW-INCOME
FAMILIES
Sec. 101. Healthy marriage promotion and responsible fatherhood
programs.
Sec. 102. Grants supporting healthy family partnerships for domestic
violence intervention and preventions.
Sec. 103. Procedures to address domestic violence.
Sec. 104. Grants to States for family strengthening commissions.
TITLE II--TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
Sec. 201. TANF work participation improvements.
Sec. 202. TANF Employment Fund.
Sec. 203. Sense of Congress.
TITLE III--CHILD SUPPORT
Sec. 301. Full family distribution and ban on recovery of Medicaid
costs for births.
Sec. 302. State assessments of barriers to employment and financial
support of children.
Sec. 303. Public reporting on consequences for nonpayment.
Sec. 304. Early intervention to ensure regular payment of support and
prevent overdue support.
Sec. 305. Improved collection and distribution of child support.
Sec. 306. Services and activities to support noncustodial parenting
time.
TITLE IV--REVENUE PROVISION
Sec. 401. Increase in credit percentage under earned income tax credit
for eligible individuals with no qualifying
children.
TITLE V--SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE
Sec. 501. Collection of child support under the supplemental nutrition
assistance program.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Fathers play a significant and underappreciated role in
the development of their children, with research demonstrating
that a supportive and involved father strengthens a child's
emotional, physical, intellectual, and behavioral development.
Children with positive relationships with fathers, even if they
do not live in the same household, have stronger mental health,
economic success, and academic achievement with lower rates of
youth delinquency, school dropout, and teen pregnancy.
(2) Economic stability also leads to positive outcomes for
children, including stronger emotional well-being, physical
health, and academic success.
(3) Family patterns in the United States have resulted in
fewer children living with their fathers. The October 2016
Child Trends report on family structure shows the proportion of
all children who have not attained the age of 18 living with
both parents has decreased over the past half century, from 85
percent in 1960 to 65 percent in 2015, with 23 percent of such
children living with their mother only and 4 percent of such
children living with their father only in 2015.
(4) A 2015 United States Census analysis of children's
living arrangements and characteristics showed that a child in
a father-absent home is more than 5 times more likely to live
in poverty than a child in a married-couple family.
(5) Father engagement does not depend on living in the same
house as the child, with many nonresidential fathers being
actively involved with their children and supportive of their
children's mothers. However, low-income fathers experience
multiple challenges to contributing financially and emotionally
to their children due to limited education and job skills,
unstable employment opportunities, child support enforcement
policies, incarceration, and strained relationships with the
children's mothers. Multiple approaches are needed to address
these barriers to create opportunities for fathers to sustain
their engagement and closeness with their children and
families.
(6) Federal programs should encourage responsible
fatherhood and healthy families by increasing the upward
economic mobility of custodial and noncustodial parents so that
they can actively participate in financial support and child-
rearing as well as maintain positive, healthy, and nonviolent
relationships with their children and coparents, including
improving compliance with child support obligations and
cooperative parenting.
TITLE I--PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD AND STRENGTHENING LOW-INCOME
FAMILIES
SEC. 101. HEALTHY MARRIAGE PROMOTION AND RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD
PROGRAMS.
(a) Voluntary Participation.--
(1) Assurance.--Section 403(a)(2)(A)(ii)(II) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)(A)(ii)(II)) is amended--
(A) in item (aa), by striking ``and'';
(B) in item (bb), by striking the period and
inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(cc) if the entity is a
State or an Indian tribe or
tribal organization, to not
condition the receipt of
assistance under the program
funded under this part, under a
program funded with qualified
State expenditures (as defined
in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)), or
under any other program funded
under this title, on enrollment
in any such programs or
activities; and
``(dd) to permit any
participant in a program or
activity funded under this
paragraph, including an
individual whose participation
is specified in the individual
responsibility plan developed
for the individual in
accordance with section 408(b),
to transfer to another such
program or activity upon
notification to the entity and
the State agency responsible
for administering the State
program funded under this
part.''.
(2) Prohibition.--Section 408(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
608(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(13) Ban on conditioning receipt of tanf or certain other
benefits on participation in a healthy marriage or responsible
fatherhood program.--A State to which a grant is made under
section 403 shall not condition the receipt of assistance under
the State program funded under this part, under a program
funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section
409(a)(7)(B)(i)), or under any other program funded under this
title, on participation in a healthy marriage promotion
activity (as defined in section 403(a)(2)(A)(iii)) or in an
activity promoting responsible fatherhood (as defined in
section 403(a)(2)(C)(ii)).''.
(3) Penalty.--Section 409(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 609(a))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(17) Penalty for conditioning receipt of tanf or certain
other benefits on participation in a healthy marriage or
responsible fatherhood program.--If the Secretary determines
that a State has violated section 408(a)(13) during a fiscal
year, the Secretary shall reduce the grant payable to the State
under section 403(a)(1) for the immediately succeeding fiscal
year by an amount equal to 5 percent of the State family
assistance grant.''.
(b) Activities Promoting Responsible Fatherhood.--Section
403(a)(2)(C)(ii) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)(C)(ii)) is amended--
(1) in subclause (I), by striking ``marriage or sustain
marriage'' and inserting ``healthy relationships and marriages
or to sustain healthy relationships or marriages'';
(2) in subclause (II), by inserting ``educating youth who
are not yet parents about the economic, social, and family
consequences of early parenting, helping participants in
fatherhood programs work with their own children to break the
cycle of early parenthood,'' after ``child support payments,'';
and
(3) in subclause (III), by striking ``fathers'' and
inserting ``low-income fathers and other low-income
noncustodial parents who are not eligible for assistance under
the State program funded under this part''.
(c) Reauthorization.--Section 403(a)(2)(D) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
603(a)(2)(D)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``fiscal years 2017 and 2018'' and
inserting ``fiscal years 2019 through 2023''; and
(2) by striking ``fiscal year 2017 or 2018'' and inserting
``any of fiscal years 2019 through 2023''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on October 1, 2019.
SEC. 102. GRANTS SUPPORTING HEALTHY FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS FOR DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTIONS.
Section 403(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(6) Grants supporting healthy family partnerships for
domestic violence intervention and prevention.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants
on a competitive basis to healthy family partnerships
to develop and implement promising practices for--
``(i) assessing and providing services to
individuals and families affected by domestic
violence, including through caseworker
training, the provision of technical assistance
to community partners, and the implementation
of safe visitation and exchange programs; or
``(ii) preventing domestic violence,
particularly as a barrier to economic security,
and fostering healthy relationships.
``(B) Education services.--In awarding grants under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure that 10
percent of the funds made available under such grants
are used for high schools and other secondary
educational institutions and institutions of higher
education to provide education services on the value of
healthy relationships, responsible parenting, and
healthy marriages characterized by mutual respect and
nonviolence, and the importance of building
relationship skills such as communication, conflict
resolution, and budgeting.
``(C) Application.--The respective entity and
organization of a healthy family partnership entered
into for purposes of receiving a grant under this
paragraph shall submit a joint application to the
Secretary, at such time and in such manner as the
Secretary shall specify, containing--
``(i) a description of how the partnership
intends to carry out the activities described
in subparagraph (A);
``(ii) an assurance that funds made
available under the grant shall be used to
supplement, and not supplant, other funds used
by the entity or organization to carry out
programs, activities, or services described in
subparagraph (A) or (B); and
``(iii) such other information as the
Secretary may require.
``(D) General rules governing use of funds.--The
rules of section 404, other than subsection (b) of that
section, shall not apply to a grant made under this
paragraph.
``(E) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Domestic violence.--The term
`domestic violence' has the meaning given that
term in section 402(a)(7)(B).
``(ii) Healthy family partnership.--The
term `healthy family partnership' means a
partnership between--
``(I) an entity receiving funds
under a grant made under paragraph (2)
to promote healthy marriage or
responsible fatherhood; and
``(II) an organization with
demonstrated expertise working with
survivors of domestic violence.
``(F) Appropriation.--Out of any money in the
Treasury of the United States not otherwise
appropriated, there are appropriated for each of fiscal
years 2019 through 2023, $25,000,000 to carry out this
paragraph.''.
SEC. 103. PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
(a) In General.--Section 403(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 603(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as
subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
``(D) Requirements for receipt of funds.--An entity
may not be awarded a grant under this paragraph unless
the entity, as a condition of receiving funds under
such a grant--
``(i) identifies in its application for the
grant the domestic violence experts at the
local, State, or national level with whom the
entity will consult in the development and
implementation of the programs and activities
of the entity;
``(ii) on award of the grant, and in
consultation with such domestic violence
experts, develops a written protocol which
describes--
``(I) how the entity will identify
instances or risks of domestic
violence;
``(II) the procedures for
responding to such instances or risks,
including making service referrals and
providing protections and appropriate
assistance for identified individuals
and families;
``(III) how confidentiality issues
will be addressed; and
``(IV) the domestic violence
training that will be provided to
ensure effective and consistent
implementation of the protocol; and
``(iii) in an annual report to the
Secretary, includes a description of the
domestic violence protocols, and a description
of any implementation issues identified with
respect to domestic violence and how the issues
were addressed.
``(E) Domestic violence defined.--In this
paragraph, the term `domestic violence' has the meaning
given the term in section 402(a)(7)(B).''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 403(a)(2) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 603(a)(2)), as amended by subsection (a)(1) of this section, is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)(i)--
(A) by striking ``and (E)'' and inserting ``(D),
and (G)''; and
(B) by striking ``(D)'' and inserting ``(F)''; and
(2) in subparagraphs (B)(i) and (C)(i), by striking ``(D)''
each place it appears and inserting ``(F)''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to fiscal years beginning after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 104. GRANTS TO STATES FOR FAMILY STRENGTHENING COMMISSIONS.
Part D of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 469C. GRANTS TO STATES FOR FAMILY STRENGTHENING COMMISSIONS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
make grants to States under this section to enable States to establish
and support commissions to identify methods of expanding access to
family strengthening services.
``(b) Eligible Entities.--In this section, the term `State' means
any State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization (as defined in
subsections (e) and (l) of section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)), having in effect a plan
approved under this part.
``(c) Application.--In order to be eligible for a grant under this
section, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such
time and in such manner as the Secretary may require.
``(d) Family Strengthening Services.--The commissions described in
subsection (a) shall focus on providing family strengthening services
that include--
``(1) family and relationship counseling;
``(2) relationship and parenting education; and
``(3) assistance with developing and implementing parenting
time arrangements.
``(e) Families Served.--The commissions described in subsection (a)
shall focus on serving varying types of families, including--
``(1) families seeking to preserve a marriage or other
adult relationship;
``(2) families seeking a divorce or separation and working
to maintain coparenting and parent-child relationships;
``(3) families seeking to maintain or rebuild family
relationships affected by incarceration;
``(4) families seeking to build a support system around a
child who has experienced trauma, including--
``(A) witnessing violence;
``(B) experiencing sexual or physical abuse; or
``(C) having a parent who is experiencing
challenges with mental health or substance abuse; and
``(5) families below 250 percent of poverty guidelines
applicable to a family of the size involved.
``(f) Membership.--A State seeking a grant under this section shall
demonstrate that a family strengthening commission funded by such grant
will consist of relevant government and private actors, including--
``(1) State government agency officials from departments of
health, human services, child support, education, youth
services, or corrections;
``(2) local government agency officials from departments of
health, human services, child support, education, youth
services, or corrections;
``(3) access to Justice Commissions, bar associations,
judicial associations, courts, or other representatives of the
legal system;
``(4) associations of social workers, counselors,
psychologists, and other mental health professionals;
``(5) associations of mediators and others who deliver
alternative dispute resolution services;
``(6) healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood programs;
``(7) youth-serving programs; and
``(8) academics and researchers.
``(g) Duties.--A commission funded by a grant under this section
shall--
``(1) identify the need for potential policy changes;
``(2) determine methods of leveraging existing resources
and growing new resources; and
``(3) explore methods of improving service delivery,
including the training of service providers.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out
this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.''.
TITLE II--TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
SEC. 201. TANF WORK PARTICIPATION IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) Elimination of Separate Work Requirements for 2-Parent
Families.--
(1) Work participation rate.--Section 407 of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 607) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) beginning in the heading, by striking
``Participation Rate Requirements'' and all
that follows through ``A State'' in paragraph
(1) and inserting ``Participation Rate
Requirements.--A State''; and
(ii) by striking paragraph (2); and
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking
``subsection (a)(1)'' and inserting
``subsection (a)'';
(ii) by striking paragraph (2) and
redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as
paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively;
(iii) in paragraph (3) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``paragraphs (1)(B)
and (2)(B)'' and inserting ``determining
monthly participation rates under paragraph
(1)(B)''; and
(iv) in paragraph (4) (as so redesignated),
by striking ``rates'' and inserting ``rate''.
(2) Minimum weekly hours requirement.--Section 407(c)(1) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 607(c)(1)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``General rules'' and all that
follows through ``For purposes of'' in subparagraph (A)
and inserting ``General rules.--For purposes of''; and
(B) by striking subparagraph (B).
(3) Limitation on penalty imposition.--In applying section
409(a)(3) of the Social Security Act for each fiscal year
beginning with fiscal year 2007 and ending with the fiscal year
in which occurs the date of the enactment of this section, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall disregard the
requirement imposed by section 407(a)(2) of the Social Security
Act.
(b) Elimination of Distinction Between Core and Other Work
Activities.--Section 407(c)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 607(c)(1)), as
amended by subsection (a)(2) of this section, is further amended by
striking ``not fewer than'' and all that follows through ``subsection
(d),''.
(c) Elimination of Special Work Participation Rule for Teens
Attending Secondary School.--Section 407(c)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
607(c)(2)) is amended by striking subparagraph (C).
(d) Elimination of Cap on Treating Vocational Educational Training
as Work Participation.--Section 407(c)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
607(c)(2)), as amended by subsection (c) of this section, is further
amended by striking subparagraph (D).
(e) Increase in Months of Educational Vocational Training That May
Be Counted as Work Participation.--Section 407(d)(8) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 607(d)(8)) is amended by striking ``12 months'' and inserting
``24 months''.
(f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on October 1 of the first fiscal year beginning after the date
of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to the determination of
minimum participation rates for months beginning on or after that date.
SEC. 202. TANF EMPLOYMENT FUND.
(a) In General.--Section 403(b) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 603(b)) is amended to read as follows:
``(b) Employment Fund.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is hereby established in the
Treasury of the United States a fund which shall be known as
the Employment Fund for Needy Families (in this subsection
referred to as the `Fund').
``(2) Deposits into fund.--Out of any money in the Treasury
of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are
appropriated for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023,
$608,000,000 for payment to the Fund, which shall remain
available until expended.
``(3) Grants.--
``(A) In general.--For each of fiscal years 2017
through 2023, the Secretary shall make grants, on a
competitive basis, to qualifying entities as provided
in this paragraph.
``(B) Qualifying entity.--For purposes of this
paragraph, a qualifying entity for a fiscal year is a
State, territory, Indian tribe, or tribal organization,
operating a State program funded under this part (or
any other State program funded with qualified State
expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i))),
that submits to the Secretary an application for a
grant under this paragraph for the fiscal year, in such
manner and at such time as the Secretary may require.
``(C) Allotment of funds.--
``(i) Technical assistance.--The Secretary
shall reserve $10,000,000 out of the amounts
made available under paragraph (2) for each
fiscal year to provide technical assistance to
qualifying entities receiving a grant under
this paragraph for the fiscal year.
``(ii) Territories and indian tribes.--The
Secretary shall reserve, from the amount made
available under paragraph (2) for a fiscal year
that remains after applying clause (i), 3
percent for grants under this paragraph for the
fiscal year to qualifying entities that are
territories and 1 percent for grants under this
paragraph for the fiscal year to qualifying
entities that are Indian tribes or tribal
organizations, to be allotted in a manner the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
``(iii) States.--
``(I) In general.--The amount of a
grant under this paragraph payable for
a fiscal year to a qualifying entity
that is a State shall be the amount
that bears the same ratio to the
aggregate amount as the number of
individuals residing in the State who
have attained 18 years of age but have
not attained 67 years of age who are
not employed or underemployed (such as
involuntarily working part-time), as
determined by the Secretary, bears to
the total number of such individuals
residing in all qualifying entities
that are States.
``(II) Aggregate amount.--For
purposes of this clause, the term
`aggregate amount' means the amount
made available for a fiscal year under
paragraph (2) that remains after
applying clauses (i) and (ii).
``(iv) Unused funds.--
``(I) Reasonable limits on carrying
over funds.--The Secretary shall set
reasonable limits on the amount of
funds a State receiving a grant under
this paragraph may carry over for
expenditure in fiscal years after the
fiscal year for which the grant is
awarded.
``(II) Redistribution of unused
funds.--Any portion of the amount of a
grant made to a State under clause
(iii) that the Secretary determines
will not be used by the State shall be
redistributed among the States that the
Secretary determines will not have such
an unused amount, using the rules
specified in clause (iii). Any amount
so redistributed to a State is deemed
part of the grant made to the State
under the preceding provisions of this
paragraph.
``(D) Use of funds.--
``(i) Employment programs.--
``(I) Subsidized employment.--A
qualifying entity awarded a grant under
this paragraph shall use the grant
funds to conduct a subsidized
employment program to assist recipients
of TANF cash assistance and TANF-
eligible individuals who are not
recipients of cash assistance in
obtaining paid employment.
``(II) Sectoral skills training.--A
qualifying entity may use not more than
15 percent of funds awarded to the
entity under this paragraph for a
fiscal year to conduct a sectoral
skills training program to provide
sectoral skills training to recipients
of TANF cash assistance and TANF-
eligible individuals who are not
recipients of cash assistance.
``(ii) Allowable expenses.--A qualifying
entity may use funds awarded under this
paragraph to carry out clause (i), including
the following activities:
``(I) Administrative expenses.
``(II) Supportive services,
including transportation and childcare,
to enable individuals to participate in
a program described in clause (i).
``(III) Wages and associated
payroll costs for individuals
participating in the subsidized
employment program described in clause
(i)(I).
``(iii) Eligibility for assistance.--
``(I) Requirement to use 75 percent
of funds to assist recipients of tanf
cash assistance.--A qualifying entity
shall use not less than 75 percent of
funds awarded to the entity under this
paragraph to assist under the program
described in clause (i)(I) (and, if the
entity so elects, the program described
in clause (i)(II)) recipients of TANF
cash assistance and may use the
remainder of the funds to assist TANF-
eligible individuals who are not
recipients of cash assistance.
``(II) Recipient of tanf cash
assistance.--In this subparagraph, the
term `recipient of TANF cash
assistance' means an individual who--
``(aa) has attained 18
years of age and has not
attained 67 years of age; and
``(bb) is not employed and
is determined by the qualifying
entity to have been
unsuccessful at obtaining paid
employment after participating
in a job search program; and--
``(AA) is a member
of a family that
receives cash
assistance under the
State program funded
under this part or any
other State program
funded with qualified
State expenditures (as
defined in section
409(a)(7)(B)(i)); or
``(BB) is a
noncustodial parent of
a minor child residing
with a family described
in subitem (AA), in a
case in which the
parent is not
considered by the State
to be a member of the
family.
``(III) TANF-eligible individual
who is not a recipient of cash
assistance.--In this subparagraph, the
term `TANF-eligible individual who is
not a recipient of cash assistance'
means an individual who--
``(aa) has attained 18
years of age and has not
attained 67 years of age;
``(bb) is not employed and
is determined by the qualifying
entity to have been
unsuccessful at obtaining paid
employment after participating
in a job search program;
``(cc) is not an individual
described in subitems (AA) or
(BB) of subclause (II)(bb); and
``(dd) is a member of a
family that includes a minor
child residing with the family
(including a noncustodial
parent of the child) if the
family has an income that is
less than the poverty line (as
defined in section 673(2) of
the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1981,
including any revision required
by such section, applicable to
a family of the size involved).
``(E) Annual report.--
``(i) Subsidized employment.--For each
fiscal year for which a qualifying entity
receives a grant under this paragraph, the
entity shall submit to the Secretary, within 6
months after the end of the fiscal year, a
report on the subsidized employment program
described in subparagraph (D)(i)(I), which
shall--
``(I) describe the structure of the
activities of the entity to use the
grant funds to subsidize employment for
individuals participating in the
program (in this clause referred to as
`subsidized employees'), including the
amount and duration of the subsidies
provided;
``(II) for each month of the fiscal
year, specify the number of individuals
whose employment is subsidized with
these funds and the percentage of such
individuals whose employment is in an
area that matches their previous
training and work experience;
``(III) describe the qualifying
entity's policies in effect during the
fiscal year--
``(aa) to ensure
nondisplacement as required
under paragraph (4)(A); and
``(bb) to implement
grievance procedures as
required in (4)(B), including
information on the number of
grievance claims filed in the
preceding fiscal year and the
aggregate results of those
claims;
``(IV) describe requirements
imposed on employers by the State as a
condition of participating in the
program;
``(V) describe the types of jobs in
which subsidized employees are placed;
``(VI) provide demographic
information for subsidized employees
and for the target population the
entity seeks to assist under the
program;
``(VII) specify the average number
of hours worked per week by a
subsidized employee;
``(VIII) specify the average length
of time for which a subsidized employee
participates in the program;
``(IX) describe the employment
outcomes for subsidized employees after
participating in the program, including
the number of individuals hired by an
employer with which the individual was
placed during the program and the
number of individuals hired by other
employers;
``(X) specify the percentage of
subsidized employees who are in
unsubsidized employment during the
second quarter after the subsidy ended;
``(XI) specify the percentage of
subsidized employees who are in
unsubsidized employment during the
fourth quarter after the subsidy ended;
``(XII) specify the median earnings
of subsidized employees who are in
unsubsidized employment during the
second quarter after the subsidy ended;
and
``(XIII) specify the number of
subsidized employees who concurrently
received other Federal or State means-
tested benefits during their subsidized
employment.
``(ii) Sectoral skills training.--If a
qualifying entity elects to conduct a sectoral
skills training program described in
subparagraph (D)(i)(II), the report required
under clause (i) of this subparagraph shall
also include a description of--
``(I) the design of the program;
``(II) the industries in which
individuals receiving assistance under
the program (in this clause referred to
as `trainees') receive training;
``(III) demographic information for
trainees and for the target population
the entity seeks to assist under the
program;
``(IV) the total number of trainees
participating in the program during the
fiscal year;
``(V) the average number of hours
per week for which a trainee receives
training;
``(VI) the average length of time
for which a trainee participates in the
program; and
``(VII) the employment outcomes for
trainees after participating in the
program.
``(F) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall establish
and implement a rigorous system for evaluating the
success of subsidized employment programs and sectoral
training programs conducted pursuant to this paragraph.
``(4) Limitations.--
``(A) Nondisplacement.--A State to which a grant is
made under this subsection shall ensure that no
participant in a subsidized job program funded in whole
or in part under this subsection is employed or
assigned to a job under the program--
``(i) when any other individual is on
layoff from the same or any substantially
equivalent job; or
``(ii) if the employer has terminated the
employment of any regular employee or otherwise
caused an involuntary reduction of its
workforce in order to fill the vacancy so
created with a participant in such subsidized
job program.
``(B) Grievance procedure.--A State with a program
funded under this subsection shall establish and
maintain a grievance procedure for resolving complaints
of alleged violations of subparagraph (A).
``(C) No preemption.--Nothing in this paragraph
shall preempt or supersede any provision of State or
local law that provides greater protection for
employees from displacement.
``(5) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms
`Indian tribe' and `tribal organization' have the
meaning given such terms in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 450b).
``(B) Sectoral skills training.--The term `sectoral
skills training' means training that implements a
sectoral skills training strategy established by an
industry or sector partnership (as defined in section
3(26) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act).
``(C) State.--The term `State' means each of the 50
States of the United States and the District of
Columbia.
``(D) Territories.--The term `territories' means
Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands,
the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.''.
(b) Program Participants Counted Toward Work Participation Rate.--
Section 407(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 607(b)), as amended by section
201(a)(1)(B) of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(5) State option to include subsidized employment and
sectoral skills training participants.--If an individual who is
not a recipient of assistance under the State program funded
under this part (or any other State program funded with
qualified State expenditures (as defined in section
409(a)(7)(B)(i))) participates in work activities for not less
than the minimum average number of hours per week specified in
the table in subsection (c)(1) of this section during a month
as part of a State's subsidized employment or sectoral skills
training program funded under section 403(b), the State may
count the individual as a family that includes an adult or a
minor child head of household who is engaged in work for the
month for purposes of paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection.''.
(c) State Plan Required To Include Description of Employment
Programs.--Section 402(a)(1)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(1)(B)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(vi) The document shall indicate whether
the State intends to apply for a grant to
conduct a subsidized employment program and, if
the State so chooses, a sectoral skills
training program, under section 403(b). If so,
the document shall include a description of the
program or programs the State intends to
conduct using the grant funds and a description
of how the program or programs will serve
noncustodial parents of minor children.''.
(d) Grants Exempted From Territorial Payment Ceiling.--Section
1108(a)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1308(a)(2)) is amended by inserting
``403(b),'' after ``403(a)(5),''.
(e) Conforming Amendments To Retain Definition of Needy State.--
(1) Number of weeks for which job search counts as work.--
Section 407(c)(2)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 607(c)(2)(A)) is
amended--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``section
409(a)(7)(B)(i))'' and inserting ``clause (iii)''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(iii) Needy state.--For purposes of
clause (i), a State is a needy State for a
month if--
``(I) the average rate of--
``(aa) total unemployment
in such State (seasonally
adjusted) for the period
consisting of the most recent 3
months for which data for all
States are published equals or
exceeds 6.5 percent; and
``(bb) total unemployment
in such State (seasonally
adjusted) for the 3-month
period equals or exceeds 110
percent of such average rate
for either (or both) of the
corresponding 3-month periods
ending in the 2 preceding
calendar years; or
``(II) as determined by the
Secretary of Agriculture (in the
discretion of the Secretary of
Agriculture), the monthly average
number of individuals (as of the last
day of each month) participating in the
supplemental nutrition assistance
program in the State in the then most
recently concluded 3-month period for
which data are available exceeds by not
less than 10 percent the lesser of--
``(aa) the monthly average
number of individuals (as of
the last day of each month) in
the State that would have
participated in the
supplemental nutrition
assistance program in the
corresponding 3-month period in
fiscal year 1994 if the
amendments made by titles IV
and VIII of the Personal
Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act
of 1996 had been in effect
throughout fiscal year 1994; or
``(bb) the monthly average
number of individuals (as of
the last day of each month) in
the State that would have
participated in the
supplemental nutrition
assistance program in the
corresponding 3-month period in
fiscal year 1995 if the
amendments made by titles IV
and VIII of the Personal
Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act
of 1996 had been in effect
throughout fiscal year 1995.''.
(2) Authority of secretary to reduce work participation
rate penalty due to circumstances that caused state to become
needy state.--Section 409(a)(3)(C) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
609(a)(3)(C)) is amended by striking ``section 403(b)(5)'' and
inserting ``section 407(c)(2)(A)(iii)''.
(f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to fiscal years beginning after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 203. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of the Congress that a State to which a grant is
made under section 403 of the Social Security Act should consider a
noncustodial parent of a minor child, if the child is a recipient of
assistance under a State program funded under part A of title IV of
such Act (or under any other State program funded with qualified State
expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i) of such Act)), to
be a member of the family of the child for purposes of providing
assistance to the family, the child, and the noncustodial parent under
the program.
TITLE III--CHILD SUPPORT
SEC. 301. FULL FAMILY DISTRIBUTION AND BAN ON RECOVERY OF MEDICAID
COSTS FOR BIRTHS.
(a) Ban on Recovery.--
(1) In general.--Section 454 of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 654) is amended--
(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph
(33);
(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph
(34) and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (34) the
following:
``(35) provide that, except as provided in section
1902(a)(25)(F)(ii), the State shall not use the State program
operated under this part to collect any amount owed to the
State by reason of costs incurred under the State plan approved
under title XIX for the birth of a child for whom support
rights have been assigned pursuant to section 1912.''.
(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in section 454(35) of
such Act, as added by paragraph (1), shall be construed as
affecting the application of section 1902(a)(25) of such Act
(42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(25)) with respect to a State (relating to
the State Medicaid plan requirement for the State to take all
reasonable measures to ascertain the legal liability of third
parties to pay for care and services available under the plan).
(b) Clarification That Ban on Recovery Does Not Apply With Respect
to Insurance of a Parent With an Obligation To Pay Child Support.--
Clause (ii) of section 1902(a)(25)(F) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396a(a)(25)(F)) is amended by inserting ``only if such third-
party liability is derived through insurance,'' before ``seek''.
(c) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
amendments made by this section take effect on October 1, 2019.
(2) Extension of effective date for state law amendment.--
In the case of a State plan under title XIX of the Social
Security Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Services
determines requires State legislation in order for the plan to
meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made
by this section, the State plan shall not be regarded as
failing to comply with the requirements of such title solely on
the basis of its failure to meet these 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 the
session is considered to be a separate regular session of the
State legislature.
SEC. 302. STATE ASSESSMENTS OF BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCIAL
SUPPORT OF CHILDREN.
(a) State Assessments and Reports.--As a condition of the continued
approval of a State plan under part D of title IV of the Social
Security Act, each State with such an approved plan, acting through the
appropriate State agencies, shall assess the State policies with
respect to the issues described in subsection (b) that affect the
ability of parents to pay child support, and shall submit a report to
the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the results of the
assessment not later than two years after the date of the enactment of
this section.
(b) Issues Described.--The issues described in this subsection are
the following:
(1) The effect of State criminal laws and law enforcement
practices on the employment acquisition, retention, and
advancement prospects of an individual who is a parent of a
minor child following arrest, conviction, or imprisonment,
including--
(A) any efforts, including counseling or employment
support, to assist individuals released from custody
with reentry to a community and successful
reunification with their families; and
(B) an assessment of any efforts to seal or expunge
arrest and conviction records and any efforts to grant
certificates or other acknowledgments of rehabilitation
to parents returning from incarceration, and to examine
State occupational licensing and certification
procedures.
(2) An assessment of State practices related to the
collection of debts owed by individuals to the State, including
criminal justice fees and fines and child support debt.
(3) An assessment of State practices related to providing
parents returning from incarceration with valid identification
documents upon release from prison.
(4) Identification of any other barriers to healthy family
formation, family reunification, coparenting, or sustainable
economic opportunity for custodial and noncustodial parents
that are created or exacerbated by Federal or State laws,
policies, or procedures, including an examination of the rules
of Federal and State means-tested programs, the operation of
the State workforce system, the availability of financial
education services, and the availability of domestic violence
services and child support procedures to help victims of
domestic violence stay safe and obtain the child support they
are owed.
SEC. 303. PUBLIC REPORTING ON CONSEQUENCES FOR NONPAYMENT.
(a) Report to Congress.--Section 452(a)(10) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 652(a)(10)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the end;
and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(J) the number of cases, by State, in which each
of the following consequences for nonpayment of support
was incurred by an obligor:
``(i) a loss of liberty due to a criminal
conviction or finding of civil contempt;
``(ii) a suspension of a driver's license;
``(iii) a suspension of a professional,
occupational, or recreational license;
``(iv) withholding of a passport; or
``(v) late payment fees, interest charged
(including the amount and rate of interest),
and other financial sanctions; and''.
(b) State Plan.--Section 454 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 654), as
amended by section 301(a)(1) of this Act, is further amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (34);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (35) and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(36) provide that the State will maintain a full record
of child support enforcement activities, including the
consequences incurred by obligors as described in section
452(a)(10)(J).''.
(c) Collection and Reporting of Child Support Enforcement Data.--
Section 469 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 669) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(e) Consequences for Nonpayment.--The Secretary shall collect and
maintain up-to-date statistics, by State, and on a fiscal year basis,
on the number of cases in which each consequence for nonpayment of
support described in section 452(a)(10)(J) was incurred by an
obligor.''.
SEC. 304. EARLY INTERVENTION TO ENSURE REGULAR PAYMENT OF SUPPORT AND
PREVENT OVERDUE SUPPORT.
(a) Procedures To Provide Job Services for Noncustodial Parents.--
Section 466(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 666(a)) is amended
by inserting after paragraph (19) the following:
``(20) Procedures to intervene early to ensure regular
payment of support and prevent overdue support.--
``(A) In general.--If the State elects to provide
job services to noncustodial parents (as described in
the State plan pursuant to section 454(37)),
procedures--
``(i) under which the State shall
prioritize early intervention efforts and make
such services available on a voluntary basis
prior to a determination that the individual
owes overdue support as specified in paragraph
(15);
``(ii) under which the State shall
establish criteria for eligibility to receive
such services, which shall restrict eligibility
to noncustodial parents--
``(I) with respect to whom there is
an open child support case under the
State program funded under this part;
``(II) who are unemployed or
underemployed;
``(III) who are not making regular
child support payments;
``(IV) who do not receive
assistance under a State program funded
under part A (or under any other State
program funded with qualified State
expenditures (as defined in section
409(a)(7)(B)(i)));
``(V) who do not participate in an
employment and training program under
section 6(d)(4) of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (but who may
receive supplemental nutrition
assistance benefits under such Act);
and
``(VI) who do not receive the same
job services under the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act;
``(iii) under which the State agency
administering a program under a State plan
approved under this part shall provide,
including through contract or cooperative
agreement, job services that may include--
``(I) job search assistance;
``(II) job readiness training;
``(III) job development and job
placement services;
``(IV) skills assessments to
facilitate job placement;
``(V) job retention services;
``(VI) certificate programs and
other skills training directly related
to employment, which may include
activities to improve literacy and
basic skills, such as programs to
complete high school or a General
Education Development (GED)
certificate, as long as such activities
and programs are included in the State
job services plan pursuant to section
454(37);
``(VII) long-term and short-term
subsidized employment or public-private
career pathway partnerships;
``(VIII) substance abuse treatment;
``(IX) mental health services;
``(X) occupational skills training,
including college credit programs; and
``(XI) work supports, such as
transportation assistance, uniforms,
and tools; and
``(iv) under which the State shall ensure
that participation in any such services is
voluntary and shall inform potential
participants that such participation is
voluntary.
``(B) Definition.--An Indian tribe or tribal
organization (as defined in subsections (e) and (l) of
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)) operating a
child support enforcement program funded by a grant
under this part may elect, as part of such program, to
provide job services to noncustodial parents,
consistent with the requirements of this paragraph and
section 455(f).''.
(b) Performance Tracking.--Section 452(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
652(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (11), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(12)(A) consult with States, Indian tribes, and tribal
organizations (as defined in subsections (e) and (l) of section
4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
(25 U.S.C. 450b)), with a plan approved under this part, to
develop data elements to ensure that the child support agency
of any State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization
administering a voluntary job services program under section
466(a)(20) demonstrates a plan for implementing measures to
track the performance of such program with respect to meeting
the goals of quality job placement, long-term unsubsidized job
retention, increasing child support payments, decreasing child
support arrearages, and increasing the involvement of low-
income noncustodial parents with their children; and
``(B) in carrying out section 466(a), collaborate with the
Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Agriculture to identify
best practices and minimize duplication of services under
employment and training programs for noncustodial parents
administered by the Departments of Health and Human Services,
Labor, and Agriculture.''.
(c) State Plan.--Section 454 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 654), as
amended by sections 301(a)(1) and 303(b) of this Act, is further
amended--
(1) in paragraph (35), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (36), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (36) the following:
``(37) include--
``(A) a description of work activities in which the
State requires noncustodial parents to participate
pursuant to section 466(a)(15);
``(B) a description of any job services the State
elects to provide to noncustodial parents, and criteria
for eligibility to receive such services, under section
466(a)(20), or an explanation of why the State elects
not to provide such services;
``(C) an explanation of how the State will
coordinate job services and work activities provided
under this title with the State workforce development
system (as such term is defined in section 3(67) of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), local
responsible fatherhood programs (including such
programs funded by a grant awarded under section
403(a)(2)), local prisoner reentry programs, and other
local employment and training programs; and
``(D) if applicable, a description of the State
plan for implementing measures for tracking the
successful performance of the State voluntary job
services program consistent with section
452(a)(12)(A).''.
(d) Payments to States.--Section 455(a)(1)(A) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 655(a)(1)(A)) is amended by adding at the end ``including public
and private non-Federal funds,''.
(e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of
this section.
SEC. 305. IMPROVED COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD SUPPORT.
(a) Distribution of Child Support.--
(1) Full distribution of child support collected; reform of
rules for distribution of child support collected on behalf of
children in foster care.--
(A) In general.--Section 457 of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 657) is amended--
(i) by amending subsection (a) to read as
follows:
``(a) Full Distribution of Amounts Collected on Behalf of Any
Family.--Subject to subsections (b) and (c), the entire amount of
support collected by a State on behalf of any family receiving services
pursuant to a plan approved under this part shall be paid to the family
in accordance with this section.'';
(ii) by amending subsection (b) to read as
follows:
``(b) Continuation of Assignments.--
``(1) In general.--Any rights to support obligations that
are assigned to a State under this part on behalf of a family
receiving assistance and in effect before the implementation
date of this section may remain assigned after such date and
distributed under the provisions and limitations of the Deficit
Reduction Act of 2005.
``(2) Option to terminate assignments.--A State may choose
to discontinue any assignment of a support obligation described
in paragraph (1) and may treat amounts collected pursuant to
the assignment as if the amounts had never been assigned and
may distribute the amounts to the family in accordance with
subsection (a).'';
(iii) by striking subsections (c) and (d)
and redesignating subsection (e) as subsection
(c); and
(iv) in subsection (c) (as so
redesignated), by striking paragraph (1) and
all that follows and inserting the following:
``(1) shall be used to provide supplemental services that
serve the best interests of such child in a manner that best
meets the future needs and educational, health, and employment
interests of the child, or be deposited in--
``(A) an account of the type described in section
1631(a)(2)(F) of this Act;
``(B) an ABLE account established under section
529A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
``(C) an individual development account established
pursuant to Federal or State law; or
``(D) any other account in which benefits for the
child may be conserved in a manner that the State
determines, consistent with this paragraph, is in the
best interests of the child; and
``(2) shall supplement and not supplant any other Federal
funds or programs that may be available for the benefit of the
child.''.
(B) Foster care state plan amendment.--Section
471(a)(17) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(17)) is
amended--
(i) by inserting ``and consistent with the
child's case plan'' after ``where
appropriate''; and
(ii) by striking ``secure an assignment to
the State of any rights to support'' and
inserting ``establish paternity and establish,
modify, and enforce child support
obligations''.
(C) Child support state plan amendment.--Section
454 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 654), as amended by sections
301(a)(1), 303(b), and 304(c) of this Act, is further
amended--
(i) in paragraph (36), by striking ``and''
at the end;
(ii) in paragraph (37), by striking the
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by inserting after paragraph (37) the
following:
``(38) provide that a State shall pay all collected child
support to the family in accordance with section 457.''.
(D) Support payments collected prior to effective
date.--Section 454(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 654(5)) is
amended by striking ``such payments'' and all that
follows through ``support payments collected'' and
inserting ``entered into prior to the effective date of
section 204 of the Julia Carson Responsible Fatherhood
and Healthy Families Act of 2019, the individual will
be notified on a monthly basis of the amount of the
support payments collected and retained by the State
under section 457(a)(1)(B) (as in effect prior to the
effective date of such section)''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--
(A) Section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)(I)(aa) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 609(a)(7)(B)(i)(I)(aa)) is amended by striking
``457(a)(1)(B)'' and inserting ``457(a)''.
(B) Section 454(34) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 654(34))
is amended by striking ``457(a)(2)(B)'' each place it
appears and inserting ``457(b)''.
(C) Section 456(a)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
656(a)(1)) is amended by inserting ``and shall be
distributed in accordance with section 457'' after
``local processes''.
(D) Section 466(a)(3)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
666(a)(3)(B)) is amended--
(i) by striking ``shall be distributed in
accordance with section 457 in the case of
overdue support assigned to a State pursuant to
section 408(a)(3) or 471(a)(17), or, in any
other case,''; and
(ii) by inserting ``or to the public agency
responsible for supervising the placement of
the child receiving foster care maintenance
payments under section 472, which may use such
payments in the manner the public agency
determines will serve the best interest of the
child, consistent with section 457(c)'' before
the semicolon.
(b) Prohibition on Conditioning Receipt of TANF on Assignment of
Support.--Section 408(a)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
608(a)(3)) is amended--
(1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``No assistance
for families not'' and inserting ``Prohibition on conditioning
assistance for families on'';
(2) by inserting ``not'' after ``shall'';
(3) by inserting ``or under a program funded with qualified
State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i))''
after ``this part''; and
(4) by striking ``, not exceeding the total amount of
assistance so paid to the family,''.
(c) Requirement To Disregard Percentage of Child Support Collected
in Determining Amount and Type of TANF Assistance.--Section 408(a) of
such Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)), as amended by section 101(a)(2) of this
Act and subsection (b) of this section, is amended by adding at the end
the following new paragraph:
``(14) Requirement to disregard percentage of child support
collected in determining amount and type of tanf assistance.--A
State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall
disregard at least the same percentage of amounts collected as
support on behalf of a family as the percentage of earned
income that the State disregards, in determining the amount or
type of assistance provided to the family under the State
program funded under this part or under a program funded with
qualified State expenditures (as defined in section
409(a)(7)(B)(i)).''.
(d) Restoration of Federal Funding.--Effective on the date of
enactment of this Act, section 7309 of the Deficit Reduction Act of
2005 (Public Law 109-171; 120 Stat. 147) is repealed, and part D of
title IV of the Social Security Act shall be applied as if the
amendment made by subsection (a) of that section had not been enacted.
(e) Repeal of Mandatory Fee for Child Support Collection.--
Effective on the date of enactment of this Act, section 7310 of the
Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-171; 120 Stat. 147) is
repealed, and part D of title IV of the Social Security Act shall be
applied as if the amendments made by that section had not been enacted.
(f) Study and Report.--Not later than October 1, 2020, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall study and submit a report
to Congress regarding the following:
(1) The effect of age eligibility restrictions for the
earned income tax credit established under section 32 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for individuals without
qualifying children on--
(A) the ability of young parents to pay child
support;
(B) compliance with child support orders; and
(C) the relationship between young noncustodial
parents and their children.
(2) The impact of State earned income tax credit programs,
especially such programs with targeted benefits for
noncustodial parents, on--
(A) the ability of noncustodial parents to pay
child support;
(B) compliance with child support orders; and
(C) the relationship between noncustodial parents
and their children.
(3) The challenges faced by legal immigrants and
individuals for whom English is not their primary language in
fulfilling child support and other noncustodial parenting
obligations.
(g) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this
section, the amendments made by this section shall take effect
on October 1, 2020, and shall apply to payments under parts A
and D of title IV of the Social Security Act for calendar
quarters beginning on or after that date, without regard to
whether regulations to implement the amendments are promulgated
by such date.
(2) State option to accelerate effective date.--
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a State may elect to have the
amendments made by the preceding provisions of this section
apply to the State and to amounts collected by the State (and
to payments under such parts), on and after such date as the
State may select that is not later than September 30, 2020.
SEC. 306. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT NONCUSTODIAL PARENTING
TIME.
(a) Report to Congress.--Section 452(a)(10) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 652(a)(10)), as amended by section 303(a), is further
amended--
(1) in subsection (J), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(K) a summary of efforts by the State to provide
early intervention services and activities that aim to
improve the ability and willingness of noncustodial
parents to support their children, including by--
``(i) supporting and improving paternity
establishment, child support order
establishment, and collections outcomes; and
``(ii) facilitating and assisting parents
in accessing court processes to establish
parenting time arrangements, assisting obligors
with employment needs, or providing other
allowable services or activities to carry out
the State responsibilities under this part:
and''.
(b) State Plan.--Section 454 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 654), as
amended by sections 301(a)(1), 303(b), 304(c), and 305(a)(1)(C) of this
Act, is further amended--
(1) in paragraph (37), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (38), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(39) describe efforts by the State to provide early
intervention services and activities that aim to improve the
ability and willingness of noncustodial parents to support
their children, including by--
``(A) supporting and improving paternity
establishment, child support order establishment, and
collections outcomes; and
``(B) facilitating and assisting parents in
accessing court processes to establish parenting time
arrangements, assisting obligors with employment needs,
or providing other allowable services or activities to
carry out the State responsibilities under this
part.''.
(c) Determinations of Cost-Effectiveness Performance Level.--
Section 458(b)(6)(E) is amended--
(1) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); and
(2) by inserting after clause (i) the following:
``(ii) Exception for amount spent on early
intervention services and activities.--For the
purposes of subsection (i), the total amount
expended during the fiscal year under the State
plan shall be reduced by an amount equal to the
amount expended by the State for the fiscal
year on early intervention services and
activities intended to improve the ability and
willingness of noncustodial parents to support
their children, including by--
``(I) improving paternity
establishment, child support order
establishment, and collections
outcomes; and
``(II) offering parenting time
arrangements, assisting obligors with
employment needs, or providing other
allowable services or activities to
carry out the State responsibilities
under this part,
except that such reduced amount may not exceed
10 percent of such total amount expended during
the fiscal year under the State plan.''.
(d) Allotments to States for Access and Visitation Program
Grants.--Section 469B(c)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 669b(c)(1)) is
amended by striking ``$10,000,000'' and inserting ``$20,000,000''.
TITLE IV--REVENUE PROVISION
SEC. 401. INCREASE IN CREDIT PERCENTAGE UNDER EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT
FOR ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WITH NO QUALIFYING CHILDREN.
(a) In General.--The row in the table in section 32(b)(1) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 relating to no qualifying children is
amended to read as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
``No qualifying children...................... 20 7.65''.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Income Phaseout for Eligible Individuals With No Qualifying
Children.--The table in section 32(b)(2)(A) of such Code is amended by
striking ``$5,280'' and inserting ``$11,500''.
(c) Increase in Age Range for Eligible Individuals With No
Qualifying Child.--Section 32(c)(1)(A)(ii)(II) of such Code is
amended--
(1) by striking ``age 25'' and inserting ``age 21''; and
(2) by striking ``age 65'' and inserting ``age 68''.
(d) Taxpayer Eligible for Credit for Individuals With No Qualifying
Children if Qualifying Children Do Not Have Valid Social Security
Numbers.--Section 32(c)(1)(F) of such Code is amended to read as
follows:
``(F) Individuals who do not include tin, etc., of
any qualifying child.--In the case of any eligible
individual who has one or more qualifying children,
if--
``(i) no qualifying child of such
individual is taken into account under
subsection (b) by reason of paragraph (3)(D),
and
``(ii) no child of such individual is taken
into account for purposes of any other child
tax benefit under this chapter,
for purposes of the credit allowed under this section,
such individual may be considered an eligible
individual without a qualifying child.''.
(e) Expanding the EITC for Certain Former Foster Youth.--Section
32(c)(1) of such Code, as amended by subsection (e), is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(G) Foster youth.--
``(i) In general.--For purposes of
subparagraph (A), the term `eligible
individual' shall include an individual who is
a qualified foster youth.
``(ii) Qualified foster youth defined.--For
purposes of clause (i), the term `qualified
foster youth' means an individual who--
``(I) has attained age 18 but not
attained age 21 before the close of the
taxable year, and
``(II) on or after attaining the
age of 14 was placed in a foster family
home by an agency of a State or a
political subdivision thereof or by a
qualified foster care placement agency
(as defined by section 131(b)(3)).''.
(f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017.
TITLE V--SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE
SEC. 501. COLLECTION OF CHILD SUPPORT UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Encouragement of Collection of Child Support.--Section 5 of the
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is amended--
(1) in subsection (e)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as
paragraphs (6) and (7), respectively;
(B) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``paragraph
(6)'' and inserting ``paragraph (7)''; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) Deduction for child support received.--
``(A) In general.--A household shall be allowed a
deduction of 20 percent of all legally obligated child
support payments received from an identified or
putative parent of a child in the household if that
parent is not a household member.
``(B) Order of determining deductions.--A deduction
under this paragraph shall be determined before the
computation of the excess shelter deduction under
paragraph (7).''; and
(2) in subsection (k)(4)(B), by striking ``subsection
(e)(6)'' and inserting ``subsection (e)(7)''.
(b) Simplified Verification of Child Support Payments.--Section
5(n) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(n)) is
amended--
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``State Options
to Simplify'', and inserting ``Simplified''; and
(2) by striking ``Regardless of whether'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--A household that is paying legally
obligated child support through the program under part D of
title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.)
shall receive--
``(A) a deduction under subsection (e)(4); or
``(B) an exclusion under subsection (d)(6);
for child support payments made.
``(2) State options.--Regardless of whether''.
(c) Inclusion of Economic Opportunities Programs in Definition of
Work Program.--Section 6(o)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2015(o)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) participate in and comply with the
requirements of a State program to provide job services
to noncustodial parents as provided in section
466(a)(20) of the Social Security Act;''.
(d) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--This section and the amendments made by
this section take effect on October 1, 2019.
(2) Implementation.--A State shall implement the amendments
made by subsections (a) and (b) for participating households at
the first certification, or first recertification, of the
household that occurs on or after October 1, 2019.
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