[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4844 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4844

 To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to reauthorize the grant 
   program to promote responsible fatherhood, to modernize the child 
          support enforcement program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             October 22 (legislative day, October 19), 2020

  Mr. Van Hollen (for himself and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following 
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to reauthorize the grant 
   program to promote responsible fatherhood, to modernize the child 
          support enforcement program, 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; DEFINITION.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening 
Families for Success Act of 2020''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; definition.
TITLE I--PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD AND STRENGTHENING LOW-INCOME 
                                FAMILIES

Sec. 101. Reauthorization of healthy marriage promotion and responsible 
                            fatherhood grants.
    TITLE II--IMPROVING RESOURCES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND FAMILY 
                             STRENGTHENING

Sec. 201. Best practices for coordination of policy to address domestic 
                            violence and family engagement.
Sec. 202. Grants supporting healthy family partnerships for domestic 
                            violence intervention and prevention.
Sec. 203. Procedures to address domestic violence.
         TITLE III--MODERNIZATION OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT

Sec. 301. Pilot program to stay automatic child support enforcement 
                            against non-custodial parents participating 
                            in a healthy marriage or responsible 
                            fatherhood program.
Sec. 302. Closure of certain child support enforcement cases.
            TITLE IV--PARENTING TIME SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM

Sec. 401. Parenting time services pilot program.
  TITLE V--IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CHILD SUPPORT PASS-THROUGH REQUIREMENTS

Sec. 501. Child support pass-through program improvements.
Sec. 502. Ban on recovery of Medicaid costs for births.
Sec. 503. Improving State documentation and reporting of child support 
                            collection data.
       TITLE VI--PROGRAM FLEXIBILITY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Sec. 601. Emergency TANF flexibility.
Sec. 602. 2020 recovery rebates not subject to reduction or offset with 
                            respect to past-due support.
Sec. 603. Protection of 2020 recovery rebates.
                       TITLE VII--EFFECTIVE DATE

Sec. 701. Effective date.
    (c) Secretary Defined.--In this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

TITLE I--PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD AND STRENGTHENING LOW-INCOME 
                                FAMILIES

SEC. 101. REAUTHORIZATION OF HEALTHY MARRIAGE PROMOTION AND RESPONSIBLE 
              FATHERHOOD GRANTS.

    (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'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (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 a program funded under 
                                        part B or E of this title, on 
                                        enrollment or participation in 
                                        any such programs; 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 a program funded under part B or E 
        of 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) Alignment of Entities Eligible for Grants and Technical 
Assistance.--Section 403(a)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)) is 
further amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by inserting ``territories,'' 
                after ``States,''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iv) Eligible entities.--States, 
                        territories, Indian tribes and tribal 
                        organizations, public or private entities, and 
                        nonprofit community entities, including 
                        religious organizations, are eligible to be 
                        awarded funds made available under this 
                        paragraph for the purpose of carrying out 
                        healthy marriage promotion activities, for the 
                        purpose of carrying out activities promoting 
                        responsible fatherhood, or for both such 
                        purposes.
                            ``(v) Territory defined.--For purposes of 
                        awarding funds under this paragraph, the term 
                        `territory' means the Commonwealth of Puerto 
                        Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, 
                        American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the 
                        Northern Mariana Islands.''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking ``and public'' and 
        inserting ``public or private entities,''.
    (c) Territory and Tribal Set-Aside; Elimination of Preference 
Provision.--Section 403(a)(2)(E) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)(E)) 
is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(E) Funding for territories and indian tribes and 
                tribal organizations.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Of the amounts made 
                        available under subparagraph (D) for a fiscal 
                        year, not less than 10 of the awards made by 
                        the Secretary of such funds for fiscal year 
                        2021 or any fiscal year thereafter for the 
                        purpose of carrying out healthy marriage 
                        promotion activities, activities promoting 
                        responsible fatherhood, or both, (excluding any 
                        award under subparagraph (B)(i) for any fiscal 
                        year), shall be made to a territory or an 
                        Indian tribe or tribal organization.
                            ``(ii) Clarification of eligibility of 
                        tribal consortiums.--A tribal consortium of 
                        Indian tribes or tribal organizations may be 
                        awarded funds under this paragraph for the 
                        purpose of carrying out healthy marriage 
                        promotion activities, activities promoting 
                        responsible fatherhood, or both.''.
    (d) 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)--
                    (A) by striking ``fathers'' and inserting ``parents 
                (with priority for low-income noncustodial parents)''; 
                and
                    (B) by inserting ``employment training for both 
                parents and for other family members,'' after 
                ``referrals to local employment training 
                initiatives,''.
    (e) Ensuring Healthy Marriage Promotion and Responsible Fatherhood 
Activities Can Be Offered During Public Health Emergencies.--
            (1) In general.--Section 403(a)(2)(A)(ii)(I) of such Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)(A)(ii)(I)) is amended--
                    (A) in each of items (aa) and (bb), by striking 
                ``and'' after the semicolon; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                                            ``(cc) how, and the extent 
                                        to which, funds awarded will be 
                                        used by the entity for 
                                        technology and access to 
                                        broadband in order to carry out 
                                        healthy marriage promotion 
                                        activities, activities 
                                        promoting responsible 
                                        fatherhood, or both, remotely 
                                        during a public health 
                                        emergency; and
                                            ``(dd) how the entity will 
                                        sustain continuity of critical 
                                        services, specifying the scope 
                                        of the critical services to be 
                                        maintained, and the ability of 
                                        the entity to be able to resume 
                                        providing such services within 
                                        3 weeks of the beginning of a 
                                        public health emergency or 
                                        other incident that compromises 
                                        the ability of the entity to 
                                        deliver such services in-
                                        person, by telephone, or 
                                        virtually; and''.
            (2) Public health emergency defined.--Section 403(a)(2)(A) 
        of such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)(A)) is further amended--
                    (A) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) (as added 
                by subsection (b)(1)) as clauses (v) and (vi), 
                respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
                            ``(iv) Public health emergency defined.--In 
                        clause (ii), the term `public health emergency' 
                        means--
                                    ``(I) a national or public health 
                                emergency declared by the President or 
                                the Secretary, including--
                                            ``(aa) a major disaster 
                                        relating to public health 
                                        declared by the President under 
                                        section 401 of the Robert T. 
                                        Stafford Disaster Relief and 
                                        Emergency Assistance Act (42 
                                        U.S.C. 5170);
                                            ``(bb) an emergency 
                                        relating to public health 
                                        declared by the President under 
                                        section 501 of the Robert T. 
                                        Stafford Disaster Relief and 
                                        Emergency Assistance Act (42 
                                        U.S.C. 5191); or
                                            ``(cc) a public health 
                                        emergency declared by the 
                                        Secretary under section 319 of 
                                        the Public Health Service Act 
                                        (42 U.S.C. 247d); or
                                    ``(II) an emergency relating to 
                                public health that has been declared by 
                                a Governor or other appropriate 
                                official of any State, the District of 
                                Columbia, or commonwealth, territory, 
                                or locality of the United States.''.
    (f) Measuring Outcomes for Eligible Families.--Section 403(a)(2) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)), as amended by the preceding subsections 
of this section, is further amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) in clause (ii)--
                            (i) in subclause (I)(dd), by striking 
                        ``and'' after the semicolon;
                            (ii) in subclause (II)--
                                    (I) in item (cc), by striking 
                                ``and'' after the semicolon;
                                    (II) in item (dd), by striking the 
                                period at the end and inserting ``; 
                                and''; and
                                    (III) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                                            ``(ee) to submit the report 
                                        required under clause (vi); 
                                        and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                                    ``(III) provides, subject to the 
                                approval of the Secretary, for 
                                evaluations of the activities carried 
                                out using each grant made under this 
                                paragraph that satisfy the requirements 
                                of subparagraph (F).''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(vii) Requirements relating to outcomes 
                        for measuring improvements.--
                                    ``(I) Report on improvements after 
                                3 years.--Not later than 30 days after 
                                the end of the 3rd year in which an 
                                eligible entity conducts programs or 
                                activities with funds made available 
                                under this paragraph, the entity shall 
                                submit a report to the Secretary 
                                demonstrating the extent to which the 
                                programs and activities carried out 
                                with such funds made quantifiable, 
                                measurable improvements in the areas 
                                identified in the entity's application 
                                in accordance with clause (ii)(III).
                                    ``(II) Technical assistance.--The 
                                Secretary shall provide technical 
                                assistance to help the eligible entity 
                                develop and implement ways to evaluate 
                                and improve outcomes for eligible 
                                families. The Secretary may provide the 
                                technical assistance directly or 
                                through grants, contracts, or 
                                cooperative agreements.
                                    ``(III) Advisory panel.--The 
                                Secretary shall establish an advisory 
                                panel for purposes of obtaining 
                                recommendations regarding the technical 
                                assistance provided to entities in 
                                accordance with subclause (II).
                                    ``(IV) Final report.--Not later 
                                than December 31 of the first calendar 
                                year that begins after October 1 of the 
                                5th consecutive fiscal year for which 
                                an eligible entity conducts programs or 
                                activities with funds made available 
                                under this paragraph, and every 5th 
                                such fiscal year thereafter (beginning 
                                with funds awarded for fiscal year 
                                2021), the eligible entity shall submit 
                                a report to the Secretary demonstrating 
                                the extent to which the programs and 
                                activities carried out with such funds 
                                made quantifiable, measurable 
                                improvements in the areas identified in 
                                the entity's application for funding 
                                for such 5 fiscal years.
                                    ``(V) Report to congress.--Not 
                                later than March 31, 2026, and annually 
                                thereafter, the Secretary shall submit 
                                a report to the Committee on Ways and 
                                Means of the House of Representatives 
                                and the Committee on Finance of the 
                                Senate on the programs and activities 
                                carried out with funds made available 
                                under this paragraph based on the most 
                                recent final reports submitted under 
                                subclause (IV). Each report submitted 
                                under this subclause shall identify the 
                                programs and activities carried out 
                                with funds made available under this 
                                paragraph which made quantifiable, 
                                measurable improvements and in which 
                                outcome areas.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(F) Evaluation requirements.--
                            ``(i) In general.--For purposes of 
                        subparagraph (A)(ii)(III), an evaluation 
                        satisfies the requirements of this subparagraph 
                        if--
                                    ``(I) the evaluation is designed 
                                to--
                                            ``(aa) build evidence of 
                                        the effectiveness of the 
                                        activities carried out using 
                                        each grant made under this 
                                        paragraph;
                                            ``(bb) determine the 
                                        lessons learned (including 
                                        barriers to success) from such 
                                        activities; and
                                            ``(cc) to the extent 
                                        practicable, help build local 
                                        evaluation capacity, including 
                                        the capacity to use evaluation 
                                        data to inform continuous 
                                        program improvement; and
                                    ``(II) the evaluation includes 
                                research designs that encourage 
                                innovation and reflect the nature of 
                                the activities undertaken, successful 
                                implementation efforts, and the needs 
                                of the communities, without 
                                prioritizing efficacy research over 
                                effectiveness research.
                            ``(ii) Randomized controlled trials.--An 
                        evaluation conducted in accordance with 
                        subparagraph (A)(ii)(III) and this subparagraph 
                        may, but shall not be required to, include a 
                        randomized controlled trial.
                            ``(iii) Outcomes.--Outcomes of interest for 
                        an evaluation conducted in accordance with 
                        subparagraph (A)(ii)(III) and this subparagraph 
                        shall include, but are not limited to, the 
                        following:
                                    ``(I) Relationship quality between 
                                custodial and non-custodial parents.
                                    ``(II) Family economic wellbeing, 
                                including receipt of public benefits 
                                and access to employment services and 
                                education.
                                    ``(III) Payment of child support by 
                                non-custodial parents, non-financial 
                                contributions, and involvement in 
                                child-related activities.
                                    ``(IV) Parenting skills or 
                                parenting quality.
                                    ``(V) Health and mental health 
                                outcomes of parents.
                                    ``(VI) Quality and frequency of 
                                contact between children and non-
                                custodial parents.
                                    ``(VII) Reduction in crime or 
                                domestic violence.
                                    ``(VIII) Prevention of child 
                                injuries, child abuse, neglect, or 
                                maltreatment, and reduction of 
                                emergency department visits.
                                    ``(IX) Coordination and referrals 
                                for other community resources and 
                                supports.''.
    (g) Authority for Substitution Grantees.--Section 403(a)(2)(A) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)(A)), as amended by subsections (b)(1), 
(e)(2), and (f)(2), is further amended--
            (1) in clause (ii), in the matter preceding subclause (I), 
        by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting ``Except as 
        provided in clause (viii), the Secretary''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(viii) Authority for substitute 
                        entities.--If, after being awarded funds under 
                        this paragraph for a fiscal year for the 
                        purpose of carrying out healthy marriage 
                        promotion activities, activities promoting 
                        responsible fatherhood, or both, an entity 
                        becomes unable to continue to carry out such 
                        activities for the duration of the award 
                        period, the Secretary may select another entity 
                        to carry out such activities with the funds 
                        from the initial award that remain available 
                        for obligation, for the remainder of the 
                        initial award period. The Secretary shall make 
                        any such selection from among applications 
                        submitted by other entities for funding to 
                        carry out the same activities as the activities 
                        for which the initial award was made, and may 
                        base the criteria for making such a selection 
                        on the objectives specified in the announcement 
                        of the opportunity to apply for the initial 
                        award funds.''.
    (h) Reauthorization.--Section 403(a)(2)(D) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
603(a)(2)(D)) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(D) Appropriation.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clauses (ii) 
                        and (iii), out of any money in the Treasury of 
                        the United States not otherwise appropriated, 
                        there are appropriated for each of fiscal years 
                        2021 through and 2025 for expenditure in 
                        accordance with this paragraph--
                                    ``(I) $75,000,000 for awarding 
                                funds for the purpose of carrying out 
                                healthy marriage promotion activities; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) $75,000,000 for awarding 
                                funds for the purpose of carrying out 
                                activities promoting responsible 
                                fatherhood.
                            ``(ii) Demonstration projects for 
                        coordination of provision of child welfare and 
                        tanf services to tribal families at risk of 
                        child abuse or neglect.--If the Secretary makes 
                        an award under subparagraph (B)(i) for any 
                        fiscal year, the funds for such award shall be 
                        taken in equal portion from the amounts 
                        appropriated under subclauses (I) and (II) of 
                        clause (i).
                            ``(iii) Research; technical assistance.--
                        The Secretary may use 0.5 percent of the 
                        amounts appropriated under each of subclauses 
                        (I) and (II) of clause (i), respectively, for 
                        the purpose of conducting and supporting 
                        research and demonstration projects by public 
                        or private entities, and providing technical 
                        assistance to States, Indian tribes and tribal 
                        organizations, and such other entities as the 
                        Secretary may specify that are receiving a 
                        grant under another provision of this part.''.

    TITLE II--IMPROVING RESOURCES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND FAMILY 
                             STRENGTHENING

SEC. 201. BEST PRACTICES FOR COORDINATION OF POLICY TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC 
              VIOLENCE AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.

    The Secretary shall develop a coordinated policy to address 
domestic violence and family strengthening that--
            (1) establishes criteria and best practices for 
        coordination and partnership between domestic violence shelter 
        and service organizations and responsible fatherhood and 
        healthy marriage promotion programs;
            (2) not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, issue guidance containing such criteria and best 
        practices; and
            (3) update and reissue such criteria and best practices at 
        least once every 5 years.

SEC. 202. GRANTS SUPPORTING HEALTHY FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS FOR DOMESTIC 
              VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION.

    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 build capacity for, and facilitate such 
                partnerships.
                    ``(B) Use of funds.--Funds made available under a 
                grant awarded under this paragraph may be used for 
                staff training, the provision of domestic violence 
                intervention and prevention services, and the 
                dissemination of best 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 other community partners, the implementation 
                        of safe visitation and exchange programs, and 
                        the implementation of safe child support 
                        procedures; or
                            ``(ii) preventing domestic violence, 
                        particularly as a barrier to economic security, 
                        and fostering healthy relationships.
                    ``(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 (B), including a detailed plan 
                        for how the entity and organization comprising 
                        the partnership will collaborate;
                            ``(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 (B); and
                            ``(iii) such other information as the 
                        Secretary may require.
                    ``(D) General rules governing use of funds.--
                Neither the rules of section 404 (other than subsection 
                (b) of that section), nor section 417 shall apply to a 
                grant made under this paragraph.
                    ``(E) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
                            ``(i) Domestic violence.--The term 
                        `domestic violence' means violence between 
                        intimate partners, which involves any form of 
                        physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, 
                        or psychological aggression, by a current or 
                        former intimate partner.
                            ``(ii) Healthy family partnership.--The 
                        term `healthy family partnership' means a 
                        partnership between--
                                    ``(I) an entity receiving funds 
                                under--
                                            ``(aa) a grant made under 
                                        paragraph (2) to promote 
                                        healthy marriage or responsible 
                                        fatherhood; or
                                            ``(bb) the pilot program 
                                        established under section 469C; 
                                        and
                                    ``(II) a domestic violence shelter 
                                and service organization.
                    ``(F) Appropriation.--Out of any money in the 
                Treasury of the United States not otherwise 
                appropriated, there are appropriated for each of fiscal 
                years 2022 through 2025, $25,000,000 to carry out this 
                paragraph.''.

SEC. 203. PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 403(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 603(a)(2)), as amended by subsections (c) and (h) of section 
101, 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) agrees to coordinate with the State 
                        domestic violence coalition (as defined in 
                        section 302(11) of the Family Violence 
                        Prevention and Services Act (42 U.S.C. 
                        10402(11)));
                            ``(ii) identifies in its application for 
                        the grant the domestic violence shelter and 
                        service organization at the local, State, or 
                        national level with whom the entity will 
                        partner with respect to the development and 
                        implementation of the programs and activities 
                        of the entity;
                            ``(iii) describes in such application how 
                        the programs or activities proposed in the 
                        application will address, as appropriate, 
                        issues of domestic violence, and contains a 
                        commitment by the entity to consult with 
                        experts in domestic violence or relevant 
                        domestic violence shelter and service 
                        organizations in the community in developing 
                        the programs and activities;
                            ``(iv) describes in such application the 
                        roles and responsibilities of the entity and 
                        the domestic violence shelter and service 
                        organization, including with respect to 
                        training, cross-trainings for each entity, 
                        development of protocols using comprehensive 
                        and evidence-based practices and tools, and 
                        reporting, and the resources that each partner 
                        will be responsible for bringing to the 
                        program;
                            ``(v) on award of the grant, and in 
                        consultation with the domestic violence shelter 
                        and service organization, develops and submits 
                        to the Secretary for approval, a written 
                        protocol using comprehensive and evidence-based 
                        practices and tools which describes--
                                    ``(I) how the entity will identify 
                                instances or risks of domestic violence 
                                among participants in the program and 
                                their families;
                                    ``(II) the procedures for 
                                responding to such instances or risks, 
                                including making service referrals, 
                                assisting with safety planning, and 
                                providing protections and other 
                                appropriate assistance for identified 
                                individuals and families;
                                    ``(III) how confidentiality issues 
                                will be addressed; and
                                    ``(IV) the training on domestic 
                                violence that will be provided to 
                                ensure effective and consistent 
                                implementation of the protocol;
                            ``(vi) describes the entity's plan to build 
                        the capacity of program staff and other 
                        partners to address and communicate with 
                        parents about domestic violence;
                            ``(vii) provides an assurance that the 
                        program staff will include a domestic violence 
                        coordinator to serve as the lead staff person 
                        on domestic violence for the entity (which may 
                        be funded with funds made available under the 
                        grant); and
                            ``(viii) 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' means violence 
                between intimate partners, which involves any form of 
                physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, or 
                psychological aggression, by a current or former 
                intimate partner.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 403(a)(2) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 603(a)(2)), is further 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 take 
effect on October 1, 2021.

         TITLE III--MODERNIZATION OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT

SEC. 301. PILOT PROGRAM TO STAY AUTOMATIC CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT 
              AGAINST NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS PARTICIPATING IN A HEALTHY 
              MARRIAGE OR RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a pilot 
        program to test whether the impact of staying automatic child 
        support enforcement and cost recovery efforts improves family 
        outcomes in cases under the State program funded under part A 
        of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
        while a non-custodial parent participates in a healthy marriage 
        or responsible fatherhood program carried out under section 
        403(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)), 
        under a program funded with qualified State expenditures (as 
        defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
        609(a)(7)(B)(i))), or under any other program funded with non-
        Federal funds. While a child's non-custodial parent is 
        participating in a healthy marriage or responsible fatherhood 
        program that is part of the pilot program established under 
        this section, an eligible entity participating in the pilot 
        program--
                    (A) shall not apply paragraph (3) of section 408(a) 
                of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)) to a 
                family of a child receiving assistance under the State 
                program funded under part A of title IV of such Act (42 
                U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
                    (B) shall not refer the child's case to the State 
                program funded under part D of title IV of the Social 
                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) or apply a penalty 
                against the child's family based on the custodial 
                parent's noncooperation with child support activities 
                with respect to the child under paragraph (2) of 
                section 408(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)), but 
                shall provide an exception to the custodial parent 
                pursuant to section 454(29)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                654(29)(A));
                    (C) shall not be subject to penalties under section 
                409(a)(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 609(a)(5));
                    (D) notwithstanding subparagraph (B), any such 
                individual shall retain the right to apply for child 
                support services under section 454(4)(A)(ii) of the 
                Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 654(4)(A)(ii)) with 
                respect to a child of the individual;
                    (E) if the child has an open child support case 
                with the State agency responsible for administering the 
                State plan under part D of title IV of the Social 
                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.), such State 
                agency, shall suspend any activity to establish or 
                enforce a support order with respect to the child 
                (other than to establish the paternity of the child), 
                and monthly child support obligations shall be 
                suspended and shall not accrue, but only if both 
                parents of the child agree in writing to the 
                suspension; and
                    (F) if child support activities are suspended in a 
                case by agreement of both parents in accordance with 
                subparagraph (E), may exclude the case in determining 
                applicable percentages based on State performance 
                levels under section 458 of the Social Security Act (42 
                U.S.C. 658a), and the Secretary shall disregard the 
                case in determining whether the State data submitted to 
                the Secretary are complete and reliable for purposes of 
                that section and section 452 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                652).
            (2) Eligible entity.--In this section, the term ``eligible 
        entity'' means--
                    (A) a State;
                    (B) a unit of local government; or
                    (C) 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. 5304)) that receives direct payments from 
                the Secretary under section 455(f) of the Social 
                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 655(f)) or has entered into a 
                cooperative agreement with a State under section 
                454(33) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 654(33)).
            (3) Application, selection of eligible entities.--
                    (A) Application.--
                            (i) In general.--To participate in the 
                        pilot program, an eligible entity shall submit 
                        an application to the Secretary at such time 
                        and in such manner as the Secretary may 
                        require.
                            (ii) Required information.--An application 
                        to participate in the pilot program shall 
                        include--
                                    (I) an outline of the healthy 
                                marriage or responsible fatherhood 
                                programs that the eligible entity will 
                                partner with for the purposes of 
                                participating in the pilot program, 
                                including a description of each the 
                                eligibility and participation criteria 
                                for each such program;
                                    (II) the goals, strategies, and 
                                desired outcomes of the eligible 
                                entity's proposed participation in the 
                                pilot program; and
                                    (III) such other information as the 
                                Secretary shall require.
                    (B) Selection of eligible entities.--Not later than 
                September 30, 2021, the Secretary shall select at least 
                10 eligible entities to participate in the pilot 
                program.
            (4) Duration of pilot program.--The Secretary shall conduct 
        the pilot program during the 4-year period that begins with 
        fiscal year 2022 and ends with fiscal year 2025.
            (5) Data collection and reporting.--Throughout the pilot 
        period, an eligible entity participating in the pilot program 
        shall collect and report to the Secretary such data related to 
        the entity's participation in the pilot program as the 
        Secretary shall require.
    (b) GAO Report.--
            (1) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States 
        shall study the implementation and impact of the pilot program 
        established under subsection (a).
            (2) Report.--Not later than January 1, 2026, the 
        Comptroller General shall submit a report to Congress on the 
        results of the study required under paragraph (1) that includes 
        information on the following:
                    (A) How State agencies responsible for 
                administering the State program funded under part A of 
                title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et 
                seq.) and the State agency responsible for 
                administering the State plan under part D of title IV 
                of such Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) designate healthy 
                marriage or responsible fatherhood programs as eligible 
                programs for purposes of the pilot program and what 
                types of organizations have programs so designated, 
                including whether such programs are funded under a 
                grant made under section 403(a)(2) of such Act (42 
                U.S.C. 603(a)(2)), under a program funded with 
                qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 
                409(a)(7)(B)(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                609(a)(7)(B)(i))), or under any other program funded 
                with non-Federal funds.
                    (B) The types of activities and services designated 
                programs provide, including the extent to which any 
                such activities and services are intended for domestic 
                violence victims and survivors.
                    (C) An assessment of how the designated programs 
                compare to other entities receiving a grant under 
                section 403(a)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)), 
                under a program funded with qualified State 
                expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i) of 
                such Act (42 U.S.C. 609(a)(7)(B)(i))), or under any 
                other program funded with non-Federal funds, with 
                respect to the information described in subparagraphs 
                (A) and (B).
                    (D) Recommendations for such administrative or 
                legislative action as the Comptroller General 
                determines appropriate.

SEC. 302. CLOSURE OF CERTAIN CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT CASES.

    Section 454(4)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 654(4)(A)) 
is amended--
            (1) by striking clause (i) and inserting the following:
                            ``(i) a child living apart from 1 or both 
                        parents for whom (I) assistance is provided 
                        under the State program funded under part A of 
                        this title, (II) benefits or services for 
                        foster care maintenance are provided under the 
                        State program funded under part E of this 
                        title, (III) medical assistance is provided 
                        under the State plan approved under title XIX, 
                        or (IV) cooperation is required pursuant to 
                        section 6(l)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act 
                        of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(l)(1)) unless, in 
                        accordance with paragraph (29), good cause or 
                        other exceptions exist, or in the event that 
                        the State agency becomes aware after opening a 
                        child support case upon referral from another 
                        program that both parents of the child comprise 
                        an intact 2-parent household (even if a parent 
                        is temporarily living elsewhere), and neither 
                        parent has applied for child support services 
                        under clause (ii), in which case the State 
                        agency shall notify the referring program and 
                        each parent that the case will be closed within 
                        60 days of the date of such notice unless 
                        either parent contacts the State agency and 
                        requests that the case remain open; and''; and
            (2) in clause (ii), by inserting ``living apart from 1 or 
        both parents'' after ``any other child''.

            TITLE IV--PARENTING TIME SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM

SEC. 401. PARENTING TIME SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM.

    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. PARENTING TIME SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than June 30, 2021, the 
        Secretary shall establish a pilot program (referred to in this 
        section as the `pilot program') to provide payments to State, 
        local, and tribal agencies responsible for administering the 
        program under this part (referred to in this section as 
        `eligible entities') for carrying out the activities described 
        in subsection (d) for the purpose of promoting the inclusion of 
        uncontested parenting time agreements in child support orders. 
        Expenditures for activities carried out by a State, local, or 
        tribal agency participating in the pilot program shall be 
        treated as expenditures authorized under the State or tribal 
        plan approved under this part, without regard to whether such 
        expenditures would otherwise be a permissible use of funds 
        under such plan.
            ``(2) No budget neutrality required.--No budget neutrality 
        requirement shall apply to the pilot program.
    ``(b) Application, Selection of Eligible Entities, and Duration.--
            ``(1) Application.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To participate in the pilot 
                program, an eligible entity shall submit an application 
                to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the 
                Secretary may require.
                    ``(B) Required information.--An application to 
                participate in the pilot program shall include the 
                following:
                            ``(i) The identity of the courts or 
                        judicial or administrative agencies with which 
                        the eligible entity will coordinate activities 
                        carried out under the pilot program.
                            ``(ii) The identity of the local, State, or 
                        national level domestic violence shelter and 
                        service organization with which the eligible 
                        entity will partner with to develop and 
                        implement the procedures to address domestic 
                        violence required under subsection (d).
                            ``(iii) A description of the role and 
                        responsibilities of each of such partner with 
                        respect to developing and implementing the 
                        procedures required under subsection (d), and 
                        of the resources that each partner will 
                        contribute to developing and implementing such 
                        procedures.
                            ``(iv) Such other information as the 
                        Secretary shall require.
            ``(2) Selection of eligible entities.--Not later than 
        September 30, 2021, the Secretary shall select at least 12 
        eligible entities to participate in the pilot program, at least 
        2 of which shall be tribal agencies described in subsection 
        (b).
            ``(3) Duration of pilot program.--The Secretary shall 
        conduct the pilot program during the 5-year period that begins 
        with fiscal year 2022 and ends with fiscal year 2026.
    ``(c) Authorized Activities.--An eligible entity participating in 
the pilot program shall carry out the following activities:
            ``(1) Establishing parent time plans in conjunction with 
        the establishment of a child support order.
            ``(2) Coordinating with the custodial and non-custodial 
        parent when establishing a parent time plan.
            ``(3) Supervising and facilitating parents' visitation and 
        access to their children, including virtual visitation in 
        situations where in-person visitation is not practicable.
            ``(4) Providing parents with legal information and 
        referrals related to parenting time.
            ``(5) Coordinating with domestic violence shelter and 
        service organizations.
            ``(6) Employing a staff member to serve as a domestic 
        violence coordinator.
            ``(7) Such other activities related to promoting the 
        inclusion of uncontested parenting time agreements in child 
        support orders as the Secretary may approve.
    ``(d) Program Requirements.--As a condition of receiving payments 
under the pilot program, an eligible entity shall meet the following 
requirements:
            ``(1) Procedures to address domestic violence.--Not later 
        than 3 months after the eligible entity is selected to 
        participate in the pilot program, the eligible entity, in 
        consultation with the State domestic violence coalition (as 
        defined in section 302(11) of the Family Violence Prevention 
        and Services Act (42 U.S.C. 10402(11))) and the domestic 
        violence shelter and service organization with which the entity 
        is partnering, shall do the following:
                    ``(A) Develop, and submit to the Secretary for 
                approval, written protocols for use by the eligible 
                entity in carrying out activities under the pilot 
                program that are based on comprehensive and evidence-
                based practices and tools for--
                            ``(i) identifying instances of domestic 
                        violence and situations where there is a risk 
                        of domestic violence;
                            ``(ii) responding to any instances of 
                        domestic violence and situations where there is 
                        a risk of domestic violence that are so 
                        identified, including by making referrals to 
                        domestic violence intervention and prevention 
                        services, assisting with safety planning, and 
                        providing protections and other appropriate 
                        assistance to individuals and families who are 
                        victims or potential victims of domestic 
                        violence;
                            ``(iii) addressing confidentiality issues 
                        related to identifying and responding to 
                        instances of domestic violence and situations 
                        where there is a risk of domestic violence; and
                            ``(iv) providing domestic violence 
                        awareness and intervention and prevention 
                        training to ensure the effective and consistent 
                        implementation of the protocols developed under 
                        this subparagraph.
                    ``(B) Build the capacity of the staff of the 
                eligible entity and the domestic violence shelter and 
                service organization partner of the entity to 
                communicate with parents about domestic violence.
                    ``(C) Appoint a staff member of the eligible entity 
                or the domestic violence shelter and service 
                organizations to serve as the domestic violence 
                coordinator for purposes of the activities carried out 
                under the pilot program.
                    ``(D) Submit a final report to the Secretary 
                describing--
                            ``(i) the protocols established by the 
                        eligible entity to address domestic violence; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) any issues that the eligible entity 
                        encountered in implementing such protocols and 
                        if so, how the eligible entity addressed such 
                        issues.
            ``(2) Data collection and reporting.--Throughout the pilot 
        period, an eligible entity participating in the pilot program 
        shall collect and report to the Secretary such data related to 
        the entity's participation in the pilot program as the 
        Secretary shall require.
    ``(e) Payments to Eligible Entities.--
            ``(1) In general.--For each quarter during the pilot period 
        described in subsection (b)(3), the Secretary shall pay to each 
        eligible entity participating in the pilot program an amount 
        equal to the applicable percentage specified in paragraph (2) 
        of the amounts expended by the entity during the quarter to 
        carry out the pilot program. Such payments shall be made in 
        addition to, and as part of, the quarterly payment made to the 
        eligible entity under section 455(a)(1). Amounts expended by an 
        eligible entity participating in the pilot program shall be 
        treated as amounts expended for a purpose for which a quarterly 
        payment is available under section 455(a)(1)(A), without regard 
        to whether payment would otherwise be available under such 
        section in the absence of the pilot program (and subject to the 
        application of the applicable percentage for such quarter under 
        paragraph (2) in lieu of the percentage that would otherwise 
        apply under such section (if any)).
            ``(2) Applicable percentage.--The applicable percentage 
        specified in this paragraph is--
                    ``(A) in the case of payments made for the first 8 
                quarters of the pilot period, 100 percent; and
                    ``(B) in the case of payments made for each 
                subsequent quarter of the pilot period, 66 percent (80 
                percent in the case of an eligible entity that is a 
                tribal agency).
            ``(3) Sunset for payments.--In no case may payments be 
        provided by the Secretary for amounts expended by an eligible 
        entity to carry out the pilot program for any quarter of a 
        fiscal year after fiscal year 2026.
    ``(f) Evaluation of Pilot Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct (directly or 
        by grant, contract, or interagency agreement) a comprehensive 
        evaluation of the pilot program that satisfies the requirements 
        of this subsection.
            ``(2) Deadline.--Not later than 1 year after the pilot 
        program ends, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
        containing the results of such comprehensive evaluation.
            ``(3) Evaluation requirements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A comprehensive evaluation 
                satisfies the requirements of this subsection if--
                            ``(i) the evaluation is designed to 
                        identify successful activities for creating 
                        opportunities for developing and sustaining 
                        parenting time to--
                                    ``(I) build evidence of the 
                                effectiveness of such activities;
                                    ``(II) determine the lessons 
                                learned (including barriers to success) 
                                from such activities; and
                                    ``(III) to the extent practicable, 
                                help build local evaluation capacity, 
                                including the capacity to use 
                                evaluation data to inform continuous 
                                program improvement; and
                            ``(ii) the evaluation includes research 
                        designs that encourage innovation and reflect 
                        the nature of the activities undertaken, 
                        successful implementation efforts, and the 
                        needs of the communities, without prioritizing 
                        efficacy research over effectiveness research.
                    ``(B) Randomized controlled trials.--A 
                comprehensive evaluation conducted in accordance with 
                this subsection may, but shall not be required to, 
                include a randomized controlled trial.
            ``(4) Report requirements.--The report on the comprehensive 
        evaluation conducted in accordance with this subsection shall 
        include the following:
                    ``(A) An assessment of the process used to assist 
                parents in developing and establishing parenting time 
                agreements and the number of parenting time agreements 
                established during the pilot program.
                    ``(B) An assessment of the impact of the pilot 
                program on child support payment outcomes, including 
                payment behaviors such as the amount of monthly 
                payments, the frequency of monthly payments, and the 
                frequency and type of non-financial assistance.
                    ``(C) An assessment of the access barriers to 
                establishing and complying with parenting time 
                agreements, and the effectiveness of methods used by 
                the pilot projects to address barriers.
                    ``(D) An assessment of the impact of the pilot 
                program on co-parenting quality.
                    ``(E) An assessment of the impact of the pilot 
                program on relationships between custodial and non-
                custodial parents.
                    ``(F) An assessment of the impact of the pilot 
                program on relationships between non-custodial parents 
                and their children.
                    ``(G) Data on the incidence and prevalence of 
                domestic violence between custodial and non-custodial 
                parents during the course of the pilot program.
                    ``(H) A detailed description of the procedures used 
                to address incidents of domestic violence between 
                custodial and non-custodial parents during the course 
                of the pilot program.
                    ``(I) An assessment of the impact of the pilot 
                program on increasing custodial and non-custodial 
                parents' knowledge about domestic violence.
            ``(5) Appropriation.--Out of any money in the Treasury not 
        otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the Secretary 
        to carry out this subsection $1,000,000 for each of fiscal 
        years 2022 through 2026, to remain available until expended.
    ``(g) Domestic Violence Defined.--In this section, the term 
`domestic violence' means violence between intimate partners, which 
involves any form of physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, or 
psychological aggression, by a current or former intimate partner.''.

  TITLE V--IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CHILD SUPPORT PASS-THROUGH REQUIREMENTS

SEC. 501. CHILD SUPPORT PASS-THROUGH PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.

    (a) Pass-Through of All Current Support Amounts and Arrearages 
Collected for Current and Former TANF Families.--Section 457 of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 657) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph 
        (1), by striking ``and (e)'' and inserting ``, (e), (f), and 
        (g)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Distribution of Current Support Amount and Arrearages 
Collected for TANF Families.--
            ``(1) TANF families.--Subject to subsections (d), (e), and 
        (g), beginning October 1, 2023--
                    ``(A) paragraph (1) of subsection (a) shall no 
                longer apply to the distribution of amounts collected 
                on behalf of a TANF family as support by a State 
                pursuant to a plan approved under this part;
                    ``(B) the State shall pay to a TANF family all of 
                the current support amount collected by the State on 
                behalf of the family and all of any excess amount 
                collected on behalf of the family to the extent 
                necessary to satisfy support arrearages; and
                    ``(C) for purposes of determining eligibility for, 
                and the amount and type of, assistance from the State 
                under the State program funded under part A, the State 
                shall disregard the current support amount paid to a 
                TANF family and shall disregard the current support 
                amount paid to any family that is an applicant for 
                assistance under the State program funded under part A.
            ``(2) Former tanf families.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subsections (e) and 
                (g), beginning October 1, 2025--
                            ``(i) subsection (a)(2) shall no longer 
                        apply to the distribution of amounts collected 
                        on behalf of a former TANF family as support by 
                        a State pursuant to a plan approved under this 
                        part or to support obligations assigned by the 
                        family; and
                            ``(ii) the State shall pay to a former TANF 
                        family all of the current support amount 
                        collected by the State on behalf of the family 
                        and all of any excess amount collected on 
                        behalf of the family to the extent necessary to 
                        satisfy support arrearages (and the State shall 
                        treat amounts collected pursuant to an 
                        assignment by the family as if the amounts had 
                        never been assigned and shall distribute the 
                        amounts to the family in accordance with 
                        subsection (a)(4)).
                    ``(B) State option for earlier implementation.--A 
                State may elect to apply subparagraph (A) to the 
                distribution of amounts collected on behalf of a former 
                TANF family as support by a State pursuant to a plan 
                approved under this part beginning on the first day of 
                any quarter of fiscal year 2024 or 2025.
            ``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) TANF family.--The term `TANF family' means a 
                family receiving assistance from the State under the 
                State program funded under part A.
                    ``(B) Former tanf family.--The term `former TANF 
                family' means a family that formerly received 
                assistance from the State under the State program 
                funded under part A.
                    ``(C) Excess amount.--The term `excess amount' 
                means, with respect to amounts collected by a State as 
                support on behalf of a family, the amount by which such 
                amount collected exceeds the current support amount.''.
    (b) Temporary Increase in Matching Rate.--Section 455(a)(3) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 655(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(3)(A) The Secretary shall pay to each State, for each quarter of 
fiscal years 2022 and 2023, 90 percent of so much of the State 
expenditures described in paragraph (1)(B) for the quarter as the 
Secretary finds are for a system meeting the requirements specified in 
sections 454(16) and 454A.
    ``(B) In the case of a State which elects the option under 
subparagraph (B) of section 457(f)(2) to apply subparagraph (A) of that 
section to the distribution of amounts collected on behalf of a former 
TANF family (as defined in subparagraph (B) of section 457(f)(3)) as 
support by a State pursuant to a plan approved under this part 
beginning on the first day of any quarter of fiscal year 2024 or 2025, 
the Secretary shall pay to the State for each quarter of fiscal year 
2024 and 2025 for which such an election has been made, 90 percent of 
so much of the State expenditures described in paragraph (1)(B) for the 
quarter as the Secretary finds are for a system meeting the 
requirements specified in sections 454(16) and 454A.
    ``(C) This paragraph shall not apply to State expenditures 
described in paragraph (1)(B) for any quarter beginning on or after 
September 30, 2024 (September 30, 2023, in the case of a State that 
does not elect the option described in subparagraph (B)).''.
    (c) Transition to Elimination of Excepted Portion for Pass-Through 
Disregard Option.--
            (1) In general.--Subparagraph (B) of section 457(a)(6) of 
        such Act (42 U.S.C. 657(a)(6)) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(B) Families that currently receive assistance 
                under part a.--During each of fiscal years 2021, 2022, 
                and 2023, in the case of a family that receives 
                assistance from the State under the State program 
                funded under part A, a State shall not be required to 
                pay to the Federal Government the Federal share of an 
                amount collected on behalf of a family receiving 
                assistance from the State under the State program 
                funded under part A to the extent that the State--
                            ``(i) pays the amount to the family; and
                            ``(ii) disregards all of the amount 
                        collected that does not exceed the current 
                        support amount for purposes of determining the 
                        family's eligibility for, and the amount and 
                        type of, assistance from the State under the 
                        State program funded under part A.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 457(a)(6) of such Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 657(a)(6)) is amended in the heading, by inserting 
        ``; transition to elimination of excepted portion'' after 
        ``participation''.
    (d) Amounts Collected on Behalf of Families Receiving Foster Care 
Maintenance Payments.--
            (1) In general.--Section 457 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 657) as 
        amended by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the 
        end the following:
    ``(g) Distribution of Amounts Collected on Behalf of a Child for 
Whom Foster Care Maintenance Payments Are Being Made.--
            ``(1) In general.--Beginning October 1, 2023--
                    ``(A) subsection (e) shall no longer apply to the 
                distribution of amounts collected by a State as child 
                support for months in any period on behalf of a child 
                for whom a public agency is making foster care 
                maintenance payments under part E;
                    ``(B) with respect to the current support amount 
                collected by the State on behalf of the child, the 
                State shall elect to--
                            ``(i) pay such amount to a foster parent of 
                        the child or a kinship caregiver for the child 
                        whenever practicable, or to the person 
                        responsible for meeting the child's day-to-day 
                        needs; or
                            ``(ii) deposit such amount in a savings 
                        account to be used for the child's future needs 
                        in the event of the child's reunification with 
                        family from which the child was removed 
                        (including for reunification services for the 
                        child and family);
                    ``(C) to the extent any amount collected exceeds 
                the current support amount and, after the beginning of 
                the period in which a public agency began making foster 
                care maintenance payments under part E on behalf of the 
                child, support arrearages have accrued with respect to 
                the child, the State shall deposit such excess amount 
                into a savings account to be used for the child's 
                future needs; and
                    ``(D) when the child is returned to the family from 
                which the child was removed, or placed for adoption, 
                with a legal guardian, or, if adoption or legal 
                guardianship is determined not to be safe and 
                appropriate for a child, in some other planned, 
                permanent living arrangement, any amount in such 
                savings account shall--
                            ``(i) if the child has attained age 18, be 
                        transferred to the child; or
                            ``(ii) if the child has not attained age 
                        18, be maintained in such account until the 
                        child attains such age, and shall be 
                        transferred to the child when the child attains 
                        such age.
            ``(2) Administration.--The State agency responsible for 
        administering the program under this part shall be responsible 
        for the distribution under this subsection of amounts collected 
        on behalf of a child for whom a public agency is making foster 
        care maintenance payments under part E.''.
            (2) GAO report.--
                    (A) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United 
                States shall study the implementation and impact of the 
                requirements for distribution of amounts collected on 
                behalf of a child for whom foster care maintenance 
                payments are being made under subsection (g) of section 
                457 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 657) as added 
                by paragraph (1).
                    (B) Report.--Not later than January 1, 2027, the 
                Comptroller General shall submit a report to Congress 
                on the results of the study required under paragraph 
                (1) that includes information on the following:
                            (i) A description of how States have 
                        elected to implement the distribution 
                        requirements of such subsection, including with 
                        respect to the choices States make regarding 
                        how much of current support amounts are paid to 
                        foster families, saved in the event of a 
                        child's reunification with the family from 
                        which the child was removed, or saved for the 
                        child's future needs.
                            (ii) A description of how States distribute 
                        or use amounts saved in the event of a child's 
                        reunification with the family from which the 
                        child was removed, including the extent to 
                        which such amounts are used to provide 
                        reunification services for the child and family 
                        or distributed in full to the family.
                            (iii) Recommendations regarding best 
                        practices regarding distributions made under 
                        such subsection, along with recommendations for 
                        such administrative or legislative action as 
                        the Comptroller General determines appropriate.
    (e) Discontinuation of Support Assignments.--
            (1) Termination of tanf requirement to assign support 
        rights to the state.--Paragraph (3) of section 408(a) of such 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(3) No assistance for families not assigning certain 
        support rights to the state.--
                    ``(A) In general.--With respect to each of fiscal 
                years 2021, 2022, and 2023, subject to section 
                457(b)(3), a State to which a grant is made under 
                section 403 shall require, as a condition of paying 
                assistance to a family under the State program funded 
                under this part, that a member of the family assign to 
                the State any right the family member may have (on 
                behalf of the family member or of any other person for 
                whom the family member has applied for or is receiving 
                such assistance) to support from any other person, not 
                exceeding the total amount of assistance so paid to the 
                family, which accrues during the period that the family 
                receives assistance under the program.
                    ``(B) Sunset.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to 
                any State or family after September 30, 2023.''.
            (2) State option to discontinue support assignments under 
        tanf before fiscal year 2023.--Section 457(b) of such Act (42 
        U.S.C. 657(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) State option to discontinue support assignments under 
        part a before termination of requirement.--A State may elect 
        for any or all of fiscal years 2021 through 2023, to--
                    ``(A) not require the assignment of support 
                obligations under section 408(a)(3)(A) as a condition 
                of paying assistance to a family under the State 
                program funded under part A; and
                    ``(B) discontinue the assignment of a support 
                obligation described in such section, and treat amounts 
                collected pursuant to the assignment as if the amounts 
                had never been assigned and distribute the amounts to 
                the family.''.
    (f) Elimination of Option To Apply Former Distribution Rules for 
Families Formerly Receiving Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--Section 454 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 654) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (32)(C), by adding ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (33), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a period; and
                    (C) by striking paragraph (34).
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        take effect on October 1, 2023.
    (g) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 454B(c)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 654b(c)(1)) 
        is amended by striking ``457(a)'' and inserting ``457''.
            (2) Section 457 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 657), as amended by 
        subsections (a) and (d), is further amended--
                    (A) in subsection (c), in the matter preceding 
                paragraph (1), by striking ``subsection (a)'' and 
                inserting ``subsections (a), (f), and (g)''; and
                    (B) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding 
                paragraph (1), by striking ``Notwithstanding the 
                preceding provisions of this section, amounts'' and 
                inserting ``Subject to subsection (g), amounts''.

SEC. 502. BAN ON RECOVERY OF MEDICAID COSTS FOR BIRTHS.

    (a) In General.--Section 454 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
654) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (33);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (34) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (34) the following:
            ``(35) provide that 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.''.
    (b) Clarification That Ban on Recovery Does Not Apply With Respect 
to Insurance of a Parent With an Obligation To Pay Child Support.--
Section 1902(a)(25)(F) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1396a(a)(25)(F)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by striking ``care.;'' and inserting 
        ``care; and''; and
            (2) in clause (ii), 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, 2025.
            (2) State option for earlier application.--A State may 
        elect for the amendments made by this section to take effect 
        with respect to the State plans under part D of title IV and 
        title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671 et seq.; 
        1396 et seq.) on the first day of any quarter of fiscal years 
        2021 through 2025.

SEC. 503. IMPROVING STATE DOCUMENTATION AND REPORTING OF CHILD SUPPORT 
              COLLECTION DATA.

    (a) State Plan Requirement.--Paragraph (10) of section 454(10) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 654(10)) is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(10) provide that the State will--
                    ``(A) maintain a full record of collections and 
                disbursements made under the plan and have an adequate 
                reporting system; and
                    ``(B) document outcomes with respect to each child 
                support obligation that is enforced by the State, 
                including monthly support payment amounts 
                (distinguishing between full monthly payments and 
                partial monthly payments) and the frequency of monthly 
                support payments for each such case and include 
                information on such outcomes in the annual report 
                required under paragraph (15);''.
    (b) Inclusion in Annual Report by the Secretary.--Section 
452(a)(10)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 652(a)(10)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in clause (iii)(II), by adding ``and'' after the 
        semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iv) information on the documented 
                        outcomes with respect to each child support 
                        obligation that was enforced under a State plan 
                        approved under this part during the fiscal 
                        year, as required under paragraph (10) of 
                        section 454 and included in the annual report 
                        required under paragraph (15) of that 
                        section;''.

       TITLE VI--PROGRAM FLEXIBILITY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

SEC. 601. EMERGENCY TANF FLEXIBILITY.

    (a) In General.--With respect to the period that begins on March 1, 
2020, and ends September 30, 2021:
            (1) Sections 408(a)(2), 409(a)(5), and 409(a)(8) of the 
        Social Security Act shall have no force or effect.
            (2) Notwithstanding section 466(d) of such Act, the 
        Secretary may exempt a State from any requirement of section 
        466 of such Act to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, except 
        that the Secretary may not exempt a State from any requirement 
        to--
                    (A) provide a parent with notice of a right to 
                request a review and, if appropriate, adjustment of a 
                support order; or
                    (B) afford a parent the opportunity to make such a 
                request.
            (3) The Secretary may not impose a penalty or take any 
        other adverse action against a State pursuant to section 
        452(g)(1) of such Act for failure to achieve a paternity 
        establishment percentage of less than 90 percent.
            (4) The Secretary may not find that the paternity 
        establishment percentage for a State is not based on reliable 
        data for purposes of section 452(g)(1) of such Act, and the 
        Secretary may not determine that the data which a State 
        submitted pursuant to section 452(a)(4)(C)(i) of such Act and 
        which is used in determining a performance level is not 
        complete or reliable for purposes of section 458(b)(5)(B) of 
        such Act, on the basis of the failure of the State to submit 
        OCSE Form 396 or 34 in a timely manner.
            (5) The Secretary may not impose a penalty or take any 
        other adverse action against a State for failure to comply with 
        section 454B(c)(1) or 454A(g)(1)(A)(i) of such Act.
            (6) The Secretary may not disapprove a State plan submitted 
        pursuant to part D of title IV of such Act for failure of the 
        plan to meet the requirement of section 454(1) of such Act, and 
        may not impose a penalty or take any other adverse action 
        against a State with such a plan that meets that requirement 
        for failure to comply with that requirement.
            (7) To the extent that a preceding provision of this 
        section applies with respect to a provision of law applicable 
        to a program operated by 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)), that preceding provision shall apply with 
        respect to the Indian tribe or tribal organization.
            (8) Any increase in the Federal medical assistance 
        percentage for a State resulting from the application of this 
        subsection shall not be taken into account for purposes of 
        calculating the Federal share of assigned collections paid by 
        the State to the Federal Government under section 457 of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 657).
    (b) State Defined.--In subsection (a), the term ``State'' has the 
meaning given the term in section 1101(a) of the Social Security Act 
for purposes of title IV of such Act.
    (c) Technical Correction.--Section 6008 of the Families First 
Coronavirus Response Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d note) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
    ``(e) Scope of Application.--An increase in the Federal medical 
assistance percentage for a State under this section shall not be taken 
into account for purposes of calculating the Federal share of assigned 
collections paid by the State to the Federal Government under section 
457 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 657).''.
    (d) State Performance Year for Incentive Payments.--Notwithstanding 
section 458 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 658a), the data which 
a State submitted pursuant to section 454(15)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
654(15)(B)) for fiscal year 2019 and which the Secretary has determined 
is complete and reliable shall be used to determine the performance 
level for each measure of State performance specified in section 
458(b)(4) of such Act for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021.

SEC. 602. 2020 RECOVERY REBATES NOT SUBJECT TO REDUCTION OR OFFSET WITH 
              RESPECT TO PAST-DUE SUPPORT.

    (a) In General.--Section 2201(d)(2) of the CARES Act is amended by 
inserting ``(c),'' before ``(d)''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply 
to credits and refunds allowed or made after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.

SEC. 603. PROTECTION OF 2020 RECOVERY REBATES.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (d) of section 2201 of the CARES Act 
(Public Law 116-136) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as 
        subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), and by moving such 
        subparagraphs 2 ems to the right,
            (2) by striking ``Reduction or Offset.--Any credit'' and 
        inserting ``Reduction, Offset, Garnishment, etc.--
            ``(1) In general.--Any credit'', and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
            ``(2) Assignment of benefits.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The right of any person to any 
                applicable payment shall not be transferable or 
                assignable, at law or in equity, and no applicable 
                payment shall be subject to, execution, levy, 
                attachment, garnishment, or other legal process, or the 
                operation of any bankruptcy or insolvency law.
                    ``(B) Encoding of payments.--As soon as 
                practicable, but not earlier than 10 days after the 
                date of the enactment of this paragraph, in the case of 
                an applicable payment that is paid electronically by 
                direct deposit through the Automated Clearing House 
                (ACH) network, the Secretary of the Treasury (or the 
                Secretary's delegate) shall--
                            ``(i) issue the payment using a unique 
                        identifier that is reasonably sufficient to 
                        allow a financial institution to identify the 
                        payment as an applicable payment, and
                            ``(ii) further encode the payment pursuant 
                        to the same specifications as required for a 
                        benefit payment defined in section 212.3 of 
                        title 31, Code of Federal Regulations.
                    ``(C) Garnishment.--
                            ``(i) Encoded payments.--In the case of a 
                        garnishment order received after the date that 
                        is 10 days after the date of the enactment of 
                        this paragraph and that applies to an account 
                        that has received an applicable payment that is 
                        encoded as provided in subparagraph (B), a 
                        financial institution shall follow the 
                        requirements and procedures set forth in part 
                        212 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, 
                        except a financial institution shall not, with 
                        regard to any applicable payment, be required 
                        to provide the notice referenced in sections 
                        212.6 and 212.7 of title 31, Code of Federal 
                        Regulations. This paragraph shall not alter the 
                        status of applicable payments as tax refunds or 
                        other nonbenefit payments for purpose of any 
                        reclamation rights of the Department of the 
                        Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service as per 
                        part 210 of title 31 of the Code of Federal 
                        Regulations.
                            ``(ii) Other payments.--If a financial 
                        institution receives a garnishment order, other 
                        than an order that has been served by the 
                        United States or an order that has been served 
                        by a Federal, State, or local child support 
                        enforcement agency, that has been received by a 
                        financial institution after the date that is 10 
                        days after the date of the enactment of this 
                        paragraph and that applies to an account into 
                        which an applicable payment that has not been 
                        encoded as provided in subparagraph (B) has 
                        been deposited electronically or by an 
                        applicable payment that has been deposited by 
                        check on any date in the lookback period, the 
                        financial institution, upon the request of the 
                        account holder, shall treat the amount of the 
                        funds in the account at the time of the 
                        request, up to the amount of the applicable 
                        payment (in addition to any amounts otherwise 
                        protected under part 212 of title 31, Code of 
                        Federal Regulations), as exempt from a 
                        garnishment order without requiring the consent 
                        of the party serving the garnishment order or 
                        the judgment creditor.
                            ``(iii) Liability.--A financial institution 
                        that acts in good faith in reliance on clauses 
                        (i) or (ii) shall not be subject to liability 
                        or regulatory action under any Federal or State 
                        law, regulation, court or other order, or 
                        regulatory interpretation for actions 
                        concerning any applicable payments.
                    ``(D) Definitions.--For purposes of this 
                paragraph--
                            ``(i) Account holder.--The term `account 
                        holder' means a natural person whose name 
                        appears in a financial institution's records as 
                        the direct or beneficial owner of an account.
                            ``(ii) Account review.--The term `account 
                        review' means the process of examining deposits 
                        in an account to determine if an applicable 
                        payment has been deposited into the account 
                        during the lookback period. The financial 
                        institution shall perform the account review 
                        following the procedures outlined in section 
                        212.5 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations 
                        and in accordance with the requirements of 
                        section 212.6 of title 31, Code of Federal 
                        Regulations.
                            ``(iii) Applicable payment.--The term 
                        `applicable payment' means any payment of 
                        credit or refund by reason of section 6428 of 
                        the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as so added) 
                        or by reason of subsection (c) of this section.
                            ``(iv) Garnishment.--The term `garnishment' 
                        means execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, 
                        or other legal process.
                            ``(v) Garnishment order.--The term 
                        `garnishment order' means a writ, order, 
                        notice, summons, judgment, levy, or similar 
                        written instruction issued by a court, a State 
                        or State agency, a municipality or municipal 
                        corporation, or a State child support 
                        enforcement agency, including a lien arising by 
                        operation of law for overdue child support or 
                        an order to freeze the assets in an account, to 
                        effect a garnishment against a debtor.
                            ``(vi) Lookback period.--The term `lookback 
                        period' means the two month period that begins 
                        on the date preceding the date of account 
                        review and ends on the corresponding date of 
                        the month two months earlier, or on the last 
                        date of the month two months earlier if the 
                        corresponding date does not exist.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

                       TITLE VII--EFFECTIVE DATE

SEC. 701. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    (a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the 
amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of enactment 
of this Act 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 
such date, and without regard to whether regulations to implement the 
amendments (in the case of State programs operated under such part D) 
are promulgated by such date.
    (b) Exception for State Plans Requiring State Law Amendments.--In 
the case of a State plan under part A or D of title IV of the Social 
Security Act which the Secretary determines requires State legislation 
in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by 
the amendments made by this Act, the effective date of the amendments 
imposing the additional requirements shall be 3 months after 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 the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the preceding 
sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, 
each year of the session shall be considered to be a separate regular 
session of the State legislature.
                                 <all>