[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8460 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8460

 To strengthen the Court Improvement Program to advance technology and 
             modernizing the judicial child welfare system.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 17, 2024

   Mr. Moore of Utah (for himself, Ms. Chu, and Mrs. Miller of West 
  Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined 
 by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as 
        fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To strengthen the Court Improvement Program to advance technology and 
             modernizing the judicial child welfare system.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Court Improvement Program 
Enhancement Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION THAT COURT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUNDS MAY BE USED 
              FOR TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS TO PREVENT DISRUPTION AND 
              ENABLE RECOVERY FROM VARIOUS THREATS.

    Section 438(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629h(a)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) to prevent disruption and enable recovery from 
        threats such as public health crises, natural disasters, or 
        cyber-attacks, including technology support for remote hearings 
        or legal representation, developing guidance, coordinating with 
        other agencies, or otherwise ensuring back-up approaches are in 
        place to ensure continuity of needed services.''.

SEC. 3. ASSESSMENT OF, AND IMPROVEMENT IN, HANDLING OF PROCEEDINGS 
              RELATING TO FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION.

    Section 438(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629h(a)), as 
amended by this Act, is further amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) that determine the appropriateness, and best 
                practices for use, of technology to allow conduct of 
                remote hearings, including to ensure maximum 
                participation of individuals involved in proceedings 
                and to enable courts to maintain operations in times of 
                public health or other emergencies;''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting after ``and other 
        legal personnel'' the following: ``and supporting optimal use 
        of remote hearing technology''.

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE ON SHARING BEST PRACTICES FOR 
              TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES NEEDED FOR COURT PROCEEDINGS FOR 
              FOSTER CARE OR ADOPTION TO BE CONDUCTED REMOTELY.

    (a) In General.--Every 5 years, the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, through the Administration for Children and Families, shall 
issue implementation guidance for sharing information on the best 
practices for--
            (1) technological changes needed for court proceedings for 
        foster care or adoption to be conducted remotely in a way that 
        maximizes engagement and protects the privacy of participants; 
        and
            (2) the manner in which the proceedings should be 
        conducted.
    (b) Initial Issuance.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall issue the 1st guidance required by subsection (a) not later than 
January 1, 2025.
    (c) Additional Consultation.--The Administration for Children and 
Families shall consult with Indian tribes on the development of 
appropriate guidelines for State proceedings involving Indian children 
to maximize engagement of Indian tribes and provide appropriate 
guidelines on the conducting of proceedings subject to the Indian Child 
Welfare Act (25 USC 1901 et seq.).

SEC. 5. RESERVATION OF AMOUNTS.

    Section 436(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629f(b)(2)) 
is amended by striking ``$30,000,000'' and inserting ``$40,000,000''.

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on 
the date that is 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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