[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8621 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8621

To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to support State 
implementation of Federal standards established under the Indian Child 
                          Welfare Act of 1978.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 5, 2024

 Mr. Bacon (for himself, Ms. Chu, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Cole, and Ms. Davids 
  of Kansas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to support State 
implementation of Federal standards established under the Indian Child 
                          Welfare Act of 1978.

    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 ``Strengthening Tribal Families Act of 
2024''.

SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT OF 
              1978.

    Subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 621 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 429B. EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT 
              OF 1978.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than January 1, 2025, the Secretary, 
in consultation with Indian tribal organizations and States, shall 
develop a plan and provide technical assistance supporting effective 
implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, including 
specific measures identified in State plans as required by section 
422(b)(9) of this Act. The technical assistance plan shall be based 
upon data sufficient to assess State strengths and areas for 
improvement in implementing Federal standards established under the 
Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, including, at a minimum, the 
following:
            ``(1) Timely identification of Indian children and extended 
        family members.
            ``(2) Timely tribal notice of State child custody 
        proceedings.
            ``(3) Reports of cases in which a transfer of jurisdiction 
        (as defined under the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978) was 
        granted or was not granted, and reasons specified for denial in 
        cases where transfer was denied.
            ``(4) In cases in which a State court orders a foster care 
        placement, whether requirements for active efforts to prevent 
        the breakup of the Indian family, testimony of a qualified 
        expert witness, and evidentiary standards were met.
            ``(5) Whether an Indian child was placed in a placement 
        that is required to be preferred under the Indian Child Welfare 
        Act of 1978, and if not, the reasons specified.
            ``(6) In cases in which a State court orders the 
        termination of parental rights, whether requirements for active 
        efforts to prevent the breakup of the Indian family, testimony 
        of a qualified expert witness, and evidentiary standards were 
        met.
    ``(b) Interagency Coordination.--On request of the Secretary, the 
Secretary of the Interior shall provide the Secretary with such 
guidance and assistance as may be necessary to facilitate informing 
States and public child welfare agencies on how to comply with the 
Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, including specific measures 
identified in State plans as required by section 422(b)(9) of this Act.
    ``(c) Biennial Reports to Congress.--The Secretary shall biennially 
submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a written 
report on how--
            ``(1) the States are complying with the Indian Child 
        Welfare Act of 1978, as required by section 422(b)(9) of this 
        Act; and
            ``(2) the Secretary is assisting States and Indian Tribes 
        to improve implementation of Federal standards established 
        under the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.''.
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