[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8643 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8643

To amend subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to 
  strengthen State plan requirements to include comprehensive mental 
 health and well-being for children and youth in foster care to ensure 
                      their thriving and success.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 5, 2024

  Mrs. Steel introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to 
  strengthen State plan requirements to include comprehensive mental 
 health and well-being for children and youth in foster care to ensure 
                      their thriving and success.

    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 ``Foster Youth Mental Health Support 
Act''.

SEC. 2. STRENGTHENING OF STATE PLAN REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE 
              COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR CHILDREN 
              AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE TO ENSURE THEIR THRIVING AND 
              SUCCESS.

    (a) In General.--Section 422(b)(15)(A) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 622(b)(15) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding clause (i)--
                    (A) by inserting ``and, if applicable, the State 
                agency responsible for mental health services,'' before 
                ``and in consultation''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``mental health providers,'' 
                before ``other experts'';
            (2) in clause (ii), by inserting ``a list of services 
        provided to support the physical and'' before ``emotional'';
            (3) in clause (iv), by inserting ``an mental health'' 
        before ``services'';
            (4) in clause (v), by inserting ``, informed consent of 
        youth, and compliance with professional practice guidelines'' 
        before the semicolon; and
            (5) in clause (vi), by inserting ``, mental health 
        providers,'' before ``or other''.
    (b) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
        take effect on October 1, 2026, and shall apply to payments 
        under subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security 
        Act for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date.
            (2) Delay permitted if state legislation required.--If the 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that State 
        legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) is 
        required in order for a State plan developed pursuant to 
        subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to 
        meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made 
        by this section, the plan shall not be regarded as failing to 
        meet any of the additional requirements before the 1st day of 
        the 1st calendar quarter beginning after 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, if the State has a 2-year legislative session, each 
        year of the session is deemed to be a separate regular session 
        of the State legislature.
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