SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
TITLE IV OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
Chapter 531 of the 74th Congress, as amended
49 Stat. 620, as amended
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
ch531
118–258
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74
1935-08-14
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
[Chapter 531 of the 74th Congress, approved August 14, 1935, 49 Stat. 620.]
[As Amended Through P.L. 118–258, Enacted January 4, 2025]
[Currency: This publication is a compilation of the text of title IV of Chapter 531 of the 74th Congress. It was last amended by the public law listed in the As Amended Through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects current law through the date of the enactment of the public law listed at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/comps/]
[Note: While this publication does not represent an official version of any Federal statute, substantial efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents. The official version of Federal law is found in the United States Statutes at Large and in the United States Code. The legal effect to be given to the Statutes at Large and the United States Code is established by statute (1 U.S.C. 112, 204).]
TITLE IV—

GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE SERVICES

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF TITLE1
^1
This table of contents does not appear in the law.
Part A—
Aid to Families With Dependent Children
Part A—
Block Grants to States for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Sec. 401.
Purpose.
Sec. 402.
Eligible States; State plan.
Sec. 403.
Grants to States.
Sec. 404.
Use of grants.
Sec. 405.
Administrative provisions.
Sec. 406.
Federal loans for State welfare programs.
Sec. 407.
Mandatory work requirements.
Sec. 408.
Prohibitions; requirements.
Sec. 409.
Penalties.
Sec. 410.
Appeal of adverse decision.
Sec. 411.
Data collection and reporting.
Sec. 412.
Direct funding and administration by Indian tribes.
Sec. 413.
Research, evaluations, and national studies.
Sec. 415.
Waivers.
Sec. 416.
Administration.
Sec. 417.
Limitation on Federal authority.
Sec. 418.
Funding for child care.
Sec. 419.
Definitions.
Part B—
Child and Family Services
Subpart 1—
Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program
Sec. 421.
Purpose.
Sec. 422.
State plans for child welfare services.
Sec. 423.
Allotments to States.
Sec. 424.
Payment to States.
Sec. 425.
Limitations on authorizations of appropriations.
Sec. 426.
Research, training, or demonstration projects.
Sec. 427.
Family connection grants.
Sec. 428.
Payments to Indian tribal organizations.
Sec. 429.
National random sample study of child welfare.
Sec. 429A.
Grants to States to enhance collaboration between State child welfare and juvenile justice system.
Sec. 429B.
Effective implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.
Subpart 2—
Promoting Safe and Stable Families
Sec. 430.
Purpose.
Sec. 431.
Definitions.
Sec. 432.
State plans.
Sec. 433.
Allotments to States.
Sec. 434.
Payments to States.
Sec. 435.
Evaluations; research; technical assistance.
Sec. 436.
Authorization of appropriations; reservation of certain amounts.
Sec. 437.
Discretionary grants.
Sec. 438.
Entitlement funding for State courts to assess and improve handling of proceedings relating to foster care and adoption.
Sec. 439.
Grants for programs for mentoring children of prisoners.
Subpart 3—
Common Provisions
Sec. 441.
Reduction of administrative burden.
Sec. 442.
Public access to State plans.
Sec. 443.
Data exchange standards for improved interoperability.
[Part C—Repealed]
Part D—
Child Support and Establishment of Paternity
Sec. 451.
Appropriation.
Sec. 452.
Duties of the Secretary.
Sec. 453.
Federal Parent Locator Service.
Sec. 453A.
State directory of new hires.
Sec. 454.
State plan for child and spousal support.
Sec. 454A.
Automated data processing.
Sec. 454B.
Collection and disbursement of support payments.
Sec. 455.
Payments to States.
Sec. 456.
Support obligations.
Sec. 457.
Distribution of proceeds.
Sec. 458.
Incentive payments to States.
Sec. 459.
Consent by the United States to garnishment and similar proceedings for enforcement of child support and alimony obligations.
Sec. 459A.
International support enforcement.
Sec. 460.
Civil actions to enforce support obligations.
[Sec. 461. Repealed.]
[Sec. 462. Repealed.]
Sec. 463.
Use of Federal Parent Locator Service in connection with the enforcement or determination of child custody and in cases of parental kidnaping of a child.
Sec. 464.
Collection of past-due support from Federal tax refunds.
Sec. 465.
Allotments from pay for child and spousal support owed by members of the uniformed services on active duty.
Sec. 466.
Requirement of statutorily prescribed procedures to improve effectiveness of child support enforcement.
Sec. 467.
State guidelines for child support awards.
Sec. 468.
Encouragement of States to adopt simple civil process for voluntarily acknowledging paternity and a civil procedure for establishing paternity in contested cases.
Sec. 469.
Collection and reporting of child support enforcement data.
Part E—
Federal Payments for Foster Care, Prevention, and Permanency
Sec. 470.
Purpose: appropriation.
Sec. 471.
State plan for foster care and adoption assistance.
Sec. 472.
Foster care maintenance payments program.
Sec. 473.
Adoption assistance program.
Sec. 474.
Payments to States; allotments to States.
Sec. 475.
Definitions.
Sec. 476.
Technical assistance; data collection and evaluation.
Sec. 477.
John H. Chafee foster care program for successful transition to adulthood.
Sec. 478.
Rule of construction.
Sec. 479.
Collection of data relating to adoption and foster care.
Sec. 479A.
Annual report.
Sec. 479B.
Programs operated by Indian tribal organizations.
[Part F—Repealed]
PART A—

BLOCK GRANTS TO STATES FOR TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
SEC. 401.
[42 U.S.C. 601]

PURPOSE.
(a)

In General.—
The purpose of this part is to increase the flexibility of States in operating a program designed to—
(1)
provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives;
(2)
end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage;
(3)
prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies; and
(4)
encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.
(b)

No Individual Entitlement.—
This part shall not be interpreted to entitle any individual or family to assistance under any State program funded under this part.
SEC. 402.
[42 U.S.C. 602]

ELIGIBLE STATES; STATE PLAN.
(a)

In General.—
As used in this part, the term “eligible State” means, with respect to a fiscal year, a State that, during the 27-month period ending with the close of the 1st quarter of the fiscal year, has submitted to the Secretary a plan that the Secretary has found includes the following:
(1)

Outline of family assistance program.—
(A)

General provisions.—
A written document that outlines how the State intends to do the following:
(i)
Conduct a program, designed to serve all political subdivisions in the State (not necessarily in a uniform manner), that provides assistance to needy families with (or expecting) children and provides parents with job preparation, work, and support services to enable them to leave the program and become self-sufficient.
(ii)
Require a parent or caretaker receiving assistance under the program to engage in work (as defined by the State) once the State determines the parent or caretaker is ready to engage in work, or once the parent or caretaker has received assistance under the program for 24 months (whether or not consecutive), whichever is earlier, consistent with section 407(e)(2).
(iii)
Ensure that parents and caretakers receiving assistance under the program engage in work activities in accordance with section 407.
(iv)
Take such reasonable steps as the State deems necessary to restrict the use and disclosure of information about individuals and families receiving assistance under the program attributable to funds provided by the Federal Government.
(v)
Establish goals and take action to prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies, with special emphasis on teenage pregnancies, and establish numerical goals for reducing the illegitimacy ratio of the State (as defined in section 403(a)(2)(C)(iii)2) for calendar years 1996 through 2005.
^2
Section 403(a)(2) of this Act, referred to in subsection (a)(1)(A)(v), was amended generally by section 7103(a) of Public Law 109–171, and, as so amended, no longer defines `illegitimacy ratio''.
(vi)
Conduct a program, designed to reach State and local law enforcement officials, the education system, and relevant counseling services, that provides education and training on the problem of statutory rape so that teenage pregnancy prevention programs may be expanded in scope to include men.
(vii)
Implement policies and procedures as necessary to prevent access to assistance provided under the State program funded under this part through any electronic fund transaction in an automated teller machine or point-of-sale device located in a place described in section 408(a)(12), including a plan to ensure that recipients of the assistance have adequate access to their cash assistance.
(viii)
Ensure that recipients of assistance provided under the State program funded under this part have access to using or withdrawing assistance with minimal fees or charges, including an opportunity to access assistance with no fee or charges, and are provided information on applicable fees and surcharges that apply to electronic fund transactions involving the assistance, and that such information is made publicly available.
(B)

Special provisions.—
(i)
The document shall indicate whether the State intends to treat families moving into the State from another State differently than other families under the program, and if so, how the State intends to treat such families under the program.
(ii)
The document shall indicate whether the State intends to provide assistance under the program to individuals who are not citizens of the United States, and if so, shall include an overview of such assistance.
(iii)
The document shall set forth objective criteria for the delivery of benefits and the determination of eligibility and for fair and equitable treatment, including an explanation of how the State will provide opportunities for recipients who have been adversely affected to be heard in a State administrative or appeal process.
(iv)
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, unless the chief executive officer of the State opts out of this provision by notifying the Secretary, a State shall, consistent with the exception provided in section 407(e)(2), require a parent or caretaker receiving assistance under the program who, after receiving such assistance for 2 months is not exempt from work requirements and is not engaged in work, as determined under section 407(c), to participate in community service employment, with minimum hours per week and tasks to be determined by the State.
(v)
The document shall indicate whether the State intends to assist individuals to train for, seek, and maintain employment—
(I)
providing direct care in a long-term care facility (as such terms are defined under section 2011); or
(II)
in other occupations related to elder care determined appropriate by the State for which the State identifies an unmet need for service personnel,
and, if so, shall include an overview of such assistance.
(2)

Certification that the state will operate a child support enforcement program.—
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that, during the fiscal year, the State will operate a child support enforcement program under the State plan approved under part D.
(3)

Certification that the state will operate a foster care and adoption assistance program.—
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that, during the fiscal year, the State will operate a foster care and adoption assistance program under the State plan approved under part E, and that the State will take such actions as are necessary to ensure that children receiving assistance under such part are eligible for medical assistance under the State plan under title XIX.
(4)

Certification of the administration of the program.—
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State specifying which State agency or agencies will administer and supervise the program referred to in paragraph (1) for the fiscal year, which shall include assurances that local governments and private sector organizations—
(A)
have been consulted regarding the plan and design of welfare services in the State so that services are provided in a manner appropriate to local populations; and
(B)
have had at least 45 days to submit comments on the plan and the design of such services.
(5)

Certification that the state will provide indians with equitable access to assistance.—
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that, during the fiscal year, the State will provide each member of an Indian tribe, who is domiciled in the State and is not eligible for assistance under a tribal family assistance plan approved under section 412, with equitable access to assistance under the State program funded under this part attributable to funds provided by the Federal Government.
(6)

Certification of standards and procedures to ensure against program fraud and abuse.—
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State has established and is enforcing standards and procedures to ensure against program fraud and abuse, including standards and procedures concerning nepotism, conflicts of interest among individuals responsible for the administration and supervision of the State program, kickbacks, and the use of political patronage.
(7)

Optional certification of standards and procedures to ensure that the state will screen for and identify domestic violence.—
(A)

In general.—
At the option of the State, a certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State has established and is enforcing standards and procedures to—
(i)
screen and identify individuals receiving assistance under this part with a history of domestic violence while maintaining the confidentiality of such individuals;
(ii)
refer such individuals to counseling and supportive services; and
(iii)
waive, pursuant to a determination of good cause, other program requirements such as time limits (for so long as necessary) for individuals receiving assistance, residency requirements, child support cooperation requirements, and family cap provisions, in cases where compliance with such requirements would make it more difficult for individuals receiving assistance under this part to escape domestic violence or unfairly penalize such individuals who are or have been victimized by such violence, or individuals who are at risk of further domestic violence.
(B)

Domestic violence defined.—
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “domestic violence” has the same meaning as the term “battered or subjected to extreme cruelty”, as defined in section 408(a)(7)(C)(iii).
(8)

Certification that the state will provide information to victims of sexual harassment or survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.—
(A)

In general.—
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State has established and is enforcing standards and procedures to—
(i)
ensure that applicants and potential applicants for assistance under the State program funded under this part are notified of assistance made available by the State to victims of sexual harassment and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
(ii)
ensure that case workers and other agency personnel responsible for administering the State program funded under this part are trained in—
(I)
the nature and dynamics of sexual harassment and domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking;
(II)
State standards and procedures relating to the prevention of, and assistance for, individuals who are victims of sexual harassment or survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; and
(III)
methods of ascertaining and ensuring the confidentiality of personal information and documentation related to applicants for assistance and their children who have provided notice about their experiences of sexual harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; and
(iii)
ensure that, if a State has elected to establish and enforce standards and procedures regarding the screening for, and identification of, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking pursuant to paragraph (7)—
(I)
the State program funded under this part provides information about the options under this part to current and potential beneficiaries; and
(II)
case workers and other agency personnel responsible for administering the State program funded under this part are provided with training regarding State standards and procedures pursuant to paragraph (7).
(B)

Definitions.—
For purposes of this paragraph—
(i)
the term “sexual harassment” means hostile, intimidating, or oppressive behavior based on sex that creates an offensive work environment;
(ii)
the term “domestic violence” has the meaning given such term in paragraph (7); and
(iii)
the terms “sexual assault” and “stalking” have the meanings given such terms in section 40002 of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291).
(b)

Plan Amendments.—
Within 30 days after a State amends a plan submitted pursuant to subsection (a), the State shall notify the Secretary of the amendment.
(c)

Public Availability of State Plan Summary.—
The State shall make available to the public a summary of any plan or plan amendment submitted by the State under this section.
SEC. 403.
[42 U.S.C. 603]

GRANTS TO STATES.
(a)

Grants.—
(1)

Family assistance grant.—
(A)

In general.—
Each eligible State shall be entitled to receive from the Secretary, for each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018, a grant in an amount equal to the State family assistance grant.
(B)

State family assistance grant.—
The State family assistance grant payable to a State for a fiscal year shall be the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount specified in subparagraph (C) of this paragraph (as in effect just before the enactment of the Welfare Integrity and Data Improvement Act), reduced by the percentage specified in section 413(h)(1) with respect to the fiscal year, as the amount required to be paid to the State under this paragraph (as so in effect) for fiscal year 2002 (determined without regard to any reduction pursuant to section 409 or 412(a)(1)) bears to the total amount required to be paid under this paragraph for fiscal year 2002 (as so determined).
(C)

Appropriation.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018 $16,566,542,000 for grants under this paragraph.
(2)

Healthy marriage promotion and responsible fatherhood grants.—
(A)

In general.—
(i)

Use of funds.—
Subject to subparagraphs (B), (C), and (E), the Secretary may use the funds made available under subparagraph (D) 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.
(ii)

Limitations.—
The Secretary may not award funds made available under this paragraph on a noncompetitive basis, and may not provide any such funds to an entity for the purpose of carrying out healthy marriage promotion activities or for the purpose of carrying out activities promoting responsible fatherhood unless the entity has submitted to the Secretary an application (or, in the case of an entity seeking funding to carry out healthy marriage promotion activities and activities promoting responsible fatherhood, a combined application that contains assurances that the entity will carry out such activities under separate programs and shall not combine any funds awarded to carry out either such activities) which—
(I)
describes—
- (aa)
how the programs or activities proposed in the application will address, as appropriate, issues of domestic violence; and
- (bb)
what the applicant will do, to the extent relevant, to ensure that participation in the programs or activities is voluntary, and to inform potential participants that their participation is voluntary; and
(II)
contains a commitment by the entity—
- (aa)
to not use the funds for any other purpose; and
- (bb)
to consult with experts in domestic violence or relevant community domestic violence coalitions in developing the programs and activities.
(iii)

Healthy marriage promotion activities.—
In clause (ii), the term “healthy marriage promotion activities” means the following:
(I)
Public advertising campaigns on the value of marriage and the skills needed to increase marital stability and health.
(II)
Education in high schools on the value of marriage, relationship skills, and budgeting.
(III)
Marriage education, marriage skills, and relationship skills programs, that may include parenting skills, financial management, conflict resolution, and job and career advancement.
(IV)
Pre-marital education and marriage skills training for engaged couples and for couples or individuals interested in marriage.
(V)
Marriage enhancement and marriage skills training programs for married couples.
(VI)
Divorce reduction programs that teach relationship skills.
(VII)
Marriage mentoring programs which use married couples as role models and mentors in at-risk communities.
(VIII)
Programs to reduce the disincentives to marriage in means-tested aid programs, if offered in conjunction with any activity described in this subparagraph.
(B)

Limitation on use of funds for demonstration projects for coordination of provision of child welfare and tanf services to tribal families at risk of child abuse or neglect.—
(i)

In general.—
Of the amounts made available under subparagraph (D) for a fiscal year, the Secretary may not award more than $2,000,000 on a competitive basis to fund demonstration projects designed to test the effectiveness of tribal governments or tribal consortia in coordinating the provision to tribal families at risk of child abuse or neglect of child welfare services and services under tribal programs funded under this part.
(ii)

Limitation on use of funds.—
A grant made pursuant to clause (i) to such a project shall not be used for any purpose other than—
(I)
to improve case management for families eligible for assistance from such a tribal program;
(II)
for supportive services and assistance to tribal children in out-of-home placements and the tribal families caring for such children, including families who adopt such children; and
(III)
for prevention services and assistance to tribal families at risk of child abuse and neglect.
(iii)

Reports.—
The Secretary may require a recipient of funds awarded under this subparagraph to provide the Secretary with such information as the Secretary deems relevant to enable the Secretary to facilitate and oversee the administration of any project for which funds are provided under this subparagraph.
(C)

Limitation on use of funds for activities promoting responsible fatherhood.—
(i)

In general.—
Of the amounts made available under subparagraph (D) for a fiscal year, the Secretary may not award more than $75,000,000 on a competitive basis to States, territories, Indian tribes and tribal organizations, and public and nonprofit community entities, including religious organizations, for activities promoting responsible fatherhood.
(ii)

Activities promoting responsible fatherhood.—
In this paragraph, the term “activities promoting responsible fatherhood” means the following:
(I)
Activities to promote marriage or sustain marriage through activities such as counseling, mentoring, disseminating information about the benefits of marriage and 2-parent involvement for children, enhancing relationship skills, education regarding how to control aggressive behavior, disseminating information on the causes of domestic violence and child abuse, marriage preparation programs, premarital counseling, marital inventories, skills-based marriage education, financial planning seminars, including improving a family's ability to effectively manage family business affairs by means such as education, counseling, or mentoring on matters related to family finances, including household management, budgeting, banking, and handling of financial transactions and home maintenance, and divorce education and reduction programs, including mediation and counseling.
(II)
Activities to promote responsible parenting through activities such as counseling, mentoring, and mediation, disseminating information about good parenting practices, skills-based parenting education, encouraging child support payments, and other methods.
(III)
Activities to foster economic stability by helping fathers improve their economic status by providing activities such as work first services, job search, job training, subsidized employment, job retention, job enhancement, and encouraging education, including career-advancing education, dissemination of employment materials, coordination with existing employment services such as welfare-to-work programs, referrals to local employment training initiatives, and other methods.
(IV)
Activities to promote responsible fatherhood that are conducted through a contract with a nationally recognized, nonprofit fatherhood promotion organization, such as the development, promotion, and distribution of a media campaign to encourage the appropriate involvement of parents in the life of any child and specifically the issue of responsible fatherhood, and the development of a national clearinghouse to assist States and communities in efforts to promote and support marriage and responsible fatherhood.
(D)

Appropriation.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018 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.
If the Secretary makes an award under subparagraph (B)(i) for fiscal year 2017 or 2018, the funds for such award shall be taken in equal portion from the amounts appropriated under clauses (i) and (ii).
(E)

Preference.—
In awarding funds under this paragraph for fiscal year 2011, the Secretary shall give preference to entities that were awarded funds under this paragraph for any prior fiscal year and that have demonstrated the ability to successfully carry out the programs funded under this paragraph.
(3)

Supplemental grant for population increases in certain states.—
(A)

In general.—
Each qualifying State shall, subject to subparagraph (F), be entitled to receive from the Secretary—
(i)
for fiscal year 1998 a grant in an amount equal to 2.5 percent of the total amount required to be paid to the State under former section 403 (as in effect during fiscal year 1994) for fiscal year 1994; and
(ii)
for each of fiscal years 1999, 2000, and 2001, a grant in an amount equal to the sum of—
(I)
the amount (if any) required to be paid to the State under this paragraph for the immediately preceding fiscal year; and
(II)
2.5 percent of the sum of—
- (aa)
the total amount required to be paid to the State under former section 403 (as in effect during fiscal year 1994) for fiscal year 1994; and
- (bb)
the amount (if any) required to be paid to the State under this paragraph for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the grant is to be made.
(B)

Preservation of grant without increases for states failing to remain qualifying states.—
Each State that is not a qualifying State for a fiscal year specified in subparagraph (A)(ii) but was a qualifying State for a prior fiscal year shall, subject to subparagraph (F), be entitled to receive from the Secretary for the specified fiscal year, a grant in an amount equal to the amount required to be paid to the State under this paragraph for the most recent fiscal year for which the State was a qualifying State.
(C)

Qualifying state.—
(i)

In general.—
For purposes of this paragraph, a State is a qualifying State for a fiscal year if—
(I)
the level of welfare spending per poor person by the State for the immediately preceding fiscal year is less than the national average level of State welfare spending per poor person for such preceding fiscal year; and
(II)
the population growth rate of the State (as determined by the Bureau of the Census) for the most recent fiscal year for which information is available exceeds the average population growth rate for all States (as so determined) for such most recent fiscal year.
(ii)

State must qualify in fiscal year 1998.—
Notwithstanding clause (i), a State shall not be a qualifying State for any fiscal year after 1998 by reason of clause (i) if the State is not a qualifying State for fiscal year 1998 by reason of clause (i).
(iii)

Certain states deemed qualifying states.—
For purposes of this paragraph, a State is deemed to be a qualifying State for fiscal years 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 if—
(I)
the level of welfare spending per poor person by the State for fiscal year 1994 is less than 35 percent of the national average level of State welfare spending per poor person for fiscal year 1994; or
(II)
the population of the State increased by more than 10 percent from April 1, 1990 to July 1, 1994, according to the population estimates in publication CB94–204 of the Bureau of the Census.
(D)

Definitions.—
As used in this paragraph:
(i)

Level of welfare spending per poor person.—
The term “level of State welfare spending per poor person” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year—
(I)
the sum of—
- (aa)
the total amount required to be paid to the State under former section 403 (as in effect during fiscal year 1994) for fiscal year 1994; and
- (bb)
the amount (if any) paid to the State under this paragraph for the immediately preceding fiscal year; divided by
(II)
the number of individuals, according to the 1990 decennial census, who were residents of the State and whose income was below the poverty line.
(ii)

National average level of state welfare spending per poor person.—
The term “national average level of State welfare spending per poor person” means, with respect to a fiscal year, an amount equal to—
(I)
the total amount required to be paid to the States under former section 403 (as in effect during fiscal year 1994) for fiscal year 1994; divided by
(II)
the number of individuals, according to the 1990 decennial census, who were residents of any State and whose income was below the poverty line.
(iii)

State.—
The term “State” means each of the 50 States of the United States and the District of Columbia.
(E)

Appropriation.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for fiscal years 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 such sums as are necessary for grants under this paragraph, in a total amount not to exceed $800,000,000.
(F)

Grants reduced pro rata if insufficient appropriations.—
If the amount appropriated pursuant to this paragraph for a fiscal year (or portion of a fiscal year) is less than the total amount of payments otherwise required to be made under this paragraph for the fiscal year (or portion of the fiscal year), then the amount otherwise payable to any State for the fiscal year (or portion of the fiscal year) under this paragraph shall be reduced by a percentage equal to the amount so appropriated divided by such total amount.
(G)

Budget scoring.—
Notwithstanding section 257(b)(2) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the baseline shall assume that no grant shall be made under this paragraph after fiscal year 2001.
(H)

Reauthorization.—
Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph—
(i)
any State that was a qualifying State under this paragraph for fiscal year 2001 or any prior fiscal year shall be entitled to receive from the Secretary for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003 a grant in an amount equal to the amount required to be paid to the State under this paragraph for the most recent fiscal year in which the State was a qualifying State;
(ii)
subparagraph (G) shall be applied as if “fiscal year 2011” were substituted for “fiscal year 2001”;3
^3
There probably should be a “and” after the semicolong at the end of clause (ii) of subparagraph (H).
(iii)
out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003 such sums as are necessary for grants under this subparagraph.
(4)

Bonus to reward high performance states.—
(A)

In general.—
The Secretary shall make a grant pursuant to this paragraph to each State for each bonus year for which the State is a high performing State.
(B)

Amount of grant.—
(i)

In general.—
Subject to clause (ii) of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall determine the amount of the grant payable under this paragraph to a high performing State for a bonus year, which shall be based on the score assigned to the State under subparagraph (D)(i) for the fiscal year that immediately precedes the bonus year.
(ii)

Limitation.—
The amount payable to a State under this paragraph for a bonus year shall not exceed 5 percent of the State family assistance grant.
(C)

Formula for measuring state performance.—
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, the Secretary, in consultation with the National Governors' Association and the American Public Welfare Association, shall develop a formula for measuring State performance in operating the State program funded under this part so as to achieve the goals set forth in section 401(a).
(D)

Scoring of state performance; setting of performance thresholds.—
For each bonus year, the Secretary shall—
(i)
use the formula developed under subparagraph (C) to assign a score to each eligible State for the fiscal year that immediately precedes the bonus year; and
(ii)
prescribe a performance threshold in such a manner so as to ensure that—
(I)
the average annual total amount of grants to be made under this paragraph for each bonus year equals $200,000,000; and
(II)
the total amount of grants to be made under this paragraph for all bonus years equals $1,000,000,000.
(E)

Definitions.—
As used in this paragraph:
(i)

Bonus year.—
The term “bonus year” means fiscal years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.
(ii)

High performing state.—
The term “high performing State” means, with respect to a bonus year, an eligible State whose score assigned pursuant to subparagraph (D)(i) for the fiscal year immediately preceding the bonus year equals or exceeds the performance threshold prescribed under subparagraph (D)(ii) for such preceding fiscal year.
(F)

Appropriation.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for fiscal years 1999 through 2003 $1,000,000,000 for grants under this paragraph.
(5)

Welfare-to-work grants.—
(A)

Formula grants.—
(i)

Entitlement.—
A State shall be entitled to receive from the Secretary of Labor a grant for each fiscal year specified in subparagraph (H) of this paragraph for which the State is a welfare-to-work State, in an amount that does not exceed the lesser of—
(I)
2 times the total of the expenditures by the State (excluding qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)) and any expenditure described in subclause (I), (II), or (IV) of section 409(a)(7)(B)(iv)) during the period permitted under subparagraph (C)(vii) of this paragraph for the expenditure of funds under the grant for activities described in subparagraph (C)(i) of this paragraph; or
(II)
the allotment of the State under clause (iii) of this subparagraph for the fiscal year.
(ii)

Welfare-to-work state.—
A State shall be considered a welfare-to-work State for a fiscal year for purposes of this paragraph if the Secretary of Labor determines that the State meets the following requirements:
(I)
The State has submitted to the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in the form of an addendum to the State plan submitted under section 402) a plan which—
- (aa)
describes how, consistent with this subparagraph, the State will use any funds provided under this subparagraph during the fiscal year;
- (bb)
specifies the formula to be used pursuant to clause (vi) to distribute funds in the State, and describes the process by which the formula was developed;
- (cc)
contains evidence that the plan was developed in consultation and coordination with appropriate entitites in sub-State areas;
- (dd)
contains assurances by the Governor of the State that the private industry council (and any alternate agency designated by the Governor under item (ee)) for a service delivery area in the State will coordinate the expenditure of any funds provided under this subparagraph for the benefit of the service delivery area with the expenditure of the funds provided to the State under section 403(a)(1);
- (ee)
if the Governor of the State desires to have an agency other than a private industry council administer the funds provided under this subparagraph for the benefit of 1 or more service delivery areas in the State, contains an application to the Secretary of Labor for a waiver of clause (vii)(I) with respect to the area or areas in order to permit an alternate agency designated by the Governor to so administer the funds; and
- (ff)
describes how the State will ensure that a private industry council to which information is disclosed pursuant to section 403(a)(5)(K)4 or 454A(f)(5) has procedures for safeguarding the information and for ensuring that the information is used solely for the purpose described in that section.
^4
So in law. Should be “403(a)(5)(J)”.
(II)
The State has provided to the Secretary of Labor an estimate of the amount that the State intends to expend during the period permitted under subparagraph (C)(vii) of this paragraph for the expenditure of funds under the grant (excluding expenditures described in section 409(a)(7)(B)(iv) (other than subclause (III) thereof)) pursuant to this paragraph.
(III)
The State has agreed to negotiate in good faith with the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to the substance and funding of any evaluation under section 413(j), and to cooperate with the conduct of any such evaluation.
(IV)
The State is an eligible State for the fiscal year.
(V)
The State certifies that qualified State expenditures (within the meaning of section 409(a)(7)) for the fiscal year will be not less than the applicable percentage of historic State expenditures (within the meaning of section 409(a)(7)) with respect to the fiscal year.
(iii)

Allotments to welfare-to-work states.—
(I)

In general.—
Subject to this clause, the allotment of a welfare-to-work State for a fiscal year shall be the available amount for the fiscal year, multiplied by the State percentage for the fiscal year.
(II)

Minimum allotment.—
The allotment of a welfare-to-work State (other than Guam, the Virgin Islands, or American Samoa) for a fiscal year shall not be less than 0.25 percent of the available amount for the fiscal year.
(III)

Pro rata reduction.—
Subject to subclause (II), the Secretary of Labor shall make pro rata reductions in the allotments to States under this clause for a fiscal year as necessary to ensure that the total of the allotments does not exceed the available amount for the fiscal year.
(iv)

Available amount.—
As used in this subparagraph, the term “available amount” means, for a fiscal year, the sum of—
(I)
75 percent of the sum of—
- (aa)
the amount specified in subparagraph (H) for the fiscal year, minus the total of the amounts reserved pursuant to subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) for the fiscal year; and
- (bb)
any amount reserved pursuant to subparagraph (E) for the immediately preceding fiscal year that has not been obligated; and
(II)
any available amount for the immediately preceding fiscal year that has not been obligated by a State, other than funds reserved by the State for distribution under clause (vi)(III) and funds distributed pursuant to clause (vi)(I) in any State in which the service delivery area is the State.
(v)

State percentage.—
As used in clause (iii), the term “State percentage” means, with respect to a fiscal year, ½ of the sum of—
(I)
the percentage represented by the number of individuals in the State whose income is less than the poverty line divided by the number of such individuals in the United States; and
(II)
the percentage represented by the number of adults who are recipients of assistance under the State program funded under this part divided by the number of adults in the United States who are recipients of assistance under any State program funded under this part.
(vi)

Procedure for distribution of funds within states.—
(I)

Allocation formula.—
A State to which a grant is made under this subparagraph shall devise a formula for allocating not less than 85 percent of the amount of the grant among the service delivery areas in the State, which—
- (aa)
determines the amount to be allocated for the benefit of a service delivery area in proportion to the number (if any) by which the population of the area with an income that is less than the poverty line exceeds 7.5 percent of the total population of the area, relative to such number for all such areas in the State with such an excess, and accords a weight of not less than 50 percent to this factor;
- (bb)
may determine the amount to be allocated for the benefit of such an area in proportion to the number of adults residing in the area who have been recipients of assistance under the State program funded under this part (whether in effect before or after the amendments made by section 103(a) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 first applied to the State) for at least 30 months (whether or not consecutive) relative to the number of such adults residing in the State; and
- (cc)
may determine the amount to be allocated for the benefit of such an area in proportion to the number of unemployed individuals residing in the area relative to the number of such individuals residing in the State.
(II)

Distribution of funds.—
- (aa)

In general.—
If the amount allocated by the formula to a service delivery area is at least $100,000, the State shall distribute the amount to the entity administering the grant in the area.
- (bb)

Special rule.—
If the amount allocated by the formula to a service delivery area is less than $100,000, the sum shall be available for distribution in the State under subclause (III) during the fiscal year.
(III)

Projects to help long-term recipients of assistance enter unsubsidized jobs.—
The Governor of a State to which a grant is made under this subparagraph may distribute not more than 15 percent of the grant funds (plus any amount required to be distributed under this subclause by reason of subclause (II)(bb)) to projects that appear likely to help long-term recipients of assistance under the State program funded under this part (whether in effect before or after the amendments made by section 103(a) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 first applied to the State) enter unsubsidized employment.
(vii)

Administration.—
(I)

Private industry councils.—
The private industry council for a service delivery area in a State shall have sole authority, in coordination with the chief elected official (as defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) of the area, to expend the amounts distributed under clause (vi)(II)(aa) for the benefit of the service delivery area, in accordance with the assurances described in clause (ii)(I)(dd) provided by the Governor of the State.
(II)

Enforcement of coordination of expenditures with other expenditures under this part.—
Notwithstanding subclause (I) of this clause, on a determination by the Governor of a State that a private industry council (or an alternate agency described in clause (ii)(I)(dd)) has used funds provided under this subparagraph in a manner inconsistent with the assurances described in clause (ii)(I)(dd)—
- (aa)
the private industry council (or such alternate agency) shall remit the funds to the Governor; and
- (bb)
the Governor shall apply to the Secretary of Labor for a waiver of subclause (I) of this clause with respect to the service delivery area or areas involved in order to permit an alternate agency designated by the Governor to administer the funds in accordance with the assurances.
(III)

Authority to permit use of alternate administering agency.—
The Secretary of Labor shall approve an application submitted under clause (ii)(I)(ee) or subclause (II)(bb) of this clause to waive subclause (I) of this clause with respect to 1 or more service delivery areas if the Secretary determines that the alternate agency designated in the application would improve the effectiveness or efficiency of the administration of amounts distributed under clause (vi)(II)(aa) for the benefit of the area or areas.
(viii)

Data to be used in determining the number of adult tanf recipients.—
For purposes of this subparagraph, the number of adult recipients of assistance under a State program funded under this part for a fiscal year shall be determined using data for the most recent 12-month period for which such data is available before the beginning of the fiscal year.
(ix)

Reversion of unallotted formula funds.—
If at the end of any fiscal year any funds available under this subparagraph have not been allotted due to a determination by the Secretary that any State has not met the requirements of clause (ii), such funds shall be transferred to the General Fund of the Treasury of the United States.
(B)

Competitive grants.—
(i)

In general.—
The Secretary of Labor shall award grants in accordance with this subparagraph, in fiscal years 1998 and 1999, for projects proposed by eligible applicants, based on the following:
(I)
The effectiveness of the proposal in—
- (aa)
expanding the base of knowledge about programs aimed at moving recipients of assistance under State programs funded under this part who are least job ready into unsubsidized employment.
- (bb)
moving recipients of assistance under State programs funded under this part who are least job ready into unsubsidized employment; and
- (cc)
moving recipients of assistance under State programs funded under this part who are least job ready into unsubsidized employment, even in labor markets that have a shortage of low-skill jobs.
(II)
At the discretion of the Secretary of Labor, any of the following:
- (aa)
The history of success of the applicant in moving individuals with multiple barriers into work.
- (bb)
Evidence of the applicant's ability to leverage private, State, and local resources.
- (cc)
Use by the applicant of State and local resources beyond those required by subparagraph (A).
- (dd)
Plans of the applicant to coordinate with other organizations at the local and State level.
- (ee)
Use by the applicant of current or former recipients of assistance under a State program funded under this part as mentors, case managers, or service providers.
(ii)

Eligible applicants.—
As used in clause (i), the term “eligible applicant” means a private industry council for a service delivery area in a State, a political subdivision of a State, or a private entity applying in conjunction with the private industry council for such a service delivery area or with such a political subdivision, that submits a proposal developed in consultation with the Governor of the State.
(iii)

Determination of grant amount.—
In determining the amount of a grant to be made under this subparagraph for a project proposed by an applicant, the Secretary of Labor shall provide the applicant with an amount sufficient to ensure that the project has a reasonable opportunity to be successful, taking into account the number of long-term recipients of assistance under a State program funded under this part, the level of unemployment, the job opportunities and job growth, the poverty rate, and such other factors as the Secretary of Labor deems appropriate, in the area to be served by the project.
(iv)

Consideration of needs of rural areas and cities with large concentrations of poverty.—
In making grants under this subparagraph, the Secretary of Labor shall consider the needs of rural areas and cities with large concentrations of residents with an income that is less than the poverty line.
(v)

Funding.—
For grants under this subparagraph for each fiscal year specified in subparagraph (H), there shall be available to the Secretary of Labor an amount equal to the sum of—
(I)
25 percent of the sum of—
- (aa)
the amount specified in subparagraph (H) for the fiscal year, minus the total of the amounts reserved pursuant to subparagraphs (E), (F), and (G) for the fiscal year; and
- (bb)
any amount reserved pursuant to subparagraph (E) for the immediately preceding fiscal year that has not been obligated; and
(II)
any amount available for grants under this subparagraph for the immediately preceding fiscal year that has not been obligated.
(C)

Limitations on use of funds.—
(i)

Allowable activities.—
An entity to which funds are provided under this paragraph shall use the funds to move individuals into and keep individuals in lasting unsubsidized employment by means of any of the following:
(I)
The conduct and administration of community service or work experience programs.
(II)
Job creation through public or private sector employment wage subsidies.
(III)
On-the-job training.
(IV)
Contracts with public or private providers of readiness, placement, and post-employment services, or if the entity is not a private industry council or workforce investment board, the direct provision of such services.
(V)
Job vouchers for placement, readiness, and postemployment services.
(VI)
Job retention or support services if such services are not otherwise available.
(VII)
Not more than 6 months of vocational educational or job training.
Contracts or vouchers for job placement services supported by such funds must require that at least ½ of the payment occur after an eligible individual placed into the workforce has been in the workforce for 6 months.
(ii)

General eligibility.—
An entity that operates a project with funds provided under this paragraph may expend funds provided to the project for the benefit of recipients of assistance under the program funded under this part of the State in which the entity is located who—
(I)
has received assistance under the State program funded under this part (whether in effect before or after the amendments made by section 103 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 first apply to the State) for at least 30 months (whether or not consecutive); or
(II)
within 12 months, will become ineligible for assistance under the State program funded under this part by reason of a durational limit on such assistance, without regard to any exemption provided pursuant to section 408(a)(7)(C) that may apply to the individual.
(iii)

Noncustodial parents.—
An entity that operates a project with funds provided under this paragraph may use the funds to provide services in a form described in clause (i) to noncustodial parents with respect to whom the requirements of the following subclauses are met:
(I)
The noncustodial parent is unemployed, underemployed, or having difficulty in paying child support obligations.
(II)
At least 1 of the following applies to a minor child of the noncustodial parent (with preference in the determination of the noncustodial parents to be provided services under this paragraph to be provided by the entity to those noncustodial parents with minor children who meet, or who have custodial parents who meet, the requirements of item (aa)):
- (aa)
The minor child or the custodial parent of the minor child meets the requirements of subclause (I) or (II) of clause (ii).
- (bb)
The minor child is eligible for, or is receiving, benefits under the program funded under this part.
- (cc)
The minor child received benefits under the program funded under this part in the 12-month period preceding the date of the determination but no longer receives such benefits.
- (dd)
The minor child is eligible for, or is receiving, assistance under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, benefits under the supplemental security income program under title XVI of this Act, medical assistance under title XIX of this Act, or child health assistance under title XXI of this Act.
(III)
In the case of a noncustodial parent who becomes enrolled in the project on or after the date of the enactment of this clause, the noncustodial parent is in compliance with the terms of an oral or written personal responsibility contract entered into among the noncustodial parent, the entity, and (unless the entity demonstrates to the Secretary that the entity is not capable of coordinating with such agency) the agency responsible for administering the State plan under part D, which was developed taking into account the employment and child support status of the noncustodial parent, which was entered into not later than 30 (or, at the option of the entity, not later than 90) days after the noncustodial parent was enrolled in the project, and which, at a minimum, includes the following:
- (aa)
A commitment by the noncustodial parent to cooperate, at the earliest opportunity, in the establishment of the paternity of the minor child, through voluntary acknowledgement or other procedures, and in the establishment of a child support order.
- (bb)
A commitment by the noncustodial parent to cooperate in the payment of child support for the minor child, which may include a modification of an existing support order to take into account the ability of the noncustodial parent to pay such support and the participation of such parent in the project.
- (cc)
A commitment by the noncustodial parent to participate in employment or related activities that will enable the noncustodial parent to make regular child support payments, and if the noncustodial parent has not attained 20 years of age, such related activities may include completion of high school, a general equivalency degree, or other education directly related to employment.
- (dd)
A description of the services to be provided under this paragraph, and a commitment by the noncustodial parent to participate in such services, that are designed to assist the noncustodial parent obtain and retain employment, increase earnings, and enhance the financial and emotional contributions to the well-being of the minor child.
In order to protect custodial parents and children who may be at risk of domestic violence, the preceding provisions of this subclause shall not be construed to affect any other provision of law requiring a custodial parent to cooperate in establishing the paternity of a child or establishing or enforcing a support order with respect to a child, or entitling a custodial parent to refuse, for good cause, to provide such cooperation as a condition of assistance or benefit under any program, shall not be construed to require such cooperation by the custodial parent as a condition of participation of either parent in the program authorized under this paragraph, and shall not be construed to require a custodial parent to cooperate with or participate in any activity under this clause. The entity operating a project under this clause with funds provided under this paragraph shall consult with domestic violence prevention and intervention organizations in the development of the project.
(iv)

Targeting of hard to employ individuals with characteristics associated with long-term welfare dependence.—
An entity that operates a project with funds provided under this paragraph may expend not more than 30 percent of all funds provided to the project for programs that provide assistance in a form described in clause (i)—
(I)
to recipients of assistance under the program funded under this part of the State in which the entity is located who have characteristics associated with long-term welfare dependence (such as school dropout, teen pregnancy, or poor work history), including, at the option of the State, by providing assistance in such form as a condition of receiving assistance under the State program funded under this part;
(II)
to children—
- (aa)
who have attained 18 years of age but not 25 years of age; and
- (bb)
who, before attaining 18 years of age, were recipients of foster care maintenance payments (as defined in section 475(4)) under part E or were in foster care under the responsibility of a State;
(III)
to recipients of assistance under the State program funded under this part, determined to have significant barriers to self-sufficiency, pursuant to criteria established by the local private industry council; or
(IV)
to custodial parents with incomes below 100 percent of the poverty line (as defined in section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, including any revision required by such section, applicable to a family of the size involved).
To the extent that the entity does not expend such funds in accordance with the preceding sentence, the entity shall expend such funds in accordance with clauses (ii) and (iii) and, as appropriate, clause (v).
(v)

Authority to provide work-related services to individuals who have reached the 5 year limit.—
An entity that operates a project with funds provided under this paragraph may use the funds to provide assistance in a form described in clause (i) of this subparagraph to, or for the benefit of, individuals who (but for section 408(a)(7)) would be eligible for assistance under the program funded under this part of the State in which the entity is located.
(vi)

Relationship to other provisions of this part.—
(I)

Rules governing use of funds.—
The rules of section 404, other than subsections (b), (f), and (h) of section 404, shall not apply to a grant made under this paragraph.
(II)

Rules governing payments to states.—
The Secretary of Labor shall carry out the functions otherwise assigned by section 405 to the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to the grants payable under this paragraph.
(III)

Administration.—
Section 416 shall not apply to the programs under this paragraph.
(vii)

Prohibition against use of grant funds for any other fund matching requirement.—
An entity to which funds are provided under this paragraph shall not use any part of the funds, nor any part of State expenditures made to match the funds, to fulfill any obligation of any State, political subdivision, or private industry council to contribute funds under section 403(b) or 418 or any other provision of this Act or other Federal law.
(viii)

Deadline for expenditure.—
An entity to which funds are provided under this paragraph shall remit to the Secretary of Labor any part of the funds that are not expended within 5 years after the date the funds are so provided.
(ix)

Regulations.—
Within 90 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary of Labor, after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to implement this paragraph.
(x)

Reporting requirements.—
The Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, States, and organizations that represent State or local governments, shall establish requirements for the collection and maintenance of financial and participant information and the reporting of such information by entities carrying out activities under this paragraph.
(D)

Definitions.—
(i)

Individuals with income less than the poverty line.—
For purposes of this paragraph, the number of individuals with an income that is less than the poverty line shall be determined for a fiscal year—
(I)
based on the methodology used by the Bureau of the Census to produce and publish intercensal poverty data for States and counties (or, in the case of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, other poverty data selected by the Secretary of Labor); and
(II)
using data for the most recent year for which such data is available before the beginning of the fiscal year.
(ii)

Private industry council.—
As used in this paragraph, the term “private industry council” means, with respect to a service delivery area, the private industry council or local workforce development board established for the local workforce development area pursuant to title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, as appropriate.
(iii)

Service delivery area.—
As used in this paragraph, the term “service delivery area” shall have the meaning given such term for purposes of the Job Training Partnership Act or5.
^5
So in law. The word “or” should be stricken.
(E)

Funding for indian tribes.—
1 percent of the amount specified in subparagraph (H) for fiscal year 1998 and $15,000,000 of the amount so specified for fiscal year 1999 shall be reserved for grants to Indian tribes under section 412(a)(3).
(F)

Funding for evaluations of welfare-to-work programs.—
0.6 percent of the amount specified in subparagraph (H) for fiscal year 1998 and $9,000,000 of the amount so specified for fiscal year 1999 shall be reserved for use by the Secretary to carry out section 413(j).
(G)

Funding for evaluation of abstinence education programs.—
(i)

In general.—
0.2 percent of the amount specified in subparagraph (H) for fiscal year 1998 and $3,000,000 of the amount so specified for fiscal year 1999 shall be reserved for use by the Secretary to evaluate programs under section 510, directly or through grants, contracts, or interagency agreements.
(ii)

Authority to use funds for evaluations of welfare-to-work programs.—
Any such amount not required for such evaluations shall be available for use by the Secretary to carry out section 413(j).
(iii)

Deadline for outlays.—
Outlays from funds used pursuant to clause (i) for evaluation of programs under section 510 shall not be made after fiscal year 20056.
^6
Section 513 of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (114 Stat. 2763A–69), as enacted into law by section 1(a)(1) of Public Law 106–554, provides:
Sec. 513. (a) Section 403(a)(5)(H)(iii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(H)(iii)) is amended by striking “2001” and inserting “2005”.
(b) Section 403(a)(5)(H) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(5)(G)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(iv) Interim report.—Not later than January 1, 2002, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress an interim report on the evaluations referred to in clause (i).''.
These amendments were executed to suparagraph (G) (as redesignated by section 107(a) of Public Law 106–554 (114 Stat. 2763A–12)) to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
(iv)6

Interim report.—
Not later than January 1, 2002, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress an interim report on the evaluations referred to in clause (i).
(H)

Appropriations.—
(i)

In general.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for grants under this paragraph—
(I)
$1,500,000,000 for fiscal year 1998; and
(II)
$1,400,000,000 for fiscal year 1999.
(ii)

Availability.—
The amounts made available pursuant to clause (i) shall remain available for such period as is necessary to make the grants provided for in this paragraph.
(I)

Worker protections.—
(i)

Nondisplacement in work activities.—
(I)

General prohibition.—
Subject to this clause, an adult in a family receiving assistance attributable to funds provided under this paragraph may fill a vacant employment position in order to engage in a work activity.
(II)

Prohibition against violation of contracts.—
A work activity engaged in under a program operated with funds provided under this paragraph shall not violate an existing contract for services or a collective bargaining agreement, and such a work activity that would violate a collective bargaining agreement shall not be undertaken without the written concurrence of the labor organization and employer concerned.
(III)

Other prohibitions.—
An adult participant in a work activity engaged in under a program operated with funds provided under this paragraph shall not be employed or assigned—
- (aa)
when any other individual is on layoff from the same or any substantially equivalent job;
- (bb)
if the employer has terminated the employment of any regular employee or otherwise caused an involuntary reduction in its workforce with the intention of filling the vacancy so created with the participant; or
- (cc)
if the employer has caused an involuntary reduction to less than full time in hours of any employee in the same or a substantially equivalent job.
(ii)

Health and safety.—
Health and safety standards established under Federal and State law otherwise applicable to working conditions of employees shall be equally applicable to working conditions of other participants engaged in a work activity under a program operated with funds provided under this paragraph.
(iii)

Nondiscrimination.—
In addition to the protections provided under the provisions of law specified in section 408(c), an individual may not be discriminated against by reason of gender with respect to participation in work activities engaged in under a program operated with funds provided under this paragraph.
(iv)

Grievance procedure.—
(I)

In general.—
Each State to which a grant is made under this paragraph shall establish and maintain a procedure for grievances or complaints from employees alleging violations of clause (i) and participants in work activities alleging violations of clause (i), (ii), or (iii).
(II)

Hearing.—
The procedure shall include an opportunity for a hearing.
(III)

Remedies.—
The procedure shall include remedies for violation of clause (i), (ii), or (iii), which may continue during the pendency of the procedure, and which may include—
- (aa)
suspension or termination of payments from funds provided under this paragraph;
- (bb)
prohibition of placement of a participant with an employer that has violated clause (i), (ii), or (iii);
- (cc)
where applicable, reinstatement of an employee, payment of lost wages and benefits, and reestablishment of other relevant terms, conditions and privileges of employment; and
- (dd)
where appropriate, other equitable relief.
(IV)

Appeals.—
- (aa)

Filing.—
Not later than 30 days after a grievant or complainant receives an adverse decision under the procedure established pursuant to subclause (I), the grievant or complainant may appeal the decision to a State agency designated by the State which shall be independent of the State or local agency that is administering the programs operated with funds provided under this paragraph and the State agency administering, or supervising the administration of, the State program funded under this part.
- (bb)

Final determination.—
Not later than 120 days after the State agency designated under item (aa) receives a grievance or complaint made under the procedure established by a State pursuant to subclause (I), the State agency shall make a final determination on the appeal.
(v)

Rule of interpretation.—
This subparagraph shall not be construed to affect the authority of a State to provide or require workers' compensation.
(vi)

Nonpreemption of state law.—
The provisions of this subparagraph shall not be construed to preempt any provision of State law that affords greater protections to employees or to other participants engaged in work activities under a program funded under this part than is afforded by such provisions of this subparagraph.
(J)

Information disclosure.—
If a State to which a grant is made under section 403 establishes safeguards against the use or disclosure of information about applicants or recipients of assistance under the State program funded under this part, the safeguards shall not prevent the State agency administering the program from furnishing to a private industry council the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and identifying case number information in the State program funded under this part, of noncustodial parents residing in the service delivery area of the private industry council, for the purpose of identifying and contacting noncustodial parents regarding participation in the program under this paragraph.
(b)

Contingency Fund.—
(1)

Establishment.—
There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a fund which shall be known as the “Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs” (in this section referred to as the “Fund”).
(2)

Deposits into fund.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for fiscal year 2018 such sums as are necessary for payment to the Fund in a total amount not to exceed $608,000,000.
(3)

Grants.—
(A)

Provisional payments.—
If an eligible State submits to the Secretary a request for funds under this paragraph during an eligible month, the Secretary shall, subject to this paragraph, pay to the State, from amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (2), an amount equal to the amount of funds so requested.
(B)

Payment priority.—
The Secretary shall make payments under subparagraph (A) in the order in which the Secretary receives requests for such payments.
(C)

Limitations.—
(i)

Monthly payment to a state.—
The total amount paid to a single State under subparagraph (A) during a month shall not exceed 1⁄12 of 20 percent of the State family assistance grant.
(ii)

Payments to all states.—
The total amount paid to all States under subparagraph (A) during fiscal year 2011 and 2012, respectively, shall not exceed the total amount appropriated pursuant to paragraph (2) for each such fiscal year.
(4)

Eligible month.—
As used in paragraph (3)(A), the term “eligible month” means, with respect to a State, a month in the 2-month period that begins with any month for which the State is a needy State.
(5)

Needy state.—
For purposes of paragraph (4), a State is a needy State for a month if—
(A)
the average rate of—
(i)
total unemployment in such State (seasonally adjusted) for the period consisting of the most recent 3 months for which data for all States are published equals or exceeds 6.5 percent; and
(ii)
total unemployment in such State (seasonally adjusted) for the 3-month period equals or exceeds 110 percent of such average rate for either (or both) of the corresponding 3-month periods ending in the 2 preceding calendar years; or
(B)
as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture (in the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture), the monthly average number of individuals (as of the last day of each month) participating in the supplemental nutrition assistance program in the State in the then most recently concluded 3-month period for which data are available exceeds by not less than 10 percent the lesser of—
(i)
the monthly average number of individuals (as of the last day of each month) in the State that would have participated in the supplemental nutrition assistance program in the corresponding 3-month period in fiscal year 1994 if the amendments made by titles IV and VIII of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 had been in effect throughout fiscal year 1994; or
(ii)
the monthly average number of individuals (as of the last day of each month) in the State that would have participated in the supplemental nutrition assistance program in the corresponding 3-month period in fiscal year 1995 if the amendments made by titles IV and VIII of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 had been in effect throughout fiscal year 1995.
(6)

Annual reconciliation.—
(A)

In general.—
Notwithstanding paragraph (3), if the Secretary makes a payment to a State under this subsection in a fiscal year, then the State shall remit to the Secretary, within 1 year after the end of the first subsequent period of 3 consecutive months for which the State is not a needy State, an amount equal to the amount (if any) by which—
(i)
the total amount paid to the State under paragraph (3) of this subsection in the fiscal year; exceeds
(ii)
the product of—
(I)
the Federal medical assistance percentage for the State (as defined in section 1905(b), as such section was in effect on September 30, 1995);
(II)
the State's reimbursable expenditures for the fiscal year; and
(III)
1⁄12 times the number of months during the fiscal year for which the Secretary made a payment to the State under such paragraph (3).
(B)

Definitions.—
As used in subparagraph (A):
(i)

Reimbursable expenditures.—
The term “reimbursable expenditures” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the amount (if any) by which—
(I)
countable State expenditures for the fiscal year; exceeds
(II)
historic State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(iii)), excluding any amount expended by the State for child care under subsection (g) or (i) of section 402 (as in effect during fiscal year 1994) for fiscal year 1994.
(ii)

Countable state expenditures.—
The term “countable expenditures” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year—
(I)
the qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i) (other than the expenditures described in subclause (I)(bb) of such section)) under the State program funded under this part for the fiscal year; plus
(II)
any amount paid to the State under paragraph (3) during the fiscal year that is expended by the State under the State program funded under this part.
(C)

Adjustment of state remittances.—
(i)

In general.—
The amount otherwise required by subparagraph (A) to be remitted by a State for a fiscal year shall be increased by the lesser of—
(I)
the total adjustment for the fiscal year, multiplied by the adjustment percentage for the State for the fiscal year; or
(II)
the unadjusted net payment to the State for the fiscal year.
(ii)

Total adjustment.—
As used in clause (i), the term “total adjustment” means—
(I)
in the case of fiscal year 1998, $2,000,000;
(II)
in the case of fiscal year 1999, $9,000,000;
(III)
in the case of fiscal year 2000, $16,000,000; and
(IV)
in the case of fiscal year 2001, $13,000,000.
(iii)

Adjustment percentage.—
As used in clause (i), the term “adjustment percentage” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year—
(I)
the unadjusted net payment to the State for the fiscal year; divided by
(II)
the sum of the unadjusted net payments to all States for the fiscal year.
(iv)

Unadjusted net payment.—
As used in this subparagraph, the term, “unadjusted net payment” means with respect to a State and a fiscal year—
(I)
the total amount paid to the State under paragraph (3) in the fiscal year; minus
(II)
the amount that, in the absence of this subparagraph, would be required by subparagraph (A) or by section 409(a)(10) to be remitted by the State in respect of the payment.
(7)

State defined.—
As used in this subsection, the term “State” means each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia.
(8)

Annual reports.—
The Secretary shall annually report to the Congress on the status of the Fund.
(c)

Pandemic Emergency Assistance.—
(1)

Appropriation.—
In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, $1,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry out this subsection.
(2)

Reservation of funds for technical assistance.—
Of the amount specified in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall reserve $2,000,000 for administrative expenses and the provision of technical assistance to States and Indian tribes with respect to the use of funds provided under this subsection.
(3)

Allotments.—
(A)

50 states and the district of columbia.—
(i)

Total amount to be allotted.—
The Secretary shall allot a total of 92.5 percent of the amount specified in paragraph (1) that is not reserved under paragraph (2) among the States that are not a territory and that are operating a program funded under this part, in accordance with clause (ii) of this subparagraph.
(ii)

Allotment formula.—
The Secretary shall allot to each such State the sum of the following percentages of the total amount described in clause (i):
(I)
50 percent, multiplied by—
- (aa)
the population of children in the State, determined on the basis of the most recent population estimates as determined by the Bureau of the Census; divided by
- (bb)
the total population of children in the States that are not territories, as so determined; plus
(II)
50 percent, multiplied by—
- (aa)
the total amount expended by the State for basic assistance, non-recurrent short term benefits, and emergency assistance in fiscal year 2019, as reported by the State under section 411; divided by
- (bb)
the total amount expended by the States that are not territories for basic assistance, non-recurrent short term benefits, and emergency assistance in fiscal year 2019, as so reported by the States.
(B)

Territories and indian tribes.—
The Secretary shall allot among the territories and Indian tribes otherwise eligible for a grant under this part such portions of 7.5 percent of the amount specified in paragraph (1) that are not reserved under paragraph (2) as the Secretary deems appropriate based on the needs of the territory or Indian tribe involved.
(C)

Expenditure commitment requirement.—
To receive the full amount of funding payable under this subsection, a State or Indian tribe shall inform the Secretary as to whether it intends to use all of its allotment under this paragraph and provide that information—
(i)
in the case of a State that is not a territory, within 45 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection; or
(ii)
in the case of a territory or an Indian tribe, within 90 days after such date of enactment.
(4)

Grants.—
(A)

In general.—
The Secretary shall provide funds to each State and Indian tribe to which an amount is allotted under paragraph (3), from the amount so allotted.
(B)

Treatment of unused funds.—
(i)

Reallotment.—
The Secretary shall reallot in accordance with paragraph (3) all funds provided to any State or Indian tribe under this subsection that are unused, among the other States and Indian tribes eligible for funds under this subsection. For purposes of paragraph (3), the Secretary shall treat the funds as if included in the amount specified in paragraph (1).
(ii)

Provision.—
The Secretary shall provide funds to each such other State or Indian tribe in an amount equal to the amount so reallotted.
(5)

Recipient of funds provided for territories.—
In the case of a territory not operating a program funded under this part, the Secretary shall provide the funds required to be provided to the territory under this subsection, to the agency that administers the bulk of local human services programs in the territory.
(6)

Use of funds.—
(A)

In general.—
A State or Indian tribe to which funds are provided under this subsection may use the funds only for non-recurrent short term benefits, whether in the form of cash or in other forms.
(B)

Limitation on use for administrative expenses.—
A State to which funds are provided under this subsection shall not expend more than 15 percent of the funds for administrative purposes.
(C)

Nonsupplantation.—
Funds provided under this subsection shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, or tribal funds for services and activities that promote the purposes of this part.
(D)

Expenditure deadline.—
(i)

In general.—
Except as provided in clause (ii), a State or Indian tribe to which funds are provided under this subsection shall expend the funds not later than the end of fiscal year 2022.
(ii)

Exception for reallotted funds.—
A State or Indian tribe to which funds are provided under paragraph (4)(B) shall expend the funds within 12 months after receipt.
(7)

Suspension of territory spending cap.—
Section 1108 shall not apply with respect to any funds provided under this subsection.
(8)

Definitions.—
In this subsection:
(A)

Applicable period.—
The term “applicable period” means the period that begins with April 1, 2021, and ends with September 30, 2022.
(B)

Non-recurrent short term benefits.—
The term “non-recurrent short term benefits” has the meaning given the term in OMB approved Form ACF–196R, published on July 31, 2014.
(C)

State.—
The term “State” means the 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the territories.
(D)

Territory.—
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.
SEC. 404.
[42 U.S.C. 604]

USE OF GRANTS.
(a)

General Rules.—
Subject to this part, a State to which a grant is made under section 403 may use the grant—
(1)
in any manner that is reasonably calculated to accomplish the purpose of this part, including to provide low income households with assistance in meeting home heating and cooling costs; or
(2)
in any manner that the State was authorized to use amounts received under part A or F, as such parts were in effect on September 30, 1995, or (at the option of the State) August 21, 1996.
(b)

Limitation on Use of Grant for Administrative Purposes.—
(1)

Limitation.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not expend more than 15 percent of the grant for administrative purposes.
(2)

Exception.—
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the use of a grant for information technology and computerization needed for tracking or monitoring required by or under this part.
(c)

Authority To Treat Interstate Immigrants Under Rules of Former State.—
A State operating a program funded under this part may apply to a family the rules (including benefit amounts) of the program funded under this part of another State if the family has moved to the State from the other State and has resided in the State for less than 12 months.
(d)

Authority To Use Portion of Grant for Other Purposes.—
(1)

In general.—
Subject to paragraph (2), a State may use not more than 30 percent of the amount of any grant made to the State under section 403(a) for a fiscal year to carry out a State program pursuant to any or all of the following provisions of law:
(A)
Subtitle A of title XX of this Act.
(B)
The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990.
(2)

Limitation on amount transferable to subtitle 1 of title xx programs.—
(A)

In general.—
A State may use not more than the applicable percent of the amount of any grant made to the State under section 403(a) for a fiscal year to carry out State programs pursuant to subtitle 1 of title XX7.
^7
See amendment made by Section 6703(d)(2)(A)(ii) of Public Law 111–148. The amendment was executed to reflect the probable intent of congress. Also, references to subtitle 1 probably should be to subtitle A.
(B)

Applicable percent.—
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the applicable percent is 4.258 percent in the case of fiscal year 2001 and each succeeding fiscal year.
^8
10 percent for fiscal year 2003. See Labor, HHS Appropriations, FY03 (H.J. Res. 2; page 309).
(3)

Applicable rules.—
(A)

In general.—
Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, any amount paid to a State under this part that is used to carry out a State program pursuant to a provision of law specified in paragraph (1) shall not be subject to the requirements of this part, but shall be subject to the requirements that apply to Federal funds provided directly under the provision of law to carry out the program, and the expenditure of any amount so used shall not be considered to be an expenditure under this part.
(B)

Exception relating to subtitle 1 of title xx programs.—
All amounts paid to a State under this part that are used to carry out State programs pursuant to subtitle 1 of title XX shall be used only for programs and services to children or their families whose income is less than 200 percent of the income official poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, and revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981) applicable to a family of the size involved.
(e)

Authority to Carry Over Certain Amounts for Benefits or Services or for Future Contingencies.—
A State or tribe may use a grant made to the State or tribe under this part for any fiscal year to provide, without fiscal year limitation, any benefit or service that may be provided under the State or tribal program funded under this part.
(f)

Authority to Operate Employment Placement Program.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 may use the grant to make payments (or provide job placement vouchers) to State-approved public and private job placement agencies that provide employment placement services to individuals who receive assistance under the State program funded under this part.
(g)

Implementation of Electronic Benefit Transfer System.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 is encouraged to implement an electronic benefit transfer system for providing assistance under the State program funded under this part, and may use the grant for such purpose.
(h)

Use of Funds for Individual Development Accounts.—
(1)

In general.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 may use the grant to carry out a program to fund individual development accounts (as defined in paragraph (2)) established by individuals eligible for assistance under the State program funded under this part.
(2)

Individual development accounts.—
(A)

Establishment.—
Under a State program carried out under paragraph (1), an individual development account may be established by or on behalf of an individual eligible for assistance under the State program operated under this part for the purpose of enabling the individual to accumulate funds for a qualified purpose described in subparagraph (B).
(B)

Qualified purpose.—
A qualified purpose described in this subparagraph is 1 or more of the following, as provided by the qualified entity providing assistance to the individual under this subsection:
(i)

Postsecondary educational expenses.—
Postsecondary educational expenses paid from an individual development account directly to an eligible educational institution.
(ii)

First home purchase.—
Qualified acquisition costs with respect to a qualified principal residence for a qualified first-time homebuyer, if paid from an individual development account directly to the persons to whom the amounts are due.
(iii)

Business capitalization.—
Amounts paid from an individual development account directly to a business capitalization account which is established in a federally insured financial institution and is restricted to use solely for qualified business capitalization expenses.
(C)

Contributions to be from earned income.—
An individual may only contribute to an individual development account such amounts as are derived from earned income, as defined in section 911(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(D)

Withdrawal of funds.—
The Secretary shall establish such regulations as may be necessary to ensure that funds held in an individual development account are not withdrawn except for 1 or more of the qualified purposes described in subparagraph (B).
(3)

Requirements.—
(A)

In general.—
An individual development account established under this subsection shall be a trust created or organized in the United States and funded through periodic contributions by the establishing individual and matched by or through a qualified entity for a qualified purpose (as described in paragraph (2)(B)).
(B)

Qualified entity.—
As used in this subsection, the term “qualified entity” means—
(i)
a not-for-profit organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; or
(ii)
a State or local government agency acting in cooperation with an organization described in clause (i).
(4)

No reduction in benefits.—
Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal law (other than the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) that requires consideration of 1 or more financial circumstances of an individual, for the purpose of determining eligibility to receive, or the amount of, any assistance or benefit authorized by such law to be provided to or for the benefit of such individual, funds (including interest accruing) in an individual development account under this subsection shall be disregarded for such purpose with respect to any period during which such individual maintains or makes contributions into such an account.
(5)

Definitions.—
As used in this subsection—
(A)

Eligible educational institution.—
The term “eligible educational institution” means the following:
(i)
An institution described in section 481(a)(1) or 1201(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088(a)(1) or 1141(a)), as such sections are in effect on the date of the enactment of this subsection.
(ii)
An area vocational education school (as defined in subparagraph (C) or (D) of section 521(4) of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act (20 U.S.C. 2471(4))) which is in any State (as defined in section 521(33) of such Act), as such sections are in effect on the date of the enactment of this subsection.
(B)

Post-secondary educational expenses.—
The term “post-secondary educational expenses” means—
(i)
tuition and fees required for the enrollment or attendance of a student at an eligible educational institution, and
(ii)
fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses of instruction at an eligible educational institution.
(C)

Qualified acquisition costs.—
The term “qualified acquisition costs” means the costs of acquiring, constructing, or reconstructing a residence. The term includes any usual or reasonable settlement, financing, or other closing costs.
(D)

Qualified business.—
The term “qualified business” means any business that does not contravene any law or public policy (as determined by the Secretary).
(E)

Qualified business capitalization expenses.—
The term “qualified business capitalization expenses” means qualified expenditures for the capitalization of a qualified business pursuant to a qualified plan.
(F)

Qualified expenditures.—
The term “qualified expenditures” means expenditures included in a qualified plan, including capital, plant, equipment, working capital, and inventory expenses.
(G)

Qualified first-time homebuyer.—
(i)

In general.—
The term “qualified first-time homebuyer” means a taxpayer (and, if married, the taxpayer's spouse) who has no present ownership interest in a principal residence during the 3-year period ending on the date of acquisition of the principal residence to which this subsection applies.
(ii)

Date of acquisition.—
The term “date of acquisition” means the date on which a binding contract to acquire, construct, or reconstruct the principal residence to which this subparagraph applies is entered into.
(H)

Qualified plan.—
The term “qualified plan” means a business plan which—
(i)
is approved by a financial institution, or by a nonprofit loan fund having demonstrated fiduciary integrity,
(ii)
includes a description of services or goods to be sold, a marketing plan, and projected financial statements, and
(iii)
may require the eligible individual to obtain the assistance of an experienced entrepreneurial advisor.
(I)

Qualified principal residence.—
The term “qualified principal residence” means a principal residence (within the meaning of section 1034 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), the qualified acquisition costs of which do not exceed 100 percent of the average area purchase price applicable to such residence (determined in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 143(e) of such Code).
(i)

Sanction Welfare Recipients for Failing To Ensure That Minor Dependent Children Attend School.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not be prohibited from sanctioning a family that includes an adult who has received assistance under any State program funded under this part attributable to funds provided by the Federal Government or under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, as defined in section 3(l) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, if such adult fails to ensure that the minor dependent children of such adult attend school as required by the law of the State in which the minor children reside.
(j)

Requirement for High School Diploma or Equivalent.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not be prohibited from sanctioning a family that includes an adult who is older than age 20 and younger than age 51 and who has received assistance under any State program funded under this part attributable to funds provided by the Federal Government or under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, as defined in section 3(l) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, if such adult does not have, or is not working toward attaining, a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent unless such adult has been determined in the judgment of medical, psychiatric, or other appropriate professionals to lack the requisite capacity to complete successfully a course of study that would lead to a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent.
(k)

Limitations on Use of Grant for Matching Under Certain Federal Transportation Program.—
(1)

Use limitations.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 may not use any part of the grant to match funds made available under section 3037 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, unless—
(A)
the grant is used for new or expanded transportation services (and not for construction) that benefit individuals described in subparagraph (C), and not to subsidize current operating costs;
(B)
the grant is used to supplement and not supplant other State expenditures on transportation;
(C)
the preponderance of the benefits derived from such use of the grant accrues to individuals who are—
(i)
recipients of assistance under the State program funded under this part;
(ii)
former recipients of such assistance;
(iii)
noncustodial parents who are described in section 403(a)(5)(C)(iii); and
(iv)
low-income individuals who are at risk of qualifying for such assistance; and
(D)
the services provided through such use of the grant promote the ability of such recipients to engage in work activities (as defined in section 407(d)).
(2)

Amount limitation.—
From a grant made to a State under section 403(a), the amount that a State uses to match funds described in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not exceed the amount (if any) by which 30 percent of the total amount of the grant exceeds the amount (if any) of the grant that is used by the State to carry out any State program described in subsection (d)(1) of this section.
(3)

Rule of interpretation.—
The provision by a State of a transportation benefit under a program conducted under section 3037 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, to an individual who is not otherwise a recipient of assistance under the State program funded under this part, using funds from a grant made under section 403(a) of this Act, shall not be considered to be the provision of assistance to the individual under the State program funded under this part.
SEC. 405.
[42 U.S.C. 605]

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
(a)

Quarterly.—
The Secretary shall pay each grant payable to a State under section 403 in quarterly installments, subject to this section.
(b)

Notification.—
Not later than 3 months before the payment of any such quarterly installment to a State, the Secretary shall notify the State of the amount of any reduction determined under section 412(a)(1)(B) with respect to the State.
(c)

Computation and Certification of Payments to States.—
(1)

Computation.—
The Secretary shall estimate the amount to be paid to each eligible State for each quarter under this part, such estimate to be based on a report filed by the State containing an estimate by the State of the total sum to be expended by the State in the quarter under the State program funded under this part and such other information as the Secretary may find necessary.
(2)

Certification.—
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall certify to the Secretary of the Treasury the amount estimated under paragraph (1) with respect to a State, reduced or increased to the extent of any overpayment or underpayment which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines was made under this part to the State for any prior quarter and with respect to which adjustment has not been made under this paragraph.
(d)

Payment Method.—
Upon receipt of a certification under subsection (c)(2) with respect to a State, the Secretary of the Treasury shall, through the Fiscal Service of the Department of the Treasury and before audit or settlement by the General Accounting Office9, pay to the State, at the time or times fixed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the amount so certified.
^9
The reference to the General Accounting Office in section 405(d) probably should be to the Government Accountability Office.
SEC. 406.
[42 U.S.C. 606]

FEDERAL LOANS FOR STATE WELFARE PROGRAMS.
(a)

Loan Authority.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary shall make loans to any loan-eligible State, for a period to maturity of not more than 3 years.
(2)

Loan-eligible state.—
As used in paragraph (1), the term “loan-eligible State” means a State against which a penalty has not been imposed under section 409(a)(1).
(b)

Rate of Interest.—
The Secretary shall charge and collect interest on any loan made under this section at a rate equal to the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the period to maturity of the loan.
(c)

Use of Loan.—
A State shall use a loan made to the State under this section only for any purpose for which grant amounts received by the State under section 403(a) may be used, including—
(1)
welfare anti-fraud activities; and
(2)
the provision of assistance under the State program to Indian families that have moved from the service area of an Indian tribe with a tribal family assistance plan approved under section 412.
(d)

Limitation on Total Amount of Loans to a State.—
The cumulative dollar amount of all loans made to a State under this section during fiscal years 1997 through 2003 shall not exceed 10 percent of the State family assistance grant.
(e)

Limitation on Total Amount of Outstanding Loans.—
The total dollar amount of loans outstanding under this section may not exceed $1,700,000,000.
(f)

Appropriation.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the cost of loans under this section.
SEC. 407.
[42 U.S.C. 607]

MANDATORY WORK REQUIREMENTS.
(a)

Participation Rate Requirements.—
(1)

All families.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 for a fiscal year shall achieve the minimum participation rate specified in the following table for the fiscal year with respect to all families receiving assistance under the State program funded under this part or any other State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)):
| The minimum
| participation
If the fiscal year is: | rate is:
1997 | 25
1998 | 30
1999 | 35
2000 | 40
2001 | 45
2002 or thereafter | 50.
(2)

2-parent families.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 for a fiscal year shall achieve the minimum participation rate specified in the following table for the fiscal year with respect to 2-parent families receiving assistance under the State program funded under this part or any other State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)):
| The minimum
| participation
If the fiscal year is: | rate is:
1997 | 75
1998 | 75
1999 or thereafter | 90.
(b)

Calculation of Participation Rates.—
(1)

All families.—
(A)

Average monthly rate.—
For purposes of subsection (a)(1), the participation rate for all families of a State for a fiscal year is the average of the participation rates for all families of the State for each month in the fiscal year.
(B)

Monthly participation rates.—
The participation rate of a State for all families of the State for a month, expressed as a percentage, is—
(i)
the number of families receiving assistance under the State program funded under this part or any other State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)) that include an adult or a minor child head of household who is engaged in work for the month; divided by
(ii)
the amount by which—
(I)
the number of families receiving such assistance during the month that include an adult or a minor child head of household receiving such assistance; exceeds
(II)
the number of families receiving such assistance that are subject in such month to a penalty described in subsection (e)(1) but have not been subject to such penalty for more than 3 months within the preceding 12-month period (whether or not consecutive).
(2)

2-parent families.—
(A)

Average monthly rate.—
For purposes of subsection (a)(2), the participation rate for 2-parent families of a State for a fiscal year is the average of the participation rates for 2-parent families of the State for each month in the fiscal year.
(B)

Monthly participation rates.—
The participation rate of a State for 2-parent families of the State for a month shall be calculated by use of the formula set forth in paragraph (1)(B), except that in the formula the term “number of 2-parent families” shall be substituted for the term “number of families” each place such latter term appears.
(C)

Family with a disabled parent not treated as a 2-parent family.—
A family that includes a disabled parent shall not be considered a 2-parent family for purposes of subsections (a) and (b) of this section.
(3)

Pro rata reduction of participation rate due to caseload reductions not required by federal law and not resulting from changes in state eligibility criteria.—
(A)

In general.—
The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for reducing the minimum participation rate otherwise required by this section for a fiscal year by the number of percentage points equal to the number of percentage points (if any) by which—
(i)
the average monthly number of families receiving assistance during the immediately preceding fiscal year under the State program funded under this part or any other State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)) is less than
(ii)
the average monthly number of families that received assistance under any State program referred to in clause (i) during fiscal year 200510.
^{10}
Effective October 1, 2025, section 301 of division C of Public Law 118-5 provides for amendments to subparagraphs (A)(ii) and (B) of paragraph (3) by striking “2005” and inserting “2015”.
Section 305 of such Public Law states: “The amendments made by this title shall take effect on October 1, 2024, except for sections 301 and 303 which shall take effect on October 1, 2025.”.
The minimum participation rate shall not be reduced to the extent that the Secretary determines that the reduction in the number of families receiving such assistance is required by Federal law.
(B)

Eligibility changes not counted.—
The regulations required by subparagraph (A) shall not take into account families that are diverted from a State program funded under this part as a result of differences in eligibility criteria under a State program funded under this part and the eligibility criteria in effect during fiscal year 200510. Such regulations shall place the burden on the Secretary to prove that such families were diverted as a direct result of differences in such eligibility criteria.
(4)

State option to include individuals receiving assistance under a tribal family assistance plan or tribal work program.—
For purposes of paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(B), a State may, at its option, include families in the State that are receiving assistance under a tribal family assistance plan approved under section 412 or under a tribal work program to which funds are provided under this part.
(5)

State option for participation requirement exemptions.—
For any fiscal year, a State may, at its option, not require an individual who is a single custodial parent caring for a child who has not attained 12 months of age to engage in work, and may disregard such an individual in determining the participation rates under subsection (a) for not more than 12 months.
(6)11

Special rule regarding calculation of the minimum participation rate.—
The Secretary shall determine participation rates under this section without regard to any individual engaged in work in a family that receives no assistance under this part and less than $35 in assistance funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)).
^{11}
Paragraph (6) (as added section 303 of division C of Public Law 118-5) shall take effect on October 1, 2025. See delayed effective date in section 305 of such Public Law as it appears in a footnote to paragraph (3)(A)(ii) of this subsection.
(c)

Engaged in Work.—
(1)

General rules.—
(A)

All families.—
For purposes of subsection (b)(1)(B)(i), a recipient is engaged in work for a month in a fiscal year if the recipient is participating in work activities for at least the minimum average number of hours per week specified in the following table during the month, not fewer than 20 hours per week of which are attributable to an activity described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), or (12) of subsection (d), subject to this subsection:
| The minimum
If the month is | average number of
in fiscal year: | hours per week is:
1997 | 20
1998 | 20
1999 | 25
2000 or thereafter | 30.
(B)

2-parent families.—
For purposes of subsection (b)(2)(B), an individual is engaged in work for a month in a fiscal year if—
(i)
the individual and the other parent in the family are participating in work activities for a total of at least 35 hours per week during the month, not fewer than 30 hours per week of which are attributable to an activity described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), or (12) of subsection (d), subject to this subsection; and
(ii)
if the family of the individual receives federally-funded child care assistance and an adult in the family is not disabled or caring for a severely disabled child, the individual and the other parent in the family are participating in work activities for a total of at least 55 hours per week during the month, not fewer than 50 hours per week of which are attributable to an activity described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), or (12) of subsection (d).
(2)

Limitations and special rules.—
(A)

Number of weeks for which job search counts as work.—
(i)

Limitation.—
Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, an individual shall not be considered to be engaged in work by virtue of participation in an activity described in subsection (d)(6) of a State program funded under this part or any other State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)), after the individual has participated in such an activity for 6 weeks (or, if the unemployment rate of the State is at least 50 percent greater than the unemployment rate of the United States or the State is a needy State (within the meaning of section 403(b)(5)), 12 weeks), or if the participation is for a week that immediately follows 4 consecutive weeks of such participation.
(ii)

Limited authority to count less than full week of participation.—
For purposes of clause (i) of this subparagraph, on not more than 1 occasion per individual, the State shall consider participation of the individual in an activity described in subsection (d)(6) for 3 or 4 days during a week as a week of participation in the activity by the individual.
(B)

Single parent or relative with child under age 6 deemed to be meeting work participation requirements if parent or relative is engaged in work for 20 hours per week.—
For purposes of determining monthly participation rates under subsection (b)(1)(B)(i), a recipient who is the only parent or caretaker relative in the family of a child who has not attained 6 years of age is deemed to be engaged in work for a month if the recipient is engaged in work for an average of at least 20 hours per week during the month.
(C)

Single teen head of household or married teen who maintains satisfactory school attendance deemed to be meeting work participation requirements.—
For purposes of determining monthly participation rates under sub-section (b)(1)(B)(i), a recipient who is married or a head of household and has not attained 20 years of age is deemed to be engaged in work for a month in a fiscal year if the recipient—
(i)
maintains satisfactory attendance at secondary school or the equivalent during the month; or
(ii)
participates in education directly related to employment for an average of at least 20 hours per week during the month.
(D)

Limitation on number of persons who may be treated as engaged in work by reason of participation in educational activities.—
For purposes of determining monthly participation rates under paragraphs (1)(B)(i) and (2)(B) of subsection (b), not more than 30 percent of the number of individuals in all families and in 2-parent families, respectively, in a State who are treated as engaged in work for a month may consist of individuals who are determined to be engaged in work for the month by reason of participation in vocational educational training, or (if the month is in fiscal year 2000 or thereafter) deemed to be engaged in work for the month by reason of subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.
(d)

Work Activities Defined.—
As used in this section, the term “work activities” means—
(1)
unsubsidized employment;
(2)
subsidized private sector employment;
(3)
subsidized public sector employment;
(4)
work experience (including work associated with the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing) if sufficient private sector employment is not available;
(5)
on-the-job training;
(6)
job search and job readiness assistance;
(7)
community service programs;
(8)
vocational educational training (not to exceed 12 months with respect to any individual);
(9)
job skills training directly related to employment;
(10)
education directly related to employment, in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency;
(11)
satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate; and
(12)
the provision of child care services to an individual who is participating in a community service program.
(e)

Penalties Against Individuals.—
(1)

In general.—
Except as provided in paragraph (2), if an individual in a family receiving assistance under the State program funded under this part or any other State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)) refuses to engage in work required in accordance with this section, the State shall—
(A)
reduce the amount of assistance otherwise payable to the family pro rata (or more, at the option of the State) with respect to any period during a month in which the individual so refuses; or
(B)
terminate such assistance,
subject to such good cause and other exceptions as the State may establish.
(2)

Exception.—
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a State may not reduce or terminate assistance under the State program funded under this part or any other State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)) based on a refusal of an individual to engage in work required in accordance with this section if the individual is a single custodial parent caring for a child who has not attained 6 years of age, and the individual proves that the individual has a demonstrated inability (as determined by the State) to obtain needed child care, for 1 or more of the following reasons:
(A)
Unavailability of appropriate child care within a reasonable distance from the individual's home or work site.
(B)
Unavailability or unsuitability of informal child care by a relative or under other arrangements.
(C)
Unavailability of appropriate and affordable formal child care arrangements.
(f)

Nondisplacement in Work Activities.—
(1)

In general.—
Subject to paragraph (2), an adult in a family receiving assistance under a State program funded under this part attributable to funds provided by the Federal Government may fill a vacant employment position in order to engage in a work activity described in subsection (d).
(2)

No filling of certain vacancies.—
No adult in a work activity described in subsection (d) which is funded, in whole or in part, by funds provided by the Federal Government shall be employed or assigned—
(A)
when any other individual is on layoff from the same or any substantially equivalent job; or
(B)
if the employer has terminated the employment of any regular employee or otherwise caused an involuntary reduction of its workforce in order to fill the vacancy so created with an adult described in paragraph (1).
(3)

Grievance procedure.—
A State with a program funded under this part shall establish and maintain a grievance procedure for resolving complaints of alleged violations of paragraph (2).
(4)

No preemption.—
Nothing in this subsection shall preempt or supersede any provision of State or local law that provides greater protection for employees from displacement.
(g)

Sense of the Congress.—
It is the sense of the Congress that in complying with this section, each State that operates a program funded under this part is encouraged to assign the highest priority to requiring adults in 2-parent families and adults in single-parent families that include older preschool or school-age children to be engaged in work activities.
(h)

Sense of the Congress That States Should Impose Certain Requirements on Noncustodial, Nonsupporting Minor Parents.—
It is the sense of the Congress that the States should require noncustodial, nonsupporting parents who have not attained 18 years of age to fulfill community work obligations and attend appropriate parenting or money management classes after school.
(i)

Verification of Work and Work-Eligible Individuals in Order To Implement Reforms.—
(1)

Secretarial direction and oversight.—
(A)
Regulations for determining whether activities may be counted as “work activities”, how to count and verify reported hours of work, and determining who is a work-eligible individual.—
(i)

In general.—
Not later than June 30, 2006, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to ensure consistent measurement of work participation rates under State programs funded under this part and State programs funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)), which shall include information with respect to—
(I)
determining whether an activity of a recipient of assistance may be treated as a work activity under subsection (d);
(II)
uniform methods for reporting hours of work by a recipient of assistance;
(III)
the type of documentation needed to verify reported hours of work by a recipient of assistance; and
(IV)
the circumstances under which a parent who resides with a child who is a recipient of assistance should be included in the work participation rates.
(ii)

Issuance of regulations on an interim final basis.—
The regulations referred to in clause (i) may be effective and final immediately on an interim basis as of the date of publication of the regulations. If the Secretary provides for an interim final regulation, the Secretary shall provide for a period of public comment on the regulation after the date of publication. The Secretary may change or revise the regulation after the public comment period.
(B)

Oversight of state procedures.—
The Secretary shall review the State procedures established in accordance with paragraph (2) to ensure that such procedures are consistent with the regulations promulgated under subparagraph (A) and are adequate to ensure an accurate measurement of work participation under the State programs funded under this part and any other State programs funded with qualified State expenditures (as so defined).
(2)

Requirement for states to establish and maintain work participation verification procedures.—
Not later than September 30, 2006, a State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall establish procedures for determining, with respect to recipients of assistance under the State program funded under this part or under any State programs funded with qualified State expenditures (as so defined), whether activities may be counted as work activities, how to count and verify reported hours of work, and who is a work-eligible individual, in accordance with the regulations promulgated pursuant to paragraph (1)(A)(i) and shall establish internal controls to ensure compliance with the procedures.
SEC. 408.
[42 U.S.C. 608]

PROHIBITIONS; REQUIREMENTS.
(a)

In General.—12
^{12}
See also section 115 of PRWORA, for a ban on assistance to drug felons, with opt-out.
(1)

No assistance for families without a minor child.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not use any part of the grant to provide assistance to a family, unless the family includes a minor child who resides with the family (consistent with paragraph (10)) or a pregnant individual.
(2)

Reduction or elimination of assistance for noncooperation in establishing paternity or obtaining child support.—
If the agency responsible for administering the State plan approved under part D determines that an individual is not cooperating with the State in establishing paternity or in establishing, modifying, or enforcing a support order with respect to a child of the individual, and the individual does not qualify for any good cause or other exception established by the State pursuant to section 454(29), then the State—
(A)
shall deduct from the assistance that would otherwise be provided to the family of the individual under the State program funded under this part an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of the amount of such assistance; and
(B)
may deny the family any assistance under the State program.
(3)

No assistance for families not assigning certain support rights to the state.—
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.
(4)

No assistance for teenage parents who do not attend high school or other equivalent training program.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not use any part of the grant to provide assistance to an individual who has not attained 18 years of age, is not married, has a minor child at least 12 weeks of age in his or her care, and has not successfully completed a high-school education (or its equivalent), if the individual does not participate in—
(A)
educational activities directed toward the attainment of a high school diploma or its equivalent; or
(B)
an alternative educational or training program that has been approved by the State.
(5)

No assistance for teenage parents not living in adult-supervised settings.—
(A)

In general.—
(i)

Requirement.—
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not use any part of the grant to provide assistance to an individual described in clause (ii) of this subparagraph if the individual and the minor child referred to in clause (ii)(II) do not reside in a place of residence maintained by a parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative of the individual as such parent's, guardian's, or adult relative's own home.
(ii)

Individual described.—
For purposes of clause (i), an individual described in this clause is an individual who—
(I)
has not attained 18 years of age; and
(II)
is not married, and has a minor child in his or her care.
(B)

Exception.—
(i)

Provision of, or assistance in locating, adult-supervised living arrangement.—
In the case of an individual who is described in clause (ii), the State agency referred to in section 402(a)(4) shall provide, or assist the individual in locating, a second chance home, maternity home, or other appropriate adult-supervised supportive living arrangement, taking into consideration the needs and concerns of the individual, unless the State agency determines that the individual's current living arrangement is appropriate, and thereafter shall require that the individual and the minor child referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) reside in such living arrangement as a condition of the continued receipt of assistance under the State program funded under this part attributable to funds provided by the Federal Government (or in an alternative appropriate arrangement, should circumstances change and the current arrangement cease to be appropriate).
(ii)

Individual described.—
For purposes of clause (i), an individual is described in this clause if the individual is described in subparagraph (A)(ii), and—
(I)
the individual has no parent, legal guardian, or other appropriate adult relative described in subclause (II) of his or her own who is living or whose whereabouts are known;
(II)
no living parent, legal guardian, or other appropriate adult relative, who would otherwise meet applicable State criteria to act as the individual's legal guardian, of such individual allows the individual to live in the home of such parent, guardian, or relative;
(III)
the State agency determines that—
- (aa)
the individual or the minor child referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii)(II) is being or has been subjected to serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation in the residence of the individual's own parent or legal guardian; or
- (bb)
substantial evidence exists of an act or failure to act that presents an imminent or serious harm if the individual and the minor child lived in the same residence with the individual's own parent or legal guardian; or
(IV)
the State agency otherwise determines that it is in the best interest of the minor child to waive the requirement of subparagraph (A) with respect to the individual or the minor child.
(iii)

Second-chance home.—
For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “second-chance home” means an entity that provides individuals described in clause (ii) with a supportive and supervised living arrangement in which such individuals are required to learn parenting skills, including child development, family budgeting, health and nutrition, and other skills to promote their long-term economic independence and the well-being of their children.
(6)

No medical services.—
(A)

In general.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not use any part of the grant to provide medical services.
(B)

Exception for prepregnancy family planning services.—
As used in subparagraph (A), the term “medical services” does not include prepregnancy family planning services.
(7)

No assistance for more than 5 years.—
(A)

In general.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not use any part of the grant to provide assistance to a family that includes an adult who has received assistance under any State program funded under this part attributable to funds provided by the Federal Government, for 60 months (whether or not consecutive) after the date the State program funded under this part commences, subject to this paragraph.
(B)

Minor child exception.—
In determining the number of months for which an individual who is a parent or pregnant has received assistance under the State program funded under this part, the State shall disregard any month for which such assistance was provided with respect to the individual and during which the individual was—
(i)
a minor child; and
(ii)
not the head of a household or married to the head of a household.
(C)

Hardship exception.—
(i)

In general.—
The State may exempt a family from the application of subparagraph (A) by reason of hardship or if the family includes an individual who has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty.
(ii)

Limitation.—
The average monthly number of families with respect to which an exemption made by a State under clause (i) is in effect for a fiscal year shall not exceed 20 percent of the average monthly number of families to which assistance is provided under the State program funded under this part during the fiscal year or the immediately preceding fiscal year (but not both), as the State may elect.
(iii)

Battered or subject to extreme cruelty defined.—
For purposes of clause (i), an individual has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty if the individual has been subjected to—
(I)
physical acts that resulted in, or threatened to result in, physical injury to the individual;
(II)
sexual abuse;
(III)
sexual activity involving a dependent child;
(IV)
being forced as the caretaker relative of a dependent child to engage in nonconsensual sexual acts or activities;
(V)
threats of, or attempts at, physical or sexual abuse;
(VI)
mental abuse; or
(VII)
neglect or deprivation of medical care.
(D)

Disregard of months of assistance received by adult while living in indian country or an alaskan native village with 50 percent unemployment.—
(i)

In general.—
In determining the number of months for which an adult has received assistance under a State or tribal program funded under this part, the State or tribe shall disregard any month during which the adult lived in Indian country or an Alaskan Native village if the most reliable data available with respect to the month (or a period including the month) indicate that at least 50 percent of the adults living in Indian country or in the village were not employed.
(ii)

Indian country defined.—
As used in clause (i), the term “Indian country” has the meaning given such term in section 1151 of title 18, United States Code.
(E)

Rule of interpretation.—
Subparagraph (A) shall not be interpreted to require any State to provide assistance to any individual for any period of time under the State program funded under this part.
(F)

Rule of interpretation.—
This part shall not be interpreted to prohibit any State from expending State funds not originating with the Federal Government on benefits for children or families that have become ineligible for assistance under the State program funded under this part by reason of subparagraph (A).
(G)

Inapplicability to welfare-to-work grants and assistance.—
For purposes of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, a grant made under section 403(a)(5) shall not be considered a grant made under section 403, and noncash assistance from funds provided under section 403(a)(5) shall not be considered assistance.
(8)

Denial of assistance for 10 years to a person found to have fraudulently misrepresented residence in order to obtain assistance in 2 or more states.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not use any part of the grant to provide cash assistance to an individual during the 10-year period that begins on the date the individual is convicted in Federal or State court of having made a fraudulent statement or representation with respect to the place of residence of the individual in order to receive assistance simultaneously from 2 or more States under programs that are funded under this title, title XIX, or the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, or benefits in 2 or more States under the supplemental security income program under title XVI. The preceding sentence shall not apply with respect to a conviction of an individual, for any month beginning after the President of the United States grants a pardon with respect to the conduct which was the subject of the conviction.
(9)

Denial of assistance for fugitive felons and probation and parole violators.—
(A)

In general.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not use any part of the grant to provide assistance to any individual who is—
(i)
fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody or confinement after conviction, under the laws of the place from which the individual flees, for a crime, or an attempt to commit a crime, which is a felony under the laws of the place from which the individual flees, or which, in the case of the State of New Jersey, is a high misdemeanor under the laws of such State; or
(ii)
violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under Federal or State law.
The preceding sentence shall not apply with respect to conduct of an individual, for any month beginning after the President of the United States grants a pardon with respect to the conduct.
(B)

Exchange of information with law enforcement agencies.—
If a State to which a grant is made under section 403 establishes safeguards against the use or disclosure of information about applicants or recipients of assistance under the State program funded under this part, the safeguards shall not prevent the State agency administering the program from furnishing a Federal, State, or local law enforcement officer, upon the request of the officer, with the current address of any recipient if the officer furnishes the agency with the name of the recipient and notifies the agency that—
(i)
the recipient—
(I)
is described in subparagraph (A); or
(II)
has information that is necessary for the officer to conduct the official duties of the officer; and
(ii)
the location or apprehension of the recipient is within such official duties.
(10)

Denial of assistance for minor children who are absent from the home for a significant period.—
(A)

In general.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not use any part of the grant to provide assistance for a minor child who has been, or is expected by a parent (or other caretaker relative) of the child to be, absent from the home for a period of 45 consecutive days or, at the option of the State, such period of not less than 30 and not more than 180 consecutive days as the State may provide for in the State plan submitted pursuant to section 402.
(B)

State authority to establish good cause exceptions.—
The State may establish such good cause exceptions to subparagraph (A) as the State considers appropriate if such exceptions are provided for in the State plan submitted pursuant to section 402.
(C)

Denial of assistance for relative who fails to notify state agency of absence of child.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall not use any part of the grant to provide assistance for an individual who is a parent (or other caretaker relative) of a minor child and who fails to notify the agency administering the State program funded under this part of the absence of the minor child from the home for the period specified in or provided for pursuant to subparagraph (A), by the end of the 5-day period that begins with the date that it becomes clear to the parent (or relative) that the minor child will be absent for such period so specified or provided for.
(11)

Medical assistance required to be provided for certain families having earnings from employment or child support.—
(A)

Earnings from employment.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 and which has a State plan approved under title XIX shall provide that in the case of a family that is treated (under section 1931(b)(1)(A) for purposes of title XIX) as receiving aid under a State plan approved under this part (as in effect on July 16, 1996), that would become ineligible for such aid because of hours of or income from employment of the caretaker relative (as defined under this part as in effect on such date) or because of section 402(a)(8)(B)(ii)(II) (as so in effect), and that was so treated as receiving such aid in at least 3 of the 6 months immediately preceding the month in which such ineligibility begins, the family shall remain eligible for medical assistance under the State's plan approved under title XIX for an extended period or periods as provided in section 1925 or 1902(e)(1) (as applicable), and that the family will be appropriately notified of such extension as required by section 1925(a)(2).
(B)

Child support.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 and which has a State plan approved under title XIX shall provide that in the case of a family that is treated (under section 1931(b)(1)(A) for purposes of title XIX) as receiving aid under a State plan approved under this part (as in effect on July 16, 1996), that would become ineligible for such aid as a result (wholly or partly) of the collection of child or spousal support under part D and that was so treated as receiving such aid in at least 3 of the 6 months immediately preceding the month in which such ineligibility begins, the family shall remain eligible for medical assistance under the State's plan approved under title XIX for an extended period or periods as provided in section 1931(c)(1).
(12)

State requirement to prevent unauthorized spending of benefits.—
(A)

In general.—
A State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall maintain policies and practices as necessary to prevent assistance provided under the State program funded under this part from being used in any electronic benefit transfer transaction in—
(i)
any liquor store;
(ii)
any casino, gambling casino, or gaming establishment; or
(iii)
any retail establishment which provides adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state for entertainment.
(B)

Definitions.—
For purposes of subparagraph (A)—
(i)

Liquor store.—
The term “liquor store” means any retail establishment which sells exclusively or primarily intoxicating liquor. Such term does not include a grocery store which sells both intoxicating liquor and groceries including staple foods (within the meaning of section 3(r) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(r))).
(ii)

Casino, gambling casino, or gaming establishment.—
The terms “casino”, “gambling casino”, and “gaming establishment” do not include—
(I)
a grocery store which sells groceries including such staple foods and which also offers, or is located within the same building or complex as, casino, gambling, or gaming activities; or
(II)
any other establishment that offers casino, gambling, or gaming activities incidental to the principal purpose of the business.
(iii)

Electronic benefit transfer transaction.—
The term “electronic benefit transfer transaction” means the use of a credit or debit card service, automated teller machine, point-of-sale terminal, or access to an online system for the withdrawal of funds or the processing of a payment for merchandise or a service.
(b)

Individual Responsibility Plans.—
(1)

Assessment.—
The State agency responsible for administering the State program funded under this part shall make an initial assessment of the skills, prior work experience, and employability of each recipient of assistance under the program who—
(A)
has attained 18 years of age; or
(B)
has not completed high school or obtained a certificate of high school equivalency, and is not attending secondary school.
(2)

Contents of plans.—
(A)

In general.—
On the basis of the assessment made under subsection (a) with respect to an individual, the State agency, in consultation with the individual, may develop an individual responsibility plan for the individual, which—
(i)
sets forth an employment goal for the individual and a plan for moving the individual immediately into private sector employment;
(ii)
sets forth the obligations of the individual, which may include a requirement that the individual attend school, maintain certain grades and attendance, keep school age children of the individual in school, immunize children, attend parenting and money management classes, or do other things that will help the individual become and remain employed in the private sector;
(iii)
to the greatest extent possible is designed to move the individual into whatever private sector employment the individual is capable of handling as quickly as possible, and to increase the responsibility and amount of work the individual is to handle over time;
(iv)
describes the services the State will provide the individual so that the individual will be able to obtain and keep employment in the private sector, and describe the job counseling and other services that will be provided by the State; and
(v)
may require the individual to undergo appropriate substance abuse treatment.
(B)

Timing.—
The State agency may comply with paragraph (1) with respect to an individual—
(i)
within 90 days (or, at the option of the State, 180 days) after the effective date of this part, in the case of an individual who, as of such effective date, is a recipient of aid under the State plan approved under part A (as in effect immediately before such effective date); or
(ii)
within 30 days (or, at the option of the State, 90 days) after the individual is determined to be eligible for such assistance, in the case of any other individual.
(3)

Penalty for noncompliance by individual.—
In addition to any other penalties required under the State program funded under this part, the State may reduce, by such amount as the State considers appropriate, the amount of assistance otherwise payable under the State program to a family that includes an individual who fails without good cause to comply with an individual responsibility plan signed by the individual.
(4)

State discretion.—
The exercise of the authority of this subsection shall be within the sole discretion of the State.
(c)

Sanctions Against Recipients Not Considered Wage Reductions.—
A penalty imposed by a State against the family of an individual by reason of the failure of the individual to comply with a requirement under the State program funded under this part shall not be construed to be a reduction in any wage paid to the individual.
(d)

Nondiscrimination Provisions.—
The following provisions of law shall apply to any program or activity which receives funds provided under this part:
(1)
The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.).
(2)
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794).
(3)
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).
(4)
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.).
(e)

Special Rules Relating to Treatment of Certain Aliens.—
For special rules relating to the treatment of certain aliens, see title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
(f)

Special Rules Relating to the Treatment of Non-213A Aliens.—
The following rules shall apply if a State elects to take the income or resources of any sponsor of a non-213A alien into account in determining whether the alien is eligible for assistance under the State program funded under this part, or in determining the amount or types of such assistance to be provided to the alien:
(1)

Deeming of sponsor's income and resources.—
For a period of 3 years after a non-213A alien enters the United States:
(A)

Income deeming rule.—
The income of any sponsor of the alien and of any spouse of the sponsor is deemed to be income of the alien, to the extent that the total amount of the income exceeds the sum of—
(i)
the lesser of—
(I)
20 percent of the total of any amounts received by the sponsor or any such spouse in the month as wages or salary or as net earnings from self-employment, plus the full amount of any costs incurred by the sponsor and any such spouse in producing self-employment income in such month; or
(II)
$175;
(ii)
the cash needs standard established by the State for purposes of determining eligibility for assistance under the State program funded under this part for a family of the same size and composition as the sponsor and any other individuals living in the same household as the sponsor who are claimed by the sponsor as dependents for purposes of determining the sponsor's Federal personal income tax liability but whose needs are not taken into account in determining whether the sponsor's family has met the cash needs standard;
(iii)
any amounts paid by the sponsor or any such spouse to individuals not living in the household who are claimed by the sponsor as dependents for purposes of determining the sponsor's Federal personal income tax liability; and
(iv)
any payments of alimony or child support with respect to individuals not living in the household.
(B)

Resource deeming rule.—
The resources of a sponsor of the alien and of any spouse of the sponsor are deemed to be resources of the alien to the extent that the aggregate value of the resources exceeds $1,500.
(C)

Sponsors of multiple non-213a aliens.—
If a person is a sponsor of 2 or more non-213A aliens who are living in the same home, the income and resources of the sponsor and any spouse of the sponsor that would be deemed income and resources of any such alien under subparagraph (A) shall be divided into a number of equal shares equal to the number of such aliens, and the State shall deem the income and resources of each such alien to include 1 such share.
(2)

Ineligibility of non-213a aliens sponsored by agencies; exception.—
A non-213A alien whose sponsor is or was a public or private agency shall be ineligible for assistance under a State program funded under this part, during a period of 3 years after the alien enters the United States, unless the State agency administering the program determines that the sponsor either no longer exists or has become unable to meet the alien's needs.
(3)

Information provisions.—
(A)

Duties of non-213a aliens.—
A non-213A alien, as a condition of eligibility for assistance under a State program funded under this part during the period of 3 years after the alien enters the United States, shall be required to provide to the State agency administering the program—
(i)
such information and documentation with respect to the alien's sponsor as may be necessary in order for the State agency to make any determination required under this subsection, and to obtain any cooperation from the sponsor necessary for any such determination; and
(ii)
such information and documentation as the State agency may request and which the alien or the alien's sponsor provided in support of the alien's immigration application.
(B)

Duties of federal agencies.—
The Secretary shall enter into agreements with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General under which any information available to them and required in order to make any determination under this subsection will be provided by them to the Secretary (who may, in turn, make the information available, upon request, to a concerned State agency).
(4)

Non-213a alien defined.—
An alien is a non-213A alien for purposes of this subsection if the affidavit of support or similar agreement with respect to the alien that was executed by the sponsor of the alien's entry into the United States was executed other than pursuant to section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
(5)

Inapplicability to alien minor sponsored by a parent.—
This subsection shall not apply to an alien who is a minor child if the sponsor of the alien or any spouse of the sponsor is a parent of the alien.
(6)

Inapplicability to certain categories of aliens.—
This subsection shall not apply to an alien who is—
(A)
admitted to the United States as a refugee under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act;
(B)
paroled into the United States under section 212(d)(5) of such Act for a period of at least 1 year; or
(C)
granted political asylum by the Attorney General under section 208 of such Act.
(g)

State Required To Provide Certain Information.—
Each State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall, at least 4 times annually and upon request of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, furnish the Immigration and Naturalization Service with the name and address of, and other identifying information on, any individual who the State knows is not lawfully present in the United States.
SEC. 409.
[42 U.S.C. 609]

PENALTIES.
(a)

In General.—
Subject to this section:
(1)

Use of grant in violation of this part.—
(A)

General penalty.—
If an audit conducted under chapter 75 of title 31, United States Code, finds that an amount paid to a State under section 403 for a fiscal year has been used in violation of this part, the Secretary shall reduce the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) for the immediately succeeding fiscal year quarter by the amount so used.
(B)

Enhanced penalty for intentional violations.—
If the State does not prove to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the State did not intend to use the amount in violation of this part, the Secretary shall further reduce the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) for the immediately succeeding fiscal year quarter by an amount equal to 5 percent of the State family assistance grant.
(C)

Penalty for misuse of competitive welfare-to-work funds.—
If the Secretary of Labor finds that an amount paid to an entity under section 403(a)(5)(B) has been used in violation of subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 403(a)(5), the entity shall remit to the Secretary of Labor an amount equal to the amount so used.
(2)

Failure to submit required report.—
(A)

Quarterly reports.—
(i)

In general.—
If the Secretary determines that a State has not, within 45 days after the end of a fiscal quarter, submitted the report required by section 411(a) for the quarter, 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 4 percent of the State family assistance grant.
(ii)

Rescission of penalty.—
The Secretary shall rescind a penalty imposed on a State under clause (i) with respect to a report if the State submits the report before the end of the fiscal quarter that immediately succeeds the fiscal quarter for which the report was required.
(B)

Report on engagement in additional work activities and expenditures for other benefits and services.—
(i)

In general.—
If the Secretary determines that a State has not submitted the report required by section 411(c)(1)(A)(i) by May 31, 2011, or the report required by section 411(c)(1)(A)(ii) by August 31, 2011, 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 not more than 4 percent of the State family assistance grant.
(ii)

Rescission of penalty.—
The Secretary shall rescind a penalty imposed on a State under clause (i) with respect to a report required by section 411(c)(1)(A) if the State submits the report not later than—
(I)
in the case of the report required under section 411(c)(1)(A)(i), June 15, 2011; and
(II)
in the case of the report required under section 411(c)(1)(A)(ii), September 15, 2011.
(iii)

Penalty based on severity of failure.—
The Secretary shall impose a reduction under clause (i) with respect to a fiscal year based on the degree of noncompliance.
(3)

Failure to satisfy minimum participation rates.—
(A)

In general.—
If the Secretary determines that a State to which a grant is made under section 403 for a fiscal year has failed to comply with section 407(a) for the 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 the applicable percentage of the State family assistance grant.
(B)

Applicable percentage defined.—
As used in subparagraph (A), the term “applicable percentage” means, with respect to a State—
(i)
if a penalty was not imposed on the State under subparagraph (A) for the immediately preceding fiscal year, 5 percent; or
(ii)
if a penalty was imposed on the State under subparagraph (A) for the immediately preceding fiscal year, the lesser of—
(I)
the percentage by which the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) was reduced for such preceding fiscal year, increased by 2 percentage points; or
(II)
21 percent.
(C)

Penalty based on severity of failure.—
The Secretary shall impose reductions under subparagraph (A) with respect to a fiscal year based on the degree of noncompliance, and may reduce the penalty if the noncompliance is due to circumstances that caused the State to become a needy State (as defined in section 403(b)(5)) during the fiscal year or if the noncompliance is due to extraordinary circumstances such as a natural disaster or regional recession. The Secretary shall provide a written report to Congress to justify any waiver or penalty reduction due to such extraordinary circumstances.
(4)

Failure to participate in the income and eligibility verification system.—
If the Secretary determines that a State program funded under this part is not participating during a fiscal year in the income and eligibility verification system required by section 1137, 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 not more than 2 percent of the State family assistance grant.
(5)

Failure to comply with paternity establishment and child support enforcement requirements under part d.—
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, if the Secretary determines that the State agency that administers a program funded under this part does not enforce the penalties requested by the agency administering part D against recipients of assistance under the State program who fail to cooperate in establishing paternity or in establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support order in accordance with such part and who do not qualify for any good cause or other exception established by the State under section 454(29), the Secretary shall reduce the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) for the immediately succeeding fiscal year (without regard to this section) by not more than 5 percent.
(6)

Failure to timely repay a federal loan fund for state welfare programs.—
If the Secretary determines that a State has failed to repay any amount borrowed from the Federal Loan Fund for State Welfare Programs established under section 406 within the period of maturity applicable to the loan, plus any interest owed on the loan, the Secretary shall reduce the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) for the immediately succeeding fiscal year quarter (without regard to this section) by the outstanding loan amount, plus the interest owed on the outstanding amount. The Secretary shall not forgive any outstanding loan amount or interest owed on the outstanding amount.
(7)

Failure of any state to maintain certain level of historic effort.—
(A)

In general.—
The Secretary shall reduce the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) for a fiscal year by the amount (if any) by which qualified State expenditures for the then immediately preceding fiscal year are less than the applicable percentage of historic State expenditures with respect to such preceding fiscal year.
(B)

Definitions.—
As used in this paragraph:
(i)

Qualified state expenditures.—
(I)

In general.—
The term “qualified State expenditures” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the total expenditures by the State during the fiscal year, under all State programs, for any of the following with respect to eligible families:
- (aa)
Cash assistance, including any amount collected by the State as support pursuant to a plan approved under part D, on behalf of a family receiving assistance under the State program funded under this part, that is distributed to the family under section 457(a)(1)(B) and disregarded in determining the eligibility of the family for, and the amount of, such assistance.
- (bb)
Child care assistance.
- (cc)
Educational activities designed to increase self-sufficiency, job training, and work, excluding any expenditure for public education in the State except expenditures which involve the provision of services or assistance to a member of an eligible family which is not generally available to persons who are not members of an eligible family.
- (dd)
Administrative costs in connection with the matters described in items (aa), (bb), (cc), and (ee), but only to the extent that such costs do not exceed 15 percent of the total amount of qualified State expenditures for the fiscal year.
- (ee)
Any other use of funds allowable under section 404(a)(1).
(II)

Exclusion of transfers from other state and local programs.—
Such term does not include expenditures under any State or local program during a fiscal year, except to the extent that—
- (aa)
the expenditures exceed the amount expended under the State or local program in the fiscal year most recently ending before the date of the enactment of this section; or
- (bb)
the State is entitled to a payment under former section 403 (as in effect immediately before such date of enactment) with respect to the expenditures.
(III)

Exclusion of amounts expended to replace penalty grant reductions.—
Such term does not include any amount expended in order to comply with paragraph (12).
(IV)

Eligible families.—
As used in subclause (I), the term “eligible families” means families eligible for assistance under the State program funded under this part, families that would be eligible for such assistance but for the application of section 408(a)(7) of this Act, and families of aliens lawfully present in the United States that would be eligible for such assistance but for the application of title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
(V)

Counting of spending on certain pro-family activities.—
The term “qualified State expenditures” includes the total expenditures by the State during the fiscal year under all State programs for a purpose described in paragraph (3) or (4) of section 401(a).
(ii)

Applicable percentage.—
The term “applicable percentage” means 80 percent (or, if the State meets the requirements of section 407(a), 75 percent).
(iii)

Historic state expenditures.—
The term “historic State expenditures” means, with respect to a State, the lesser of—
(I)
the expenditures by the State under parts A and F (as in effect during fiscal year 1994) for fiscal year 1994; or
(II)
the amount which bears the same ratio to the amount described in subclause (I) as—
- (aa)
the State family assistance grant, plus the total amount required to be paid to the State under former section 403 for fiscal year 1994 with respect to amounts expended by the State for child care under subsection (g) or (i) of section 402 (as in effect during fiscal year 1994); bears to
- (bb)
the total amount required to be paid to the State under former section 403 (as in effect during fiscal year 1994) for fiscal year 1994.
Such term does not include any expenditures under the State plan approved under part A (as so in effect) on behalf of individuals covered by a tribal family assistance plan approved under section 412, as determined by the Secretary.
(iv)

Expenditures by the state.—
The term “expenditures by the State” does not include—
(I)
any expenditure from amounts made available by the Federal Government;
(II)
any State funds expended for the medicaid program under title XIX;
(III)
any State funds which are used to match Federal funds provided under section 403(a)(5); or
(IV)
any State funds which are expended as a condition of receiving Federal funds other than under this part.
Notwithstanding subclause (IV) of the preceding sentence, such term includes expenditures by a State for child care in a fiscal year to the extent that the total amount of the expenditures does not exceed the amount of State expenditures in fiscal year 1994 or 1995 (whichever is the greater) that equal the non-Federal share for the programs described in section 418(a)(1)(A).
(v)

Source of data.—
In determining expenditures by a State for fiscal years 1994 and 1995, the Secretary shall use information which was reported by the State on ACF Form 231 or (in the case of expenditures under part F) ACF Form 331, available as of the dates specified in clauses (ii) and (iii) of section 403(a)(1)(D).
(8)

Noncompliance of state child support enforcement program with requirements of part d.—
(A)

In general.—
If the Secretary finds, with respect to a State's program under part D, in a fiscal year beginning on or after October 1, 1997—
(i)
(I)
on the basis of data submitted by a State pursuant to section 454(15)(B), or on the basis of the results of a review conducted under section 452(a)(4), that the State program failed to achieve the paternity establishment percentages (as defined in section 452(g)(2)), or to meet other performance measures that may be established by the Secretary;
(II)
on the basis of the results of an audit or audits conducted under section 452(a)(4)(C)(i) that the State data submitted pursuant to section 454(15)(B) is incomplete or unreliable; or
(III)
on the basis of the results of an audit or audits conducted under section 452(a)(4)(C) that a State failed to substantially comply with 1 or more of the requirements of part D (other than paragraph (24), or subparagraph (A) or (B)(i) of paragraph (27), of section 454); and
(ii)
that, with respect to the succeeding fiscal year—
(I)
the State failed to take sufficient corrective action to achieve the appropriate performance levels or compliance as described in subparagraph (A)(i); or
(II)
the data submitted by the State pursuant to section 454(15)(B) is incomplete or unreliable;
the amounts otherwise payable to the State under this part for quarters following the end of such succeeding fiscal year, prior to quarters following the end of the first quarter throughout which the State program has achieved the paternity establishment percentages or other performance measures as described in subparagraph (A)(i)(I), or is in substantial compliance with 1 or more of the requirements of part D as described in subparagraph (A)(i)(III), as appropriate, shall be reduced by the percentage specified in subparagraph (B).
(B)

Amount of reductions.—
The reductions required under subparagraph (A) shall be—
(i)
not less than 1 nor more than 2 percent;
(ii)
not less than 2 nor more than 3 percent, if the finding is the 2nd consecutive finding made pursuant to subparagraph (A); or
(iii)
not less than 3 nor more than 5 percent, if the finding is the 3rd or a subsequent consecutive such finding.
(C)

Disregard of noncompliance which is of a technical nature.—
For purposes of this section and section 452(a)(4), a State determined as a result of an audit—
(i)
to have failed to have substantially complied with 1 or more of the requirements of part D shall be determined to have achieved substantial compliance only if the Secretary determines that the extent of the noncompliance is of a technical nature which does not adversely affect the performance of the State's program under part D; or
(ii)
to have submitted incomplete or unreliable data pursuant to section 454(15)(B) shall be determined to have submitted adequate data only if the Secretary determines that the extent of the incompleteness or unreliability of the data is of a technical nature which does not adversely affect the determination of the level of the State's paternity establishment percentages (as defined under section 452(g)(2)) or other performance measures that may be established by the Secretary.
(9)

Failure to comply with 5-year limit on assistance.—
If the Secretary determines that a State has not complied with section 408(a)(7) 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.
(10)

Failure of state receiving amounts from contingency fund to maintain 100 percent of historic effort.—
If, at the end of any fiscal year during which amounts from the Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs have been paid to a State, the Secretary finds that the qualified State expenditures (as defined in paragraph (7)(B)(i) (other than the expenditures described in subclause (I)(bb) of that paragraph)) under the State program funded under this part for the fiscal year are less than 100 percent of historic State expenditures (as defined in paragraph (7)(B)(iii) of this subsection), excluding any amount expended by the State for child care under subsection (g) or (i) of section 402 (as in effect during fiscal year 1994) for fiscal year 1994, the Secretary shall reduce the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) for the immediately succeeding fiscal year by the total of the amounts so paid to the State that the State has not remitted under section 403(b)(6).
(11)

Failure to maintain assistance to adult single custodial parent who cannot obtain child care for child under age 6.—
(A)

In general.—
If the Secretary determines that a State to which a grant is made under section 403 for a fiscal year has violated section 407(e)(2) during the 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 not more than 5 percent of the State family assistance grant.
(B)

Penalty based on severity of failure.—
The Secretary shall impose reductions under subparagraph (A) with respect to a fiscal year based on the degree of noncompliance.
(12)

Requirement to expend additional state funds to replace grant reductions; penalty for failure to do so.—
If the grant payable to a State under section 403(a)(1) for a fiscal year is reduced by reason of this subsection, the State shall, during the immediately succeeding fiscal year, expend under the State program funded under this part an amount equal to the total amount of such reductions. If the State fails during such succeeding fiscal year to make the expenditure required by the preceding sentence from its own funds, the Secretary may reduce the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) for the fiscal year that follows such succeeding fiscal year by an amount equal to the sum of—
(A)
not more than 2 percent of the State family assistance grant; and
(B)
the amount of the expenditure required by the preceding sentence.
(13)

Penalty for failure of state to maintain historic effort during year in which welfare-to-work grant is received.—
If a grant is made to a State under section 403(a)(5)(A) for a fiscal year and paragraph (7) of this subsection requires the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) to be reduced for the immediately succeeding fiscal year, then the Secretary shall reduce the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) for such succeeding fiscal year by the amount of the grant made to the State under section 403(a)(5)(A) for the fiscal year.
(14)

Penalty for failure to reduce assistance for recipients refusing without good cause to work.—
(A)

In general.—
If the Secretary determines that a State to which a grant is made under section 403 in a fiscal year has violated section 407(e) during the 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 not less than 1 percent and not more than 5 percent of the State family assistance grant.
(B)

Penalty based on severity of failure.—
The Secretary shall impose reductions under subparagraph (A) with respect to a fiscal year based on the degree of noncompliance.
(15)

Penalty for failure to establish or comply with work participation verification procedures.—
(A)

In general.—
If the Secretary determines that a State to which a grant is made under section 403 in a fiscal year has violated section 407(i)(2) during the 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 not less than 1 percent and not more than 5 percent of the State family assistance grant.
(B)

Penalty based on severity of failure.—
The Secretary shall impose reductions under subparagraph (A) with respect to a fiscal year based on the degree of noncompliance.
(16)

Penalty for failure to enforce spending policies.—
(A)

In general.—
If, within 2 years after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, any State has not reported to the Secretary on such State's implementation of the policies and practices required by section 408(a)(12), or the Secretary determines, based on the information provided in State reports, that any State has not implemented and maintained such policies and practices, the Secretary shall reduce, by an amount equal to 5 percent of the State family assistance grant, the grant payable to such State under section 403(a)(1) for—
(i)
the fiscal year immediately succeeding the year in which such 2-year period ends; and
(ii)
each succeeding fiscal year in which the State does not demonstrate that such State has implemented and maintained such policies and practices.
(B)

Reduction of applicable penalty.—
The Secretary may reduce the amount of the reduction required under subparagraph (A) based on the degree of noncompliance of the State.
(C)

State not responsible for individual violations.—
Fraudulent activity by any individual in an attempt to circumvent the policies and practices required by section 408(a)(12) shall not trigger a State penalty under subparagraph (A).
(b)

Reasonable Cause Exception.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary may not impose a penalty on a State under subsection (a) with respect to a requirement if the Secretary determines that the State has reasonable cause for failing to comply with the requirement.
(2)

Exception.—
Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply to any penalty under paragraph (6), (7), (8), (10), (12), or (13) of subsection (a) and, with respect to the penalty under paragraph (2)(B) of subsection (a), shall only apply to the extent the Secretary determines that the reasonable cause for failure to comply with a requirement of that paragraph is as a result of a one-time, unexpected event, such as a widespread data system failure or a natural or man-made disaster.
(c)

Corrective Compliance Plan.—
(1)

In general.—
(A)

Notification of violation.—
Before imposing a penalty against a State under subsection (a) with respect to a violation of this part, the Secretary shall notify the State of the violation and allow the State the opportunity to enter into a corrective compliance plan in accordance with this subsection which outlines how the State will correct or discontinue, as appropriate, the violation and how the State will insure continuing compliance with this part.
(B)

60-day period to propose a corrective compliance plan.—
During the 60-day period that begins on the date the State receives a notice provided under subparagraph (A) with respect to a violation, the State may submit to the Federal Government a corrective compliance plan to correct or discontinue, as appropriate, the violation.
(C)

Consultation about modifications.—
During the 60-day period that begins with the date the Secretary receives a corrective compliance plan submitted by a State in accordance with subparagraph (B), the Secretary may consult with the State on modifications to the plan.
(D)

Acceptance of plan.—
A corrective compliance plan submitted by a State in accordance with subparagraph (B) is deemed to be accepted by the Secretary if the Secretary does not accept or reject the plan during 60-day period that begins on the date the plan is submitted.
(2)

Effect of correcting or discontinuing violation.—
The Secretary may not impose any penalty under subsection (a) with respect to any violation covered by a State corrective compliance plan accepted by the Secretary if the State corrects or discontinues, as appropriate, the violation pursuant to the plan.
(3)

Effect of failing to correct or discontinue violation.—
The Secretary shall assess some or all of a penalty imposed on a State under subsection (a) with respect to a violation if the State does not, in a timely manner, correct or discontinue, as appropriate, the violation pursuant to a State corrective compliance plan accepted by the Secretary.
(4)

Inapplicability to certain penalties.—
This subsection shall not apply to the imposition of a penalty against a State under paragraph (2)(B), (6), (7), (8), (10), (12), (13), or (16) of subsection (a).
(d)

Limitation on Amount of Penalties.—
(1)

In general.—
In imposing the penalties described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall not reduce any quarterly payment to a State by more than 25 percent.
(2)

Carryforward of unrecovered penalties.—
To the extent that paragraph (1) of this subsection prevents the Secretary from recovering during a fiscal year the full amount of penalties imposed on a State under subsection (a) of this section for a prior fiscal year, the Secretary shall apply any remaining amount of such penalties to the grant payable to the State under section 403(a)(1) for the immediately succeeding fiscal year.
SEC. 410.
[42 U.S.C. 610]

APPEAL OF ADVERSE DECISION.
(a)

In General.—
Within 5 days after the date the Secretary takes any adverse action under this part with respect to a State, the Secretary shall notify the chief executive officer of the State of the adverse action, including any action with respect to the State plan submitted under section 402 or the imposition of a penalty under section 409.
(b)

Administrative Review.—
(1)

In general.—
Within 60 days after the date a State receives notice under subsection (a) of an adverse action, the State may appeal the action, in whole or in part, to the Departmental Appeals Board established in the Department of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the “Board”) by filing an appeal with the Board.
(2)

Procedural rules.—
The Board shall consider an appeal filed by a State under paragraph (1) on the basis of such documentation as the State may submit and as the Board may require to support the final decision of the Board. In deciding whether to uphold an adverse action or any portion of such an action, the Board shall conduct a thorough review of the issues and take into account all relevant evidence. The Board shall make a final determination with respect to an appeal filed under paragraph (1) not less than 60 days after the date the appeal is filed.
(c)

Judicial Review of Adverse Decision.—
(1)

In general.—
Within 90 days after the date of a final decision by the Board under this section with respect to an adverse action taken against a State, the State may obtain judicial review of the final decision (and the findings incorporated into the final decision) by filing an action in—
(A)
the district court of the United States for the judicial district in which the principal or headquarters office of the State agency is located; or
(B)
the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
(2)

Procedural rules.—
The district court in which an action is filed under paragraph (1) shall review the final decision of the Board on the record established in the administrative proceeding, in accordance with the standards of review prescribed by subparagraphs (A) through (E) of section 706(2) of title 5, United States Code. The review shall be on the basis of the documents and supporting data submitted to the Board.
SEC. 411.
[42 U.S.C. 611]

DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING.
(a)

Quarterly Reports by States.—
(1)

General reporting requirement.—
(A)

Contents of report.—
Each eligible State shall collect on a monthly basis, and report to the Secretary on a quarterly basis, the following disaggregated case record information on the families receiving assistance under the State program funded under this part (except for information relating to activities carried out under section 403(a)(5)) or any other State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)):
(i)
The county of residence of the family.
(ii)
Whether a child receiving such assistance or an adult in the family is receiving—
(I)
Federal disability insurance benefits;
(II)
benefits based on Federal disability status;
(III)
aid under a State plan approved under title XIV (as in effect without regard to the amendment made by section 301 of the Social Security Amendments of 1972);
(IV)
aid or assistance under a State plan approved under title XVI (as in effect without regard to such amendment) by reason of being permanently and totally disabled; or
(V)
supplemental security income benefits under title XVI (as in effect pursuant to such amendment) by reason of disability.
(iii)
The ages of the members of such families.
(iv)
The number of individuals in the family, and the relation of each family member to the head of the family.
(v)
The employment status and earnings of the employed adult in the family.
(vi)
The marital status of the adults in the family, including whether such adults have never married, are widowed, or are divorced.
(vii)
The race and educational level of each adult in the family.
(viii)
The race and educational level of each child in the family.
(ix)
Whether the family received subsidized housing, medical assistance under the State plan approved under title XIX, supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, or subsidized child care, and if the latter 2, the amount received.
(x)
The number of months that the family has received each type of assistance under the program.
(xi)
If the adults participated in, and the number of hours per week of participation in, the following activities:
(I)
Education.
(II)
Subsidized private sector employment.
(III)
Unsubsidized employment.
(IV)
Public sector employment, work experience, or community service.
(V)
Job search.
(VI)
Job skills training or on-the-job training.
(VII)
Vocational education.
(xii)
Information necessary to calculate participation rates under section 407.
(xiii)
The type and amount of assistance received under the program, including the amount of and reason for any reduction of assistance (including sanctions).
(xiv)
Any amount of unearned income received by any member of the family.
(xv)
The citizenship of the members of the family.
(xvi)
From a sample of closed cases, whether the family left the program, and if so, whether the family left due to—
(I)
employment;
(II)
marriage;
(III)
the prohibition set forth in section 408(a)(7);
(IV)
sanction; or
(V)
State policy.
(xvii)
With respect to each individual in the family who has not attained 20 years of age, whether the individual is a parent of a child in the family.
(B)

Use of samples.—
(i)

Authority.—
A State may comply with subparagraph (A) by submitting disaggregated case record information on a sample of families selected through the use of scientifically acceptable sampling methods approved by the Secretary.
(ii)

Sampling and other methods.—
The Secretary shall provide the States with such case sampling plans and data collection procedures as the Secretary deems necessary to produce statistically valid estimates of the performance of State programs funded under this part and any other State programs funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)). The Secretary may develop and implement procedures for verifying the quality of data submitted by the States.
(2)

Report on use of federal funds to cover administrative costs and overhead.—
The report required by paragraph (1) for a fiscal quarter shall include a statement of the percentage of the funds paid to the State under this part for the quarter that are used to cover administrative costs or overhead, with a separate statement of the percentage of such funds that are used to cover administrative costs or overhead incurred for programs operated with funds provided under section 403(a)(5).
(3)

Report on state expenditures on programs for needy families.—
The report required by paragraph (1) for a fiscal quarter shall include a statement of the total amount expended by the State during the quarter on programs for needy families, with a separate statement of the total amount expended by the State during the quarter on programs operated with funds provided under section 403(a)(5).
(4)

Report on noncustodial parents participating in work activities.—
The report required by paragraph (1) for a fiscal quarter shall include the number of noncustodial parents in the State who participated in work activities (as defined in section 407(d)) during the quarter, with a separate statement of the number of such parents who participated in programs operated with funds provided under section 403(a)(5).
(5)

Report on transitional services.—
The report required by paragraph (1) for a fiscal quarter shall include the total amount expended by the State during the quarter to provide transitional services to a family that has ceased to receive assistance under this part because of employment, along with a description of such services.
(6)

Report on families receiving assistance.—
The report required by paragraph (1) for a fiscal quarter shall include for each month in the quarter—
(A)
the number of families and individuals receiving assistance under the State program funded under this part (including the number of 2-parent and 1-parent families);
(B)
the total dollar value of such assistance received by all families; and
(C)
with respect to families and individuals participating in a program operated with funds provided under section 403(a)(5)—
(i)
the total number of such families and individuals; and
(ii)
the number of such families and individuals whose participation in such a program was terminated during a month.
(7)

Regulations.—
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to define the data elements with respect to which reports are required by this subsection, and shall consult with the Secretary of Labor in defining the data elements with respect to programs operated with funds provided under section 403(a)(5).
(b)

Annual Reports to the Congress by the Secretary.—
Not later than 6 months after the end of fiscal year 1997, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a report describing—
(1)
whether the States are meeting—
(A)
the participation rates described in section 407(a); and
(B)
the objectives of—
(i)
increasing employment and earnings of needy families, and child support collections; and
(ii)
decreasing out-of-wedlock pregnancies and child poverty;
(2)
the demographic and financial characteristics of families applying for assistance, families receiving assistance, and families that become ineligible to receive assistance;
(3)
the characteristics of each State program funded under this part; and
(4)
the trends in employment and earnings of needy families with minor children living at home.
(c)

Pre-reauthorization State-by-state Reports on Engagement in Additional Work Activities and Expenditures for Other Benefits and Services.—
(1)

State reporting requirements.—
(A)

Reporting periods and deadlines.—
Each eligible State shall submit to the Secretary the following reports:
(i)

March 2011 report.—
Not later than May 31, 2011, a report for the period that begins on March 1, 2011, and ends on March 31, 2011, that contains the information specified in subparagraphs (B) and (C).
(ii)

April-june, 2011 report.—
Not later than August 31, 2011, a report for the period that begins on April 1, 2011, and ends on June 30, 2011, that contains with respect to the 3 months that occur during that period—
(I)
the average monthly numbers for the information specified in subparagraph (B); and
(II)
the information specified in subparagraph (C).
(B)

Engagement in additional work activities.—
(i)
With respect to each work-eligible individual in a family receiving assistance during a reporting period specified in subparagraph (A), whether the individual engages in any activities directed toward attaining self-sufficiency during a month occurring in a reporting period, and if so, the specific activities—
(I)
that do not qualify as a work activity under section 407(d) but that are otherwise reasonably calculated to help the family move toward self-sufficiency; or
(II)
that are of a type that would be counted toward the State participation rates under section 407 but for the fact that—
- (aa)
the work-eligible individual did not engage in sufficient hours of the activity;
- (bb)
the work-eligible individual has reached the maximum time limit allowed for having participation in the activity counted toward the State's work participation rate; or
- (cc)
the number of work-eligible individuals engaged in such activity exceeds a limitation under such section.
(ii)
Any other information that the Secretary determines appropriate with respect to the information required under clause (i), including if the individual has no hours of participation, the principal reason or reasons for such non-participation.
(C)

Expenditures on other benefits and services.—
(i)
Detailed, disaggregated information regarding the types of, and amounts of, expenditures made by the State during a reporting period specified in subparagraph (A) using—
(I)
Federal funds provided under section 403 that are (or will be) reported by the State on Form ACF–196 (or any successor form) under the category of other expenditures or the category of benefits or services provided in accordance with the authority provided under section 404(a)(2); or
(II)
State funds expended to meet the requirements of section 409(a)(7) and reported by the State in the category of other expenditures on Form ACF–196 (or any successor form).
(ii)
Any other information that the Secretary determines appropriate with respect to the information required under clause (i).
(2)

Publication of summary and analysis of engagement in additional activities.—
Concurrent with the submission of each report required under paragraph (1)(A), an eligible State shall publish on an Internet website maintained by the State agency responsible for administering the State program funded under this part (or such State-maintained website as the Secretary may approve)—
(A)
a summary of the information submitted in the report:
(B)
an analysis statement regarding the extent to which the information changes measures of total engagement in work activities from what was (or will be) reported by the State in the quarterly report submitted under subsection (a) for the comparable period; and
(C)
a narrative describing the most common activities contained in the report that are not countable toward the State participation rates under section 407.
(3)

Application of authority to use sampling.—
Subparagraph (B) of subsection (a)(1) shall apply to the reports required under paragraph (1) of this subsection in the same manner as subparagraph (B) of subsection (a)(1) applies to reports required under subparagraph (A) of subsection (a)(1).
(4)

Secretarial reports to congress.—
(A)

March 2011 report.—
Not later than June 30, 2011, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the information submitted by eligible States for the March 2011 reporting period under paragraph (1)(A)(i). The report shall include a State-by-State summary and analysis of such information, identification of any States with missing or incomplete reports, and recommendations for such administrative or legislative changes as the Secretary determines are necessary to require eligible States to report the information on a recurring basis.
(B)

April-june, 2011 report.—
Not later than September 30, 2011, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the information submitted by eligible States for the April-June 2011 reporting period under paragraph (1)(A)(ii). The report shall include a State-by-State summary and analysis of such information, identification of any States with missing or incomplete reports, and recommendations for such administrative or legislative changes as the Secretary determines are necessary to require eligible States to report the information on a recurring basis
(5)

Authority for expeditious implementation.—
The requirements of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the “Administrative Procedure Act”) or any other law relating to rulemaking or publication in the Federal Register shall not apply to the issuance of guidance or instructions by the Secretary with respect to the implementation of this subsection to the extent the Secretary determines that compliance with any such requirement would impede the expeditious implementation of this subsection.
(d)

Data Exchange Standardization for Improved Interoperability.—
(1)

Data exchange standards.—
(A)

Designation.—
The Secretary, in consultation with an interagency work group which shall be established by the Office of Management and Budget, and considering State and tribal perspectives, shall, by rule, designate a data exchange standard for any category of information required to be reported under this part.
(B)

Data exchange standards must be nonproprietary and interoperable.—
The data exchange standard designated under subparagraph (A) shall, to the extent practicable, be nonproprietary and interoperable.
(C)

Other requirements.—
In designating data exchange standards under this section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, incorporate—
(i)
interoperable standards developed and maintained by an international voluntary consensus standards body, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, such as the International Organization for Standardization;
(ii)
interoperable standards developed and maintained by intergovernmental partnerships, such as the National Information Exchange Model; and
(iii)
interoperable standards developed and maintained by Federal entities with authority over contracting and financial assistance, such as the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council.
(2)

Data exchange standards for reporting.—
(A)

Designation.—
The Secretary, in consultation with an interagency work group established by the Office of Management and Budget, and considering State and tribal perspectives, shall, by rule, designate data exchange standards to govern the data reporting required under this part.
(B)

Requirements.—
The data exchange standards required by subparagraph (A) shall, to the extent practicable—
(i)
incorporate a widely-accepted, nonproprietary, searchable, computer-readable format;
(ii)
be consistent with and implement applicable accounting principles; and
(iii)
be capable of being continually upgraded as necessary.
(C)

Incorporation of nonproprietary standards.—
In designating reporting standards under this paragraph, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, incorporate existing nonproprietary standards, such as the eXtensible Markup Language.
(e)

Pilot Projects for Promoting Accountability by Measuring Work Outcomes.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary may select up to 5 States to which a grant is made under section 403(a) for a fiscal year to negotiate performance benchmarks for work and family outcomes for recipients of assistance under the State program funded under this part, and programs funded with qualified State expenditures. The Secretary shall issue guidance on how States apply for participation in the pilot. The benchmarks shall include—
(A)
the percentage of work-eligible individuals under the State program funded under this part who are in unsubsidized employment during the 2nd quarter after exiting the program;
(B)
the level of earnings of such individuals in the 2nd and 4th quarters after exit; and
(C)
other indicators of family stability and well-being as established by the Secretary.
(2)

Level of performance benchmark.—
The Secretary and a State selected under paragraph (1) shall agree to the requisite level of performance on these benchmarks after developing baseline data in the State and comparative data in other States.
(3)

Failure of state to meet benchmark.—
If a State fails to meet a measured benchmark standard agreed to under paragraph (2) for 2 successive fiscal years, the State, in order to continue in the pilot shall enter into a plan with the Secretary to achieve the required level of performance or, if mutually agreed to, adjust the benchmark based on new information about the feasibility of meeting such benchmark.
(4)

Duration.—
The pilot under this subsection shall be in effect for 6 fiscal years, with one year to establish benchmark data and negotiate targets and five years to measure performance against the targets, and shall supersede the requirements under section 407 for such fiscal years, notwithstanding any other provision of law.
(5)

Application of penalty for failure to reduce assistance for recipients refusing without good cause to work.—
For purposes of section 409(a)(14), a State operating a pilot must have a system for reducing the amount of assistance payable to a family if an individual refuses, without good cause (including for reasons described in 407(e)(2)), to engage in any such activities as the State has required of such an individual. A State without such a system shall be considered to have failed to comply with the requirements of section 407(e) for so long as the failure to comply continues.
(6)

Collection of performance data.—
Each State selected under paragraph (1), in consultation with the Secretary, shall collect and submit to the Secretary data on the performance of the State operating such a pilot program.
(7)

Reports.—
(A)

Initial report.—
Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this subsection the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the status of the program under this section.
(B)

Final report.—
Not later than 12 months after the date on which the programs under this section have terminated, the Secretary shall submit a comprehensive report to Congress on outcomes achieved under such programs.
(f)

Reporting Performance Indicators.—
(1)

In general.—
Each State, in consultation with the Secretary, shall collect and submit to the Secretary the information necessary for each indicator described in paragraph (2), for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter.
(2)

Indicators of performance.—
The indicators described in this paragraph for a fiscal year are the following:
(A)
The percentage of individuals who were work-eligible individuals as of the time of exit from the program, who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after the exit.
(B)
The percentage of individuals who were work-eligible individuals who were in unsubsidized employment in the second quarter after the exit, who are also in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after the exit.
(C)
The median earnings of individuals who were work-eligible individuals as of the time of exit from the program, who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after the exit.
(D)
The percentage of individuals who have not attained 24 years of age, are attending high school or enrolled in an equivalency program, and are work-eligible individuals or were work-eligible individuals as of the time of exit from the program, who obtain a high school degree or its recognized equivalent while receiving assistance under the State program funded under this part or within 1 year after the exit.
(3)

Definition of exit.—
In paragraph (2), the term ‘exit’ means, with respect to a State program funded under this part, ceases to receive assistance under the program funded by this part.
(4)

Regulations.—
In order to ensure nationwide comparability of data, the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Labor and with States, shall issue regulations governing the reporting of performance indicators under this subsection.
SEC. 411A.
[42 U.S.C. 611a]

STATE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE CERTAIN INFORMATION.
Each State to which a grant is made under section 403 shall, at least 4 times annually and upon request of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, furnish the Immigration and Naturalization Service with the name and address of, and other identifying information on, any individual who the State knows is unlawfully in the United States.
SEC. 412.
[42 U.S.C. 612]

DIRECT FUNDING AND ADMINISTRATION BY INDIAN TRIBES.
(a)

Grants for Indian Tribes.—
(1)

Tribal family assistance grant.—
(A)

In general.—
For each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018, the Secretary shall pay to each Indian tribe that has an approved tribal family assistance plan a tribal family assistance grant for the fiscal year in an amount equal to the amount determined under subparagraph (B), which shall be reduced for a fiscal year, on a pro rata basis for each quarter, in the case of a tribal family assistance plan approved during a fiscal year for which the plan is to be in effect, and shall reduce the grant payable under section 403(a)(1) to any State in which lies the service area or areas of the Indian tribe by that portion of the amount so determined that is attributable to expenditures by the State.
(B)

Amount determined.—
(i)

In general.—
The amount determined under this subparagraph is an amount equal to the total amount of the Federal payments to a State or States under section 403 (as in effect during such fiscal year) for fiscal year 1994 attributable to expenditures (other than child care expenditures) by the State or States under parts A and F (as so in effect) for fiscal year 1994 for Indian families residing in the service area or areas identified by the Indian tribe pursuant to subsection (b)(1)(C) of this section.
(ii)

Use of state submitted data.—
(I)

In general.—
The Secretary shall use State submitted data to make each determination under clause (i).
(II)

Disagreement with determination.—
If an Indian tribe or tribal organization disagrees with State submitted data described under subclause (I), the Indian tribe or tribal organization may submit to the Secretary such additional information as may be relevant to making the determination under clause (i) and the Secretary may consider such information before making such determination.
(2)

Grants for indian tribes that received jobs funds.—
(A)

In general.—
For each of fiscal years 2017 and 2018, the Secretary shall pay to each eligible Indian tribe that proposes to operate a program described in subparagraph (C) a grant in an amount equal to the amount received by the Indian tribe in fiscal year 1994 under section 482(i) (as in effect during fiscal year 1994).
(B)

Eligible indian tribe.—
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “eligible Indian tribe” means an Indian tribe or Alaska Native organization that conducted a job opportunities and basic skills training program in fiscal year 1995 under section 482(i) (as in effect during fiscal year 1995).
(C)

Use of grant.—
Each Indian tribe to which a grant is made under this paragraph shall use the grant for the purpose of operating a program to make work activities available to such population and such service area or areas as the tribe specifies.
(D)

Appropriation.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated $7,633,287 for each fiscal year specified in subparagraph (A) for grants under subparagraph (A).
(3)

Welfare-to-work grants.—
(A)

In general.—
The Secretary of Labor shall award a grant in accordance with this paragraph to an Indian tribe for each fiscal year specified in section 403(a)(5)(H) for which the Indian tribe is a welfare-to-work tribe, in such amount as the Secretary of Labor deems appropriate, subject to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.
(B)

Welfare-to-work tribe.—
An Indian tribe shall be considered a welfare-to-work tribe for a fiscal year for purposes of this paragraph if the Indian tribe meets the following requirements:
(i)
The Indian tribe has submitted to the Secretary of Labor a plan which describes how, consistent with section 403(a)(5), the Indian tribe will use any funds provided under this paragraph during the fiscal year. If the Indian tribe has a tribal family assistance plan, the plan referred to in the preceding sentence shall be in the form of an addendum to the tribal family assistance plan.
(ii)
The Indian tribe is operating a program under a tribal family assistance plan approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, a program described in paragraph (2)(C), or an employment program funded through other sources under which substantial services are provided to recipients of assistance under a program funded under this part.
(iii)
The Indian tribe has provided the Secretary of Labor with an estimate of the amount that the Indian tribe intends to expend during the fiscal year (excluding tribal expenditures described in section 409(a)(7)(B)(iv) (other than subclause (III) thereof)) pursuant to this paragraph.
(iv)
The Indian tribe has agreed to negotiate in good faith with the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to the substance and funding of any evaluation under section 413(j), and to cooperate with the conduct of any such evaluation.
(C)

Limitations on use of funds.—
(i)

In general.—
Section 403(a)(5)(C) shall apply to funds provided to Indian tribes under this paragraph in the same manner in which such section applies to funds provided under section 403(a)(5).
(ii)

Waiver authority.—
The Secretary of Labor may waive or modify the application of a provision of section 403(a)(5)(C) (other than clause (viii) thereof) with respect to an Indian tribe to the extent necessary to enable the Indian tribe to operate a more efficient or effective program with the funds provided under this paragraph.
(iii)

Regulations.—
Within 90 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary of Labor, after consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to implement this paragraph.
(b)

3-Year Tribal Family Assistance Plan.—
(1)

In general.—
Any Indian tribe that desires to receive a tribal family assistance grant shall submit to the Secretary a 3-year tribal family assistance plan that—
(A)
outlines the Indian tribe's approach to providing welfare-related services for the 3-year period, consistent with this section;
(B)
specifies whether the welfare-related services provided under the plan will be provided by the Indian tribe or through agreements, contracts, or compacts with intertribal consortia, States, or other entities;
(C)
identifies the population and service area or areas to be served by such plan;
(D)
provides that a family receiving assistance under the plan may not receive duplicative assistance from other State or tribal programs funded under this part;
(E)
identifies the employment opportunities in or near the service area or areas of the Indian tribe and the manner in which the Indian tribe will cooperate and participate in enhancing such opportunities for recipients of assistance under the plan consistent with any applicable State standards; and
(F)
applies the fiscal accountability provisions of section 5(f)(1) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450c(f)(1)), relating to the submission of a single-agency audit report required by chapter 75 of title 31, United States Code.
(2)

Approval.—
The Secretary shall approve each tribal family assistance plan submitted in accordance with paragraph (1).
(3)

Consortium of tribes.—
Nothing in this section shall preclude the development and submission of a single tribal family assistance plan by the participating Indian tribes of an intertribal consortium.
(c)

Minimum Work Participation Requirements and Time Limits.—
The Secretary, with the participation of Indian tribes, shall establish for each Indian tribe receiving a grant under this section minimum work participation requirements, appropriate time limits for receipt of welfare-related services under the grant, and penalties against individuals—
(1)
consistent with the purposes of this section;
(2)
consistent with the economic conditions and resources available to each tribe; and
(3)
similar to comparable provisions in section 407(e).
(d)

Emergency Assistance.—
Nothing in this section shall preclude an Indian tribe from seeking emergency assistance from any Federal loan program or emergency fund.
(e)

Accountability.—
Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the ability of the Secretary to maintain program funding accountability consistent with—
(1)
generally accepted accounting principles; and
(2)
the requirements of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.).
(f)

Eligibility for Federal Loans.—
Section 406 shall apply to an Indian tribe with an approved tribal assistance plan in the same manner as such section applies to a State, except that section 406(c) shall be applied by substituting “section 412(a)” for “section 403(a)”.
(g)

Penalties.—
(1)
Subsections (a)(1), (a)(6), (b), and (c) of section 409, shall apply to an Indian tribe with an approved tribal assistance plan in the same manner as such subsections apply to a State.
(2)
Section 409(a)(3) shall apply to an Indian tribe with an approved tribal assistance plan by substituting “meet minimum work participation requirements established under section 412(c)” for “comply with section 407(a)”.
(h)

Data Collection and Reporting.—
Section 411 shall apply to an Indian tribe with an approved tribal family assistance plan.
(i)

Special Rule for Indian Tribes in Alaska.—
(1)

In general.—
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, and except as provided in paragraph (2), an Indian tribe in the State of Alaska that receives a tribal family assistance grant under this section shall use the grant to operate a program in accordance with requirements comparable to the requirements applicable to the program of the State of Alaska funded under this part. Comparability of programs shall be established on the basis of program criteria developed by the Secretary in consultation with the State of Alaska and such Indian tribes.
(2)

Waiver.—
An Indian tribe described in paragraph (1) may apply to the appropriate State authority to receive a waiver of the requirement of paragraph (1).
SEC. 413.
[42 U.S.C. 613]

EVALUATION OF TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
(a)

Evaluation of the Impacts of TANF.—
The Secretary shall conduct research on the effect of State programs funded under this part and any other State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)) on employment, self-sufficiency, child well-being, unmarried births, marriage, poverty, economic mobility, and other factors as determined by the Secretary.
(b)

Evaluation of Grants to Improve Child Well-being by Promoting Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood.—
The Secretary shall conduct research to determine the effects of the grants made under section 403(a)(2) on child well-being, marriage, family stability, economic mobility, poverty, and other factors as determined by the Secretary.
(c)

Dissemination of Information.—
The Secretary shall, in consultation with States receiving funds provided under this part, develop methods of disseminating information on any research, evaluation, or study conducted under this section, including facilitating the sharing of information and best practices among States and localities.
(d)

State-Initiated Evaluations.—
A State shall be eligible to receive funding to evaluate the State program funded under this part or any other State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)) if—
(1)
the State submits to the Secretary a description of the proposed evaluation;
(2)
the Secretary determines that the design and approach of the proposed evaluation is rigorous and is likely to yield information that is credible and will be useful to other States; and
(3)
unless waived by the Secretary, the State contributes to the cost of the evaluation, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to at least 25 percent of the cost of the proposed evaluation.
(e)

Census Bureau Research.—
(1)
The Bureau of the Census shall implement or enhance household surveys of program participation, in consultation with the Secretary and the Bureau of Labor Statistics and made available to interested parties, to allow for the assessment of the outcomes of continued welfare reform on the economic and child well-being of low-income families with children, including those who received assistance or services from a State program funded under this part or any other State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)). The content of the surveys should include such information as may be necessary to examine the issues of unmarried childbearing, marriage, welfare dependency and compliance with work requirements, the beginning and ending of spells of assistance, work, earnings and employment stability, and the well-being of children.
(2)
To carry out the activities specified in paragraph (1), the Bureau of the Census, the Secretary, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics shall consider ways to improve the surveys and data derived from the surveys to—
(A)
address under reporting of the receipt of means-tested benefits and tax benefits for low-income individuals and families;
(B)
increase understanding of poverty spells and long-term poverty, including by facilitating the matching of information to better understand intergenerational poverty;
(C)
generate a better geographical understanding of poverty such as through State-based estimates and measures of neighborhood poverty;
(D)
increase understanding of the effects of means-tested benefits and tax benefits on the earnings and incomes of low-income families; and
(E)
improve how poverty and economic well-being are measured, including through the use of consumption measures, material deprivation measures, social exclusion measures, and economic and social mobility measures.
(f)

Research and Evaluation Conducted Under This Section.—
Research and evaluation conducted under this section designed to determine the effects of a program or policy (other than research conducted under subsection (e)) shall use experimental designs using random assignment or other reliable, evidence-based research methodologies that allow for the strongest possible causal inferences when random assignment is not feasible.
(g)

Development of What Works Clearinghouse of Proven and Promising Approaches to Move Welfare Recipients Into Work.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall develop a database (which shall be referred to as the “What Works Clearinghouse of Proven and Promising Projects to Move Welfare Recipients into Work”) of the projects that used a proven approach or a promising approach in moving welfare recipients into work, based on independent, rigorous evaluations of the projects. The database shall include a separate listing of projects that used a developmental approach in delivering services and a further separate listing of the projects with no or negative effects. The Secretary shall add to the What Works Clearinghouse of Proven and Promising Projects to Move Welfare Recipients into Work data about the projects that, based on an independent, well-conducted experimental evaluation of a program or project, using random assignment or other research methodologies that allow for the strongest possible causal inferences, have shown they are proven, promising, developmental, or ineffective approaches.
(2)

Criteria for evidence of effectiveness of approach.—
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and organizations with experience in evaluating research on the effectiveness of various approaches in delivering services to move welfare recipients into work, shall—
(A)
establish criteria for evidence of effectiveness; and
(B)
ensure that the process for establishing the criteria—
(i)
is transparent;
(ii)
is consistent across agencies;
(iii)
provides opportunity for public comment; and
(iv)
takes into account efforts of Federal agencies to identify and publicize effective interventions, including efforts at the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the Department of Justice.
(h)

Appropriation.—
(1)

In general.—
Of the amount appropriated by section 403(a)(1) for each fiscal year, 0.33 percent shall be available for research, technical assistance, and evaluation under this section.
(2)

Allocation.—
Of the amount made available under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall make available $10,000,000 plus such additional amount as the Secretary deems necessary and appropriate, to carry out subsection (e).
(3)

Baseline.—
The baseline established pursuant to section 257 of the Balanced Budget and Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 907(b)(2)) for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program shall be recorded by the Office of Management and Budget and the Congressional Budget Office at the level prior to any transfers recorded pursuant to section 413(h) of this Act.
SEC. 415.
[42 U.S.C. 615]

WAIVERS.
(a)

Continuation of Waivers.—
(1)

Waivers in effect on date of enactment of welfare reform.—
(A)

In general.—
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), if any waiver granted to a State under section 1115 of this Act or otherwise which relates to the provision of assistance under a State plan under this part (as in effect on September 30, 1996) is in effect as of the date of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, the amendments made by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (other than by section 103(c) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996) shall not apply with respect to the State before the expiration (determined without regard to any extensions) of the waiver to the extent such amendments are inconsistent with the waiver.
(B)

Financing limitation.—
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning with fiscal year 1996, a State operating under a waiver described in subparagraph (A) shall be entitled to payment under section 403 for the fiscal year, in lieu of any other payment provided for in the waiver.
(2)

Waivers granted subsequently.—
(A)

In general.—
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), if any waiver granted to a State under section 1115 of this Act or otherwise which relates to the provision of assistance under a State plan under this part (as in effect on September 30, 1996) is submitted to the Secretary before the date of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and approved by the Secretary on or before July 1, 1997, and the State demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the waiver will not result in Federal expenditures under title IV of this Act (as in effect without regard to the amendments made by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996) that are greater than would occur in the absence of the waiver, the amendments made by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (other than by section 103(c) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996) shall not apply with respect to the State before the expiration (determined without regard to any extensions) of the waiver to the extent the amendments made by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 are inconsistent with the waiver.
(B)

No effect on new work requirements.—
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a waiver granted under section 1115 or otherwise which relates to the provision of assistance under a State program funded under this part (as in effect on September 30, 1996) shall not affect the applicability of section 407 to the State.
(b)

State Option To Terminate Waiver.—
(1)

In general.—
A State may terminate a waiver described in subsection (a) before the expiration of the waiver.
(2)

Report.—
A State which terminates a waiver under paragraph (1) shall submit a report to the Secretary summarizing the waiver and any available information concerning the result or effect of the waiver.
(3)

Hold harmless provision.—
(A)

In general.—
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a State that, not later than the date described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, submits a written request to terminate a waiver described in subsection (a) shall be held harmless for accrued cost neutrality liabilities incurred under the waiver.
(B)

Date described.—
The date described in this subparagraph is 90 days following the adjournment of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
(c)

Secretarial Encouragement of Current Waivers.—
The Secretary shall encourage any State operating a waiver described in subsection (a) to continue the waiver and to evaluate, using random sampling and other characteristics of accepted scientific evaluations, the result or effect of the waiver.
(d)

Continuation of Individual Waivers.—
A State may elect to continue 1 or more individual waivers described in sub-section (a).
SEC. 416.
[42 U.S.C. 616]

ADMINISTRATION.
The programs under this part and part D shall be administered by an Assistant Secretary for Family Support within the Department of Health and Human Services, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall be in addition to any other Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services provided for by law, and the Secretary shall reduce the Federal workforce within the Department of Health and Human Services by an amount equal to the sum of 75 percent of the full-time equivalent positions at such Department that relate to any direct spending program, or any program funded through discretionary spending, that has been converted into a block grant program under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and the amendments made by such Act, and by an amount equal to 75 percent of that portion of the total full-time equivalent departmental management positions at such Department that bears the same relationship to the amount appropriated for any direct spending program, or any program funded through discretionary spending, that has been converted into a block grant program under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and the amendments made by such Act, as such amount relates to the total amount appropriated for use by such Department, and, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary, including reductions in force actions, consistent with sections 3502 and 3595 of title 5, United States Code, to reduce the full-time equivalent positions within the Department of Health and Human Services by 245 full-time equivalent positions related to the program converted into a block grant under the amendments made by section 103 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, and by 60 full-time equivalent managerial positions in the Department.
SEC. 417.
[42 U.S.C. 617]

LIMITATION ON FEDERAL AUTHORITY.
No officer or employee of the Federal Government may regulate the conduct of States under this part or enforce any provision of this part, except to the extent expressly provided in this part.
SEC. 418.
[42 U.S.C. 618]

FUNDING FOR CHILD CARE.
(a)

General Child Care Entitlement.—
(1)

General entitlement.—
Subject to the amount appropriated under paragraph (3), each State shall, for the purpose of providing child care assistance, be entitled to payments under a grant under this subsection for a fiscal year in an amount equal to the greater of—
(A)
the total amount required to be paid to the State under section 403 for fiscal year 1994 or 1995 (whichever is greater) with respect to expenditures for child care under subsections (g) and (i) of section 402 (as in effect before October 1, 1995); or
(B)
the average of the total amounts required to be paid to the State for fiscal years 1992 through 1994 under the subsections referred to in subparagraph (A).
(2)

Remainder.—
(A)

Grants.—
The Secretary shall use any amounts appropriated for a fiscal year under paragraph (3)(A), after grants are awarded under paragraph (1), to make grants to States under this paragraph.
(B)

Allotments to states.—
The total amount available for payments to States under this paragraph, as determined under subparagraph (A), shall be allotted among the States based on the formula used for determining the amount of Federal payments to each State under section 403(n) (as in effect before October 1, 1995).
(C)

Federal matching of state expenditures exceeding historical expenditures.—
The Secretary shall pay to each eligible State for a fiscal year an amount equal to the lesser of the State's allotment under subparagraph (B) or the Federal medical assistance percentage for the State for the fiscal year (as defined in section 1905(b), as such section was in effect on September 30, 1995) of so much of the State's expenditures for child care in that fiscal year as exceed the total amount of expenditures by the State (including expenditures from amounts made available from Federal funds) in fiscal year 1994 or 1995 (whichever is greater) for the programs described in paragraph (1)(A).
(D)

Redistribution.—
(i)

In general.—
With respect to any fiscal year, if the Secretary determines (in accordance with clause (ii)) that any amounts allotted to a State under this paragraph for such fiscal year will not be used by such State during such fiscal year for carrying out the purpose for which the such amounts are allotted, the Secretary shall make such amounts available in the subsequent fiscal year for carrying out such purpose to one or more States which apply for such funds to the extent the Secretary determines that such States will be able to use such additional amounts for carrying out such purpose. Such available amounts shall be redistributed to a State pursuant to section 403(n) (as such section was in effect before October 1, 1995) by substituting “the number of children residing in all States applying for such funds” for “the number of children residing in the United States in the second preceding fiscal year”.
(ii)

Time of determination and distribution.—
The determination of the Secretary under clause (i) for a fiscal year shall be made not later than the end of the first quarter of the subsequent fiscal year. The redistribution of amounts under clause (i) shall be made as close as practicable to the date on which such determination is made. Any amount made available to a State from an appropriation for a fiscal year in accordance with this subparagraph shall, for purposes of this part, be regarded as part of such State's payment (as determined under this subsection) for the fiscal year in which the redistribution is made.
(3)

Appropriation.—
For grants under this section, there are appropriated $3,550,000,000 for each fiscal year, of which—
(A)
$3,375,000,000 shall be available for grants to States;
(B)
$100,000,000 shall be available for grants to Indian tribes and tribal organizations; and
(C)
$75,000,000 shall be available for grants to territories.
(4)

Territories.—
(A)

Grants.—
The Secretary shall use the amounts made available by paragraph (3)(C) to make grants to the territories under this paragraph.
(B)

Allotments.—
The amount described in subparagraph (A) shall be allotted among the territories in proportion to their respective needs.
(C)

Redistribution.—
The 1st sentence of clause (i) and clause (ii) of paragraph (2)(D) shall apply with respect to the amounts allotted to the territories under this paragraph, except that the 2nd sentence of paragraph (2)(D) shall not apply and the amounts allotted to the territories that are available for redistribution for a fiscal year shall be redistributed to each territory that applies for the additional amounts, to the extent that the Secretary determines that the territory will be able to use the additional amounts to provide child care assistance, in an amount that bears the same ratio to the amount so available for redistribution as the amount allotted to the territory for the fiscal year bears to the total amount allotted to all the territories receiving redistributed funds under this paragraph for the fiscal year.
(D)

Inapplicability of payment limitation.—
Section 1108(a) shall not apply with respect to any amount paid under this paragraph.
(E)

Territory.—
In 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.
(5)

Data used to determine state and federal shares of expenditures.—
In making the determinations concerning expenditures required under paragraphs (1) and (2)(C), the Secretary shall use information that was reported by the State on ACF Form 231 and available as of the applicable dates specified in clauses (i)(I), (ii), and (iii)(III) of section 403(a)(1)(D).
(b)

Use of Funds.—
(1)

In general.—
Amounts received by a State under this section shall only be used to provide child care assistance. Amounts received by a State under a grant under subsection (a)(1) shall be available for use by the State without fiscal year limitation.
(2)

Use for certain populations.—
A State shall ensure that not less than 70 percent of the total amount of funds received by the State in a fiscal year under this section are used to provide child care assistance to families who are receiving assistance under a State program under this part, families who are attempting through work activities to transition off of such assistance program, and families who are at risk of becoming dependent on such assistance program.
(c)

Application of Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990.—
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, amounts provided to a State under this section shall be transferred to the lead agency under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, integrated by the State into the programs established by the State under such Act, and be subject to requirements and limitations of such Act.
(d)

Definition.—
As used in this section, the term “State” means each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia.
SEC. 419.
[42 U.S.C. 619]

DEFINITIONS.
As used in this part:
(1)

Adult.—
The term “adult” means an individual who is not a minor child.
(2)

Minor child.—
The term “minor child” means an individual who—
(A)
has not attained 18 years of age; or
(B)
has not attained 19 years of age and is a full-time student in a secondary school (or in the equivalent level of vocational or technical training).
(3)

Fiscal year.—
The term “fiscal year” means any 12-month period ending on September 30 of a calendar year.
(4)

Indian, indian tribe, and tribal organization.—
(A)

In general.—
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the terms “Indian”, “Indian tribe”, and “tribal organization” have the meaning given such terms by section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
(B)

Special rule for indian tribes in alaska.—
The term “Indian tribe” means, with respect to the State of Alaska, only the Metlakatla Indian Community of the Annette Islands Reserve and the following Alaska Native regional nonprofit corporations:
(i)
Arctic Slope Native Association.
(ii)
Kawerak, Inc.
(iii)
Maniilaq Association.
(iv)
Association of Village Council Presidents.
(v)
Tanana Chiefs Conference.
(vi)
Cook Inlet Tribal Council.
(vii)
Bristol Bay Native Association.
(viii)
Aleutian and Pribilof Island Association.
(ix)
Chugachmuit.
(x)
Tlingit Haida Central Council.
(xi)
Kodiak Area Native Association.
(xii)
Copper River Native Association.
(5)

State.—
Except as otherwise specifically provided, the term “State” means the 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
PART B—

CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES 13
Subpart 1—

Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program

PURPOSE
Sec. 421.
[42 U.S.C. 621]
The purpose of this subpart is to promote State flexibility in the development and expansion of a coordinated child and family services program that utilizes community-based agencies and ensures all children are raised in safe, loving families, by—
(1)
protecting and promoting the welfare of all children;
(2)
preventing the neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children;
(3)
supporting at-risk families through services which allow children, where appropriate, to remain safely with their families or return to their families in a timely manner;
(4)
promoting the safety, permanence, and well-being of children in foster care and adoptive families; and
(5)
providing training, professional development and support to ensure a well-qualified child welfare workforce.
^{13}
For a version of part B, as amended by title I of Public Law 118–258 and effective on October 1, 2025 pursuant to section 117(a) of such Public Law, see 2nd version of part B set out at the end of this one with a bracketed note.

STATE PLANS FOR CHILD WELFARE SERVICES
Sec. 422.
[42 U.S.C. 622]
(a)
In order to be eligible for payment under this subpart, a State must have a plan for child welfare services which has been developed jointly by the Secretary and the State agency designated pursuant to subsection (b)(1), and which meets the requirements of subsection (b).
(b)
Each plan for child welfare services under this subpart shall—
(1)
provide that
(A)
the individual or agency that administers or supervises the administration of the State's services program under subtitle 1 of title XX 14 will administer or supervise the administration of the plan (except as otherwise provided in section 103(d) of the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980), and
(B)
to the extent that child welfare services are furnished by the staff of the State agency or local agency administering the plan, a single organizational unit in such State or local agency, as the case may be, will be responsible for furnishing such child welfare services;
^{14}
So in law. The reference to subtitle 1 in paragraphs (1) and (2) probably should be to subtitle A.
(2)
provide for coordination between the services provided for children under the plan and the services and assistance provided under subtitle 1 of title XX 14, under the State program funded under part A, under the State plan approved under subpart 2 of this part, under the State plan approved under the State plan approved under part E, and under other State programs having a relationship to the program under this subpart, with a view to provision of welfare and related services which will best promote the welfare of such children and their families;
(3)
include a description of the services and activities which the State will fund under the State program carried out pursuant to this subpart, and how the services and activities will achieve the purpose of this subpart;
(4)
contain a description of—
(A)
the steps the State will take to provide child welfare services statewide and to expand and strengthen the range of existing services and develop and implement services to improve child outcomes; and
(B)
the child welfare services staff development and training plans of the State;
(5)
provide, in the development of services for children, for utilization of the facilities and experience of voluntary agencies in accordance with State and local programs and arrangements, as authorized by the State;
(6)
provide that the agency administering or supervising the administration of the plan will furnish such reports, containing such information, and participate in such evaluations, as the Secretary may require;
(7)
provide for the diligent recruitment of potential foster and adoptive families that reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of children in the State for whom foster and adoptive homes are needed;
(8)
provide assurances that the State—
(A)
is operating, to the satisfaction of the Secretary—
(i)
a statewide information system from which can be readily determined the status, demographic characteristics, location, and goals for the placement of every child who is (or, within the immediately preceding 12 months, has been) in foster care;
(ii)
a case review system (as defined in section 475(5) and in accordance with the requirements of section 475A) for each child receiving foster care under the supervision of the State;
(iii)
a service program designed to help children—
(I)
where safe and appropriate, return to families from which they have been removed; or
(II)
be placed for adoption, with a legal guardian, or if adoption or legal guardianship is determined not to be appropriate for a child, in some other planned, permanent living arrangement, subject to the requirements of sections 475(5)(C) and 475A(a), which may include a residential educational program; and
(iv)
a preplacement preventive services program designed to help children at risk of foster care placement remain safely with their families; and
(B)
has in effect policies and administrative and judicial procedures for children abandoned at or shortly after birth (including policies and procedures providing for legal representation of the children) which enable permanent decisions to be made expeditiously with respect to the placement of the children;
(9)
contain a description, developed after consultation with tribal organizations (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act) in the State, of the specific measures taken by the State to comply with the Indian Child Welfare Act;
(10)
contain assurances that the State shall make effective use of cross-jurisdictional resources (including through contracts for the purchase of services), and shall eliminate legal barriers, to facilitate timely adoptive or permanent placements for waiting children;
(11)
contain a description of the activities that the State has undertaken for children adopted from other countries, including the provision of adoption and post-adoption services;
(12)
provide that the State shall collect and report information on children who are adopted from other countries and who enter into State custody as a result of the disruption of a placement for adoption or the dissolution of an adoption, including the number of children, the agencies who handled the placement or adoption, the plans for the child, and the reasons for the disruption or dissolution;
(13)
demonstrate substantial, ongoing, and meaningful collaboration with State courts in the development and implementation of the State plan under subpart 1, the State plan approved under subpart 2, and the State plan approved under part E, and in the development and implementation of any program improvement plan required under section 1123A;
(14)
not later than October 1, 2007, include assurances that not more than 10 percent of the expenditures of the State with respect to activities funded from amounts provided under this subpart will be for administrative costs;
(15)
(A)
provides 15 that the State will develop, in coordination and collaboration with the State agency referred to in paragraph (1) and the State agency responsible for administering the State plan approved under title XIX, and in consultation with pediatricians, other experts in health care, and experts in and recipients of child welfare services, a plan for the ongoing oversight and coordination of health care services for any child in a foster care placement, which shall ensure a coordinated strategy to identify and respond to the health care needs of children in foster care placements, including mental health and dental health needs, and shall include an outline of—
^{15}
So in law. The word “provides” in paragraph (15)(A) probably should read “provide”.
(i)
a schedule for initial and follow-up health screenings that meet reasonable standards of medical practice;
(ii)
how health needs identified through screenings will be monitored and treated, including emotional trauma associated with a child's maltreatment and removal from home;
(iii)
how medical information for children in care will be updated and appropriately shared, which may include the development and implementation of an electronic health record;
(iv)
steps to ensure continuity of health care services, which may include the establishment of a medical home for every child in care;
(v)
the oversight of prescription medicines, including protocols for the appropriate use and monitoring of psychotropic medications;
(vi)
how the State actively consults with and involves physicians or other appropriate medical or non-medical professionals in assessing the health and well-being of children in foster care and in determining appropriate medical treatment for the children;
(vii)
the procedures and protocols the State has established to ensure that children in foster care placements are not inappropriately diagnosed with mental illness, other emotional or behavioral disorders, medically fragile conditions, or developmental disabilities, and placed in settings that are not foster family homes as a result of the inappropriate diagnoses; and
(viii)
steps to ensure that the components of the transition plan development process required under section 475(5)(H) that relate to the health care needs of children aging out of foster care, including the requirements to include options for health insurance, information about a health care power of attorney, health care proxy, or other similar document recognized under State law, and to provide the child with the option to execute such a document, are met; and
(B)
subparagraph (A) shall not be construed to reduce or limit the responsibility of the State agency responsible for administering the State plan approved under title XIX to administer and provide care and services for children with respect to whom services are provided under the State plan developed pursuant to this subpart;
(16)
provide that, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the State shall have in place procedures providing for how the State programs assisted under this subpart, subpart 2 of this part, or part E would respond to a disaster, in accordance with criteria established by the Secretary which should include how a State would—
(A)
identify, locate, and continue availability of services for children under State care or supervision who are displaced or adversely affected by a disaster;
(B)
respond, as appropriate, to new child welfare cases in areas adversely affected by a disaster, and provide services in those cases;
(C)
remain in communication with caseworkers and other essential child welfare personnel who are displaced because of a disaster;
(D)
preserve essential program records; and
(E)
coordinate services and share information with other States;
(17)
not later than October 1, 2007, describe the State standards for the content and frequency of caseworker visits for children who are in foster care under the responsibility of the State, which, at a minimum, ensure that the children are visited on a monthly basis and that the caseworker visits are well-planned and focused on issues pertinent to case planning and service delivery to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of the children;
(18)
include a description of the activities that the State has undertaken to reduce the length of time children who have not attained 5 years of age are without a permanent family, and the activities the State undertakes to address the developmental needs of all vulnerable children under 5 years of age who receive benefits or services under this part or part E; and
(19)
document steps taken to track and prevent child maltreatment deaths by including—
(A)
a description of the steps the State is taking to compile complete and accurate information on the deaths required by Federal law to be reported by the State agency referred to in paragraph (1), including gathering relevant information on the deaths from the relevant organizations in the State including entities such as State vital statistics department, child death review teams, law enforcement agencies, offices of medical examiners, or coroners; and
(B)
a description of the steps the State is taking to develop and implement a comprehensive, statewide plan to prevent the fatalities that involves and engages relevant public and private agency partners, including those in public health, law enforcement, and the courts.
(c)

Definitions.—
In this subpart:
(1)

Administrative costs.—
The term “administrative costs” means costs for the following, but only to the extent incurred in administering the State plan developed pursuant to this subpart: procurement, payroll management, personnel functions (other than the portion of the salaries of supervisors attributable to time spent directly supervising the provision of services by caseworkers), management, maintenance and operation of space and property, data processing and computer services, accounting, budgeting, auditing, and travel expenses (except those related to the provision of services by caseworkers or the oversight of programs funded under this subpart).
(2)

Other terms.—
For definitions of other terms used in this part, see section 475.

ALLOTMENTS TO STATES
Sec. 423.
[42 U.S.C. 623]
(a)

In General.—
(1)

In general.—
Subject to paragraph (2), the sum appropriated pursuant to section 425 for each fiscal year shall be allotted by the Secretary for use by cooperating State public welfare agencies which have plans developed jointly by the State agency and the Secretary as follows: The Secretary shall first allot $70,000 to each State, and shall then allot to each State an amount which bears the same ratio to the remainder of such sum as the product of (1) the population of the State under the age of twenty-one and (2) the allotment percentage of the State (as determined under this section) bears to the sum of the corresponding products of all the States.
(2)

Grants to states to enhance collaboration between state child welfare and juvenile justice systems.—
For each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2023 for which the amount appropriated under section 425 for the fiscal year exceeds $270,000,000—
(A)
the Secretary shall reserve from such excess amount such sums as are necessary for making grants under section 429A for such fiscal year; and
(B)
the remainder to be applied under paragraph (1) for purposes of making allotments to States for such fiscal year shall be determined after the Secretary first allots $70,000 to each State under such paragraph and reserves such sums under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
(b)

Determination of State Allotment Percentages.—
The “allotment percentage” for any State shall be 100 per percent less the State percentage; and the State percentage shall be the percentage which bears the same ratio to 50 per percent as the per capita income of such State bears to the per capita income of the United States; except that (1) the allotment percentage shall in no case be less than 30 per percent or more than 70 per percent, and (2) the allotment percentage shall be 70 per percent in the case of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
(c)

Promulgation of State Allotment Percentages.—
The allotment percentage for each State shall be promulgated by the Secretary between October 1 and November 30 of each even-numbered year, on the basis of the average per capita income of each State and of the United States for the three most recent calendar years for which satisfactory data are available from the Department of Commerce. Such promulgation shall be conclusive for each of the two fiscal years in the period beginning October 1 next succeeding such promulgation.
(d)

United States Defined.—
For purposes of this section, the term “United States” means the 50 States and the District of Columbia.
(e)

Reallotment of Funds.—
(1)

In general.—
The amount of any allotment to a State for a fiscal year under the preceding provisions of this section which the State certifies to the Secretary will not be required for carrying out the State plan developed as provided in section 422 shall be available for reallotment from time to time, on such dates as the Secretary may fix, to other States which the Secretary determines—
(A)
need sums in excess of the amounts allotted to such other States under the preceding provisions of this section, in carrying out their State plans so developed; and
(B)
will be able to so use such excess sums during the fiscal year.
(2)

Considerations.—
The Secretary shall make the reallotments on the basis of the State plans so developed, after taking into consideration—
(A)
the population under 21 years of age;
(B)
the per capita income of each of such other States as compared with the population under 21 years of age; and
(C)
the per capita income of all such other States with respect to which such a determination by the Secretary has been made.
(3)

Amounts reallotted to a state deemed part of state allotment.—
Any amount so reallotted to a State is deemed part of the allotment of the State under this section.

PAYMENT TO STATES
Sec. 424.
[42 U.S.C. 624]
(a)
From the sums appropriated therefor and the allotment under this subpart, subject to the conditions set forth in this section, the Secretary shall from time to time pay to each State that has a plan developed in accordance with section 422 an amount equal to 75 percent of the total sum expended under the plan (including the cost of administration of the plan) in meeting the costs of State, district, county, or other local child welfare services.
(b)
The method of computing and making payments under this section shall be as follows:
(1)
The Secretary shall, prior to the beginning of each period for which a payment is to be made, estimate the amount to be paid to the State for such period under the provisions of this section.
(2)
From the allotment available therefor, the Secretary shall pay the amount so estimated, reduced or increased, as the case may be, by any sum (not previously adjusted under this section) by which he finds that his estimate of the amount to be paid the State for any prior period under this section was greater or less than the amount which should have been paid to the State for such prior period under this section.
(c)

Limitation on Use of Federal Funds for Child Care, Foster Care Maintenance Payments, or Adoption Assistance Payments.—
The total amount of Federal payments under this subpart for a fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2007, that may be used by a State for expenditures for child care, foster care maintenance payments, or adoption assistance payments shall not exceed the total amount of such payments for fiscal year 2005 that were so used by the State.
(d)

Limitation on Use by States of Non-Federal Funds for Foster Care Maintenance Payments To Match Federal Funds.—
For any fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2007, State expenditures of non-Federal funds for foster care maintenance payments shall not be considered to be expenditures under the State plan developed under this subpart for the fiscal year to the extent that the total of such expenditures for the fiscal year exceeds the total of such expenditures under the State plan developed under this subpart for fiscal year 2005.
(e)

Limitation on Reimbursement for Administrative Costs.—
A payment may not be made to a State under this section with respect to expenditures during a fiscal year for administrative costs, to the extent that the total amount of the expenditures exceeds 10 percent of the total expenditures of the State during the fiscal year for activities funded from amounts provided under this subpart.
(f)
(1)
(A)
Each State shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that the total number of visits made by caseworkers on a monthly basis to children in foster care under the responsibility of the State during a fiscal year is not less than 90 percent (or, in the case of fiscal year 2015 or thereafter, 95 percent) of the total number of such visits that would occur during the fiscal year if each such child were so visited once every month while in such care.
(B)
If the Secretary determines that a State has failed to comply with subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, then the percentage that would otherwise apply for purposes of subsection (a) for the fiscal year shall be reduced by—
(i)
1, if the number of full percentage points by which the State fell short of the percentage specified in subparagraph (A) is less than 10;
(ii)
3, if the number of full percentage points by which the State fell short, as described in clause (i), is not less than 10 and less than 20; or
(iii)
5, if the number of full percentage points by which the State fell short, as described in clause (i), is not less than 20.
(2)
(A)
Each State shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that not less than 50 percent of the total number of visits made by caseworkers to children in foster care under the responsibility of the State during a fiscal year occur in the residence of the child involved.
(B)
If the Secretary determines that a State has failed to comply with subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, then the percentage that would otherwise apply for purposes of subsection (a) for the fiscal year shall be reduced by—
(i)
1, if the number of full percentage points by which the State fell short of the percentage specified in subparagraph (A) is less than 10;
(ii)
3, if the number of full percentage points by which the State fell short, as described in clause (i), is not less than 10 and less than 20; or
(iii)
5, if the number of full percentage points by which the State fell short, as described in clause (i), is not less than 20.

LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
Sec. 425.
[42 U.S.C. 625]
To carry out this subpart (other than sections 426, 427, and 429), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary not more than $325,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023.

RESEARCH, TRAINING, OR DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
Sec. 426.
[42 U.S.C. 626]
(a)
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year such sums as the Congress may determine—
(1)
for grants by the Secretary—
(A)
to public or other nonprofit institutions of higher learning, and to public or other nonprofit agencies and organizations engaged in research or child-welfare activities, for special research or demonstration projects in the field of child welfare which are of regional or national significance and for special projects for the demonstration of new methods or facilities which show promise of substantial contribution to the advancement of child welfare;
(B)
to State or local public agencies responsible for administering, or supervising the administration of, the plan under this part, for projects for the demonstration of the utilization of research (including findings resulting therefrom) in the field of child welfare in order to encourage experimental and special types of welfare services; and
(C)
to public or other nonprofit institutions of higher learning for special projects for training personnel for work in the field of child welfare, including traineeships described in section 429 with such stipends and allowances as may be permitted by the Secretary; and
(2)
for contracts or jointly financed cooperative arrangements with States and public and other organizations and agencies for the conduct of research, special projects, or demonstration projects relating to such matters.
(b)
Payments of grants or under contracts or cooperative arrangements under this section may be made in advance or by way of reimbursement, and in such installments, as the Secretary may determine; and shall be made on such conditions as the Secretary finds necessary to carry out the purposes of the grants, contracts, or other arrangements.
(c)

Child Welfare Traineeships.—
The Secretary may approve an application for a grant to a public or nonprofit institution for higher learning to provide traineeships with stipends under section 426(a)(1)(C) only if the application—
(1)
provides assurances that each individual who receives a stipend with such traineeship (in this section referred to as a “recipient”) agrees—
(A)
to participate in training at a public or private nonprofit child welfare agency on a regular basis (as determined by the Secretary) for the period of the traineeship;
(B)
to be employed for a period of years equivalent to the period of the traineeship, in a public or private nonprofit child welfare agency in any State, within a period of time (determined by the Secretary in accordance with regulations) after completing the postsecondary education for which the traineeship was awarded;
(C)
to furnish to the institution and the Secretary evidence of compliance with subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
(D)
if the recipient fails to comply with subparagraph (A) or (B) and does not qualify for any exception to this subparagraph which the Secretary may prescribe in regulations, to repay to the Secretary all (or an appropriately prorated part) of the amount of the stipend, plus interest, and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees (in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary);
(2)
provides assurances that the institution will—
(A)
enter into agreements with child welfare agencies for onsite training of recipients;
(B)
permit an individual who is employed in the field of child welfare services to apply for a traineeship with a stipend if the traineeship furthers the progress of the individual toward the completion of degree requirements; and
(C)
develop and implement a system that, for the 3-year period that begins on the date any recipient completes a child welfare services program of study, tracks the employment record of the recipient, for the purpose of determining the percentage of recipients who secure employment in the field of child welfare services and remain employed in the field.
SEC. 427.
[42 U.S.C. 627]

FAMILY CONNECTION GRANTS.
(a)

In General.—
The Secretary of Health and Human Services may make matching grants to State, local, or tribal child welfare agencies, private nonprofit organizations that have experience in working with foster children or children in kinship care arrangements, and institutions of higher education (as defined under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), for the purpose of helping children who are in, or at risk of entering, foster care reconnect with family members through the implementation of—
(1)
a kinship navigator program to assist kinship caregivers in learning about, finding, and using programs and services to meet the needs of the children they are raising and their own needs, and to promote effective partnerships among public and private agencies to ensure kinship caregiver families are served, which program—
(A)
shall be coordinated with other State or local agencies that promote service coordination or provide information and referral services, including the entities that provide 2–1–1 or 3–1–1 information systems where available, to avoid duplication or fragmentation of services to kinship care families;
(B)
shall be planned and operated in consultation with kinship caregivers and organizations representing them, youth raised by kinship caregivers, relevant government agencies, and relevant community-based or faith-based organizations;
(C)
shall establish information and referral systems that link (via toll-free access) kinship caregivers, kinship support group facilitators, and kinship service providers to—
(i)
each other;
(ii)
eligibility and enrollment information for Federal, State, and local benefits;
(iii)
relevant training to assist kinship caregivers in caregiving and in obtaining benefits and services; and
(iv)
relevant legal assistance and help in obtaining legal services;
(D)
shall provide outreach to kinship care families, including by establishing, distributing, and updating a kinship care website, or other relevant guides or outreach materials;
(E)
shall promote partnerships between public and private agencies, including schools, community based or faith-based organizations, and relevant government agencies, to increase their knowledge of the needs of kinship care families and other individuals who are willing and able to be foster parents for children in foster care under the responsibility of the State who are themselves parents to promote better services for those families;
(F)
may establish and support a kinship care ombudsman with authority to intervene and help kinship caregivers access services; and
(G)
may support any other activities designed to assist kinship caregivers in obtaining benefits and services to improve their caregiving;
(2)
intensive family-finding efforts that utilize search technology to find biological family members for children in the child welfare system, and once identified, work to reestablish relationships and explore ways to find a permanent family placement for the children;
(3)
family group decision-making meetings for children in the child welfare system, that—
(A)
enable families to make decisions and develop plans that nurture children and protect them from abuse and neglect, and
(B)
when appropriate, shall address domestic violence issues in a safe manner and facilitate connecting children exposed to domestic violence to appropriate services, including reconnection with the abused parent when appropriate; or
(4)
residential family treatment programs that—
(A)
enable parents and their children to live in a safe environment for a period of not less than 6 months; and
(B)
provide, on-site or by referral, substance abuse treatment services, children's early intervention services, family counseling, medical, and mental health services, nursery and pre-school, and other services that are designed to provide comprehensive treatment that supports the family.
(b)

Applications.—
An entity desiring to receive a matching grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—
(1)
a description of how the grant will be used to implement 1 or more of the activities described in subsection (a);
(2)
a description of the types of children and families to be served, including how the children and families will be identified and recruited, and an initial projection of the number of children and families to be served;
(3)
if the entity is a private organization—
(A)
documentation of support from the relevant local or State child welfare agency; or
(B)
a description of how the organization plans to coordinate its services and activities with those offered by the relevant local or State child welfare agency; and
(4)
an assurance that the entity will cooperate fully with any evaluation provided for by the Secretary under this section.
(c)

Limitations.—
(1)

Grant duration.—
The Secretary may award a grant under this section for a period of not less than 1 year and not more than 3 years.
(2)

Number of new grantees per year.—
The Secretary may not award a grant under this section to more than 30 new grantees each fiscal year.
(d)

Federal Contribution.—
The amount of a grant payment to be made to a grantee under this section during each year in the grant period shall be the following percentage of the total expenditures proposed to be made by the grantee in the application approved by the Secretary under this section:
(1)
75 percent, if the payment is for the 1st or 2nd year of the grant period.
(2)
50 percent, if the payment is for the 3rd year of the grant period.
(e)

Form of Grantee Contribution.—
A grantee under this section may provide not more than 50 percent of the amount which the grantee is required to expend to carry out the activities for which a grant is awarded under this section in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services.
(f)

Use of Grant.—
A grantee under this section shall use the grant in accordance with the approved application for the grant.
(g)

Reservations of Funds.—
(1)

Evaluation.—
The Secretary shall reserve 3 percent of the funds made available under subsection (h) for each fiscal year for the conduct of a rigorous evaluation of the activities funded with grants under this section.
(2)

Technical assistance.—
The Secretary may reserve 2 percent of the funds made available under subsection (h) for each fiscal year to provide technical assistance to recipients of grants under this section.
(h)

Appropriation.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary for purposes of making grants under this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2014.

PAYMENTS TO INDIAN TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS
Sec. 428.
[42 U.S.C. 628]
(a)
The Secretary may, in appropriate cases (as determined by the Secretary) make payments under this subpart directly to an Indian tribal organization within any State which has a plan for child welfare services approved under this subpart. Such payments shall be made in such manner and in such amounts as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(b)
Amounts paid under subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a part of the allotment (as determined under section 423) for the State in which such Indian tribal organization is located.
(c)
For purposes of this section, the terms “Indian tribe” and “tribal organization” shall have the meanings given such terms by subsections (e) and (l) of section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b), respectively.
SEC. 429.
[42 U.S.C. 628b]

NATIONAL RANDOM SAMPLE STUDY OF CHILD WELFARE.
(a)

In General.—
The Secretary shall conduct (directly, or by grant, contract, or interagency agreement) a national study based on random samples of children who are at risk of child abuse or neglect, or are determined by States to have been abused or neglected.
(b)

Requirements.—
The study required by subsection (a) shall—
(1)
have a longitudinal component; and
(2)
yield data reliable at the State level for as many States as the Secretary determines is feasible.
(c)

Preferred Contents.—
In conducting the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary should—
(1)
carefully consider selecting the sample from cases of confirmed abuse or neglect; and
(2)
follow each case for several years while obtaining information on, among other things—
(A)
the type of abuse or neglect involved;
(B)
the frequency of contact with State or local agencies;
(C)
whether the child involved has been separated from the family, and, if so, under what circumstances;
(D)
the number, type, and characteristics of out-of-home placements of the child; and
(E)
the average duration of each placement.
(d)

Reports.—
(1)

In general.—
From time to time, the Secretary shall prepare reports summarizing the results of the study required by subsection (a).
(2)

Availability.—
The Secretary shall make available to the public any report prepared under paragraph (1), in writing or in the form of an electronic data tape.
(3)

Authority to charge fee.—
The Secretary may charge and collect a fee for the furnishing of reports under para-graph (2).
(e)

Appropriation.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary for each of fiscal years 1996 through 2002 $6,000,000 to carry out this section.
SEC. 429A.
[42 U.S.C. 628c]

GRANTS TO STATES TO ENHANCE COLLABORATION BETWEEN STATE CHILD WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS.
(a)

Purpose.—
The purpose of this section is to authorize the Secretary, in collaboration with the Attorney General and the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice—
(1)
to make grants to State child welfare and juvenile justice agencies and child- and youth-serving agencies to collaborate in the collection of data relating to dual status youth; and
(2)
to develop practices, policies, and protocols—
(A)
to confront the challenges presented and experienced by dual status youth; and
(B)
for the development of interoperable data systems.
(b)

Authority to Award Grants.—
(1)

In general.—
Subject to the availability of appropriations, from amounts reserved under section 423(a)(2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award competitive grants jointly to a State child welfare agency and a State juvenile justice agency to facilitate or enhance collaboration between the child welfare and juvenile justice systems of the State in order to carry out programs to address the needs of dual status youth and their families.
(2)

Length of grants.—
(A)

In general.—
Subject to subparagraph (B), a grant shall be awarded under this section for a period of not less than 2 fiscal years and not more than 5 fiscal years.
(B)

Extension of grant.—
Upon the application of the grantee, the Secretary may extend the period for which a grant is awarded under this section for not more than 2 fiscal years.
(c)

Additional Requirements.—
(1)

Application.—
In order for a State to be eligible for a grant under this section, the State shall submit an application, subject to the approval of the Secretary, that includes—
(A)
a description of the proposed leadership collaboration group (including the membership of such group), and how such group will manage and oversee a review and analysis of current practices while working to jointly address enhanced practices to improve outcomes for dual status youth;
(B)
a description of how the State proposes—
(i)
to identify dual status youth;
(ii)
to identify individuals who are at risk of becoming dual status youth;
(iii)
to identify common characteristics shared by dual status youth in the State; and
(iv)
to determine the prevalence of dual status youth in the State;
(C)
a description of current and proposed practices and procedures that the State intends to use—
(i)
to screen and assess dual status youth for risks and treatment needs;
(ii)
to provide targeted and evidence-based services, including educational, behavioral health, and pro-social treatment interventions for dual status youth and their families; and
(iii)
to provide for a lawful process to enhance or ensure the abilities of the State and any relevant agencies to share information and data about dual status youth, while maintaining confidentiality and privacy protections under Federal and State law; and
(D)
a certification that the State has involved local governments, as appropriate, in the development, expansion, modification, operation, or improvement of proposed policy and practice reforms to address the needs of dual status youth.
(2)

No supplantation of other funds.—
Any amounts paid to a State under a grant under this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant other State expenditures on dual status youths or children involved with either the child welfare or juvenile justice systems.
(3)

Evaluation.—
Up to 10 percent of the amount made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year shall be made available to the Secretary to evaluate the effectiveness of the projects funded under this section, using a methodology that—
(A)
includes random assignment whenever feasible, or other research methods that allow for the strongest possible causal inferences when random assignment is not feasible; and
(B)
generates evidence on the impact of specific projects, or groups of projects with identical (or similar) practices and procedures.
(4)

Report.—
A State child welfare agency and a State juvenile justice agency receiving a grant under this section shall jointly submit to the Secretary, the Attorney General, and the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice, a report on the evaluation of the activities carried out under the grant at the end of each fiscal year during the period of the grant. Such report shall include—
(A)
a description of the scope and nature of the dual status youth population in the State, including the number of dual status youth;
(B)
a description of the evidence-based practices and procedures used by the agencies to carry out the activities described in clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph (1)(C); and
(C)
an analysis of the effects of such practices and procedures, including information regarding—
(i)
the collection of data related to individual dual status youths;
(ii)
aggregate data related to the dual status youth population, including—
(I)
characteristics of dual status youths in the State;
(II)
case processing timelines; and
(III)
information related to case management, the provision of targeted services, and placements within the foster care or juvenile justice system; and
(iii)
the extent to which such practices and procedures have contributed to—
(I)
improved educational outcomes for dual status youths;
(II)
fewer delinquency referrals for dual status youths;
(III)
shorter stays in intensive restrictive placements for dual status youths; or
(IV)
such other outcomes for dual status youths as the State child welfare agency and State juvenile justice agency may identify.
(d)

Training and Technical Assistance.—
The Secretary may support State child welfare agencies and State juvenile justice agencies by offering a program, developed in consultation with organizations and agencies with subject matter expertise, of training and technical assistance to assist such agencies in developing programs and protocols that draw on best practices for serving dual status youth in order to facilitate or enhance—
(1)
collaboration between State child welfare agencies and State juvenile justice agencies; and
(2)
the effectiveness of such agencies with respect to working with Federal agencies and child welfare and juvenile justice agencies from other States.
(e)

Report.—
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary, the Attorney General, and the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice shall jointly submit to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, a report on the grants provided under this section.
(f)

Definitions.—
In this section:
(1)

Dual status youth.—
The term “dual status youth” means a child who has come into contact with both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems and occupies various statuses in terms of the individual’s relationship to such systems.
(2)

Leadership collaboration group.—
The term “leadership collaboration group” means a group composed of senior officials from the State child welfare agency, the State juvenile justice agency, and other relevant youth and family-serving public agencies and private organizations, including, to the extent practicable, representatives from the State judiciary branch.
(3)

State juvenile justice agency.—
The term “State juvenile justice agency” means the agency of the State or Indian tribe responsible for administering grant funds awarded under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (34 U.S.C. 11101 et seq.).
(4)

State child welfare agency.—
The term “State child welfare agency” means the State agency responsible for administering the program under this subpart, or, in the case of a tribal organization that is receiving payments under section 428, the tribal agency responsible for administering such program.
Subpart 2—

Marylee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program
SEC. 430.
[42 U.S.C. 629]

PURPOSE.
The purpose of this program is to enable States to develop and establish, or expand, and to operate coordinated programs of community-based family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services to accomplish the following objectives:
(1)
To prevent child maltreatment among families at risk through the provision of supportive family services.
(2)
To assure children's safety within the home and preserve intact families in which children have been maltreated, when the family's problems can be addressed effectively.
(3)
To address the problems of families whose children have been placed in foster care so that reunification may occur in a safe and stable manner in accordance with the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997.
(4)
To support adoptive families by providing support services as necessary so that they can make a lifetime commitment to their children.
SEC. 431.
[42 U.S.C. 629a]

DEFINITIONS.
(a)

In General.—
As used in this subpart:
(1)

Family preservation services.—
The term “family preservation services” means services for children and families designed to help families (including adoptive and extended families) at risk or in crisis, including—
(A)
service programs designed to help children—
(i)
where safe and appropriate, return to families from which they have been removed; or
(ii)
be 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;
(B)
preplacement preventive services programs, such as intensive family preservation programs, designed to help children at risk of foster care placement remain safely with their families;
(C)
service programs designed to provide followup care to families to whom a child has been returned after a foster care placement;
(D)
respite care of children to provide temporary relief for parents and other caregivers (including foster parents);
(E)
services designed to improve parenting skills (by reinforcing parents' confidence in their strengths, and helping them to identify where improvement is needed and to obtain assistance in improving those skills) with respect to matters such as child development, family budgeting, coping with stress, health, and nutrition; and
(F)
infant safe haven programs to provide a way for a parent to safely relinquish a newborn infant at a safe haven designated pursuant to a State law.
(2)

Family support services.—
(A)

In general.—
The term “family support services” means community-based services designed to carry out the purposes described in subparagraph (B).
(B)

Purposes described.—
The purposes described in this subparagraph are the following:
(i)
To promote the safety and well-being of children and families.
(ii)
To increase the strength and stability of families (including adoptive, foster, and extended families).
(iii)
To support and retain foster families so they can provide quality family-based settings for children in foster care.
(iv)
To increase parents' confidence and competence in their parenting abilities.
(v)
To afford children a safe, stable, and supportive family environment.
(vi)
To strengthen parental relationships and promote healthy marriages.
(vii)
To enhance child development, including through mentoring (as defined in section 439(b)(2)).
(3)

State agency.—
The term “State agency” means the State agency responsible for administering the program under subpart 1.
(4)

State.—
The term “State” includes an Indian tribe or tribal organization, in addition to the meaning given such term for purposes of subpart 1.
(5)

Indian tribe.—
The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given the term in section 428(c).
(6)

Tribal organization.—
The term “tribal organization” has the meaning given the term in section 428(c).
(7)

Family reunification services.—
(A)

In general.—
The term “family reunification services” means the services and activities described in subparagraph (B) that are provided to a child that is removed from the child's home and placed in a foster family home or a child care institution or a child who has been returned home and to the parents or primary caregiver of such a child, in order to facilitate the reunification of the child safely and appropriately within a timely fashion and to ensure the strength and stability of the reunification. In the case of a child who has been returned home, the services and activities shall only be provided during the 15-month period that begins on the date that the child returns home.
(B)

Services and activities described.—
The services and activities described in this subparagraph are the following:
(i)
Individual, group, and family counseling.
(ii)
Inpatient, residential, or outpatient substance abuse treatment services.
(iii)
Mental health services.
(iv)
Assistance to address domestic violence.
(v)
Services designed to provide temporary child care and therapeutic services for families, including crisis nurseries.
(vi)
Peer-to-peer mentoring and support groups for parents and primary caregivers.
(vii)
Services and activities designed to facilitate access to and visitation of children by parents and siblings.
(viii)
Transportation to or from any of the services and activities described in this subparagraph.
(8)

Adoption promotion and support services.—
The term “adoption promotion and support services” means services and activities designed to encourage more adoptions out of the foster care system, when adoptions promote the best interests of children, including such activities as pre- and post-adoptive services and activities designed to expedite the adoption process and support adoptive families.
(9)

Non-federal funds.—
The term “non-Federal funds” means State funds, or at the option of a State, State and local funds.
(b)

Other Terms.—
For other definitions of other terms used in this subpart, see section 475.
SEC. 432.
[42 U.S.C. 629b]

STATE PLANS.
(a)

Plan Requirements.—
A State plan meets the requirements of this subsection if the plan—
(1)
provides that the State agency shall administer, or supervise the administration of, the State program under this subpart;
(2)
(A)
(i)
sets forth the goals intended to be accomplished under the plan by the end of the 5th fiscal year in which the plan is in operation in the State, and (ii) is updated periodically to set forth the goals intended to be accomplished under the plan by the end of each 5th fiscal year thereafter;
(B)
describes the methods to be used in measuring progress toward accomplishment of the goals;
(C)
contains assurances that the State—
(i)
after the end of each of the 1st 4 fiscal years covered by a set of goals, will perform an interim review of progress toward accomplishment of the goals, and on the basis of the interim review will revise the statement of goals in the plan, if necessary, to reflect changed circumstances; and
(ii)
after the end of the last fiscal year covered by a set of goals, will perform a final review of progress toward accomplishment of the goals, and on the basis of the final review (I) will prepare, transmit to the Secretary, and make available to the public a final report on progress toward accomplishment of the goals, and (II) will develop (in consultation with the entities required to be consulted pursuant to subsection (b)) and add to the plan a statement of the goals intended to be accomplished by the end of the 5th succeeding fiscal year;
(3)
provides for coordination, to the extent feasible and appropriate, of the provision of services under the plan and the provision of services or benefits under other Federal or federally assisted programs serving the same populations;
(4)
contains assurances that not more than 10 percent of expenditures under the plan for any fiscal year with respect to which the State is eligible for payment under section 434 for the fiscal year shall be for administrative costs, and that the remaining expenditures shall be for programs of family preservation services, community-based family support services, family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services, with significant portions of such expenditures for each such program;
(5)
contains assurances that the State will—
(A)
annually prepare, furnish to the Secretary, and make available to the public a description (including separate descriptions with respect to family preservation services, community-based family support services, family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services) of—
(i)
the service programs to be made available under the plan in the immediately succeeding fiscal year;
(ii)
the populations which the programs will serve; and
(iii)
the geographic areas in the State in which the services will be available; and
(B)
perform the activities described in subparagraph (A)—
(i)
in the case of the 1st fiscal year under the plan, at the time the State submits its initial plan; and
(ii)
in the case of each succeeding fiscal year, by the end of the 3rd quarter of the immediately preceding fiscal year;
(6)
provides for such methods of administration as the Secretary finds to be necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the plan;
(7)
(A)
contains assurances that Federal funds provided to the State under this subpart will not be used to supplant Federal or non-Federal funds for existing services and activities which promote the purposes of this subpart; and
(B)
provides that the State will furnish reports to the Secretary, at such times, in such format, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, that demonstrate the State's compliance with the prohibition contained in subparagraph (A);
(8)
(A)
provides that the State agency will furnish such reports, containing such information, and participate in such evaluations, as the Secretary may require; and
(B)
provides that, not later than June 30 of each year, the State will submit to the Secretary—
(i)
copies of form CFS–101 (including all parts and any successor forms) that report on planned child and family services expenditures by the agency for the immediately succeeding fiscal year; and
(ii)
copies of form CFS–101 (including all parts and any successor forms) that provide, with respect to the programs authorized under this subpart and subpart 1 and, at State option, other programs included on such forms, for the most recent preceding fiscal year for which reporting of actual expenditures is complete—
(I)
the numbers of families and of children served by the State agency;
(II)
the population served by the State agency;
(III)
the geographic areas served by the State agency; and
(IV)
the actual expenditures of funds provided to the State agency;
(9)
contains assurances that in administering and conducting service programs under the plan, the safety of the children to be served shall be of paramount concern; and
(10)
describes how the State identifies which populations are at the greatest risk of maltreatment and how services are targeted to the populations.
(b)

Approval of Plans.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary shall approve a plan that meets the requirements of subsection (a) only if the plan was developed jointly by the Secretary and the State, after consultation by the State agency with appropriate public and nonprofit private agencies and community-based organizations with experience in administering programs of services for children and families (including family preservation, family support, family reunification, and adoption promotion and support services).
(2)

Plans of indian tribes or tribal consortia.—
(A)

Exemption from inappropriate requirements.—
The Secretary may exempt a plan submitted by an Indian tribe or tribal consortium from the requirements of subsection (a)(4) of this section to the extent that the Secretary determines those requirements would be inappropriate to apply to the Indian tribe or tribal consortium, taking into account the resources, needs, and other circumstances of the Indian tribe or tribal consortium.
(B)

Special rule.—
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the Secretary may not approve a plan of an Indian tribe or tribal consortium under this subpart to which (but for this subparagraph) an allotment of less than $10,000 would be made under section 433(a) if allotments were made under section 433(a) to all Indian tribes and tribal consortia with plans approved under this subpart with the same or larger numbers of children.
(c)

Annual Submission of State Reports to Congress.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary shall compile the reports required under subsection (a)(8)(B) and, not later than September 30 of each year, submit such compilation to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate.
(2)

Information to be included.—
The compilation shall include the individual State reports and tables that synthesize State information into national totals for each element required to be included in the reports, including planned and actual spending by service category for the program authorized under this subpart and planned spending by service category for the program authorized under subpart 1.
(3)

Public accessibility.—
Not later than September 30 of each year, the Secretary shall publish the compilation on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services in a location easily accessible by the public.
SEC. 433.
[42 U.S.C. 629c]

ALLOTMENTS TO STATES.
(a)

Indian Tribes or Tribal Consortia.—
From the amount reserved pursuant to section 436(b)(3) for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each Indian tribe with a plan approved under this subpart an amount that bears the same ratio to such reserved amount as the number of children in the Indian tribe bears to the total number of children in all Indian tribes with State plans so approved, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most current and reliable information available to the Secretary. If a consortium of Indian tribes submits a plan approved under this subpart, the Secretary shall allot to the consortium an amount equal to the sum of the allotments determined for each Indian tribe that is part of the consortium.
(b)

Territories.—
From the amount described in section 436(a) for any fiscal year that remains after applying section 436(b) for the fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each of the jurisdictions of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa an amount determined in the same manner as the allotment to each of such jurisdictions is determined under section 423.
(c)

Other States.—
(1)

In general.—
From the amount described in section 436(a) for any fiscal year that remains after applying section 436(b) and subsection (b) of this section for the fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each State (other than an Indian tribe) which is not specified in subsection (b) of this section an amount equal to such remaining amount multiplied by the supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits percentage of the State for the fiscal year.
(2)

Supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits percentage defined.—
(A)

In general.—
As used in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the term “supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits percentage” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the average monthly number of children receiving supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits in the State for months in the 3 fiscal years referred to in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, as determined from sample surveys made under section 16(c) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, expressed as a percentage of the average monthly number of children receiving supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits in the States described in such paragraph (1) for months in such 3 fiscal years, as so determined.
(B)

Fiscal years used in calculation.—
For purposes of the calculation pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall use data for the 3 most recent fiscal years, preceding the fiscal year for which the State's allotment is calculated under this subsection, for which such data are available to the Secretary.
(d)

Reallotments.—
The amount of any allotment to a State under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section for any fiscal year that the State certifies to the Secretary will not be required for carrying out the State plan under section 432 shall be available for reallotment using the allotment methodology specified in subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section. Any amount so reallotted to a State is deemed part of the allotment of the State under the preceding provisions of this section.
(e)

Allotment of Funds Reserved To Support Monthly Caseworker Visits.—
(1)

Territories.—
From the amount reserved pursuant to section 436(b)(4)(A) for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each jurisdiction specified in subsection (b) of this section, that has provided to the Secretary such documentation as may be necessary to verify that the jurisdiction has complied with section 436(b)(4)(B)(ii) during the fiscal year, an amount determined in the same manner as the allotment to each of such jurisdictions is determined under section 423 (without regard to the initial allotment of $70,000 to each State).
(2)

Other states.—
From the amount reserved pursuant to section 436(b)(4)(A) for any fiscal year that remains after applying paragraph (1) of this subsection for the fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each State (other than an Indian tribe) not specified in subsection (b) of this section, that has provided to the Secretary such documentation as may be necessary to verify that the State has complied with section 436(b)(4)(B)(ii) during the fiscal year, an amount equal to such remaining amount multiplied by the supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits percentage of the State (as defined in subsection (c)(2) of this section) for the fiscal year, except that in applying subsection (c)(2)(A) of this section, “subsection (e)(2)” shall be substituted for “such paragraph (1)”.
SEC. 434.
[42 U.S.C. 629d]

PAYMENTS TO STATES.
(a)

Entitlement.—
Each State that has a plan approved under section 432 shall, subject to subsection (d), be entitled to payment of the sum of—
(1)
the lesser of—
(A)
75 percent of the total expenditures by the State for activities under the plan during the fiscal year or the immediately succeeding fiscal year; or
(B)
the allotment of the State under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 433, whichever is applicable, for the fiscal year; and
(2)
the lesser of—
(A)
75 percent of the total expenditures by the State in accordance with section 436(b)(4)(B) during the fiscal year or the immediately succeeding fiscal year; or
(B)
the allotment of the State under section 433(e) for the fiscal year.
(b)

Prohibitions.—
(1)

No use of other federal funds for state match.—
Each State receiving an amount paid under subsection (a) may not expend any Federal funds to meet the costs of services under the State plan under section 432 not covered by the amount so paid.
(2)

Availability of funds.—
A State may not expend any amount paid under subsection (a) for any fiscal year after the end of the immediately succeeding fiscal year.
(c)

Direct Payments to Tribal Organizations of Indian Tribes or Tribal Consortia.—
The Secretary shall pay any amount to which an Indian tribe or tribal consortium is entitled under this section directly to the tribal organization of the Indian tribe or in the case of a payment to a tribal consortium, such tribal organizations of, or entity established by, the Indian tribes that are part of the consortium as the consortium shall designate.
(d)16

Limitation on Reimbursement for Administrative Costs.—
The Secretary shall not make a payment to a State under this section with respect to expenditures for administrative costs during a fiscal year, to the extent that the total amount of the expenditures exceeds 10 percent of the total expenditures of the State during the fiscal year under the State plan approved under section 432.
^{16}
Subsection (d) (and the amendment to insert the reference to such subsection in subsection (a)) as added by section 3(f)(1)(B) of Public Law 109–288 applies to expenditures made on or after October 1, 2007 pursuant to paragraph (2) of section 3(f) of such Public Law.
SEC. 435.
[42 U.S.C. 629e]

EVALUATIONS; RESEARCH; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
(a)

Evaluations.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary shall evaluate and report to the Congress biennially on the effectiveness of the programs carried out pursuant to this subpart in accomplishing the purposes of this subpart, and may evaluate any other Federal, State, or local program, regardless of whether federally assisted, that is designed to achieve the same purposes as the program under this subpart, in accordance with criteria established in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2)

Criteria to be used.—
In developing the criteria to be used in evaluations under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with appropriate parties, such as—
(A)
State agencies administering programs under this part and part E;
(B)
persons administering child and family services programs (including family preservation and family support programs) for private, nonprofit organizations with an interest in child welfare; and
(C)
other persons with recognized expertise in the evaluation of child and family services programs (including family preservation and family support programs) or other related programs.
(3)

Timing of report.—
Beginning in 2003, the Secretary shall submit the biennial report required by this subsection not later than April 1 of every other year, and shall include in each such report the funding level, the status of ongoing evaluations, findings to date, and the nature of any technical assistance provided to States under subsection (d).
(b)

Coordination of Evaluations.—
The Secretary shall develop procedures to coordinate evaluations under this section, to the extent feasible, with evaluations by the States of the effectiveness of programs under this subpart.
(c)

Evaluation, Research, and Technical Assistance With Respect to Targeted Program Resources.—
Of the amount reserved under section 436(b)(1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not less than—
(1)
$1,000,000 for evaluations, research, and providing technical assistance with respect to supporting monthly caseworker visits with children who are in foster care under the responsibility of the State, in accordance with section 436(b)(4)(B)(i); and
(2)
$1,000,000 for evaluations, research, and providing technical assistance with respect to grants under section 437(f).
(d)

Technical Assistance.—
To the extent funds are available therefor, the Secretary shall provide technical assistance that helps States and Indian tribes or tribal consortia to—
(1)
develop research-based protocols for identifying families at risk of abuse and neglect of use in the field;
(2)
develop treatment models that address the needs of families at risk, particularly families with substance abuse issues;
(3)
implement programs with well-articulated theories of how the intervention will result in desired changes among families at risk;
(4)
establish mechanisms to ensure that service provision matches the treatment model; and
(5)
establish mechanisms to ensure that postadoption services meet the needs of the individual families and develop models to reduce the disruption rates of adoption.
(e)

Family Recovery and Reunification Program Replication Project.—
(1)

Purpose.—
The purpose of this subsection is to provide resources to the Secretary to support the conduct and evaluation of a family recovery and reunification program replication project (referred to in this subsection as the “project”) and to determine the extent to which such programs may be appropriate for use at different intervention points (such as when a child is at risk of entering foster care or when a child is living with a guardian while a parent is in treatment). The family recovery and reunification program conducted under the project shall use a recovery coach model that is designed to help reunify families and protect children by working with parents or guardians with a substance use disorder who have temporarily lost custody of their children.
(2)

Program components.—
The family recovery and reunification program conducted under the project shall adhere closely to the elements and protocol determined to be most effective in other recovery coaching programs that have been rigorously evaluated and shown to increase family reunification and protect children and, consistent with such elements and protocol, shall provide such items and services as—
(A)
assessments to evaluate the needs of the parent or guardian;
(B)
assistance in receiving the appropriate benefits to aid the parent or guardian in recovery;
(C)
services to assist the parent or guardian in prioritizing issues identified in assessments, establishing goals for resolving such issues that are consistent with the goals of the treatment provider, child welfare agency, courts, and other agencies involved with the parent or guardian or their children, and making a coordinated plan for achieving such goals;
(D)
home visiting services coordinated with the child welfare agency and treatment provider involved with the parent or guardian or their children;
(E)
case management services to remove barriers for the parent or guardian to participate and continue in treatment, as well as to re-engage a parent or guardian who is not participating or progressing in treatment;
(F)
access to services needed to monitor the parent’s or guardian's compliance with program requirements;
(G)
frequent reporting between the treatment provider, child welfare agency, courts, and other agencies involved with the parent or guardian or their children to ensure appropriate information on the parent’s or guardian's status is available to inform decision-making; and
(H)
assessments and recommendations provided by a recovery coach to the child welfare caseworker responsible for documenting the parent’s or guardian's progress in treatment and recovery as well as the status of other areas identified in the treatment plan for the parent or guardian, including a recommendation regarding the expected safety of the child if the child is returned to the custody of the parent or guardian that can be used by the caseworker and a court to make permanency decisions regarding the child.
(3)

Responsibilities of the secretary.—
(A)

In general.—
The Secretary shall, through a grant or contract with 1 or more entities, conduct and evaluate the family recovery and reunification program under the project.
(B)

Requirements.—
In identifying 1 or more entities to conduct the evaluation of the family recovery and reunification program, the Secretary shall—
(i)
determine that the area or areas in which the program will be conducted have sufficient substance use disorder treatment providers and other resources (other than those provided with funds made available to carry out the project) to successfully conduct the program;
(ii)
determine that the area or areas in which the program will be conducted have enough potential program participants, and will serve a sufficient number of parents or guardians and their children, so as to allow for the formation of a control group, evaluation results to be adequately powered, and preliminary results of the evaluation to be available within 4 years of the program's implementation;
(iii)
provide the entity or entities with technical assistance for the program design, including by working with 1 or more entities that are or have been involved in recovery coaching programs that have been rigorously evaluated and shown to increase family reunification and protect children so as to make sure the program conducted under the project adheres closely to the elements and protocol determined to be most effective in such other recovery coaching programs;
(iv)
assist the entity or entities in securing adequate coaching, treatment, child welfare, court, and other resources needed to successfully conduct the family recovery and reunification program under the project; and
(v)
ensure the entity or entities will be able to monitor the impacts of the program in the area or areas in which it is conducted for at least 5 years after parents or guardians and their children are randomly assigned to participate in the program or to be part of the program's control group.
(4)

Evaluation requirements.—
(A)

In general.—
The Secretary, in consultation with the entity or entities conducting the family recovery and reunification program under the project, shall conduct an evaluation to determine whether the program has been implemented effectively and resulted in improvements for children and families. The evaluation shall have 3 components: a pilot phase, an impact study, and an implementation study.
(B)

Pilot phase.—
The pilot phase component of the evaluation shall consist of the Secretary providing technical assistance to the entity or entities conducting the family recovery and reunification program under the project to ensure—
(i)
the program's implementation adheres closely to the elements and protocol determined to be most effective in other recovery coaching programs that have been rigorously evaluated and shown to increase family reunification and protect children; and
(ii)
random assignment of parents or guardians and their children to be participants in the program or to be part of the program's control group is being carried out.
(C)

Impact study.—
The impact study component of the evaluation shall determine the impacts of the family recovery and reunification program conducted under the project on the parents and guardians and their children participating in the program. The impact study component shall—
(i)
be conducted using an experimental design that uses a random assignment research methodology;
(ii)
consistent with previous studies of other recovery coaching programs that have been rigorously evaluated and shown to increase family reunification and protect children, measure outcomes for parents and guardians and their children over multiple time periods, including for a period of 5 years; and
(iii)
include measurements of family stability and parent, guardian, and child safety for program participants and the program control group that are consistent with measurements of such factors for participants and control groups from previous studies of other recovery coaching programs so as to allow results of the impact study to be compared with the results of such prior studies, including with respect to comparisons between program participants and the program control group regarding—
(I)
safe family reunification;
(II)
time to reunification;
(III)
permanency (such as through measures of reunification, adoption, or placement with guardians);
(IV)
safety (such as through measures of subsequent maltreatment);
(V)
parental or guardian treatment persistence and engagement;
(VI)
parental or guardian substance use;
(VII)
juvenile delinquency;
(VIII)
cost; and
(IX)
other measurements agreed upon by the Secretary and the entity or entities operating the family recovery and reunification program under the project.
(D)

Implementation study.—
The implementation study component of the evaluation shall be conducted concurrently with the conduct of the impact study component and shall include, in addition to such other information as the Secretary may determine, descriptions and analyses of—
(i)
the adherence of the family recovery and reunification program conducted under the project to other recovery coaching programs that have been rigorously evaluated and shown to increase family reunification and protect children; and
(ii)
the difference in services received or proposed to be received by the program participants and the program control group.
(E)

Report.—
The Secretary shall publish on an internet website maintained by the Secretary the following information:
(i)
A report on the pilot phase component of the evaluation.
(ii)
A report on the impact study component of the evaluation.
(iii)
A report on the implementation study component of the evaluation.
(iv)
A report that includes—
(I)
analyses of the extent to which the program has resulted in increased reunifications, increased permanency, case closures, net savings to the State or States involved (taking into account both costs borne by States and the Federal government), or other outcomes, or if the program did not produce such outcomes, an analysis of why the replication of the program did not yield such results;
(II)
if, based on such analyses, the Secretary determines the program should be replicated, a replication plan; and
(III)
such recommendations for legislation and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(5)

Appropriation.—
In addition to any amounts otherwise made available to carry out this subpart, out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 to carry out the project, which shall remain available through fiscal year 2026.
SEC. 436.
[42 U.S.C. 629f]

AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; RESERVATION OF CERTAIN AMOUNTS.
(a)

Authorization.—
In addition to any amount otherwise made available to carry out this subpart, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subpart $345,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023.
(b)

Reservation of Certain Amounts.—
From the amount specified in subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve amounts as follows:
(1)

Evaluation, research, training, and technical assistance.—
The Secretary shall reserve $6,000,000 for expenditure by the Secretary—
(A)
for research, training, and technical assistance costs related to the program under this subpart; and
(B)
for evaluation of State programs based on the plans approved under section 432 and funded under this subpart, and any other Federal, State, or local program, regardless of whether federally assisted, that is designed to achieve the same purposes as the State programs.
(2)

State court improvements.—
The Secretary shall reserve $30,000,000 for grants under section 438.
(3)

Indian tribes or tribal consortia.—
After applying paragraphs (4) and (5) (but before applying paragraphs (1) or (2)), the Secretary shall reserve 3 percent for allotment to Indian tribes or tribal consortia in accordance with section 433(a).
(4)

Support for monthly caseworker visits.—
(A)

Reservation.—
The Secretary shall reserve for allotment in accordance with section 433(e) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023.
(B)

Use of funds.—
(i)

In general.—
A State to which an amount is paid from amounts reserved under subparagraph (A) shall use the amount to improve the quality of monthly caseworker visits with children who are in foster care under the responsibility of the State, with an emphasis on improving caseworker decision making on the safety, permanency, and well-being of foster children and on activities designed to increase retention, recruitment, and training of caseworkers.
(ii)

Nonsupplantation.—
A State to which an amount is paid from amounts reserved pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not use the amount to supplant any Federal funds paid to the State under part E that could be used as described in clause (i).
(5)

Regional partnership grants.—
The Secretary shall reserve for awarding grants under section 437(f) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023.
(c)

Support for Foster Family Homes.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2018, $8,000,000 for the Secretary to make competitive grants to States, Indian tribes, or tribal consortia to support the recruitment and retention of high-quality foster families to increase their capacity to place more children in family settings, focused on States, Indian tribes, or tribal consortia with the highest percentage of children in non-family settings. The amount appropriated under this subparagraph shall remain available through fiscal year 2022.
SEC. 437.
[42 U.S.C. 629g]

DISCRETIONARY AND TARGETED GRANTS.
(a)

Limitations on Authorization of Appropriations.—
In addition to any amount appropriated pursuant to section 436, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023.
(b)

Reservation of Certain Amounts.—
From the amount (if any) appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve amounts as follows:
(1)

Evaluation, research, training, and technical assistance.—
The Secretary shall reserve 3.3 percent for expenditure by the Secretary for the activities described in section 436(b)(1).
(2)

State court improvements.—
The Secretary shall reserve 3.3 percent for grants under section 438.
(3)

Indian tribes or tribal consortia.—
The Secretary shall reserve 3 percent for allotment to Indian tribes or tribal consortia in accordance with subsection (c)(1).
(4)

Improving the interstate placement of children.—
The Secretary shall reserve $5,000,000 of the amount made available for fiscal year 2018 for grants under subsection (g), and the amount so reserved shall remain available through fiscal year 2022.
(c)

Allotments.—
(1)

Indian tribes or tribal consortia.—
From the amount (if any) reserved pursuant to subsection (b)(3) for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each Indian tribe with a plan approved under this subpart an amount that bears the same ratio to such reserved amount as the number of children in the Indian tribe bears to the total number of children in all Indian tribes with State plans so approved, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most current and reliable information available to the Secretary. If a consortium of Indian tribes applies and is approved for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall allot to the consortium an amount equal to the sum of the allotments determined for each Indian tribe that is part of the consortium.
(2)

Territories.—
From the amount (if any) appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) for any fiscal year that remains after applying subection 17 (b) for the fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each of the jurisdictions of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa an amount determined in the same manner as the allotment to each of such jurisdictions is determined under section 423.
^{17}
So in law. The word “subection” in subsection (c)(2) probably should read “subsection”.
(3)

Other states.—
From the amount (if any) appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) for any fiscal year that remains after applying subsection (b) and paragraph (2) of this subsection for the fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each State (other than an Indian tribe) which is not specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection an amount equal to such remaining amount multiplied by the supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits percentage (as defined in section 433(c)(2)) of the State for the fiscal year.
(d)

Grants.—
The Secretary may make a grant to a State which has a plan approved under this subpart in an amount equal to the lesser of—
(1)
75 percent of the total expenditures by the State for activities under the plan during the fiscal year or the immediately succeeding fiscal year; or
(2)
the allotment of the State under subsection (c) for the fiscal year.
(e)

Applicability of Certain Rules.—
The rules of subsections (b) and (c) of section 434 shall apply in like manner to the amounts made available pursuant to subsection (a).
(f)

Targeted Grants To Implement IV–E Prevention Services, and Improve the Well-Being of, and Improve Permanency Outcomes for, Children and Families Affected by Heroin, Opioids, and Other Substance Abuse.—
(1)

Purpose.—
The purpose of this subsection is to authorize the Secretary to make competitive grants to regional partnerships to provide, through interagency collaboration and integration of programs and services, services and activities that are designed to increase the well-being of, improve permanency outcomes for, and enhance the safety of children who are in an out-of-home placement or are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement as a result of a parent's or caretaker's substance abuse.
(2)

Regional partnership defined.—
In this subsection, the term “regional partnership” means a collaborative agreement (which may be established on an interstate, State, or intrastate basis) entered into by the following:
(A)

Mandatory partners for all partnership grants.—
(i)
The State child welfare agency that is responsible for the administration of the State plan under this part and part E.
(ii)
The State agency responsible for administering the substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant provided under subpart II of part B of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act.
(B)

Mandatory partners for partnership grants proposing to serve children in out-of-home placements.—
If the partnership proposes to serve children in out-of-home placements, the Juvenile Court or Administrative Office of the Court that is most appropriate to oversee the administration of court programs in the region to address the population of families who come to the attention of the court due to child abuse or neglect.
(C)

Optional partners.—
At the option of the partnership, any of the following:
(i)
An Indian tribe or tribal consortium.
(ii)
Nonprofit child welfare service providers.
(iii)
For-profit child welfare service providers.
(iv)
Community health service providers, including substance abuse treatment providers.
(v)
Community mental health providers.
(vi)
Local law enforcement agencies.
(vii)
School personnel.
(viii)
Tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortia of the agencies).
(ix)
Any other providers, agencies, personnel, officials, or entities that are related to the provision of child and family services under a State plan approved under this subpart.
(D)

Exception for regional partnerships where the lead applicant is an indian tribe or tribal consortia.—
If an Indian tribe or tribal consortium enters into a regional partnership for purposes of this subsection, the Indian tribe or tribal consortium—
(i)
may (but is not required to) include the State child welfare agency as a partner in the collaborative agreement;
(ii)
may not enter into a collaborative agreement only with tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortium of the agencies); and
(iii)
if the condition described in paragraph (2)(B) applies, may include tribal court organizations in lieu of other judicial partners.
(3)

Authority to award grants.—
(A)

In general.—
In addition to amounts authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary shall award grants under this subsection, from the amounts reserved for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023 under section 436(b)(5), to regional partnerships that satisfy the requirements of this subsection, in amounts that are not less than $250,000 and not more than $1,000,000 per grant per fiscal year.
(B)

Required minimum period of approval; planning.—
(i)

In general.—
A grant shall be awarded under this subsection for a period of not less than 2, and not more than 5, fiscal years, subject to clauses (ii) and (iii).
(ii)

Extension of grant.—
On application of the grantee, the Secretary may extend for not more than 2 fiscal years the period for which a grant is awarded under this subsection.
(iii)

Sufficient planning.—
A grant awarded under this subsection shall be disbursed in two phases: a planning phase (not to exceed 2 years) and an implementation phase. The total disbursement to a grantee for the planning phase may not exceed $250,000, and may not exceed the total anticipated funding for the implementation phase.
(C)

Multiple grants allowed.—
This subsection shall not be interpreted to prevent a grantee from applying for, or being awarded, separate grants under this subsection.
(D)

Limitation on payment for a fiscal year.—
No payment shall be made under subparagraph (A) or (C) for a fiscal year until the Secretary determines that the eligible partnership has made sufficient progress in meeting the goals of the grant and that the members of the eligible partnership are coordinating to a reasonable degree with the other members of the eligible partnership.
(4)

Application requirements.—
To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, a regional partnership shall submit to the Secretary a written application containing the following:
(A)
Recent evidence demonstrating that substance abuse has had a substantial impact on the number of out-of-home placements for children, or the number of children who are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement, in the partnership region.
(B)
A description of the goals and outcomes to be achieved during the funding period for the grant that will—
(i)
enhance the well-being of children, parents, and families receiving services or taking part in activities conducted with funds provided under the grant;
(ii)
lead to safe, permanent caregiving relationships for the children;
(iii)
improve the substance abuse treatment outcomes for parents including retention in treatment and successful completion of treatment;
(iv)
facilitate the implementation, delivery, and effectiveness of prevention services and programs under section 471(e); and
(v)
decrease the number of out-of-home placements for children, increase reunification rates for children who have been placed in out-of-home care, or decrease the number of children who are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement, in the partnership region.
(C)
A description of the joint activities to be funded in whole or in part with the funds provided under the grant, including the sequencing of the activities proposed to be conducted under the funding period for the grant.
(D)
A description of the strategies for integrating programs and services determined to be appropriate for the child and the child's family.
(E)
A description of a plan for sustaining the services provided by or activities funded under the grant after the conclusion of the grant period, including through the use of prevention services and programs under section 471(e) and other funds provided to the State for child welfare and substance abuse prevention and treatment services.
(F)
Additional information needed by the Secretary to determine that the proposed activities and implementation will be consistent with research or evaluations showing which practices and approaches are most effective.
(5)

Use of funds.—
Funds made available under a grant made under this subsection shall only be used for services or activities that are consistent with the purpose of this subsection and may include the following:
(A)
Family-based comprehensive long-term substance use disorder treatment including medication assisted treatment and in-home substance abuse disorder treatment and recovery services.
(B)
Early intervention and preventative services.
(C)
Children and family counseling.
(D)
Mental health services.
(E)
Parenting skills training.
(F)
Replication of successful models for providing family-based comprehensive long-term substance abuse treatment services.
(6)

Matching requirement.—
(A)

Federal share.—
A grant awarded under this subsection shall be available to pay a percentage share of the costs of services provided or activities conducted under such grant, not to exceed—
(i)
85 percent for the first and second fiscal years for which the grant is awarded to a recipient;
(ii)
80 percent for the third and fourth such fiscal years;
(iii)
75 percent for the fifth such fiscal year;
(iv)
70 percent for the sixth such fiscal year; and
(v)
65 percent for the seventh such fiscal year.
(B)

Non-federal share.—
The non-Federal share of the cost of services provided or activities conducted under a grant awarded under this subsection may be in cash or in kind. In determining the amount of the non-Federal share, the Secretary may attribute fair market value to goods, services, and facilities contributed from non-Federal sources.
(7)

Considerations in awarding grants.—
In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into consideration the extent to which applicant regional partnerships—
(A)
demonstrate that substance abuse by parents or caretakers has had a substantial impact on the number of out-of-home placements for children, or the number of children who are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement, in the partnership region;
(B)
have limited resources for addressing the needs of children affected by such abuse;
(C)
have a lack of capacity for, or access to, comprehensive family treatment services;
(D)
demonstrate a track record of successful collaboration among child welfare, substance abuse disorder treatment and mental health agencies; and
(E)
demonstrate a plan for sustaining the services provided by or activities funded under the grant after the conclusion of the grant period.
(8)

Performance indicators.—
(A)

In general.—
Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall review indicators that are used to assess periodically the performance of the grant recipients under this subsection and establish a set of core indicators related to child safety, parental recovery, parenting capacity, and family well-being. In developing the core indicators, to the extent possible, indicators shall be made consistent with the outcome measures described in section 471(e)(6).
(B)

Consultation required.—
In establishing the performance indicators required by subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall base the performance measures on lessons learned from prior rounds of regional partnership grants under this subsection, and consult with the following:
(i)
The Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families.
(ii)
The Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
(iii)
Other stakeholders or constituencies as determined by the Secretary.
(9)

Reports.—
(A)

Grantee reports.—
(i)

Semiannual reports.—
Not later than September 30 of each fiscal year in which a recipient of a grant under this subsection is paid funds under the grant, and every 6 months thereafter, the grant recipient shall submit to the Secretary a report on the services provided and activities carried out during the reporting period, progress made in achieving the goals of the program, the number of children, adults, and families receiving services, and such additional information as the Secretary determines is necessary. The report due not later than September 30 of the last such fiscal year shall include, at a minimum, data on each of the performance indicators included in the evaluation of the regional partnership.
(ii)

Incorporation of information related to performance indicators.—
Each recipient of a grant under this subsection shall incorporate into the first annual report required by clause (i) that is submitted after the establishment of performance indicators under paragraph (8), information required in relation to such indicators.
(B)

Reports to congress.—
On the basis of the reports submitted under subparagraph (A), the Secretary annually shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on—
(i)
the services provided and activities conducted with funds provided under grants awarded under this subsection;
(ii)
the performance indicators established under paragraph (8); and
(iii)
the progress that has been made in addressing the needs of families with substance abuse problems who come to the attention of the child welfare system and in achieving the goals of child safety, permanence, and family stability.
(10)

Limitation on use of funds for administrative expenses of the secretary.—
Not more than 5 percent of the amounts appropriated or reserved for awarding grants under this subsection for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023 may be used by the Secretary for salaries and Department of Health and Human Services administrative expenses in administering this subsection.
(g)

Funding for the Development of an Electronic Interstate Case-processing System to Expedite the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care or Guardianship, or for Adoption.—
(1)

Purpose.—
The purpose of this subsection is to facilitate the development of an electronic interstate case-processing system for the exchange of data and documents to expedite the placements of children in foster, guardianship, or adoptive homes across State lines.
(2)

Requirements.—
A State that seeks funding under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary the following:
(A)
A description of the goals and outcomes to be achieved, which goals and outcomes must result in—
(i)
reducing the time it takes for a child to be provided with a safe and appropriate permanent living arrangement across State lines;
(ii)
improving administrative processes and reducing costs in the foster care system; and
(iii)
the secure exchange of relevant case files and other necessary materials in real time, and timely communications and placement decisions regarding interstate placements of children.
(B)
A description of the activities to be funded in whole or in part with the funds, including the sequencing of the activities.
(C)
A description of the strategies for integrating programs and services for children who are placed across State lines.
(D)
Such other information as the Secretary may require.
(3)

Funding authority.—
The Secretary may provide funds to a State that complies with paragraph (2). In providing funds under this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize States that are not yet connected with the electronic interstate case-processing system referred to in paragraph (1).
(4)

Use of funds.—
A State to which funding is provided under this subsection shall use the funding to support the State in connecting with, or enhancing or expediting services provided under, the electronic interstate case-processing system referred to in paragraph (1).
(5)

Evaluations.—
Not later than 1 year after the final year in which funds are awarded under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress, and make available to the general public by posting on a website, a report that contains the following information:
(A)
How using the electronic interstate case-processing system developed pursuant to paragraph (4) has changed the time it takes for children to be placed across State lines.
(B)
The number of cases subject to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children that were processed through the electronic interstate case-processing system, and the number of interstate child placement cases that were processed outside the electronic interstate case-processing system, by each State in each year.
(C)
The progress made by States in implementing the electronic interstate case-processing system.
(D)
How using the electronic interstate case-processing system has affected various metrics related to child safety and well-being, including the time it takes for children to be placed across State lines.
(E)
How using the electronic interstate case-processing system has affected administrative costs and caseworker time spent on placing children across State lines.
(6)

Data integration.—
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretariat for the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and the States, shall assess how the electronic interstate case-processing system developed pursuant to paragraph (4) could be used to better serve and protect children that come to the attention of the child welfare system, by—
(A)
connecting the system with other data systems (such as systems operated by State law enforcement and judicial agencies, systems operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purposes of the Innocence Lost National Initiative, and other systems);
(B)
simplifying and improving reporting related to paragraphs (34) and (35) of section 471(a) regarding children or youth who have been identified as being a sex trafficking victim or children missing from foster care; and
(C)
improving the ability of States to quickly comply with background check requirements of section 471(a)(20), including checks of child abuse and neglect registries as required by section 471(a)(20)(B).
SEC. 438.
[42 U.S.C. 629h]

ENTITLEMENT FUNDING FOR STATE COURTS TO ASSESS AND IMPROVE HANDLING OF PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION.
(a)

In General.—
The Secretary shall make grants, in accordance with this section, to the highest State courts in States participating in the program under part E, for the purpose of enabling such courts—
(1)
to conduct assessments, in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary shall publish, of the role, responsibilities, and effectiveness of State courts in carrying out State laws requiring proceedings (conducted by or under the supervision of the courts)—
(A)
that implement parts B and E;
(B)
that determine the advisability or appropriateness of foster care placement;
(C)
that determine whether to terminate parental rights;
(D)
that determine whether to approve the adoption or other permanent placement of a child;18
^{18}
So in law. The word “and” probably should appear at the end of subsection (a)(1)(D).
(E)
that determine the best strategy to use to expedite the interstate placement of children, including—
(i)
requiring courts in different States to cooperate in the sharing of information;
(ii)
authorizing courts to obtain information and testimony from agencies and parties in other States without requiring interstate travel by the agencies and parties; and
(iii)
permitting the participation of parents, children, other necessary parties, and attorneys in cases involving interstate placement without requiring their interstate travel; and 19
^{19}
So in law. The word “and” at the end of subsecton (a)(1)(E)(iii) probably should not appear.
(2)
to implement improvements the highest state 20 courts deem necessary as a result of the assessments, including—
^{20}
So in law. The word “state” probably should read “State”.
(A)
to provide for the safety, well-being, and permanence of children in foster care in a timely and complete manner, as set forth in the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–89), including the requirements in the Act related to concurrent planning;
(B)
to implement a corrective action plan, as necessary, resulting from reviews of child and family service programs under section 1123A of this Act; and
(C)
to increase and improve engagement of the entire family in court processes relating to child welfare, family preservation, family reunification, and adoption, including by training judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel.
(b)

Applications.—
In order to be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a highest State court shall have in effect a rule requiring State courts to ensure that foster parents, pre-adoptive parents, and relative caregivers of a child in foster care under the responsibility of the State are notified of any proceeding to be held with respect to the child, shall provide for the training of judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel in child welfare cases on Federal child welfare policies and payment limitations with respect to children in foster care who are placed in settings that are not a foster family home, and shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and including such information and assurances as the Secretary may require, including—
(1)
a description of how courts and child welfare agencies on the local and State levels will use not less than 30 percent of grant funds to collaborate and jointly plan for the collection and sharing of all relevant data and information to demonstrate how improved case tracking and analysis of child abuse and neglect cases will produce safe and timely permanency decisions;
(2)
a demonstration that a portion of the grant will be used for cross-training initiatives that are jointly planned and executed with the State agency or any other agency under contract with the State to administer the State program under the State plan under subpart 1, the State plan approved under section 434, or the State plan approved under part E; and
(C)
in the case of a grant for any purpose described in subsection (a),21 a demonstration of meaningful and ongoing collaboration among the courts in the State, the State agency or any other agency under contract with the State who is responsible for administering the State program under part B or E, and, where applicable, Indian tribes.
^{21}
Subparagraph (C) is so in law. The amendment by clause (iv) of section 305(b)(2)(C) of division CC of Public Law 116–260 to subparagraph (C) to strike “(C) in the case of a grant for the purpose described in subsection (a),’’ and inserting ‘‘(3)” does not execute because the phrase being struck does not appear in law.
(c)

Amount of Grant.—
(1)

In general.—
From the amounts reserved under sections 436(b)(2) and 437(b)(2) for a fiscal year, each highest State court that has an application approved under this section for the fiscal year shall be entitled to payment of an amount equal to the sum of—
(A)
$255,000; and
(B)
the amount described in paragraph (2) with respect to the court and the fiscal year.
(2)

Amount described.—
The amount described in this paragraph with respect to a court and a fiscal year is the amount that bears the same ratio to the total of the amounts reserved under sections 436(b)(2) and 437(b)(2) for grants under this section for the fiscal year (after applying paragraphs (1)(A) and (3) of this subsection) as the number of individuals in the State in which the court is located who have not attained 21 years of age bears to the total number of such individuals in all States with a highest State court that has an approved application under this section for the fiscal year.
(3)

Indian tribes.—
From the amounts reserved under section 436(b)(2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall, before applying paragraph (1) of this subsection, allocate $1,000,000 for grants to be awarded on a competitive basis among the highest courts of Indian tribes or tribal consortia that—
(A)
are operating a program under part E, in accordance with section 479B;
(B)
are seeking to operate a program under part E and have received an implementation grant under section 476; or
(C)
have a court responsible for proceedings related to foster care or adoption.
(d)

Federal Share.—
Each highest State court which receives funds paid under this section may use such funds to pay not more than 75 percent of the cost of activities under this section in each of fiscal years 2017 through 202322.
^{22}
Section 305(b)(4) of division CC of Public Law 116–260 provides for an amendment to subsection (d) by striking “2017 through 2021” and inserting “2018 through 2022”. Subsection (c) of such section 305 provides: “The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2021”.
Effective on such date, the amendment will not execute as a result of the amendment made by section 7(d) of division X of Public Law 116–260 which struck “2021” and inserted “2022” (effective on date of enactment). Subsequently amended by section 6103(a)(4) of division FF of Public Law 117–328 striking “2022” and inserting “2023”.
SEC. 439.
[42 U.S.C. 629i]

GRANTS FOR PROGRAMS FOR MENTORING CHILDREN OF PRISONERS.
(a)

Findings and Purposes.—
(1)

Findings.—
(A)
In the period between 1991 and 1999, the number of children with a parent incarcerated in a Federal or State correctional facility increased by more than 100 percent, from approximately 900,000 to approximately 2,000,000. In 1999, 2.1 percent of all children in the United States had a parent in Federal or State prison.
(B)
Prior to incarceration, 64 percent of female prisoners and 44 percent of male prisoners in State facilities lived with their children.
(C)
Nearly 90 percent of the children of incarcerated fathers live with their mothers, and 79 percent of the children of incarcerated mothers live with a grandparent or other relative.
(D)
Parental arrest and confinement lead to stress, trauma, stigmatization, and separation problems for children. These problems are coupled with existing problems that include poverty, violence, parental substance abuse, high-crime environments, intrafamilial abuse, child abuse and neglect, multiple care givers, and/or prior separations. As a result, these children often exhibit a broad variety of behavioral, emotional, health, and educational problems that are often compounded by the pain of separation.
(E)
Empirical research demonstrates that mentoring is a potent force for improving children's behavior across all risk behaviors affecting health. Quality, one-on-one relationships that provide young people with caring role models for future success have profound, life-changing potential. Done right, mentoring markedly advances youths' life prospects. A widely cited 1995 study by Public/Private Ventures measured the impact of one Big Brothers Big Sisters program and found significant effects in the lives of youth—cutting first-time drug use by almost half and first-time alcohol use by about a third, reducing school absenteeism by half, cutting assaultive behavior by a third, improving parental and peer relationships, giving youth greater confidence in their school work, and improving academic performance.
(2)

Purposes.—
The purposes of this section are to authorize the Secretary—
(A)
to make competitive grants to applicants in areas with substantial numbers of children of incarcerated parents, to support the establishment or expansion and operation of programs using a network of public and private community entities to provide mentoring services for children of prisoners; and
(B)
to enter into on a competitive basis a cooperative agreement to conduct a service delivery demonstration project in accordance with the requirements of subsection (g).
(b)

Definitions.—
In this section:
(1)

Children of prisoners.—
The term “children of prisoners” means children one or both of whose parents are incarcerated in a Federal, State, or local correctional facility. The term is deemed to include children who are in an ongoing mentoring relationship in a program under this section at the time of their parents' release from prison, for purposes of continued participation in the program.
(2)

Mentoring.—
The term “mentoring” means a structured, managed program in which children are appropriately matched with screened and trained adult volunteers for one-on-one relationships, involving meetings and activities on a regular basis, intended to meet, in part, the child's need for involvement with a caring and supportive adult who provides a positive role model.
(3)

Mentoring services.—
The term “mentoring services” means those services and activities that support a structured, managed program of mentoring, including the management by trained personnel of outreach to, and screening of, eligible children; outreach to, education and training of, and liaison with sponsoring local organizations; screening and training of adult volunteers; matching of children with suitable adult volunteer mentors; support and oversight of the mentoring relationship; and establishment of goals and evaluation of outcomes for mentored children.
(c)

Program Authorized.—
From the amounts appropriated under subsection (i) for a fiscal year that remain after applying subsection (i)(2), the Secretary shall make grants under this section for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011 to State or local governments, tribal governments or tribal consortia, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations in areas that have significant numbers of children of prisoners and that submit applications meeting the requirements of this section, in amounts that do not exceed $5,000,000 per grant.
(d)

Application Requirements.—
In order to be eligible for a grant under this section, the chief executive officer of the applicant must submit to the Secretary an application containing the following:
(1)

Program design.—
A description of the proposed program, including—
(A)
a list of local public and private organizations and entities that will participate in the mentoring network;
(B)
the name, description, and qualifications of the entity that will coordinate and oversee the activities of the mentoring network;
(C)
the number of mentor-child matches proposed to be established and maintained annually under the program;
(D)
such information as the Secretary may require concerning the methods to be used to recruit, screen support, and oversee individuals participating as mentors, (which methods shall include criminal background checks on the individuals), and to evaluate outcomes for participating children, including information necessary to demonstrate compliance with requirements established by the Secretary for the program; and
(E)
such other information as the Secretary may require.
(2)

Community consultation; coordination with other programs.—
A demonstration that, in developing and implementing the program, the applicant will, to the extent feasible and appropriate—
(A)
consult with public and private community entities, including religious organizations, and including, as appropriate, Indian tribal organizations and urban Indian organizations, and with family members of potential clients;
(B)
coordinate the programs and activities under the program with other Federal, State, and local programs serving children and youth; and
(C)
consult with appropriate Federal, State, and local corrections, workforce development, and substance abuse and mental health agencies.
(3)

Equal access for local service providers.—
An assurance that public and private entities and community organizations, including religious organizations and Indian organizations, will be eligible to participate on an equal basis.
(4)

Records, reports, and audits.—
An agreement that the applicant will maintain such records, make such reports, and cooperate with such reviews or audits as the Secretary may find necessary for purposes of oversight of project activities and expenditures.
(5)

Evaluation.—
An agreement that the applicant will cooperate fully with the Secretary's ongoing and final evaluation of the program under the plan, by means including providing the Secretary access to the program and program-related records and documents, staff, and grantees receiving funding under the plan.
(e)

Federal Share.—
(1)

In general.—
A grant for a program under this section shall be available to pay a percentage share of the costs of the program up to—
(A)
75 percent for the first and second fiscal years for which the grant is awarded; and
(B)
50 percent for the third and each succeeding such fiscal years.
(2)

Non-federal share.—
The non-Federal share of the cost of projects under this section may be in cash or in kind. In determining the amount of the non-Federal share, the Secretary may attribute fair market value to goods, services, and facilities contributed from non-Federal sources.
(f)

Considerations in Awarding Grants.—
In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall take into consideration—
(1)
the qualifications and capacity of applicants and networks of organizations to effectively carry out a mentoring program under this section;
(2)
the comparative severity of need for mentoring services in local areas, taking into consideration data on the numbers of children (and in particular of low-income children) with an incarcerated parents 23 (or parents) in the areas;
^{23}
So in law. The first reference to the word “parents” in subsection (f)(2) probably should be “parent”.
(3)
evidence of consultation with existing youth and family service programs, as appropriate; and
(4)
any other factors the Secretary may deem significant with respect to the need for or the potential success of carrying out a mentoring program under this section.
(g)

Service Delivery Demonstration Project.—
(1)

Purpose; authority to enter into cooperative agreement.—
The Secretary shall enter into a cooperative agreement with an eligible entity that meets the requirements of paragraph (2) for the purpose of requiring the entity to conduct a demonstration project consistent with this subsection under which the entity shall—
(A)
identify children of prisoners in need of mentoring services who have not been matched with a mentor by an applicant awarded a grant under this section, with a priority for identifying children who—
(i)
reside in an area not served by a recipient of a grant under this section;
(ii)
reside in an area that has a substantial number of children of prisoners;
(iii)
reside in a rural area; or
(iv)
are Indians;
(B)
provide the families of the children so identified with—
(i)
a voucher for mentoring services that meets the requirements of paragraph (5); and
(ii)
a list of the providers of mentoring services in the area in which the family resides that satisfy the requirements of paragraph (6); and
(C)
monitor and oversee the delivery of mentoring services by providers that accept the vouchers.
(2)

Eligible entity.—
(A)

In general.—
Subject to subparagraph (B), an eligible entity under this subsection is an organization that the Secretary determines, on a competitive basis—
(i)
has substantial experience—
(I)
in working with organizations that provide mentoring services for children of prisoners; and
(II)
in developing quality standards for the identification and assessment of mentoring programs for children of prisoners; and
(ii)
submits an application that satisfies the requirements of paragraph (3).
(B)

Limitation.—
An organization that provides mentoring services may not be an eligible entity for purposes of being awarded a cooperative agreement under this subsection.
(3)

Application requirements.—
To be eligible to be awarded a cooperative agreement under this subsection, an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application that includes the following:
(A)

Qualifications.—
Evidence that the entity—
(i)
meets the experience requirements of paragraph (2)(A)(i); and
(ii)
is able to carry out—
(I)
the purposes of this subsection identified in paragraph (1); and
(II)
the requirements of the cooperative agreement specified in paragraph (4).
(B)

Service delivery plan.—
(i)

Distribution requirements.—
Subject to clause (iii), a description of the plan of the entity to ensure the distribution of not less than—
(I)
3,000 vouchers for mentoring services in the first year in which the cooperative agreement is in effect with that entity;
(II)
8,000 vouchers for mentoring services in the second year in which the agreement is in effect with that entity; and
(III)
13,000 vouchers for mentoring services in any subsequent year in which the agreement is in effect with that entity.
(ii)

Satisfaction of priorities.—
A description of how the plan will ensure the delivery of mentoring services to children identified in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (1)(A).
(iii)

Secretarial authority to modify distribution requirement.—
The Secretary may modify the number of vouchers specified in subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (i) to take into account the availability of appropriations and the need to ensure that the vouchers distributed by the entity are for amounts that are adequate to ensure the provision of mentoring services for a 12-month period.
(C)

Collaboration and cooperation.—
A description of how the entity will ensure collaboration and cooperation with other interested parties, including courts and prisons, with respect to the delivery of mentoring services under the demonstration project.
(D)

Other.—
Any other information that the Secretary may find necessary to demonstrate the capacity of the entity to satisfy the requirements of this subsection.
(4)

Cooperative agreement requirements.—
A cooperative agreement awarded under this subsection shall require the eligible entity to do the following:
(A)

Identify quality standards for providers.—
To work with the Secretary to identify the quality standards that a provider of mentoring services must meet in order to participate in the demonstration project and which, at a minimum, shall include criminal records checks for individuals who are prospective mentors and shall prohibit approving any individual to be a mentor if the criminal records check of the individual reveals a conviction which would prevent the individual from being approved as a foster or adoptive parent under section 471(a)(20)(A).
(B)

Identify eligible providers.—
To identify and compile a list of those providers of mentoring services in any of the 50 States or the District of Columbia that meet the quality standards identified pursuant to subparagraph (A).
(C)

Identify eligible children.—
To identify children of prisoners who require mentoring services, consistent with the priorities specified in paragraph (1)(A).
(D)

Monitor and oversee delivery of mentoring services.—
To satisfy specific requirements of the Secretary for monitoring and overseeing the delivery of mentoring services under the demonstration project, which shall include a requirement to ensure that providers of mentoring services under the project report data on the children served and the types of mentoring services provided.
(E)

Records, reports, and audits.—
To maintain any records, make any reports, and cooperate with any reviews and audits that the Secretary determines are necessary to oversee the activities of the entity in carrying out the demonstration project under this subsection.
(F)

Evaluations.—
To cooperate fully with any evaluations of the demonstration project, including collecting and monitoring data and providing the Secretary or the Secretary's designee with access to records and staff related to the conduct of the project.
(G)

Limitation on administrative expenditures.—
To ensure that administrative expenditures incurred by the entity in conducting the demonstration project with respect to a fiscal year do not exceed the amount equal to 10 percent of the amount awarded to carry out the project for that year.
(5)

Voucher requirements.—
A voucher for mentoring services provided to the family of a child identified in accordance with paragraph (1)(A) shall meet the following requirements:
(A)

Total payment amount; 12-month service period.—
The voucher shall specify the total amount to be paid a provider of mentoring services for providing the child on whose behalf the voucher is issued with mentoring services for a 12-month period.
(B)

Periodic payments as services provided.—
(i)

In general.—
The voucher shall specify that it may be redeemed with the eligible entity by the provider accepting the voucher in return for agreeing to provide mentoring services for the child on whose behalf the voucher is issued.
(ii)

Demonstration of the provision of services.—
A provider that redeems a voucher issued by the eligible entity shall receive periodic payments from the eligible entity during the 12-month period that the voucher is in effect upon demonstration of the provision of significant services and activities related to the provision of mentoring services to the child on whose behalf the voucher is issued.
(6)

Provider requirements.—
In order to participate in the demonstration project, a provider of mentoring services shall—
(A)
meet the quality standards identified by the eligible entity in accordance with paragraph (1);
(B)
agree to accept a voucher meeting the requirements of paragraph (5) as payment for the provision of mentoring services to a child on whose behalf the voucher is issued;
(C)
demonstrate that the provider has the capacity, and has or will have nonfederal resources, to continue supporting the provision of mentoring services to the child on whose behalf the voucher is issued, as appropriate, after the conclusion of the 12-month period during which the voucher is in effect; and
(D)
if the provider is a recipient of a grant under this section, demonstrate that the provider has exhausted its capacity for providing mentoring services under the grant.
(7)

3-year period; option for renewal.—
(A)

In general.—
A cooperative agreement awarded under this subsection shall be effective for a 3-year period.
(B)

Renewal.—
The cooperative agreement may be renewed for an additional period, not to exceed 2 years and subject to any conditions that the Secretary may specify that are not inconsistent with the requirements of this subsection or subsection (i)(2)(B), if the Secretary determines that the entity has satisfied the requirements of the agreement and evaluations of the service delivery demonstration project demonstrate that the voucher service delivery method is effective in providing mentoring services to children of prisoners.
(8)

Independent evaluation and report.—
(A)

In general.—
The Secretary shall enter into a contract with an independent, private organization to evaluate and prepare a report on the first 2 fiscal years in which the demonstration project is conducted under this subsection.
(B)

Deadline for report.—
Not later than 90 days after the end of the second fiscal year in which the demonstration project is conducted under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit the report required under subparagraph (A) to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate. The report shall include—
(i)
the number of children as of the end of such second fiscal year who received vouchers for mentoring services; and
(ii)
any conclusions regarding the use of vouchers for the delivery of mentoring services for children of prisoners.
(9)

No effect on eligibility for other federal assistance.—
A voucher provided to a family under the demonstration project conducted under this subsection shall be disregarded for purposes of determining the eligibility for, or the amount of, any other Federal or federally-supported assistance for the family.
(h)

Independent Evaluation; Reports.—
(1)

Independent evaluation.—
The Secretary shall conduct by grant, contract, or cooperative agreement an independent evaluation of the programs authorized under this section, including the service delivery demonstration project authorized under subsection (g).
(2)

Reports.—
Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress that includes the following:
(A)
The characteristics of the mentoring programs funded under this section.
(B)
The plan for implementation of the service delivery demonstration project authorized under subsection (g).
(C)
A description of the outcome-based evaluation of the programs authorized under this section that the Secretary is conducting as of that date of enactment and how the evaluation has been expanded to include an evaluation of the demonstration project authorized under subsection (g).
(D)
The date on which the Secretary shall submit a final report on the evaluation to the Congress.
(i)

Authorization of Appropriations; Reservations of Certain Amounts.—
(1)

Limitations on authorization of appropriations.—
To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2007 through 2011.
(2)

Reservations.—
(A)

Research, technical assistance, and evaluation.—
The Secretary shall reserve 4 percent of the amount appropriated for each fiscal year under paragraph (1) for expenditure by the Secretary for research, technical assistance, and evaluation related to programs under this section.
(B)

Service delivery demonstration project.—
(i)

In general.—
Subject to clause (ii), for purposes of awarding a cooperative agreement to conduct the service delivery demonstration project authorized under subsection (g), the Secretary shall reserve not more than—
(I)
$5,000,000 of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for the first fiscal year in which funds are to be awarded for the agreement;
(II)
$10,000,000 of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for the second fiscal year in which funds are to be awarded for the agreement; and
(III)
$15,000,000 of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for the third fiscal year in which funds are to be awarded for the agreement.
(ii)

Assurance of funding for general program grants.—
With respect to any fiscal year, no funds may be awarded for a cooperative agreement under subsection (g), unless at least $25,000,000 of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for that fiscal year is used by the Secretary for making grants under this section for that fiscal year.
Subpart 3—

Common Provisions
SEC. 440.
[42 U.S.C. 629m]

DATA EXCHANGE STANDARDS FOR IMPROVED INTEROPERABILITY.
(a)

Designation.—
The Secretary shall, in consultation with an interagency work group established by the Office of Management and Budget and considering State government perspectives, by rule, designate data exchange standards to govern, under this part and part E—
(1)
necessary categories of information that State agencies operating programs under State plans approved under this part are required under applicable Federal law to electronically exchange with another State agency; and
(2)
Federal reporting and data exchange required under applicable Federal law.
(b)

Requirements.—
The data exchange standards required by paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable—
(1)
incorporate a widely accepted, non-proprietary, searchable, computer-readable format, such as the Extensible Markup Language;
(2)
contain interoperable standards developed and maintained by intergovernmental partnerships, such as the National Information Exchange Model;
(3)
incorporate interoperable standards developed and maintained by Federal entities with authority over contracting and financial assistance;
(4)
be consistent with and implement applicable accounting principles;
(5)
be implemented in a manner that is cost-effective and improves program efficiency and effectiveness; and
(6)
be capable of being continually upgraded as necessary.
(c)

Rule of Construction.—
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a change to existing data exchange standards found to be effective and efficient.
[Effective on October 1, 2025, title I of Public Law 118–258 provides for amendments to various provisions of part B. For the effective date and applicability, see section 117(a) of such Public Law. Upon such date, part B (as so amended) will read as follows:]
PART B—

CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES
Subpart 1—

Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program

purpose
Sec. 421.
[42 U.S.C. 621]
The purpose of this subpart is to promote State flexibility in the development and expansion of a coordinated child and family services program that utilizes community-based agencies and ensures all children are raised in safe, loving families, by—
(1)
protecting and promoting the welfare of all children;
(2)
preventing the neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children;
(3)
supporting at-risk families through services which allow children, where appropriate, to remain safely with their families or return to their families in a timely manner;
(4)
promoting the safety, permanence, and well-being of children in foster care and adoptive families; and
(5)
providing training, professional development and support to ensure a well-qualified child welfare workforce.

state plans for child welfare services
Sec. 422.
[42 U.S.C. 622]
(a)
In order to be eligible for payment under this subpart, a State must have a plan for child welfare services which has been developed jointly by the Secretary and the State agency designated pursuant to subsection (b)(1), and which meets the requirements of subsection (b).
(b)
Each plan for child welfare services under this subpart shall—
(1)
provide that a State agency will administer or supervise the administration of the plan under this subpart;
(2)
provide for coordination between the services provided for children under the plan and the services and assistance provided under subtitle 1 of title XX 24, under the State program funded under part A, under the State plan approved under subpart 2 of this part, under the State plan approved under the State plan approved under part E, and under other State programs having a relationship to the program under this subpart, with a view to provision of welfare and related services which will best promote the welfare of such children and their families;
^{24}
So in law. The reference to subtitle 1 in paragraphs (1) and (2) probably should be to subtitle A.
(3)
include a description of the services and activities which the State will fund under the State program carried out pursuant to this subpart, and how the services and activities will achieve the purpose of this subpart;
(4)
contain a description of—
(A)
the steps the State will take to provide child welfare services statewide and to expand and strengthen the range of existing services and develop and implement services to improve child outcomes;
(B)
the child welfare services staff development and training plans of the State; and
(C)
the steps that the State will take to ensure that, with respect to any judicial proceeding involving a child and in which there is an allegation of child abuse or neglect, including a proceeding on dependency, adoption, guardianship, or termination of parental rights, information about available independent legal representation is provided to—
(i)
the child, as appropriate; and
(ii)
any individual who is a parent or guardian, or has legal custody, of the child;
(5)
provide, in the development of services for children, for utilization of the facilities and experience of voluntary agencies in accordance with State and local programs and arrangements, as authorized by the State;
(6)
provide that the agency administering or supervising the administration of the plan will furnish such reports, containing such information, and participate in such evaluations, as the Secretary may require;
(7)
provide for the diligent recruitment of potential foster and adoptive families that reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of children in the State for whom foster and adoptive homes are needed;
(8)
provide assurances that the State—
(A)
is operating, to the satisfaction of the Secretary—
(i)
a statewide information system from which can be readily determined the status, demographic characteristics, location, and goals for the placement of every child who is (or, within the immediately preceding 12 months, has been) in foster care;
(ii)
a case review system (as defined in section 475(5) and in accordance with the requirements of section 475A) for each child receiving foster care under the supervision of the State;
(iii)
a service program designed to help children—
(I)
where safe and appropriate, return to families from which they have been removed; or
(II)
be placed for adoption, with a legal guardian, or if adoption or legal guardianship is determined not to be appropriate for a child, in some other planned, permanent living arrangement, subject to the requirements of sections 475(5)(C) and 475A(a), which may include a residential educational program; and
(iv)
a preplacement preventive services program designed to help children at risk of foster care placement remain safely with their families; and
(B)
has in effect policies and administrative and judicial procedures for children abandoned at or shortly after birth (including policies and procedures providing for legal representation of the children) which enable permanent decisions to be made expeditiously with respect to the placement of the children;
(9)
contain a description, developed after consultation with tribal organizations (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act) in the State, of the specific measures taken by the State to comply with the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, including how the State will ensure timely notice to Indian tribes of State custody proceedings involving Indian children, foster care or adoptive placements of Indian children, and case recordkeeping as such matters relate to transfers of jurisdiction, termination of parental rights, and active efforts;
(10)
contain assurances that the State shall make effective use of cross-jurisdictional resources (including through contracts for the purchase of services), and shall eliminate legal barriers, to facilitate timely adoptive or permanent placements for waiting children;
(11)
contain a description of the activities that the State has undertaken for children adopted from other countries, including the provision of adoption and post-adoption services;
(12)
provide that the State shall collect and report information on children who are adopted from other countries and who enter into State custody as a result of the disruption of a placement for adoption or the dissolution of an adoption, including the number of children, the agencies who handled the placement or adoption, the plans for the child, and the reasons for the disruption or dissolution;
(13)
demonstrate substantial, ongoing, and meaningful collaboration with State courts in the development and implementation of the State plan under subpart 1, the State plan approved under subpart 2, and the State plan approved under part E, and in the development and implementation of any program improvement plan required under section 1123A;
(14)
not later than October 1, 2007, include assurances that not more than 10 percent of the expenditures of the State with respect to activities funded from amounts provided under this subpart will be for administrative costs;
(15)
(A)
provides 25 that the State will develop, in coordination and collaboration with the State agency referred to in paragraph (1) and the State agency responsible for administering the State plan approved under title XIX, and, if applicable, the State agency responsible for mental health services, and in consultation with pediatricians, mental health providers, other experts in health care, and experts in and recipients of child welfare services, a plan for the ongoing oversight and coordination of health care services for any child in a foster care placement, which shall ensure a coordinated strategy to identify and respond to the health care needs of children in foster care placements, including mental health and dental health needs, and shall include an outline of—
^{25}
So in law. The word “provides” in paragraph (15)(A) probably should read “provide”.
(i)
a schedule for initial and follow-up health screenings that meet reasonable standards of medical practice;
(ii)
how health needs identified through screenings will be monitored and treated, including a list of services provided to support the physical and emotional trauma associated with a child's maltreatment and removal from home;
(iii)
how medical information for children in care will be updated and appropriately shared, which may include the development and implementation of an electronic health record;
(iv)
steps to ensure continuity of health care and mental health services, which may include the establishment of a medical home for every child in care;
(v)
the oversight of prescription medicines, including protocols for the appropriate use and monitoring of psychotropic medications, informed consent of youth, and compliance with professional practice guidelines;
(vi)
how the State actively consults with and involves physicians , licensed mental health providers, or other appropriate medical or non-medical professionals in assessing the health and well-being of children in foster care and in determining appropriate medical treatment for the children;
(vii)
the procedures and protocols the State has established to ensure that children in foster care placements are not inappropriately diagnosed with mental illness, other emotional or behavioral disorders, medically fragile conditions, or developmental disabilities, and placed in settings that are not foster family homes as a result of the inappropriate diagnoses; and
(viii)
steps to ensure that the components of the transition plan development process required under section 475(5)(H) that relate to the health care needs of children aging out of foster care, including the requirements to include options for health insurance, information about a health care power of attorney, health care proxy, or other similar document recognized under State law, and to provide the child with the option to execute such a document, are met; and
(B)
subparagraph (A) shall not be construed to reduce or limit the responsibility of the State agency responsible for administering the State plan approved under title XIX to administer and provide care and services for children with respect to whom services are provided under the State plan developed pursuant to this subpart;
(16)
provide that, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the State shall have in place procedures providing for how the State programs assisted under this subpart, subpart 2 of this part, or part E would respond to a disaster, in accordance with criteria established by the Secretary which should include how a State would—
(A)
identify, locate, and continue availability of services for children under State care or supervision who are displaced or adversely affected by a disaster;
(B)
respond, as appropriate, to new child welfare cases in areas adversely affected by a disaster, and provide services in those cases;
(C)
remain in communication with caseworkers and other essential child welfare personnel who are displaced because of a disaster;
(D)
preserve essential program records; and
(E)
coordinate services and share information with other States;
(17)
not later than October 1, 2007, describe the State standards for the content and frequency of caseworker visits for children who are in foster care under the responsibility of the State, which, at a minimum, ensure that the children are visited on a monthly basis and that the caseworker visits are well-planned and focused on issues pertinent to case planning and service delivery to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of the children, and include a description of how the State may offer virtual caseworker visits to youth in care who have attained the age of 18 years and provided informed consent for virtual visits;
(18)
include a description of the activities that the State has undertaken to reduce the length of time children who have not attained 5 years of age are without a permanent family, and the activities the State undertakes to address the developmental needs of all vulnerable children under 5 years of age who receive benefits or services under this part or part E; and
(19)
document steps taken to track and prevent child maltreatment deaths by including—
(A)
a description of the steps the State is taking to compile complete and accurate information on the deaths required by Federal law to be reported by the State agency referred to in paragraph (1), including gathering relevant information on the deaths from the relevant organizations in the State including entities such as State vital statistics department, child death review teams, law enforcement agencies, offices of medical examiners, or coroners; and
(B)
a description of the steps the State is taking to develop and implement a comprehensive, statewide plan to prevent the fatalities that involves and engages relevant public and private agency partners, including those in public health, law enforcement, and the courts.
(c)

Definitions.—
In this subpart:
(1)

Administrative costs.—
The term “administrative costs” means costs for the following, but only to the extent incurred in administering the State plan developed pursuant to this subpart: procurement, payroll management, personnel functions (other than the portion of the salaries of supervisors attributable to time spent directly supervising the provision of services by caseworkers), management, maintenance and operation of space and property, data processing and computer services, accounting, budgeting, auditing, and travel expenses (except those related to the provision of services by caseworkers or the oversight of programs funded under this subpart).
(2)

Other terms.—
For definitions of other terms used in this part, see section 475.

ALLOTMENTS TO STATES
Sec. 423.
[42 U.S.C. 623]
(a)

In General.—
(1)

In general.—
Subject to paragraph (2), for each fiscal year, the sum appropriated pursuant to section 425 remaining after applying section 428(a) shall be allotted by the Secretary for use by cooperating State public welfare agencies which have plans developed jointly by the State agency and the Secretary as follows: The Secretary shall first allot $70,000 to each State, and shall then allot to each State an amount which bears the same ratio to the remainder of such sum as the product of (1) the population of the State under the age of twenty-one and (2) the allotment percentage of the State (as determined under this section) bears to the sum of the corresponding products of all the States.
(2)

Grants to states to enhance collaboration between state child welfare and juvenile justice systems.—
For each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2023 for which the amount appropriated under section 425 for the fiscal year exceeds $270,000,000—
(A)
the Secretary shall reserve from such excess amount such sums as are necessary for making grants under section 429A for such fiscal year, not to exceed $10,000,000; and
(B)
the remainder to be applied under paragraph (1) for purposes of making allotments to States for such fiscal year shall be determined after the Secretary first allots $70,000 to each State under such paragraph and reserves such sums under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
(b)

Determination of State Allotment Percentages.—
The “allotment percentage” for any State shall be 100 per percent less the State percentage; and the State percentage shall be the percentage which bears the same ratio to 50 per percent as the per capita income of such State bears to the per capita income of the United States; except that (1) the allotment percentage shall in no case be less than 30 per percent or more than 70 per percent, and (2) the allotment percentage shall be 70 per percent in the case of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
(c)

Promulgation of State Allotment Percentages.—
The allotment percentage for each State shall be promulgated by the Secretary between October 1 and November 30 of each even-numbered year, on the basis of the average per capita income of each State and of the United States for the three most recent calendar years for which satisfactory data are available from the Department of Commerce. Such promulgation shall be conclusive for each of the two fiscal years in the period beginning October 1 next succeeding such promulgation.
(d)

United States Defined.—
For purposes of this section, the term “United States” means the 50 States and the District of Columbia.
(e)

Reallotment of Funds.—
(1)

In general.—
The amount of any allotment to a State for a fiscal year under the preceding provisions of this section which the State certifies to the Secretary will not be required for carrying out the State plan developed as provided in section 422 shall be available for reallotment from time to time, on such dates as the Secretary may fix, to other States which the Secretary determines—
(A)
need sums in excess of the amounts allotted to such other States under the preceding provisions of this section, in carrying out their State plans so developed; and
(B)
will be able to so use such excess sums during the fiscal year.
(2)

Considerations.—
The Secretary shall make the reallotments on the basis of the State plans so developed, after taking into consideration—
(A)
the population under 21 years of age;
(B)
the per capita income of each of such other States as compared with the population under 21 years of age; and
(C)
the per capita income of all such other States with respect to which such a determination by the Secretary has been made.
(3)

Amounts reallotted to a state deemed part of state allotment.—
Any amount so reallotted to a State is deemed part of the allotment of the State under this section.

PAYMENT TO STATES
Sec. 424.
[42 U.S.C. 624]
(a)
From the sums appropriated therefor and the allotment under this subpart, subject to the conditions set forth in this section, the Secretary shall from time to time pay to each State that has a plan developed in accordance with section 422 an amount equal to 75 percent of the total sum expended under the plan (including the cost of administration of the plan) in meeting the costs of State, district, county, or other local child welfare services.
(b)
The method of computing and making payments under this section shall be as follows:
(1)
The Secretary shall, prior to the beginning of each period for which a payment is to be made, estimate the amount to be paid to the State for such period under the provisions of this section.
(2)
From the allotment available therefor, the Secretary shall pay the amount so estimated, reduced or increased, as the case may be, by any sum (not previously adjusted under this section) by which he finds that his estimate of the amount to be paid the State for any prior period under this section was greater or less than the amount which should have been paid to the State for such prior period under this section.
(c)

Limitation on Use of Federal Funds for Child Care, Foster Care Maintenance Payments, or Adoption Assistance Payments.—
The total amount of Federal payments under this subpart for a fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2007, that may be used by a State for expenditures for child care, foster care maintenance payments, or adoption assistance payments shall not exceed the total amount of such payments for fiscal year 2005 that were so used by the State.
(d)

Limitation on Use by States of Non-Federal Funds for Foster Care Maintenance Payments To Match Federal Funds.—
For any fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2007, State expenditures of non-Federal funds for foster care maintenance payments shall not be considered to be expenditures under the State plan developed under this subpart for the fiscal year to the extent that the total of such expenditures for the fiscal year exceeds the total of such expenditures under the State plan developed under this subpart for fiscal year 2005.
(e)

Limitation on Reimbursement for Administrative Costs.—
A payment may not be made to a State under this section with respect to expenditures during a fiscal year for administrative costs, to the extent that the total amount of the expenditures exceeds 10 percent of the total expenditures of the State during the fiscal year for activities funded from amounts provided under this subpart.
(f)
Each State shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that the total number of visits made by caseworkers on a monthly basis to children in foster care under the responsibility of the State during a fiscal year is not less than 90 percent (or, in the case of fiscal year 2015 or thereafter, 95 percent) of the total number of such visits that would occur during the fiscal year if each such child were so visited once every month while in such care.

LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
Sec. 425.
[42 U.S.C. 625]
To carry out this subpart (other than sections 426, 427, and 429), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary not more than $325,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

RESEARCH, TRAINING, OR DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
Sec. 426.
[42 U.S.C. 626]
(a)
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year such sums as the Congress may determine—
(1)
for grants by the Secretary—
(A)
to public or other nonprofit institutions of higher learning, and to public or other nonprofit agencies and organizations engaged in research or child-welfare activities, for special research or demonstration projects in the field of child welfare which are of regional or national significance and for special projects for the demonstration of new methods or facilities which show promise of substantial contribution to the advancement of child welfare;
(B)
to State or local public agencies responsible for administering, or supervising the administration of, the plan under this part, for projects for the demonstration of the utilization of research (including findings resulting therefrom) in the field of child welfare in order to encourage experimental and special types of welfare services; and
(C)
to public or other nonprofit institutions of higher learning for special projects for training personnel for work in the field of child welfare, including traineeships described in section 429 with such stipends and allowances as may be permitted by the Secretary; and
(2)
for contracts or jointly financed cooperative arrangements with States and public and other organizations and agencies for the conduct of research, special projects, or demonstration projects relating to such matters.
(b)
Payments of grants or under contracts or cooperative arrangements under this section may be made in advance or by way of reimbursement, and in such installments, as the Secretary may determine; and shall be made on such conditions as the Secretary finds necessary to carry out the purposes of the grants, contracts, or other arrangements.
(c)

Child Welfare Traineeships.—
The Secretary may approve an application for a grant to a public or nonprofit institution for higher learning to provide traineeships with stipends under section 426(a)(1)(C) only if the application—
(1)
provides assurances that each individual who receives a stipend with such traineeship (in this section referred to as a “recipient”) agrees—
(A)
to participate in training at a public or private nonprofit child welfare agency on a regular basis (as determined by the Secretary) for the period of the traineeship;
(B)
to be employed for a period of years equivalent to the period of the traineeship, in a public or private nonprofit child welfare agency in any State, within a period of time (determined by the Secretary in accordance with regulations) after completing the postsecondary education for which the traineeship was awarded;
(C)
to furnish to the institution and the Secretary evidence of compliance with subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
(D)
if the recipient fails to comply with subparagraph (A) or (B) and does not qualify for any exception to this subparagraph which the Secretary may prescribe in regulations, to repay to the Secretary all (or an appropriately prorated part) of the amount of the stipend, plus interest, and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees (in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary);
(2)
provides assurances that the institution will—
(A)
enter into agreements with child welfare agencies for onsite training of recipients;
(B)
permit an individual who is employed in the field of child welfare services to apply for a traineeship with a stipend if the traineeship furthers the progress of the individual toward the completion of degree requirements; and
(C)
develop and implement a system that, for the 3-year period that begins on the date any recipient completes a child welfare services program of study, tracks the employment record of the recipient, for the purpose of determining the percentage of recipients who secure employment in the field of child welfare services and remain employed in the field.
SEC. 427.
[42 U.S.C. 627]

KINSHIP NAVIGATORS.
(a)

In General.—
The Secretary of Health and Human Services may make matching grants to State, local, or tribal child welfare agencies, private nonprofit organizations that have experience in working with foster children or children in kinship care arrangements, and institutions of higher education (as defined under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), for the purpose of administering programs to help children who are in, or at risk of entering, foster care reconnect with family members through the implementation of a kinship navigator program to assist kinship caregivers in learning about, finding, and using programs and services to meet the needs of the children they are raising and their own needs, and to promote effective partnerships among public and private agencies to ensure kinship caregiver families are served, which program—
(1)
shall be coordinated with other State or local agencies that promote service coordination or provide information and referral services, including the entities that provide 2–1–1 or 3–1–1 information systems where available, to avoid duplication or fragmentation of services to kinship care families;
(2)
shall be planned and operated in consultation with kinship caregivers and organizations representing them, youth raised by kinship caregivers, relevant government agencies, and relevant community-based or faith-based organizations;
(3)
shall establish information and referral systems that link (via toll-free access) kinship caregivers, kinship support group facilitators, and kinship service providers to—
(A)
each other;
(B)
eligibility and enrollment information for Federal, State, and local benefits;
(C)
relevant training to assist kinship caregivers in caregiving and in obtaining benefits and services;
(D)
relevant legal assistance and help in obtaining legal services; and
(E)
connections to individualized assistance, as needed;
(4)
shall provide outreach to kinship care families, including by establishing, distributing, and updating a kinship care website, or other relevant guides or outreach materials;
(5)
shall promote partnerships between public and private agencies, including schools, community based or faith-based organizations, and relevant government agencies, to increase their knowledge of the needs of kinship care families and other individuals who are willing and able to be foster parents for children in foster care under the responsibility of the State who are themselves parents to promote better services for those families;
(6)
may establish and support a kinship care ombudsman with authority to intervene and help kinship caregivers access services; and
(7)
may support any other activities designed to assist kinship caregivers in obtaining benefits and services to improve their caregiving.
(b)

Applications.—
An entity desiring to receive a matching grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—
(1)
a description of how the grant will be used to implement the activities described in subsection (a);
(2)
a description of the types of children and families to be served, including how the children and families will be identified and recruited, and an initial projection of the number of children and families to be served;
(3)
a description of how the entity will directly fund, or provide data to the Secretary for, an evaluation which will publish and submit information to the clearinghouse described in section 476(d)(2) and which is designed to meet the requirements of section 471(e)(4)(C), or a description of how the funds will be used to help the State transition to a program for which the State will seek reimbursement under section 474(a)(7);
(4)
if the entity is a private organization—
(A)
documentation of support from the relevant local or State child welfare agency; or
(B)
a description of how the organization plans to coordinate its services and activities with those offered by the relevant local or State child welfare agency;
(5)
an assurance that the entity will cooperate fully with any evaluation provided for by the Secretary under this section; and
(6)
if the entity is a State, local or tribal child welfare agency—
(A)
documentation of support from a relevant community-based organization with experience serving kinship families when applicable; or
(B)
a description of how the organization plans to coordinate its services and activities with those offered by the relevant community-based organizations.
(c)

Limitations.—
(1)

Grant duration.—
The Secretary may award a grant under this section for a period of not less than 1 year and not more than 3 years.
(2)

Number of new grantees per year.—
The Secretary may not award a grant under this section to more than 30 new grantees each fiscal year.
(d)

Federal Share.—
An entity to which a grant is made under this section may use the grant to pay not more than 75 percent of the cost of the activities to be carried out by the entity pursuant to this section.
(e)

Form of Grantee Contribution.—
A grantee under this section may provide not more than 50 percent of the amount which the grantee is required to expend to carry out the activities for which a grant is awarded under this section in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or services.
(f)

Use of Grant.—
A grantee under this section shall use the grant in accordance with the approved application for the grant.
(g)

Reservation of Funds for Technical Assistance.—
The Secretary may reserve 2 percent of the funds made available under section 437(b)(6) for each fiscal year to provide technical assistance to recipients of grants under this section.

payments to indian tribal organizations
Sec. 428.
[42 U.S.C. 628]
(a)

Reservation of Funds; Direct Payments.—
Out of any amount appropriated pursuant to section 425 for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve 3 percent for grants to Indian tribes and tribal organizations, which shall be paid directly to Indian tribes and tribal organizations with a plan approved under this subpart, in accordance with section 433(a).
(b)

Authority to Streamline Reporting Requirements.—
The Secretary shall, in consultation with the affected Indian tribes, modify any reporting requirement imposed by or under this part on an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium if the total of the amounts allotted to the Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium under this part for the fiscal year is not more than $50,000, and in a manner that limits the administrative burden on any tribe to which not more than $50,000 is allotted under this subpart for the fiscal year.
(c)

Tribal Authority to Substitute the Federal Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate for Administrative Costs Cap.—
For purposes of sections 422(b)(14) and 424(e), an Indian tribal organization may elect to have the weighted average of the indirect cost rates in effect under part 220 of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations with respect to the administrative costs of the Indian tribal organization apply in lieu of the percentage specified in each such section.
(d)
For purposes of this section, the terms “Indian tribe” and “tribal organization” shall have the meanings given such terms by subsections (e) and (l) of section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304), respectively.
SEC. 429.
[42 U.S.C. 628b]

NATIONAL RANDOM SAMPLE STUDY OF CHILD WELFARE.
(a)

In General.—
The Secretary shall conduct (directly, or by grant, contract, or interagency agreement) a national study based on random samples of children who are at risk of child abuse or neglect, or are determined by States to have been abused or neglected.
(b)

Requirements.—
The study required by subsection (a) shall—
(1)
have a longitudinal component; and
(2)
yield data reliable at the State level for as many States as the Secretary determines is feasible.
(c)

Preferred Contents.—
In conducting the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary should—
(1)
carefully consider selecting the sample from cases of confirmed abuse or neglect; and
(2)
follow each case for several years while obtaining information on, among other things—
(A)
the type of abuse or neglect involved;
(B)
the frequency of contact with State or local agencies;
(C)
whether the child involved has been separated from the family, and, if so, under what circumstances;
(D)
the number, type, and characteristics of out-of-home placements of the child; and
(E)
the average duration of each placement.
(d)

Reports.—
(1)

In general.—
From time to time, the Secretary shall prepare reports summarizing the results of the study required by subsection (a).
(2)

Availability.—
The Secretary shall make available to the public any report prepared under paragraph (1), in writing or in the form of an electronic data tape.
(3)

Authority to charge fee.—
The Secretary may charge and collect a fee for the furnishing of reports under para-graph (2).
(e)

Appropriation.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary for each of fiscal years 1996 through 2002 $6,000,000 to carry out this section.
SEC. 429A.
[42 U.S.C. 628c]

GRANTS TO STATES TO ENHANCE COLLABORATION BETWEEN STATE CHILD WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS.
(a)

Purpose.—
The purpose of this section is to authorize the Secretary, in collaboration with the Attorney General and the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice—
(1)
to make grants to State child welfare and juvenile justice agencies and child- and youth-serving agencies to collaborate in the collection of data relating to dual status youth; and
(2)
to develop practices, policies, and protocols—
(A)
to confront the challenges presented and experienced by dual status youth; and
(B)
for the development of interoperable data systems.
(b)

Authority to Award Grants.—
(1)

In general.—
Subject to the availability of appropriations, from amounts reserved under section 423(a)(2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award competitive grants jointly to a State child welfare agency and a State juvenile justice agency to facilitate or enhance collaboration between the child welfare and juvenile justice systems of the State in order to carry out programs to address the needs of dual status youth and their families.
(2)

Length of grants.—
(A)

In general.—
Subject to subparagraph (B), a grant shall be awarded under this section for a period of not less than 2 fiscal years and not more than 5 fiscal years.
(B)

Extension of grant.—
Upon the application of the grantee, the Secretary may extend the period for which a grant is awarded under this section for not more than 2 fiscal years.
(c)

Additional Requirements.—
(1)

Application.—
In order for a State to be eligible for a grant under this section, the State shall submit an application, subject to the approval of the Secretary, that includes—
(A)
a description of the proposed leadership collaboration group (including the membership of such group), and how such group will manage and oversee a review and analysis of current practices while working to jointly address enhanced practices to improve outcomes for dual status youth;
(B)
a description of how the State proposes—
(i)
to identify dual status youth;
(ii)
to identify individuals who are at risk of becoming dual status youth;
(iii)
to identify common characteristics shared by dual status youth in the State; and
(iv)
to determine the prevalence of dual status youth in the State;
(C)
a description of current and proposed practices and procedures that the State intends to use—
(i)
to screen and assess dual status youth for risks and treatment needs;
(ii)
to provide targeted and evidence-based services, including educational, behavioral health, and pro-social treatment interventions for dual status youth and their families; and
(iii)
to provide for a lawful process to enhance or ensure the abilities of the State and any relevant agencies to share information and data about dual status youth, while maintaining confidentiality and privacy protections under Federal and State law; and
(D)
a certification that the State has involved local governments, as appropriate, in the development, expansion, modification, operation, or improvement of proposed policy and practice reforms to address the needs of dual status youth.
(2)

No supplantation of other funds.—
Any amounts paid to a State under a grant under this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant other State expenditures on dual status youths or children involved with either the child welfare or juvenile justice systems.
(3)

Evaluation.—
Up to 10 percent of the amount made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year shall be made available to the Secretary to evaluate the effectiveness of the projects funded under this section, using a methodology that—
(A)
includes random assignment whenever feasible, or other research methods that allow for the strongest possible causal inferences when random assignment is not feasible; and
(B)
generates evidence on the impact of specific projects, or groups of projects with identical (or similar) practices and procedures.
(4)

Report.—
A State child welfare agency and a State juvenile justice agency receiving a grant under this section shall jointly submit to the Secretary, the Attorney General, and the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice, a report on the evaluation of the activities carried out under the grant at the end of each fiscal year during the period of the grant. Such report shall include—
(A)
a description of the scope and nature of the dual status youth population in the State, including the number of dual status youth;
(B)
a description of the evidence-based practices and procedures used by the agencies to carry out the activities described in clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph (1)(C); and
(C)
an analysis of the effects of such practices and procedures, including information regarding—
(i)
the collection of data related to individual dual status youths;
(ii)
aggregate data related to the dual status youth population, including—
(I)
characteristics of dual status youths in the State;
(II)
case processing timelines; and
(III)
information related to case management, the provision of targeted services, and placements within the foster care or juvenile justice system; and
(iii)
the extent to which such practices and procedures have contributed to—
(I)
improved educational outcomes for dual status youths;
(II)
fewer delinquency referrals for dual status youths;
(III)
shorter stays in intensive restrictive placements for dual status youths; or
(IV)
such other outcomes for dual status youths as the State child welfare agency and State juvenile justice agency may identify.
(d)

Training and Technical Assistance.—
The Secretary may support State child welfare agencies and State juvenile justice agencies by offering a program, developed in consultation with organizations and agencies with subject matter expertise, of training and technical assistance to assist such agencies in developing programs and protocols that draw on best practices for serving dual status youth in order to facilitate or enhance—
(1)
collaboration between State child welfare agencies and State juvenile justice agencies; and
(2)
the effectiveness of such agencies with respect to working with Federal agencies and child welfare and juvenile justice agencies from other States.
(e)

Report.—
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary, the Attorney General, and the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice shall jointly submit to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, a report on the grants provided under this section.
(f)

Definitions.—
In this section:
(1)

Dual status youth.—
The term “dual status youth” means a child who has come into contact with both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems and occupies various statuses in terms of the individual’s relationship to such systems.
(2)

Leadership collaboration group.—
The term “leadership collaboration group” means a group composed of senior officials from the State child welfare agency, the State juvenile justice agency, and other relevant youth and family-serving public agencies and private organizations, including, to the extent practicable, representatives from the State judiciary branch.
(3)

State juvenile justice agency.—
The term “State juvenile justice agency” means the agency of the State or Indian tribe responsible for administering grant funds awarded under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (34 U.S.C. 11101 et seq.).
(4)

State child welfare agency.—
The term “State child welfare agency” means the State agency responsible for administering the program under this subpart, or, in the case of a tribal organization that is receiving payments under section 428, the tribal agency responsible for administering such program.
SEC. 429B.
[42 U.S.C. 628d]

EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT OF 1978.
(a)

In General.—
Not later than October 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 on 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 involving an Indian child.
(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 of an Indian child, 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 to an Indian child, 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 and section 422(b)(9) of this Act, as informed by data collected under this section; 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.
Subpart 2—

Marylee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program
SEC. 430.
[42 U.S.C. 629]

PURPOSE.
The purpose of this program is to enable States to develop and establish, or expand, and to operate coordinated programs of community-based family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services to accomplish the following objectives:
(1)
To prevent child maltreatment among families at risk through the provision of supportive family services.
(2)
To assure children's safety within the home and preserve intact families in which children have been maltreated, when the family's problems can be addressed effectively.
(3)
To address the problems of families whose children have been placed in foster care so that reunification may occur in a safe and stable manner in accordance with the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997.
(4)
To support adoptive families by providing support services as necessary so that they can make a lifetime commitment to their children.
SEC. 431.
[42 U.S.C. 629a]

DEFINITIONS.
(a)

In General.—
As used in this subpart:
(1)

Family preservation services.—
The term “family preservation services” means services for children, youth, and families designed to help families (including kinship and adoptive families) at risk or in crisis, including—
(A)
service programs designed to help children—
(i)
where safe and appropriate, return to families from which they have been removed; or
(ii)
be 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;
(B)
preplacement preventive services programs, such as intensive family preservation programs, designed to help children at risk of foster care placement remain safely with their families;
(C)
service programs designed to provide followup care to families to whom a child has been returned after a foster care placement;
(D)
respite care of children to provide temporary relief for parents, kinship caregivers, and foster parents;
(E)
services designed to improve parenting skills (by reinforcing parents' confidence in their strengths, and helping them to identify where improvement is needed and to obtain assistance in improving those skills) with respect to matters such as child development, family budgeting, coping with stress, health, and nutrition;
(F)
infant safe haven programs to provide a way for a parent to safely relinquish a newborn infant at a safe haven designated pursuant to a State law;
(G)
(i)
peer-to-peer mentoring and support programs with demonstrated experience fostering constructive relationships between children and families and mentors with relevant lived experience or interactions with the child welfare system; and
(ii)
for purposes of this subpart, an expenditure for a service described in clause (i) may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or more of family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, or adoption promotion and support services, as long as the expenditure is related to serving the children and families in the specified category and consistent with the overall purpose of the category; and
(H)
(i)
services providing nonrecurring short term benefits (including supports related to housing instability, utilities, transportation, and food assistance, among other basic needs) that address immediate needs related to a specific crisis, situation, or event affecting the ability of a child to remain in a home established for the child that is not intended to meet an ongoing need; and
(ii)
for purposes of this subpart, an expenditure for a service described in clause (i) may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or more of family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, or adoption promotion and support services as long as the expenditure is related to serving the children and families in the specified category and consistent with the overall purpose of the category.
(2)

Family support services.—
(A)

In general.—
The term “family support services” means community-based services, including services provided by family resource centers, designed to carry out the purposes described in subparagraph (B).
(B)

Purposes described.—
The purposes described in this subparagraph are the following:
(i)
To promote the safety and well-being of children, youth, and families.
(ii)
To increase the strength and stability of families (including adoptive, foster, and kinship families).
(iii)
To support and retain foster families so they can provide quality family-based settings for children in foster care.
(iv)
To increase parents' confidence and competence in their parenting abilities.
(v)
To afford children a safe, stable, and supportive family environment.
(vi)
To strengthen parental relationships and promote healthy marriages.
(vii)
To enhance child development, including through mentoring .
(3)

State agency.—
The term “State agency” means the State agency responsible for administering the program under subpart 1.
(4)

State.—
The term “State” includes an Indian tribe or tribal organization, in addition to the meaning given such term for purposes of subpart 1.
(5)

Indian tribe.—
The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given the term in section 428(d).
(6)

Tribal organization.—
The term “tribal organization” has the meaning given the term in section 428(d).
(7)

Family reunification services.—
(A)

In general.—
The term “family reunification services” means the services and activities described in subparagraph (B) that are provided to a child that is removed from the child's home and placed with kinship caregivers or in a foster family home or a child care institution or a child who has been returned home and to the parents or primary caregiver of such a child, in order to facilitate the reunification of the child safely and appropriately within a timely fashion and to ensure the strength and stability of the reunification. In the case of a child who has been returned home, the services and activities shall only be provided during the 15-month period that begins on the date that the child returns home.
(B)

Services and activities described.—
The services and activities described in this subparagraph are the following:
(i)
Individual, group, and family counseling.
(ii)
Inpatient, residential, or outpatient substance abuse treatment services.
(iii)
Mental health services.
(iv)
Assistance to address domestic violence.
(v)
Services designed to provide temporary child care and therapeutic services for families, including crisis nurseries.
(vi)
Peer-to-peer mentoring and support groups for parents and primary caregivers.
(vii)
Services and activities designed to facilitate access to and visitation of children by parents and siblings.
(viii)
Transportation to or from any of the services and activities described in this subparagraph.
(8)

Adoption promotion and support services.—
The term “adoption promotion and support services” means services and activities designed to encourage more adoptions out of the foster care system, when adoptions promote the best interests of children, including such activities as pre- and post-adoptive services and activities designed to expedite the adoption process and support adoptive families.
(9)

Non-federal funds.—
The term “non-Federal funds” means State funds, or at the option of a State, State and local funds.
(10)

Family resource center.—
(A)

In general.—
The term “family resource center” means a community or school-based hub of support services for families that—
(i)
utilizes an approach that is multi-generational, strengths-based, and family-centered;
(ii)
reflects, and is responsive to, community needs and interests;
(iii)
provides support at no or low cost for participants; and
(iv)
builds communities of peer support for families, including kinship families, to develop social connections that reduce isolation and stress.
(B)

Special rule.—
For purposes of this subpart, an expenditure for a service provided by a family resource center may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or more of family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, or adoption promotion and support services as long as the expenditure is related to serving the children and families in the specified category and consistent with the overall purpose of the category.
(11)

Youth.—
The term “youth” means an individual who has not attained 26 years of age.
(12)

Mentoring.—
The term “mentoring” means a structured, managed program in which children are appropriately matched with screened and trained adult volunteers for one on-one relationships, involving meetings and activities on a regular basis, intended to meet, in part, the child’s need for involvement with a caring and supportive adult who provides a positive role model.
(b)

Other Terms.—
For other definitions of other terms used in this subpart, see section 475.
(c)

Use of Technology.—
(1)

Use of portal.—
The services referred to in subsection (a) may include the means of access to and use of an electronic or digital portal to facilitate the provision of community support to care for and meet specific needs of families and children.
(2)

Limitation.—
Such a portal shall not retain or share personally identifiable information about a beneficiary without consent or for any purpose other than referral.
SEC. 432.
[42 U.S.C. 629b]

STATE PLANS.
(a)

Plan Requirements.—
A State plan meets the requirements of this subsection if the plan—
(1)
provides that the State agency shall administer, or supervise the administration of, the State program under this subpart;
(2)
(A)
(i)
sets forth the goals intended to be accomplished under the plan by the end of the 5th fiscal year in which the plan is in operation in the State, and (ii) is updated periodically to set forth the goals intended to be accomplished under the plan by the end of each 5th fiscal year thereafter;
(B)
describes the methods to be used in measuring progress toward accomplishment of the goals;
(C)
contains assurances that the State—
(i)
after the end of each of the 1st 4 fiscal years covered by a set of goals, will perform an interim review of progress toward accomplishment of the goals, and on the basis of the interim review will revise the statement of goals in the plan, if necessary, to reflect changed circumstances; and
(ii)
after the end of the last fiscal year covered by a set of goals, will perform a final review of progress toward accomplishment of the goals, and on the basis of the final review (I) will prepare, transmit to the Secretary, and make available to the public a final report on progress toward accomplishment of the goals, and (II) will develop (in consultation with the entities required to be consulted pursuant to subsection (b)) and add to the plan a statement of the goals intended to be accomplished by the end of the 5th succeeding fiscal year;
(3)
provides for coordination, to the extent feasible and appropriate, of the provision of services under the plan and the provision of services or benefits under other Federal or federally assisted programs serving the same populations;
(4)
contains assurances that not more than 10 percent of expenditures under the plan for any fiscal year with respect to which the State is eligible for payment under section 434 for the fiscal year shall be for administrative costs, and that the remaining expenditures shall be for programs of family preservation services, community-based family support services, family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services, with significant portions of such expenditures for each such program;
(5)
contains assurances that the State will—
(A)
annually prepare, furnish to the Secretary, and make available to the public a description (including separate descriptions with respect to family preservation services, community-based family support services, family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services) of—
(i)
the service programs to be made available under the plan in the immediately succeeding fiscal year;
(ii)
the populations which the programs will serve; and
(iii)
the geographic areas in the State in which the services will be available; and
(B)
perform the activities described in subparagraph (A)—
(i)
in the case of the 1st fiscal year under the plan, at the time the State submits its initial plan; and
(ii)
in the case of each succeeding fiscal year, by the end of the 3rd quarter of the immediately preceding fiscal year;
(6)
provides for such methods of administration as the Secretary finds to be necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the plan;
(7)
(A)
contains assurances that Federal funds provided to the State under this subpart will not be used to supplant Federal or non-Federal funds for existing services and activities which promote the purposes of this subpart; and
(B)
provides that the State will furnish reports to the Secretary, at such times, in such format, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, that demonstrate the State's compliance with the prohibition contained in subparagraph (A);
(8)
(A)
provides that the State agency will furnish such reports, containing such information, and participate in such evaluations, as the Secretary may require; and
(B)
provides that, not later than June 30 of each year, the State will submit to the Secretary—
(i)
copies of form CFS–101 (including all parts and any successor forms) that report on planned child and family services expenditures by the agency for the immediately succeeding fiscal year; and
(ii)
copies of form CFS–101 (including all parts and any successor forms) that provide, with respect to the programs authorized under this subpart and subpart 1 and, at State option, other programs included on such forms, for the most recent preceding fiscal year for which reporting of actual expenditures is complete—
(I)
the numbers of families and of children served by the State agency;
(II)
the population served by the State agency;
(III)
the geographic areas served by the State agency; and
(IV)
the actual expenditures of funds provided to the State agency;
(9)
contains assurances that in administering and conducting service programs under the plan, the safety of the children to be served shall be of paramount concern;
(10)
describes how the State identifies which populations are at the greatest risk of maltreatment and how services are targeted to the populations; and
(11)
provides a description of policies in place, including training for employees, to address child welfare reports and investigations of neglect concerning the living arrangements or subsistence needs of a child with the goal to prevent the separation of a child from a parent of the child solely due to poverty, to ensure access to services described in section 431(a)(1)(H).
(b)

Approval of Plans.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary shall approve a plan that meets the requirements of subsection (a) only if—
(A)
the plan was developed jointly by the Secretary and the State, and the State, in developing the plan, consulted with—
(i)
appropriate public and nonprofit private agencies;
(ii)
community-based organizations involved in providing services for children and families in the areas of family preservation, family support, family reunification, foster care, kinship, and adoption promotion and support;
(iii)
parents with child welfare experience, foster parents, adoptive parents, and kinship caregivers; and
(iv)
children, youth, and young adults with experience in the child welfare system, including State boards and councils comprised of youth with lived experience who represent the diversity of children in the State to whom the plan would apply; and
(B)
the State has made publicly accessible on a website of the State agency a report that outlines how the State has implemented the suggestions of the children and youth referred to in subparagraph (A)(iv).
(2)

Plans of indian tribes or tribal consortia.—
(A)

Exemption from inappropriate requirements.—
The Secretary may exempt a plan submitted by an Indian tribe or tribal consortium from the requirements of subsection (a)(4) of this section to the extent that the Secretary determines those requirements would be inappropriate to apply to the Indian tribe or tribal consortium, taking into account the resources, needs, and other circumstances of the Indian tribe or tribal consortium.
(B)

Special rule.—
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the Secretary may not approve a plan of an Indian tribe or tribal consortium under this subpart to which (but for this subparagraph) an allotment of less than $10,000 would be made under sections 433(a) and 437(c)(1) combined if allotments were made under such sections to all Indian tribes and tribal consortia with plans approved under this subpart with the same or larger numbers of children.
(c)

Annual Submission of State Reports to Congress.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary shall compile the reports required under subsection (a)(8)(B) and, not later than September 30 of each year, submit such compilation to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate.
(2)

Information to be included.—
The compilation shall include the individual State reports and tables that synthesize State information into national totals for each element required to be included in the reports, including planned and actual spending by service category for the program authorized under this subpart and planned spending by service category for the program authorized under subpart 1.
(3)

Public accessibility.—
Not later than September 30 of each year, the Secretary shall publish the compilation on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services in a location easily accessible by the public.
SEC. 433.
[42 U.S.C. 629c]

ALLOTMENTS TO STATES.
(a)

Indian Tribes or Tribal Consortia.—
From the amount reserved pursuant to section 436(b)(2) for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each Indian tribe with a plan approved under this subpart an amount that bears the same ratio to such reserved amount as the number of children in the Indian tribe bears to the total number of children in all Indian tribes with State plans so approved, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most current and reliable information available to the Secretary. If a consortium of Indian tribes submits a plan approved under this subpart, the Secretary shall allot to the consortium an amount equal to the sum of the allotments determined for each Indian tribe that is part of the consortium.
(b)

Territories.—
From the amount described in section 436(a) for any fiscal year that remains after applying section 436(b) for the fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each of the jurisdictions of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa an amount determined in the same manner as the allotment to each of such jurisdictions is determined under section 423.
(c)

Other States.—
(1)

In general.—
From the amount described in section 436(a) for any fiscal year that remains after applying section 436(b) and subsection (b) of this section for the fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each State (other than an Indian tribe) which is not specified in subsection (b) of this section an amount equal to such remaining amount multiplied by the supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits percentage of the State for the fiscal year.
(2)

Supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits percentage defined.—
(A)

In general.—
As used in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the term “supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits percentage” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the average monthly number of children receiving supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits in the State for months in the 3 fiscal years referred to in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, as determined from sample surveys made under section 16(c) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, expressed as a percentage of the average monthly number of children receiving supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits in the States described in such paragraph (1) for months in such 3 fiscal years, as so determined.
(B)

Fiscal years used in calculation.—
For purposes of the calculation pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall use data for the 3 most recent fiscal years, preceding the fiscal year for which the State's allotment is calculated under this subsection, for which such data are available to the Secretary.
(d)

Reallotments.—
The amount of any allotment to a State under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section for any fiscal year that the State certifies to the Secretary will not be required for carrying out the State plan under section 432 shall be available for reallotment using the allotment methodology specified in subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section. Any amount so reallotted to a State is deemed part of the allotment of the State under the preceding provisions of this section.
(e)

Allotment of Funds Reserved To Support Monthly Caseworker Visits.—
(1)

Base allotment.—
From the amount reserved pursuant to section 436(b)(3)(A) for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall first allot to each State (other than an Indian tribe) that has provided to the Secretary such documentation as may be necessary to verify that the jurisdiction has complied with section 436(b)(4)(B)(ii) during the fiscal year, a base allotment of $100,000, and shall then allot to each of those States an amount determined in paragraph (2) or (3) of this subsection, as applicable.
(2)

Territories.—
From the amount reserved pursuant to section 436(b)(3)(A) for any fiscal year that remains after applying paragraph (1) of this subsection for the fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each jurisdiction specified in subsection (b) of this section to which a base allotment is made under such paragraph (1) an amount determined in the same manner as the allotment to each of such jurisdictions is determined under section 423 (without regard to the initial allotment of $70,000 to each State).
(3)

Other states.—
From the amount reserved pursuant to section 436(b)(3)(A) for any fiscal year that remains after applying paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection for the fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each State (other than an Indian tribe) not specified in subsection (b) of this section to which a base allotment was made under paragraph (1) of this subsection an amount equal to such remaining amount multiplied by the supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits percentage of the State (as defined in subsection (c)(2) of this section) for the fiscal year, except that in applying subsection (c)(2)(A) of this section, “subsection (e)(3)” shall be substituted for “such paragraph (1)”.
SEC. 434.
[42 U.S.C. 629d]

PAYMENTS TO STATES.
(a)

Entitlement.—
Each State that has a plan approved under section 432 shall, subject to subsection (d), be entitled to payment of the sum of—
(1)
the lesser of—
(A)
75 percent of the total expenditures by the State for activities under the plan during the fiscal year or the immediately succeeding fiscal year; or
(B)
the allotment of the State under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 433, whichever is applicable, for the fiscal year; and
(2)
the lesser of—
(A)
75 percent of the total expenditures by the State in accordance with section 436(b)(3)(B) during the fiscal year or the immediately succeeding fiscal year; or
(B)
the allotment of the State under section 433(e) for the fiscal year.
(b)

Prohibitions.—
(1)

No use of other federal funds for state match.—
Each State receiving an amount paid under subsection (a) may not expend any Federal funds to meet the costs of services under the State plan under section 432 not covered by the amount so paid.
(2)

Availability of funds.—
A State may not expend any amount paid under subsection (a) for any fiscal year after the end of the immediately succeeding fiscal year.
(c)

Direct Payments to Tribal Organizations of Indian Tribes or Tribal Consortia.—
The Secretary shall pay any amount to which an Indian tribe or tribal consortium is entitled under this section directly to the tribal organization of the Indian tribe or in the case of a payment to a tribal consortium, such tribal organizations of, or entity established by, the Indian tribes that are part of the consortium as the consortium shall designate.
(d)26

Limitation on Reimbursement for Administrative Costs.—
The Secretary shall not make a payment to a State under this section with respect to expenditures for administrative costs during a fiscal year, to the extent that the total amount of the expenditures exceeds 10 percent of the total expenditures of the State during the fiscal year under the State plan approved under section 432.
^{26}
Subsection (d) (and the amendment to insert the reference to such subsection in subsection (a)) as added by section 3(f)(1)(B) of Public Law 109–288 applies to expenditures made on or after October 1, 2007 pursuant to paragraph (2) of section 3(f) of such Public Law.
SEC. 435.
[42 U.S.C. 629e]

EVALUATIONS; RESEARCH; TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
(a)

Evaluations.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary shall evaluate and report to the Congress biennially on the effectiveness of the programs carried out pursuant to this subpart in accomplishing the purposes of this subpart, and may evaluate any other Federal, State, or local program, regardless of whether federally assisted, that is designed to achieve the same purposes as the program under this subpart, in accordance with criteria established in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2)

Criteria to be used.—
In developing the criteria to be used in evaluations under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with appropriate parties, such as—
(A)
State agencies administering programs under this part and part E;
(B)
persons administering child and family services programs (including family preservation and family support programs) for private, nonprofit organizations with an interest in child welfare including community-based partners with expertise in preventing unnecessary child welfare system involvement; and
(C)
other persons with recognized expertise in the evaluation of child and family services programs (including family preservation and family support programs) or other related programs.
(3)

Timing of report.—
Beginning in 2003, the Secretary shall submit the biennial report required by this subsection not later than April 1 of every other year, and shall include in each such report the funding level, the status of ongoing evaluations, findings to date, and the nature of any technical assistance provided to States under subsection (d).
(b)

Coordination of Evaluations.—
The Secretary shall develop procedures to coordinate evaluations under this section, to the extent feasible, with evaluations by the States of the effectiveness of programs under this subpart.
(c)

Evaluation, Research, and Technical Assistance With Respect to Targeted Program Resources.—
Of the amount reserved under section 437(b)(1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not less than—
(1)
$1,000,000 for technical assistance to grantees under section 437(f) and to support design of local site evaluations with the goal of publishing and submitting evaluation findings to the clearinghouse established under section 476(d), or to award grants to allow current or former grantees under section 437(f) to analyze, publish, and submit to the clearinghouse data collected during past grants; and
(2)
$1,000,000 for technical assistance required under section 429B of this Act to support effective implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 and to support development of associated State plan measures described pursuant to section 422(b)(9) of this Act.
(d)

Technical Assistance.—
To the extent funds are available therefor, the Secretary shall provide technical assistance that helps States and Indian tribes or tribal consortia to—
(1)
develop research-based protocols for identifying families at risk of abuse and neglect of use in the field;
(2)
develop treatment models that address the needs of families at risk, particularly families with substance abuse issues;
(3)
implement programs with well-articulated theories of how the intervention will result in desired changes among families at risk;
(4)
establish mechanisms to ensure that service provision matches the treatment model;
(5)
establish mechanisms to ensure that postadoption services meet the needs of the individual families and develop models to reduce the disruption rates of adoption; and
(6)
use grants under section 437(f) in coordination with other Federal funds to better serve families in the child welfare system that are affected by a substance use disorder.
(e)

Family Recovery and Reunification Program Replication Project.—
(1)

Purpose.—
The purpose of this subsection is to provide resources to the Secretary to support the conduct and evaluation of a family recovery and reunification program replication project (referred to in this subsection as the “project”) and to determine the extent to which such programs may be appropriate for use at different intervention points (such as when a child is at risk of entering foster care or when a child is living with a guardian while a parent is in treatment). The family recovery and reunification program conducted under the project shall use a recovery coach model that is designed to help reunify families and protect children by working with parents or guardians with a substance use disorder who have temporarily lost custody of their children.
(2)

Program components.—
The family recovery and reunification program conducted under the project shall adhere closely to the elements and protocol determined to be most effective in other recovery coaching programs that have been rigorously evaluated and shown to increase family reunification and protect children and, consistent with such elements and protocol, shall provide such items and services as—
(A)
assessments to evaluate the needs of the parent or guardian;
(B)
assistance in receiving the appropriate benefits to aid the parent or guardian in recovery;
(C)
services to assist the parent or guardian in prioritizing issues identified in assessments, establishing goals for resolving such issues that are consistent with the goals of the treatment provider, child welfare agency, courts, and other agencies involved with the parent or guardian or their children, and making a coordinated plan for achieving such goals;
(D)
home visiting services coordinated with the child welfare agency and treatment provider involved with the parent or guardian or their children;
(E)
case management services to remove barriers for the parent or guardian to participate and continue in treatment, as well as to re-engage a parent or guardian who is not participating or progressing in treatment;
(F)
access to services needed to monitor the parent’s or guardian's compliance with program requirements;
(G)
frequent reporting between the treatment provider, child welfare agency, courts, and other agencies involved with the parent or guardian or their children to ensure appropriate information on the parent’s or guardian's status is available to inform decision-making; and
(H)
assessments and recommendations provided by a recovery coach to the child welfare caseworker responsible for documenting the parent’s or guardian's progress in treatment and recovery as well as the status of other areas identified in the treatment plan for the parent or guardian, including a recommendation regarding the expected safety of the child if the child is returned to the custody of the parent or guardian that can be used by the caseworker and a court to make permanency decisions regarding the child.
(3)

Responsibilities of the secretary.—
(A)

In general.—
The Secretary shall, through a grant or contract with 1 or more entities, conduct and evaluate the family recovery and reunification program under the project.
(B)

Requirements.—
In identifying 1 or more entities to conduct the evaluation of the family recovery and reunification program, the Secretary shall—
(i)
determine that the area or areas in which the program will be conducted have sufficient substance use disorder treatment providers and other resources (other than those provided with funds made available to carry out the project) to successfully conduct the program;
(ii)
determine that the area or areas in which the program will be conducted have enough potential program participants, and will serve a sufficient number of parents or guardians and their children, so as to allow for the formation of a control group, evaluation results to be adequately powered, and preliminary results of the evaluation to be available within 4 years of the program's implementation;
(iii)
provide the entity or entities with technical assistance for the program design, including by working with 1 or more entities that are or have been involved in recovery coaching programs that have been rigorously evaluated and shown to increase family reunification and protect children so as to make sure the program conducted under the project adheres closely to the elements and protocol determined to be most effective in such other recovery coaching programs;
(iv)
assist the entity or entities in securing adequate coaching, treatment, child welfare, court, and other resources needed to successfully conduct the family recovery and reunification program under the project; and
(v)
ensure the entity or entities will be able to monitor the impacts of the program in the area or areas in which it is conducted for at least 5 years after parents or guardians and their children are randomly assigned to participate in the program or to be part of the program's control group.
(4)

Evaluation requirements.—
(A)

In general.—
The Secretary, in consultation with the entity or entities conducting the family recovery and reunification program under the project, shall conduct an evaluation to determine whether the program has been implemented effectively and resulted in improvements for children and families. The evaluation shall have 3 components: a pilot phase, an impact study, and an implementation study.
(B)

Pilot phase.—
The pilot phase component of the evaluation shall consist of the Secretary providing technical assistance to the entity or entities conducting the family recovery and reunification program under the project to ensure—
(i)
the program's implementation adheres closely to the elements and protocol determined to be most effective in other recovery coaching programs that have been rigorously evaluated and shown to increase family reunification and protect children; and
(ii)
random assignment of parents or guardians and their children to be participants in the program or to be part of the program's control group is being carried out.
(C)

Impact study.—
The impact study component of the evaluation shall determine the impacts of the family recovery and reunification program conducted under the project on the parents and guardians and their children participating in the program. The impact study component shall—
(i)
be conducted using an experimental design that uses a random assignment research methodology;
(ii)
consistent with previous studies of other recovery coaching programs that have been rigorously evaluated and shown to increase family reunification and protect children, measure outcomes for parents and guardians and their children over multiple time periods, including for a period of 5 years; and
(iii)
include measurements of family stability and parent, guardian, and child safety for program participants and the program control group that are consistent with measurements of such factors for participants and control groups from previous studies of other recovery coaching programs so as to allow results of the impact study to be compared with the results of such prior studies, including with respect to comparisons between program participants and the program control group regarding—
(I)
safe family reunification;
(II)
time to reunification;
(III)
permanency (such as through measures of reunification, adoption, or placement with guardians);
(IV)
safety (such as through measures of subsequent maltreatment);
(V)
parental or guardian treatment persistence and engagement;
(VI)
parental or guardian substance use;
(VII)
juvenile delinquency;
(VIII)
cost; and
(IX)
other measurements agreed upon by the Secretary and the entity or entities operating the family recovery and reunification program under the project.
(D)

Implementation study.—
The implementation study component of the evaluation shall be conducted concurrently with the conduct of the impact study component and shall include, in addition to such other information as the Secretary may determine, descriptions and analyses of—
(i)
the adherence of the family recovery and reunification program conducted under the project to other recovery coaching programs that have been rigorously evaluated and shown to increase family reunification and protect children; and
(ii)
the difference in services received or proposed to be received by the program participants and the program control group.
(E)

Report.—
The Secretary shall publish on an internet website maintained by the Secretary the following information:
(i)
A report on the pilot phase component of the evaluation.
(ii)
A report on the impact study component of the evaluation.
(iii)
A report on the implementation study component of the evaluation.
(iv)
A report that includes—
(I)
analyses of the extent to which the program has resulted in increased reunifications, increased permanency, case closures, net savings to the State or States involved (taking into account both costs borne by States and the Federal government), or other outcomes, or if the program did not produce such outcomes, an analysis of why the replication of the program did not yield such results;
(II)
if, based on such analyses, the Secretary determines the program should be replicated, a replication plan; and
(III)
such recommendations for legislation and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(5)

Appropriation.—
In addition to any amounts otherwise made available to carry out this subpart, out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 to carry out the project, which shall remain available through fiscal year 2026.
(f)

Prevention Services Evaluation Partnerships.—
(1)

Purpose.—
The purpose of this subsection is to authorize the Secretary to make competitive grants to support the timely evaluation of—
(A)
services and programs described in section 471(e); or
(B)
kinship navigator programs described in section 474(a)(7).
(2)

Grants.—
In accordance with applications approved under this subsection, the Secretary may make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to carry out projects designed to evaluate a service or program provided by the eligible entity, or an entity in partnership with the eligible entity, with respect to the requirements for a promising practice, supported practice, or well-supported practice described in section 471(e)(4)(C).
(3)

Applications.—
(A)

In general.—
An eligible entity may apply to the Secretary for a grant under this subsection to carry out a project that meets the following requirements:
(i)
The project is designed in accordance with paragraph (2).
(ii)
The project is to be carried out by the applicant in partnership with—
(I)
a State agency that administers, or supervises the administration of, the State plan approved under part E, or an agency administering the plan under the supervision of the State agency; and
(II)
if the applicant is unable or unwilling to do so, at least 1 external evaluator to carry out the evaluation of the service or program provided by the applicant.
(B)

Contents.—
The application shall contain the following:
(i)
A description of the project, including—
(I)
a statement explaining why a grant is necessary to carry out the project; and
(II)
the amount of grant funds that would be disbursed to each entity described in subparagraph (A)(ii) in partnership with the applicant.
(ii)
A certification from each entity described in subparagraph (A)(ii) that provides assurances that the individual or entity is in partnership with the applicant and will fulfill the responsibilities of the entity specified in the description provided pursuant to clause (i) of this subparagraph.
(iii)
A certification from the applicant that provides assurances that the applicant intends to comply with subparagraph (A)(ii)(II), if applicable.
(iv)
At the option of the eligible entity, a certification from the applicant that the applicant requires an external evaluator secured by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (5), if applicable.
(4)

Priorities.—
In approving applications under this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize the following:
(A)
Addressing, with respect to the clearinghouse of practices described in section 476(d)(2), deficiencies or gaps identified by the Secretary in consultation with—
(i)
States, political subdivisions of a State, and tribal communities carrying out, or receiving the benefits of, a service or program; and
(ii)
child welfare experts, including individuals with lived experience.
(B)
Maximizing the number of evidence-based services or programs to be included in the clearinghouse of practices described in section 476(d)(2).
(C)
Timely completion of evaluations and the production of evidence.
(D)
Supporting services or programs that are based on, or are adaptations to new population settings of, a service or program with reliable evidence about the benefits and risks of the service or program.
(5)

Availability of external evaluators.—
(A)

In general.—
Before accepting applications under this subsection, the Secretary shall make reasonable efforts to identify at least 1 entity to serve as an external evaluator for any eligible entity that includes a certification under paragraph (3)(B)(iv) with an application under this subsection.
(B)

No effect on consideration of application.—
The Secretary may not consider whether an eligible entity is in partnership with an external evaluator described in paragraph (A) in approving an application under this subsection submitted by the eligible entity.
(6)

Reports.—
(A)

By grant recipients.—
Within 1 year after receiving a grant under this subsection, and every year thereafter for the next 5 years, the grant recipient shall submit to the Secretary a written report on—
(i)
the use of grant funds;
(ii)
whether the program or service evaluated by the project meets a requirement specified in section 471(e)(4)(C), including information about—
(I)
how the program or service is being carried out in accordance with standards specified in the requirement;
(II)
any outcomes of the program or service; and
(III)
any outcome with respect to which the service or program compares favorably to a comparison practice; and
(iii)
whether the Secretary has included the program or service in an update to the clearinghouse of practices described in section 476(d)(2).
(B)

By the secretary.—
The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Finance of the Senate an annual written report on—
(i)
the grants awarded under this subsection;
(ii)
the programs funded by the grants;
(iii)
any technical assistance provided by the Secretary in carrying out this subsection, including with respect to the efforts to secure external evaluators pursuant to paragraph (5); and
(iv)
any efforts by the Secretary to support program evaluation and review pursuant to section 471(e) and inclusion of programs in the pre-approved list of services and programs described in section 471(e)(4)(D) or the clearinghouse of practices described in section 476(d)(2).
(7)

Funding.—
(A)

Limitations.—
Of the amounts available to carry out this subsection, the Secretary may use not more than 5 percent to provide technical assistance.
(B)

Carryover.—
Amounts made available to carry out this subsection shall remain available until expended.
(8)

Definitions.—
In this subsection:
(A)

Eligible entity.—
The term “eligible entity” means any of the following providing a service or program or, in the sole determination of the Secretary, able to provide a service or program if awarded a grant under this subsection:
(i)
A State, a political subdivision of a State, or an agency or department of a State or political subdivision of a State.
(ii)
An entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 426(a)(1).
(iii)
An Indian tribe or tribal organization.
(B)

External evaluator.—
The term “external evaluator” means an entity with the ability and willingness to evaluate a service or program pursuant to paragraph (2) that is not provided by the entity.
(C)

Service or program.—
The term “service or program”—
(i)
means a service or program described in section 471(e); and
(ii)
includes a kinship navigator program described in section 474(a)(7).
SEC. 436.
[42 U.S.C. 629f]

AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; RESERVATION OF CERTAIN AMOUNTS.
(a)

Authorization.—
In addition to any amount otherwise made available to carry out this subpart, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subpart $345,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and $420,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029.
(b)

Reservation of Certain Amounts.—
From the amount specified in subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve amounts as follows:
(1)

State court improvements.—
The Secretary shall reserve $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year for grants under section 438.
(2)

Indian tribes or tribal consortia.—
The Secretary shall reserve 3 percent for allotment to Indian tribes or tribal consortia in accordance with section 433(a).
(3)

Support for monthly caseworker visits.—
(A)

Reservation.—
The Secretary shall reserve for allotment in accordance with section 433(e) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year.
(B)

Use of funds.—
(i)

In general.—
A State to which an amount is paid from amounts reserved under subparagraph (A) shall use the amount to improve the quality of monthly caseworker visits with children who are in foster care under the responsibility of the State, with an emphasis on—
(I)
reducing caseload ratios and the administrative burden on caseworkers, to improve caseworker decision making on the safety, permanency, and well-being of foster children and on activities designed to increase retention, recruitment, and training of caseworkers;
(II)
implementing technology solutions to streamline caseworker duties and modernize systems, ensuring improved efficiency and effectiveness in child welfare services;
(III)
improving caseworker safety;
(IV)
mental health resources to support caseworker well-being, including peer-to-peer support programs; and
(V)
recruitment campaigns aimed at attracting qualified caseworker candidates.
(ii)

Nonsupplantation.—
A State to which an amount is paid from amounts reserved pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not use the amount to supplant any Federal funds paid to the State under part E that could be used as described in clause (i).
(4)

Regional partnership grants.—
The Secretary shall reserve for awarding grants under section 437(f) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year.
(c)

Support for Foster Family Homes.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2018, $8,000,000 for the Secretary to make competitive grants to States, Indian tribes, or tribal consortia to support the recruitment and retention of high-quality foster families to increase their capacity to place more children in family settings, focused on States, Indian tribes, or tribal consortia with the highest percentage of children in non-family settings. The amount appropriated under this subparagraph shall remain available through fiscal year 2022.
SEC. 437.
[42 U.S.C. 629g]

DISCRETIONARY AND TARGETED GRANTS.
(a)

Limitations on Authorization of Appropriations.—
In addition to any amount appropriated pursuant to section 436, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
(b)

Reservation of Certain Amounts.—
From the amount (if any) appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve amounts as follows:
(1)

Evaluation, research, training, and technical assistance.—
The Secretary shall reserve 3.3 percent for expenditure by the Secretary for the activities described in section 435.
(2)

State court improvements.—
The Secretary shall reserve 3.3 percent for grants under section 438.
(3)

Indian tribes or tribal consortia.—
The Secretary shall reserve 3 percent for allotment to Indian tribes or tribal consortia in accordance with subsection (c)(1).
(4)

Improving the interstate placement of children.—
The Secretary shall reserve $5,000,000 of the amount made available for fiscal year 2018 for grants under subsection (g), and the amount so reserved shall remain available through fiscal year 2022.
(5)

Preventive services evaluation partnerships.—
The Secretary shall reserve $5,000,000 for grants under section 435(f) for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029.
(6)

Kinship navigators.—
The Secretary shall reserve $10,000,000 for grants under section 427 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029.
(c)

Allotments.—
(1)

Indian tribes or tribal consortia.—
From the amount (if any) reserved pursuant to subsection (b)(3) for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each Indian tribe with a plan approved under this subpart an amount that bears the same ratio to such reserved amount as the number of children in the Indian tribe bears to the total number of children in all Indian tribes with State plans so approved, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most current and reliable information available to the Secretary. If a consortium of Indian tribes applies and is approved for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall allot to the consortium an amount equal to the sum of the allotments determined for each Indian tribe that is part of the consortium.
(2)

Territories.—
From the amount (if any) appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) for any fiscal year that remains after applying subection 27 (b) for the fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each of the jurisdictions of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa an amount determined in the same manner as the allotment to each of such jurisdictions is determined under section 423.
^{27}
So in law. The word “subection” in subsection (c)(2) probably should read “subsection”.
(3)

Other states.—
From the amount (if any) appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) for any fiscal year that remains after applying subsection (b) and paragraph (2) of this subsection for the fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each State (other than an Indian tribe) which is not specified in paragraph (2) of this subsection an amount equal to such remaining amount multiplied by the supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits percentage (as defined in section 433(c)(2)) of the State for the fiscal year.
(d)

Grants.—
The Secretary may make a grant to a State which has a plan approved under this subpart in an amount equal to the lesser of—
(1)
75 percent of the total expenditures by the State for activities under the plan during the fiscal year or the immediately succeeding fiscal year; or
(2)
the allotment of the State under subsection (c) for the fiscal year.
(e)

Applicability of Certain Rules.—
The rules of subsections (b) and (c) of section 434 shall apply in like manner to the amounts made available pursuant to subsection (a).
(f)

Targeted Grants To Implement IV–E Prevention Services, and Improve the Well-Being of, and Improve Permanency Outcomes for, Children and Families Affected by Heroin, Opioids, and Other Substance Abuse.—
(1)

Purpose.—
The purpose of this subsection is to authorize the Secretary to make competitive grants to regional partnerships to provide, through interagency collaboration and integration of programs and services, services and activities that are designed to increase the well-being of, improve permanency outcomes for, and enhance the safety of children who are in an out-of-home placement or are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement as a result of a parent's or caretaker's substance abuse, and expand the scope of the evidence-based services that may be approved by the clearinghouse established under section 476(d).
(2)

Regional partnership defined.—
In this subsection, the term “regional partnership” means a collaborative agreement (which may be established on an interstate, State, or intrastate basis) entered into by the following:
(A)

Mandatory partners for all partnership grants.—
(i)
The State child welfare agency that is responsible for the administration of the State plan under this part and part E.
(ii)
The State agency responsible for administering the substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant provided under subpart II of part B of title XIX of the Public Health Service Act.
(iii)
The most appropriate administrative office of the juvenile court or State court overseeing court proceedings involving families who come to the attention of the court due to child abuse or neglect.
(B)

Optional partners.—
At the option of the partnership, any of the following:
(i)
An Indian tribe or tribal consortium.
(ii)
Nonprofit child welfare service providers.
(iii)
For-profit child welfare service providers.
(iv)
Community health service providers, including substance abuse treatment providers.
(v)
Community mental health providers.
(vi)
Local law enforcement agencies.
(vii)
School personnel.
(viii)
Tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortia of the agencies).
(ix)
State or local agencies that administer Federal health care, housing, family support, or other related programs.
(x)
Any other providers, agencies, personnel, officials, or entities that are related to the provision of child and family services under a State plan approved under this subpart.
(C)

Exception for regional partnerships where the lead applicant is an indian tribe or tribal consortia.—
If an Indian tribe or tribal consortium enters into a regional partnership for purposes of this subsection, the Indian tribe or tribal consortium—
(i)
may (but is not required to) include the State child welfare agency as a partner in the collaborative agreement; and
(ii)
may not enter into a collaborative agreement only with tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortium of the agencies).
(3)

Authority to award grants.—
(A)

In general.—
The Secretary shall award grants under this subsection, from the amounts reserved for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 under section 436(b)(4), to regional partnerships that satisfy the requirements of this subsection, in amounts that are not less than $250,000 and not more than $1,000,000 per grant per fiscal year.
(B)

Required minimum period of approval; planning.—
(i)

In general.—
A grant shall be awarded under this subsection for a period of not less than 2, and not more than 5, fiscal years, subject to clauses (ii) and (iii).
(ii)

Extension of grant.—
On application of the grantee, the Secretary may extend for not more than 2 fiscal years the period for which a grant is awarded under this subsection.
(iii)

Sufficient planning.—
(I)

In general.—
A grant awarded under this subsection shall be disbursed in two phases: a planning phase (not to exceed 2 years) and an implementation phase. The total disbursement to a grantee for the planning phase may not exceed the total anticipated funding for the implementation phase.
(II)

Exception.—
The Secretary, on a case-by-case basis, may waive the planning phase for a partnership that demonstrates that the partnership has engaged in sufficient planning before submitting an application for a grant under this subsection.
(C)

Multiple grants allowed.—
This subsection shall not be interpreted to prevent a grantee from applying for, or being awarded, separate grants under this subsection.
(D)

Limitation on payment for a fiscal year.—
No payment shall be made under subparagraph (A) or (C) for a fiscal year until the Secretary determines that the eligible partnership has made sufficient progress in meeting the goals of the grant and that the members of the eligible partnership are coordinating to a reasonable degree with the other members of the eligible partnership.
(4)

Application requirements.—
To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, a regional partnership shall submit to the Secretary a written application containing the following:
(A)
Recent evidence demonstrating that substance abuse has had a substantial impact on the number of out-of-home placements for children, or the number of children who are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement, in the partnership region.
(B)
A description of the goals and outcomes to be achieved during the funding period for the grant that will—
(i)
enhance the well-being of children, parents, and families receiving services or taking part in activities conducted with funds provided under the grant;
(ii)
lead to safe, permanent caregiving relationships for the children;
(iii)
improve the substance abuse treatment outcomes for parents including retention in treatment and successful completion of treatment;
(iv)
facilitate the implementation, delivery, and effectiveness of prevention services and programs under section 471(e); and
(v)
decrease the number of out-of-home placements for children, increase reunification rates for children who have been placed in out-of-home care, or decrease the number of children who are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement, in the partnership region.
(C)
A description of the joint activities to be funded in whole or in part with the funds provided under the grant, including the sequencing of the activities proposed to be conducted under the funding period for the grant.
(D)
A description of the strategies for integrating programs and services determined to be appropriate for the child and the child's family.
(E)
A description of a plan for sustaining the services provided by or activities funded under the grant after the conclusion of the grant period, including through the use of prevention services and programs under section 471(e) and other funds provided to the State for child welfare and substance abuse prevention and treatment services.
(F)
Additional information needed by the Secretary to determine that the proposed activities and implementation will be consistent with research or evaluations showing which practices and approaches are most effective.
(5)

Use of funds.—
Funds made available under a grant made under this subsection shall only be used for services or activities that are consistent with the purpose of this subsection and may include the following:
(A)
Family-based comprehensive long-term substance use disorder treatment including medication assisted treatment and in-home substance abuse disorder treatment and recovery services.
(B)
Early intervention and preventative services.
(C)
Children and family counseling.
(D)
Mental health services.
(E)
Parenting skills training.
(F)
Replication of successful models for providing family-based comprehensive long-term substance abuse treatment services.
(6)

Matching requirement.—
(A)

Federal share.—
A grant awarded under this subsection shall be available to pay a percentage share of the costs of services provided or activities conducted under such grant, not to exceed—
(i)
85 percent for the first and second fiscal years for which the grant is awarded to a recipient;
(ii)
80 percent for the third and fourth such fiscal years;
(iii)
75 percent for the fifth such fiscal year;
(iv)
70 percent for the sixth such fiscal year; and
(v)
65 percent for the seventh such fiscal year.
(B)

Non-federal share.—
The non-Federal share of the cost of services provided or activities conducted under a grant awarded under this subsection may be in cash or in kind. In determining the amount of the non-Federal share, the Secretary may attribute fair market value to goods, services, and facilities contributed from non-Federal sources.
(7)

Considerations in awarding grants.—
In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into consideration the extent to which applicant regional partnerships—
(A)
demonstrate that substance abuse by parents or caretakers has had a substantial impact on the number of out-of-home placements for children, or the number of children who are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement, in the partnership region;
(B)
have limited resources for addressing the needs of children affected by such abuse;
(C)
have a lack of capacity for, or access to, comprehensive family treatment services;
(D)
demonstrate a track record of successful collaboration among child welfare, substance abuse disorder treatment and mental health agencies;
(E)
demonstrate a plan for sustaining the services provided by or activities funded under the grant after the conclusion of the grant period;
(F)
have submitted information pursuant to paragraph (4)(F) that demonstrates the capability to participate in rigorous evaluation of program effectiveness; and
(G)
are a State or public agency, or outline a plan to increase the availability of services funded under the grant statewide.
(8)

Performance indicators.—
(A)

In general.—
Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of the Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act, the Secretary shall review indicators that are used to assess periodically the performance of the grant recipients under this subsection and establish a set of core indicators related to child safety, child permanency, reunification, re-entry into care, parental recovery, parenting capacity, and family well-being. In developing the core indicators, to the extent possible, indicators shall be made consistent with the outcome measures described in section 471(e)(6), and access to services for families with substance use disorder, including those with children who are overrepresented in foster care, difficult to place, or have disproportionately low permanency rates.
(B)

Consultation required.—
In establishing the performance indicators required by subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall base the performance measures on lessons learned from prior rounds of regional partnership grants under this subsection, and consult with the following:
(i)
The Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families.
(ii)
The Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
(iii)
The Administrator of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
(iv)
Other stakeholders or constituencies as determined by the Secretary.
(9)

Reports.—
(A)

Grantee reports.—
(i)

Semiannual reports.—
Not later than September 30 of each fiscal year in which a recipient of a grant under this subsection is paid funds under the grant, and every 6 months thereafter, the grant recipient shall submit to the Secretary a report on the services provided and activities carried out during the reporting period, progress made in achieving the goals of the program, the number of children, adults, and families receiving services, and such additional information as the Secretary determines is necessary. The report due not later than September 30 of the last such fiscal year shall include, at a minimum, data on each of the performance indicators included in the evaluation of the regional partnership.
(ii)

Incorporation of information related to performance indicators.—
Each recipient of a grant under this subsection shall incorporate into the first annual report required by clause (i) that is submitted after the establishment of performance indicators under paragraph (8), information required in relation to such indicators.
(B)

Reports to congress.—
On the basis of the reports submitted under subparagraph (A), the Secretary annually shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on—
(i)
the services provided and activities conducted with funds provided under grants awarded under this subsection;
(ii)
the performance indicators established under paragraph (8);
(iii)
the progress that has been made in addressing the needs of families with substance abuse problems who come to the attention of the child welfare system and in achieving the goals of child safety, permanence, and family stability; and
(iv)
whether any programs funded by the grants were submitted to the clearinghouse established under section 476(d) for review and the results of any such review.
(10)

Limitation on use of funds for administrative expenses of the secretary.—
Not more than 5 percent of the amounts appropriated or reserved for awarding grants under this subsection may be used by the Secretary for salaries and Department of Health and Human Services administrative expenses in administering this subsection.
(g)

Funding for the Development of an Electronic Interstate Case-processing System to Expedite the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care or Guardianship, or for Adoption.—
(1)

Purpose.—
The purpose of this subsection is to facilitate the development of an electronic interstate case-processing system for the exchange of data and documents to expedite the placements of children in foster, guardianship, or adoptive homes across State lines.
(2)

Requirements.—
A State that seeks funding under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary the following:
(A)
A description of the goals and outcomes to be achieved, which goals and outcomes must result in—
(i)
reducing the time it takes for a child to be provided with a safe and appropriate permanent living arrangement across State lines;
(ii)
improving administrative processes and reducing costs in the foster care system; and
(iii)
the secure exchange of relevant case files and other necessary materials in real time, and timely communications and placement decisions regarding interstate placements of children.
(B)
A description of the activities to be funded in whole or in part with the funds, including the sequencing of the activities.
(C)
A description of the strategies for integrating programs and services for children who are placed across State lines.
(D)
Such other information as the Secretary may require.
(3)

Funding authority.—
The Secretary may provide funds to a State that complies with paragraph (2). In providing funds under this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize States that are not yet connected with the electronic interstate case-processing system referred to in paragraph (1).
(4)

Use of funds.—
A State to which funding is provided under this subsection shall use the funding to support the State in connecting with, or enhancing or expediting services provided under, the electronic interstate case-processing system referred to in paragraph (1).
(5)

Evaluations.—
Not later than 1 year after the final year in which funds are awarded under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress, and make available to the general public by posting on a website, a report that contains the following information:
(A)
How using the electronic interstate case-processing system developed pursuant to paragraph (4) has changed the time it takes for children to be placed across State lines.
(B)
The number of cases subject to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children that were processed through the electronic interstate case-processing system, and the number of interstate child placement cases that were processed outside the electronic interstate case-processing system, by each State in each year.
(C)
The progress made by States in implementing the electronic interstate case-processing system.
(D)
How using the electronic interstate case-processing system has affected various metrics related to child safety and well-being, including the time it takes for children to be placed across State lines.
(E)
How using the electronic interstate case-processing system has affected administrative costs and caseworker time spent on placing children across State lines.
(6)

Data integration.—
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretariat for the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and the States, shall assess how the electronic interstate case-processing system developed pursuant to paragraph (4) could be used to better serve and protect children that come to the attention of the child welfare system, by—
(A)
connecting the system with other data systems (such as systems operated by State law enforcement and judicial agencies, systems operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purposes of the Innocence Lost National Initiative, and other systems);
(B)
simplifying and improving reporting related to paragraphs (34) and (35) of section 471(a) regarding children or youth who have been identified as being a sex trafficking victim or children missing from foster care; and
(C)
improving the ability of States to quickly comply with background check requirements of section 471(a)(20), including checks of child abuse and neglect registries as required by section 471(a)(20)(B).
SEC. 438.
[42 U.S.C. 629h]

ENTITLEMENT FUNDING FOR STATE COURTS TO ASSESS AND IMPROVE HANDLING OF PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION.
(a)

In General.—
The Secretary shall make grants, in accordance with this section, to the highest State courts in States participating in the program under part E, for the purpose of enabling such courts—
(1)
to conduct assessments, in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary shall publish, of the role, responsibilities, and effectiveness of State courts in carrying out State laws requiring proceedings (conducted by or under the supervision of the courts)—
(A)
that implement parts B and E;
(B)
that determine the advisability or appropriateness of foster care placement;
(C)
that determine whether to terminate parental rights;
(D)
that determine whether to approve the adoption or other permanent placement of a child;
(E)
that determine the best strategy to use to expedite the interstate placement of children, including—
(i)
requiring courts in different States to cooperate in the sharing of information;
(ii)
authorizing courts to obtain information and testimony from agencies and parties in other States without requiring interstate travel by the agencies and parties; and
(iii)
permitting the participation of parents, children, other necessary parties, and attorneys in cases involving interstate placement without requiring their interstate travel; and
(F)
that determine the appropriateness and best practices for use of technology to conduct remote hearings, subject to participant consent, 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;
(2)
to implement improvements the highest state 28 courts deem necessary as a result of the assessments, including—
^{28}
So in law. The word “state” probably should read “State”.
(A)
to provide for the safety, well-being, and permanence of children in foster care in a timely and complete manner, as set forth in the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–89), including the requirements in the Act related to concurrent planning;
(B)
to implement a corrective action plan, as necessary, resulting from reviews of child and family service programs under section 1123A of this Act; and
(C)
to increase and improve engagement of the entire family in court processes relating to child welfare, family preservation, family reunification, and adoption, including by training judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel and supporting optimal use of remote hearing technology; and
(3)
to ensure continuity of needed court services, prevent disruption of the services, and enable their recovery from threats such as public health crises, natural disasters or cyberattacks, including through—
(A)
support for technology that allows court proceedings to occur remotely subject to participant consent, including hearings and legal representation;
(B)
the development of guidance and protocols for responding to the occurrences and coordinating with other agencies; and
(C)
other activities carried out to ensure backup systems are in place.
(b)

Applications.—
In order to be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a highest State court shall have in effect a rule requiring State courts to ensure that foster parents, pre-adoptive parents, and relative caregivers of a child in foster care under the responsibility of the State are notified of any proceeding to be held with respect to the child, shall provide for the training of judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel in child welfare cases on Federal child welfare policies and payment limitations with respect to children in foster care who are placed in settings that are not a foster family home, and shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and including such information and assurances as the Secretary may require, including—
(1)
a description of how courts and child welfare agencies on the local and State levels will use not less than 30 percent of grant funds to collaborate and jointly plan for the collection and sharing of all relevant data and information to demonstrate how improved case tracking and analysis of child abuse and neglect cases will produce safe and timely permanency decisions;
(2)
a demonstration that a portion of the grant will be used for cross-training initiatives that are jointly planned and executed with the State agency or any other agency under contract with the State to administer the State program under the State plan under subpart 1, the State plan approved under section 434, or the State plan approved under part E; and
(C)
in the case of a grant for any purpose described in subsection (a),29 a demonstration of meaningful and ongoing collaboration among the courts in the State, the State agency or any other agency under contract with the State who is responsible for administering the State program under part B or E, and, where applicable, Indian tribes.
^{29}
Subparagraph (C) is so in law. The amendment by clause (iv) of section 305(b)(2)(C) of division CC of Public Law 116–260 to subparagraph (C) to strike “(C) in the case of a grant for the purpose described in subsection (a),’’ and inserting ‘‘(3)” does not execute because the phrase being struck does not appear in law.
(c)

Amount of Grant.—
(1)

In general.—
From the amounts reserved under sections 436(b)(1) and 437(b)(2) for a fiscal year, each highest State court that has an application approved under this section for the fiscal year shall be entitled to payment of an amount equal to the sum of—
(A)
$255,000; and
(B)
the amount described in paragraph (2) with respect to the court and the fiscal year.
(2)

Amount described.—
The amount described in this paragraph with respect to a court and a fiscal year is the amount that bears the same ratio to the total of the amounts reserved under sections 436(b)(1)) and 437(b)(2) for grants under this section for the fiscal year (after applying paragraphs (1)(A) and (3) of this subsection) as the number of individuals in the State in which the court is located who have not attained 21 years of age bears to the total number of such individuals in all States with a highest State court that has an approved application under this section for the fiscal year.
(3)

Indian tribes.—
From the amounts reserved under section 436(b)(1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall, before applying paragraph (1) of this subsection, allocate $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, and $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029, for grants to be awarded on a competitive basis among the highest courts of Indian tribes or tribal consortia that—
(A)
are operating a program under part E, in accordance with section 479B;
(B)
are seeking to operate a program under part E and have received an implementation grant under section 476; or
(C)
have a court responsible for proceedings related to foster care or adoption.
(d)

Federal Share.—
Each highest State court which receives funds paid under this section may use such funds to pay not more than 75 percent of the cost of activities under this section in each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
(e)

Guidance.—
(1)

In general.—
Every 5 years, the Secretary shall issue implementation guidance for sharing information on best practices for—
(A)
technological changes needed for court proceedings for foster care, guardianship, or adoption to be conducted remotely in a way that maximizes engagement and protects the privacy of participants; and
(B)
the manner in which the proceedings should be conducted.
(2)

Initial issuance.—
The Secretary shall issue initial guidance required by paragraph (1) with preliminary information on best practices not later than October 1, 2025.
(3)

Additional consultation.—
The Secretary shall consult with Indian tribes on the development of appropriate guidelines for State court proceedings involving Indian children to maximize engagement of Indian tribes and provide appropriate guidelines on conducting State court proceedings subject to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.).
SEC. 439.
[42 U.S.C. 629i]

STATE PARTNERSHIP PLANNING AND DEMONSTRATION GRANTS TO SUPPORT MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FOSTER CHILDREN AND THE INCARCERATED PARENTS OF THE CHILDREN.
(a)

Authority.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary may make demonstration grants to eligible State partnerships to develop, implement, and provide support for programs that enable and sustain meaningful relationships between covered foster children and the incarcerated parents of the children.
(2)

Payment of annual installments.—
The Secretary shall pay each demonstration grant in 5 annual installments.
(3)

1-year planning grants.—
The Secretary may make a planning grant to a recipient of a demonstration grant, to be paid to the recipient 1 year before payment of the 1st annual installment of the demonstration grant and in an amount not greater than any installment of the demonstration grant, if—
(A)
the recipient includes a request for a planning grant in the application under subsection (c); and
(B)
the Secretary determines that a planning grant would assist the recipient and improve the effectiveness of the demonstration grant.
(b)

Eligible State Partnership Defined.—
(1)

In general.—
In this section, the term “eligible State partnership” means an agreement entered into by, at a minimum, the following:
(A)
The State child welfare agency responsible for the administration of the State plans under this part.
(B)
The State agency responsible for adult corrections.
(2)

Additional partners.—
For purposes of this section, an eligible State partnership may include any entity with experience in serving incarcerated parents and their children.
(3)

Partnerships entered into by indian tribes or tribal consortia.—
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if an Indian tribe or tribal consortium enters into a partnership pursuant to this section that does not consist solely of tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortium of the agencies), the partnership shall be considered an eligible State partnership for purposes of this section.
(c)

Application Requirements.—
An eligible State partnership seeking a demonstration grant under this section to carry out a program described in subsection (a)(1) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The application shall include the following:
(1)
A summary of the program, including how the program will support a meaningful relationship between a covered foster child and an incarcerated parent of the child.
(2)
A description of the activities to be carried out by the program, which must include all of the activities described in subsection (d) that are in the best interest of the covered foster child.
(3)
A framework for identifying—
(A)
each covered foster child eligible for services under the program, including, to the extent practicable, coordination of data between relevant State child welfare agencies and court systems; and
(B)
the roles and responsibilities of the entities in the partnership.
(4)
Documentation that the applicant is an eligible State partnership.
(5)
Assurances that the applicant will participate fully in the evaluation described in subsection (f)(2) and shall maintain records for the program, including demographic information disaggregated by relevant characteristics with respect to covered foster children and incarcerated parents who participate in the program.
(d)

Program Activities.—
To the extent that the activities are in the best interest of the covered foster child, the activities referred to in subsection (c)(2) shall include the following:
(1)

Revision of policies.—
Through consultation with incarcerated parents and their families, grantees shall promote organizational policies of participating child welfare entities and collaborating correctional facilities to promote meaningful relationships through regular and developmentally appropriate communication and visitation between covered foster children and the incarcerated parents, including, when appropriate, the following:
(A)
For child welfare entities—
(i)
inclusion of parents in case planning and decision making for children;
(ii)
regular sharing of information and responses to requests for information between caseworkers and incarcerated parents with respect to the case information of a child, any changes to a case, permanency plans, requirements to maintain parental rights, and any efforts to terminate parental rights;
(iii)
appropriate opportunities for incarcerated parents to demonstrate their relationship with a covered foster child given their incarceration, including training and courses required for a service plan; and
(iv)
the enhanced visitation described in paragraph (2).
(B)
For correctional facilities, fostering visitation and communication that is developmentally appropriate in terms of—
(i)
the nature of communication and visitation, including—
(I)
the ability to physically touch parents;
(II)
engaging with parents in locations that are appropriate for the age and development of the child;
(III)
exchanging items that are appropriate to the age and development of the child, include expectations that are appropriate for the age and development of the child related to behavior, attire, and wait times; and
(IV)
allowing appropriate adults to bring children if legal guardians are not available to promote regular contact;
(ii)
reasonable inclusion of all children of the parent;
(iii)
communication and visitation at times when the children are available;
(iv)
security procedures to comfort children and be minimally invasive; and
(v)
promoting parent-child relationships regardless of the sentence imposed on the parent.
(2)

Enhanced visitation.—
(A)
Grantees shall facilitate weekly communication and, for at least 9 days each year, in-person visitation between a covered foster child and any incarcerated parent of the child.
(B)
Electronic visitation (such as live video visits, phone calls, and recorded books) may be used but shall not be the sole method to promote a meaningful relationship for purposes of the grant.
(C)
Enhanced visitation programs shall—
(i)
integrate best practices for visitation programs with incarcerated parents and their children;
(ii)
adopt developmentally appropriate visitation policies and procedures such as those described in paragraph (1)(B);
(iii)
reduce or eliminate the cost of developmentally appropriate communication and visitation for the covered foster child, which may include the purchase of communication technology, covering transportation, insurance, and lodging costs, costs related to providing appropriate visitation spaces and activities, and other relevant costs;
(iv)
to the extent practicable, integrate appropriate parenting education to help prepare and process visits; and
(v)
avoid restricting visitation and communication as a punishment for the incarcerated parents.
(3)

Training.—
Grantees shall incorporate ongoing training for child welfare workers, correctional facility staff, and other program providers to understand the importance of promoting meaningful relationships between children and incarcerated parents.
(4)

Case management.—
Grantees shall provide case management services for the incarcerated parents of a covered foster child to promote the relationship, access to services, and coordination with the caseworkers of the covered foster child to strengthen the relationship.
(5)

Legal assistance.—
Grantees shall facilitate access to necessary legal services and may use grant funds for services that are not reimbursable under other Federal programs.
(e)

Federal Share.—
The Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out using a grant made under this section shall be not greater than 75 percent.
(f)

Technical Assistance, Evaluations, and Reports.—
(1)

Technical assistance.—
The Secretary shall provide technical assistance with respect to grants under this section, including by—
(A)
assisting grantees in understanding best practices in promoting meaningful relationships between incarcerated parents and their children as well as consulting with appropriate stakeholders when developing their programs;
(B)
assisting grantees with establishing and analyzing implementation and performance indicators; and
(C)
conducting an annual technical assistance and training meeting and an annual grantee meeting so that grantees can learn from the experiences of other grantees.
(2)

Evaluations.—
The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of program outcomes, including with respect to parent and child well-being, parent-child interactions, parental involvement, awareness of child development and parenting practices, placement stability, and termination of parental rights with respect to covered foster children and incarcerated parents, to measure program effectiveness, as determined by the Secretary, and identify opportunities for improved program practices and implementation.
(3)

Reports to the congress.—
(A)

Initial report.—
Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report that includes—
(i)
the number of applications for grants under this section;
(ii)
the number of grants awarded, and the amounts for each grant; and
(iii)
information on the grants, including—
(I)
interim results of the evaluation described in paragraph (2);
(II)
disaggregated data on covered foster children and incarcerated parents;
(III)
information on the composition of eligible State partnerships;
(IV)
best practices for facilitating meaningful relationships between covered foster children and incarcerated parents; and
(V)
barriers to implementation or expansion of programs funded under this section.
(B)

Final report.—
Not later than 6 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report that includes—
(i)
the final results of the evaluation described in paragraph (2); and
(ii)
recommendations for refinements to grant requirements to improve program outcomes.
(g)

Authority of Secretary With Respect to Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations.—
(1)

Waiver or modification of requirements.—
In making a grant to an Indian tribe or tribal organization under this section, the Secretary may waive the matching requirement of subsection (e) or modify an application requirement imposed by or under subsection (c) if the Secretary determines that the waiver or modification is appropriate to the needs, culture, and circumstances of the Indian tribe or tribal organization.
(2)

Evaluation.—
The Secretary shall use tribally relevant data in carrying out the evaluation under subsection (f)(2) with respect to an Indian tribe or tribal organization.
(h)

Limitations on Authorization of Appropriations.—
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary not more than $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to carry out this section.
(i)

Definition of Covered Foster Child.—
In this section, the term “covered foster child” means a child that—
(1)
is in foster care; and
(2)
has at least 1 parent incarcerated in a Federal, State, or local correctional facility.
Subpart 3—

Common Provisions
SEC. 441.
[42 U.S.C. 629k]

REDUCTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.
(a)

In General.—
The Secretary shall reduce the burden of administering this part imposed on the recipients of funds under this part, by—
(1)
reviewing and revising administrative data collection instruments and forms to eliminate duplication and streamline reporting requirements for the recipients while collecting all data required under this part;
(2)
in coordination with activities required under the Paperwork Reduction Act, conducting an analysis of the total number of hours reported by the recipients to comply with paperwork requirements and exploring, in consultation with the recipients, how to reduce the number of hours required for the compliance by at least 15 percent;
(3)
collecting input from the recipients with respect to fiscal and oversight requirements and making changes to ensure consistency with standards and guidelines for other Federal formula grant programs based on the input; and
(4)
respecting the sovereignty of Indian tribes when complying with this subsection.
(b)

Limitation on Applicability.—
Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any reporting or data collection otherwise required by law that would affect the ability of the Secretary to monitor and ensure compliance with State plans approved under this part or ensure that funds are expended consistent with this part.
SEC. 442.
[42 U.S.C. 629l]

PUBLIC ACCESS TO STATE PLANS.
The Secretary shall—
(1)
create a standardized format for State plans required under sections 422 and 432 used to monitor compliance with those sections;
(2)
produce comparisons and analyses of trends in State plans to inform future technical assistance and policy development;
(3)
make the State plans available on a public website; and
(4)
include on the website aggregated national summaries of State submissions as the Secretary deems appropriate.
SEC. 443.
[42 U.S.C. 629m]

DATA EXCHANGE STANDARDS FOR IMPROVED INTEROPERABILITY.
(a)

Designation.—
The Secretary shall, in consultation with an interagency work group established by the Office of Management and Budget and considering State government perspectives, by rule, designate data exchange standards to govern, under this part and part E—
(1)
necessary categories of information that State agencies operating programs under State plans approved under this part are required under applicable Federal law to electronically exchange with another State agency; and
(2)
Federal reporting and data exchange required under applicable Federal law.
(b)

Requirements.—
The data exchange standards required by paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable—
(1)
incorporate a widely accepted, non-proprietary, searchable, computer-readable format, such as the Extensible Markup Language;
(2)
contain interoperable standards developed and maintained by intergovernmental partnerships, such as the National Information Exchange Model;
(3)
incorporate interoperable standards developed and maintained by Federal entities with authority over contracting and financial assistance;
(4)
be consistent with and implement applicable accounting principles;
(5)
be implemented in a manner that is cost-effective and improves program efficiency and effectiveness; and
(6)
be capable of being continually upgraded as necessary.
(c)

Rule of Construction.—
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a change to existing data exchange standards found to be effective and efficient.
[Part C—Repealed]
Part D—

Child Support and Establishment of Paternity

APPROPRIATION
Sec. 451.
[42 U.S.C. 651]
For the purpose of enforcing the support obligations owed by noncustodial parents to their children and the spouse (or former spouse) with whom such children are living, locating noncustodial parents, establishing paternity, obtaining child and spousal support, and assuring that assistance in obtaining support will be available under this part to all children (whether or not eligible for assistance under a State program funded under part A) for whom such assistance is requested, there is hereby authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year a sum sufficient to carry out the purposes of this part.

DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY
Sec. 452.
[42 U.S.C. 652]
(a)
The Secretary shall establish, within the Department of Health and Human Services a separate organizational unit, under the direction of a designee of the Secretary, who shall report directly to the Secretary and who shall—
(1)
establish such standards for State programs for locating noncustodial parents, establishing paternity, and obtaining child support and support for the spouse (or former spouse) with whom the noncustodial parent's child is living as he determines to be necessary to assure that such programs will be effective;
(2)
establish minimum organizational and staffing requirements for State units engaged in carrying out such programs under plans approved under this part;
(3)
review and approve State plans for such programs;
(4)
(A)
review data and calculations transmitted by State agencies pursuant to section 454(15)(B) on State program accomplishments with respect to performance indicators for purposes of subsection (g) of this section and section 458;
(B)
review annual reports submitted pursuant to section 454(15)(A) and, as appropriate, provide to the State comments, recommendations for additional or alternative corrective actions, and technical assistance; and
(C)
conduct audits, in accordance with the Government auditing standards of the Comptroller General of the United States—
(i)
at least once every 3 years (or more frequently, in the case of a State which fails to meet the requirements of this part concerning performance standards and reliability of program data) to assess the completeness, reliability, and security of the data and the accuracy of the reporting systems used in calculating performance indicators under subsection (g) of this section and section 458;
(ii)
of the adequacy of financial management of the State program operated under the State plan approved under this part, including assessments of—
(I)
whether Federal and other funds made available to carry out the State program are being appropriately expended, and are properly and fully accounted for; and
(II)
whether collections and disbursements of support payments are carried out correctly and are fully accounted for; and
(iii)
for such other purposes as the Secretary may find necessary;
(5)
assist States in establishing adequate reporting procedures and maintain records of the operations of programs established pursuant to this part in each State, and establish procedures to be followed by States for collecting and reporting information required to be provided under this part, and establish uniform definitions (including those necessary to enable the measurement of State compliance with the requirements of this part relating to expedited processes) to be applied in following such procedures;
(6)
maintain records of all amounts collected and disbursed under programs established pursuant to the provisions of this part and of the costs incurred in collecting such amounts;
(7)
provide technical assistance to the States to help them establish effective systems for collecting child and spousal support and establishing paternity, and specify the minimum requirements of an affidavit to be used for the voluntary acknowledgment of paternity which shall include the social security number of each parent and, after consultation with the States, other common elements as determined by such designee;
(8)
receive applications from States for permission to utilize the courts of the United States to enforce court orders for support against noncustodial parents and, upon a finding that (A) another State has not undertaken to enforce the court order of the originating State against the noncustodial parent within a reasonable time, and (B) that utilization of the Federal courts is the only reasonable method of enforcing such order, approve such applications;
(9)
operate the Federal Parent Locator Service established by section 453;
(10)
not later than three months after the end of each fiscal year, beginning with the year 1977, submit to the Congress a full and complete report on all activities undertaken pursuant to the provisions of this part, which report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(A)
total program costs and collections set forth in sufficient detail to show the cost to the States and the Federal Government, the distribution of collections to families, State and local governmental units, and the Federal Government; and an identification of the financial impact of the provisions of this part, including—
(i)
the total amount of child support payments collected as a result of services furnished during the fiscal year to individuals receiving services under this part;
(ii)
the cost to the States and to the Federal Government of so furnishing the services; and
(iii)
the number of cases involving families—
(I)
who became ineligible for assistance under State programs funded under part A during a month in the fiscal year; and
(II)
with respect to whom a child support payment was received in the month;
(B)
costs and staff associated with the Office of Child Support Enforcement;
(C)
the following data, separately stated for cases where the child is receiving assistance under a State program funded under part A (or foster care maintenance payments under part E), or formerly received such assistance or payments and the State is continuing to collect support assigned to it pursuant to section 408(a)(3) or under section 471(a)(17) or 1912, and for all other cases under this part:
(i)
the total number of cases in which a support obligation has been established in the fiscal year for which the report is submitted;
(ii)
the total number of cases in which a support obligation has been established;
(iii)
the number of cases in which support was collected during the fiscal year;
(iv)
the total amount of support collected during such fiscal year and distributed as current support;
(v)
the total amount of support collected during such fiscal year and distributed as arrearages;
(vi)
the total amount of support due and unpaid for all fiscal years; and
(vii)
the number of child support cases filed in each State in such fiscal year, and the amount of the collections made in each State in such fiscal year, on behalf of children residing in another State or against parents residing in another State;
(D)
the status of all State plans under this part as of the end of the fiscal year last ending before the report is submitted, together with an explanation of any problems which are delaying or preventing approval of State plans under this part;
(E)
data, by State, on the use of the Federal Parent Locator Service, and the number of locate requests submitted without the noncustodial parent's social security account number;
(F)
the number of cases, by State, in which an applicant for or recipient of assistance under a State program funded under part A has refused to cooperate in identifying and locating the noncustodial parent and the number of cases in which refusal so to cooperate is based on good cause (as determined by the State);
(G)
data, by State, on use of the Internal Revenue Service for collections, the number of court orders on which collections were made, the number of paternity determinations made and the number of parents located, in sufficient detail to show the cost and benefits to the States and to the Federal Government;
(H)
the major problems encountered which have delayed or prevented implementation of the provisions of this part during the fiscal year last ending prior to the submission of such report; and
(I)
compliance, by State, with the standards established pursuant to subsections (h) and (i); and
(11)
not later than October 1, 1996, after consulting with the State directors of programs under this part, promulgate forms to be used by States in interstate cases for—
(A)
collection of child support through income withholding;
(B)
imposition of liens; and
(C)
administrative subpoenas.
(b)
The Secretary shall, upon the request of any State having in effect a State plan approved under this part, certify to the Secretary of the Treasury for collection pursuant to the provisions of section 6305 of the Internal Revenue Code of 195430 the amount of any child support obligation (including any support obligation with respect to the parent who is living with the child and receiving assistance under the State program funded under part A) which is assigned to such State or is undertaken to be collected by such State pursuant to section 454(4). No amount may be certified for collection under this subsection except the amount of the delinquency under a court or administrative order for support and upon a showing by the State that such State has made diligent and reasonable efforts to collect such amounts utilizing its own collection mechanisms, and upon an agreement that the State will reimburse the Secretary of the Treasury for any costs involved in making the collection. All reimbursements shall be credited to the appropriation accounts which bore all or part of the costs involved in making the collections. The Secretary after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury may, by regulation, establish criteria for accepting amounts for collection and for making certification under this subsection including imposing such limitations on the frequency of making such certifications under this subsection.
^{30}
So in law. The reference to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 probably should be to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. See section 2 of Public Law 99–514.
(c)
The Secretary of the Treasury shall from time to time pay to each State for distribution in accordance with the provisions of section 457 the amount of each collection made on behalf of such State pursuant to subsection (b).
(d)
(1)
Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Secretary shall not approve the initial and annually updated advance automated data processing planning document, referred to in section 454(16), unless he finds that such document, when implemented, will generally carry out the objectives of the management system referred to in such subsection, and such document
(A)
provides for the conduct of, and reflects the results of, requirements analysis studies, which include consideration of the program mission, functions, organization, services, constraints, and current support, of, in, or relating to, such system,
(B)
contains a description of the proposed management system referred to in section 454(16), including a description of information flows, input data, and output reports and uses,
(C)
sets forth the security and interface requirements to be employed in such management system,
(D)
describes the projected resource requirements for staff and other needs, and the resources available or expected to be available to meet such requirements,
(E)
contains an implementation plan and backup procedures to handle possible failures,
(F)
contains a summary of proposed improvement of such management system in terms of qualitative and quantitative benefits, and
(G)
provides such other information as the Secretary determines under regulation is necessary.
(2)
(A)
The Secretary shall through the separate organizational unit established pursuant to subsection (a), on a continuing basis, review, assess, and inspect the planning, design, and operation of, management information systems referred to in section 454(16), with a view to determining whether, and to what extent, such systems meet and continue to meet requirements imposed under paragraph (1) and the conditions specified under section 454(16).
(B)
If the Secretary finds with respect to any statewide management information system referred to in section 454(16) that there is a failure substantially to comply with criteria, requirements, and other undertakings, prescribed by the advance automated data processing planning document theretofore approved by the Secretary with respect to such system, then the Secretary shall suspend his approval of such document until there is no longer any such failure of such system to comply with such criteria, requirements, and other undertakings so prescribed.
(3)
The Secretary may waive any requirement of paragraph (1) or any condition specified under section 454(16), and shall waive the single statewide system requirement under sections 454(16) and 454A, with respect to a State if—
(A)
the State demonstrates to the satisfaction of the
Secretary that the State has or can develop an alternative system or systems that enable the State—
(i)
for purposes of section 409(a)(8), to achieve the paternity establishment percentages (as defined in section 452(g)(2)) and other performance measures that may be established by the Secretary;
(ii)
to submit data under section 454(15)(B) that is complete and reliable;
(iii)
to substantially comply with the requirements of this part; and
(iv)
in the case of a request to waive the single statewide system requirement, to—
(I)
meet all functional requirements of sections 454(16) and 454A;
(II)
ensure that calculation of distributions meets the requirements of section 457 and accounts for
distributions to children in different families or in
different States or sub-State jurisdictions, and for distributions to other States;
(III)
ensure that there is only one point of contact in the State which provides seamless case processing for all interstate case processing and coordinated, automated intrastate case management;
(IV)
ensure that standardized data elements, forms, and definitions are used throughout the State;
(V)
complete the alternative system in no more time than it would take to complete a single statewide system that meets such requirement; and
(VI)
process child support cases as quickly,
efficiently, and effectively as such cases would be processed through a single statewide system that meets such requirement;
(B)
(i)
the waiver meets the criteria of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 1115(c); or
(ii)
the State provides assurances to the Secretary that steps will be taken to otherwise improve the State's child support enforcement program; and
(C)
in the case of a request to waive the single statewide system requirement, the State has submitted to the Secretary separate estimates of the total cost of a single statewide system that meets such requirement, and of any such alternative system or systems, which shall include estimates of the cost of developing and completing the system and of operating and maintaining the system for 5 years, and the Secretary has agreed with the estimates.
(e)
The Secretary shall provide such technical assistance to States as he determines necessary to assist States to plan, design, develop, or install and provide for the security of, the management information systems referred to in section 454(16).
(f)
The Secretary shall issue regulations to require that State agencies administering the child support enforcement program under this part enforce medical support included as part of a child support order whenever health care coverage is available to the noncustodial parent at a reasonable cost. A State agency administering the program under this part may enforce medical support against a custodial parent if health care coverage is available to the custodial parent at a reasonable cost, notwithstanding any other provision of this part. Such regulation shall also provide for improved information exchange between such State agencies and the State agencies administering the State medicaid programs under title XIX with respect to the availability of health insurance coverage. For purposes of this part, the term “medical support” may include health care coverage, such as coverage under a health insurance plan (including payment of costs of premiums, co-payments, and deductibles) and payment for medical expenses incurred on behalf of a child.
(g)
(1)
A State's program under this part shall be found, for purposes of section 409(a)(8), not to have complied substantially with the requirements of this part unless, for any fiscal year beginning on or after October 1, 1994, its paternity establishment percentage for such fiscal year is based on reliable data and (rounded to the nearest whole percentage point) equals or exceeds—
(A)
90 percent;
(B)
for a State with a paternity establishment percentage of not less than 75 percent but less than 90 percent for such fiscal year, the paternity establishment percentage of the State for the immediately preceding fiscal year plus 2 percentage points;
(C)
for a State with a paternity establishment percentage of not less than 50 percent but less than 75 percent for such fiscal year, the paternity establishment percentage of the State for the immediately preceding fiscal year plus 3 percentage points;
(D)
for a State with a paternity establishment percentage of not less than 45 percent but less than 50 percent for such fiscal year, the paternity establishment percentage of the State for the immediately preceding fiscal year plus 4 percentage points;
(E)
for a State with a paternity establishment percentage of not less than 40 percent but less than 45 percent for such fiscal year, the paternity establishment percentage of the State for the immediately preceding fiscal year plus 5 percentage points; or
(F)
for a State with a paternity establishment percentage of less than 40 percent for such fiscal year, the paternity establishment percentage of the State for the immediately preceding fiscal year plus 6 percentage points.
In determining compliance under this section, a State may use as its paternity establishment percentage either the State's IV–D paternity establishment percentage (as defined in paragraph (2)(A)) or the State's statewide paternity establishment percentage (as defined in paragraph (2)(B)).
(2)
For purposes of this section—
(A)
the term “IV–D paternity establishment percentage” means, with respect to a State for a fiscal year, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) that the total number of children—
(i)
who have been born out of wedlock,
(ii)
(I)
except as provided in the last sentence of this paragraph, with respect to whom assistance is being provided under the State program funded under part A in the fiscal year or, at the option of the State, as of the end of such year, or (II) with respect to whom services are being provided under the State's plan approved under this part in the fiscal year or, at the option of the State, as of the end of such year pursuant to an application submitted under section 454(4)(A)(ii), and
(iii)
the paternity of whom has been established or acknowledged,
bears to the total number of children born out of wedlock and (except as provided in such last sentence) with respect to whom assistance was being provided under the State program funded under part A as of the end of the preceding fiscal year or with respect to whom services were being provided under the State's plan approved under this part as of the end of the preceding fiscal year pursuant to an application submitted under section 454(4)(A)(ii);
(B)
the term “statewide paternity establishment percentage” means, with respect to a State for a fiscal year, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) that the total number of minor children—
(i)
who have been born out of wedlock, and
(ii)
the paternity of whom has been established or acknowledged during the fiscal year,
bears to the total number of children born out of wedlock during the preceding fiscal year; and
(C)
the term “reliable data” means the most recent data available which are found by the Secretary to be reliable for purposes of this section.
For purposes of subparagraphs (A) and (B), the total number of children shall not include any child with respect to whom assistance is being provided under the State program funded under part A by reason of the death of a parent unless paternity is established for such child or any child with respect to whom an applicant or recipient is found by the State to qualify for a good cause or other exception to cooperation pursuant to section 454(29).
(3)
(A)
The Secretary may modify the requirements of this subsection to take into account such additional variables as the Secretary identifies (including the percentage of children in a State who are born out of wedlock or for whom support has not been established) that affect the ability of a State to meet the requirements of this subsection.
(B)
The Secretary shall submit an annual report to the Congress that sets forth the data upon which the paternity establishment percentages for States for a fiscal year are based, lists any additional variables the Secretary has identified under subparagraph (A), and describes State performance in establishing paternity.
(h)
The standards required by subsection (a)(1) shall include standards establishing time limits governing the period or periods within which a State must accept and respond to requests (from States, jurisdictions thereof, or individuals who apply for services furnished by the State agency under this part or with respect to whom an assignment pursuant to section 408(a)(3) is in effect) for assistance in establishing and enforcing support orders, including requests to locate noncustodial parents, establish paternity, and initiate proceedings to establish and collect child support awards.
(i)
The standards required by subsection (a)(1) shall include standards establishing time limits governing the period or periods within which a State must distribute, in accordance with section 457, amounts collected as child support pursuant to the State's plan approved under this part.
(j)
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there is hereby appropriated to the Secretary for each fiscal year an amount equal to 1 percent of the total amount paid to the Federal Government pursuant to a plan approved under this part during the immediately preceding fiscal year (as determined on the basis of the most recent reliable data available to the Secretary as of the end of the third calendar quarter following the end of such preceding fiscal year) or the amount appropriated under this paragraph 31 for fiscal year 2002, whichever is greater, which shall be available for use by the Secretary, either directly or through grants, contracts, or interagency agreements, for—
^{31}
So in law. The word “paragraph” in subsection (j) probably should read “subsection”.
(1)
information dissemination and technical assistance to States, training of State and Federal staff, staffing studies, and related activities needed to improve programs under this part (including technical assistance concerning State automated systems required by this part); and
(2)
research, demonstration, and special projects of regional or national significance relating to the operation of State programs under this part.
The amount appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.
(k)
(1)
If the Secretary receives a certification by a State agency in accordance with the requirements of section 454(31) that an individual owes arrearages of child support in an amount exceeding $2,500, the Secretary shall transmit such certification to the Secretary of State for action (with respect to denial, revocation, or limitation of passports) pursuant to paragraph (2).
(2)
The Secretary of State shall, upon certification by the Secretary transmitted under paragraph (1), refuse to issue a passport to such individual, and may revoke, restrict, or limit a passport issued previously to such individual.
(3)
The Secretary and the Secretary of State shall not be liable to an individual for any action with respect to a certification by a State agency under this section.
(l)
The Secretary, through the Federal Parent Locator Service, may aid State agencies providing services under State programs operated pursuant to this part and financial institutions doing business in two or more States in reaching agreements regarding the receipt from such institutions, and the transfer to the State agencies, of information that may be provided pursuant to section 466(a)(17)(A)(i), except that any State that, as of the date of the enactment of this subsection, is conducting data matches pursuant to section 466(a)(17)(A)(i) shall have until January 1, 2000, to allow the Secretary to obtain such information from such institutions that are operating in the State. For purposes of section 1113(d) of the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978, a disclosure pursuant to this subsection shall be considered a disclosure pursuant to a Federal statute.
(m)

Comparisons With Insurance Information.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary, through the Federal Parent Locator Service, may—
(A)
compare information concerning individuals owing past-due support with information maintained by insurers (or their agents) concerning insurance claims, settlements, awards, and payments; and
(B)
furnish information resulting from the data matches to the State agencies responsible for collecting child support from the individuals.
(2)

Liability.—
An insurer (including any agent of an insurer) shall not be liable under any Federal or State law to any person for any disclosure provided for under this subsection, or for any other action taken in good faith in accordance with this subsection.
(n)
The Secretary shall use the authorities otherwise provided by law to ensure the compliance of the United States with any multilateral child support convention to which the United States is a party.
(o)

Data Exchange Standards for Improved Interoperability.—
(1)

Designation.—
The Secretary shall, in consultation with an interagency work group established by the Office of Management and Budget and considering State government perspectives, by rule, designate data exchange standards to govern, under this part—
(A)
necessary categories of information that State agencies operating programs under State plans approved under this part are required under applicable Federal law to electronically exchange with another State agency; and
(B)
Federal reporting and data exchange required under applicable Federal law.
(2)

Requirements.—
The data exchange standards required by paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable—
(A)
incorporate a widely accepted, non-proprietary, searchable, computer-readable format, such as the eXtensible Markup Language;
(B)
contain interoperable standards developed and maintained by intergovernmental partnerships, such as the National Information Exchange Model;
(C)
incorporate interoperable standards developed and maintained by Federal entities with authority over contracting and financial assistance;
(D)
be consistent with and implement applicable accounting principles;
(E)
be implemented in a manner that is cost-effective and improves program efficiency and effectiveness; and
(F)
be capable of being continually upgraded as necessary.
(3)

Rule of construction.—
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a change to existing data exchange standards found to be effective and efficient.

FEDERAL PARENT LOCATOR SERVICE
Sec. 453.
[42 U.S.C. 653]
(a)
(1)
The Secretary shall establish and conduct a Federal Parent Locator Service, under the direction of the designee of the Secretary referred to in section 452(a), which shall be used for the purposes specified in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2)
For the purpose of establishing parentage or establishing, setting the amount of, modifying, or enforcing child support obligations, the Federal Parent Locator Service shall obtain and transmit to any authorized person specified in subsection (c)—
(A)
information on, or facilitating the discovery of, the location of any individual—
(i)
who is under an obligation to pay child support;
(ii)
against whom such an obligation is sought;
(iii)
to whom such an obligation is owed; or
(iv)
who has or may have parental rights with respect to a child,
including the individual's social security number (or numbers), most recent address, and the name, address, and employer identification number of the individual's employer;
(B)
information on the individual's wages (or other income) from, and benefits of, employment (including rights to or enrollment in group health care coverage); and
(C)
information on the type, status, location, and amount of any assets of, or debts owed by or to, any such individual.
(3)
For the purpose of enforcing any Federal or State law with respect to the unlawful taking or restraint of a child, or making or enforcing a child custody or visitation determination, as defined in section 463(d)(1), the Federal Parent Locator Service shall be used to obtain and transmit the information specified in section 463(c) to the authorized persons specified in section 463(d)(2).
(b)
(1)
Upon request, filed in accordance with subsection (d), of any authorized person, as defined in subsection (c) for the information described in subsection (a)(2), or of any authorized person, as defined in section 463(d)(2) for the information described in section 463(c), the Secretary shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, provide through the Federal Parent Locator Service such information to such person, if such information—
(A)
is contained in any files or records maintained by the Secretary or by the Department of Health and Human Services; or
(B)
is not contained in such files or records, but can be obtained by the Secretary, under the authority conferred by subsection (e), from any other department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or of any State,
and is not prohibited from disclosure under paragraph (2).
(2)
No information shall be disclosed to any person if the disclosure of such information would contravene the national policy or security interests of the United States or the confidentiality of census data. The Secretary shall give priority to requests made by any authorized person described in subsection (c)(1). No information shall be disclosed to any person if the State has notified the Secretary that the State has reasonable evidence of domestic violence or child abuse and the disclosure of such information could be harmful to the custodial parent or the child of such parent, provided that—
(A)
in response to a request from an authorized person (as defined in subsection (c) of this section and section 463(d)(2)), the Secretary shall advise the authorized person that the Secretary has been notified that there is reasonable evidence of domestic violence or child abuse and that information can only be disclosed to a court or an agent of a court pursuant to subparagraph (B); and
(B)
information may be disclosed to a court or an agent of a court described in subsection (c)(2) of this section or section 463(d)(2)(B), if—
(i)
upon receipt of information from the Secretary, the court determines whether disclosure to any other person of that information could be harmful to the parent or the child; and
(ii)
if the court determines that disclosure of such information to any other person could be harmful, the court and its agents shall not make any such disclosure.
(3)
Information received or transmitted pursuant to this section shall be subject to the safeguard provisions contained in section 454(26).
(c)
As used in subsection (a), the term “authorized person” means—
(1)
any agent or attorney of any State or Indian tribe or tribal organization (as defined in subsections (e) and (l) of section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)), having in effect a plan approved under this part, who has the duty or authority under such plans to seek to recover any amounts owed as child and spousal support (including, when authorized under the State plan, any official of a political subdivision);
(2)
the court which has authority to issue an order or to serve as the initiating court in an action to seek an order against a noncustodial parent for the support and maintenance of a child, or any agent of such court;
(3)
the resident parent, legal guardian, attorney, or agent of a child (other than a child receiving assistance under a State program funded under part A (as determined by regulations prescribed by the Secretary) without regard to the existence of a court order against a noncustodial parent who has a duty to support and maintain any such child;
(4)
a State agency that is administering a program operated under a State plan under subpart 1 of part B, or a State plan approved under subpart 2 of part B or under part E; and
(5)
an entity designated as a Central Authority for child support enforcement in a foreign reciprocating country or a foreign treaty country for purposes specified in section 459A(c)(2).
(d)
A request for information under this section shall be filed in such manner and form as the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe and shall be accompanied or supported by such documents as the Secretary may determine to be necessary.
(e)
(1)
Whenever the Secretary receives a request submitted under subsection (b) which he is reasonably satisfied meets the criteria established by subsections (a), (b), and (c), he shall promptly undertake to provide the information requested from the files and records maintained by any of the departments, agencies, or instrumentalities of the United States or of any State.
(2)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, whenever the individual who is the head of any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States receives a request from the Secretary for information authorized to be provided by the Secretary under this section, such individual shall promptly cause a search to be made of the files and records maintained by such department, agency, or instrumentality with a view to determining whether the information requested is contained in any such files or records. If such search discloses the information requested, such individual shall immediately transmit such information to the Secretary, except that if any information is obtained the disclosure of which would contravene national policy or security interests of the United States or the confidentiality of census data, such information shall not be transmitted and such individual shall immediately notify the Secretary. If such search fails to disclose the information requested, such individual shall immediately so notify the Secretary. The costs incurred by any such department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or of any State in providing such information to the Secretary shall be reimbursed by him in an amount which the Secretary determines to be reasonable payment for the information exchange (which amount shall not include payment for the costs of obtaining, compiling, or maintaining the information). Whenever such services are furnished to an individual specified in subsection (c)(3), a fee shall be charged such individual. The fee so charged shall be used to reimburse the Secretary or his delegate for the expense of providing such services.
(3)
The Secretary of Labor shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary to provide prompt access for the Secretary (in accordance with this subsection) to the wage and unemployment compensation claims information and data maintained by or for the Department of Labor or State employment security agencies.
(f)
The Secretary, in carrying out his duties and functions under this section, shall enter into arrangements with State and tribal agencies administering State and tribal plans approved under this part for such State and tribal agencies to accept from resident parents, legal guardians, or agents of a child described in subsection (c)(3) and to transmit to the Secretary requests for information with regard to the whereabouts of noncustodial parents and otherwise to cooperate with the Secretary in carrying out the purposes of this section.
(g)

Reimbursement for Reports by Agencies.—
The Secretary may reimburse Federal, State, and tribal agencies for the costs incurred by such entities in furnishing information requested by the Secretary under this section in an amount which the Secretary determines to be reasonable payment for the information exchange (which amount shall not include payment for the costs of obtaining, compiling, or maintaining the information).
(h)

Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders.—
(1)

In general.—
Not later than October 1, 1998, in order to assist States in administering programs under State plans approved under this part and programs funded under part A, and for the other purposes specified in this section, the Secretary shall establish and maintain in the Federal Parent Locator Service an automated registry (which shall be known as the “Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders”), which shall contain abstracts of support orders and other information described in paragraph (2) with respect to each case and order in each State case registry maintained pursuant to section 454A(e), as furnished (and regularly updated), pursuant to section 454A(f), by State agencies administering programs under this part.
(2)

Case and order information.—
The information referred to in paragraph (1) with respect to a case or an order shall be such information as the Secretary may specify in regulations (including the names, social security numbers or other uniform identification numbers, and State case identification numbers) to identify the individuals who owe or are owed support (or with respect to or on behalf of whom support obligations are sought to be established), and the State or States which have the case or order. Beginning not later than October 1, 1999, the information referred to in paragraph (1) shall include the names and social security numbers of the children of such individuals.
(3)

Administration of federal tax laws.—
The Secretary of the Treasury shall have access to the information described in paragraph (2) for the purpose of administering those sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 which grant tax benefits based on support or residence of children.
(i)

National Directory of New Hires.—
(1)

In general.—
In order to assist States in administering programs under State plans approved under this part and programs funded under part A, and for the other purposes specified in this section, the Secretary shall, not later than October 1, 1997, establish and maintain in the Federal Parent Locator Service an automated directory to be known as the National Directory of New Hires, which shall contain the information supplied pursuant to section 453A(g)(2).
(2)

Data entry and deletion requirements.—
(A)

In general.—
Information provided pursuant to section 453A(g)(2) shall be entered into the data base maintained by the National Directory of New Hires within two business days after receipt, and shall be deleted from the data base 24 months after the date of entry.
(B)

12-month limit on access to wage and unemployment compensation information.—
The Secretary shall not have access for child support enforcement purposes to information in the National Directory of New Hires that is provided pursuant to section 453A(g)(2)(B), if 12 months has elapsed since the date the information is so provided and there has not been a match resulting from the use of such information in any information comparison under this subsection.
(C)

Retention of data for research purposes.—
Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Secretary may retain such samples of data entered in the National Directory of New Hires as the Secretary may find necessary to assist in carrying out subsection (j)(5).
(3)

Administration of federal tax laws.—
The Secretary of the Treasury shall have access to the information in the National Directory of New Hires for purposes of administering section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the advance payment of the earned income tax credit under section 3507 of such Code, and verifying a claim with respect to employment in a tax return.
(4)

List of multistate employers.—
The Secretary shall maintain within the National Directory of New Hires a list of multistate employers that report information regarding newly hired employees pursuant to section 453A(b)(1)(B), and the State which each such employer has designated to receive such information.
(j)

Information Comparisons and Other Disclosures.—
(1)

Verification by social security administration.—
(A)

In general.—
The Secretary shall transmit information on individuals and employers maintained under this section to the Social Security Administration to the extent necessary for verification in accordance with subparagraph (B).
(B)

Verification by ssa.—
The Social Security Administration shall verify the accuracy of, correct, or supply to the extent possible, and report to the Secretary, the following information supplied by the Secretary pursuant to subparagraph (A):
(i)
The name, social security number, and birth date of each such individual.
(ii)
The employer identification number of each such employer.
(2)

Information comparisons.—
For the purpose of locating individuals in a paternity establishment case or a case involving the establishment, modification, or enforcement of a support order, the Secretary shall—
(A)
compare information in the National Directory of New Hires against information in the support case abstracts in the Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders not less often than every 2 business days; and
(B)
within 2 business days after such a comparison reveals a match with respect to an individual, report the information to the State agency responsible for the case.
(3)

Information comparisons and disclosures of information in all registries for title iv program purposes.—
To the extent and with the frequency that the Secretary determines to be effective in assisting States to carry out their responsibilities under programs operated under this part, part B, or part E and programs funded under part A, the Secretary shall—
(A)
compare the information in each component of the Federal Parent Locator Service maintained under this section against the information in each other such component (other than the comparison required by paragraph (2)), and report instances in which such a comparison reveals a match with respect to an individual to State agencies operating such programs; and
(B)
disclose information in such components to such State agencies.
(4)

Provision of new hire information to the social security administration.—
The National Directory of New Hires shall provide the Commissioner of Social Security with all information in the National Directory.
(5)

Research.—
The Secretary may provide access to data in each component of the Federal Parent Locator Service maintained under this section and to information reported by employers pursuant to section 453A(b) for research purposes found by the Secretary to be likely to contribute to achieving the purposes of part A or this part, but without personal identifiers.
(6)

Information comparisons and disclosure for enforcement of obligations on higher education act loans and grants.—
(A)

Furnishing of information by the secretary of education.—
The Secretary of Education shall furnish to the Secretary, on a quarterly basis or at such less frequent intervals as may be determined by the Secretary of Education, information in the custody of the Secretary of Education for comparison with information in the National Directory of New Hires, in order to obtain the information in such directory with respect to individuals who—
(i)
are borrowers of loans made under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 that are in default; or
(ii)
owe an obligation to refund an overpayment of a grant awarded under such title.
(B)

Requirement to seek minimum information necessary.—
The Secretary of Education shall seek information pursuant to this section only to the extent essential to improving collection of the debt described in subparagraph (A).
(C)

Duties of the secretary.—
(i)

Information comparison; disclosure to the secretary of education.—
The Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Education, shall compare information in the National Directory of New Hires with information in the custody of the Secretary of Education, and disclose information in that Directory to the Secretary of Education, in accordance with this paragraph, for the purposes specified in this paragraph.
(ii)

Condition on disclosure.—
The Secretary shall make disclosures in accordance with clause (i) only to the extent that the Secretary determines that such disclosures do not interfere with the effective operation of the program under this part. Support collection under section 466(b) shall be given priority over collection of any defaulted student loan or grant overpayment against the same income.
(D)

Use of information by the secretary of education.—
The Secretary of Education may use information resulting from a data match pursuant to this paragraph only—
(i)
for the purpose of collection of the debt described in subparagraph (A) owed by an individual whose annualized wage level (determined by taking into consideration information from the National Directory of New Hires) exceeds $16,000; and
(ii)
after removal of personal identifiers, to conduct analyses of student loan defaults.
(E)

Disclosure of information by the secretary of education.—
(i)

Disclosures permitted.—
The Secretary of Education may disclose information resulting from a data match pursuant to this paragraph only to—
(I)
a guaranty agency holding a loan made under part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 on which the individual is obligated;
(II)
a contractor or agent of the guaranty agency described in subclause (I);
(III)
a contractor or agent of the Secretary; and
(IV)
the Attorney General.
(ii)

Purpose of disclosure.—
The Secretary of Education may make a disclosure under clause (i) only for the purpose of collection of the debts owed on defaulted student loans, or overpayments of grants, made under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
(iii)

Restriction on redisclosure.—
An entity to which information is disclosed under clause (i) may use or disclose such information only as needed for the purpose of collecting on defaulted student loans, or overpayments of grants, made under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
(F)

Reimbursement of hhs costs.—
The Secretary of Education shall reimburse the Secretary, in accordance with subsection (k)(3), for the additional costs incurred by the Secretary in furnishing the information requested under this subparagraph.
(7)

Information comparisons for housing assistance programs.—
(A)

Furnishing of information by hud.—
Subject to subparagraph (G), the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall furnish to the Secretary, on such periodic basis as determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in consultation with the Secretary, information in the custody of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for comparison with information in the National Directory of New Hires, in order to obtain information in such Directory with respect to individuals who are participating in any program under—
(i)
the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.);
(ii)
section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q);
(iii)
section 221(d)(3), 221(d)(5), or 236 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715l(d) and 1715z–1);
(iv)
section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013); or
(v)
section 101 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965 (12 U.S.C. 1701s).
(B)

Requirement to seek minimum information.—
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall seek information pursuant to this section only to the extent necessary to verify the employment and income of individuals described in subparagraph (A).
(C)

Duties of the secretary.—
(i)

Information disclosure.—
The Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall compare information in the National Directory of New Hires with information provided by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development with respect to individuals described in subparagraph (A), and shall disclose information in such Directory regarding such individuals to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in accordance with this paragraph, for the purposes specified in this paragraph.
(ii)

Condition on disclosure.—
The Secretary shall make disclosures in accordance with clause (i) only to the extent that the Secretary determines that such disclosures do not interfere with the effective operation of the program under this part.
(D)

Use of information by hud.—
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may use information resulting from a data match pursuant to this paragraph only—
(i)
for the purpose of verifying the employment and income of individuals described in subparagraph (A); and
(ii)
after removal of personal identifiers, to conduct analyses of the employment and income reporting of individuals described in subparagraph (A).
(E)

Disclosure of information by hud.—
(i)

Purpose of disclosure.—
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make a disclosure under this subparagraph only for the purpose of verifying the employment and income of individuals described in subparagraph (A).
(ii)

Disclosures permitted.—
Subject to clause (iii), the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may disclose information resulting from a data match pursuant to this paragraph only to a public housing agency, the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Attorney General in connection with the administration of a program described in subparagraph (A). Information obtained by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to this paragraph shall not be made available under section 552 of title 5, United States Code.
(iii)

Conditions on disclosure.—
Disclosures under this paragraph shall be—
(I)
made in accordance with data security and control policies established by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and approved by the Secretary;
(II)
subject to audit in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary; and
(III)
subject to the sanctions under subsection (l)(2).
(iv)

Additional disclosures.—
(I)

Determination by secretaries.—
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary shall determine whether to permit disclosure of information under this paragraph to persons or entities described in subclause (II), based on an evaluation made by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (in consultation with and approved by the Secretary), of the costs and benefits of disclosures made under clause (ii) and the adequacy of measures used to safeguard the security and confidentiality of information so disclosed.
(II)

Permitted persons or entities.—
If the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary determine pursuant to subclause (I) that disclosures to additional persons or entities shall be permitted, information under this paragraph may be disclosed by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to a private owner, a management agent, and a contract administrator in connection with the administration of a program described in subparagraph (A), subject to the conditions in clause (iii) and such additional conditions as agreed to by the Secretaries.
(v)

Restrictions on redisclosure.—
A person or entity to which information is disclosed under this subparagraph may use or disclose such information only as needed for verifying the employment and income of individuals described in subparagraph (A), subject to the conditions in clause (iii) and such additional conditions as agreed to by the Secretaries.
(F)

Reimbursement of hhs costs.—
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall reimburse the Secretary, in accordance with subsection (k)(3), for the costs incurred by the Secretary in furnishing the information requested under this paragraph.
(G)

Consent.—
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall not seek, use, or disclose information under this paragraph relating to an individual without the prior written consent of such individual (or of a person legally authorized to consent on behalf of such individual).
(8)

Information comparisons and disclosure to assist in administration of unemployment compensation programs.—
(A)

In general.—
If, for purposes of administering an unemployment compensation program under Federal or State law, a State agency responsible for the administration of such program transmits to the Secretary the names and social security account numbers of individuals, the Secretary shall disclose to such State agency information on such individuals and their employers maintained in the National Directory of New Hires, subject to this paragraph.
(B)

Condition on disclosure by the secretary.—
The Secretary shall make a disclosure under subparagraph (A) only to the extent that the Secretary determines that the disclosure would not interfere with the effective operation of the program under this part.
(C)

Use and disclosure of information by state agencies.—
(i)

In general.—
A State agency may not use or disclose information provided under this paragraph except for purposes of administering a program referred to in subparagraph (A).
(ii)

Information security.—
The State agency shall have in effect data security and control policies that the Secretary finds adequate to ensure the security of information obtained under this paragraph and to ensure that access to such information is restricted to authorized persons for purposes of authorized uses and disclosures.
(iii)

Penalty for misuse of information.—
An officer or employee of the State agency who fails to comply with this subparagraph shall be subject to the sanctions under subsection (l)(2) to the same extent as if such officer or employee was an officer or employee of the United States.
(D)

Procedural requirements.—
State agencies requesting information under this paragraph shall adhere to uniform procedures established by the Secretary governing information requests and data matching under this paragraph.
(E)

Reimbursement of costs.—
The State agency shall reimburse the Secretary, in accordance with subsection (k)(3), for the costs incurred by the Secretary in furnishing the information requested under this paragraph.
(9)

Information comparisons and disclosure to assist in federal debt collection.—
(A)

Furnishing of information by the secretary of the treasury.—
The Secretary of the Treasury shall furnish to the Secretary, on such periodic basis as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with the Secretary, information in the custody of the Secretary of the Treasury for comparison with information in the National Directory of New Hires, in order to obtain information in such Directory with respect to persons—
(i)
who owe delinquent nontax debt to the United States; and
(ii)
whose debt has been referred to the Secretary of the Treasury in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3711(g).
(B)

Requirement to seek minimum information.—
The Secretary of the Treasury shall seek information pursuant to this section only to the extent necessary to improve collection of the debt described in subparagraph (A).
(C)

Duties of the secretary.—
(i)

Information disclosure.—
The Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall compare information in the National Directory of New Hires with information provided by the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to persons described in subparagraph (A) and shall disclose information in such Directory regarding such persons to the Secretary of the Treasury in accordance with this paragraph, for the purposes specified in this paragraph. Such comparison of information shall not be considered a matching program as defined in 5 U.S.C. 552a.
(ii)

Condition on disclosure.—
The Secretary shall make disclosures in accordance with clause (i) only to the extent that the Secretary determines that such disclosures do not interfere with the effective operation of the program under this part. Support collection under section 466(b) of this title shall be given priority over collection of any delinquent Federal nontax debt against the same income.
(D)

Use of information by the secretary of the treasury.—
The Secretary of the Treasury may use information provided under this paragraph only for purposes of collecting the debt described in subparagraph (A).
(E)

Disclosure of information by the secretary of the treasury.—
(i)

Purpose of disclosure.—
The Secretary of the Treasury may make a disclosure under this subparagraph only for purposes of collecting the debt described in subparagraph (A).
(ii)

Disclosures permitted.—
Subject to clauses (iii) and (iv), the Secretary of the Treasury may disclose information resulting from a data match pursuant to this paragraph only to the Attorney General in connection with collecting the debt described in subparagraph (A).
(iii)

Conditions on disclosure.—
Disclosures under this subparagraph shall be—
(I)
made in accordance with data security and control policies established by the Secretary of the Treasury and approved by the Secretary;
(II)
subject to audit in a manner satisfactory to the Secretary; and
(III)
subject to the sanctions under subsection (l)(2).
(iv)

Additional disclosures.—
(I)

Determination by secretaries.—
The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary shall determine whether to permit disclosure of information under this paragraph to persons or entities described in subclause (II), based on an evaluation made by the Secretary of the Treasury (in consultation with and approved by the Secretary), of the costs and benefits of such disclosures and the adequacy of measures used to safeguard the security and confidentiality of information so disclosed.
(II)

Permitted persons or entities.—
If the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary determine pursuant to subclause (I) that disclosures to additional persons or entities shall be permitted, information under this paragraph may be disclosed by the Secretary of the Treasury, in connection with collecting the debt described in subparagraph (A), to a contractor or agent of either Secretary and to the Federal agency that referred such debt to the Secretary of the Treasury for collection, subject to the conditions in clause (iii) and such additional conditions as agreed to by the Secretaries.
(v)

Restrictions on redisclosure.—
A person or entity to which information is disclosed under this subparagraph may use or disclose such information only as needed for collecting the debt described in subparagraph (A), subject to the conditions in clause (iii) and such additional conditions as agreed to by the Secretaries.
(F)

Reimbursement of hhs costs.—
The Secretary of the Treasury shall reimburse the Secretary, in accordance with subsection (k)(3), for the costs incurred by the Secretary in furnishing the information requested under this paragraph. Any such costs paid by the Secretary of the Treasury shall be considered costs of implementing 31 U.S.C. 3711(g) in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3711(g)(6) and may be paid from the account established pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3711(g)(7).
(10)

Information comparisons and disclosure to assist in administration of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits.—
^{32}
So in law. Probably should read “supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits”. See amendments made by section 4002(b)(1) and (2) of Public Law 110–234.
(A)

In general.—
If, for purposes of administering a supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, a State agency responsible for the administration of the program transmits to the Secretary the names and social security account numbers of individuals, the Secretary shall disclose to the State agency information on the individuals and their employers maintained in the National Directory of New Hires, subject to this paragraph.
(B)

Condition on disclosure by the secretary.—
The Secretary shall make a disclosure under subparagraph (A) only to the extent that the Secretary determines that the disclosure would not interfere with the effective operation of the program under this part.
(C)

Use and disclosure of information by state agencies.—
(i)

In general.—
A State agency may not use or disclose information provided under this paragraph except for purposes of administering a program referred to in subparagraph (A).
(ii)

Information security.—
The State agency shall have in effect data security and control policies that the Secretary finds adequate to ensure the security of information obtained under this paragraph and to ensure that access to such information is restricted to authorized persons for purposes of authorized uses and disclosures.
(iii)

Penalty for misuse of information.—
An officer or employee of the State agency who fails to comply with this subparagraph shall be subject to the sanctions under subsection (l)(2) to the same extent as if the officer or employee were an officer or employee of the United States.
(D)

Procedural requirements.—
State agencies requesting information under this paragraph shall adhere to uniform procedures established by the Secretary governing information requests and data matching under this paragraph.
(E)

Reimbursement of costs.—
The State agency shall reimburse the Secretary, in accordance with subsection (k)(3), for the costs incurred by the Secretary in furnishing the information requested under this paragraph.
(11)

Information comparisons and disclosures to assist in administration of certain veterans benefits.—
(A)

Furnishing of information by secretary of veterans affairs.—
Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall furnish to the Secretary, on such periodic basis as determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in consultation with the Secretary, information in the custody of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for comparison with information in the National Directory of New Hires, in order to obtain information in such Directory with respect to individuals who are applying for or receiving—
(i)
needs-based pension benefits provided under chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code, or under any other law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
(ii)
parents' dependency and indemnity compensation provided under section 1315 of title 38, United States Code;
(iii)
health care services furnished under subsections (a)(2)(G), (a)(3), or (b) of section 1710 of title 38, United States Code; or
(iv)
compensation paid under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, at the 100 percent rate based solely on unemployability and without regard to the fact that the disability or disabilities are not rated as 100 percent disabling under the rating schedule.
(B)

Requirement to seek minimum information.—
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek information pursuant to this paragraph only to the extent necessary to verify the employment and income of individuals described in subparagraph (A).
(C)

Duties of the secretary.—
(i)

Information disclosure.—
The Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall compare information in the National Directory of New Hires with information provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with respect to individuals described in subparagraph (A), and shall disclose information in such Directory regarding such individuals to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in accordance with this paragraph, for the purposes specified in this paragraph.
(ii)

Condition on disclosure.—
The Secretary shall make disclosures in accordance with clause (i) only to the extent that the Secretary determines that such disclosures do not interfere with the effective operation of the program under this part.
(D)

Use of information by secretary of veterans affairs.—
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use information resulting from a data match pursuant to this paragraph only—
(i)
for the purposes specified in subparagraph (B); and
(ii)
after removal of personal identifiers, to conduct analyses of the employment and income reporting of individuals described in subparagraph (A).
(E)

Reimbursement of hhs costs.—
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall reimburse the Secretary, in accordance with subsection (k)(3), for the costs incurred by the Secretary in furnishing the information requested under this paragraph.
(F)

Consent.—
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall not seek, use, or disclose information under this paragraph relating to an individual without the prior written consent of such individual (or of a person legally authorized to consent on behalf of such individual).
(G)

Expiration of authority.—
The authority under this paragraph shall be in effect as follows:
(i)
During the period beginning on December 26, 2007, and ending on November 18, 2011.
(ii)
During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2013 and ending 180 days after that date.
(k)

Fees.—
(1)

For ssa verification.—
The Secretary shall reimburse the Commissioner of Social Security, at a rate negotiated between the Secretary and the Commissioner, for the costs incurred by the Commissioner in performing the verification services described in subsection (j).
(2)

For information from state directories of new hires.—
The Secretary shall reimburse costs incurred by State directories of new hires in furnishing information as required by section 453A(g)(2), at rates which the Secretary determines to be reasonable (which rates shall not include payment for the costs of obtaining, compiling, or maintaining such information).
(3)

For information furnished to state and federal agencies.—
A State or Federal agency that receives information from the Secretary pursuant to this section or section 452(m) shall reimburse the Secretary for costs incurred by the Secretary in furnishing the information, at rates which the Secretary determines to be reasonable (which rates shall include payment for the costs of obtaining, verifying, maintaining, and comparing the information).
(l)

Restriction on Disclosure and Use.—
(1)

In general.—
Information in the Federal Parent Locator Service, and information resulting from comparisons using such information, shall not be used or disclosed except as expressly provided in this section, subject to section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(2)

Penalty for misuse of information in the national directory of new hires.—
The Secretary shall require the imposition of an administrative penalty (up to and including dismissal from employment), and a fine of $1,000, for each act of unauthorized access to, disclosure of, or use of, information in the National Directory of New Hires established under subsection (i) by any officer or employee of the United States or any other person who knowingly and willfully violates this paragraph.
(m)

Information Integrity and Security.—
The Secretary shall establish and implement safeguards with respect to the entities established under this section designed to—
(1)
ensure the accuracy and completeness of information in the Federal Parent Locator Service; and
(2)
restrict access to confidential information in the Federal Parent Locator Service to authorized persons, and restrict use of such information to authorized purposes.
(n)

Federal Government Reporting.—
Each department, agency, and instrumentality of the United States shall on a quarterly basis report to the Federal Parent Locator Service the name and social security number of each employee and the wages paid to the employee during the previous quarter, except that such a report shall not be filed with respect to an employee of a department, agency, or instrumentality performing intelligence or counterintelligence functions, if the head of such department, agency, or instrumentality has determined that filing such a report could endanger the safety of the employee or compromise an ongoing investigation or intelligence mission.
(o)

Use of Set-Aside Funds.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there is hereby appropriated to the Secretary for each fiscal year an amount equal to 2 percent of the total amount paid to the Federal Government pursuant to a plan approved under this part during the immediately preceding fiscal year (as determined on the basis of the most recent reliable data available to the Secretary as of the end of the third calendar quarter following the end of such preceding fiscal year) or the amount appropriated under this paragraph for fiscal year 2002, whichever is greater, which shall be available for use by the Secretary, either directly or through grants, contracts, or interagency agreements, for operation of the Federal Parent Locator Service under this section, to the extent such costs are not recovered through user fees. Amounts appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until expended.
(p)

Support Order Defined.—
As used in this part, the term “support order” means a judgment, decree, or order, whether temporary, final, or subject to modification, issued by a court or an administrative agency of competent jurisdiction, for the support and maintenance of a child, including a child who has attained the age of majority under the law of the issuing State, or of the parent with whom the child is living, which provides for monetary support, health care, arrearages, or reimbursement, and which may include related costs and fees, interest and penalties, income withholding, attorneys' fees, and other relief.
SEC. 453A.
[42 U.S.C. 653a]

STATE DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES.
(a)

Establishment.—
(1)

In general.—
(A)

Requirement for States that have no directory.—
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), not later than October 1, 1997, each State shall establish an automated directory (to be known as the “State Directory of New Hires”) which shall contain information supplied in accordance with subsection (b) by employers on each newly hired employee.
(B)

States with new hire reporting law in existence.—
A State which has a new hire reporting law in existence on the date of the enactment of this section may continue to operate under the State law, but the State must meet the requirements of subsection (g)(2) not later than October 1, 1997, and the requirements of this section (other than subsection (g)(2)) not later than October 1, 1998.
(2)

Definitions.—
As used in this section:
(A)

Employee.—
The term “employee”—
(i)
means an individual who is an employee within the meaning of chapter 24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
(ii)
does not include an employee of a Federal or State agency performing intelligence or counterintelligence functions, if the head of such agency has determined that reporting pursuant to paragraph (1) with respect to the employee could endanger the safety of the employee or compromise an ongoing investigation or intelligence mission.
(B)

Employer.—
(i)

In general.—
The term “employer” has the meaning given such term in section 3401(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and includes any governmental entity and any labor organization.
(ii)

Labor organization.—
The term “labor organization” shall have the meaning given such term in section 2(5) of the National Labor Relations Act, and includes any entity (also known as a “hiring hall”) which is used by the organization and an employer to carry out requirements described in section 8(f)(3) of such Act of an agreement between the organization and the employer.
(C)

Newly hired employee.—
The term “newly hired employee” means an employee who—
(i)
has not previously been employed by the employer; or
(ii)
was previously employed by the employer but has been separated from such prior employment for at least 60 consecutive days.
(b)

Employer Information.—
(1)

Reporting requirement.—
(A)

In general.—
Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), each employer shall furnish to the Directory of New Hires of the State in which a newly hired employee works, a report that contains the name, address, and social security number of the employee, the date services for remuneration were first performed by the employee, and the name and address of, and identifying number assigned under section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to, the employer.
(B)

Multistate employers.—
An employer that has employees who are employed in 2 or more States and that transmits reports magnetically or electronically may comply with subparagraph (A) by designating 1 State in which such employer has employees to which the employer will transmit the report described in subparagraph (A), and transmitting such report to such State. Any employer that transmits reports pursuant to this subparagraph shall notify the Secretary in writing as to which State such employer designates for the purpose of sending reports.
(C)

Federal government employers.—
Any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States shall comply with subparagraph (A) by transmitting the report described in subparagraph (A) to the National Directory of New Hires established pursuant to section 453.
(2)

Timing of report.—
Each State may provide the time within which the report required by paragraph (1) shall be made with respect to an employee, but such report shall be made—
(A)
not later than 20 days after the date the employer hires the employee; or
(B)
in the case of an employer transmitting reports magnetically or electronically, by 2 monthly transmissions (if necessary) not less than 12 days nor more than 16 days apart.
(c)

Reporting Format and Method.—
Each report required by subsection (b) shall, to the extent practicable, be made on a W–4 form or, at the option of the employer, an equivalent form, and may be transmitted by 1st class mail, magnetically, or electronically.
(d)

Civil Money Penalties on Noncomplying Employers.—
The State shall have the option to set a State civil money penalty which shall not exceed—
(1)
$25 per failure to meet the requirements of this section with respect to a newly hired employee; or
(2)
$500 if, under State law, the failure is the result of a conspiracy between the employer and the employee to not supply the required report or to supply a false or incomplete report.
(e)

Entry of Employer Information.—
Information shall be entered into the data base maintained by the State Directory of New Hires within 5 business days of receipt from an employer pursuant to subsection (b).
(f)

Information Comparisons.—
(1)

In general.—
Not later than May 1, 1998, an agency designated by the State shall, directly or by contract, conduct automated comparisons of the social security numbers reported by employers pursuant to subsection (b) and the social security numbers appearing in the records of the State case registry for cases being enforced under the State plan.
(2)

Notice of match.—
When an information comparison conducted under paragraph (1) reveals a match with respect to the social security number of an individual required to provide support under a support order, the State Directory of New Hires shall provide the agency administering the State plan approved under this part of the appropriate State with the name, address, and social security number of the employee to whom the social security number is assigned, and the name and address of, and identifying number assigned under section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to, the employer.
(g)

Transmission of Information.—
(1)

Transmission of wage withholding notices to employers.—
Within 2 business days after the date information regarding a newly hired employee is entered into the State Directory of New Hires, the State agency enforcing the employee's child support obligation shall transmit a notice to the employer of the employee directing the employer to withhold from the income of the employee an amount equal to the monthly (or other periodic) child support obligation (including any past due support obligation) of the employee, unless the employee's income is not subject to withholding pursuant to section 466(b)(3).
(2)

Transmissions to the national directory of new hires.—
(A)

New hire information.—
Within 3 business days after the date information regarding a newly hired employee is entered into the State Directory of New Hires, the State Directory of New Hires shall furnish the information to the National Directory of New Hires.
(B)

Wage and unemployment compensation information.—
The State Directory of New Hires shall, on a quarterly basis, furnish to the National Directory of New Hires information concerning the wages and unemployment compensation paid to individuals, by such dates, in such format, and containing such information as the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall specify in regulations.
(3)

Business day defined.—
As used in this subsection, the term “business day” means a day on which State offices are open for regular business.
(h)

Other Uses of New Hire Information.—
(1)

Location of child support obligors.—
The agency administering the State plan approved under this part shall use information received pursuant to subsection (f)(2) to locate individuals for purposes of establishing paternity and establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support obligations, and may disclose such information to any agent of the agency that is under contract with the agency to carry out such purposes.
(2)

Verification of eligibility for certain programs.—
A State agency responsible for administering a program specified in section 1137(b) shall have access to information reported by employers pursuant to subsection (b) of this section for purposes of verifying eligibility for the program.
(3)

Administration of employment security and workers' compensation.—
State agencies operating employment security and workers' compensation programs shall have access to information reported by employers pursuant to subsection (b) for the purposes of administering such programs.
(4)

Veteran employment.—
The Secretaries of Labor and of Veterans Affairs shall have access to information reported by employers pursuant to subsection (b) of this section for purposes of tracking employment of veterans.

STATE PLAN FOR CHILD AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT
Sec. 454.
[42 U.S.C. 654]
A State plan for child and spousal support must—
(1)
provide that it shall be in effect in all political subdivisions of the State;
(2)
provide for financial participation by the State;
(3)
provide for the establishment or designation of a single and separate organizational unit, which meets such staffing and organizational requirements as the Secretary may by regulation prescribe, within the State to administer the plan;
(4)
provide that the State will—
(A)
provide services relating to the establishment of paternity or the establishment, modification, or enforcement of child support obligations, as appropriate, under the plan with respect to—
(i)
each child 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;
(ii)
any other child, if an individual applies for such services with respect to the child (except that, if the individual applying for the services resides in a foreign reciprocating country or foreign treaty country, the State may opt to require the individual to request the services through the Central Authority for child support enforcement in the foreign reciprocating country or the foreign treaty country, and if the individual resides in a foreign country that is not a foreign reciprocating country or a foreign treaty country, a State may accept or reject the application); and
(B)
enforce any support obligation established with respect to—
(i)
a child with respect to whom the State provides services under the plan; or
(ii)
the custodial parent of such a child;
(5)
provide that (A) in any case in which support payments are collected for an individual with respect to whom an assignment pursuant to section 408(a)(3) is effective, such payments shall be made to the State for distribution pursuant to section 457 and shall not be paid directly to the family, and the individual will be notified on a monthly basis (or on a quarterly basis for so long as the Secretary determines with respect to a State that requiring such notice on a monthly basis would impose an unreasonable administrative burden) of the amount of the support payments collected, and (B) in any case in which support payments are collected for an individual pursuant to the assignment made under section 1912, such payments shall be made to the State for distribution pursuant to section 1912, except that this clause shall not apply to such payments for any month after the month in which the individual ceases to be eligible for medical assistance;
(6)
provide that—
(A)
services under the plan shall be made available to residents of other States on the same terms as to residents of the State submitting the plan;
(B)
(i)
an application fee for furnishing such services shall be imposed on an individual, other than an individual receiving assistance under a State program funded under part A or E, or under a State plan approved under title XIX, or who is required by the State to cooperate with the State agency administering the program under this part pursuant to subsection (l) or (m) of section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, and shall be paid by the individual applying for such services, or recovered from the absent parent, or paid by the State out of its own funds (the payment of which from State funds shall not be considered as an administrative cost of the State for the operation of the plan, and shall be considered income to the program), the amount of which (I) will not exceed $25 (or such higher or lower amount (which shall be uniform for all States) as the Secretary may determine to be appropriate for any fiscal year to reflect increases or decreases in administrative costs), and (II) may vary among such individuals on the basis of ability to pay (as determined by the State); and
(ii)
in the case of an individual who has never received assistance under a State program funded under part A and for whom the State has collected at least $550 of support, the State shall impose an annual fee of $35 for each case in which services are furnished, which shall be retained by the State from support collected on behalf of the individual (but not from the first $550 so collected), paid by the individual applying for the services, recovered from the absent parent, or paid by the State out of its own funds (the payment of which from State funds shall not be considered as an administrative cost of the State for the operation of the plan, and the fees shall be considered income to the program);
(C)
a fee of not more than $25 may be imposed in any case where the State requests the Secretary of the Treasury to withhold past-due support owed to or on behalf of such individual from a tax refund pursuant to section 464(a)(2);
(D)
a fee (in accordance with regulations of the Secretary) for performing genetic tests may be imposed on any individual who is not a recipient of assistance under a State program funded under part A; and
(E)
any costs in excess of the fees so imposed may be collected—
(i)
from the parent who owes the child or spousal support obligation involved; or
(ii)
at the option of the State, from the individual to whom such services are made available, but only if such State has in effect a procedure whereby all persons in such State having authority to order child or spousal support are informed that such costs are to be collected from the individual to whom such services were made available;
(7)
provide for entering into cooperative arrangements with appropriate courts and law enforcement officials and Indian tribes or tribal organizations (as defined in subsections (e) and (l) of section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) (A) to assist the agency administering the plan, including the entering into of financial arrangements with such courts and officials in order to assure optimum results under such program, and (B) with respect to any other matters of common concern to such courts or officials and the agency administering the plan;
(8)
provide that, for the purpose of establishing parentage, establishing, setting the amount of, modifying, or enforcing child support obligations, or making or enforcing a child custody or visitation determination, as defined in section 463(d)(1)33 the agency administering the plan will establish a service to locate parents utilizing—
^{33}
So in original. Probably there should be a comma after “(1)”.
(A)
all sources of information and available records; and
(B)
the Federal Parent Locator Service established under section 453,
and shall, subject to the privacy safeguards required under paragraph (26), disclose only the information described in sections 453 and 463 to the authorized persons specified in such sections for the purposes specified in such sections;
(9)
provide that the State will, in accordance with standards prescribed by the Secretary, cooperate with any other State—
(A)
in establishing paternity, if necessary;
(B)
in locating a noncustodial parent residing in the State (whether or not permanently) against whom any action is being taken under a program established under a plan approved under this part in another State;
(C)
in securing compliance by a noncustodial parent residing in such State (whether or not permanently) with an order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction against such parent for the support and maintenance of the child or children or the parent of such child or children with respect to whom aid is being provided under the plan of such other State;
(D)
in carrying out other functions required under a plan approved under this part; and
(E)
not later than March 1, 1997, in using the forms promulgated pursuant to section 452(a)(11) for income withholding, imposition of liens, and issuance of administrative subpoenas in interstate child support cases;
(10)
provide that the State will maintain a full record of collections and disbursements made under the plan and have an adequate reporting system;
(11)
(A)
provide that amounts collected as support shall be distributed as provided in section 457; and
(B)
provide that any payment required to be made under section 456 or 457 to a family shall be made to the resident parent, legal guardian, or caretaker relative having custody of or responsibility for the child or children;
(12)
provide for the establishment of procedures to require the State to provide individuals who are applying for or receiving services under the State plan, or who are parties to cases in which services are being provided under the State plan—
(A)
with notice of all proceedings in which support obligations might be established or modified; and
(B)
with a copy of any order establishing or modifying a child support obligation, or (in the case of a petition for modification) a notice of determination that there should be no change in the amount of the child support award, within 14 days after issuance of such order or determination;
(13)
provide that the State will comply with such other requirements and standards as the Secretary determines to be necessary to the establishment of an effective program for locating noncustodial parents, establishing paternity, obtaining support orders, and collecting support payments and provide that information requests by parents who are residents of other States be treated with the same priority as requests by parents who are residents of the State submitting the plan;
(14)
(A)
comply with such bonding requirements, for employees who receive, disburse, handle, or have access to, cash, as the Secretary shall by regulations prescribe;
(B)
maintain methods of administration which are designed to assure that persons responsible for handling cash receipts shall not participate in accounting or operating functions which would permit them to conceal in the accounting records the misuse of cash receipts (except that the Secretary shall by regulations provide for exceptions to this requirement in the case of sparsely populated areas where the hiring of unreasonable additional staff would otherwise be necessary);
(15)
provide for—
(A)
a process for annual reviews of and reports to the Secretary on the State program operated under the State plan approved under this part, including such information as may be necessary to measure State compliance with Federal requirements for expedited procedures, using such standards and procedures as are required by the Secretary, under which the State agency will determine the extent to which the program is operated in compliance with this part; and
(B)
a process of extracting from the automated data processing system required by paragraph (16) and transmitting to the Secretary data and calculations concerning the levels of accomplishment (and rates of improvement) with respect to applicable performance indicators (including paternity establishment percentages) to the extent necessary for purposes of sections 452(g) and 458;
(16)
provide for the establishment and operation by the State agency, in accordance with an (initial and annually updated) advance automated data processing planning document approved under section 452(d), of a statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system meeting the requirements of section 454A designed effectively and efficiently to assist management in the administration of the State plan, so as to control, account for, and monitor all the factors in the support enforcement collection and paternity determination process under such plan;
(17)
provide that the State will have in effect an agreement with the Secretary entered into pursuant to section 463 for the use of the Parent Locator Service established under section 453, and provide that the State will accept and transmit to the Secretary requests for information authorized under the provisions of the agreement to be furnished by such Service to authorized persons, will impose and collect (in accordance with regulations of the Secretary) a fee sufficient to cover the costs to the State and to the Secretary incurred by reason of such requests, will transmit to the Secretary from time to time (in accordance with such regulations) so much of the fees collected as are attributable to such costs to the Secretary so incurred, and during the period that such agreement is in effect will otherwise comply with such agreement and regulations of the Secretary with respect thereto;
(18)
provide that the State has in effect procedures necessary to obtain payment of past-due support from overpayments made to the Secretary of the Treasury as set forth in section 464, and take all steps necessary to implement and utilize such procedures;
(19)
provide that the agency administering the plan—
(A)
shall determine on a periodic basis, from information supplied pursuant to section 508 of the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1976, whether any individuals receiving compensation under the State's unemployment compensation law (including amounts payable pursuant to any agreement under any Federal unemployment compensation law) owe child support obligations which are being enforced by such agency; and
(B)
shall enforce any such child support obligations which are owed by such an individual but are not being met—
(i)
through an agreement with such individual to have specified amounts withheld from compensation otherwise payable to such individual and by submitting a copy of any such agreement to the State agency administering the unemployment compensation law; or
(ii)
in the absence of such an agreement, by bringing legal process (as defined in section 459(i)(5) of this Act) to require the withholding of amounts from such compensation;
(20)
provide, to the extent required by section 466, that the State (A) shall have in effect all of the laws to improve child support enforcement effectiveness which are referred to in that section, and (B) shall implement the procedures which are prescribed in or pursuant to such laws;
(21)
(A)
at the option of the State, impose a late payment fee on all overdue support (as defined in section 466(e)) under any obligation being enforced under this part, in an amount equal to a uniform percentage determined by the State (not less than 3 percent nor more than 6 percent) of the overdue support, which shall be payable by the noncustodial parent owing the overdue support; and
(B)
assure that the fee will be collected in addition to, and only after full payment of, the overdue support, and that the imposition of the late payment fee shall not directly or indirectly result in a decrease in the amount of the support which is paid to the child (or spouse) to whom, or on whose behalf, it is owed;
(22)
in order for the State to be eligible to receive any incentive payments under section 458, provide that, if one or more political subdivisions of the State participate in the costs of carrying out activities under the State plan during any period, each such subdivision shall be entitled to receive an appropriate share (as determined by the State) of any such incentive payments made to the State for such period, taking into account the efficiency and effectiveness of the activities carried out under the State plan by such political subdivision;
(23)
provide that the State will regularly and frequently publicize, through public service announcements, the availability of child support enforcement services under the plan and otherwise, including information as to any application fees for such services and a telephone number or postal address at which further information may be obtained and will publicize the availability and encourage the use of procedures for voluntary establishment of paternity and child support by means the State deems appropriate;
(24)
provide that the State will have in effect an automated data processing and information retrieval system—
(A)
by October 1, 1997, which meets all requirements of this part which were enacted on or before the date of enactment of the Family Support Act of 1988; and
(B)
by October 1, 2000, which meets all requirements of this part enacted on or before the date of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, except that such deadline shall be extended by 1 day for each day (if any) by which the Secretary fails to meet the deadline imposed by section 344(a)(3) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996;
(25)
provide that if a family with respect to which services are provided under the plan ceases to receive assistance under the State program funded under part A, the State shall provide appropriate notice to the family and continue to provide such services, subject to the same conditions and on the same basis as in the case of other individuals to whom services are furnished under the plan, except that an application or other request to continue services shall not be required of such a family and paragraph (6)(B) shall not apply to the family;
(26)
have in effect safeguards, applicable to all confidential information handled by the State agency, that are designed to protect the privacy rights of the parties, including—
(A)
safeguards against unauthorized use or disclosure of information relating to proceedings or actions to establish paternity, or to establish, or modify, or enforce support, or to make or enforce a child custody determination;
(B)
prohibitions against the release of information on the whereabouts of 1 party or the child to another party against whom a protective order with respect to the former party or the child has been entered;
(C)
prohibitions against the release of information on the whereabouts of 1 party or the child to another person if the State has reason to believe that the release of the information to that person may result in physical or emotional harm to the party or the child;
(D)
in cases in which the prohibitions under subparagraphs (B) and (C) apply, the requirement to notify the Secretary, for purposes of section 453(b)(2), that the State has reasonable evidence of domestic violence or child abuse against a party or the child and that the disclosure of such information could be harmful to the party or the child; and
(E)
procedures providing that when the Secretary discloses information about a parent or child to a State court or an agent of a State court described in section 453(c)(2) or 463(d)(2)(B), and advises that court or agent that the Secretary has been notified that there is reasonable evidence of domestic violence or child abuse pursuant to section 453(b)(2), the court shall determine whether disclosure to any other person of information received from the Secretary could be harmful to the parent or child and, if the court determines that disclosure to any other person could be harmful, the court and its agents shall not make any such disclosure;
(27)
provide that, on and after October 1, 1998, the State agency will—
(A)
operate a State disbursement unit in accordance with section 454B; and
(B)
have sufficient State staff (consisting of State employees) and (at State option) contractors reporting directly to the State agency to—
(i)
monitor and enforce support collections through the unit in cases being enforced by the State pursuant to section 454(4) (including carrying out the automated data processing responsibilities described in section 454A(g)); and
(ii)
take the actions described in section 466(c)(1) in appropriate cases;
(28)
provide that, on and after October 1, 1997, the State will operate a State Directory of New Hires in accordance with section 453A;
(29)
provide that the State agency responsible for administering the State plan—
(A)
shall make the determination (and redetermination at appropriate intervals) as to whether an individual who has applied for or is receiving assistance under the State program funded under part A, the State program under part E, the State program under title XIX, or the supplemental nutrition assistance program, as defined under section 3(h)34 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(h)), is cooperating in good faith with the State in establishing the paternity of, or in establishing, modifying, or enforcing a support order for, any child of the individual by providing the State agency with the name of, and such other information as the State agency may require with respect to, the noncustodial parent of the child, subject to good cause and other exceptions which—
^{34}
Subparagraph (H) of section 4115(c)(2) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 provides as follows:
(H) Section 531 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 654) is amended by striking “section 3(h)” each place it appears and inserting “section 3(l)”.
The amendment probably should have been made to section 454.
(i)
in the case of the State program funded under part A, the State program under part E, or the State program under title XIX shall, at the option of the State, be defined, taking into account the best interests of the child, and applied in each case, by the State agency administering such program; and
(ii)
in the case of the supplemental nutrition assistance program, as defined under section 3(h)34 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(h)), shall be defined and applied in each case under that program in accordance with section 6(l)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(l)(2));
(B)
shall require the individual to supply additional necessary information and appear at interviews, hearings, and legal proceedings;
(C)
shall require the individual and the child to submit to genetic tests pursuant to judicial or administrative order;
(D)
may request that the individual sign a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, after notice of the rights and consequences of such an acknowledgment, but may not require the individual to sign an acknowledgment or otherwise relinquish the right to genetic tests as a condition of cooperation and eligibility for assistance under the State program funded under part A, the State program under part E, the State program under title XIX, or the supplemental nutrition assistance program, as defined under section 3(h)35 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(h)); and
^{35}
See footnote in paragraph (29)(A).
(E)
shall promptly notify the individual and the State agency administering the State program funded under part A, the State agency administering the State program under part E, the State agency administering the State program under title XIX, or the State agency administering the supplemental nutrition assistance program, as defined under section 3(h)35 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(h)), of each such determination, and if noncooperation is determined, the basis therefor;
(30)
provide that the State shall use the definitions established under section 452(a)(5) in collecting and reporting information as required under this part;
(31)
provide that the State agency will have in effect a procedure for certifying to the Secretary, for purposes of the procedure under section 452(k), determinations that individuals owe arrearages of child support in an amount exceeding $2,500, under which procedure—
(A)
each individual concerned is afforded notice of such determination and the consequences thereof, and an opportunity to contest the determination; and
(B)
the certification by the State agency is furnished to the Secretary in such format, and accompanied by such supporting documentation, as the Secretary may require;
(32)
(A)
provide that any request for services under this part by a foreign reciprocating country, a foreign treaty country, or a foreign country with which the State has an arrangement described in section 459A(d) shall be treated as a request by a State;
(B)
provide, at State option, notwithstanding paragraph (4) or any other provision of this part, for services under the plan for enforcement of a spousal support order not described in paragraph (4)(B) entered by such a country (or subdivision); and
(C)
provide that no applications will be required from, and no costs will be assessed for such services against, the foreign reciprocating country, foreign treaty country, or foreign individual (but costs may at State option be assessed against the obligor);
(33)
provide that a State that receives funding pursuant to section 428 and that has within its borders Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18, United States Code) may enter into cooperative agreements with 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)), if the Indian tribe or tribal organization demonstrates that such tribe or organization has an established tribal court system or a Court of Indian Offenses with the authority to establish paternity, establish, modify, or enforce support orders, or to enter support orders in accordance with child support guidelines established or adopted by such tribe or organization, under which the State and tribe or organization shall provide for the cooperative delivery of child support enforcement services in Indian country and for the forwarding of all collections pursuant to the functions performed by the tribe or organization to the State agency, or conversely, by the State agency to the tribe or organization, which shall distribute such collections in accordance with such agreement; and
(34)
include an election by the State to apply section 457(a)(2)(B) of this Act or former section 457(a)(2)(B) of this Act (as in effect for the State immediately before the date this paragraph first applies to the State) to the distribution of the amounts which are the subject of such sections and, for so long as the State elects to so apply such former section, the amendments made by subsection (b)(1) of section 7301 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 shall not apply with respect to the State, notwithstanding subsection (e) of such section 7301.
The State may allow the jurisdiction which makes the collection involved to retain any application fee under paragraph (6)(B) or any late payment fee under paragraph (21). Nothing in paragraph (33) shall void any provision of any cooperative agreement entered into before the date of the enactment of such paragraph, nor shall such paragraph deprive any State of jurisdiction over Indian country (as so defined) that is lawfully exercised under section 402 of the Act entitled “An Act to prescribe penalties for certain acts of violence or intimidation, and for other purposes”, approved April 11, 1968 (25 U.S.C. 1322).
SEC. 454A.
[42 U.S.C. 654a]

AUTOMATED DATA PROCESSING.
(a)

In General.—
In order for a State to meet the requirements of this section, the State agency administering the State program under this part shall have in operation a single statewide automated data processing and information retrieval system which has the capability to perform the tasks specified in this section with the frequency and in the manner required by or under this part.
(b)

Program Management.—
The automated system required by this section shall perform such functions as the Secretary may specify relating to management of the State program under this part, including—
(1)
controlling and accounting for use of Federal, State, and local funds in carrying out the program; and
(2)
maintaining the data necessary to meet Federal reporting requirements under this part on a timely basis.
(c)

Calculation of Performance Indicators.—
In order to enable the Secretary to determine the incentive payments and penalty adjustments required by sections 452(g) and 458, the State agency shall—
(1)
use the automated system—
(A)
to maintain the requisite data on State performance with respect to paternity establishment and child support enforcement in the State; and
(B)
to calculate the paternity establishment percentage for the State for each fiscal year; and
(2)
have in place systems controls to ensure the com-pleteness and reliability of, and ready access to, the data described in paragraph (1)(A), and the accuracy of the calculations described in paragraph (1)(B).
(d)

Information Integrity and Security.—
The State agency shall have in effect safeguards on the integrity, accuracy, and completeness of, access to, and use of data in the automated system required by this section, which shall include the following (in addition to such other safeguards as the Secretary may specify in regulations):
(1)

Policies restricting access.—
Written policies concerning access to data by State agency personnel, and sharing of data with other persons, which—
(A)
permit access to and use of data only to the extent necessary to carry out the State program under this part; and
(B)
specify the data which may be used for particular program purposes, and the personnel permitted access to such data.
(2)

Systems controls.—
Systems controls (such as passwords or blocking of fields) to ensure strict adherence to the policies described in paragraph (1).
(3)

Monitoring of access.—
Routine monitoring of access to and use of the automated system, through methods such as audit trails and feedback mechanisms, to guard against and promptly identify unauthorized access or use.
(4)

Training and information.—
Procedures to ensure that all personnel (including State and local agency staff and contractors) who may have access to or be required to use confidential program data are informed of applicable requirements and penalties (including those in section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), and are adequately trained in security procedures.
(5)

Penalties.—
Administrative penalties (up to and including dismissal from employment) for unauthorized access to, or disclosure or use of, confidential data.
(e)

State Case Registry.—
(1)

Contents.—
The automated system required by this section shall include a registry (which shall be known as the “State case registry”) that contains records with respect to—
(A)
each case in which services are being provided by the State agency under the State plan approved under this part; and
(B)
each support order established or modified in the State on or after October 1, 1998.
(2)

Linking of local registries.—
The State case registry may be established by linking local case registries of support orders through an automated information network, subject to this section.
(3)

Use of standardized data elements.—
Such records shall use standardized data elements for both parents (such as names, social security numbers and other uniform identification numbers, dates of birth, and case identification numbers), and contain such other information (such as on case status) as the Secretary may require.
(4)

Payment records.—
Each case record in the State case registry with respect to which services are being provided under the State plan approved under this part and with respect to which a support order has been established shall include a record of—
(A)
the amount of monthly (or other periodic) support owed under the order, and other amounts (including arrearages, interest or late payment penalties, and fees) due or overdue under the order;
(B)
any amount described in subparagraph (A) that has been collected;
(C)
the distribution of such collected amounts;
(D)
the birth date and, beginning not later than October 1, 1999, the social security number, of any child for whom the order requires the provision of support; and
(E)
the amount of any lien imposed with respect to the order pursuant to section 466(a)(4).
(5)

Updating and monitoring.—
The State agency operating the automated system required by this section shall promptly establish and update, maintain, and regularly monitor, case records in the State case registry with respect to which services are being provided under the State plan approved under this part, on the basis of—
(A)
information on administrative actions and administrative and judicial proceedings and orders relating to paternity and support;
(B)
information obtained from comparison with Federal, State, or local sources of information;
(C)
information on support collections and distributions; and
(D)
any other relevant information.
(f)

Information Comparisons and Other Disclosures of Information.—
The State shall use the automated system required by this section to extract information from (at such times, and in such standardized format or formats, as may be required by the Secretary), to share and compare information with, and to receive information from, other data bases and information comparison services, in order to obtain (or provide) information necessary to enable the State agency (or the Secretary or other State or Federal agencies) to carry out this part, subject to section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Such information comparison activities shall include the following:
(1)

Federal case registry of child support orders.—
Furnishing to the Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders established under section 453(h) (and update as necessary, with information including notice of expiration of orders) the minimum amount of information on child support cases recorded in the State case registry that is necessary to operate the registry (as specified by the Secretary in regulations).
(2)

Federal parent locator service.—
Exchanging information with the Federal Parent Locator Service for the purposes specified in section 453.
(3)

Temporary family assistance and medicaid agencies.—
Exchanging information with State agencies (of the State and of other States) administering programs funded under part A, programs operated under a State plan approved under title XIX, and other programs designated by the Secretary, as necessary to perform State agency responsibilities under this part and under such programs.
(4)

Intrastate and interstate information comparisons.—
Exchanging information with other agencies of the State, agencies of other States, and interstate information networks, as necessary and appropriate to carry out (or assist other States to carry out) the purposes of this part.
(5)

Private industry councils receiving welfare-to-work grants.—
Disclosing to a private industry council (as defined in section 403(a)(5)(D)(ii)) to which funds are provided under section 403(a)(5) the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and identifying case number information in the State program funded under part A, of noncustodial parents residing in the service delivery area of the private industry council, for the purpose of identifying and contacting noncustodial parents regarding participation in the program under section 403(a)(5).
(g)

Collection and Distribution of Support Payments.—
(1)

In general.—
The State shall use the automated system required by this section to assist and facilitate the collection and disbursement of support payments through the State disbursement unit operated under section 454B, through the performance of functions, including, at a minimum—
(A)
transmission of orders and notices to employers (and other debtors) for the withholding of income—
(i)
within 2 business days after receipt of notice of, and the income source subject to, such withholding from a court, another State, an employer, the Federal Parent Locator Service, or another source recognized by the State;
(ii)
using uniform formats prescribed by the Secretary; and
(iii)
at the option of the employer, using the electronic transmission methods prescribed by the Secretary;
(B)
ongoing monitoring to promptly identify failures to make timely payment of support; and
(C)
automatic use of enforcement procedures (including procedures authorized pursuant to section 466(c)) if payments are not timely made.
(2)

Business day defined.—
As used in paragraph (1), the term “business day” means a day on which State offices are open for regular business.
(h)

Expedited Administrative Procedures.—
The automated system required by this section shall be used, to the maximum extent feasible, to implement the expedited administrative procedures required by section 466(c).
SEC. 454B.
[42 U.S.C. 654b]

COLLECTION AND DISBURSEMENT OF SUPPORT PAYMENTS.
(a)

State Disbursement Unit.—
(1)

In general.—
In order for a State to meet the requirements of this section, the State agency must establish and operate a unit (which shall be known as the “State disbursement unit”) for the collection and disbursement of payments under support orders—
(A)
in all cases being enforced by the State pursuant to section 454(4); and
(B)
in all cases not being enforced by the State under this part in which the support order is initially issued in the State on or after January 1, 1994, and in which the income of the noncustodial parent is subject to withholding pursuant to section 466(a)(8)(B).
(2)

Operation.—
The State disbursement unit shall be operated—
(A)
directly by the State agency (or 2 or more State agencies under a regional cooperative agreement), or (to the extent appropriate) by a contractor responsible directly to the State agency; and
(B)
except in cases described in paragraph (1)(B), in coordination with the automated system established by the State pursuant to section 454A.
(3)

Linking of local disbursement units.—
The State disbursement unit may be established by linking local disbursement units through an automated information network, subject to this section, if the Secretary agrees that the system will not cost more nor take more time to establish or operate than a centralized system. In addition, employers shall be given 1 location to which income withholding is sent.
(b)

Required Procedures.—
The State disbursement unit shall use automated procedures, electronic processes, and computer-driven technology to the maximum extent feasible, efficient, and economical, for the collection and disbursement of support payments, including procedures—
(1)
for receipt of payments from parents, employers, and other States, and for disbursements to custodial parents and other obligees, the State agency, and the agencies of other States;
(2)
for accurate identification of payments;
(3)
to ensure prompt disbursement of the custodial parent's share of any payment; and
(4)
to furnish to any parent, upon request, timely information on the current status of support payments under an order requiring payments to be made by or to the parent, except that in cases described in subsection (a)(1)(B), the State disbursement unit shall not be required to convert and maintain in automated form records of payments kept pursuant to section 466(a)(8)(B)(iii) before the effective date of this section.
(c)

Timing of Disbursements.—
(1)

In general.—
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the State disbursement unit shall distribute all amounts payable under section 457(a) within 2 business days after receipt from the employer or other source of periodic income, if sufficient information identifying the payee is provided. The date of collection for amounts collected and distributed under this part is the date of receipt by the State disbursement unit, except that if current support is withheld by an employer in the month when due and is received by the State disbursement unit in a month other than the month when due, the date of withholding may be deemed to be the date of collection.
(2)

Permissive retention of arrearages.—
The State disbursement unit may delay the distribution of collections toward arrearages until the resolution of any timely appeal with respect to such arrearages.
(d)

Business Day Defined.—
As used in this section, the term “business day” means a day on which State offices are open for regular business.

PAYMENTS TO STATES
Sec. 455.
[42 U.S.C. 655]
(a)
(1)
From the sums appropriated therefor, the Secretary shall pay to each State for each quarter an amount—
(A)
equal to the percent specified in paragraph (2) of the total amounts expended by such State during such quarter for the operation of the plan approved under section 454,
(B)36
equal to the percent specified in paragraph (3) of the sums expended during such quarter that are attributable to the planning, design, development, installation or enhancement of an automatic data processing and information retrieval system (including in such sums the full cost of the hardware components of such system); and 37
^{36}
Margin so in law.
^{37}
So in law. The phrase “; and” at the end of subsection (a)(1)(B) probably should be a comma.
(C)
equal to 66 percent of so much of the sums expended during such quarter as are attributable to laboratory costs incurred in determining paternity, and
(D)
equal to 66 percent of the sums expended by the State during the quarter for an alternative statewide system for which a waiver has been granted under section 452(d)(3), but only to the extent that the total of the sums so expended by the State on or after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph does not exceed the least total cost estimate submitted by the State pursuant to section 452(d)(3)(C) in the request for the waiver;
except that no amount shall be paid to any State on account of amounts expended from amounts paid to the State under section 458 or to carry out an agreement which it has entered into pursuant to section 463. In determining the total amounts expended by any State during a quarter, for purposes of this subsection, there shall be excluded an amount equal to the total of any fees collected or other income resulting from services provided under the plan approved under this part.
(2)
The percent applicable to quarters in a fiscal year for purposes of paragraph (1)(A) is—
(A)
70 percent for fiscal years 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987,
(B)
68 percent for fiscal years 1988 and 1989, and
(C)
66 percent for fiscal year 1990 and each fiscal year thereafter.
(3)
(A)
The Secretary shall pay to each State, for each quarter in fiscal years 1996 and 1997, 90 percent of so much of the State expenditures described in paragraph (1)(B) as the Secretary finds are for a system meeting the requirements specified in section 454(16) (as in effect on September 30, 1995) but limited to the amount approved for States in the advance planning documents of such States submitted on or before September 30, 1995.
(B)
(i)
The Secretary shall pay to each State or system described in clause (iii), for each quarter in fiscal years 1996 through 2001, the percentage specified in clause (ii) of so much of the State or system expenditures described in paragraph (1)(B) as the Secretary finds are for a system meeting the requirements of sections 454(16) and 454A.
(ii)
The percentage specified in this clause is 80 percent.
(iii)
For purposes of clause (i), a system described in this clause is a system that has been approved by the Secretary to receive enhanced funding pursuant to the Family Support Act of 1988 (Public Law 100–485; 102 Stat. 2343) for the purpose of developing a system that meets the requirements of sections 454(16) (as in effect on and after September 30, 1995) and 454A, including systems that have received funding for such purpose pursuant to a waiver under section 1115(a).
(4)
(A)
(i)
If—
(I)
the Secretary determines that a State plan under section 454 would (in the absence of this paragraph) be disapproved for the failure of the State to comply with a particular subparagraph of section 454(24), and that the State has made and is continuing to make a good faith effort to so comply; and
(II)
the State has submitted to the Secretary a corrective compliance plan that describes how, by when, and at what cost the State will achieve such compliance, which has been approved by the Secretary,
then the Secretary shall not disapprove the State plan under section 454, and the Secretary shall reduce the amount otherwise payable to the State under paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection for the fiscal year by the penalty amount.
(ii)
All failures of a State during a fiscal year to comply with any of the requirements referred to in the same subparagraph of section 454(24) shall be considered a single failure of the State to comply with that subparagraph during the fiscal year for purposes of this paragraph.
(B)
In this paragraph:
(i)
The term “penalty amount” means, with respect to a failure of a State to comply with a subparagraph of section 454(24)—
(I)
4 percent of the penalty base, in the case of the first fiscal year in which such a failure by the State occurs (regardless of whether a penalty is imposed under this paragraph with respect to the failure);
(II)
8 percent of the penalty base, in the case of the second such fiscal year;
(III)
16 percent of the penalty base, in the case of the third such fiscal year;
(IV)
25 percent of the penalty base, in the case of the fourth such fiscal year; or
(V)
30 percent of the penalty base, in the case of the fifth or any subsequent such fiscal year.
(ii)
The term “penalty base” means, with respect to a failure of a State to comply with a subparagraph of section 454(24) during a fiscal year, the amount otherwise payable to the State under paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection for the preceding fiscal year.
(C)
(i)
The Secretary shall waive a penalty under this paragraph for any failure of a State to comply with section 454(24)(A) during fiscal year 1998 if—
(I)
on or before August 1, 1998, the State has submitted to the Secretary a request that the Secretary certify the State as having met the requirements of such section;
(II)
the Secretary subsequently provides the certification as a result of a timely review conducted pursuant to the request; and
(III)
the State has not failed such a review.
(ii)
If a State with respect to which a reduction is made under this paragraph for a fiscal year with respect to a failure to comply with a subparagraph of section 454(24) achieves compliance with such subparagraph by the beginning of the succeeding fiscal year, the Secretary shall increase the amount otherwise payable to the State under paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection for the succeeding fiscal year by an amount equal to 90 percent of the reduction for the fiscal year.
(iii)
The Secretary shall reduce the amount of any reduction that, in the absence of this clause, would be required to be made under this paragraph by reason of the failure of a State to achieve compliance with section 454(24)(B) during the fiscal year, by an amount equal to 20 percent of the amount of the otherwise required reduction, for each State performance measure described in section 458A(b)(4) with respect to which the applicable percentage under section 458A(b)(6) for the fiscal year is 100 percent, if the Secretary has made the determination described in section 458A(b)(5)(B) with respect to the State for the fiscal year.
(D)
The Secretary may not impose a penalty under this paragraph against a State with respect to a failure to comply with section 454(24)(B) for a fiscal year if the Secretary is required to impose a penalty under this paragraph against the State with respect to a failure to comply with section 454(24)(A) for the fiscal year.
(5)
(A)
(i)
If—
(I)
the Secretary determines that a State plan under section 454 would (in the absence of this paragraph) be disapproved for the failure of the State to comply with subparagraphs (A) and (B)(i) of section 454(27), and that the State has made and is continuing to make a good faith effort to so comply; and
(II)
the State has submitted to the Secretary, not later than April 1, 2000, a corrective compliance plan that describes how, by when, and at what cost the State will achieve such compliance, which has been approved by the Secretary,
then the Secretary shall not disapprove the State plan under section 454, and the Secretary shall reduce the amount otherwise payable to the State under paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection for the fiscal year by the penalty amount.
(ii)
All failures of a State during a fiscal year to comply with any of the requirements of section 454B shall be considered a single failure of the State to comply with subparagraphs (A) and (B)(i) of section 454(27) during the fiscal year for purposes of this paragraph.
(B)
In this paragraph:
(i)
The term “penalty amount” means, with respect to a failure of a State to comply with subparagraphs (A) and (B)(i) of section 454(27)—
(I)
4 percent of the penalty base, in the case of the 1st fiscal year in which such a failure by the State occurs (regardless of whether a penalty is imposed in that fiscal year under this paragraph with respect to the failure), except as provided in subparagraph (C)(ii) of this paragraph;
(II)
8 percent of the penalty base, in the case of the 2nd such fiscal year;
(III)
16 percent of the penalty base, in the case of the 3rd such fiscal year;
(IV)
25 percent of the penalty base, in the case of the 4th such fiscal year; or
(V)
30 percent of the penalty base, in the case of the 5th or any subsequent such fiscal year.
(ii)
The term “penalty base” means, with respect to a failure of a State to comply with subparagraphs (A) and (B)(i) of section 454(27) during a fiscal year, the amount otherwise payable to the State under paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection for the preceding fiscal year.
(C)
(i)
The Secretary shall waive all penalties imposed against a State under this paragraph for any failure of the State to comply with subparagraphs (A) and (B)(i) of section 454(27) if the Secretary determines that, before April 1, 2000, the State has achieved such compliance.
(ii)
If a State with respect to which a reduction is required to be made under this paragraph with respect to a failure to comply with subparagraphs (A) and (B)(i) of section 454(27) achieves such compliance on or after April 1, 2000, and on or before September 30, 2000, then the penalty amount applicable to the State shall be 1 percent of the penalty base with respect to the failure involved.
(D)
The Secretary may not impose a penalty under this paragraph against a State for a fiscal year for which the amount otherwise payable to the State under paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection is reduced under paragraph (4) of this subsection for failure to comply with section 454(24)(A).
(b)
(1)
Prior to the beginning of each quarter, the Secretary shall estimate the amount to which a State will be entitled under subsection (a) for such quarter, such estimates to be based on (A) a report filed by the State containing its estimate of the total sum to be expended in such quarter in accordance with the provisions of such subsection, and stating the amount appropriated or made available by the State and its political subdivisions for such expenditures in such quarter, and if such amount is less than the State's proportionate share of the total sum of such estimated expenditures, the source or sources from which the difference is expected to be derived, and (B) such other investigation as the Secretary may find necessary.
(2)
Subject to subsection (d), the Secretary shall then pay, in such installments as he may determine, to the State the amount so estimated, reduced or increased to the extent of any overpayment or underpayment which the Secretary determines was made under this section to such State for any prior quarter and with respect to which adjustment has not already been made under this subsection.
(3)
Upon the making of any estimate by the Secretary under this subsection, any appropriations available for payments under this section shall be deemed obligated.
[(c)
Repealed.]
(d)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no amount shall be paid to any State under this section for any quarter, prior to the close of such quarter, unless for the period consisting of all prior quarters for which payment is authorized to be made to such State under subsection (a), there shall have been submitted by the State to the Secretary, with respect to each quarter in such period (other than the last two quarters in such period), a full and complete report (in such form and manner and containing such information as the Secretary shall prescribe or require) as to the amount of child support collected and disbursed and all expenditures with respect to which payment is authorized under subsection (a).
(e)
(1)
In order to encourage and promote the development and use of more effective methods of enforcing support obligations under this part in cases where either the children on whose behalf the support is sought or their noncustodial parents do not reside in the State where such cases are filed, the Secretary is authorized to make grants, in such amounts and on such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, to States which propose to undertake new or innovative methods of support collection in such cases and which will use the proceeds of such grants to carry out special projects designed to demonstrate and test such methods.
(2)
A grant under this subsection shall be made only upon a finding by the Secretary that the project involved is likely to be of significant assistance in carrying out the purpose of this subsection; and with respect to such project the Secretary may waive any of the requirements of this part which would otherwise be applicable, to such extent and for such period as the Secretary determines is necessary or desirable in order to enable the State to carry out the project.
(3)
At the time of its application for a grant under this subsection the State shall submit to the Secretary a statement describing in reasonable detail the project for which the proceeds of the grant are to be used, and the State shall from time to time thereafter submit to the Secretary such reports with respect to the project as the Secretary may specify.
(4)
Amounts expended by a State in carrying out a special project assisted under this section shall be considered, for purposes of section 458(b) (as amended by section 5(a) of the Child Support Enforcement Amendments of 1984, to have been expended for the operation of the State's plan approved under section 454.
(5)
There is authorized to be appropriated the sum of $7,000,000 for fiscal year 1985, $12,000,000 for fiscal year 1986, and $15,000,000 for each fiscal year thereafter, to be used by the Secretary in making grants under this subsection.
(f)
The Secretary may make direct payments under this part to an Indian tribe or tribal organization that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that it has the capacity to operate a child support enforcement program meeting the objectives of this part, including establishment of paternity, establishment, modification, and enforcement of support orders, and location of absent parents. The Secretary shall promulgate regulations establishing the requirements which must be met by an Indian tribe or tribal organization to be eligible for a grant under this subsection.

SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS
Sec. 456.
[42 U.S.C. 656]
(a)
(1)
The support rights assigned to the State pursuant to section 408(a)(3) or secured on behalf of a child receiving foster care maintenance payments shall constitute an obligation owed to such State by the individual responsible for providing such support. Such obligation shall be deemed for collection purposes to be collectible under all applicable State and local processes.
(2)
The amount of such obligation shall be—
(A)
the amount specified in a court order which covers the assigned support rights, or
(B)
if there is no court order, an amount determined by the State in accordance with a formula approved by the Secretary.
(3)
Any amounts collected from a noncustodial parent under the plan shall reduce, dollar for dollar, the amount of his obligation under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2).
(b)

Nondischargeability.—
A debt (as defined in section 101 of title 11 of the United States Code) owed under State law to a State (as defined in such section) or municipality (as defined in such section) that is in the nature of support and that is enforceable under this part is not released by a discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 of the United States Code.
SEC. 457.
[42 U.S.C. 657]

DISTRIBUTION OF COLLECTED SUPPORT.
(a)

In General.—
Subject to subsections (d) and (e), the amounts collected on behalf of a family as support by a State pursuant to a plan approved under this part shall be distributed as follows:
(1)

Families receiving assistance.—
In the case of a family receiving assistance from the State, the State shall—
(A)
pay to the Federal Government the Federal share of the amount collected, subject to paragraph (3)(A);
(B)
retain, or pay to the family, the State share of the amount collected, subject to paragraph (3)(B); and
(C)
pay to the family any remaining amount.
(2)

Families that formerly received assistance.—
In the case of a family that formerly received assistance from the State:
(A)

Current support.—
To the extent that the amount collected does not exceed the current support amount, the State shall pay the amount to the family.
(B)

Arrearages.—
Except as otherwise provided in an election made under section 454(34), to the extent that the amount collected exceeds the current support amount, the State—
(i)
shall first pay to the family the excess amount, to the extent necessary to satisfy support arrearages not assigned pursuant to section 408(a)(3);
(ii)
if the amount collected exceeds the amount required to be paid to the family under clause (i), shall—
(I)
pay to the Federal Government the Federal share of the excess amount described in this clause, subject to paragraph (3)(A); and
(II)
retain, or pay to the family, the State share of the excess amount described in this clause, subject to paragraph (3)(B); and
(iii)
shall pay to the family any remaining amount.
(3)

Limitations.—
(A)

Federal reimbursements.—
The total of the amounts paid by the State to the Federal Government under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection with respect to a family shall not exceed the Federal share of the amount assigned with respect to the family pursuant to section 408(a)(3).
(B)

State reimbursements.—
The total of the amounts retained by the State under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection with respect to a family shall not exceed the State share of the amount assigned with respect to the family pursuant to section 408(a)(3).
(4)

Families that never received assistance.—
In the case of any other family, the State shall distribute to the family the portion of the amount so collected that remains after withholding any fee pursuant to section 454(6)(B)(ii).
(5)

Families under certain agreements.—
Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) through (3), in the case of an amount collected for a family in accordance with a cooperative agreement under section 454(33), the State shall distribute the amount collected pursuant to the terms of the agreement.
(6)

State option to pass through additional support with federal financial participation.—
(A)

Families that formerly received assistance.—
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), a State shall not be required to pay to the Federal Government the Federal share of an amount collected on behalf of a family that formerly received assistance from the State to the extent that the State pays the amount to the family.
(B)

Families that currently receive assistance.—
(i)

In general.—
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in the case of a family that receives assistance from the State, a State shall not be required to pay to the Federal Government the Federal share of the excepted portion (as defined in clause (ii)) of any amount collected on behalf of such family during a month to the extent that—
(I)
the State pays the excepted portion to the family; and
(II)
the excepted portion is disregarded in determining the amount and type of assistance provided to the family under such program.
(ii)

Excepted portion defined.—
For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “excepted portion” means that portion of the amount collected on behalf of a family during a month that does not exceed $100 per month, or in the case of a family that includes 2 or more children, that does not exceed an amount established by the State that is not more than $200 per month.
(b)

Continuation of Assignments.—
(1)

State option to discontinue pre-1997 support assignments.—
(A)

In general.—
Any rights to support obligations assigned to a State as a condition of receiving assistance from the State under part A and in effect on September 30, 1997 (or such earlier date on or after August 22, 1996, as the State may choose), may remain assigned after such date.
(B)

Distribution of amounts after assignment discontinuation.—
If a State chooses to discontinue the assignment of a support obligation described in subparagraph (A), the State may treat amounts collected pursuant to the assignment as if the amounts had never been assigned and may distribute the amounts to the family in accordance with subsection (a)(4).
(2)

State option to discontinue post-1997 assignments.—
(A)

In general.—
Any rights to support obligations accruing before the date on which a family first receives assistance under part A that are assigned to a State under that part and in effect before the implementation date of this section may remain assigned after such date.
(B)

Distribution of amounts after assignment discontinuation.—
If a State chooses to discontinue the assignment of a support obligation described in subparagraph (A), the State may treat amounts collected pursuant to the assignment as if the amounts had never been assigned and may distribute the amounts to the family in accordance with subsection (a)(4).
(c)

Definitions.—
As used in subsection (a):
(1)

Assistance.—
The term “assistance from the State” means—
(A)
assistance under the State program funded under part A or under the State plan approved under part A of this title (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996); and
(B)
foster care maintenance payments under the State plan approved under part E of this title.
(2)

Federal share.—
The term “Federal share” means that portion of the amount collected resulting from the application of the Federal medical assistance percentage in effect for the fiscal year in which the amount is distributed.
(3)

Federal medical assistance percentage.—
The term “Federal medical assistance percentage” means—
(A)
75 percent, in the case of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa; or
(B)
the Federal medical assistance percentage (as defined in section 1905(b), as such section was in effect on September 30, 1995) in the case of any other State.
(4)

State share.—
The term “State share” means 100 percent minus the Federal share.
(5)

Current support amount.—
The term “current support amount” means, with respect to amounts collected as support on behalf of a family, the amount designated as the monthly support obligation of the noncustodial parent in the order requiring the support or calculated by the State based on the order.
(d)

Gap Payments Not Subject to Distribution Under This Section.—
At State option, this section shall not apply to any amount collected on behalf of a family as support by the State (and paid to the family in addition to the amount of assistance otherwise payable to the family) pursuant to a plan approved under this part if such amount would have been paid to the family by the State under section 402(a)(28), as in effect and applied on the day before the date of the enactment of section 302 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
(e)
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this section, 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—
(1)
shall be retained by the State to the extent necessary to reimburse it for the foster care maintenance payments made with respect to the child during such period (with appropriate reimbursement of the Federal Government to the extent of its participation in the financing);
(2)
shall be paid to the public agency responsible for supervising the placement of the child to the extent that the amounts collected exceed the foster care maintenance payments made with respect to the child during such period but not the amounts required by a court or administrative order to be paid as support on behalf of the child during such period; and the responsible agency may use the payments in the manner it determines will serve the best interests of the child, including setting such payments aside for the child's future needs or making all or a part thereof available to the person responsible for meeting the child's day-to-day needs; and
(3)
shall be retained by the State, if any portion of the amounts collected remains after making the payments required under paragraphs (1) and (2), to the extent that such portion is necessary to reimburse the State (with appropriate reimbursement to the Federal Government to the extent of its participation in the financing) for any past foster care maintenance payments (or payments of assistance under the State program funded under part A) which were made with respect to the child (and with respect to which past collections have not previously been retained);
and any balance shall be paid to the State agency responsible for supervising the placement of the child, for use by such agency in accordance with paragraph (2).
SEC. 458.
[42 U.S.C. 658a]

INCENTIVE PAYMENTS TO STATES.
(a)

In General.—
In addition to any other payment under this part, the Secretary shall, subject to subsection (f), make an incentive payment to each State for each fiscal year in an amount determined under subsection (b).
(b)

Amount of Incentive Payment.—
(1)

In general.—
The incentive payment for a State for a fiscal year is equal to the incentive payment pool for the fiscal year, multiplied by the State incentive payment share for the fiscal year.
(2)

Incentive payment pool.—
(A)

In general.—
In paragraph (1), the term “incentive payment pool” means—
(i)
$422,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;
(ii)
$429,000,000 for fiscal year 2001;
(iii)
$450,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;
(iv)
$461,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
(v)
$454,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
(vi)
$446,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
(vii)
$458,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
(viii)
$471,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(ix)
$483,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
(x)
for any succeeding fiscal year, the amount of the incentive payment pool for the fiscal year that precedes such succeeding fiscal year, multiplied by the percentage (if any) by which the CPI for such preceding fiscal year exceeds the CPI for the second preceding fiscal year.
(B)

CPI.—
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the CPI for a fiscal year is the average of the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending on September 30 of the fiscal year. As used in the preceding sentence, the term “Consumer Price Index” means the last Consumer Price Index for all-urban consumers published by the Department of Labor.
(3)

State incentive payment share.—
In paragraph (1), the term “State incentive payment share” means, with respect to a fiscal year—
(A)
the incentive base amount for the State for the fiscal year; divided by
(B)
the sum of the incentive base amounts for all of the States for the fiscal year.
(4)

Incentive base amount.—
In paragraph (3), the term “incentive base amount” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the sum of the applicable percentages (determined in accordance with paragraph (6)) multiplied by the corresponding maximum incentive base amounts for the State for the fiscal year, with respect to each of the following measures of State performance for the fiscal year:
(A)
The paternity establishment performance level.
(B)
The support order performance level.
(C)
The current payment performance level.
(D)
The arrearage payment performance level.
(E)
The cost-effectiveness performance level.
(5)

Maximum incentive base amount.—
(A)

In general.—
For purposes of paragraph (4), the maximum incentive base amount for a State for a fiscal year is—
(i)
with respect to the performance measures described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (4), the State collections base for the fiscal year; and
(ii)
with respect to the performance measures described in subparagraphs (D) and (E) of paragraph (4), 75 percent of the State collections base for the fiscal year.
(B)

Data required to be complete and reliable.—
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the maximum incentive base amount for a State for a fiscal year with respect to a performance measure described in paragraph (4) is zero, unless the Secretary determines, on the basis of an audit performed under section 452(a)(4)(C)(i), that the data which the State submitted pursuant to section 454(15)(B) for the fiscal year and which is used to determine the performance level involved is complete and reliable.
(C)

State collections base.—
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the State collections base for a fiscal year is equal to the sum of—
(i)
2 times the sum of—
(I)
the total amount of support collected during the fiscal year under the State plan approved under this part in cases in which the support obligation involved is required to be assigned to the State pursuant to part A or E of this title or title XIX; and
(II)
the total amount of support collected during the fiscal year under the State plan approved under this part in cases in which the support obligation involved was so assigned but, at the time of collection, is not required to be so assigned; and
(ii)
the total amount of support collected during the fiscal year under the State plan approved under this part in all other cases.
(6)

Determination of applicable percentages based on performance levels.—
(A)

Paternity establishment.—
(i)

Determination of paternity establishment performance level.—
The paternity establishment performance level for a State for a fiscal year is, at the option of the State, the IV–D paternity establishment percentage determined under section 452(g)(2)(A) or the statewide paternity establishment percentage determined under section 452(g)(2)(B).
(ii)

Determination of applicable percentage.—
The applicable percentage with respect to a State's paternity establishment performance level is as follows:
If the paternity establishment performance level is: | The applicable percentage is:
At least: | But less than:
80% | | 100
79% | 80% | 98
78% | 79% | 96
77% | 78% | 94
76% | 77% | 92
75% | 76% | 90
74% | 75% | 88
73% | 74% | 86
72% | 73% | 84
71% | 72% | 82
70% | 71% | 80
69% | 70% | 79
68% | 69% | 78
67% | 68% | 77
66% | 67% | 76
65% | 66% | 75
64% | 65% | 74
63% | 64% | 73
62% | 63% | 72
61% | 62% | 71
60% | 61% | 70
59% | 60% | 69
58% | 59% | 68
57% | 58% | 67
56% | 57% | 66
55% | 56% | 65
54% | 55% | 64
53% | 54% | 63
52% | 53% | 62
51% | 52% | 61
50% | 51% | 60
0% | 50% | 0.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the paternity establishment performance level of a State for a fiscal year is less than 50 percent but exceeds by at least 10 percentage points the paternity establishment performance level of the State for the immediately preceding fiscal year, then the applicable percentage with respect to the State's paternity establishment performance level is 50 percent.
(B)

Establishment of child support orders.—
(i)

Determination of support order performance level.—
The support order performance level for a State for a fiscal year is the percentage of the total number of cases under the State plan approved under this part in which there is a support order during the fiscal year.
(ii)

Determination of applicable percentage.—
The applicable percentage with respect to a State's support order performance level is as follows:
If the support order performance level is: | The applicable percentage is:
At least: | But less than:
80% | | 100
79% | 80% | 98
78% | 79% | 96
77% | 78% | 94
76% | 77% | 92
75% | 76% | 90
74% | 75% | 88
73% | 74% | 86
72% | 73% | 84
71% | 72% | 82
70% | 71% | 80
69% | 70% | 79
68% | 69% | 78
67% | 68% | 77
66% | 67% | 76
65% | 66% | 75
64% | 65% | 74
63% | 64% | 73
62% | 63% | 72
61% | 62% | 71
60% | 61% | 70
59% | 60% | 69
58% | 59% | 68
57% | 58% | 67
56% | 57% | 66
55% | 56% | 65
54% | 55% | 64
53% | 54% | 63
52% | 53% | 62
51% | 52% | 61
50% | 51% | 60
0% | 50% | 0.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the support order performance level of a State for a fiscal year is less than 50 percent but exceeds by at least 5 percentage points the support order performance level of the State for the immediately preceding fiscal year, then the applicable percentage with respect to the State's support order performance level is 50 percent.
(C)

Collections on current child support due.—
(i)

Determination of current payment performance level.—
The current payment performance level for a State for a fiscal year is equal to the total amount of current support collected during the fiscal year under the State plan approved under this part divided by the total amount of current support owed during the fiscal year in all cases under the State plan, expressed as a percentage.
(ii)

Determination of applicable percentage.—
The applicable percentage with respect to a State's current payment performance level is as follows:
If the current payment performance level is: | The applicable percentage is:
At least: | But less than:
80% | | 100
79% | 80% | 98
78% | 79% | 96
77% | 78% | 94
76% | 77% | 92
75% | 76% | 90
74% | 75% | 88
73% | 74% | 86
72% | 73% | 84
71% | 72% | 82
70% | 71% | 80
69% | 70% | 79
68% | 69% | 78
67% | 68% | 77
66% | 67% | 76
65% | 66% | 75
64% | 65% | 74
63% | 64% | 73
62% | 63% | 72
61% | 62% | 71
60% | 61% | 70
59% | 60% | 69
58% | 59% | 68
57% | 58% | 67
56% | 57% | 66
55% | 56% | 65
54% | 55% | 64
53% | 54% | 63
52% | 53% | 62
51% | 52% | 61
50% | 51% | 60
49% | 50% | 59
48% | 49% | 58
47% | 48% | 57
46% | 47% | 56
45% | 46% | 55
44% | 45% | 54
43% | 44% | 53
42% | 43% | 52
41% | 42% | 51
40% | 41% | 50
0% | 40% | 0.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the current payment performance level of a State for a fiscal year is less than 40 percent but exceeds by at least 5 percentage points the current payment performance level of the State for the immediately preceding fiscal year, then the applicable percentage with respect to the State's current payment performance level is 50 percent.
(D)

Collections on child support arrearages.—
(i)

Determination of arrearage payment performance level.—
The arrearage payment performance level for a State for a fiscal year is equal to the total number of cases under the State plan approved under this part in which payments of past-due child support were received during the fiscal year and part or all of the payments were distributed to the family to whom the past-due child support was owed (or, if all past-due child support owed to the family was, at the time of receipt, subject to an assignment to the State, part or all of the payments were retained by the State) divided by the total number of cases under the State plan in which there is past-due child support, expressed as a percentage.
(ii)

Determination of applicable percentage.—
The applicable percentage with respect to a State's arrearage payment performance level is as
follows:
If the arrearage payment performance level is: | The applicable percentage is:
At least: | But less than:
80% | | 100
79% | 80% | 98
78% | 79% | 96
77% | 78% | 94
76% | 77% | 92
75% | 76% | 90
74% | 75% | 88
73% | 74% | 86
72% | 73% | 84
71% | 72% | 82
70% | 71% | 80
69% | 70% | 79
68% | 69% | 78
67% | 68% | 77
66% | 67% | 76
65% | 66% | 75
64% | 65% | 74
63% | 64% | 73
62% | 63% | 72
61% | 62% | 71
60% | 61% | 70
59% | 60% | 69
58% | 59% | 68
57% | 58% | 67
56% | 57% | 66
55% | 56% | 65
54% | 55% | 64
53% | 54% | 63
52% | 53% | 62
51% | 52% | 61
50% | 51% | 60
49% | 50% | 59
48% | 49% | 58
47% | 48% | 57
46% | 47% | 56
45% | 46% | 55
44% | 45% | 54
43% | 44% | 53
42% | 43% | 52
41% | 42% | 51
40% | 41% | 50
0% | 40% | 0.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the arrearage payment performance level of a State for a fiscal year is less than 40 percent but exceeds by at least 5 percentage points the arrearage payment performance level of the State for the immediately preceding fiscal year, then the applicable percentage with respect to the State's arrearage payment performance level is 50 percent.
(E)

Cost-effectiveness.—
(i)

Determination of cost-effectiveness performance level.—
The cost-effectiveness performance level for a State for a fiscal year is equal to the total amount collected during the fiscal year under the State plan approved under this part divided by the total amount expended during the fiscal year under the State plan, expressed as a ratio.
(ii)

Determination of applicable percentage.—
The applicable percentage with respect to a State's cost-effectiveness performance level is as
follows:
If the cost-effectiveness performance level is: | The applicable percentage is:
At least: | But less than:
5.00 | | 100
4.50 | 4.99 | 90
4.00 | 4.50 | 80
3.50 | 4.00 | 70
3.00 | 3.50 | 60
2.50 | 3.00 | 50
2.00 | 2.50 | 40
0.00 | 2.00 | 0.
(c)

Treatment of Interstate Collections.—
In computing incentive payments under this section, support which is collected by a State at the request of another State shall be treated as having been collected in full by both States, and any amounts expended by a State in carrying out a special project assisted under section 455(e) shall be excluded.
(d)

Administrative Provisions.—
The amounts of the incentive payments to be made to the States under this section for a fiscal year shall be estimated by the Secretary at/or before the beginning of the fiscal year on the basis of the best information available. The Secretary shall make the payments for the fiscal year, on a quarterly basis (with each quarterly payment being made no later than the beginning of the quarter involved), in the amounts so estimated, reduced or increased to the extent of any overpayments or underpayments which the Secretary determines were made under this section to the States involved for prior periods and with respect to which adjustment has not already been made under this subsection. Upon the making of any estimate by the Secretary under the preceding sentence, any appropriations available for payments under this section are deemed obligated.
(e)

Regulations.—
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary governing the calculation of incentive payments under this section, including directions for excluding from the calculations certain closed cases and cases over which the States do not have jurisdiction.
(f)

Reinvestment.—
A State to which a payment is made under this section shall expend the full amount of the payment to supplement, and not supplant, other funds used by the State—
(1)
to carry out the State plan approved under this
part; or
(2)
for any activity (including cost-effective contracts with local agencies) approved by the Secretary, whether or not the expenditures for the activity are eligible for reimbursement under this part, which may contribute to improving the effectiveness or efficiency of the State program operated under this part.
SEC. 459.
[42 U.S.C. 659]

CONSENT BY THE UNITED STATES TO INCOME WITHHOLDING, GARNISHMENT, AND SIMILAR PROCEEDINGS FOR ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT AND ALIMONY OBLIGATIONS.
(a)

Consent to Support Enforcement.—
Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including section 207 of this Act and section 5301 of title 38, United States Code), effective January 1, 1975, moneys (the entitlement to which is based upon remuneration for employment) due from, or payable by, the United States or the District of Columbia (including any agency, subdivision, or instrumentality thereof) to any individual, including members of the Armed Forces of the United States, shall be subject, in like manner and to the same extent as if the United States or the District of Columbia were a private person, to withholding in accordance with State law enacted pursuant to subsections (a)(1) and (b) of section 466 and regulations of the Secretary under such subsections, and to any other legal process brought, by a State agency administering a program under a State plan approved under this part or by an individual obligee, to enforce the legal obligation of the individual to provide child support or alimony.
(b)

Consent to Requirements Applicable to Private Person.—
With respect to notice to withhold income pursuant to subsection (a)(1) or (b) of section 466, or any other order or process to enforce support obligations against an individual (if the order or process contains or is accompanied by sufficient data to permit prompt identification of the individual and the moneys involved), each governmental entity specified in subsection (a) shall be subject to the same requirements as would apply if the entity were a private person, except as otherwise provided in this section.
(c)

Designation of Agent; Response to Notice or Process—
(1)

Designation of agent.—
The head of each agency subject to this section shall—
(A)
designate an agent or agents to receive orders and accept service of process in matters relating to child support or alimony; and
(B)
annually publish in the Federal Register the designation of the agent or agents, identified by title or position, mailing address, and telephone number.
(2)

Response to notice or process.—
If an agent designated pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection receives notice pursuant to State procedures in effect pursuant to subsection (a)(1) or (b) of section 466, or is effectively served with any order, process, or interrogatory, with respect to an individual's child support or alimony payment obligations, the agent shall—
(A)
as soon as possible (but not later than 15 days) thereafter, send written notice of the notice or service (together with a copy of the notice or service) to the individual at the duty station or last-known home address of the individual;
(B)
within 30 days (or such longer period as may be prescribed by applicable State law) after receipt of a notice pursuant to such State procedures, comply with all applicable provisions of section 466; and
(C)
within 30 days (or such longer period as may be prescribed by applicable State law) after effective service of any other such order, process, or interrogatory, withhold available sums in response to the order or process, or answer the interrogatory.
(d)

Priority of Claims.—
If a governmental entity specified in subsection (a) receives notice or is served with process, as provided in this section, concerning amounts owed by an individual to more than 1 person—
(1)
support collection under section 466(b) must be given priority over any other process, as provided in section 466(b)(7);
(2)
allocation of moneys due or payable to an individual among claimants under section 466(b) shall be governed by section 466(b) and the regulations prescribed under such section; and
(3)
such moneys as remain after compliance with paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be available to satisfy any other such processes on a first-come, first-served basis, with any such process being satisfied out of such moneys as remain after the satisfaction of all such processes which have been previously served.
(e)

No Requirement To Vary Pay Cycles.—
A governmental entity that is affected by legal process served for the enforcement of an individual's child support or alimony payment obligations shall not be required to vary its normal pay and disbursement cycle in order to comply with the legal process.
(f)

Relief From Liability.—
(1)
Neither the United States, nor the government of the District of Columbia, nor any disbursing officer shall be liable with respect to any payment made from moneys due or payable from the United States to any individual pursuant to legal process regular on its face, if the payment is made in accordance with this section and the regulations issued to carry out this section.
(2)
No Federal employee whose duties include taking actions necessary to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) with regard to any individual shall be subject under any law to any disciplinary action or civil or criminal liability or penalty for, or on account of, any disclosure of information made by the employee in connection with the carrying out of such actions.
(g)

Regulations.—
Authority to promulgate regulations for the implementation of this section shall, insofar as this section applies to moneys due from (or payable by)—
(1)
the United States (other than the legislative or judicial branches of the Federal Government) or the government of the District of Columbia, be vested in the President (or the designee of the President);
(2)
the legislative branch of the Federal Government, be vested jointly in the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives (or their designees),38 and
^{38}
So in law. The comma before “and” at the end of subsection (g)(2) probably should be a semicolon.
(3)
the judicial branch of the Federal Government, be vested in the Chief Justice of the United States (or the designee of the Chief Justice).
(h)

Moneys Subject to Process.—
(1)

In general.—
Subject to paragraph (2), moneys payable to an individual which are considered to be based upon remuneration for employment, for purposes of this section—
(A)
consist of—
(i)
compensation payable for personal services of the individual, whether the compensation is denominated as wages, salary, commission, bonus, pay, allowances, or otherwise (including severance pay, sick pay, and incentive pay);
(ii)
periodic benefits (including a periodic benefit as defined in section 228(h)(3)) or other payments—
(I)
under the insurance system established by title II;
(II)
under any other system or fund established by the United States which provides for the payment of pensions, retirement or retired pay, annuities, dependents' or survivors' benefits, or similar amounts payable on account of personal services performed by the individual or any other individual;
(III)
as compensation for death under any Federal program;
(IV)
under any Federal program established to provide “black lung” benefits; or
(V)
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as compensation for a service-connected disability paid by the Secretary to a former member of the Armed Forces who is in receipt of retired or retainer pay if the former member has waived a portion of the retired or retainer pay in order to receive such compensation;
(iii)
worker's compensation benefits paid or payable under Federal or State law;
(iv)
benefits paid or payable under the Railroad Retirement System,39 and
^{39}
So in law. The comma before “and” at the end of subsection (h)(1)(A)(iv) probably should be a semicolon.
(v)
special benefits for certain World War II veterans payable under title VIII; but
(B)
do not include any payment—
(i)
by way of reimbursement or otherwise, to defray expenses incurred by the individual in carrying out duties associated with the employment of the individual;
(ii)
as allowances for members of the uniformed services payable pursuant to chapter 7 of title 37, United States Code, as prescribed by the Secretaries concerned (defined by section 101(5) of such title) as necessary for the efficient performance of duty; or
(iii)
of periodic benefits under title 38, United States Code, except as provided in subparagraph (A)(ii)(V).
(2)

Certain amounts excluded.—
In determining the amount of any moneys due from, or payable by, the United States to any individual, there shall be excluded amounts which—
(A)
are owed by the individual to the United States;
(B)
are required by law to be, and are, deducted from the remuneration or other payment involved, including Federal employment taxes, and fines and forfeitures ordered by court-martial;
(C)
are properly withheld for Federal, State, or local income tax purposes, if the withholding of the amounts is authorized or required by law and if amounts withheld are not greater than would be the case if the individual claimed all dependents to which he was entitled (the withholding of additional amounts pursuant to section 3402(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 may be permitted only when the individual presents evidence of a tax obligation which supports the additional withholding);
(D)
are deducted as health insurance premiums;
(E)
are deducted as normal retirement contributions (not including amounts deducted for supplementary coverage); or
(F)
are deducted as normal life insurance premiums from salary or other remuneration for employment (not including amounts deducted for supplementary coverage).
(i)

Definitions.—
For purposes of this section—
(1)

United states.—
The term “United States” includes any department, agency, or instrumentality of the legislative, judicial, or executive branch of the Federal Government, the United States Postal Service, the Postal Rate Commission 40, any Federal corporation created by an Act of Congress that is wholly owned by the Federal Government, and the governments of the territories and possessions of the United States.
^{40}
So in law. The phrase “the Postal Rate Commission” in subsection (i)(1) probably should read “Potal Regulatory Commisssion”. See section 604(f) of Public Law 109–435 (120 Stat. 3242).
(2)

Child support.—
The term “child support”, when used in reference to the legal obligations of an individual to provide such support, means amounts required to be paid under a judgment, decree, or order, whether temporary, final, or subject to modification, issued by a court or an administrative agency of competent jurisdiction, for the support and maintenance of a child, including a child who has attained the age of majority under the law of the issuing State, or a child and the parent with whom the child is living, which provides for monetary support, health care, arrearages or reimbursement, and which may include other related costs and fees, interest and penalties, income withholding, attorney's fees, and other relief.
(3)

Alimony.—
(A)

In general.—
The term “alimony”, when used in reference to the legal obligations of an individual to provide the same, means periodic payments of funds for the support and maintenance of the spouse (or former spouse) of the individual, and (subject to and in accordance with State law) includes separate maintenance, alimony pendente lite, maintenance, and spousal support, and includes attorney's fees, interest, and court costs when and to the extent that the same are expressly made recoverable as such pursuant to a decree, order, or judgment issued in accordance with applicable State law by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(B)

Exceptions.—
Such term does not include—
(i)
any child support; or
(ii)
any payment or transfer of property or its value by an individual to the spouse or a former spouse of the individual in compliance with any community property settlement, equitable distribution of property, or other division of property between spouses or former spouses.
(4)

Private person.—
The term “private person” means a person who does not have sovereign or other special immunity or privilege which causes the person not to be subject to legal process.
(5)

Legal process.—
The term “legal process” means any writ, order, summons, or other similar process in the nature of garnishment—
(A)
which is issued by—
(i)
a court or an administrative agency of competent jurisdiction in any State, territory, or possession of the United States;
(ii)
a court or an administrative agency of competent jurisdiction in any foreign country with which the United States has entered into an agreement which requires the United States to honor the process; or
(iii)
an authorized official pursuant to an order of such a court or an administrative agency of competent jurisdiction or pursuant to State or local law; and
(B)
which is directed to, and the purpose of which is to compel, a governmental entity which holds moneys which are otherwise payable to an individual to make a payment from the moneys to another party in order to satisfy a legal obligation of the individual to provide child support or make alimony payments.
SEC. 459A.
[42 U.S.C. 659a]

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT.
(a)

Authority for Declarations.—
(1)

Declaration.—
The Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, is authorized to declare any foreign country (or a political subdivision thereof) to be a foreign reciprocating country if the foreign country has established, or undertakes to establish, procedures for the establishment and enforcement of duties of support owed to obligees who are residents of the United States, and such procedures are substantially in conformity with the standards prescribed under subsection (b).
(2)

Revocation.—
A declaration with respect to a foreign country made pursuant to paragraph (1) may be revoked if the Secretaries of State and Health and Human Services determine that—
(A)
the procedures established by the foreign country regarding the establishment and enforcement of duties of support have been so changed, or the foreign country's implementation of such procedures is so unsatisfactory, that such procedures do not meet the criteria for such a declaration; or
(B)
continued operation of the declaration is not consistent with the purposes of this part.
(3)

Form of declaration.—
A declaration under paragraph (1) may be made in the form of an international agreement, in connection with an international agreement or corresponding foreign declaration, or on a unilateral basis.
(b)

Standards for Foreign Support Enforcement Procedures.—
(1)

Mandatory elements.—
Support enforcement procedures of a foreign country which may be the subject of a declaration pursuant to subsection (a)(1) shall include the following elements:
(A)
The foreign country (or political subdivision thereof) has in effect procedures, available to residents of the United States—
(i)
for establishment of paternity, and for establishment of orders of support for children and custodial parents; and
(ii)
for enforcement of orders to provide support to children and custodial parents, including procedures for collection and appropriate distribution of support payments under such orders.
(B)
The procedures described in subparagraph (A), including legal and administrative assistance, are provided to residents of the United States at no cost.
(C)
An agency of the foreign country is designated as a Central Authority responsible for—
(i)
facilitating support enforcement in cases involving residents of the foreign country and residents of the United States; and
(ii)
ensuring compliance with the standards established pursuant to this subsection.
(2)

Additional elements.—
The Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of State, in consultation with the States, may establish such additional standards as may be considered necessary to further the purposes of this section.
(c)

Designation of United States Central Authority.—
It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to facilitate support enforcement in cases involving residents of the United States and residents of foreign reciprocating countries or foreign treaty countries, by activities including—
(1)
development of uniform forms and procedures for use in such cases;
(2)
notification of foreign reciprocating countries and foreign treaty countries of the State of residence of individuals sought for support enforcement purposes, on the basis of information provided by the Federal Parent Locator Service; and
(3)
such other oversight, assistance, and coordination activities as the Secretary may find necessary and appropriate.
(d)

Effect on Other Laws.—
States may enter into reciprocal arrangements for the establishment and enforcement of support obligations with foreign countries that are not foreign reciprocating countries or foreign treaty countries, to the extent consistent with Federal law.
(e)

References.—
In this part:
(1)

Foreign reciprocating country.—
The term “foreign reciprocating country” means a foreign country (or political subdivision thereof) with respect to which the Secretary has made a declaration pursuant to subsection (a).
(2)

Foreign treaty country.—
The term “foreign treaty country” means a foreign country for which the 2007 Family Maintenance Convention is in force.
(3)

2007 family maintenance convention.—
The term “2007 Family Maintenance Convention” means the Hague Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance.

CIVIL ACTIONS TO ENFORCE SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS
Sec. 460.
[42 U.S.C. 660]
The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction, without regard to any amount in controversy, to hear and determine any civil action certified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 452(a)(8) of this Act. A civil action under this section may be brought in any judicial district in which the claim arose, the plaintiff resides, or the defendant resides.
[Sections 461 and 462 repealed by section 362(b)(1) of Public Law 104–193, Enacted August 22, 1996.]

USE OF FEDERAL PARENT LOCATOR SERVICE IN CONNECTION WITH THE ENFORCEMENT OR DETERMINATION OF CHILD CUSTODY AND IN CASES OF PARENTAL KIDNAPING OF A CHILD
Sec. 463.
[42 U.S.C. 663]
(a)
The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with every State under which the services of the Federal Parent Locator Service established under section 453 shall be made available to each State for the purpose of determining the whereabouts of any parent or child when such information is to be used to locate such parent or child for the purpose of—
(1)
enforcing any State or Federal law with respect to the unlawful taking or restraint of a child; or
(2)
making or enforcing a child custody or visitation determination.
(b)
An agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that the State agency described in section 454 will, under procedures prescribed by the Secretary in regulations, receive and transmit to the Secretary requests from authorized persons for information as to (or useful in determining) the whereabouts of any parent or child when such information is to be used to locate such parent or child for the purpose of—
(1)
enforcing any State or Federal law with respect to the unlawful taking or restraint of a child; or
(2)
making or enforcing a child custody or visitation determination.
(c)
Information authorized to be provided by the Secretary under subsection (a), (b), (e), or (f) shall be subject to the same conditions with respect to disclosure as information authorized to be provided under section 453, and a request for information by the Secretary under this section shall be considered to be a request for information under section 453 which is authorized to be provided under such section. Only information as to the most recent address and place of employment of any parent or child shall be provided under this section.
(d)
For purposes of this section—
(1)
the term “custody determination” means a judgment, decree, or other order of a court providing for the custody or visitation of a child, and includes permanent and temporary orders, and initial orders and modification;
(2)
the term “authorized person” means—
(A)
any agent or attorney of any State having an agreement under this section, who has the duty or authority under the law of such State to enforce a child custody or visitation determination;
(B)
any court having jurisdiction to make or enforce such a child custody or visitation determination, or any agent of such court; and
(C)
any agent or attorney of the United States, or of a State having an agreement under this section, who has the duty or authority to investigate, enforce, or bring a prosecution with respect to the unlawful taking or restraint of a child.
(e)
The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the Central Authority designated by the President in accordance with section 7 of the International Child Abduction Remedies Act, under which the services of the Federal Parent Locator Service established under section 453 shall be made available to such Central Authority upon its request for the purpose of locating any parent or child on behalf of an applicant to such Central Authority within the meaning of section 3(1) of that Act. The Federal Parent Locator Service shall charge no fees for services requested pursuant to this subsection.
(f)
The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the Attorney General of the United States, under which the services of the Federal Parent Locator Service established under section 453 shall be made available to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention upon its request to locate any parent or child on behalf of such Office for the purpose of—
(1)
enforcing any State or Federal law with respect to the unlawful taking or restraint of a child, or
(2)
making or enforcing a child custody or visitation determination.
The Federal Parent Locator Service shall charge no fees for services requested pursuant to this subsection.

COLLECTION OF PAST-DUE SUPPORT FROM FEDERAL TAX REFUNDS
Sec. 464.
[42 U.S.C. 664]
(a)
(1)
Upon receiving notice from a State agency administering a plan approved under this part that a named individual owes past-due support which has been assigned to such State pursuant to section 408(a)(3) or section 471(a)(17), the Secretary of the Treasury shall determine whether any amounts, as refunds of Federal taxes paid, are payable to such individual (regardless of whether such individual filed a tax return as a married or unmarried individual). If the Secretary of the Treasury finds that any such amount is payable, he shall withhold from such refunds an amount equal to the past-due support, shall concurrently send notice to such individual that the withholding has been made (including in or with such notice a notification to any other person who may have filed a joint return with such individual of the steps which such other person may take in order to secure his or her proper share of the refund), and shall pay such amount to the State agency (together with notice of the individual's home address) for distribution in accordance with section 457. This subsection may be executed by the disbursing official of the Department of the Treasury.
(2)
(A)
Upon receiving notice from a State agency administering a plan approved under this part that a named individual owes past-due support which such State has agreed to collect under paragraph (4)(A)(ii) or (32) of section 454, and that the State agency has sent notice to such individual in accordance with paragraph (3)(A), the Secretary of the Treasury shall determine whether any amounts, as refunds of Federal taxes paid, are payable to such individual (regardless of whether such individual filed a tax return as a married or unmarried individual). If the Secretary of the Treasury finds that any such amount is payable, he shall withhold from such refunds an amount equal to such past-due support, and shall concurrently send notice to such individual that the withholding has been made, including in or with such notice a notification to any other person who may have filed a joint return with such individual of the steps which such other person may take in order to secure his or her proper share of the refund. The Secretary of the Treasury shall pay the amount withheld to the State agency, and the State shall pay to the Secretary of the Treasury any fee imposed by the Secretary of the Treasury to cover the costs of the withholding and any required notification. The State agency shall, subject to paragraph (3)(B), distribute such amount to or on behalf of the child to whom the support was owed in accordance with section 457. This subsection may be executed by the Secretary of the Department of the Treasury or his designee.
(B)
This paragraph shall apply only with respect to refunds payable under section 6402 of the Internal Revenue Code of 195441 after December 31, 1985.
^{41}
So in law. The reference to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 probably should be to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. See section 2 of Public Law 99–514.
(3)
(A)
Prior to notifying the Secretary of the Treasury under paragraph (1) or (2) that an individual owes past-due support, the State shall send notice to such individual that a withholding will be made from any refund otherwise payable to such individual. The notice shall also (i) instruct the individual owing the past-due support of the steps which may be taken to contest the State's determination that past-due support is owed or the amount of the past-due support, and (ii) provide information, as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services by regulation in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, with respect to procedures to be followed, in the case of a joint return, to protect the share of the refund which may be payable to another person.
(B)
If the Secretary of the Treasury determines that an amount should be withheld under paragraph (1) or (2), and that the refund from which it should be withheld is based upon a joint return, the Secretary of the Treasury shall notify the State that the withholding is being made from a refund based upon a joint return, and shall furnish to the State the names and addresses of each taxpayer filing such joint return. In the case of a withholding under paragraph (2), the State may delay distribution of the amount withheld until the State has been notified by the Secretary of the Treasury that the other person filing the joint return has received his or her proper share of the refund, but such delay may not exceed six months.
(C)
If the other person filing the joint return with the named individual owing the past-due support takes appropriate action to secure his or her proper share of a refund from which a withholding was made under paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay such share to such other person. The Secretary of the Treasury shall deduct the amount of such payment from amounts subsequently payable to the State agency to which the amount originally withheld from such refund was paid.
(D)
In any case in which an amount was withheld under paragraph (1) or (2) and paid to a State, and the State subsequently determines that the amount certified as past-due support was in excess of the amount actually owed at the time the amount withheld is to be distributed to or on behalf of the child, the State shall pay the excess amount withheld to the named individual thought to have owed the past-due support (or, in the case of amounts withheld on the basis of a joint return, jointly to the parties filing such return).
(b)
(1)
The Secretary of the Treasury shall issue regulations, approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, prescribing the time or times at which States must submit notices of past-due support, the manner in which such notices must be submitted, and the necessary information that must be contained in or accompany the notices. The regulations shall be consistent with the provisions of subsection (a)(3), shall specify the minimum amount of past-due support to which the offset procedure established by subsection (a) may be applied, and the fee that a State must pay to reimburse the Secretary of the Treasury for the full cost of applying the offset procedure, and shall provide that the Secretary of the Treasury will advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services, not less frequently than annually, of the States which have furnished notices of past-due support under subsection (a), the number of cases in each State with respect to which such notices have been furnished, the amount of support sought to be collected under this subsection by each State, and the amount of such collections actually made in the case of each State. Any fee paid to the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to this subsection may be used to reimburse appropriations which bore all or part of the cost of applying such procedure.
(2)
In the case of withholdings made under subsection (a)(2), the regulations promulgated pursuant to this subsection shall include the following requirements:
(A)
The withholding shall apply only in the case where the State determines that the amount of the past-due support which will be owed at the time the withholding is to be made, based upon the pattern of payment of support and other enforcement actions being pursued to collect the past-due support, is equal to or greater than $500. The State may limit the $500 threshold amount to amounts of past-due support accrued since the time that the State first began to enforce the child support order involved under the State plan, and may limit the application of the withholding to past-due support accrued since such time.
(B)
The fee which the Secretary of the Treasury may impose to cover the costs of the withholding and notification may not exceed $25 per case submitted.
(c)
In this part the term “past-due support” means the amount of a delinquency, determined under a court order, or an order of an administrative process established under State law, for support and maintenance of a child (whether or not a minor), or of a child (whether or not a minor) and the parent with whom the child is living.
(d)

Applicability to Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations Receiving a Grant Under This Part.—
This section, except for the requirement to distribute amounts in accordance with section 457, shall apply to an Indian tribe or tribal organization receiving a grant under section 455(f) in the same manner in which this section applies to a State with a plan approved under this part.

ALLOTMENTS FROM PAY FOR CHILD AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT OWED BY MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES ON ACTIVE DUTY
Sec. 465.
[42 U.S.C. 665]
(a)
(1)
In any case in which child support payments or child and spousal support payments are owed by a member of one of the uniformed services (as defined in section 101(3) of title 37, United States Code) on active duty, such member shall be required to make allotments from his pay and allowances (under chapter 13 of title 37, United States Code) as payment of such support, when he has failed to make periodic payments under a support order that meets the criteria specified in section 303(b)(1)(A) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1673(b)(1)(A)) and the resulting delinquency in such payments is in a total amount equal to the support payable for two months or longer. Failure to make such payments shall be established by notice from an authorized person (as defined in subsection (b)) to the designated official in the appropriate uniformed service. Such notice (which shall in turn be given to the affected member) shall also specify the person to whom the allotment is to be payable. The amount of the allotment shall be the amount necessary to comply with the order (which, if the order so provides, may include arrearages as well as amounts for current support), except that the amount of the allotment, together with any other amounts withheld for support from the wages of the member, as a percentage of his pay from the uniformed service, shall not exceed the limits prescribed in sections 303(b) and (c) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1673(b) and (c)). An allotment under this subsection shall be adjusted or discontinued upon notice from the authorized person.
(2)
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this subsection, no action shall be taken to require an allotment from the pay and allowances of any member of one of the uniformed services under such provisions (A) until such member has had a consultation with a judge advocate of the service involved (as defined in section 801(13) of title 10, United States Code), or with a judge advocate (as defined in section 801(11) of such title 42) in the case of the Coast Guard, or with a legal officer designated by the Secretary concerned (as defined in section 101(5) of title 37, United States Code) in any other case, in person, to discuss the legal and other factors involved with respect to the member's support obligation and his failure to make payments thereon, or (B) until 30 days have elapsed after the notice described in the second sentence of paragraph (1) is given to the affected member in any case where it has not been possible, despite continuing good faith efforts, to arrange such a consultation.
^{42}
So in law. Section 801(11) of title 10, United States Code, referred to in subsection (a)(2), was repealed by section 218(a)(1) of Public Law 109–241, 120 Stat. 526. However, the term “judge advocate” is defined in section 801(13) of title 10, United States Code.
(b)
For purposes of this section the term “authorized person” with respect to any member of the uniformed services means—
(1)
any agent or attorney of a State having in effect a plan approved under this part who has the duty or authority under such plan to seek to recover any amounts owed by such member as child or child and spousal support (including, when authorized under the State plan, any official of a political subdivision); and
(2)
the court which has authority to issue an order against such member for the support and maintenance of a child, or any agent of such court.
(c)
The Secretary of Defense, in the case of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and the Secretary concerned (as defined in section 101(5) of title 37, United States Code) in the case of each of the other uniformed services, shall each issue regulations applicable to allotments to be made under this section, designating the officials to whom notice of failure to make support payments, or notice to discontinue or adjust an allotment, should be given, prescribing the form and content of the notice and specifying any other rules necessary for such Secretary to implement this section.

REQUIREMENT OF STATUTORILY PRESCRIBED PROCEDURES TO IMPROVE EFFECTIVENESS OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 466.
[42 U.S.C. 666]
(a)
In order to satisfy section 454(20)(A), each State must have in effect laws requiring the use of the following procedures, consistent with this section and with regulations of the Secretary, to increase the effectiveness of the program which the State administers under this part:
(1)
(A)
Procedures described in subsection (b) for the withholding from income of amounts payable as support in cases subject to enforcement under the State plan.
(B)
Procedures under which the income of a person with a support obligation imposed by a support order issued (or modified) in the State before January 1, 1994, if not otherwise subject to withholding under subsection (b), shall become subject to withholding as provided in subsection (b) if arrearages occur, without the need for a judicial or administrative hearing.
(2)
Expedited administrative and judicial procedures (including the procedures specified in subsection (c)) for establishing paternity and for establishing, modifying, and enforcing support obligations. The Secretary may waive the provisions of this paragraph with respect to one or more political subdivisions within the State on the basis of the effectiveness and timeliness of support order issuance and enforcement or paternity establishment within the political subdivision (in accordance with the general rule for exemptions under subsection (d)).
(3)
Procedures under which the State child support enforcement agency shall request, and the State shall provide, that for the purpose of enforcing a support order under any State plan approved under this part—
(A)
any refund of State income tax which would otherwise be payable to a noncustodial parent will be reduced, after notice has been sent to that noncustodial parent of the proposed reduction and the procedures to be followed to contest it (and after full compliance with all procedural due process requirements of the State), by the amount of any overdue support owed by such noncustodial parent;
(B)
the amount by which such refund is reduced shall be distributed in accordance with section 457 in the case of overdue support assigned to a State pursuant to section 408(a)(3) or 471(a)(17), or, in any other case, shall be distributed, after deduction of any fees imposed by the State to cover the costs of collection, to the child or parent to whom such support is owed; and
(C)
notice of the noncustodial parent's social security account number (or numbers, if he has more than one such number) and home address shall be furnished to the State agency requesting the refund offset, and to the State agency enforcing the order.
(4)

Liens.—
Procedures under which—
(A)
liens arise by operation of law against real and personal property for amounts of overdue support owed by a noncustodial parent who resides or owns property in the State; and
(B)
the State accords full faith and credit to liens described in subparagraph (A) arising in another State, when the State agency, party, or other entity seeking to enforce such a lien complies with the procedural rules relating to recording or serving liens that arise within the State, except that such rules may not require judicial notice or hearing prior to the enforcement of such a lien.
(5)

Procedures concerning paternity establishment.—
(A)

Establishment process available from birth until age 18.—
(i)
Procedures which permit the establishment of the paternity of a child at any time before the child attains 18 years of age.
(ii)
As of August 16, 1984, clause (i) shall also apply to a child for whom paternity has not been established or for whom a paternity action was brought but dismissed because a statute of limitations of less than 18 years was then in effect in the State.
(B)

Procedures concerning genetic testing.—
(i)

Genetic testing required in certain contested cases.—
Procedures under which the State is required, in a contested paternity case (unless otherwise barred by State law) to require the child and all other parties (other than individuals found under section 454(29) to have good cause and other exceptions for refusing to cooperate) to submit to genetic tests upon the request of any such party, if the request is supported by a sworn statement by the party—
(I)
alleging paternity, and setting forth facts establishing a reasonable possibility of the requisite sexual contact between the parties; or
(II)
denying paternity, and setting forth facts establishing a reasonable possibility of the nonexistence of sexual contact between the parties.
(ii)

Other requirements.—
Procedures which require the State agency, in any case in which the agency orders genetic testing—
(I)
to pay costs of such tests, subject to recoupment (if the State so elects) from the alleged father if paternity is established; and
(II)
to obtain additional testing in any case if an original test result is contested, upon request and advance payment by the contestant.
(C)

Voluntary paternity acknowledgment.—
(i)

Simple civil process.—
Procedures for a simple civil process for voluntarily acknowledging paternity under which the State must provide that, before a mother and a putative father can sign an acknowledgment of paternity, the mother and the putative father must be given notice, orally, or through the use of video or audio equipment, and in writing, of the alternatives to, the legal consequences of, and the rights (including, if 1 parent is a minor, any rights afforded due to minority status) and responsibilities that arise from, signing the acknowledgment.
(ii)

Hospital-based program.—
Such procedures must include a hospital-based program for the voluntary acknowledgment of paternity focusing on the period immediately before or after the birth of a child.
(iii)

Paternity establishment services.—
(I)

State-offered services.—
Such procedures must require the State agency responsible for maintaining birth records to offer voluntary paternity establishment services.
(II)

Regulations.—
- (aa)

Services offered by hospitals and birth record agencies.—
The Secretary shall prescribe regulations governing voluntary paternity establishment services offered by hospitals and birth record agencies.
- (bb)

Services offered by other entities.—
The Secretary shall prescribe regulations specifying the types of other entities that may offer voluntary paternity establishment services, and governing the provision of such services, which shall include a requirement that such an entity must use the same notice provisions used by, use the same materials used by, provide the personnel providing such services with the same training provided by, and evaluate the provision of such services in the same manner as the provision of such services is evaluated by, voluntary paternity establishment programs of hospitals and birth record agencies.
(iv)

Use of paternity acknowledgment affidavit.—
Such procedures must require the State to develop and use an affidavit for the voluntary acknowledgment of paternity which includes the minimum requirements of the affidavit specified by the Secretary under section 452(a)(7) for the voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, and to give full faith and credit to such an affidavit signed in any other State according to its procedures.
(D)

Status of signed paternity acknowledgment.—
(i)

Inclusion in birth records.—
Procedures under which the name of the father shall be included on the record of birth of the child of unmarried parents only if—
(I)
the father and mother have signed a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity; or
(II)
a court or an administrative agency of competent jurisdiction has issued an adjudication of paternity.
Nothing in this clause shall preclude a State agency from obtaining an admission of paternity from the father for submission in a judicial or administrative proceeding, or prohibit the issuance of an order in a judicial or administrative proceeding which bases a legal finding of paternity on an admission of paternity by the father and any other additional showing required by State law.
(ii)

Legal finding of paternity.—
Procedures under which a signed voluntary acknowledgment of paternity is considered a legal finding of paternity, subject to the right of any signatory to rescind the acknowledgment within the earlier of—
(I)
60 days; or
(II)
the date of an administrative or judicial proceeding relating to the child (including a proceeding to establish a support order) in which the signatory is a party.
(iii)

Contest.—
Procedures under which, after the 60-day period referred to in clause (ii), a signed voluntary acknowledgment of paternity may be challenged in court only on the basis of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact, with the burden of proof upon the challenger, and under which the legal responsibilities (including child support obligations) of any signatory arising from the acknowledgment may not be suspended during the challenge, except for good cause shown.
(E)

Bar on acknowledgment ratification proceedings.—
Procedures under which judicial or administrative proceedings are not required or permitted to ratify an unchallenged acknowledgment of paternity.
(F)

Admissibility of genetic testing results.—
Procedures—
(i)
requiring the admission into evidence, for purposes of establishing paternity, of the results of any genetic test that is—
(I)
of a type generally acknowledged as reliable by accreditation bodies designated by the Secretary; and
(II)
performed by a laboratory approved by such an accreditation body;
(ii)
requiring an objection to genetic testing results to be made in writing not later than a specified number of days before any hearing at which the results may be introduced into evidence (or, at State option, not later than a specified number of days after receipt of the results); and
(iii)
making the test results admissible as evidence of paternity without the need for foundation testimony or other proof of authenticity or accuracy, unless objection is made.
(G)

Presumption of paternity in certain cases.—
Procedures which create a rebuttable or, at the option of the State, conclusive presumption of paternity upon genetic testing results indicating a threshold probability that the alleged father is the father of the child.
(H)

Default orders.—
Procedures requiring a default order to be entered in a paternity case upon a showing of service of process on the defendant and any additional showing required by State law.
(I)

No right to jury trial.—
Procedures providing that the parties to an action to establish paternity are not entitled to a trial by jury.
(J)

Temporary support order based on probable paternity in contested cases.—
Procedures which require that a temporary order be issued, upon motion by a party, requiring the provision of child support pending an administrative or judicial determination of parentage, if there is clear and convincing evidence of paternity (on the basis of genetic tests or other evidence).
(K)

Proof of certain support and paternity establishment costs.—
Procedures under which bills for pregnancy, childbirth, and genetic testing are admissible as evidence without requiring third-party foundation testimony, and shall constitute prima facie evidence of amounts incurred for such services or for testing on behalf of the child.
(L)

Standing of putative fathers.—
Procedures ensuring that the putative father has a reasonable opportunity to initiate a paternity action.
(M)

Filing of acknowledgments and adjudications in state registry of birth records.—
Procedures under which voluntary acknowledgments and adjudications of paternity by judicial or administrative processes are filed with the State registry of birth records for comparison with information in the State case registry.
(6)
Procedures which require that a noncustodial parent give security, post a bond, or give some other guarantee to secure payment of overdue support, after notice has been sent to such noncustodial parent of the proposed action and of the procedures to be followed to contest it (and after full compliance with all procedural due process requirements of the State).
(7)

Reporting arrearages to credit bureaus.—
(A)

In general.—
Procedures (subject to safeguards pursuant to subparagraph (B)) requiring the State to report periodically to consumer reporting agencies (as defined in section 603(f) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a(f))) the name of any noncustodial parent who is delinquent in the payment of support, and the amount of overdue support owed by such parent.
(B)

Safeguards.—
Procedures ensuring that, in carrying out subparagraph (A), information with respect to a noncustodial parent is reported—
(i)
only after such parent has been afforded all due process required under State law, including notice and a reasonable opportunity to contest the accuracy of such information; and
(ii)
only to an entity that has furnished evidence satisfactory to the State that the entity is a consumer reporting agency (as so defined).
(8)
(A)
Procedures under which all child support orders not described in subparagraph (B) will include provision for withholding from income, in order to assure that withholding as a means of collecting child support is available if arrearages occur without the necessity of filing application for services under this part.
(B)
Procedures under which all child support orders which are initially issued in the State on or after January 1, 1994, and are not being enforced under this part will include the following requirements:
(i)
The income of a noncustodial parent shall be subject to withholding, regardless of whether support payments by such parent are in arrears, on the effective date of the order; except that such income shall not be subject to withholding under this clause in any case where (I) one of the parties demonstrates, and the court (or administrative process) finds, that there is good cause not to require immediate income withholding, or (II) a written agreement is reached between both parties which provides for an alternative arrangement.
(ii)
The requirements of subsection (b)(1) (which shall apply in the case of each noncustodial parent against whom a support order is or has been issued or modified in the State, without regard to whether the order is being enforced under the State plan).
(iii)
The requirements of paragraphs (2), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), and (10) of subsection (b), where applicable.
(iv)
Withholding from income of amounts payable as support must be carried out in full compliance with all procedural due process requirements of the State.
(9)
Procedures which require that any payment or installment of support under any child support order, whether ordered through the State judicial system or through the expedited processes required by paragraph (2), is (on and after the date it is due)—
(A)
a judgment by operation of law, with the full force, effect, and attributes of a judgment of the State, including the ability to be enforced,
(B)
entitled as a judgment to full faith and credit in such State and in any other State, and
(C)
not subject to retroactive modification by such State or by any other State;
except that such procedures may permit modification with respect to any period during which there is pending a petition for modification, but only from the date that notice of such petition has been given, either directly or through the appropriate agent, to the obligee or (where the obligee is the petitioner) to the obligor.
(10)

Review and adjustment of support orders upon request.—
(A)

3-year cycle.—
(i)

In general.—
Procedures under which every 3 years (or such shorter cycle as the State may determine), upon the request of either parent or if there is an assignment under part A, the State shall with respect to a support order being enforced under this part, taking into account the best interests of the child involved—
(I)
review and, if appropriate, adjust the order in accordance with the guidelines established pursuant to section 467(a) if the amount of the child support award under the order differs from the amount that would be awarded in accordance with the guidelines;
(II)
apply a cost-of-living adjustment to the order in accordance with a formula developed by the State; or
(III)
use automated methods (including automated comparisons with wage or State income tax data) to identify orders eligible for review, conduct the review, identify orders eligible for adjustment, and apply the appropriate adjustment to the orders eligible for adjustment under any threshold that may be established by the State.
(ii)

Opportunity to request review of adjustment.—
If the State elects to conduct the review under subclause (II) or (III) of clause (i), procedures which permit either party to contest the adjustment, within 30 days after the date of the notice of the adjustment, by making a request for review and, if appropriate, adjustment of the order in accordance with the child support guidelines established pursuant to section 467(a).
(iii)

No proof of change in circumstances necessary in 3-year cycle review.—
Procedures which provide that any adjustment under clause (i) shall be made without a requirement for proof or showing of a change in circumstances.
(B)

Proof of substantial change in circumstances necessary in request for review outside 3-year cycle.—
Procedures under which, in the case of a request for a review, and if appropriate, an adjustment outside the 3-year cycle (or such shorter cycle as the State may determine) under clause (i), the State shall review and, if the requesting party demonstrates a substantial change in circumstances, adjust the order in accordance with the guidelines established pursuant to section 467(a).
(C)

Notice of right to review.—
Procedures which require the State to provide notice not less than once every 3 years to the parents subject to the order informing the parents of their right to request the State to review and, if appropriate, adjust the order pursuant to this paragraph. The notice may be included in the order.
(11)
Procedures under which a State must give full faith and credit to a determination of paternity made by any other State, whether established through voluntary acknowledgment or through administrative or judicial processes.
(12)

Locator information from interstate networks.—
Procedures to ensure that all Federal and State agencies conducting activities under this part have access to any system used by the State to locate an individual for purposes relating to motor vehicles or law enforcement.
(13)

Recording of social security numbers in certain family matters.—
Procedures requiring that the social security number of—
(A)
any applicant for a professional license, driver's license, occupational license, recreational license, or marriage license be recorded on the application;
(B)
any individual who is subject to a divorce decree, support order, or paternity determination or acknowledgment be placed in the records relating to the matter; and
(C)
any individual who has died be placed in the records relating to the death and be recorded on the death certificate.
For purposes of subparagraph (A), if a State allows the use of a number other than the social security number to be used on the face of the document while the social security number is kept on file at the agency, the State shall so advise any applicants.
(14)

High-volume, automated administrative enforcement in interstate cases.—
(A)

In general.—
Procedures under which—
(i)
the State shall use high-volume automated administrative enforcement, to the same extent as used for intrastate cases, in response to a request made by another State to enforce support orders, and shall promptly report the results of such enforcement procedure to the requesting State;
(ii)
the State may, by electronic or other means, transmit to another State a request for assistance in enforcing support orders through high-volume, automated administrative enforcement, which request—
(I)
shall include such information as will enable the State to which the request is transmitted to compare the information about the cases to the information in the data bases of the State; and
(II)
shall constitute a certification by the requesting State—
- (aa)
of the amount of support under an order the payment of which is in arrears; and
- (bb)
that the requesting State has complied with all procedural due process requirements applicable to each case;
(iii)
if the State provides assistance to another State pursuant to this paragraph with respect to a case, neither State shall consider the case to be transferred to the caseload of such other State (but the assisting State may establish a corresponding case based on such other State's request for assistance); and
(iv)
the State shall maintain records of—
(I)
the number of such requests for assistance received by the State;
(II)
the number of cases for which the State collected support in response to such a request; and
(III)
the amount of such collected support.
(B)

High-volume automated administrative enforcement.—
In this part, the term “high-volume automated administrative enforcement”, in interstate cases, means, on request of another State, the identification by a State, through automated data matches with financial institutions and other entities where assets may be found, of assets owned by persons who owe child support in other States, and the seizure of such assets by the State, through levy or other appropriate processes.
(15)

Procedures to ensure that persons owing overdue support work or have a plan for payment of such support.—
Procedures under which the State has the authority, in any case in which an individual owes overdue support with respect to a child receiving assistance under a State program funded under part A, to issue an order or to request that a court or an administrative process established pursuant to State law issue an order that requires the individual to—
(A)
pay such support in accordance with a plan approved by the court, or, at the option of the State, a plan approved by the State agency administering the State program under this part; or
(B)
if the individual is subject to such a plan and is not incapacitated, participate in such work activities (as defined in section 407(d)) as the court, or, at the option of the State, the State agency administering the State program under this part, deems appropriate.
(16)

Authority to withhold or suspend licenses.—
Procedures under which the State has (and uses in appropriate cases) authority to withhold or suspend, or to restrict the use of driver's licenses, professional and occupational licenses, and recreational and sporting licenses of individuals owing overdue support or failing, after receiving appropriate notice, to comply with subpoenas or warrants relating to paternity or child support proceedings.
(17)

Financial institution data matches.—
(A)

In general.—
Procedures under which the State agency shall enter into agreements with financial institutions doing business in the State—
(i)
to develop and operate, in coordination with such financial institutions, and the Federal Parent Locator Service in the case of financial institutions doing business in two or more States, a data match system, using automated data exchanges to the maximum extent feasible, in which each such financial institution is required to provide for each calendar quarter the name, record address, social security number or other taxpayer identification number, and other identifying information for each noncustodial parent who maintains an account at such institution and who owes past-due support, as identified by the State by name and social security number or other taxpayer identification number; and
(ii)
in response to a notice of lien or levy, encumber or surrender, as the case may be, assets held by such institution on behalf of any noncustodial parent who is subject to a child support lien pursuant to paragraph (4).
(B)

Reasonable fees.—
The State agency may pay a reasonable fee to a financial institution for conducting the data match provided for in subparagraph (A)(i), not to exceed the actual costs incurred by such financial institution.
(C)

Liability.—
A financial institution shall not be liable under any Federal or State law to any person—
(i)
for any disclosure of information to the State agency under subparagraph (A)(i);
(ii)
for encumbering or surrendering any assets held by such financial institution in response to a notice of lien or levy issued by the State agency as provided for in subparagraph (A)(ii); or
(iii)
for any other action taken in good faith to comply with the requirements of subparagraph (A).
(D)

Definitions.—
For purposes of this paragraph—
(i)

Financial institution.—
The term “financial institution” has the meaning given to such term by section 469A(d)(1).
(ii)

Account.—
The term “account” means a demand deposit account, checking or negotiable withdrawal order account, savings account, time deposit account, or money-market mutual fund account.
(18)

Enforcement of orders against paternal or maternal grandparents.—
Procedures under which, at the State's option, any child support order enforced under this part with respect to a child of minor parents, if the custodial parent of such child is receiving assistance under the State program under part A, shall be enforceable, jointly and severally, against the parents of the noncustodial parent of such child.
(19)

Health care coverage.—
Procedures under which—
(A)
effective as provided in section 401(c)(3) of the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998, all child support orders enforced pursuant to this part shall include a provision for medical support for the child to be provided by either or both parents, and shall be enforced, where appropriate, through the use of the National Medical Support Notice promulgated pursuant to section 401(b) of the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998 (and referred to in section 609(a)(5)(C) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 in connection with group health plans covered under title I of such Act, in section 401(e) of the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998 in connection with State or local group health plans, and in section 401(f) of such Act in connection with church group health plans);
(B)
unless alternative coverage is allowed for in any order of the court (or other entity issuing the child support order), in any case in which a parent is required under the child support order to provide such health care coverage and the employer of such parent is known to the State agency—
(i)
the State agency uses the National Medical Support Notice to transfer notice of the provision for the health care coverage of the child to the employer;
(ii)
within 20 business days after the date of the National Medical Support Notice, the employer is required to transfer the Notice, excluding the severable employer withholding notice described in section 401(b)(2)(C) of the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998, to the appropriate plan providing any such health care coverage for which the child is eligible;
(iii)
in any case in which the parent is a newly hired employee entered in the State Directory of New Hires pursuant to section 453A(e), the State agency provides, where appropriate, the National Medical Support Notice, together with an income withholding notice issued pursuant to subsection (b), within two days after the date of the entry of such employee in such Directory; and
(iv)
in any case in which the employment of the parent with any employer who has received a National Medical Support Notice is terminated, such employer is required to notify the State agency of such termination; and
(C)
any liability of the obligated parent to such plan for employee contributions which are required under such plan for enrollment of the child is effectively subject to appropriate enforcement, unless the obligated parent contests such enforcement based on a mistake of fact.
Notwithstanding section 454(20)(B), the procedures which are required under paragraphs (3), (4), (6), (7), and (15) need not be used or applied in cases where the State determines (using guidelines which are generally available within the State and which take into account the payment record of the noncustodial parent, the availability of other remedies, and other relevant considerations) that such use or application would not carry out the purposes of this part or would be otherwise inappropriate in the circumstances.
(b)
The procedures referred to in subsection (a)(1)(A) (relating to the withholding from income of amounts payable as support) must provide for the following:
(1)
In the case of each noncustodial parent against whom a support order is or has been issued or modified in the State, and is being enforced under the State plan, so much of such parent's income must be withheld, in accordance with the succeeding provisions of this subsection, as is necessary to comply with the order and provide for the payment of any fee to the employer which may be required under paragraph (6)(A), up to the maximum amount permitted under section 303(b) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1673(b)). If there are arrearages to be collected, amounts withheld to satisfy such arrearages, when added to the amounts withheld to pay current support and provide for the fee, may not exceed the limit permitted under such section 303(b), but the State need not withhold up to the maximum amount permitted under such section in order to satisfy arrearages.
(2)
Such withholding must be provided without the necessity of any application therefor in the case of a child (whether or not eligible for assistance under a State program funded under part A) with respect to whom services are already being provided under the State plan under this part, and must be provided in accordance with this subsection on the basis of an application for services under the State plan in the case of any other child in whose behalf a support order has been issued or modified in the State. In either case such withholding must occur without the need for any amendment to the support order involved or for any further action (other than those actions required under this part) by the court or other entity which issued such order.
(3)
(A)
The income of a noncustodial parent shall be subject to such withholding, regardless of whether support payments by such parent are in arrears, in the case of a support order being enforced under this part that is issued or modified on or after the first day of the 25th month beginning after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, on the effective date of the order; except that such income shall not be subject to such withholding under this subparagraph in any case where (i) one of the parties demonstrates, and the court (or administrative process) finds, that there is good cause not to require immediate income withholding, or (ii) a written agreement is reached between both parties which provides for an alternative arrangement.
(B)
The income of a noncustodial parent shall become subject to such withholding, in the case of income not subject to withholding under subparagraph (A), on the date on which the payments which the noncustodial parent has failed to make under a support order are at least equal to the support payable for one month or, if earlier, and without regard to whether there is an arrearage, the earliest of—
(i)
the date as of which the noncustodial parent requests that such withholding begin,
(ii)
the date as of which the custodial parent requests that such withholding begin, if the State determines, in accordance with such procedures and standards as it may establish, that the request should be approved, or
(iii)
such earlier date as the State may select.
(4)
(A)
Such withholding must be carried out in full compliance with all procedural due process requirements of the State, and the State must send notice to each noncustodial parent to whom paragraph (1) applies—
(i)
that the withholding has commenced; and
(ii)
of the procedures to follow if the noncustodial parent desires to contest such withholding on the grounds that the withholding or the amount withheld is improper due to a mistake of fact.
(B)
The notice under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall include the information provided to the employer under paragraph (6)(A).
(5)
Such withholding must be administered by the State through the State disbursement unit established pursuant to section 454B, in accordance with the requirements of section 454B.
(6)
(A)
(i)
The employer of any noncustodial parent to whom paragraph (1) applies, upon being given notice as described in clause (ii), must be required to withhold from such noncustodial parent's income the amount specified by such notice (which may include a fee, established by the State, to be paid to the employer unless waived by such employer) and pay such amount (after deducting and retaining any portion thereof which represents the fee so established) to the State disbursement unit within 7 business days after the date the amount would (but for this subsection) have been paid or credited to the employee, for distribution in accordance with this part. The employer shall withhold funds as directed in the notice, except that when an employer receives an income withholding order issued by another State, the employer shall apply the income withholding law of the State of the obligor's principal place of employment in determining—
(I)
the employer's fee for processing an income withholding order;
(II)
the maximum amount permitted to be withheld from the obligor's income;
(III)
the time periods within which the employer must implement the income withholding order and forward the child support payment;
(IV)
the priorities for withholding and allocating income withheld for multiple child support obligees; and
(V)
any withholding terms or conditions not specified in the order.
An employer who complies with an income withholding notice that is regular on its face shall not be subject to civil liability to any individual or agency for conduct in compliance with the notice.
(ii)
The notice given to the employer shall be in a standard format prescribed by the Secretary, and contain only such information as may be necessary for the employer to comply with the withholding order.
(iii)
As used in this subparagraph, the term “business day” means a day on which State offices are open for regular business.
(B)
Methods must be established by the State to simplify the withholding process for employers to the greatest extent possible, including permitting any employer to combine all withheld amounts into a single payment to each appropriate agency or entity (with the portion thereof which is attributable to each individual employee being separately designated).
(C)
The employer must be held liable to the State for any amount which such employer fails to withhold from income due an employee following receipt by such employer of proper notice under subparagraph (A), but such employer shall not be required to vary the normal pay and disbursement cycles in order to comply with this paragraph.
(D)
Provision must be made for the imposition of a fine against any employer who—
(i)
discharges from employment, refuses to employ, or takes disciplinary action against any noncustodial parent subject to income withholding required by this subsection because of the existence of such withholding and the obligations or additional obligations which it imposes upon the employer; or
(ii)
fails to withhold support from income or to pay such amounts to the State disbursement unit in accordance with this subsection.
(7)
Support collection under this subsection must be given priority over any other legal process under State law against the same income.
(8)
For purposes of subsection (a) and this subsection, the term “income” means any periodic form of payment due to an individual, regardless of source, including wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, worker's compensation, disability, payments pursuant to a pension or retirement program, and interest.
(9)
The State must extend its withholding system under this subsection so that such system will include withholding from income derived within such State in cases where the applicable support orders were issued in other States, in order to assure that child support owed by noncustodial parents in such State or any other State will be collected without regard to the residence of the child for whom the support is payable or of such child's custodial parent.
(10)
Provision must be made for terminating withholding.
(11)
Procedures under which the agency administering the State plan approved under this part may execute a withholding order without advance notice to the obligor, including issuing the withholding order through electronic means.
(c)

Expedited Procedures.—
The procedures specified in this subsection are the following:
(1)

Administrative action by state agency.—
Procedures which give the State agency the authority to take the following actions relating to establishment of paternity or to establishment, modification, or enforcement of support orders, without the necessity of obtaining an order from any other judicial or administrative tribunal, and to recognize and enforce the authority of State agencies of other States to take the following actions:
(A)

Genetic testing.—
To order genetic testing for the purpose of paternity establishment as provided in section 466(a)(5).
(B)

Financial or other information.—
To subpoena any financial or other information needed to establish, modify, or enforce a support order, and to impose penalties for failure to respond to such a subpoena.
(C)

Response to state agency request.—
To require all entities in the State (including for-profit, nonprofit, and governmental employers) to provide promptly, in response to a request by the State agency of that or any other State administering a program under this part, information on the employment, compensation, and benefits of any individual employed by such entity as an employee or contractor, and to sanction failure to respond to any such request.
(D)

Access to information contained in certain records.—
To obtain access, subject to safeguards on privacy and information security, and subject to the nonliability of entities that afford such access under this subparagraph, to information contained in the following records (including automated access, in the case of records maintained in automated data bases):
(i)
Records of other State and local government agencies, including—
(I)
vital statistics (including records of marriage, birth, and divorce);
(II)
State and local tax and revenue records (including information on residence address, employer, income and assets);
(III)
records concerning real and titled personal property;
(IV)
records of occupational and professional licenses, and records concerning the ownership and control of corporations, partnerships, and other business entities;
(V)
employment security records;
(VI)
records of agencies administering public assistance programs;
(VII)
records of the motor vehicle department; and
(VIII)
corrections records.
(ii)
Certain records held by private entities with respect to individuals who owe or are owed support (or against or with respect to whom a support obligation is sought), consisting of—
(I)
the names and addresses of such individuals and the names and addresses of the employers of such individuals, as appearing in customer records of public utilities and cable television companies, pursuant to an administrative subpoena authorized by subparagraph (B); and
(II)
information (including information on assets and liabilities) on such individuals held by financial institutions.
(E)

Change in payee.—
In cases in which support is subject to an assignment in order to comply with a requirement imposed pursuant to part A, part E, or section 1912, or to a requirement to pay through the State disbursement unit established pursuant to section 454B, upon providing notice to obligor and obligee, to direct the obligor or other payor to change the payee to the appropriate government entity.
(F)

Income withholding.—
To order income withholding in accordance with subsections (a)(1)(A) and (b).
(G)

Securing assets.—
In cases in which there is a support arrearage, to secure assets to satisfy any current support obligation and the arrearage by—
(i)
intercepting or seizing periodic or lump-sum payments from—
(I)
a State or local agency, including unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, and other benefits; and
(II)
judgments, settlements, and lotteries;
(ii)
attaching and seizing assets of the obligor held in financial institutions;
(iii)
attaching public and private retirement funds; and
(iv)
imposing liens in accordance with subsection (a)(4) and, in appropriate cases, to force sale of property and distribution of proceeds.
(H)

Increase monthly payments.—
For the purpose of securing overdue support, to increase the amount of monthly support payments to include amounts for arrearages, subject to such conditions or limitations as the State may provide.
Such procedures shall be subject to due process safeguards, including (as appropriate) requirements for notice, opportunity to contest the action, and opportunity for an appeal on the record to an independent administrative or judicial tribunal.
(2)

Substantive and procedural rules.—
The expedited procedures required under subsection (a)(2) shall include the following rules and authority, applicable with respect to all proceedings to establish paternity or to establish, modify, or enforce support orders:
(A)

Locator information; presumptions concerning notice.—
Procedures under which—
(i)
each party to any paternity or child support proceeding is required (subject to privacy safeguards) to file with the State case registry upon entry of an order, and to update as appropriate, information on location and identity of the party, including social security number, residential and mailing addresses, telephone number, driver's license number, and name, address, and telephone number of employer; and
(ii)
in any subsequent child support enforcement action between the parties, upon sufficient showing that diligent effort has been made to ascertain the location of such a party, the court or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction shall deem State due process requirements for notice and service of process to be met with respect to the party, upon delivery of written notice to the most recent residential or employer address filed with the State case registry pursuant to clause (i).
(B)

Statewide jurisdiction.—
Procedures under which—
(i)
the State agency and any administrative or judicial tribunal with authority to hear child support and paternity cases exerts statewide jurisdiction over the parties; and
(ii)
in a State in which orders are issued by courts or administrative tribunals, a case may be transferred between local jurisdictions in the State without need for any additional filing by the petitioner, or service of process upon the respondent, to retain jurisdiction over the parties.
(3)

Coordination with erisa.—
Notwithstanding subsection (d) of section 514 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (relating to effect on other laws), nothing in this subsection shall be construed to alter, amend, modify, invalidate, impair, or supersede subsections (a), (b), and (c) of such section 514 as it applies with respect to any procedure referred to in paragraph (1) and any expedited procedure referred to in paragraph (2), except to the extent that such procedure would be consistent with the requirements of section 206(d)(3) of such Act (relating to qualified domestic relations orders) or the requirements of section 609(a) of such Act (relating to qualified medical child support orders) if the reference in such section 206(d)(3) to a domestic relations order and the reference in such section 609(a) to a medical child support order were a reference to a support order referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) relating to the same matters, respectively.
(d)
If a State demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary, through the presentation to the Secretary of such data pertaining to caseloads, processing times, administrative costs, and average support collections, and such other data or estimates as the Secretary may specify, that the enactment of any law or the use of any procedure or procedures required by or pursuant to this section will not increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the State child support enforcement program, the Secretary may exempt the State, subject to the Secretary's continuing review and to termination of the exemption should circumstances change, from the requirement to enact the law or use the procedure or procedures involved.
(e)
For purposes of this section, the term “overdue support” means the amount of a delinquency pursuant to an obligation determined under a court order, or an order of an administrative process established under State law, for support and maintenance of a minor child which is owed to or on behalf of such child, or for support and maintenance of the noncustodial parent's spouse (or former spouse) with whom the child is living if and to the extent that spousal support (with respect to such spouse or former spouse) would be included for purposes of section 454(4). At the option of the State, overdue support may include amounts which otherwise meet the definition in the first sentence of this subsection but which are owed to or on behalf of a child who is not a minor child. The option to include support owed to children who are not minors shall apply independently to each procedure specified under this section.
(f)

Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.—
In order to satisfy section 454(20)(A), each State must have in effect the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, as approved by the American Bar Association on February 9, 1993, including any amendments officially adopted as of September 30, 2008 by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.
(g)

Laws Voiding Fraudulent Transfers.—
In order to satisfy section 454(20)(A), each State must have in effect—
(1)
(A)
the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act of 1981;
(B)
the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act of 1984; or
(C)
another law, specifying indicia of fraud which create a prima facie case that a debtor transferred income or property to avoid payment to a child support creditor, which the Secretary finds affords comparable rights to child support creditors; and
(2)
procedures under which, in any case in which the State knows of a transfer by a child support debtor with respect to which such a prima facie case is established, the State must—
(A)
seek to void such transfer; or
(B)
obtain a settlement in the best interests of the child support creditor.

STATE GUIDELINES FOR CHILD SUPPORT AWARDS
Sec. 467.
[42 U.S.C. 667]
(a)
Each State, as a condition for having its State plan approved under this part, must establish guidelines for child support award amounts within the State. The guidelines may be established by law or by judicial or administrative action, and shall be reviewed at least once every 4 years to ensure that their application results in the determination of appropriate child support award amounts.
(b)
(1)
The guidelines established pursuant to subsection (a) shall be made available to all judges and other officials who have the power to determine child support awards within such State.
(2)
There shall be a rebuttable presumption, in any judicial or administrative proceeding for the award of child support, that the amount of the award which would result from the application of such guidelines is the correct amount of child support to be awarded. A written finding or specific finding on the record that the application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case, as determined under criteria established by the State, shall be sufficient to rebut the presumption in that case.
(c)
The Secretary shall furnish technical assistance to the States for establishing the guidelines, and each State shall furnish the Secretary with copies of its guidelines.

ENCOURAGEMENT OF STATES TO ADOPT SIMPLE CIVIL PROCESS FOR VOLUNTARILY ACKNOWLEDGING PATERNITY AND A CIVIL PROCEDURE FOR ESTABLISHING PATERNITY IN CONTESTED CASES
Sec. 468.
[42 U.S.C. 668]
In the administration of the child support enforcement program under this part, each State is encouraged to establish and implement a civil procedure for establishing paternity in contested cases.
SEC. 469.
[42 U.S.C. 669]

COLLECTION AND REPORTING OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT DATA.
(a)

In General.—
With respect to each type of service described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall collect and maintain up-to-date statistics, by State, and on a fiscal year basis, on—
(1)
the number of cases in the caseload of the State agency administering the plan approved under this part in which the service is needed; and
(2)
the number of such cases in which the service has actually been provided.
(b)

Types of Services.—
The statistics required by subsection (a) shall be separately stated with respect to paternity establishment services and child support obligation establishment services.
(c)

Types of Service Recipients.—
The statistics required by subsection (a) shall be separately stated with respect to—
(1)
recipients of assistance under a State program funded under part A or of payments or services under a State plan approved under part E; and
(2)
individuals who are not such recipients.
(d)

Rule of Interpretation.—
For purposes of subsection (a)(2), a service has actually been provided when the task described by the service has been accomplished.
SEC. 469A.
[42 U.S.C. 669a]

NONLIABILITY FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PROVIDING FINANCIAL RECORDS TO STATE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN CHILD SUPPORT CASES.
(a)

In General.—
Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal or State law, a financial institution shall not be liable under any Federal or State law to any person for disclosing any financial record of an individual to a State child support enforcement agency attempting to establish, modify, or enforce a child support obligation of such individual, or for disclosing any such record to the Federal Parent Locator Service pursuant to section 466(a)(17)(A).
(b)

Prohibition of Disclosure of Financial Record Obtained by State Child Support Enforcement Agency.—
A State child support enforcement agency which obtains a financial record of an individual from a financial institution pursuant to subsection (a) may disclose such financial record only for the purpose of, and to the extent necessary in, establishing, modifying, or enforcing a child support obligation of such individual.
(c)

Civil Damages for Unauthorized Disclosure.—
(1)

Disclosure by state officer or employee.—
If any person knowingly, or by reason of negligence, discloses a financial record of an individual in violation of subsection (b), such individual may bring a civil action for damages against such person in a district court of the United States.
(2)

No liability for good faith but erroneous interpretation.—
No liability shall arise under this subsection with respect to any disclosure which results from a good faith, but erroneous, interpretation of subsection (b).
(3)

Damages.—
In any action brought under paragraph (1), upon a finding of liability on the part of the defendant, the defendant shall be liable to the plaintiff in an amount equal to the sum of—
(A)
the greater of—
(i)
$1,000 for each act of unauthorized disclosure of a financial record with respect to which such defendant is found liable; or
(ii)
the sum of—
(I)
the actual damages sustained by the plaintiff as a result of such unauthorized disclosure; plus
(II)
in the case of a willful disclosure or a disclosure which is the result of gross negligence, punitive damages; plus
(B)
the costs (including attorney's fees) of the action.
(d)

Definitions.—
For purposes of this section—
(1)

Financial institution.—
The term “financial institution” means—
(A)
a depository institution, as defined in section 3(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(c));
(B)
an institution-affiliated party, as defined in section 3(u) of such Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(u));
(C)
any Federal credit union or State credit union, as defined in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752), including an institution-affiliated party of such a credit union, as defined in section 206(r) of such Act (12 U.S.C. 1786(r)); and
(D)
any benefit association, insurance company, safe deposit company, money-market mutual fund, or similar entity authorized to do business in the State.
(2)

Financial record.—
The term “financial record” has the meaning given such term in section 1101 of the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3401).
SEC. 469B.
[42 U.S.C. 669b]

GRANTS TO STATES FOR ACCESS AND VISITATION PROGRAMS.
(a)

In General.—
The Administration for Children and Families shall make grants under this section to enable States to establish and administer programs to support and facilitate noncustodial parents' access to and visitation of their children, by means of activities including mediation (both voluntary and mandatory), counseling, education, development of parenting plans, visitation enforcement (including monitoring, supervision and neutral drop-off and pickup), and development of guidelines for visitation and alternative custody arrangements.
(b)

Amount of Grant.—
The amount of the grant to be made to a State under this section for a fiscal year shall be an amount equal to the lesser of—
(1)
90 percent of State expenditures during the fiscal year for activities described in subsection (a); or
(2)
the allotment of the State under subsection (c) for the fiscal year.
(c)

Allotments to States.—
(1)

In general.—
The allotment of a State for a fiscal year is the amount that bears the same ratio to $10,000,000 for grants under this section for the fiscal year as the number of children in the State living with only 1 biological parent bears to the total number of such children in all States.
(2)

Minimum allotment.—
The Administration for Children and Families shall adjust allotments to States under paragraph (1) as necessary to ensure that no State is allotted less than—
(A)
$50,000 for fiscal year 1997 or 1998; or
(B)
$100,000 for any succeeding fiscal year.
(d)

No Supplantation of State Expenditures for Similar Activities.—
A State to which a grant is made under this section may not use the grant to supplant expenditures by the State for activities specified in subsection (a), but shall use the grant to supplement such expenditures at a level at least equal to the level of such expenditures for fiscal year 1995.
(e)

State Administration.—
Each State to which a grant is made under this section—
(1)
may administer State programs funded with the grant, directly or through grants to or contracts with courts, local public agencies, or nonprofit private entities;
(2)
shall not be required to operate such programs on a statewide basis; and
(3)
shall monitor, evaluate, and report on such programs in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
PART E—

FEDERAL PAYMENTS FOR FOSTER CARE, PREVENTION, AND PERMANENCY

PURPOSE: APPROPRIATION
Sec. 470.
[42 U.S.C. 670]
For the purpose of enabling each State to provide, in appropriate cases, foster care and transitional independent living programs for children who otherwise would have been eligible for assistance under the State's plan approved under part A (as such plan was in effect on June 1, 1995), adoption assistance for children with special needs, kinship guardianship assistance, and prevention services or programs specified in section 471(e)(1), there are authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this part. The sums made available under this section shall be used for making payments to States which have submitted, and had approved by the Secretary, State plans under this part.

STATE PLAN FOR FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION ASSISTANCE
Sec. 471.
[42 U.S.C. 671]
(a)
In order for a State to be eligible for payments under this part, it shall have a plan approved by the Secretary which—
(1)
provides for foster care maintenance payments in accordance with section 472, adoption assistance in accordance with section 473, and, at the option of the State, services or programs specified in subsection (e)(1) of this section for children who are candidates for foster care or who are pregnant or parenting foster youth and the parents or kin caregivers of the children, in accordance with the requirements of that subsection;
(2)
provides that the State agency responsible for administering the program authorized by subpart 1 of part B of this title shall administer, or supervise the administration of, the program authorized by this part;
(3)
provides that the plan shall be in effect in all political subdivisions of the State, and, if administered by them, be mandatory upon them;
(4)
provides that the State shall assure that the programs at the local level assisted under this part will be coordinated with the programs at the State or local level assisted under parts A and B of this title, under subtitle 1 of title XX 43 of this Act, and under any other appropriate provision of Federal law;
^{43}
So in law. The reference to “subtitle 1” in paragraph (4) probably should be to “subtitle A”.
(5)
provides that the State will, in the administration of its programs under this part, use such methods relating to the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards on a merit basis as are found by the Secretary to be necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the programs, except that the Secretary shall exercise no authority with respect to the selection, tenure of office, or compensation of any individual employed in accordance with such methods;
(6)
provides that the State agency referred to in paragraph (2) (hereinafter in this part referred to as the “State agency”) will make such reports, in such form and containing such information as the Secretary may from time to time require, and comply with such provisions as the Secretary may from time to time find necessary to assure the correctness and verification of such reports;
(7)
provides that the State agency will monitor and conduct periodic evaluations of activities carried out under this part;
(8)
subject to subsection (c), provides safeguards which restrict the use of or disclosure of information concerning individuals assisted under the State plan to purposes directly connected with (A) the administration of the plan of the State approved under this part, the plan or program of the State under part A, B, or D of this title or under title I, V, X, XIV, XVI (as in effect in Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands), XIX, or XX, the program established by title II, or the supplemental security income program established by title XVI, (B) any investigation, prosecution, or criminal or civil proceeding, conducted in connection with the administration of any such plan or program, (C) the administration of any other Federal or federally assisted program which provides assistance, in cash or in kind, or services, directly to individuals on the basis of need, (D) any audit or similar activity conducted in connection with the administration of any such plan or program by any governmental agency which is authorized by law to conduct such audit or activity, and (E) reporting and providing information pursuant to paragraph (9) to appropriate authorities with respect to known or suspected child abuse or neglect; and the safeguards so provided shall prohibit disclosure, to any committee or legislative body (other than an agency referred to in clause (D) with respect to an activity referred to in such clause), of any information which identifies by name or address any such applicant or recipient; except that nothing contained herein shall preclude a State from providing standards which restrict disclosures to purposes more limited than those specified herein, or which, in the case of adoptions, prevent disclosure entirely;
(9)
provides that the State agency will—
(A)
report to an appropriate agency or official, known or suspected instances of physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, or negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child receiving aid under part B or this part under circumstances which indicate that the child's health or welfare is threatened thereby;
(B)
provide such information with respect to a situation described in subparagraph (A) as the State agency may have; and
(C)
not later than—
(i)
1 year after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, demonstrate to the Secretary that the State agency has developed, in consultation with State and local law enforcement, juvenile justice systems, health care providers, education agencies, and organizations with experience in dealing with at-risk children and youth, policies and procedures (including relevant training for caseworkers) for identifying, documenting in agency records, and determining appropriate services with respect to—
(I)
any child or youth over whom the State agency has responsibility for placement, care, or supervision and who the State has reasonable cause to believe is, or is at risk of being, a sex trafficking victim (including children for whom a State child welfare agency has an open case file but who have not been removed from the home, children who have run away from foster care and who have not attained 18 years of age or such older age as the State has elected under section 475(8) of this Act, and youth who are not in foster care but are receiving services under section 477 of this Act); and
(II)
at the option of the State, any individual who has not attained 26 years of age, without regard to whether the individual is or was in foster care under the responsibility of the State; and
(ii)
2 years after such date of enactment, demonstrate to the Secretary that the State agency is implementing the policies and procedures referred to in clause (i).
(10)
provides—
(A)
for the establishment or designation of a State authority or authorities that shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining standards for foster family homes and child care institutions which are reasonably in accord with recommended standards of national organizations concerned with standards for the institutions or homes, including standards related to admission policies, safety, sanitation, and protection of civil rights, and which shall permit use of the reasonable and prudent parenting standard;
(B)
that the standards established pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be applied by the State to any foster family home or child care institution receiving funds under this part or part B and shall require, as a condition of each contract entered into by a child care institution to provide foster care, the presence on-site of at least 1 official who, with respect to any child placed at the child care institution, is designated to be the caregiver who is authorized to apply the reasonable and prudent parent standard to decisions involving the participation of the child in age or developmentally-appropriate activities, and who is provided with training in how to use and apply the reasonable and prudent parent standard in the same manner as prospective foster parents are provided the training pursuant to paragraph (24);
(C)
that the standards established pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall include policies related to the liability of foster parents and private entities under contract by the State involving the application of the reasonable and prudent parent standard, to ensure appropriate liability for caregivers when a child participates in an approved activity and the caregiver approving the activity acts in accordance with the reasonable and prudent parent standard; and
(D)
that a waiver of any standards established pursuant to subparagraph (A) may be made only on a case-by-case basis for nonsafety standards (as determined by the State) in relative foster family homes for specific children in care;
(11)
provides for periodic review of the standards referred to in the preceding paragraph and amounts paid as foster care maintenance payments and adoption assistance to assure their continuing appropriateness;
(12)
provides for granting an opportunity for a fair hearing before the State agency to any individual whose claim for benefits available pursuant to this part is denied or is not acted upon with reasonable promptness;
(13)
provides that the State shall arrange for a periodic and independently conducted audit of the programs assisted under this part and part B of this title, which shall be conducted no less frequently than once every three years;
(14)
provides (A) specific goals (which shall be established by State law on or before October 1, 1982) for each fiscal year (commencing with the fiscal year which begins on October 1, 1983) as to the maximum number of children (in absolute numbers or as a percentage of all children in foster care with respect to whom assistance under the plan is provided during such year) who, at any time during such year, will remain in foster care after having been in such care for a period in excess of twenty-four months, and (B) a description of the steps which will be taken by the State to achieve such goals;
(15)
provides that—
(A)
in determining reasonable efforts to be made with respect to a child, as described in this paragraph, and in making such reasonable efforts, the child's health and safety shall be the paramount concern;
(B)
except as provided in subparagraph (D), reasonable efforts shall be made to preserve and reunify
families—
(i)
prior to the placement of a child in foster care, to prevent or eliminate the need for removing the child from the child's home; and
(ii)
to make it possible for a child to safely return to the child's home;
(C)
if continuation of reasonable efforts of the type described in subparagraph (B) is determined to be inconsistent with the permanency plan for the child, reasonable efforts shall be made to place the child in a timely manner in accordance with the permanency plan (including, if appropriate, through an interstate placement), and to complete whatever steps are necessary to finalize the permanent placement of the child;
(D)
reasonable efforts of the type described in subparagraph (B) shall not be required to be made with respect to a parent of a child if a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that—
(i)
the parent has subjected the child to aggravated circumstances (as defined in State law, which definition may include but need not be limited to abandonment, torture, chronic abuse, and sexual abuse);
(ii)
the parent has—
(I)
committed murder (which would have been an offense under section 1111(a) of title 18, United States Code, if the offense had occurred in the special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States) of another child of the parent;
(II)
committed voluntary manslaughter (which would have been an offense under section 1112(a) of title 18, United States Code, if the offense had occurred in the special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States) of another child of the parent;
(III)
aided or abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to commit such a murder or such a voluntary manslaughter; or
(IV)
committed a felony assault that results in serious bodily injury to the child or another child of the parent; or
(iii)
the parental rights of the parent to a sibling have been terminated involuntarily;
(E)
if reasonable efforts of the type described in subparagraph (B) are not made with respect to a child as a result of a determination made by a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with subparagraph (D)—
(i)
a permanency hearing (as described in section 475(5)(C)), which considers in-State and out-of-State permanent placement options for the child, shall be held for the child within 30 days after the determination; and
(ii)
reasonable efforts shall be made to place the child in a timely manner in accordance with the permanency plan, and to complete whatever steps are necessary to finalize the permanent placement of the child; and
(F)
reasonable efforts to place a child for adoption or with a legal guardian, including identifying appropriate in-State and out-of-State placements 44 may be made concurrently with reasonable efforts of the type described in subparagraph (B);
^{44}
So in law. The word “placements” in paragraph (15)(F) probably should read “placements,”.
(16)
provides for the development of a case plan (as defined in section 475(1) and in accordance with the requirements of section 475A) for each child receiving foster care maintenance payments under the State plan and provides for a case review system which meets the requirements described in sections 475(5) and 475A with respect to each such child;
(17)
provides that, where appropriate, all steps will be taken, including cooperative efforts with the State agencies administering the program funded under part A and plan approved under part D, to secure an assignment to the State of any rights to support on behalf of each child receiving foster care maintenance payments under this part;
(18)
not later than January 1, 1997, provides that neither the State nor any other entity in the State that receives funds from the Federal Government and is involved in adoption or foster care placements may—
(A)
deny to any person the opportunity to become an adoptive or a foster parent, on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the person, or of the child, involved; or
(B)
delay or deny the placement of a child for adoption or into foster care, on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the adoptive or foster parent, or the child, involved;
(19)
provides that the State shall consider giving preference to an adult relative over a non-related caregiver when determining a placement for a child, provided that the relative caregiver meets all relevant State child protection standards;
(20)
(A)
provides procedures for criminal records checks, including fingerprint-based checks of national crime information databases (as defined in section 534(f)(3)(A) of title 28, United States Code),45 for any prospective foster or adoptive parent before the foster or adoptive parent may be finally approved for placement of a child regardless of whether foster care maintenance payments or adoption assistance payments are to be made on behalf of the child under the State plan under this part, including procedures requiring that—
^{45}
So in law. This amendment was carried out as to the probable intent of the Congress. See Public Law 109–248 (120 Stat. 608).
(i)
in any case involving a child on whose behalf such payments are to be so made in which a record check reveals a felony conviction for child abuse or neglect, for spousal abuse, for a crime against children (including child pornography), or for a crime involving violence, including rape, sexual assault, or homicide, but not including other physical assault or battery, if a State finds that a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that the felony was committed at any time, such final approval shall not be granted; and
(ii)
in any case involving a child on whose behalf such payments are to be so made in which a record check reveals a felony conviction for physical assault, battery, or a drug-related offense, if a State finds that a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that the felony was committed within the past 5 years, such final approval shall not be granted;
(B)
provides that the State shall—
(i)
check any child abuse and neglect registry maintained by the State for information on any prospective foster or adoptive parent and on any other adult living in the home of such a prospective parent, and request any other State in which any such prospective parent or other adult has resided in the preceding 5 years, to enable the State to check any child abuse and neglect registry maintained by such other State for such information, before the prospective foster or adoptive parent may be finally approved for placement of a child, regardless of whether foster care maintenance payments or adoption assistance payments are to be made on behalf of the child under the State plan under this part;
(ii)
comply with any request described in clause (i) that is received from another State; and
(iii)
have in place safeguards to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of information in any child abuse and neglect registry maintained by the State, and to prevent any such information obtained pursuant to this subparagraph from being used for a purpose other than the conducting of background checks in foster or adoptive placement cases;
(C)
provides procedures for criminal records checks, including fingerprint-based checks of national crime information databases (as defined in section 534(f)(3)(A) of title 28, United States Code), on any relative guardian, and for checks described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph on any relative guardian and any other adult living in the home of any relative guardian, before the relative guardian may receive kinship guardianship assistance payments on behalf of the child under the State plan under this part; and
(D)46
provides procedures for any child-care institution, including a group home, residential treatment center, shelter, or other congregate care setting, to conduct criminal records checks, including fingerprint-based checks of national crime information databases (as defined in section 534(f)(3)(A) of title 28, United States Code), and checks described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, on any adult working in a child-care institution, including a group home, residential treatment center, shelter, or other congregate care setting, unless the State reports to the Secretary the alternative criminal records checks and child abuse registry checks the State conducts on any adult working in a child-care institution, including a group home, residential treatment center, shelter, or other congregate care setting, and why the checks specified in this subparagraph are not appropriate for the State;
^{46}
The margin for subparagraph (D) is so in law.
(21)
provides for health insurance coverage (including, at State option, through the program under the State plan approved under title XIX) for any child who has been determined to be a child with special needs, for whom there is in effect an adoption assistance agreement (other than an agreement under this part) between the State and an adoptive parent or parents, and who the State has determined cannot be placed with an adoptive parent or parents without medical assistance because such child has special needs for medical, mental health, or rehabilitative care, and that with respect to the provision of such health insurance coverage—
(A)
such coverage may be provided through 1 or more State medical assistance programs;
(B)
the State, in providing such coverage, shall ensure that the medical benefits, including mental health benefits, provided are of the same type and kind as those that would be provided for children by the State under title XIX;
(C)
in the event that the State provides such coverage through a State medical assistance program other than the program under title XIX, and the State exceeds its funding for services under such other program, any such child shall be deemed to be receiving aid or assistance under the State plan under this part for purposes of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(I); and
(D)
in determining cost-sharing requirements, the State shall take into consideration the circumstances of the adopting parent or parents and the needs of the child being adopted consistent, to the extent coverage is provided through a State medical assistance program, with the rules under such program;
(22)
provides that, not later than January 1, 1999, the State shall develop and implement standards to ensure that children in foster care placements in public or private agencies are provided quality services that protect the safety and health of the children;
(23)
provides that the State shall not—
(A)
deny or delay the placement of a child for adoption when an approved family is available outside of the jurisdiction with responsibility for handling the case of the child; or
(B)
fail to grant an opportunity for a fair hearing, as described in paragraph (12), to an individual whose allegation of a violation of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph is denied by the State or not acted upon by the State with reasonable promptness;
(24)
includes a certification that, before a child in foster care under the responsibility of the State is placed with prospective foster parents, the prospective foster parents will be prepared adequately with the appropriate knowledge and skills to provide for the needs of the child, that the preparation will be continued, as necessary, after the placement of the child, and that the preparation shall include knowledge and skills relating to the reasonable and prudent parent standard for the participation of the child in age or developmentally-appropriate activities, including knowledge and skills relating to the developmental stages of the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities of a child, and knowledge and skills relating to applying the standard to decisions such as whether to allow the child to engage in social, extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities, including sports, field trips, and overnight activities lasting 1 or more days, and to decisions involving the signing of permission slips and arranging of transportation for the child to and from extracurricular, enrichment, and social activities;
(25)
provides that the State shall have in effect procedures for the orderly and timely interstate placement of children, which, in the case of a State other than the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, or American Samoa, not later than October 1, 2027, shall include the use of an electronic interstate case-processing system; and procedures implemented in accordance with an interstate compact, if incorporating with the procedures prescribed by paragraph (26), shall be considered to satisfy the requirement of this paragraph;
(26)
provides that—
(A)
(i)
within 60 days after the State receives from another State a request to conduct a study of a home environment for purposes of assessing the safety and suitability of placing a child in the home, the State shall, directly or by contract—
(I)
conduct and complete the study; and
(II)
return to the other State a report on the results of the study, which shall address the extent to which placement in the home would meet the needs of the child; and
(ii)
in the case of a home study begun on or before September 30, 2008, if the State fails to comply with clause (i) within the 60-day period as a result of circumstances beyond the control of the State (such as a failure by a Federal agency to provide the results of a background check, or the failure by any entity to provide completed medical forms, requested by the State at least 45 days before the end of the 60-day period), the State shall have 75 days to comply with clause (i) if the State documents the circumstances involved and certifies that completing the home study is in the best interests of the child; except that
(iii)
this subparagraph shall not be construed to require the State to have completed, within the applicable period, the parts of the home study involving the education and training of the prospective foster or adoptive parents;
(B)
the State shall treat any report described in subparagraph (A) that is received from another State or an Indian tribe (or from a private agency under contract with another State) as meeting any requirements imposed by the State for the completion of a home study before placing a child in the home, unless, within 14 days after receipt of the report, the State determines, based on grounds that are specific to the content of the report, that making a decision in reliance on the report would be contrary to the welfare of the child; and
(C)
the State shall not impose any restriction on the ability of a State agency administering, or supervising the administration of, a State program operated under a State plan approved under this part to contract with a private agency for the conduct of a home study described in subparagraph (A);
(27)
provides that, with respect to any child in foster care under the responsibility of the State under this part or part B and without regard to whether foster care maintenance payments are made under section 472 on behalf of the child, the State has in effect procedures for verifying the citizenship or immigration status of the child;
(28)
at the option of the State, provides for the State to enter into kinship guardianship assistance agreements to provide kinship guardianship assistance payments on behalf of children to grandparents and other relatives who have assumed legal guardianship of the children for whom they have cared as foster parents and for whom they have committed to care on a permanent basis, as provided in section 473(d);
(29)
provides that, within 30 days after the removal of a child from the custody of the parent or parents of the child, the State shall exercise due diligence to identify and provide notice to the following relatives: all adult grandparents, all parents of a sibling of the child, where such parent has legal custody of such sibling, and other adult relatives of the child (including any other adult relatives suggested by the parents), subject to exceptions due to family or domestic violence, that—
(A)
specifies that the child has been or is being removed from the custody of the parent or parents of the child;
(B)
explains the options the relative has under Federal, State, and local law to participate in the care and placement of the child, including any options that may be lost by failing to respond to the notice;
(C)
describes the requirements under paragraph (10) of this subsection to become a foster family home and the additional services and supports that are available for children placed in such a home; and
(D)
if the State has elected the option to make kinship guardianship assistance payments under paragraph (28) of this subsection, describes how the relative guardian of the child may subsequently enter into an agreement with the State under section 473(d) to receive the payments;
(30)
provides assurances that each child who has attained the minimum age for compulsory school attendance under State law and with respect to whom there is eligibility for a payment under the State plan is a full-time elementary or secondary school student or has completed secondary school, and for purposes of this paragraph, the term “elementary or secondary school student” means, with respect to a child, that the child is—
(A)
enrolled (or in the process of enrolling) in an institution which provides elementary or secondary education, as determined under the law of the State or other jurisdiction in which the institution is located;
(B)
instructed in elementary or secondary education at home in accordance with a home school law of the State or other jurisdiction in which the home is located;
(C)
in an independent study elementary or secondary education program in accordance with the law of the State or other jurisdiction in which the program is located, which is administered by the local school or school district; or
(D)
incapable of attending school on a full-time basis due to the medical condition of the child, which incapability is supported by regularly updated information in the case plan of the child;
(31)
provides that reasonable efforts shall be made—
(A)
to place siblings removed from their home in the same foster care, kinship guardianship, or adoptive placement, unless the State documents that such a joint placement would be contrary to the safety or well-being of any of the siblings; and
(B)
in the case of siblings removed from their home who are not so jointly placed, to provide for frequent visitation or other ongoing interaction between the siblings, unless that State documents that frequent visitation or other ongoing interaction would be contrary to the safety or well-being of any of the siblings;
(32)
provides that the State will negotiate in good faith with any Indian tribe, tribal organization or tribal consortium in the State that requests to develop an agreement with the State to administer all or part of the program under this part on behalf of Indian children who are under the authority of the tribe, organization, or consortium, including foster care maintenance payments on behalf of children who are placed in State or tribally licensed foster family homes, adoption assistance payments, and, if the State has elected to provide such payments, kinship guardianship assistance payments under section 473(d), and tribal access to resources for administration, training, and data collection under this part;
(33)
provides that the State will inform any individual who is adopting, or whom the State is made aware is considering adopting, a child who is in foster care under the responsibility of the State of the potential eligibility of the individual for a Federal tax credit under section 23 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
(34)
provides that, for each child or youth described in paragraph (9)(C)(i)(I), the State agency shall—
(A)
not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, report immediately, and in no case later than 24 hours after receiving information on children or youth who have been identified as being a sex trafficking victim, to the law enforcement authorities; and
(B)
not later than 3 years after such date of enactment and annually thereafter, report to the Secretary the total number of children and youth who are sex trafficking victims;
(35)
provides that—
(A)
not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the State shall develop and implement specific protocols for—
(i)
expeditiously locating any child missing from foster care;
(ii)
determining the primary factors that contributed to the child’s running away or otherwise being absent from care, and to the extent possible and appropriate, responding to those factors in current and subsequent placements;
(iii)
determining the child’s experiences while absent from care, including screening the child to determine if the child is a possible sex trafficking victim (as defined in section 475(9)(A)); and
(iv)
reporting such related information as required by the Secretary; and
(B)
not later than 2 years after such date of enactment, for each child and youth described in paragraph (9)(C)(i)(I) of this subsection, the State agency shall report immediately, and in no case later than 24 hours after receiving, information on missing or abducted children or youth to the law enforcement authorities for entry into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, established pursuant to section 534 of title 28, United States Code, and to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (referred to in this subparagraph as “NCMEC”), and that the State agency shall maintain regular communication with law enforcement agencies and NCMEC in efforts to provide a safe recovery of a missing or abducted child or youth, including by sharing information pertaining to the child’s or youth's recovery and circumstances related to the recovery, and that the State report submitted to law enforcement agencies and NCMEC shall include where reasonably possible—
(i)
a photo of the missing or abducted child or youth;
(ii)
a description of the child's or youth's physical features, such as height, weight, sex, ethnicity, race, hair color, and eye color; and
(iii)
endangerment information, such as the child's or youth's pregnancy status, prescription medications, suicidal tendencies, vulnerability to being sex trafficked, and other health or risk factors;
(36)
provides that, not later than April 1, 2019, the State shall submit to the Secretary information addressing—
(A)
whether the State licensing standards are in accord with model standards identified by the Secretary, and if not, the reason for the specific deviation and a description as to why having a standard that is reasonably in accord with the corresponding national model standards is not appropriate for the State;
(B)
whether the State has elected to waive standards established in 471(a)(10)(A) for relative foster family homes (pursuant to waiver authority provided by 471(a)(10)(D)), a description of which standards the State most commonly waives, and if the State has not elected to waive the standards, the reason for not waiving these standards;
(C)
if the State has elected to waive standards specified in subparagraph (B), how caseworkers are trained to use the waiver authority and whether the State has developed a process or provided tools to assist caseworkers in waiving nonsafety standards per the authority provided in 471(a)(10)(D) to quickly place children with relatives; and
(D)
a description of the steps the State is taking to improve caseworker training or the process, if any; and
(37)
includes a certification that, in response to the limitation imposed under section 472(k) with respect to foster care maintenance payments made on behalf of any child who is placed in a setting that is not a foster family home, the State will not enact or advance policies or practices that would result in a significant increase in the population of youth in the State’s juvenile justice system.
(b)
The Secretary shall approve any plan which complies with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.
(c)

Use of Child Welfare Records in State Court Proceedings.—
Subsection (a)(8) shall not be construed to limit the flexibility of a State in determining State policies relating to public access to court proceedings to determine child abuse and neglect or other court hearings held pursuant to part B or this part, except that such policies shall, at a minimum, ensure the safety and well-being of the child, parents, and family.
(d)

Annual Reports by the Secretary on Number of Children and Youth Reported by States To Be Sex Trafficking Victims.—
Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this subsection and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall report to the Congress and make available to the public on the Internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services the number of children and youth reported in accordance with subsection (a)(34)(B) of this section to be sex trafficking victims (as defined in section 475(9)(A)).
(e)

Prevention and Family Services and Programs.—
(1)

In general.—
Subject to the succeeding provisions of this subsection, the Secretary may make a payment to a State for providing the following services or programs for a child described in paragraph (2) and the parents or kin caregivers of the child when the need of the child, such a parent, or such a caregiver for the services or programs are directly related to the safety, permanence, or well-being of the child or to preventing the child from entering foster care:
(A)

Mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services.—
Mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services provided by a qualified clinician for not more than a 12-month period that begins on any date described in paragraph (3) with respect to the child.
(B)

In-home parent skill-based programs.—
In-home parent skill-based programs for not more than a 12-month period that begins on any date described in paragraph (3) with respect to the child and that include parenting skills training, parent education, and individual and family counseling.
(2)

Child described.—
For purposes of paragraph (1), a child described in this paragraph is the following:
(A)
A child who is a candidate for foster care (as defined in section 475(13)) but can remain safely at home or in a kinship placement with receipt of services or programs specified in paragraph (1).
(B)
A child in foster care who is a pregnant or parenting foster youth.
(3)

Date described.—
For purposes of paragraph (1), the dates described in this paragraph are the following:
(A)
The date on which a child is identified in a prevention plan maintained under paragraph (4) as a child who is a candidate for foster care (as defined in section 475(13)).
(B)
The date on which a child is identified in a prevention plan maintained under paragraph (4) as a pregnant or parenting foster youth in need of services or programs specified in paragraph (1).
(4)

Requirements related to providing services and programs.—
Services and programs specified in paragraph (1) may be provided under this subsection only if specified in advance in the child’s prevention plan described in subparagraph (A) and the requirements in subparagraphs (B) through (E) are met:
(A)

Prevention plan.—
The State maintains a written prevention plan for the child that meets the following requirements (as applicable):
(i)

Candidates.—
In the case of a child who is a candidate for foster care described in paragraph (2)(A), the prevention plan shall—
(I)
identify the foster care prevention strategy for the child so that the child may remain safely at home, live temporarily with a kin caregiver until reunification can be safely achieved, or live permanently with a kin caregiver;
(II)
list the services or programs to be provided to or on behalf of the child to ensure the success of that prevention strategy; and
(III)
comply with such other requirements as the Secretary shall establish.
(ii)

Pregnant or parenting foster youth.—
In the case of a child who is a pregnant or parenting foster youth described in paragraph (2)(B), the prevention plan shall—
(I)
be included in the child's case plan required under section 475(1);
(II)
list the services or programs to be provided to or on behalf of the youth to ensure that the youth is prepared (in the case of a pregnant foster youth) or able (in the case of a parenting foster youth) to be a parent;
(III)
describe the foster care prevention strategy for any child born to the youth; and
(IV)
comply with such other requirements as the Secretary shall establish.
(B)

Trauma-informed.—
The services or programs to be provided to or on behalf of a child are provided under an organizational structure and treatment framework that involves understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma and in accordance with recognized principles of a trauma-informed approach and trauma-specific interventions to address trauma’s consequences and facilitate healing.
(C)

Only services and programs provided in accordance with promising, supported, or well-supported practices permitted.—
(i)

In general.—
Only State expenditures for services or programs specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) that are provided in accordance with practices that meet the requirements specified in clause (ii) of this subparagraph and that meet the requirements specified in clause (iii), (iv), or (v), respectively, for being a promising, supported, or well-supported practice, shall be eligible for a Federal matching payment under section 474(a)(6)(A).
(ii)

General practice requirements.—
The general practice requirements specified in this clause are the following:
(I)
The practice has a book, manual, or other available writings that specify the components of the practice protocol and describe how to administer the practice.
(II)
There is no empirical basis suggesting that, compared to its likely benefits, the practice constitutes a risk of harm to those receiving it.
(III)
If multiple outcome studies have been conducted, the overall weight of evidence supports the benefits of the practice.
(IV)
Outcome measures are reliable and valid, and are administrated consistently and accurately across all those receiving the practice.
(V)
There is no case data suggesting a risk of harm that was probably caused by the treatment and that was severe or frequent.
(iii)

Promising practice.—
A practice shall be considered to be a “promising practice” if the practice is superior to an appropriate comparison practice using conventional standards of statistical significance (in terms of demonstrated meaningful improvements in validated measures of important child and parent outcomes, such as mental health, substance abuse, and child safety and well-being), as established by the results or outcomes of at least one study that—
(I)
was rated by an independent systematic review for the quality of the study design and execution and determined to be well-designed and well-executed; and
(II)
utilized some form of control (such as an untreated group, a placebo group, or a wait list study).
(iv)

Supported practice.—
A practice shall be considered to be a “supported practice” if—
(I)
the practice is superior to an appropriate comparison practice using conventional standards of statistical significance (in terms of demonstrated meaningful improvements in validated measures of important child and parent outcomes, such as mental health, substance abuse, and child safety and well-being), as established by the results or outcomes of at least one study that—
- (aa)
was rated by an independent systematic review for the quality of the study design and execution and determined to be well-designed and well-executed;
- (bb)
was a rigorous random-controlled trial (or, if not available, a study using a rigorous quasi-experimental research design); and
- (cc)
was carried out in a usual care or practice setting; and
(II)
the study described in subclause (I) established that the practice has a sustained effect (when compared to a control group) for at least 6 months beyond the end of the treatment.
(v)

Well-supported practice.—
A practice shall be considered to be a “well-supported practice” if—
(I)
the practice is superior to an appropriate comparison practice using conventional standards of statistical significance (in terms of demonstrated meaningful improvements in validated measures of important child and parent outcomes, such as mental health, substance abuse, and child safety and well-being), as established by the results or outcomes of at least two studies that—
- (aa)
were rated by an independent systematic review for the quality of the study design and execution and determined to be well-designed and well-executed;
- (bb)
were rigorous random-controlled trials (or, if not available, studies using a rigorous quasi-experimental research design); and
- (cc)
were carried out in a usual care or practice setting; and
(II)
at least one of the studies described in subclause (I) established that the practice has a sustained effect (when compared to a control group) for at least 1 year beyond the end of treatment.
(D)

Guidance on practices criteria and pre-approved services and programs.—
(i)

In general.—
Not later than October 1, 2018, the Secretary shall issue guidance to States regarding the practices criteria required for services or programs to satisfy the requirements of subparagraph (C). The guidance shall include a pre-approved list of services and programs that satisfy the requirements.
(ii)

Updates.—
The Secretary shall issue updates to the guidance required by clause (i) as often as the Secretary determines necessary.
(E)

Outcome assessment and reporting.—
The State shall collect and report to the Secretary the following information with respect to each child for whom, or on whose behalf mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services or in-home parent skill-based programs are provided during a 12-month period beginning on the date the child is determined by the State to be a child described in paragraph (2):
(i)
The specific services or programs provided and the total expenditures for each of the services or programs.
(ii)
The duration of the services or programs provided.
(iii)
In the case of a child described in paragraph (2)(A), the child’s placement status at the beginning, and at the end, of the 1-year period, respectively, and whether the child entered foster care within 2 years after being determined a candidate for foster care.
(5)

State plan component.—
(A)

In general.—
A State electing to provide services or programs specified in paragraph (1) shall submit as part of the State plan required by subsection (a) a prevention services and programs plan component that meets the requirements of subparagraph (B).
(B)

Prevention services and programs plan component.—
In order to meet the requirements of this subparagraph, a prevention services and programs plan component, with respect to each 5-year period for which the plan component is in operation in the State, shall include the following:
(i)
How providing services and programs specified in paragraph (1) is expected to improve specific outcomes for children and families.
(ii)
How the State will monitor and oversee the safety of children who receive services and programs specified in paragraph (1), including through periodic risk assessments throughout the period in which the services and programs are provided on behalf of a child and reexamination of the prevention plan maintained for the child under paragraph (4) for the provision of the services or programs if the State determines the risk of the child entering foster care remains high despite the provision of the services or programs.
(iii)
With respect to the services and programs specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1), information on the specific promising, supported, or well-supported practices the State plans to use to provide the services or programs, including a description of—
(I)
the services or programs and whether the practices used are promising, supported, or well-supported;
(II)
how the State plans to implement the services or programs, including how implementation of the services or programs will be continuously monitored to ensure fidelity to the practice model and to determine outcomes achieved and how information learned from the monitoring will be used to refine and improve practices;
(III)
how the State selected the services or programs;
(IV)
the target population for the services or programs; and
(V)
how each service or program provided will be evaluated through a well-designed and rigorous process, which may consist of an ongoing, cross-site evaluation approved by the Secretary.
(iv)
A description of the consultation that the State agencies responsible for administering the State plans under this part and part B engage in with other State agencies responsible for administering health programs, including mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services, and with other public and private agencies with experience in administering child and family services, including community-based organizations, in order to foster a continuum of care for children described in paragraph (2) and their parents or kin caregivers.
(v)
A description of how the State shall assess children and their parents or kin caregivers to determine eligibility for services or programs specified in paragraph (1).
(vi)
A description of how the services or programs specified in paragraph (1) that are provided for or on behalf of a child and the parents or kin caregivers of the child will be coordinated with other child and family services provided to the child and the parents or kin caregivers of the child under the State plans in effect under subparts 1 and 2 of part B.
(vii)
Descriptions of steps the State is taking to support and enhance a competent, skilled, and professional child welfare workforce to deliver trauma-informed and evidence-based services, including—
(I)
ensuring that staff is qualified to provide services or programs that are consistent with the promising, supported, or well-supported practice models selected; and
(II)
developing appropriate prevention plans, and conducting the risk assessments required under clause (iii).
(viii)
A description of how the State will provide training and support for caseworkers in assessing what children and their families need, connecting to the families served, knowing how to access and deliver the needed trauma-informed and evidence-based services, and overseeing and evaluating the continuing appropriateness of the services.
(ix)
A description of how caseload size and type for prevention caseworkers will be determined, managed, and overseen.
(x)
An assurance that the State will report to the Secretary such information and data as the Secretary may require with respect to the provision of services and programs specified in paragraph (1), including information and data necessary to determine the performance measures for the State under paragraph (6) and compliance with paragraph (7).
(C)

Reimbursement for services under the prevention plan component.—
(i)

Limitation.—
Except as provided in subclause (ii), a State may not receive a Federal payment under this part for a given promising, supported, or well-supported practice unless (in accordance with subparagraph (B)(iii)(V)) the plan includes a well-designed and rigorous evaluation strategy for that practice.
(ii)

Waiver of limitation.—
The Secretary may waive the requirement for a well-designed and rigorous evaluation of any well-supported practice if the Secretary deems the evidence of the effectiveness of the practice to be compelling and the State meets the continuous quality improvement requirements included in subparagraph (B)(iii)(II) with regard to the practice.
(6)

Prevention services measures.—
(A)

Establishment; annual updates.—
Beginning with fiscal year 2021, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall establish the following prevention services measures based on information and data reported by States that elect to provide services and programs specified in paragraph (1):
(i)

Percentage of candidates for foster care who do not enter foster care.—
The percentage of candidates for foster care for whom, or on whose behalf, the services or programs are provided who do not enter foster care, including those placed with a kin caregiver outside of foster care, during the 12-month period in which the services or programs are provided and through the end of the succeeding 12-month period.
(ii)

Per-child spending.—
The total amount of expenditures made for mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services or in-home parent skill-based programs, respectively, for, or on behalf of, each child described in paragraph (2).
(B)

Data.—
The Secretary shall establish and annually update the prevention services measures—
(i)
based on the median State values of the information reported under each clause of subparagraph (A) for the 3 then most recent years; and
(ii)
taking into account State differences in the price levels of consumption goods and services using the most recent regional price parities published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce or such other data as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(C)

Publication of state prevention services measures.—
The Secretary shall annually make available to the public the prevention services measures of each State.
(7)

Maintenance of effort for state foster care prevention expenditures.—
(A)

In general.—
If a State elects to provide services and programs specified in paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the State foster care prevention expenditures for the fiscal year shall not be less than the amount of the expenditures for fiscal year 2014 (or, at the option of a State described in subparagraph (E), fiscal year 2015 or fiscal year 2016 (whichever the State elects)).
(B)

State foster care prevention expenditures.—
The term “State foster care prevention expenditures” means the following:
(i)

TANF; iv–b; ssbg.—
State expenditures for foster care prevention services and activities under the State program funded under part A (including from amounts made available by the Federal Government), under the State plan developed under part B (including any such amounts), or under the Social Services Block Grant Programs under subtitle A of title XX (including any such amounts).
(ii)

Other state programs.—
State expenditures for foster care prevention services and activities under any State program that is not described in clause (i) (other than any State expenditures for foster care prevention services and activities under the State program under this part (including under a waiver of the program)).
(C)

State expenditures.—
The term “State expenditures” means all State or local funds that are expended by the State or a local agency including State or local funds that are matched or reimbursed by the Federal Government and State or local funds that are not matched or reimbursed by the Federal Government.
(D)

Determination of prevention services and activities.—
The Secretary shall require each State that elects to provide services and programs specified in paragraph (1) to report the expenditures specified in subparagraph (B) for fiscal year 2014 and for such fiscal years thereafter as are necessary to determine whether the State is complying with the maintenance of effort requirement in subparagraph (A). The Secretary shall specify the specific services and activities under each program referred to in subparagraph (B) that are “prevention services and activities” for purposes of the reports.
(E)

State described.—
For purposes of subparagraph (A), a State is described in this subparagraph if the population of children in the State in 2014 was less than 200,000 (as determined by the United States Census Bureau).
(8)

Prohibition against use of state foster care prevention expenditures and federal iv–e prevention funds for matching or expenditure requirement.—
A State that elects to provide services and programs specified in paragraph (1) shall not use any State foster care prevention expenditures for a fiscal year for the State share of expenditures under section 474(a)(6) for a fiscal year.
(9)

Administrative costs.—
Expenditures described in section 474(a)(6)(B)—
(A)
shall not be eligible for payment under subparagraph (A), (B), or (E) of section 474(a)(3); and
(B)
shall be eligible for payment under section 474(a)(6)(B) without regard to whether the expenditures are incurred on behalf of a child who is, or is potentially, eligible for foster care maintenance payments under this part.
(10)

Application.—
(A)

In general.—
The provision of services or programs under this subsection to or on behalf of a child described in paragraph (2) shall not be considered to be receipt of aid or assistance under the State plan under this part for purposes of eligibility for any other program established under this Act, nor shall the provision of such services or programs be construed to permit the State to reduce medical or other assistance available to a recipient of such services or programs.
(B)

Candidates in kinship care.—
A child described in paragraph (2) for whom such services or programs under this subsection are provided for more than 6 months while in the home of a kin caregiver, and who would satisfy the AFDC eligibility requirement of section 472(a)(3)(A)(ii)(II) but for residing in the home of the caregiver for more than 6 months, is deemed to satisfy that requirement for purposes of determining whether the child is eligible for foster care maintenance payments under section 472.
(C)

Payer of last resort.—
In carrying out its responsibilities to ensure access to services or programs under this subsection, the State agency shall not be considered to be a legally liable third party for purposes of satisfying a financial commitment for the cost of providing such services or programs with respect to any individual for whom such cost would have been paid for from another public or private source but for the enactment of this subsection (except that whenever considered necessary to prevent a delay in the receipt of appropriate early intervention services by a child or family in a timely fashion, funds provided under section 474(a)(6) may be used to pay the provider of services or programs pending reimbursement from the public or private source that has ultimate responsibility for the payment).

FOSTER CARE MAINTENANCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM
Sec. 472.
[42 U.S.C. 672]
(a)

In General.—
(1)

Eligibility.—
Each State with a plan approved under this part shall make foster care maintenance payments on behalf of each child who has been removed from the home of a relative specified in section 406(a) (as in effect on July 16, 1996) into foster care if—
(A)
the removal and foster care placement met, and the placement continues to meet, the requirements of paragraph (2); and
(B)
the child, while in the home, would have met the AFDC eligibility requirement of paragraph (3).
(2)

Removal and foster care placement requirements.—
The removal and foster care placement of a child meet the requirements of this paragraph if—
(A)
the removal and foster care placement are in accordance with—
(i)
a voluntary placement agreement entered into by a parent or legal guardian of the child who is the relative referred to in paragraph (1); or
(ii)
a judicial determination to the effect that continuation in the home from which removed would be contrary to the welfare of the child and that reasonable efforts of the type described in section 471(a)(15) for a child have been made;
(B)
the child's placement and care are the responsibility of—
(i)
the State agency administering the State plan approved under section 471;
(ii)
any other public agency with which the State agency administering or supervising the administration of the State plan has made an agreement which is in effect; or
(iii)
an Indian tribe or a tribal organization (as defined in section 479B(a)) or a tribal consortium that has a plan approved under section 471 in accordance with section 479B; and
(C)
the child has been placed in a foster family home, with a parent residing in a licensed residential family-based treatment facility, but only to the extent permitted under subsection (j), or in a child-care institution, but only to the extent permitted under subsection (k).
(3)

AFDC eligibility requirement.—
(A)

In general.—
A child in the home referred to in paragraph (1) would have met the AFDC eligibility requirement of this paragraph if the child—
(i)
would have received aid under the State plan approved under section 402 (as in effect on July 16, 1996) in the home, in or for the month in which the agreement was entered into or court proceedings leading to the determination referred to in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) of this subsection were initiated; or
(ii)
(I)
would have received the aid in the home, in or for the month referred to in clause (i), if application had been made therefor; or
(II)
had been living in the home within 6 months before the month in which the agreement was entered into or the proceedings were initiated, and would have received the aid in or for such month, if, in such month, the child had been living in the home with the relative referred to in paragraph (1) and application for the aid had been made.
(B)

Resources determination.—
For purposes of subparagraph (A), in determining whether a child would have received aid under a State plan approved under section 402 (as in effect on July 16, 1996), a child whose resources (determined pursuant to section 402(a)(7)(B), as so in effect) have a combined value of not more than $10,000 shall be considered a child whose resources have a combined value of not more than $1,000 (or such lower amount as the State may determine for purposes of section 402(a)(7)(B)).
(4)

Eligibility of certain alien children.—
Subject to title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, if the child is an alien disqualified under section 245A(h) or 210(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act from receiving aid under the State plan approved under section 402 in or for the month in which the agreement described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) was entered into or court proceedings leading to the determination described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) were initiated, the child shall be considered to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (3), with respect to the month, if the child would have satisfied the requirements but for the disqualification.
(b)
Foster care maintenance payments may be made under this part only on behalf of a child described in subsection (a) of this section who is—
(1)
in the foster family home of an individual, whether the payments therefor are made to such individual or to a public or private child-placement or child-care agency, or
(2)
in a child-care institution, whether the payments therefor are made to such institution or to a public or private child-placement or child-care agency, which payments shall be limited so as to include in such payments only those items which are included in the term “foster care maintenance payments” (as defined in section 475(4)).
(c)

Definitions.—
For purposes of this part:
(1)

Foster family home.—
(A)

In general.—
The term “foster family home” means the home of an individual or family—
(i)
that is licensed or approved by the State in which it is situated as a foster family home that meets the standards established for the licensing or approval; and
(ii)
in which a child in foster care has been placed in the care of an individual, who resides with the child and who has been licensed or approved by the State to be a foster parent—
(I)
that the State deems capable of adhering to the reasonable and prudent parent standard;
(II)
that provides 24-hour substitute care for children placed away from their parents or other caretakers; and
(III)
that provides the care for not more than six children in foster care.
(B)

State flexibility.—
The number of foster children that may be cared for in a home under subparagraph (A) may exceed the numerical limitation in subparagraph (A)(ii)(III), at the option of the State, for any of the following reasons:
(i)
To allow a parenting youth in foster care to remain with the child of the parenting youth.
(ii)
To allow siblings to remain together.
(iii)
To allow a child with an established meaningful relationship with the family to remain with the family.
(iv)
To allow a family with special training or skills to provide care to a child who has a severe disability.
(C)

Rule of construction.—
Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed as prohibiting a foster parent from renting the home in which the parent cares for a foster child placed in the parent’s care.
(2)

Child-care institution.—
(A)

In general.—
The term “child-care institution” means a private child-care institution, or a public child-care institution which accommodates no more than 25 children, which is licensed by the State in which it is situated or has been approved by the agency of the State responsible for licensing or approval of institutions of this type as meeting the standards established for the licensing.
(B)

Supervised settings.—
In the case of a child who has attained 18 years of age, the term shall include a supervised setting in which the individual is living independently, in accordance with such conditions as the Secretary shall establish in regulations.
(C)

Exclusions.—
The term shall not include detention facilities, forestry camps, training schools, or any other facility operated primarily for the detention of children who are determined to be delinquent.
(d)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, Federal payments may be made under this part with respect to amounts expended by any State as foster care maintenance payments under this section, in the case of children removed from their homes pursuant to voluntary placement agreements as described in subsection (a), only if (at the time such amounts were expended) the State has fulfilled all of the requirements of section 422(b)(8).
(e)
No Federal payment may be made under this part with respect to amounts expended by any State as foster care maintenance payments under this section, in the case of any child who was removed from his or her home pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement as described in subsection (a) and has remained in voluntary placement for a period in excess of 180 days, unless there has been a judicial determination by a court of competent jurisdiction (within the first 180 days of such placement) to the effect that such placement is in the best interests of the child.
(f)
For the purposes of this part and part B of this title, (1) the term “voluntary placement” means an out-of-home placement of a minor, by or with participation of a State agency, after the parents or guardians of the minor have requested the assistance of the agency and signed a voluntary placement agreement; and (2) the term “voluntary placement agreement” means a written agreement, binding on the parties to the agreement, between the State agency, any other agency acting on its behalf, and the parents or guardians of a minor child which specifies, at a minimum, the legal status of the child and the rights and obligations of the parents or guardians, the child, and the agency while the child is in placement.
(g)
In any case where—
(1)
the placement of a minor child in foster care occurred pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement entered into by the parents or guardians of such child as provided in subsection (a), and
(2)
such parents or guardians request (in such manner and form as the Secretary may prescribe) that the child be returned to their home or to the home of a relative,
the voluntary placement agreement shall be deemed to be revoked unless the State agency opposes such request and obtains a judicial determination, by a court of competent jurisdiction, that the return of the child to such home would be contrary to the child's best interests.
(h)
(1)
For purposes of title XIX, any child with respect to whom foster care maintenance payments are made under this section is deemed to be a dependent child as defined in section 406 (as in effect as of July 16, 1996) and deemed to be a recipient of aid to families with dependent children under part A of this title (as so in effect). For purposes of subtitle 1 of title XX 47, any child with respect to whom foster care maintenance payments are made under this section is deemed to be a minor child in a needy family under a State program funded under part A of this title and is deemed to be a recipient of assistance under such part.
^{47}
So in law. The reference to “subtitle 1” in subsection (h)(1) probably should read “subtitle A”.
(2)
For purposes of paragraph (1), a child whose costs in a foster family home or child care institution are covered by the foster care maintenance payments being made with respect to the child's minor parent, as provided in section 475(4)(B), shall be considered a child with respect to whom foster care maintenance payments are made under this section.
(i)

Administrative Costs Associated With Otherwise Eligible Children Not in Licensed Foster Care Settings.—
Expenditures by a State that would be considered administrative expenditures for purposes of section 474(a)(3) if made with respect to a child who was residing in a foster family home or child-care institution shall be so considered with respect to a child not residing in such a home or institution—
(1)
in the case of a child who has been removed in accordance with subsection (a) of this section from the home of a relative specified in section 406(a) (as in effect on July 16, 1996), only for expenditures—
(A)
with respect to a period of not more than the lesser of 12 months or the average length of time it takes for the State to license or approve a home as a foster home, in which the child is in the home of a relative and an application is pending for licensing or approval of the home as a foster family home; or
(B)
with respect to a period of not more than 1 calendar month when a child moves from a facility not eligible for payments under this part into a foster family home or child care institution licensed or approved by the State; and
(2)
in the case of any other child who is potentially eligible for benefits under a State plan approved under this part and at imminent risk of removal from the home, only if—
(A)
reasonable efforts are being made in accordance with section 471(a)(15) to prevent the need for, or if necessary to pursue, removal of the child from the home; and
(B)
the State agency has made, not less often than every 6 months, a determination (or redetermination) as to whether the child remains at imminent risk of removal from the home.
(j)

Children Placed With a Parent Residing in a Licensed Residential Family-Based Treatment Facility for Substance Abuse.—
(1)

In general.—
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this section, a child who is eligible for foster care maintenance payments under this section, or who would be eligible for the payments if the eligibility were determined without regard to paragraphs (1)(B) and (3) of subsection (a), shall be eligible for the payments for a period of not more than 12 months during which the child is placed with a parent who is in a licensed residential family-based treatment facility for substance abuse, but only if—
(A)
the recommendation for the placement is specified in the child's case plan before the placement;
(B)
the treatment facility provides, as part of the treatment for substance abuse, parenting skills training, parent education, and individual and family counseling; and
(C)
the substance abuse treatment, parenting skills training, parent education, and individual and family counseling is provided under an organizational structure and treatment framework that involves understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma and in accordance with recognized principles of a trauma-informed approach and trauma-specific interventions to address the consequences of trauma and facilitate healing.
(2)

Application.—
With respect to children for whom foster care maintenance payments are made under paragraph (1), only the children who satisfy the requirements of paragraphs (1)(B) and (3) of subsection (a) shall be considered to be children with respect to whom foster care maintenance payments are made under this section for purposes of subsection (h) or section 473(b)(3)(B).
(k)

Limitation on Federal Financial Participation.—
(1)

In general.—
Beginning with the third week for which foster care maintenance payments are made under this section on behalf of a child placed in a child-care institution, no Federal payment shall be made to the State under section 474(a)(1) for amounts expended for foster care maintenance payments on behalf of the child unless—
(A)
the child is placed in a child-care institution that is a setting specified in paragraph (2) (or is placed in a licensed residential family-based treatment facility consistent with subsection (j)); and
(B)
in the case of a child placed in a qualified residential treatment program (as defined in paragraph (4)), the requirements specified in paragraph (3) and section 475A(c) are met.
(2)

Specified settings for placement.—
The settings for placement specified in this paragraph are the following:
(A)
A qualified residential treatment program (as defined in paragraph (4)).
(B)
A setting specializing in providing prenatal, post-partum, or parenting supports for youth.
(C)
In the case of a child who has attained 18 years of age, a supervised setting in which the child is living independently.
(D)
A setting providing high-quality residential care and supportive services to children and youth who have been found to be, or are at risk of becoming, sex trafficking victims, in accordance with section 471(a)(9)(C).
(3)

Assessment to determine appropriateness of placement in a qualified residential treatment program.—
(A)

Deadline for assessment.—
In the case of a child who is placed in a qualified residential treatment program, if the assessment required under section 475A(c)(1) is not completed within 30 days after the placement is made, no Federal payment shall be made to the State under section 474(a)(1) for any amounts expended for foster care maintenance payments on behalf of the child during the placement.
(B)

Deadline for transition out of placement.—
If the assessment required under section 475A(c)(1) determines that the placement of a child in a qualified residential treatment program is not appropriate, a court disapproves such a placement under section 475A(c)(2), or a child who has been in an approved placement in a qualified residential treatment program is going to return home or be placed with a fit and willing relative, a legal guardian, or an adoptive parent, or in a foster family home, Federal payments shall be made to the State under section 474(a)(1) for amounts expended for foster care maintenance payments on behalf of the child while the child remains in the qualified residential treatment program only during the period necessary for the child to transition home or to such a placement. In no event shall a State receive Federal payments under section 474(a)(1) for amounts expended for foster care maintenance payments on behalf of a child who remains placed in a qualified residential treatment program after the end of the 30-day period that begins on the date a determination is made that the placement is no longer the recommended or approved placement for the child.
(4)

Qualified residential treatment program.—
For purposes of this part, the term “qualified residential treatment program” means a program that—
(A)
has a trauma-informed treatment model that is designed to address the needs, including clinical needs as appropriate, of children with serious emotional or behavioral disorders or disturbances and, with respect to a child, is able to implement the treatment identified for the child by the assessment of the child required under section 475A(c);
(B)
subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), has registered or licensed nursing staff and other licensed clinical staff who—
(i)
provide care within the scope of their practice as defined by State law;
(ii)
are on-site according to the treatment model referred to in subparagraph (A); and
(iii)
are available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week;
(C)
to extent appropriate, and in accordance with the child’s best interests, facilitates participation of family members in the child’s treatment program;
(D)
facilitates outreach to the family members of the child, including siblings, documents how the outreach is made (including contact information), and maintains contact information for any known biological family and fictive kin of the child;
(E)
documents how family members are integrated into the treatment process for the child, including post-discharge, and how sibling connections are maintained;
(F)
provides discharge planning and family-based aftercare support for at least 6 months post-discharge; and
(G)
is licensed in accordance with section 471(a)(10) and is accredited by any of the following independent, not-for-profit organizations:
(i)
The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
(ii)
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
(iii)
The Council on Accreditation (COA).
(iv)
Any other independent, not-for-profit accrediting organization approved by the Secretary.
(5)

Administrative costs.—
The prohibition in paragraph (1) on Federal payments under section 474(a)(1) shall not be construed as prohibiting Federal payments for administrative expenditures incurred on behalf of a child placed in a child-care institution and for which payment is available under section 474(a)(3).
(6)

Rule of construction.—
The requirements in paragraph (4)(B) shall not be construed as requiring a qualified residential treatment program to acquire nursing and behavioral health staff solely through means of a direct employer to employee relationship.

ADOPTION AND GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Sec. 473.
[42 U.S.C. 673]
(a)
(1)
(A)
Each State having a plan approved under this part shall enter into adoption assistance agreements (as defined in section 475(3)) with the adoptive parents of children with special needs.
(B)
Under any adoption assistance agreement entered into by a State with parents who adopt a child with special needs, the State—
(i)
shall make payments of nonrecurring adoption expenses incurred by or on behalf of such parents in connection with the adoption of such child, directly through the State agency or through another public or nonprofit private agency, in amounts determined under paragraph (3), and
(ii)
in any case where the child meets the requirements of paragraph (2), may make adoption assistance payments to such parents, directly through the State agency or through another public or nonprofit private agency, in amounts so determined.
(2)
(A)
For purposes of paragraph (1)(B)(ii), a child meets the requirements of this paragraph if—
(i)
in the case of a child who is not an applicable child for the fiscal year (as defined in subsection (e)), the child—
(I)
- (aa)
(AA)
was removed from the home of a relative specified in section 406(a) (as in effect on July 16, 1996) and placed in foster care in accordance with a voluntary placement agreement with respect to which Federal payments are provided under section 474 (or section 403, as such section was in effect on July 16, 1996), or in accordance with a judicial determination to the effect that continuation in the home would be contrary to the welfare of the child; and
(BB)
met the requirements of section 472(a)(3) with respect to the home referred to in subitem (AA) of this item;
- (bb)
meets all of the requirements of title XVI with respect to eligibility for supplemental security income benefits; or
- (cc)
is a child whose costs in a foster family home or child-care institution are covered by the foster care maintenance payments being made with respect to the minor parent of the child as provided in section 475(4)(B); and
(II)
has been determined by the State, pursuant to subsection (c)(1) of this section, to be a child with special needs; or
(ii)
in the case of a child who is an applicable child for the fiscal year (as so defined), the child—
(I)
- (aa)
at the time of initiation of adoption proceedings was in the care of a public or licensed private child placement agency or Indian tribal organization pursuant to—
(AA)
an involuntary removal of the child from the home in accordance with a judicial determination to the effect that continuation in the home would be contrary to the welfare of the child; or
(BB)
a voluntary placement agreement or voluntary relinquishment;
- (bb)
meets all medical or disability requirements of title XVI with respect to eligibility for supplemental security income benefits; or
- (cc)
was residing in a foster family home or child care institution with the child's minor parent, and the child's minor parent was in such foster family home or child care institution pursuant to—
(AA)
an involuntary removal of the child from the home in accordance with a judicial determination to the effect that continuation in the home would be contrary to the welfare of the child; or
(BB)
a voluntary placement agreement or voluntary relinquishment; and
(II)
has been determined by the State, pursuant to subsection (c)(2), to be a child with special needs.
(B)
Section 472(a)(4) shall apply for purposes of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, in any case in which the child is an alien described in such section.
(C)
A child shall be treated as meeting the requirements of this paragraph for the purpose of paragraph (1)(B)(ii) if—
(i)
in the case of a child who is not an applicable child for the fiscal year (as defined in subsection (e)), the child—
(I)
meets the requirements of subparagraph (A)(i)(II);
(II)
was determined eligible for adoption assistance payments under this part with respect to a prior adoption;
(III)
is available for adoption because—
- (aa)
the prior adoption has been dissolved, and the parental rights of the adoptive parents have been terminated; or
- (bb)
the child's adoptive parents have died; and
(IV)
fails to meet the requirements of subparagraph (A)(i) but would meet such requirements if—
- (aa)
the child were treated as if the child were in the same financial and other circumstances the child was in the last time the child was determined eligible for adoption assistance payments under this part; and
- (bb)
the prior adoption were treated as never having occurred; or
(ii)
in the case of a child who is an applicable child for the fiscal year (as so defined), the child meets the requirements of subparagraph (A)(ii)(II), is determined eligible for adoption assistance payments under this part with respect to a prior adoption (or who would have been determined eligible for such payments had the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 been in effect at the time that such determination would have been made), and is available for adoption because the prior adoption has been dissolved and the parental rights of the adoptive parents have been terminated or because the child's adoptive parents have died.
(D)
In determining the eligibility for adoption assistance payments of a child in a legal guardianship arrangement described in section 471(a)(28), the placement of the child with the relative guardian involved and any kinship guardianship assistance payments made on behalf of the child shall be considered never to have been made.
(3)
The amount of the payments to be made in any case under clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1)(B) shall be determined through agreement between the adoptive parents and the State or local agency administering the program under this section, which shall take into consideration the circumstances of the adopting parents and the needs of the child being adopted, and may be readjusted periodically, with the concurrence of the adopting parents (which may be specified in the adoption assistance agreement), depending upon changes in such circumstances. However, in no case may the amount of the adoption assistance payment made under clause (ii) of paragraph (1)(B) exceed the foster care maintenance payment which would have been paid during the period if the child with respect to whom the adoption assistance payment is made had been in a foster family home.
(4)
(A)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a payment may not be made pursuant to this section to parents or relative guardians with respect to a child—
(i)
who has attained—
(I)
18 years of age, or such greater age as the State may elect under section 475(8)(B)(iii); or
(II)
21 years of age, if the State determines that the child has a mental or physical handicap which warrants the continuation of assistance;
(ii)
who has not attained 18 years of age, if the State determines that the parents or relative guardians, as the case may be, are no longer legally responsible for the support of the child; or
(iii)
if the State determines that the child is no longer receiving any support from the parents or relative guardians, as the case may be.
(B)
Parents or relative guardians who have been receiving adoption assistance payments or kinship guardianship assistance payments under this section shall keep the State or local agency administering the program under this section informed of circumstances which would, pursuant to this subsection, make them ineligible for the payments, or eligible for the payments in a different amount.
(5)
For purposes of this part, individuals with whom a child (who has been determined by the State, pursuant to subsection (c), to be a child with special needs) is placed for adoption in accordance with applicable State and local law shall be eligible for such payments, during the period of the placement, on the same terms and subject to the same conditions as if such individuals had adopted such child.
(6)
(A)
For purposes of paragraph (1)(B)(i), the term “nonrecurring adoption expenses” means reasonable and necessary adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, and other expenses which are directly related to the legal adoption of a child with special needs and which are not incurred in violation of State or Federal law.
(B)
A State's payment of nonrecurring adoption expenses under an adoption assistance agreement shall be treated as an expenditure made for the proper and efficient administration of the State plan for purposes of section 474(a)(3)(E).
(7)
(A)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, no payment may be made to parents with respect to any applicable child for a fiscal year that—
(i)
would be considered a child with special needs under subsection (c)(2);
(ii)
is not a citizen or resident of the United States; and
(iii)
was adopted outside of the United States or was brought into the United States for the purpose of being adopted.
(B)
Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed as prohibiting payments under this part for an applicable child described in subparagraph (A) that is placed in foster care subsequent to the failure, as determined by the State, of the initial adoption of the child by the parents described in subparagraph (A).
(8)
(A)
A State shall calculate the savings (if any) resulting from the application of paragraph (2)(A)(ii) to all applicable children for a fiscal year, using a methodology specified by the Secretary or an alternate methodology proposed by the State and approved by the Secretary.
(B)
A State shall annually report to the Secretary—
(i)
the methodology used to make the calculation described in subparagraph (A), without regard to whether any savings are found;
(ii)
the amount of any savings referred to in subparagraph (A); and
(iii)
how any such savings are spent, accounting for and reporting the spending separately from any other spending reported to the Secretary under part B or this part.
(C)
The Secretary shall make all information reported pursuant to subparagraph (B) available on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services in a location easily accessible to the public.
(D)
(i)
A State shall spend an amount equal to the amount of the savings (if any) in State expenditures under this part resulting from the application of paragraph (2)(A)(ii) to all applicable children for a fiscal year, to provide to children of families any service that may be provided under part B or this part. A State shall spend not less than 30 percent of any such savings on post-adoption services, post-guardianship services, and services to support and sustain positive permanent outcomes for children who otherwise might enter into foster care under the responsibility of the State, with at least ⅔ of the spending by the State to comply with such 30 percent requirement being spent on post-adoption and post-guardianship services.
(ii)
Any State spending required under clause (i) shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, any Federal or non-Federal funds used to provide any service under part B or this part.
(b)
(1)
For purposes of title XIX, any child who is described in paragraph (3) is deemed to be a dependent child as defined in section 406 (as in effect as of July 16, 1996) and deemed to be a recipient of aid to families with dependent children under part A of this title (as so in effect) in the State where such child resides.
(2)
For purposes of subtitle 1 of title XX 48, any child who is described in paragraph (3) is deemed to be a minor child in a needy family under a State program funded under part A of this title and deemed to be a recipient of assistance under such part.
^{48}
So in law. The reference to “subtitle 1” in subsection (b)(2) probably should read “subtitle A”.
(3)
A child described in this paragraph is any child—
(A)
(i)
who is a child described in subsection (a)(2), and
(ii)
with respect to whom an adoption assistance agreement is in effect under this section (whether or not adoption assistance payments are provided under the agreement or are being made under this section), including any such child who has been placed for adoption in accordance with applicable State and local law (whether or not an interlocutory or other judicial decree of adoption has been issued),
(B)
with respect to whom foster care maintenance payments are being made under section 472, or
(C)
with respect to whom kinship guardianship assistance payments are being made pursuant to subsection (d).
(4)
For purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), a child whose costs in a foster family home or child-care institution are covered by the foster care maintenance payments being made with respect to the child's minor parent, as provided in section 475(4)(B), shall be considered a child with respect to whom foster care maintenance payments are being made under section 472.
(c)
For purposes of this section—
(1)
in the case of a child who is not an applicable child for a fiscal year, the child shall not be considered a child with special needs unless—
(A)
the State has determined that the child cannot or should not be returned to the home of his parents; and
(B)
the State had first determined (A) that there exists with respect to the child a specific factor or condition (such as his ethnic background, age, or membership in a minority or sibling group, or the presence of factors such as medical conditions or physical, mental, or emotional handicaps) because of which it is reasonable to conclude that such child cannot be placed with adoptive parents without providing adoption assistance under this section or medical assistance under title XIX, and (B) that, except where it would be against the best interests of the child because of such factors as the existence of significant emotional ties with prospective adoptive parents while in the care of such parents as a foster child, a reasonable, but unsuccessful, effort has been made to place the child with appropriate adoptive parents without providing adoption assistance under this section or medical assistance under title XIX; or
(2)
in the case of a child who is an applicable child for a fiscal year, the child shall not be considered a child with special needs unless—
(A)
the State has determined, pursuant to a criterion or criteria established by the State, that the child cannot or should not be returned to the home of his parents;
(B)
(i)
the State has determined that there exists with respect to the child a specific factor or condition (such as ethnic background, age, or membership in a minority or sibling group, or the presence of factors such as medical conditions or physical, mental, or emotional handicaps) because of which it is reasonable to conclude that the child cannot be placed with adoptive parents without providing adoption assistance under this section and medical assistance under title XIX; or
(ii)
the child meets all medical or disability requirements of title XVI with respect to eligibility for supplemental security income benefits; and
(C)
the State has determined that, except where it would be against the best interests of the child because of such factors as the existence of significant emotional ties with prospective adoptive parents while in the care of the parents as a foster child, a reasonable, but unsuccessful, effort has been made to place the child with appropriate adoptive parents without providing adoption assistance under this section or medical assistance under title XIX.
(d)

Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payments for Children.—
(1)

Kinship guardianship assistance agreement.—
(A)

In general.—
In order to receive payments under section 474(a)(5), a State shall—
(i)
negotiate and enter into a written, binding kinship guardianship assistance agreement with the prospective relative guardian of a child who meets the requirements of this paragraph; and
(ii)
provide the prospective relative guardian with a copy of the agreement.
(B)

Minimum requirements.—
The agreement shall specify, at a minimum—
(i)
the amount of, and manner in which, each kinship guardianship assistance payment will be provided under the agreement, and the manner in which the payment may be adjusted periodically, in consultation with the relative guardian, based on the circumstances of the relative guardian and the needs of the child;
(ii)
the additional services and assistance that the child and relative guardian will be eligible for under the agreement;
(iii)
the procedure by which the relative guardian may apply for additional services as needed; and
(iv)
subject to subparagraph (D), that the State will pay the total cost of nonrecurring expenses associated with obtaining legal guardianship of the child, to the extent the total cost does not exceed $2,000.
(C)

Interstate applicability.—
The agreement shall provide that the agreement shall remain in effect without regard to the State residency of the relative guardian.
(D)

No effect on federal reimbursement.—
Nothing in subparagraph (B)(iv) shall be construed as affecting the ability of the State to obtain reimbursement from the Federal Government for costs described in that subparagraph.
(2)

Limitations on amount of kinship guardianship assistance payment.—
A kinship guardianship assistance payment on behalf of a child shall not exceed the foster care maintenance payment which would have been paid on behalf of the child if the child had remained in a foster family home.
(3)

Child's eligibility for a kinship guardianship assistance payment.—
(A)

In general.—
A child is eligible for a kinship guardianship assistance payment under this subsection if the State agency determines the following:
(i)
The child has been—
(I)
removed from his or her home pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement or as a result of a judicial determination to the effect that continuation in the home would be contrary to the welfare of the child; and
(II)
eligible for foster care maintenance payments under section 472 while residing for at least 6 consecutive months in the home of the prospective relative guardian.
(ii)
Being returned home or adopted are not appropriate permanency options for the child.
(iii)
The child demonstrates a strong attachment to the prospective relative guardian and the relative guardian has a strong commitment to caring permanently for the child.
(iv)
With respect to a child who has attained 14 years of age, the child has been consulted regarding the kinship guardianship arrangement.
(B)

Treatment of siblings.—
With respect to a child described in subparagraph (A) whose sibling or siblings are not so described—
(i)
the child and any sibling of the child may be placed in the same kinship guardianship arrangement, in accordance with section 471(a)(31), if the State agency and the relative agree on the appropriateness of the arrangement for the siblings; and
(ii)
kinship guardianship assistance payments may be paid on behalf of each sibling so placed.
(C)

Eligibility not affected by replacement of guardian with a successor guardian.—
In the event of the death or incapacity of the relative guardian, the eligibility of a child for a kinship guardianship assistance payment under this subsection shall not be affected by reason of the replacement of the relative guardian with a successor legal guardian named in the kinship guardianship assistance agreement referred to in paragraph (1) (including in any amendment to the agreement), notwithstanding subparagraph (A) of this paragraph and section 471(a)(28).
(e)

Applicable Child Defined.—
(1)

On the basis of age.—
(A)

In general.—
Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), in this section, the term “applicable child” means a child for whom an adoption assistance agreement is entered into under this section during any fiscal year described in subparagraph (B) if the child attained the applicable age for that fiscal year before the end of that fiscal year.
(B)

Applicable age.—
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the applicable age for a fiscal year is as follows:
In the case of fiscal year: | The applicable age is:
2010 | 16
2011 | 14
2012 | 12
2013 | 10
2014 | 8
2015 | 6
2016 | 4
2017 through 2023 | 2
2024 | 2 (or, in the case of a child for whom an adoption assistance agreement is entered into under this section on or after July 1, 2024, any age)
2025 or thereafter | any age.
(2)

Exception for duration in care.—
Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, beginning with fiscal year 2010, such term shall include a child of any age on the date on which an adoption assistance agreement is entered into on behalf of the child under this section if the child—
(A)
has been in foster care under the responsibility of the State for at least 60 consecutive months; and
(B)
meets the requirements of subsection (a)(2)(A)(ii).
(3)

Exception for member of a sibling group.—
Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, beginning with fiscal year 2010, such term shall include a child of any age on the date on which an adoption assistance agreement is entered into on behalf of the child under this section without regard to whether the child is described in paragraph (2)(A) of this subsection if the child—
(A)
is a sibling of a child who is an applicable child for the fiscal year under paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection;
(B)
is to be placed in the same adoption placement as an applicable child for the fiscal year who is their sibling; and
(C)
meets the requirements of subsection (a)(2)(A)(ii).
SEC. 473A.
[42 U.S.C. 673b]

ADOPTION AND LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.
(a)

Grant Authority.—
Subject to the availability of such amounts as may be provided in advance in appropriations Acts for this purpose, the Secretary shall make a grant to each State that is an incentive-eligible State for a fiscal year in an amount equal to the adoption and legal guardianship incentive payment payable to the State under this section for the fiscal year, which shall be payable in the immediately succeeding fiscal year.
(b)

Incentive-Eligible State.—
A State is an incentive-eligible State for a fiscal year if—
(1)
the State has a plan approved under this part for the fiscal year;
(2)
the State is in compliance with subsection (c) for the fiscal year;
(3)
the State provides health insurance coverage to any child with special needs (as determined under section 473(c)) for whom there is in effect an adoption assistance agreement between a State and an adoptive parent or parents; and
(4)
the fiscal year is any of fiscal years 2016 through 2020.
(c)

Data Requirements.—
(1)

In general.—
A State is in compliance with this subsection for a fiscal year if the State has provided to the Secretary the data described in paragraph (2)—
(A)
for fiscal years 1995 through 1997 (or, if the first fiscal year for which the State seeks a grant under this section is after fiscal year 1998, the fiscal year that precedes such first fiscal year); and
(B)
for each succeeding fiscal year that precedes the fiscal year.
(2)

Determination of rates of adoptions and guardianships based on afcars data.—
The Secretary shall determine each of the rates required to be determined under this section with respect to a State and a fiscal year, on the basis of data meeting the requirements of the system established pursuant to section 479, as reported by the State and approved by the Secretary by August 1 of the succeeding fiscal year, and, with respect to the determination of the rates related to foster child guardianships, on the basis of information reported to the Secretary under paragraph (12) of subsection (g).
(3)

No waiver of afcars requirements.—
This section shall not be construed to alter or affect any requirement of section 479 or of any regulation prescribed under such section with respect to reporting of data by States, or to waive any penalty for failure to comply with such a requirement.
(d)

Adoption and Legal Guardianship Incentive Payment.—
(1)

In general.—
Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the adoption and legal guardianship incentive payment payable to a State for a fiscal year under this section shall be equal to the sum of—
(A)
$5,000, multiplied by the amount (if any) by which—
(i)
the number of foster child adoptions in the State during the fiscal year; exceeds
(ii)
the product (rounded to the nearest whole number) of—
(I)
the base rate of foster child adoptions for the State for the fiscal year; and
(II)
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year;
(B)
$7,500, multiplied by the amount (if any) by which—
(i)
the number of pre-adolescent child adoptions and pre-adolescent foster child guardianships in the State during the fiscal year; exceeds
(ii)
the product (rounded to the nearest whole number) of—
(I)
the base rate of pre-adolescent child adoptions and pre-adolescent foster child guardianships for the State for the fiscal year; and
(II)
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year who have attained 9 years of age but not 14 years of age; and
(C)
$10,000, multiplied by the amount (if any) by which—
(i)
the number of older child adoptions and older foster child guardianships in the State during the fiscal year; exceeds
(ii)
the product (rounded to the nearest whole number) of—
(I)
the base rate of older child adoptions and older foster child guardianships for the State for the fiscal year; and
(II)
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year who have attained 14 years of age; and
(D)
$4,000, multiplied by the amount (if any) by which—
(i)
the number of foster child guardianships in the State during the fiscal year; exceeds
(ii)
the product (rounded to the nearest whole number) of—
(I)
the base rate of foster child guardianships for the State for the fiscal year; and
(II)
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year.
(2)

Pro rata adjustment if insufficient funds available.—
For any fiscal year, if the total amount of adoption incentive payments otherwise payable under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year exceeds the amount appropriated pursuant to subsection (h) for the fiscal year, the amount of the adoption incentive payment payable to each State under paragraph (1) for the fiscal year shall be—
(A)
the amount of the adoption and legal guardianship incentive payment that would otherwise be payable to the State under paragraph (1) for the fiscal year; multiplied by
(B)
the percentage represented by the amount so appropriated for the fiscal year, divided by the total amount of adoption and legal guardianship incentive payments otherwise payable under paragraph (1) for the fiscal year.
(3)

Increased adoption and legal guardianship incentive payment for timely adoptions.—
(A)

In general.—
If for any of fiscal years 2013 through 2015, the total amount of adoption and legal guardianship incentive payments payable under paragraph (1) of this subsection are less than the amount appropriated under subsection (h) for the fiscal year, then, from the remainder of the amount appropriated for the fiscal year that is not required for such payments (in this paragraph referred to as the “timely adoption award pool”), the Secretary shall increase the adoption incentive payment determined under paragraph (1) for each State that the Secretary determines is a timely adoption award State for the fiscal year by the award amount determined for the fiscal year under subparagraph (C).
(B)

Timely adoption award state defined.—
A State is a timely adoption award State for a fiscal year if the Secretary determines that, for children who were in foster care under the supervision of the State at the time of adoptive placement, the average number of months from removal of children from their home to the placement of children in finalized adoptions is less than 24 months.
(C)

Award amount.—
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the award amount determined under this subparagraph with respect to a fiscal year is the amount equal to the timely adoption award pool for the fiscal year divided by the number of timely adoption award States for the fiscal year.
(e)

36-month 49 Availability of Incentive Payments.—
Payments to a State under this section in a fiscal year shall remain available for use by the State for the 36-month period beginning with the month in which the payments are made.
^{49}
Section 205(1) of Public Law 113–183 provided for an amendment to the heading of subsection (e). The amendment struck “24-month” and inserted “36-month”; but it probably should have been made to strike “24-Month” so that the letter “m” in the word “month” appeared with an initial uppercase or large capital letter. Such amendment was carried out to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
(f)

Limitations on Use of Incentive Payments.—
A State shall not expend an amount paid to the State under this section except to provide to children or families any service (including post-adoption services) that may be provided under part B or E, and shall use the amount to supplement, and not supplant, any Federal or non-Federal funds used to provide any service under part B or E. Amounts expended by a State in accordance with the preceding sentence shall be disregarded in determining State expenditures for purposes of Federal matching payments under sections 424, 434, and 474.
(g)

Definitions.—
As used in this section:
(1)

Foster child adoption rate.—
The term “foster child adoption rate” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the percentage determined by dividing—
(A)
the number of foster child adoptions finalized in the State during the fiscal year; by
(B)
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year.
(2)

Base rate of foster child adoptions.—
The term “base rate of foster child adoptions” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the lesser of—
(A)
the foster child adoption rate for the State for the then immediately preceding fiscal year; or
(B)
the foster child adoption rate for the State for the average of the then immediately preceding 3 fiscal years.
(3)

Foster child adoption.—
The term “foster child adoption” means the final adoption of a child who, at the time of adoptive placement, was in foster care under the supervision of the State.
(4)

Pre-adolescent child adoption and pre-adolescent foster child guardianship rate.—
The term “pre-adolescent child adoption and pre-adolescent foster child guardianship rate” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the percentage determined by dividing—
(A)
the number of pre-adolescent child adoptions and pre-adolescent foster child guardianships finalized in the State during the fiscal year; by
(B)
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year, who have attained 9 years of age but not 14 years of age.
(5)

Base rate of pre-adolescent child adoptions and pre-adolescent foster child guardianships.—
The term “base rate of pre-adolescent child adoptions and pre-adolescent foster child guardianships” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the lesser of—
(A)
the pre-adolescent child adoption and pre-adolescent foster child guardianship rate for the State for the then immediately preceding fiscal year; or
(B)
the pre-adolescent child adoption and pre-adolescent foster child guardianship rate for the State for the average of the then immediately preceding 3 fiscal years.
(6)

Pre-adolescent child adoption and pre-adolescent foster child guardianship.—
The term “pre-adolescent child adoption and pre-adolescent foster child guardianship” means the final adoption, or the placement into foster child guardianship (as defined in paragraph (12)) of a child who has attained 9 years of age but not 14 years of age if—
(A)
at the time of the adoptive or foster child guardianship placement, the child was in foster care under the supervision of the State; or
(B)
an adoption assistance agreement was in effect under section 473(a) with respect to the child.
(7)

Older child adoption and older foster child guardianship rate.—
The term “older child adoption and older foster child guardianship rate” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the percentage determined by dividing—
(A)
the number of older child adoptions and older foster child guardianships finalized in the State during the fiscal year; by
(B)
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year, who have attained 14 years of age.
(8)

Base rate of older child adoptions and older foster child guardianships.—
The term “base rate of older child adoptions and older foster child guardianships” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the lesser of—
(A)
the older child adoption and older foster child guardianship rate for the State for the then immediately preceding fiscal year; or
(B)
the older child adoption and older foster child guardianship rate for the State for the average of the then immediately preceding 3 fiscal years.
(9)

Older child adoption and older foster child guardianship.—
The term “older child adoption and older foster child guardianship” means the final adoption, or the placement into foster child guardianship (as defined in paragraph (12)) of a child who has attained 14 years of age if—
(A)
at the time of the adoptive or foster child guardianship placement, the child was in foster care under the supervision of the State; or
(B)
an adoption assistance agreement was in effect under section 473(a) with respect to the child.
(10)

Foster child guardianship rate.—
The term “foster child guardianship rate” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the percentage determined by dividing—
(A)
the number of foster child guardianships occurring in the State during the fiscal year; by
(B)
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year.
(11)

Base rate of foster child guardianships.—
The term “base rate of foster child guardianships” means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the lesser of—
(A)
the foster child guardianship rate for the State for the then immediately preceding fiscal year; or
(B)
the foster child guardianship rate for the State for the average of the then immediately preceding 3 fiscal years.
(12)

Foster child guardianship.—
The term “foster child guardianship” means, with respect to a State, the exit of a child from foster care under the responsibility of the State to live with a legal guardian, if the State has reported to the Secretary—
(A)
that the State agency has determined that—
(i)
the child has been removed from his or her home pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement or as a result of a judicial determination to the effect that continuation in the home would be contrary to the welfare of the child;
(ii)
being returned home or adopted are not appropriate permanency options for the child;
(iii)
the child demonstrates a strong attachment to the prospective legal guardian, and the prospective legal guardian has a strong commitment to caring permanently for the child; and
(iv)
if the child has attained 14 years of age, the child has been consulted regarding the legal guardianship arrangement; or
(B)
the alternative procedures used by the State to determine that legal guardianship is the appropriate option for the child.
(h)

Limitations on Authorization of Appropriations.—
(1)

In general.—
For grants under subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary—
(A)
$20,000,000 for fiscal year 1999;
(B)
$43,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;
(C)
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2003; and
(D)
$43,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2021.
(2)

Availability.—
Amounts appropriated under paragraph (1), or under any other law for grants under subsection (a), are authorized to remain available until expended, but not after fiscal year 2021.
(i)

Technical Assistance.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary may, directly or through grants or contracts, provide technical assistance to assist States and local communities to reach their targets for increased numbers of adoptions and, to the extent that adoption is not possible, alternative permanent placements, for children in foster care.
(2)

Description of the character of the technical assistance.—
The technical assistance provided under paragraph (1) may support the goal of encouraging more adoptions out of the foster care system, when adoptions promote the best interests of children, and may include the following:
(A)
The development of best practice guidelines for expediting termination of parental rights.
(B)
Models to encourage the use of concurrent planning.
(C)
The development of specialized units and expertise in moving children toward adoption as a permanency goal.
(D)
The development of risk assessment tools to facilitate early identification of the children who will be at risk of harm if returned home.
(E)
Models to encourage the fast tracking of children who have not attained 1 year of age into pre-adoptive placements.
(F)
Development of programs that place children into pre-adoptive families without waiting for termination of parental rights.
(3)

Targeting of technical assistance to the courts.—
Not less than 50 percent of any amount appropriated pursuant to paragraph (4) shall be used to provide technical assistance to the courts.
(4)

Limitations on authorization of appropriations.—
To carry out this subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services not to exceed $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2006.
[Section 473B repealed by Pub.Law 109–239; 120 Stat. 512.]

PAYMENTS TO STATES; ALLOTMENTS TO STATES
Sec. 474.
[42 U.S.C. 674]
(a)
For each quarter beginning after September 30, 1980, each State which has a plan approved under this part shall be entitled to a payment equal to the sum of—
(1)
subject to subsections (j) and (k) of section 472, an amount equal to the Federal medical assistance percentage (which shall be as defined in section 1905(b), in the case of a State other than the District of Columbia, or 70 percent, in the case of the District of Columbia) of the total amount expended during such quarter as foster care maintenance payments under section 472 for children in foster family homes or child-care institutions (or, with respect to such payments made during such quarter under a cooperative agreement or contract entered into by the State and an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium for the administration or payment of funds under this part, an amount equal to the Federal medical assistance percentage that would apply under section 479B(d) (in this paragraph referred to as the “tribal FMAP”) if such Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium made such payments under a program operated under that section, unless the tribal FMAP is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage that applies to the State); plus
(2)
an amount equal to the Federal medical assistance percentage (which shall be as defined in section 1905(b), in the case of a State other than the District of Columbia, or 70 percent, in the case of the District of Columbia) of the total amount expended during such quarter as adoption assistance payments under section 473 pursuant to adoption assistance agreements (or, with respect to such payments made during such quarter under a cooperative agreement or contract entered into by the State and an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium for the administration or payment of funds under this part, an amount equal to the Federal medical assistance percentage that would apply under section 479B(d) (in this paragraph referred to as the “tribal FMAP”) if such Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium made such payments under a program operated under that section, unless the tribal FMAP is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage that applies to the State); plus
(3)
subject to section 472(i) an amount equal to the sum of the following proportions of the total amounts expended during such quarter as found necessary by the Secretary for the provision of child placement services and for the proper and efficient administration of the State plan—
(A)
75 per centum of so much of such expenditures as are for the training (including both short-and 50 long-term training at educational institutions through grants to such institutions or by direct financial assistance to students enrolled in such institutions) of personnel employed or preparing for employment by the State agency or by the local agency administering the plan in the political subdivision,
^{50}
So in law. A space probably should appear after “short-” and “and”.
(B)
75 percent of so much of such expenditures (including travel and per diem expenses) as are for the short-term training of current or prospective foster or adoptive parents or relative guardians, the members of the staff of State-licensed or State-approved child care institutions providing care, or State-licensed or State-approved child welfare agencies providing services, to children receiving assistance under this part, and members of the staff of abuse and neglect courts, agency attorneys, attorneys representing children or parents, guardians ad litem, or other court-appointed special advocates representing children in proceedings of such courts, in ways that increase the ability of such current or prospective parents, guardians, staff members, institutions, attorneys, and advocates to provide support and assistance to foster and adopted children and children living with relative guardians, whether incurred directly by the State or by contract,
(C)
50 percent of so much of such expenditures as are for the planning, design, development, or installation of statewide mechanized data collection and information retrieval systems (including 50 percent of the full amount of expenditures for hardware components for such systems) but only to the extent that such systems—
(i)
meet the requirements imposed by regulations promulgated pursuant to section 479(b)(2);
(ii)
to the extent practicable, are capable of interfacing with the State data collection system that collects information relating to child abuse and neglect;
(iii)
to the extent practicable, have the capability of interfacing with, and retrieving information from, the State data collection system that collects information relating to the eligibility of individuals under part A (for the purposes of facilitating verification of eligibility of foster children); and
(iv)
are determined by the Secretary to be likely to provide more efficient, economical, and effective administration of the programs carried out under a State plan approved under part B or this part; and
(D)
50 percent of so much of such expenditures as are for the operation of the statewide mechanized data collection and information retrieval systems referred to in subparagraph (C); and
(E)
one-half of the remainder of such expenditures; plus
(4)
an amount equal to the amount (if any) by which—
(A)
the lesser of—
(i)
80 percent of the amounts expended by the State during the fiscal year in which the quarter occurs to carry out programs in accordance with the State application approved under section 477(b) for the period in which the quarter occurs (including any amendment that meets the requirements of section 477(b)(5)); or
(ii)
the amount allotted to the State under section 477(c)(1) for the fiscal year in which the quarter occurs, reduced by the total of the amounts payable to the State under this paragraph for all prior quarters in the fiscal year; exceeds
(B)
the total amount of any penalties assessed against the State under section 477(e) during the fiscal year in which the quarter occurs; plus
(5)
an amount equal to the percentage by which the expenditures referred to in paragraph (2) of this subsection are reimbursed of the total amount expended during such quarter as kinship guardianship assistance payments under section 473(d) pursuant to kinship guardianship assistance agreements; plus
(6)
subject to section 471(e)—
(A)
for each quarter—
(i)
subject to clause (ii)—
(I)
beginning after September 30, 2019, and before October 1, 2026, an amount equal to 50 percent of the total amount expended during the quarter for the provision of services or programs specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 471(e)(1) that are provided in accordance with promising, supported, or well-supported practices that meet the applicable criteria specified for the practices in section 471(e)(4)(C); and
(II)
beginning after September 30, 2026, an amount equal to the Federal medical assistance percentage (which shall be as defined in section 1905(b), in the case of a State other than the District of Columbia, or 70 percent, in the case of the District of Columbia) of the total amount expended during the quarter for the provision of services or programs specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 471(e)(1) that are provided in accordance with promising, supported, or well-supported practices that meet the applicable criteria specified for the practices in section 471(e)(4)(C) (or, with respect to the payments made during the quarter under a cooperative agreement or contract entered into by the State and an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium for the administration or payment of funds under this part, an amount equal to the Federal medical assistance percentage that would apply under section 479B(d) (in this paragraph referred to as the “tribal FMAP”) if the Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium made the payments under a program operated under that section, unless the tribal FMAP is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage that applies to the State); except that
(ii)
not less than 50 percent of the total amount expended by a State under clause (i) for a fiscal year shall be for the provision of services or programs specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 471(e)(1) that are provided in accordance with well-supported practices; plus
(B)
for each quarter specified in subparagraph (A), an amount equal to the sum of the following proportions of the total amount expended during the quarter—
(i)
50 percent of so much of the expenditures as are found necessary by the Secretary for the proper and efficient administration of the State plan for the provision of services or programs specified in section 471(e)(1), including expenditures for activities approved by the Secretary that promote the development of necessary processes and procedures to establish and implement the provision of the services and programs for individuals who are eligible for the services and programs and expenditures attributable to data collection and reporting; and
(ii)
50 percent of so much of the expenditures with respect to the provision of services and programs specified in section 471(e)(1) as are for training of personnel employed or preparing for employment by the State agency or by the local agency administering the plan in the political subdivision and of the members of the staff of State-licensed or State-approved child welfare agencies providing services to children described in section 471(e)(2) and their parents or kin caregivers, including on how to determine who are individuals eligible for the services or programs, how to identify and provide appropriate services and programs, and how to oversee and evaluate the ongoing appropriateness of the services and programs; plus
(7)
an amount equal to 50 percent of the amounts expended by the State during the quarter as the Secretary determines are for kinship navigator programs that meet the requirements described in section 427(a)(1)51 and that the Secretary determines are operated in accordance with promising, supported, or well-supported practices that meet the applicable criteria specified for the practices in section 471(e)(4)(C), without regard to whether the expenditures are incurred on behalf of children who are, or are potentially, eligible for foster care maintenance payments under this part.
^{51}
Effective on October 1, 2025, subsection (a)(7) is amended by striking “427(a)(1)” and inserting “427(a)” by section 110(b)(3) of Public Law 118–258.
(b)
(1)
The Secretary shall, prior to the beginning of each quarter, estimate the amount to which a State will be entitled under subsections 52 (a) for such quarter, such estimates to be based on (A) a report filed by the State containing its estimate of the total sum to be expended in such quarter in accordance with subsection (a), and stating the amount appropriated or made available by the State and its political subdivisions for such expenditures in such quarter, and if such amount is less than the State's proportionate share of the total sum of such estimated expenditures, the source or sources from which the difference is expected to be derived, (B) records showing the number of children in the State receiving assistance under this part, and (C) such other investigation as the Secretary may find necessary.
^{52}
So in law. The word “subsections” in subsection (b)(1) probably should read “subsection”.
(2)
The Secretary shall then pay to the State, in such installments as he may determine, the amounts so estimated, reduced or increased to the extent of any overpayment or underpayment which the Secretary determines was made under this section to such State for any prior quarter and with respect to which adjustment has not already been made under this subsection.
(3)
The pro rata share to which the United States is equitably entitled, as determined by the Secretary, of the net amount recovered during any quarter by the State or any political subdivision thereof with respect to foster care and adoption assistance furnished under the State plan shall be considered an overpayment to be adjusted under this subsection.
(4)
(A)
Within 60 days after receipt of a State claim for expenditures pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall allow, disallow, or defer such claim.
(B)
Within 15 days after a decision to defer such a State claim, the Secretary shall notify the State of the reasons for the deferral and of the additional information necessary to determine the allowability of the claim.
(C)
Within 90 days after receiving such necessary information (in readily reviewable form), the Secretary shall—
(i)
disallow the claim, if able to complete the review and determine that the claim is not allowable, or
(ii)
in any other case, allow the claim, subject to disallowance (as necessary)—
(I)
upon completion of the review, if it is determined that the claim is not allowable; or
(II)
on the basis of findings of an audit or financial management review.
(c)

Automated Data Collection Expenditures.—
The Secretary shall treat as necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the State plan all expenditures of a State necessary in order for the State to plan, design, develop, install, and operate data collection and information retrieval systems described in subsection (a)(3)(C), without regard to whether the systems may be used with respect to foster or adoptive children other than those on behalf of whom foster care maintenance payments or adoption assistance payments may be made under this part.
(d)
(1)
If, during any quarter of a fiscal year, a State's program operated under this part is found, as a result of a review conducted under section 1123A, or otherwise, to have violated paragraph (18) or (23) of section 471(a) with respect to a person or to have failed to implement a corrective action plan within a period of time not to exceed 6 months with respect to such violation, then, notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section and any regulations promulgated under section 1123A(b)(3), the Secretary shall reduce the amount otherwise payable to the State under this part, for that fiscal year quarter and for any subsequent quarter of such fiscal year, until the State program is found, as a result of a subsequent review under section 1123A, to have implemented a corrective action plan with respect to such violation, by—
(A)
2 percent of such otherwise payable amount, in the case of the 1st such finding for the fiscal year with respect to the State;
(B)
3 percent of such otherwise payable amount, in the case of the 2nd such finding for the fiscal year with respect to the State; or
(C)
5 percent of such otherwise payable amount, in the case of the 3rd or subsequent such finding for the fiscal year with respect to the State.
In imposing the penalties described in this paragraph, the Secretary shall not reduce any fiscal year payment to a State by more than 5 percent.
(2)
Any other entity which is in a State that receives funds under this part and which violates paragraph (18) or (23) of section 471(a) during a fiscal year quarter with respect to any person shall remit to the Secretary all funds that were paid by the State to the entity during the quarter from such funds.
(3)
(A)
Any individual who is aggrieved by a violation of section 471(a)(18) by a State or other entity may bring an action seeking relief from the State or other entity in any United States district court.
(B)
An action under this paragraph may not be brought more than 2 years after the date the alleged violation occurred.
(4)
This subsection shall not be construed to affect the application of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.
(e)

Discretionary Grants for Educational and Training Vouchers for Youths Aging out of Foster Care.—
From amounts appropriated pursuant to section 477(h)(2), the Secretary may make a grant to a State with a plan approved under this part, for a calendar quarter, in an amount equal to the lesser of—
(1)
80 percent of the amounts expended by the State during the quarter to carry out programs for the purposes described in section 477(a)(6); or
(2)
the amount, if any, allotted to the State under section 477(c)(3) for the fiscal year in which the quarter occurs, reduced by the total of the amounts payable to the State under this subsection for such purposes for all prior quarters in the fiscal year.
(f)
(1)
If the Secretary finds that a State has failed to submit to the Secretary data, as required by regulation, for the data collection system implemented under section 479, the Secretary shall, within 30 days after the date by which the data was due to be so submitted, notify the State of the failure and that payments to the State under this part will be reduced if the State fails to submit the data, as so required, within 6 months after the date the data was originally due to be so submitted.
(2)
If the Secretary finds that the State has failed to submit the data, as so required, by the end of the 6-month period referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection, then, notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section and any regulations promulgated under section 1123A(b)(3), the Secretary shall reduce the amounts otherwise payable to the State under this part, for each quarter ending in the 6-month period (and each quarter ending in each subsequent consecutively occurring 6-month period until the Secretary finds that the State has submitted the data, as so required), by—
(A)
⅙ of 1 percent of the total amount expended by the State for administration of foster care activities under the State plan approved under this part in the quarter so ending, in the case of the 1st 6-month period during which the failure continues; or
(B)
¼ of 1 percent of the total amount so expended, in the case of the 2nd or any subsequent such 6-month period.
(g)
For purposes of this part, after the termination of a demonstration project relating to guardianship conducted by a State under section 1130, the expenditures of the State for the provision, to children who, as of September 30, 2008, were receiving assistance or services under the project, of the same assistance and services under the same terms and conditions that applied during the conduct of the project, are deemed to be expenditures under the State plan approved under this part.

DEFINITIONS
Sec. 475.
[42 U.S.C. 675]
As used in this part or part B of this title:
(1)
The term “case plan” means a written document which meets the requirements of section 475A and includes at least the following:
(A)
A description of the type of home or institution in which a child is to be placed, including a discussion of the safety and appropriateness of the placement and how the agency which is responsible for the child plans to carry out the voluntary placement agreement entered into or judicial determination made with respect to the child in accordance with section 472(a)(1).53
^{53}
Section 472(a) of this Act, referred to in paragraph (1)(A), was amended generally by section 7404(a) of Public Law 109–171, and, as so amended, provisions relating to a voluntary placement agreement or judicial determination made with respect to a child, which formerly appeared in subection (a)(1), are contained in subsection (a)(2)(A).
(B)
A plan for assuring that the child receives safe and proper care and that services are provided to the parents, child, and foster parents in order to improve the conditions in the parents' home, facilitate return of the child to his own safe home or the permanent placement of the child, and address the needs of the child while in foster care, including a discussion of the appropriateness of the services that have been provided to the child under the plan. With respect to a child who has attained 14 years of age, the plan developed for the child in accordance with this paragraph, and any revision or addition to the plan, shall be developed in consultation with the child and, at the option of the child, with up to 2 members of the case planning team who are chosen by the child and who are not a foster parent of, or caseworker for, the child. A State may reject an individual selected by a child to be a member of the case planning team at any time if the State has good cause to believe that the individual would not act in the best interests of the child. One individual selected by a child to be a member of the child's case planning team may be designated to be the child's advisor and, as necessary, advocate, with respect to the application of the reasonable and prudent parent standard to the child.
(C)
The health and education records of the child, including the most recent information available regarding—
(i)
the names and addresses of the child's health and educational providers;
(ii)
the child's grade level performance;
(iii)
the child's school record;
(iv)
a record of the child's immunizations;
(v)
the child's known medical problems;
(vi)
the child's medications; and
(vii)
any other relevant health and education information concerning the child determined to be appropriate by the State agency.
(D)
For a child who has attained 14 years of age or over, a written description of the programs and services which will help such child prepare for the transition from foster care to a successful adulthood.
(E)
In the case of a child with respect to whom the permanency plan is adoption or placement in another permanent home, documentation of the steps the agency is taking to find an adoptive family or other permanent living arrangement for the child, to place the child with an adoptive family, a fit and willing relative, a legal guardian, or in another planned permanent living arrangement, and to finalize the adoption or legal guardianship. At a minimum, such documentation shall include child specific recruitment efforts such as the use of State, regional, and national adoption exchanges including electronic exchange systems to facilitate orderly and timely in-State and interstate placements.
(F)
In the case of a child with respect to whom the permanency plan is placement with a relative and receipt of kinship guardianship assistance payments under section 473(d), a description of—
(i)
the steps that the agency has taken to determine that it is not appropriate for the child to be returned home or adopted;
(ii)
the reasons for any separation of siblings during placement;
(iii)
the reasons why a permanent placement with a fit and willing relative through a kinship guardianship assistance arrangement is in the child's best interests;
(iv)
the ways in which the child meets the eligibility requirements for a kinship guardianship assistance payment;
(v)
the efforts the agency has made to discuss adoption by the child's relative foster parent as a more permanent alternative to legal guardianship and, in the case of a relative foster parent who has chosen not to pursue adoption, documentation of the reasons therefor; and
(vi)
the efforts made by the State agency to discuss with the child's parent or parents the kinship guardianship assistance arrangement, or the reasons why the efforts were not made.
(G)
A plan for ensuring the educational stability of the child while in foster care, including—
(i)
assurances that each placement of the child in foster care takes into account the appropriateness of the current educational setting and the proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement; and
(ii)
(I)
an assurance that the State agency has coordinated with appropriate local educational agencies (as defined under section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) to ensure that the child remains in the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of each placement; or
(II)
if remaining in such school is not in the best interests of the child, assurances by the State agency and the local educational agencies to provide immediate and appropriate enrollment in a new school, with all of the educational records of the child provided to the school.
(2)
The term “parents” means biological or adoptive parents or legal guardians, as determined by applicable State law.
(3)
The term “adoption assistance agreement” means a written agreement, binding on the parties to the agreement, between the State agency, other relevant agencies, and the prospective adoptive parents of a minor child which at a minimum (A) specifies the nature and amount of any payments, services, and assistance to be provided under such agreement, and (B) stipulates that the agreement shall remain in effect regardless of the State of which the adoptive parents are residents at any given time. The agreement shall contain provisions for the protection (under an interstate compact approved by the Secretary or otherwise) of the interests of the child in cases where the adoptive parents and child move to another State while the agreement is effective.
(4)
(A)
The term “foster care maintenance payments” means payments to cover the cost of (and the cost of providing) food, clothing, shelter, daily supervision, school supplies, a child's personal incidentals, liability insurance with respect to a child, reasonable travel to the child's home for visitation, and reasonable travel for the child to remain in the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement. In the case of institutional care, such term shall include the reasonable costs of administration and operation of such institution as are necessarily required to provide the items described in the preceding sentence.
(B)
In cases where—
(i)
a child placed in a foster family home or child-care institution is the parent of a son or daughter who is in the same home or institution, and
(ii)
payments described in subparagraph (A) are being made under this part with respect to such child,
the foster care maintenance payments made with respect to such child as otherwise determined under subparagraph (A) shall also include such amounts as may be necessary to cover the cost of the items described in that subparagraph with respect to such son or daughter.
(5)
The term “case review system” means a procedure for assuring that—
(A)
each child has a case plan designed to achieve placement in a safe setting that is the least restrictive (most family like) and most appropriate setting available and in close proximity to the parents' home, consistent with the best interest and special needs of the child, which—
(i)
if the child has been placed in a foster family home or child-care institution a substantial distance from the home of the parents of the child, or in a State different from the State in which such home is located, sets forth the reasons why such placement is in the best interests of the child, and
(ii)
if the child has been placed in foster care outside the State in which the home of the parents of the child is located, requires that, periodically, but not less frequently than every 6 months, a caseworker on the staff of the State agency of the State in which the home of the parents of the child is located, of the State in which the child has been placed, or of a private agency under contract with either such State, visit such child in such home or institution and submit a report on such visit to the State 54 in which the home of the parents of the child is located,55
^{54}
So in law. The words “agency of the State” in paragraph (5)(A)(ii) probably should appear after the phrase “on such visit to the State”.
^{55}
So in law. The comma at the subparagraphs (A) and (B) probably should be a semicolon.
(B)
the status of each child is reviewed periodically but no less frequently than once every six months by either a court or by administrative review (as defined in paragraph (6)) in order to determine the safety of the child, the continuing necessity for and appropriateness of the placement, the extent of compliance with the case plan, and the extent of progress which has been made toward alleviating or mitigating the causes necessitating placement in foster care, and to project a likely date by which the child may be returned to and safely maintained in the home or placed for adoption or legal guardianship, and, for a child for whom another planned permanent living arrangement has been determined as the permanency plan, the steps the State agency is taking to ensure the child’s foster family home or child care institution is following the reasonable and prudent parent standard and to ascertain whether the child has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities (including by consulting with the child in an age-appropriate manner about the opportunities of the child to participate in the activities);
(C)
with respect to each such child,
(i)
procedural safeguards will be applied, among other things, to assure each child in foster care under the supervision of the State of a permanency hearing to be held, in a family or juvenile court or another court (including a tribal court) of competent jurisdiction, or by an administrative body appointed or approved by the court, no later than 12 months after the date the child is considered to have entered foster care (as determined under subparagraph (F)) (and not less frequently than every 12 months thereafter during the continuation of foster care), which hearing shall determine the permanency plan for the child that includes whether, and if applicable when, the child will be returned to the parent, placed for adoption and the State will file a petition for termination of parental rights, or referred for legal guardianship, or only in the case of a child who has attained 16 years of age (in cases where the State agency has documented to the State court a compelling reason for determining, as of the date of the hearing, that it would not be in the best interests of the child to return home, be referred for termination of parental rights, or be placed for adoption, with a fit and willing relative, or with a legal guardian) placed in another planned permanent living arrangement, subject to section 475A(a), in the case of a child who will not be returned to the parent, the hearing shall consider in-State and out-of-State placement options, and, in the case of a child described in subparagraph (A)(ii), the hearing shall determine whether the out-of-State placement continues to be appropriate and in the best interests of the child, and, in the case of a child who has attained age 14, the services needed to assist the child to make the transition from foster care to a successful adulthood;
(ii)
procedural safeguards shall be applied with respect to parental rights pertaining to the removal of the child from the home of his parents, to a change in the child's placement, and to any determination affecting visitation privileges of parents;
(iii)
procedural safeguards shall be applied to assure that in any permanency hearing held with respect to the child, including any hearing regarding the transition of the child from foster care to a successful adulthood, the court or administrative body conducting the hearing consults, in an age-appropriate manner, with the child regarding the proposed permanency or transition plan for the child; and
(iv)
if a child has attained 14 years of age, the permanency plan developed for the child, and any revision or addition to the plan, shall be developed in consultation with the child and, at the option of the child, with not more than 2 members of the permanency planning team who are selected by the child and who are not a foster parent of, or caseworker for, the child, except that the State may reject an individual so selected by the child if the State has good cause to believe that the individual would not act in the best interests of the child, and 1 individual so selected by the child may be designated to be the child’s advisor and, as necessary, advocate, with respect to the application of the reasonable and prudent standard to the child;
(D)
a child's health and education record (as described in paragraph (1)(A)) is reviewed and updated, and a copy of the record is supplied to the foster parent or foster care provider with whom the child is placed, at the time of each placement of the child in foster care, and is supplied to the child at no cost at the time the child leaves foster care if the child is leaving foster care by reason of having attained the age of majority under State law;
(E)
in the case of a child who has been in foster care under the responsibility of the State for 15 of the most recent 22 months, or, if a court of competent jurisdiction has determined a child to be an abandoned infant (as defined under State law) or has made a determination that the parent has committed murder of another child of the parent, committed voluntary manslaughter of another child of the parent, aided or abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to commit such a murder or such a voluntary manslaughter, or committed a felony assault that has resulted in serious bodily injury to the child or to another child of the parent, the State shall file a petition to terminate the parental rights of the child's parents (or, if such a petition has been filed by another party, seek to be joined as a party to the petition), and, concurrently, to identify, recruit, process, and approve a qualified family for an adoption, unless—
(i)
at the option of the State, the child is being cared for by a relative;
(ii)
a State agency has documented in the case plan (which shall be available for court review) a compelling reason for determining that filing such a petition would not be in the best interests of the child; or
(iii)
the State has not provided to the family of the child, consistent with the time period in the State case plan, such services as the State deems necessary for the safe return of the child to the child's home, if reasonable efforts of the type described in section 471(a)(15)(B)(ii) are required to be made with respect to the child;
(F)
a child shall be considered to have entered foster care on the earlier of—
(i)
the date of the first judicial finding that the child has been subjected to child abuse or neglect; or
(ii)
the date that is 60 days after the date on which the child is removed from the home;
(G)
the foster parents (if any) of a child and any preadoptive parent or relative providing care for the child are provided with notice of, and a right to be heard in, any proceeding to be held with respect to the child, except that this subparagraph shall not be construed to require that any foster parent, preadoptive parent, or relative providing care for the child be made a party to such a proceeding solely on the basis of such notice and right to be heard;
(H)
during the 90-day period immediately prior to the date on which the child will attain 18 years of age, or such greater age as the State may elect under paragraph (8)(B)(iii), whether during that period foster care maintenance payments are being made on the child's behalf or the child is receiving benefits or services under section 477, a caseworker on the staff of the State agency, and, as appropriate, other representatives of the child provide the child with assistance and support in developing a transition plan that is personalized at the direction of the child, includes specific options on housing, health insurance, education, local opportunities for mentors and continuing support services, and work force supports and employment services, includes information about the importance of designating another individual to make health care treatment decisions on behalf of the child if the child becomes unable to participate in such decisions and the child does not have, or does not want, a relative who would otherwise be authorized under State law to make such decisions, and provides the child with the option to execute a health care power of attorney, health care proxy, or other similar document recognized under State law, and is as detailed as the child may elect; and
(I)
each child in foster care under the responsibility of the State who has attained 14 years of age receives without cost a copy of any consumer report (as defined in section 603(d) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act) pertaining to the child each year until the child is discharged from care, receives assistance (including, when feasible, from any court-appointed advocate for the child) in interpreting and resolving any inaccuracies in the report, and, if the child is leaving foster care by reason of having attained 18 years of age or such greater age as the State has elected under paragraph (8), unless the child has been in foster care for less than 6 months, is not discharged from care without being provided with (if the child is eligible to receive such document) an official or certified copy of the United States birth certificate of the child, a social security card issued by the Commissioner of Social Security, health insurance information, a copy of the child’s medical records, and a driver's license or identification card issued by a State in accordance with the requirements of section 202 of the REAL ID Act of 2005, and any official documentation necessary to prove that the child was previously in foster care.
(6)
The term “administrative review” means a review open to the participation of the parents of the child, conducted by a panel of appropriate persons at least one of whom is not responsible for the case management of, or the delivery of services to, either the child or the parents who are the subject of the review.
(7)
The term “legal guardianship” means a judicially created relationship between child and caretaker which is intended to be permanent and self-sustaining as evidenced by the transfer to the caretaker of the following parental rights with respect to the child: protection, education, care and control of the person, custody of the person, and decisionmaking. The term “legal guardian” means the caretaker in such a relationship.
(8)
(A)
Subject to subparagraph (B), the term “child” means an individual who has not attained 18 years of age.
(B)
At the option of a State, the term shall include an individual—
(i)
(I)
who is in foster care under the responsibility of the State;
(II)
with respect to whom an adoption assistance agreement is in effect under section 473 if the child had attained 16 years of age before the agreement became effective; or
(III)
with respect to whom a kinship guardianship assistance agreement is in effect under section 473(d) if the child had attained 16 years of age before the agreement became effective;
(ii)
who has attained 18 years of age;
(iii)
who has not attained 19, 20, or 21 years of age, as the State may elect; and
(iv)
who is—
(I)
completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential;
(II)
enrolled in an institution which provides post-secondary or vocational education;
(III)
participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, employment;
(IV)
employed for at least 80 hours per month; or
(V)
incapable of doing any of the activities described in subclauses (I) through (IV) due to a medical condition, which incapability is supported by regularly updated information in the case plan of the child.
(9)
The term “sex trafficking victim” means a victim of—
(A)
sex trafficking (as defined in section 103(10) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000); or
(B)
a severe form of trafficking in persons described in section 103(9)(A) of such Act.
(10)
(A)
The term “reasonable and prudent parent standard” means the standard characterized by careful and sensible parental decisions that maintain the health, safety, and best interests of a child while at the same time encouraging the emotional and developmental growth of the child, that a caregiver shall use when determining whether to allow a child in foster care under the responsibility of the State to participate in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities.
(B)
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “caregiver” means a foster parent with whom a child in foster care has been placed or a designated official for a child care institution in which a child in foster care has been placed.
(11)
(A)
The term “age or developmentally-appropriate” means—
(i)
activities or items that are generally accepted as suitable for children of the same chronological age or level of maturity or that are determined to be developmentally-appropriate for a child, based on the development of cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities that are typical for an age or age group; and
(ii)
in the case of a specific child, activities or items that are suitable for the child based on the developmental stages attained by the child with respect to the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral capacities of the child.
(B)
In the event that any age-related activities have implications relative to the academic curriculum of a child, nothing in this part or part B shall be construed to authorize an officer or employee of the Federal Government to mandate, direct, or control a State or local educational agency, or the specific instructional content, academic achievement standards and assessments, curriculum, or program of instruction of a school.
(12)
The term “sibling” means an individual who satisfies at least one of the following conditions with respect to a child:
(A)
The individual is considered by State law to be a sibling of the child.
(B)
The individual would have been considered a sibling of the child under State law but for a termination or other disruption of parental rights, such as the death of a parent.
(13)
The term “child who is a candidate for foster care” means, a child who is identified in a prevention plan under section 471(e)(4)(A) as being at imminent risk of entering foster care (without regard to whether the child would be eligible for foster care maintenance payments under section 472 or is or would be eligible for adoption assistance or kinship guardianship assistance payments under section 473) but who can remain safely in the child's home or in a kinship placement as long as services or programs specified in section 471(e)(1) that are necessary to prevent the entry of the child into foster care are provided. The term includes a child whose adoption or guardianship arrangement is at risk of a disruption or dissolution that would result in a foster care placement.
SEC. 475A.
[42 U.S.C. 675a]

ADDITIONAL CASE PLAN AND CASE REVIEW SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.
(a)

Requirements for Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement.—
In the case of any child for whom another planned permanent living arrangement is the permanency plan determined for the child under section 475(5)(C), the following requirements shall apply for purposes of approving the case plan for the child and the case system review procedure for the child:
(1)

Documentation of intensive, ongoing, unsuccessful efforts for family placement.—
At each permanency hearing held with respect to the child, the State agency documents the intensive, ongoing, and, as of the date of the hearing, unsuccessful efforts made by the State agency to return the child home or secure a placement for the child with a fit and willing relative (including adult siblings), a legal guardian, or an adoptive parent, including through efforts that utilize search technology (including social media) to find biological family members for the children.
(2)

Redetermination of appropriateness of placement at each permanency hearing.—
The State agency shall implement procedures to ensure that, at each permanency hearing held with respect to the child, the court or administrative body appointed or approved by the court conducting the hearing on the permanency plan for the child does the following:
(A)
Ask the child about the desired permanency outcome for the child.
(B)
Make a judicial determination explaining why, as of the date of the hearing, another planned permanent living arrangement is the best permanency plan for the child and provide compelling reasons why it continues to not be in the best interests of the child to—
(i)
return home;
(ii)
be placed for adoption;
(iii)
be placed with a legal guardian; or
(iv)
be placed with a fit and willing relative.
(3)

Demonstration of support for engaging in age or developmentally-appropriate activities and social events.—
At each permanency hearing held with respect to the child, the State agency shall document the steps the State agency is taking to ensure that—
(A)
the child's foster family home or child care institution is following the reasonable and prudent parent standard; and
(B)
the child has regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities (including by consulting with the child in an age-appropriate manner about the opportunities of the child to participate in the activities).
(b)

List of Rights.—
The case plan for any child in foster care under the responsibility of the State who has attained 14 years of age shall include—
(1)
a document that describes the rights of the child with respect to education, health, visitation, and court participation, the right to be provided with the documents specified in section 475(5)(I) in accordance with that section, and the right to stay safe and avoid exploitation; and
(2)
a signed acknowledgment by the child that the child has been provided with a copy of the document and that the rights contained in the document have been explained to the child in an age-appropriate way.
(c)

Assessment, Documentation, and Judicial Determination Requirements for Placement in a Qualified Residential Treatment Program.—
In the case of any child who is placed in a qualified residential treatment program (as defined in section 472(k)(4)), the following requirements shall apply for purposes of approving the case plan for the child and the case system review procedure for the child:
(1)
(A)
Within 30 days of the start of each placement in such a setting, a qualified individual (as defined in subparagraph (D)) shall—
(i)
assess the strengths and needs of the child using an age-appropriate, evidence-based, validated, functional assessment tool approved by the Secretary;
(ii)
determine whether the needs of the child can be met with family members or through placement in a foster family home or, if not, which setting from among the settings specified in section 472(k)(2) would provide the most effective and appropriate level of care for the child in the least restrictive environment and be consistent with the short- and long-term goals for the child, as specified in the permanency plan for the child; and
(iii)
develop a list of child-specific short- and long-term mental and behavioral health goals.
(B)
(i)
The State shall assemble a family and permanency team for the child in accordance with the requirements of clauses (ii) and (iii). The qualified individual conducting the assessment required under subparagraph (A) shall work in conjunction with the family of, and permanency team for, the child while conducting and making the assessment.
(ii)
The family and permanency team shall consist of all appropriate biological family members, relative, and fictive kin of the child, as well as, as appropriate, professionals who are a resource to the family of the child, such as teachers, medical or mental health providers who have treated the child, or clergy. In the case of a child who has attained age 14, the family and permanency team shall include the members of the permanency planning team for the child that are selected by the child in accordance with section 475(5)(C)(iv).
(iii)
The State shall document in the child's case plan—
(I)
the reasonable and good faith effort of the State to identify and include all the individuals described in clause (ii) on the child's family and permanency team;
(II)
all contact information for members of the family and permanency team, as well as contact information for other family members and fictive kin who are not part of the family and permanency team;
(III)
evidence that meetings of the family and permanency team, including meetings relating to the assessment required under subparagraph (A), are held at a time and place convenient for family;
(IV)
if reunification is the goal, evidence demonstrating that the parent from whom the child was removed provided input on the members of the family and permanency team;
(V)
evidence that the assessment required under subparagraph (A) is determined in conjunction with the family and permanency team;
(VI)
the placement preferences of the family and permanency team relative to the assessment that recognizes children should be placed with their siblings unless there is a finding by the court that such placement is contrary to their best interest; and
(VII)
if the placement preferences of the family and permanency team and child are not the placement setting recommended by the qualified individual conducting the assessment under subparagraph (A), the reasons why the preferences of the team and of the child were not recommended.
(C)
In the case of a child who the qualified individual conducting the assessment under subparagraph (A) determines should not be placed in a foster family home, the qualified individual shall specify in writing the reasons why the needs of the child cannot be met by the family of the child or in a foster family home. A shortage or lack of foster family homes shall not be an acceptable reason for determining that the needs of the child cannot be met in a foster family home. The qualified individual also shall specify in writing why the recommended placement in a qualified residential treatment program is the setting that will provide the child with the most effective and appropriate level of care in the least restrictive environment and how that placement is consistent with the short- and long-term goals for the child, as specified in the permanency plan for the child.
(D)
(i)
Subject to clause (ii), in this subsection, the term “qualified individual” means a trained professional or licensed clinician who is not an employee of the State agency and who is not connected to, or affiliated with, any placement setting in which children are placed by the State.
(ii)
The Secretary may approve a request of a State to waive any requirement in clause (i) upon a submission by the State, in accordance with criteria established by the Secretary, that certifies that the trained professionals or licensed clinicians with responsibility for performing the assessments described in subparagraph (A) shall maintain objectivity with respect to determining the most effective and appropriate placement for a child.
(2)
Within 60 days of the start of each placement in a qualified residential treatment program, a family or juvenile court or another court (including a tribal court) of competent jurisdiction, or an administrative body appointed or approved by the court, independently, shall—
(A)
consider the assessment, determination, and documentation made by the qualified individual conducting the assessment under paragraph (1);
(B)
determine whether the needs of the child can be met through placement in a foster family home or, if not, whether placement of the child in a qualified residential treatment program provides the most effective and appropriate level of care for the child in the least restrictive environment and whether that placement is consistent with the short- and long-term goals for the child, as specified in the permanency plan for the child; and
(C)
approve or disapprove the placement.
(3)
The written documentation made under paragraph (1)(C) and documentation of the determination and approval or disapproval of the placement in a qualified residential treatment program by a court or administrative body under paragraph (2) shall be included in and made part of the case plan for the child.
(4)
As long as a child remains placed in a qualified residential treatment program, the State agency shall submit evidence at each status review and each permanency hearing held with respect to the child—
(A)
demonstrating that ongoing assessment of the strengths and needs of the child continues to support the determination that the needs of the child cannot be met through placement in a foster family home, that the placement in a qualified residential treatment program provides the most effective and appropriate level of care for the child in the least restrictive environment, and that the placement is consistent with the short- and long-term goals for the child, as specified in the permanency plan for the child;
(B)
documenting the specific treatment or service needs that will be met for the child in the placement and the length of time the child is expected to need the treatment or services; and
(C)
documenting the efforts made by the State agency to prepare the child to return home or to be placed with a fit and willing relative, a legal guardian, or an adoptive parent, or in a foster family home.
(5)
In the case of any child who is placed in a qualified residential treatment program for more than 12 consecutive months or 18 nonconsecutive months (or, in the case of a child who has not attained age 13, for more than 6 consecutive or nonconsecutive months), the State agency shall submit to the Secretary—
(A)
the most recent versions of the evidence and documentation specified in paragraph (4); and
(B)
the signed approval of the head of the State agency for the continued placement of the child in that setting.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; DATA COLLECTION AND EVALUATION
Sec. 476.
[42 U.S.C. 676]
(a)
The Secretary may provide technical assistance to the States to assist them to develop the programs authorized under this part and shall periodically (1) evaluate the programs authorized under this part and part B of this title and (2) collect and publish data pertaining to the incidence and characteristics of foster care and adoptions in this country.
(b)
Each State shall submit statistical reports as the Secretary may require with respect to children for whom payments are made under this part containing information with respect to such children including legal status, demographic characteristics, location, and length of any stay in foster care.
(c)

Technical Assistance and Implementation Services for Tribal Programs.—
(1)

Authority.—
The Secretary shall provide technical assistance and implementation services that are dedicated to improving services and permanency outcomes for Indian children and their families through the provision of assistance described in paragraph (2).
(2)

Assistance provided.—
(A)

In general.—
The technical assistance and implementation services shall be to—
(i)
provide information, advice, educational materials, and technical assistance to Indian tribes and tribal organizations with respect to the types of services, administrative functions, data collection, program management, and reporting that are required under State plans under part B and this part;
(ii)
assist and provide technical assistance to—
(I)
Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal consortia seeking to operate a program under part B or under this part through direct application to the Secretary under section 479B; and
(II)
Indian tribes, tribal organizations, tribal consortia, and States seeking to develop cooperative agreements to provide for payments under this part or satisfy the requirements of section 422(b)(9), 471(a)(32), or 477(b)(3)(G); and
(iii)
subject to subparagraph (B), make one-time grants, to tribes, tribal organizations, or tribal consortia that are seeking to develop, and intend, not later than 24 months after receiving such a grant to submit to the Secretary a plan under section 471 to implement a program under this part as authorized by section 479B, that shall—
(I)
not exceed $300,000; and
(II)
be used for the cost of developing a plan under section 471 to carry out a program under section 479B, including costs related to development of necessary data collection systems, a cost allocation plan, agency and tribal court procedures necessary to meet the case review system requirements under section 475(5), or any other costs attributable to meeting any other requirement necessary for approval of such a plan under this part.
(B)

Grant condition.—
(i)

In general.—
As a condition of being paid a grant under subparagraph (A)(iii), a tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium shall agree to repay the total amount of the grant awarded if the tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium fails to submit to the Secretary a plan under section 471 to carry out a program under section 479B by the end of the 24-month period described in that subparagraph.
(ii)

Exception.—
The Secretary shall waive the requirement to repay a grant imposed by clause (i) if the Secretary determines that a tribe's, tribal organization's, or tribal consortium's failure to submit a plan within such period was the result of circumstances beyond the control of the tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium.
(C)

Implementation authority.—
The Secretary may provide the technical assistance and implementation services described in subparagraph (A) either directly or through a grant or contract with public or private organizations knowledgeable and experienced in the field of Indian tribal affairs and child welfare.
(3)

Appropriation.—
There is appropriated to the Secretary, out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and each fiscal year thereafter to carry out this subsection.
(d)

Technical Assistance and Best Practices, Clearinghouse, Data Collection, and Evaluations Relating to Prevention Services and Programs.—
(1)

Technical assistance and best practices.—
The Secretary shall provide to States and, as applicable, to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal consortia, technical assistance regarding the provision of services and programs described in section 471(e)(1) and shall disseminate best practices with respect to the provision of the services and programs, including how to plan and implement a well-designed and rigorous evaluation of a promising, supported, or well-supported practice.
(2)

Clearinghouse of promising, supported, and well-supported practices.—
The Secretary shall, directly or through grants, contracts, or interagency agreements, evaluate research on the practices specified in clauses (iii), (iv), and (v), respectively, of section 471(e)(4)(C), and programs that meet the requirements described in section 427(a)(1), including culturally specific, or location- or population-based adaptations of the practices, to identify and establish a public clearinghouse of the practices that satisfy each category described by such clauses. In addition, the clearinghouse shall include information on the specific outcomes associated with each practice, including whether the practice has been shown to prevent child abuse and neglect and reduce the likelihood of foster care placement by supporting birth families and kinship families and improving targeted supports for pregnant and parenting youth and their children.
(3)

Data collection and evaluations.—
The Secretary, directly or through grants, contracts, or interagency agreements, may collect data and conduct evaluations with respect to the provision of services and programs described in section 471(e)(1) for purposes of assessing the extent to which the provision of the services and programs—
(A)
reduces the likelihood of foster care placement;
(B)
increases use of kinship care arrangements; or
(C)
improves child well-being.
(4)

Reports to congress.—
(A)

In general.—
The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives periodic reports based on the provision of services and programs described in section 471(e)(1) and the activities carried out under this subsection.
(B)

Public availability.—
The Secretary shall make the reports to Congress submitted under this paragraph publicly available.
(5)

Appropriation.—
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter to carry out this subsection.
(e)

Evaluation of State Procedures and Protocols to Prevent Inappropriate Diagnoses of Mental Illness or Other Conditions.—
The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the procedures and protocols established by States in accordance with the requirements of section 422(b)(15)(A)(vii). The evaluation shall analyze the extent to which States comply with and enforce the procedures and protocols and the effectiveness of various State procedures and protocols and shall identify best practices. Not later than January 1, 2020, the Secretary shall submit a report on the results of the evaluation to Congress.
SEC. 477.
[42 U.S.C. 677]

JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD.
(a)

Purpose.—
The purpose of this section is to provide States with flexible funding that will enable programs to be designed and conducted—
(1)
to support all youth who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older in their transition to adulthood through transitional services such as assistance in obtaining a high school diploma and post-secondary education, career exploration, vocational training, job placement and retention, training and opportunities to practice daily living skills (such as financial literacy training and driving instruction), substance abuse prevention, and preventive health activities (including smoking avoidance, nutrition education, and pregnancy prevention);
(2)
to help children who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older achieve meaningful, permanent connections with a caring adult;
(3)
to help children who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older engage in age or developmentally appropriate activities, positive youth development, and experiential learning that reflects what their peers in intact families experience;
(4)
to provide financial, housing, counseling, employment, education, and other appropriate support and services to former foster care recipients between 18 and 21 years of age (or 23 years of age, in the case of a State with a certification under subsection (b)(3)(A)(ii) to provide assistance and services to youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained such age, in accordance with such subsection) to complement their own efforts to achieve self-sufficiency and to assure that program participants recognize and accept their personal responsibility for preparing for and then making the transition from adolescence to adulthood;
(5)
to make available vouchers for education and training, including postsecondary training and education, to youths who have aged out of foster care;
(6)
to provide the services referred to in this subsection to children who, after attaining 16 years of age, have left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption; and
(7)
to ensure children who are likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of age have regular, ongoing opportunities to engage in age or developmentally-appropriate activities as defined in section 475(11).
(b)

Applications.—
(1)

In general.—
A State may apply for funds from its allotment under subsection (c) for a period of five consecutive fiscal years by submitting to the Secretary, in writing, a plan that meets the requirements of paragraph (2) and the certifications required by paragraph (3) with respect to the plan.
(2)

State plan.—
A plan meets the requirements of this paragraph if the plan specifies which State agency or agencies will administer, supervise, or oversee the programs carried out under the plan, and describes how the State intends to do the following:
(A)
Design and deliver programs to achieve the purposes of this section.
(B)
Ensure that all political subdivisions in the State are served by the program, though not necessarily in a uniform manner.
(C)
Ensure that the programs serve children of various ages and at various stages of achieving independence.
(D)
Involve the public and private sectors in helping youth in foster care achieve independence.
(E)
Use objective criteria for determining eligibility for benefits and services under the programs, and for ensuring fair and equitable treatment of benefit recipients.
(F)
Cooperate in national evaluations of the effects of the programs in achieving the purposes of this section.
(3)

Certifications.—
The certifications required by this paragraph with respect to a plan are the following:
(A)
(i)
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will provide assistance and services to youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained 21 years of age.
(ii)
If the State has elected under section 475(8)(B) to extend eligibility for foster care to all children who have not attained 21 years of age, or if the Secretary determines that the State agency responsible for administering the State plans under this part and part B uses State funds or any other funds not provided under this part to provide services and assistance for youths who have aged out of foster care that are comparable to the services and assistance the youths would receive if the State had made such an election, the certification required under clause (i) may provide that the State will provide assistance and services to youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained 23 years of age.
(B)
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that not more than 30 percent of the amounts paid to the State from its allotment under subsection (c) for a fiscal year will be expended for room or board for youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained 21 years of age (or 23 years of age, in the case of a State with a certification under subparagraph (A)(i) to provide assistance and services to youths who have aged out of foster care and have not attained such age, in accordance with subparagraph (A)(ii)).
(C)
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that none of the amounts paid to the State from its allotment under subsection (c) will be expended for room or board for any child who has not attained 18 years of age.
(D)
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will use training funds provided under the program of Federal payments for foster care and adoption assistance to provide training including training on youth development to help foster parents, adoptive parents, workers in group homes, and case managers understand and address the issues confronting youth preparing for a successful transition to adulthood and making a permanent connection with a caring adult.
(E)
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State has consulted widely with public and private organizations in developing the plan and that the State has given all interested members of the public at least 30 days to submit comments on the plan.
(F)
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will make every effort to coordinate the State programs receiving funds provided from an allotment made to the State under subsection (c) with other Federal and State programs for youth (especially transitional living youth projects funded under part B of title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974), abstinence education programs, local housing programs, programs for disabled youth (especially sheltered workshops), and school-to-work programs offered by high schools or local workforce agencies.
(G)
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that each Indian tribe in the State has been consulted about the programs to be carried out under the plan; that there have been efforts to coordinate the programs with such tribes; that benefits and services under the programs will be made available to Indian children in the State on the same basis as to other children in the State; and that the State will negotiate in good faith with any Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium in the State that does not receive an allotment under subsection (j)(4) for a fiscal year and that requests to develop an agreement with the State to administer, supervise, or oversee the programs to be carried out under the plan with respect to the Indian children who are eligible for such programs and who are under the authority of the tribe, organization, or consortium and to receive from the State an appropriate portion of the State allotment under subsection (c) for the cost of such administration, supervision, or oversight.
(H)
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will ensure that youth participating in the program under this section participate directly in designing their own program activities that prepare them for independent living and that the youth accept personal responsibility for living up to their part of the program.
(I)
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State has established and will enforce standards and procedures to prevent fraud and abuse in the programs carried out under the plan.
(J)
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State educational and training voucher program under this section is in compliance with the conditions specified in subsection (i), including a statement describing methods the State will use—
(i)
to ensure that the total amount of educational assistance to a youth under this section and under other Federal and Federally supported programs does not exceed the limitation specified in subsection (i)(5); and
(ii)
to avoid duplication of benefits under this and any other Federal or Federally assisted benefit program.
(K)
A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State will ensure that a youth participating in the program under this section are provided with education about the importance of designating another individual to make health care treatment decisions on behalf of the youth if the youth becomes unable to participate in such decisions and the youth does not have, or does not want, a relative who would otherwise be authorized under State law to make such decisions, whether a health care power of attorney, health care proxy, or other similar document is recognized under State law, and how to execute such a document if the youth wants to do so.
(4)

Approval.—
The Secretary shall approve an application submitted by a State pursuant to paragraph (1) for a period if—
(A)
the application is submitted on or before June 30 of the calendar year in which such period begins; and
(B)
the Secretary finds that the application contains the material required by paragraph (1).
(5)

Authority to implement certain amendments; notification.—
A State with an application approved under paragraph (4) may implement any amendment to the plan contained in the application if the application, incorporating the amendment, would be approvable under paragraph (4). Within 30 days after a State implements any such amendment, the State shall notify the Secretary of the amendment.
(6)

Availability.—
The State shall make available to the public any application submitted by the State pursuant to paragraph (1), and a brief summary of the plan contained in the application.
(c)

Allotments to States.—
(1)

General program allotment.—
From the amount specified in subsection (h)(1) that remains after applying subsection (g)(2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each State with an application approved under subsection (b) for the fiscal year the amount which bears the ratio to such remaining amount equal to the State foster care ratio, as adjusted in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2)

Hold harmless provision.—
(A)

In general.—
The Secretary shall allot to each State whose allotment for a fiscal year under paragraph (1) is less than the greater of $500,000 or the amount payable to the State under this section for fiscal year 1998, an additional amount equal to the difference between such allotment and such greater amount.
(B)

Ratable reduction of certain allotments.—
In the case of a State not described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reduce the amount allotted to the State for the fiscal year under paragraph (1) by the amount that bears the same ratio to the sum of the differences determined under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for the fiscal year as the excess of the amount so allotted over the greater of $500,000 or the amount payable to the State under this section for fiscal year 1998 bears to the sum of such excess amounts determined for all such States.
(3)

Voucher program allotment.—
From the amount, if any, appropriated pursuant to subsection (h)(2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary may allot to each State with an application approved under subsection (b) for the fiscal year an amount equal to the State foster care ratio multiplied by the amount so specified.
(4)

State foster care ratio.—
In this subsection, the term “State foster care ratio” means the ratio of the number of children in foster care under a program of the State in the most recent fiscal year for which the information is available to the total number of children in foster care in all States for the most recent fiscal year.
(d)

Use of Funds.—
(1)

In general.—
A State to which an amount is paid from its allotment under subsection (c) may use the amount in any manner that is reasonably calculated to accomplish the purposes of this section.
(2)

No supplantation of other funds available for same general purposes.—
The amounts paid to a State from its allotment under subsection (c) shall be used to supplement and not supplant any other funds which are available for the same general purposes in the State.
(3)

Two-year availability of funds.—
Payments made to a State under this section for a fiscal year shall be expended by the State in the fiscal year or in the succeeding fiscal year.
(4)

Reallocation of unused funds.—
If a State does not apply for funds under this section for a fiscal year within such time as may be provided by the Secretary or does not expend allocated funds within the period at the end of the time sentence specified under section 477(d)(3), the funds to which the State would be entitled for the fiscal year shall be reallocated to 1 or more other States on the basis of their relative need for additional payments under this section, as determined by the Secretary.
(5)

Redistribution of unexpended amounts.—
(A)

Availability of amounts.—
To the extent that amounts paid to States under this section in a fiscal year remain unexpended by the States at the end of the succeeding fiscal year, the Secretary may make the amounts available for redistribution in the second succeeding fiscal year among the States that apply for additional funds under this section for that second succeeding fiscal year.
(B)

Redistribution.—
(i)

In general.—
The Secretary shall redistribute the amounts made available under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year among eligible applicant States. In this subparagraph, the term “eligible applicant State” means a State that has applied for additional funds for the fiscal year under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary determines that the State will use the funds for the purpose for which originally allotted under this section.
(ii)

Amount to be redistributed.—
The amount to be redistributed to each eligible applicant State shall be the amount so made available multiplied by the State foster care ratio, (as defined in subsection (c)(4), except that, in such subsection, “all eligible applicant States (as defined in subsection (d)(5)(B)(i))” shall be substituted for “all States”).
(iii)

Treatment of redistributed amount.—
Any amount made available to a State under this paragraph shall be regarded as part of the allotment of the State under this section for the fiscal year in which the redistribution is made.
(C)

Tribes.—
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “State” includes an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium that receives an allotment under this section.
(e)

Penalties.—
(1)

Use of grant in violation of this part.—
If the Secretary is made aware, by an audit conducted under chapter 75 of title 31, United States Code, or by any other means, that a program receiving funds from an allotment made to a State under subsection (c) has been operated in a manner that is inconsistent with, or not disclosed in the State application approved under subsection (b), the Secretary shall assess a penalty against the State in an amount equal to not less than 1 percent and not more than 5 percent of the amount of the allotment.
(2)

Failure to comply with data reporting requirement.—
The Secretary shall assess a penalty against a State that fails during a fiscal year to comply with an information collection plan implemented under subsection (f) in an amount equal to not less than 1 percent and not more than 5 percent of the amount allotted to the State for the fiscal year.
(3)

Penalties based on degree of noncompliance.—
The Secretary shall assess penalties under this subsection based on the degree of noncompliance.
(f)

Data Collection and Performance Measurement.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary, in consultation with State and local public officials responsible for administering independent living and other child welfare programs, child welfare advocates, Members of Congress, youth service providers, and researchers, shall—
(A)
develop outcome measures (including measures of educational attainment, high school diploma, employment, avoidance of dependency, homelessness, nonmarital childbirth, incarceration, and high-risk behaviors) that can be used to assess the performance of States in operating independent living programs;
(B)
identify data elements needed to track—
(i)
the number and characteristics of children receiving services under this section;
(ii)
the type and quantity of services being provided; and
(iii)
State performance on the outcome measures; and
(C)
develop and implement a plan to collect the needed information beginning with the second fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this section.
(2)

Report to congress.—
Not later than October 1, 2019, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on the National Youth in Transition Database and any other databases in which States report outcome measures relating to children in foster care and children who have aged out of foster care or left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption. The report shall include the following:
(A)
A description of the reasons for entry into foster care and of the foster care experiences, such as length of stay, number of placement settings, case goal, and discharge reason of 17-year-olds who are surveyed by the National Youth in Transition Database and an analysis of the comparison of that description with the reasons for entry and foster care experiences of children of other ages who exit from foster care before attaining age 17.
(B)
A description of the characteristics of the individuals who report poor outcomes at ages 19 and 21 to the National Youth in Transition Database.
(C)
Benchmarks for determining what constitutes a poor outcome for youth who remain in or have exited from foster care and plans the executive branch will take to incorporate these benchmarks in efforts to evaluate child welfare agency performance in providing services to children transitioning from foster care.
(D)
An analysis of the association between types of placement, number of overall placements, time spent in foster care, and other factors, and outcomes at ages 19 and 21.
(E)
An analysis of the differences in outcomes for children in and formerly in foster care at age 19 and 21 among States.
(g)

Evaluations.—
(1)

In general.—
The Secretary shall conduct evaluations of such State programs funded under this section as the Secretary deems to be innovative or of potential national significance. The evaluation of any such program shall include information on the effects of the program on education, employment, and personal development. To the maximum extent practicable, the evaluations shall be based on rigorous scientific standards including random assignment to treatment and control groups. The Secretary is encouraged to work directly with State and local governments to design methods for conducting the evaluations, directly or by grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.
(2)

Funding of evaluations.—
The Secretary shall reserve 1.5 percent of the amount specified in subsection (h) for a fiscal year to carry out, during the fiscal year, evaluation, technical assistance, performance measurement, and data collection activities related to this section, directly or through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements with appropriate entities.
(h)

Limitations on Authorization of Appropriations.—
To carry out this section and for payments to States under section 474(a)(4), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each fiscal year—
(1)
$140,000,000 or, beginning in fiscal year 2020, $143,000,000, which shall be available for all purposes under this section; and
(2)
an additional $60,000,000, which are authorized to be available for payments to States for education and training vouchers for youths who age out of foster care, to assist the youths to develop skills necessary to lead independent and productive lives.
(i)

Educational and Training Vouchers.—
The following conditions shall apply to a State educational and training voucher program under this section:
(1)
Vouchers under the program may be available to youths otherwise eligible for services under the State program under this section who have attained 14 years of age.
(2)
For purposes of the voucher program, youths who, after attaining 16 years of age, are adopted from, or enter kinship guardianship from, foster care may be considered to be youths otherwise eligible for services under the State program under this section.
(3)
The State may allow youths participating in the voucher program to remain eligible until they attain 26 years of age, as long as they are enrolled in a postsecondary education or training program and are making satisfactory progress toward completion of that program, but in no event may a youth participate in the program for more than 5 years (whether or not consecutive).
(4)
The voucher or vouchers provided for an individual under this section—
(A)
may be available for the cost of attendance at an institution of higher education, as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965; and
(B)
shall not exceed the lesser of $5,000 per year or the total cost of attendance, as defined in section 472 of that Act.
(5)
The amount of a voucher under this section may be disregarded for purposes of determining the recipient's eligibility for, or the amount of, any other Federal or Federally supported assistance, except that the total amount of educational assistance to a youth under this section and under other Federal and Federally supported programs shall not exceed the total cost of attendance, as defined in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and except that the State agency shall take appropriate steps to prevent duplication of benefits under this and other Federal or Federally supported programs.
(6)
The program is coordinated with other appropriate education and training programs.
(j)

Authority for an Indian Tribe, Tribal Organization, or Tribal Consortium to Receive an Allotment.—
(1)

In general.—
An Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium with a plan approved under section 479B, or which is receiving funding to provide foster care under this part pursuant to a cooperative agreement or contract with a State, may apply for an allotment out of any funds authorized by paragraph (1) or (2) (or both) of subsection (h) of this section.
(2)

Application.—
A tribe, organization, or consortium desiring an allotment under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary to directly receive such allotment that includes a plan which—
(A)
satisfies such requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (b) as the Secretary determines are appropriate;
(B)
contains a description of the tribe's, organization's, or consortium's consultation process regarding the programs to be carried out under the plan with each State for which a portion of an allotment under subsection (c) would be redirected to the tribe, organization, or consortium; and
(C)
contains an explanation of the results of such consultation, particularly with respect to—
(i)
determining the eligibility for benefits and services of Indian children to be served under the programs to be carried out under the plan; and
(ii)
the process for consulting with the State in order to ensure the continuity of benefits and services for such children who will transition from receiving benefits and services under programs carried out under a State plan under subsection (b)(2) to receiving benefits and services under programs carried out under a plan under this subsection.
(3)

Payments.—
The Secretary shall pay an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium with an application and plan approved under this subsection from the allotment determined for the tribe, organization, or consortium under paragraph (4) of this subsection in the same manner as is provided in section 474(a)(4) (and, where requested, and if funds are appropriated, section 474(e)) with respect to a State, or in such other manner as is determined appropriate by the Secretary, except that in no case shall an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a tribal consortium receive a lesser proportion of such funds than a State is authorized to receive under those sections.
(4)

Allotment.—
From the amounts allotted to a State under subsection (c) of this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium with an application and plan approved under this subsection for that fiscal year an amount equal to the tribal foster care ratio determined under paragraph (5) of this subsection for the tribe, organization, or consortium multiplied by the allotment amount of the State within which the tribe, organization, or consortium is located. The allotment determined under this paragraph is deemed to be a part of the allotment determined under section 477(c) for the State in which the Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium is located.
(5)

Tribal foster care ratio.—
For purposes of paragraph (4), the tribal foster care ratio means, with respect to an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium, the ratio of—
(A)
the number of children in foster care under the responsibility of the Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium (either directly or under supervision of the State), in the most recent fiscal year for which the information is available; to
(B)
the sum of—
(i)
the total number of children in foster care under the responsibility of the State within which the Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium is located; and
(ii)
the total number of children in foster care under the responsibility of all Indian tribes, tribal organizations, or tribal consortia in the State (either directly or under supervision of the State) that have a plan approved under this subsection.
SEC. 478.
[42 U.S.C. 678]

RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this part shall be construed as precluding State courts from exercising their discretion to protect the health and safety of children in individual cases, including cases other than those described in section 471(a)(15)(D).

COLLECTION OF DATA RELATING TO ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE
Sec. 479.
[42 U.S.C. 679]
(a)
(1)
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall establish an Advisory Committee on Adoption and Foster Care Information (in this section referred to as the “Advisory Committee”) to study the various methods of establishing, administering, and financing a system for the collection of data with respect to adoption and foster care in the United States.
(2)
The study required by paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
identify the types of data necessary to—
(i)
assess (on a continuing basis) the incidence, characteristics, and status of adoption and foster care in the United States, and
(ii)
develop appropriate national policies with respect to adoption and foster care;
(B)
evaluate the feasibility and appropriateness of collecting data with respect to privately arranged adoptions and adoptions arranged through private agencies without assistance from public child welfare agencies;
(C)
assess the validity of various methods of collecting data with respect to adoption and foster care; and
(D)
evaluate the financial and administrative impact of implementing each such method.
(3)
Not later than October 1, 1987, the Advisory Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the Congress a report setting forth the results of the study required by paragraph (1) and evaluating and making recommendations with respect to the various methods of establishing, administering, and financing a system for the collection of data with respect to adoption and foster care in the United States.
(4)
(A)
Subject to subparagraph (B), the membership and organization of the Advisory Committee shall be determined by the Secretary.
(B)
The membership of the Advisory Committee shall include representatives of—
(i)
private, nonprofit organizations with an interest in child welfare (including organizations that provide foster care and adoption services),
(ii)
organizations representing State and local governmental agencies with responsibility for foster care and adoption services,
(iii)
organizations representing State and local governmental agencies with responsibility for the collection of health and social statistics,
(iv)
organizations representing State and local judicial bodies with jurisdiction over family law,
(v)
Federal agencies responsible for the collection of health and social statistics, and
(vi)
organizations and agencies involved with privately arranged or international adoptions.
(5)
After the date of the submission of the report required by paragraph (3), the Advisory Committee shall cease to exist.
(b)
(1)
(A)
Not later than July 1, 1988, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report that—
(i)
proposes a method of establishing, administering, and financing a system for the collection of data relating to adoption and foster care in the United States,
(ii)
evaluates the feasibility and appropriateness of collecting data with respect to privately arranged adoptions and adoptions arranged through private agencies without assistance from public child welfare agencies, and
(iii)
evaluates the impact of the system proposed under clause (i) on the agencies with responsibility for implementing it.
(B)
The report required by subparagraph (A) shall—
(i)
specify any changes in law that will be necessary to implement the system proposed under subparagraph (A)(i), and
(ii)
describe the type of system that will be implemented under paragraph (2) in the absence of such changes.
(2)
Not later than December 31, 1988, the Secretary shall promulgate final regulations providing for the implementation of—
(A)
the system proposed under paragraph (1)(A)(i), or
(B)
if the changes in law specified pursuant to paragraph (1)(B)(i) have not been enacted, the system described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii).
Such regulations shall provide for the full implementation of the system not later than October 1, 1991.
(c)
Any data collection system developed and implemented under this section shall—
(1)
avoid unnecessary diversion of resources from agencies responsible for adoption and foster care;
(2)
assure that any data that is collected is reliable and consistent over time and among jurisdictions through the use of uniform definitions and methodologies;
(3)
provide comprehensive national information with respect to—
(A)
the demographic characteristics of adoptive and foster children and their biological and adoptive or foster parents,
(B)
the status of the foster care population (including the number of children in foster care, length of placement, type of placement, availability for adoption, and goals for ending or continuing foster care),
(C)
the number and characteristics of—
(i)
children placed in or removed from foster care,
(ii)
children adopted or with respect to whom adoptions have been terminated, and
(iii)
children placed in foster care outside the State which has placement and care responsibility,
(D)
the extent and nature of assistance provided by Federal, State, and local adoption and foster care programs and the characteristics of the children with respect to whom such assistance is provided; and
(E)
the annual number of children in foster care who are identified as sex trafficking victims—
(i)
who were such victims before entering foster care; and
(ii)
who were such victims while in foster care; and
(4)
utilize appropriate requirements and incentives to ensure that the system functions reliably throughout the United States.
(d)
To promote improved knowledge on how best to ensure strong, permanent families for children, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations providing for the collection and analysis of information regarding children who enter into foster care under the supervision of a State after prior finalization of an adoption or legal guardianship. The regulations shall require each State with a State plan approved under this part to collect and report as part of such data collection system the number of children who enter foster care under supervision of the State after finalization of an adoption or legal guardianship and may include information concerning the length of the prior adoption or guardianship, the age of the child at the time of the prior adoption or guardianship, the age at which the child subsequently entered foster care under supervision of the State, the type of agency involved in making the prior adoptive or guardianship placement, and any other factors determined necessary to better understand factors associated with the child’s post-adoption or post-guardianship entry to foster care.
SEC. 479A.
[42 U.S.C. 679b]

ANNUAL REPORT.
(a)

In General.—
The Secretary, in consultation with Governors, State legislatures, State and local public officials responsible for administering child welfare programs, and child welfare advocates, shall—
(1)
develop a set of outcome measures (including length of stay in foster care, number of foster care placements, and number of adoptions) that can be used to assess the performance of States in operating child protection and child welfare programs pursuant to parts B and E to ensure the safety of children;
(2)
to the maximum extent possible, the outcome measures should be developed from data available from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System;
(3)
develop a system for rating the performance of States with respect to the outcome measures, and provide to the States an explanation of the rating system and how scores are determined under the rating system;
(4)
prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to ensure that States provide to the Secretary the data necessary to determine State performance with respect to each outcome measure, as a condition of the State receiving funds under this part;
(5)
on May 1, 1999, and annually thereafter, prepare and submit to the Congress a report on the performance of each State on each outcome measure, which shall examine the reasons for high performance and low performance and, where possible, make recommendations as to how State performance could be improved;
(6)
include in the report submitted pursuant to paragraph (5) for fiscal year 2007 or any succeeding fiscal year, State-by-State data on—
(A)
the percentage of children in foster care under the responsibility of the State who were visited on a monthly basis by the caseworker handling the case of the child;
(B)
the total number of visits made by caseworkers on a monthly basis to children in foster care under the responsibility of the State during a fiscal year as a percentage of the total number of the visits that would occur during the fiscal year if each child were so visited once every month while in such care; and
(C)
the percentage of the visits that occurred in the residence of the child; and
(7)
include in the report submitted pursuant to paragraph (5) for fiscal year 2016 or any succeeding fiscal year, State-by-State data on—
(A)
children in foster care who have been placed in a child care institution or other setting that is not a foster family home, including—
(i)
with respect to each such placement—
(I)
the type of the placement setting, including whether the placement is shelter care, a group home and if so, the range of the child population in the home, a residential treatment facility, a hospital or institution providing medical, rehabilitative, or psychiatric care, a setting specializing in providing prenatal, post-partum, or parenting supports, or some other kind of child-care institution and if so, what kind;
(II)
the number of children in the placement setting and the age, race, ethnicity, and gender of each of the children;
(III)
for each child in the placement setting, the length of the placement of the child in the setting, whether the placement of the child in the setting is the first placement of the child and if not, the number and type of previous placements of the child, and whether the child has special needs or another diagnosed mental or physical illness or condition; and
(IV)
the extent of any specialized education, treatment, counseling, or other services provided in the setting; and
(ii)
separately, the number and ages of children in the placements who have a permanency plan of another planned permanent living arrangement; and
(B)
children in foster care who are pregnant or parenting.
(b)

Consultation on Other Issues.—
The Secretary shall consult with States and organizations with an interest in child welfare, including organizations that provide adoption and foster care services, and shall take into account requests from Members of Congress, in selecting other issues to be analyzed and reported on under this section using data available to the Secretary, including data reported by States through the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System and to the National Youth in Transition Database.
SEC. 479B.
[42 U.S.C. 679c]

PROGRAMS OPERATED BY INDIAN TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS.
(a)

Definitions of Indian Tribe; Tribal Organizations.—
In this section, the terms “Indian tribe” and “tribal organization” have the meanings given those terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
(b)

Authority.—
Except as otherwise provided in this section, this part shall apply in the same manner as this part applies to a State to an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium that elects to operate a program under this part and has a plan approved by the Secretary under section 471 in accordance with this section.
(c)

Plan Requirements.—
(1)

In general.—
An Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium that elects to operate a program under this part shall include with its plan submitted under section 471 the following:
(A)

Financial management.—
Evidence demonstrating that the tribe, organization, or consortium has not had any uncorrected significant or material audit exceptions under Federal grants or contracts that directly relate to the administration of social services for the 3-year period prior to the date on which the plan is submitted.
(B)

Service areas and populations.—
For purposes of complying with section 471(a)(3), a description of the service area or areas and populations to be served under the plan and an assurance that the plan shall be in effect in all service area or areas and for all populations served by the tribe, organization, or consortium.
(C)

Eligibility.—
(i)

In general.—
Subject to clause (ii) of this subparagraph, an assurance that the plan will provide—
(I)
foster care maintenance payments under section 472 only on behalf of children who satisfy the eligibility requirements of section 472(a);
(II)
adoption assistance payments under section 473 pursuant to adoption assistance agreements only on behalf of children who satisfy the eligibility requirements for such payments under that section;
(III)
at the option of the tribe, organization, or consortium, kinship guardianship assistance payments in accordance with section 473(d) only on behalf of children who meet the requirements of section 473(d)(3); and
(IV)
at the option of the tribe, organization, or consortium, services and programs specified in section 471(e)(1) to children described in section 471(e)(2) and their parents or kin caregivers, in accordance with section 471(e) and subparagraph (E).
(ii)

Satisfaction of foster care eligibility requirements.—
For purposes of determining whether a child whose placement and care are the responsibility of an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium with a plan approved under section 471 in accordance with this section satisfies the requirements of section 472(a), the following shall apply:
(I)

Use of affidavits, etc.—
Only with respect to the first 12 months for which such plan is in effect, the requirement in paragraph (1) of section 472(a) shall not be interpreted so as to prohibit the use of affidavits or nunc pro tunc orders as verification documents in support of the reasonable efforts and contrary to the welfare of the child judicial determinations required under that paragraph.
(II)

Afdc eligibility requirement.—
The State plan approved under section 402 (as in effect on July 16, 1996) of the State in which the child resides at the time of removal from the home shall apply to the determination of whether the child satisfies section 472(a)(3).
(D)

Option to claim in-kind expenditures from third-party sources for non-federal share of administrative and training costs during initial implementation period.—
Only for fiscal year quarters beginning after September 30, 2009, and before October 1, 2014, a list of the in-kind expenditures (which shall be fairly evaluated, and may include plants, equipment, administration, or services) and the third-party sources of such expenditures that the tribe, organization, or consortium may claim as part of the non-Federal share of administrative or training expenditures attributable to such quarters for purposes of receiving payments under section 474(a)(3). The Secretary shall permit a tribe, organization, or consortium to claim in-kind expenditures from third party sources for such purposes during such quarters subject to the following:
(i)

No effect on authority for tribes, organizations, or consortia to claim expenditures or indirect costs to the same extent as states.—
Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed as preventing a tribe, organization, or consortium from claiming any expenditures or indirect costs for purposes of receiving payments under section 474(a) that a State with a plan approved under section 471(a) could claim for such purposes.
(ii)

Fiscal year 2010 or 2011.—
(I)

Expenditures other than for training.—
With respect to amounts expended during a fiscal year quarter beginning after September 30, 2009, and before October 1, 2011, for which the tribe, organization, or consortium is eligible for payments under subparagraph (C), (D), or (E) of section 474(a)(3), not more than 25 percent of such amounts may consist of in-kind expenditures from third-party sources specified in the list required under this subparagraph to be submitted with the plan.
(II)

Training expenditures.—
With respect to amounts expended during a fiscal year quarter beginning after September 30, 2009, and before October 1, 2011, for which the tribe, organization, or consortium is eligible for payments under subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 474(a)(3), not more than 12 percent of such amounts may consist of in-kind expenditures from third-party sources that are specified in such list and described in subclause (III).
(III)

Sources described.—
For purposes of subclause (II), the sources described in this subclause are the following:
- (aa)
A State or local government.
- (bb)
An Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium other than the tribe, organization, or consortium submitting the plan.
- (cc)
A public institution of higher education.
- (dd)
A Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c)).
- (ee)
A private charitable organization.
(iii)

Fiscal year 2012, 2013, or 2014.—
(I)

In general.—
Except as provided in subclause (II) of this clause and clause (v) of this subparagraph, with respect to amounts expended during any fiscal year quarter beginning after September 30, 2011, and before October 1, 2014, for which the tribe, organization, or consortium is eligible for payments under any subparagraph of section 474(a)(3) of this Act, the only in-kind expenditures from third-party sources that may be claimed by the tribe, organization, or consortium for purposes of determining the non-Federal share of such expenditures (without regard to whether the expenditures are specified on the list required under this subparagraph to be submitted with the plan) are in-kind expenditures that are specified in regulations promulgated by the Secretary under section 301(e)(2) of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 and are from an applicable third-party source specified in such regulations, and do not exceed the applicable percentage for claiming such in-kind expenditures specified in the regulations.
(II)

Transition period for early approved tribes, organizations, or consortia.—
Subject to clause (v), if the tribe, organization, or consortium is an early approved tribe, organization, or consortium (as defined in subclause (III) of this clause), the Secretary shall not require the tribe, organization, or consortium to comply with such regulations before October 1, 2013. Until the earlier of the date such tribe, organization, or consortium comes into compliance with such regulations or October 1, 2013, the limitations on the claiming of in-kind expenditures from third-party sources under clause (ii) shall continue to apply to such tribe, organization, or consortium (without regard to fiscal limitation) for purposes of determining the non-Federal share of amounts expended by the tribe, organization, or consortium during any fiscal year quarter that begins after September 30, 2011, and before such date of compliance or October 1, 2013, whichever is earlier.
(III)

Definition of early approved tribe, organization, or consortium.—
For purposes of subclause (II) of this clause, the term “early approved tribe, organization, or consortium” means an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium that had a plan approved under section 471 in accordance with this section for any quarter of fiscal year 2010 or 2011.
(iv)

Fiscal year 2015 and thereafter.—
Subject to clause (v) of this subparagraph, with respect to amounts expended during any fiscal year quarter beginning after September 30, 2014, for which the tribe, organization, or consortium is eligible for payments under any subparagraph of section 474(a)(3) of this Act, in-kind expenditures from third-party sources may be claimed for purposes of determining the non-Federal share of expenditures under any subparagraph of such section 474(a)(3) only in accordance with the regulations promulgated by the Secretary under section 301(e)(2) of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.
(v)

Contingency rule.—
If, at the time expenditures are made for a fiscal year quarter beginning after September 30, 2011, and before October 1, 2014, for which a tribe, organization, or consortium may receive payments for under section 474(a)(3) of this Act, no regulations required to be promulgated under section 301(e)(2) of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 are in effect, and no legislation has been enacted specifying otherwise—
(I)
in the case of any quarter of fiscal year 2012, 2013, or 2014, the limitations on claiming in-kind expenditures from third-party sources under clause (ii) of this subparagraph shall apply (without regard to fiscal limitation) for purposes of determining the non-Federal share of such expenditures; and
(II)
in the case of any quarter of fiscal year 2015 or any fiscal year thereafter, no tribe, organization, or consortium may claim in-kind expenditures from third-party sources for purposes of determining the non-Federal share of such expenditures if a State with a plan approved under section 471(a) of this Act could not claim in-kind expenditures from third-party sources for such purposes.
(E)

Prevention services and programs for children and their parents and kin caregivers.—
(i)

In general.—
In the case of a tribe, organization, or consortium that elects to provide services and programs specified in section 471(e)(1) to children described in section 471(e)(2) and their parents or kin caregivers under the plan, the Secretary shall specify the requirements applicable to the provision of the services and programs. The requirements shall, to the greatest extent practicable, be consistent with the requirements applicable to States under section 471(e) and shall permit the provision of the services and programs in the form of services and programs that are adapted to the culture and context of the tribal communities served.
(ii)

Performance measures.—
The Secretary shall establish specific performance measures for each tribe, organization, or consortium that elects to provide services and programs specified in section 471(e)(1). The performance measures shall, to the greatest extent practicable, be consistent with the prevention services measures required for States under section 471(e)(6) but shall allow for consideration of factors unique to the provision of the services by tribes, organizations, or consortia.
(2)

Clarification of tribal authority to establish standards for tribal foster family homes and tribal child care institutions.—
For purposes of complying with section 471(a)(10), an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium shall establish and maintain a tribal authority or authorities which shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining tribal standards for tribal foster family homes and tribal child care institutions.
(3)

Consortium.—
The participating Indian tribes or tribal organizations of a tribal consortium may develop and submit a single plan under section 471 that meets the requirements of this section.
(4)

Inapplicability of state plan requirement to have in effect procedures providing for the use of an electronic interstate case-processing system.—
The requirement in section 471(a)(25) that a State plan provide that the State shall have in effect procedures providing for the use of an electronic interstate case-processing system shall not apply to an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium that elects to operate a program under this part.
(d)

Determination of Federal Medical Assistance Percentage.—
(1)

Per capita income.—
For purposes of determining the Federal medical assistance percentage applicable to an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a tribal consortium under paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (6)(A) of section 474(a), the calculation of the per capita income of the Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium shall be based upon the service population of the Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium, except that in no case shall an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a tribal consortium receive less than the Federal medical assistance percentage for any State in which the tribe, organization, or consortium is located.
(2)

Consideration of other information.—
Before making a calculation under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider any information submitted by an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a tribal consortium that the Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium considers relevant to making the calculation of the per capita income of the Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium.
(e)

Nonapplication to Cooperative Agreements and Contracts.—
Any cooperative agreement or contract entered into between an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a tribal consortium and a State for the administration or payment of funds under this part that is in effect as of the date of enactment of this section shall remain in full force and effect, subject to the right of either party to the agreement or contract to revoke or modify the agreement or contract pursuant to the terms of the agreement or contract. Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the authority for an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a tribal consortium and a State to enter into a cooperative agreement or contract for the administration or payment of funds under this part.
(f)

John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program.—
Except as provided in section 477(j), subsection (b) of this section shall not apply with respect to the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program established under section 477 (or with respect to payments made under section 474(a)(4) or grants made under section 474(e)).
(g)

Rule of Construction.—
Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the application of section 472(h) to a child on whose behalf payments are paid under section 472, or the application of section 473(b) to a child on whose behalf payments are made under section 473 pursuant to an adoption assistance agreement or a kinship guardianship assistance agreement, by an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium that elects to operate a foster care and adoption assistance program in accordance with this section.
[Part F repealed by section 108 of P.L. 104–193; 110 Stat. 2167.]