[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 41 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3163-S3168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE CHILD SUPPORT PERFORMANCE AND INCENTIVE ACT OF 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                  ROTH (AND OTHERS) AMENDMENT NO. 2286

  Ms. COLLINS (for Mr. Roth for himself, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. Murkowski, 
Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Abraham, Mr. 
Jeffords, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Graham, and Ms. Moseley-
Braun) proposed an amendment to the bill (H.R. 3130) to provide for an 
alternative penalty procedure for States that fail to meet Federal 
child support data processing requirements, to reform Federal incentive 
payments for effective child support performance, and to provide for a 
more flexible penalty procedure for States that violate 
interjurisdictional adoption requirements; as follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Child Support Performance 
     and Incentive Act of 1998''.

     SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.

          TITLE I--CHILD SUPPORT DATA PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS

Sec. 101. Alternative penalty procedure.
Sec. 102. Authority to waive single statewide automated data processing 
              and information retrieval system requirement.

                TITLE II--CHILD SUPPORT INCENTIVE SYSTEM

Sec. 201. Incentive payments to States.

                     TITLE III--ADOPTION PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. More flexible penalty procedure to be applied for failing to 
              permit interjurisdictional adoption.

                        TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 401. Elimination of barriers to the effective establishment and 
              enforcement of medical child support.
Sec. 402. Safeguard of new employee information.
Sec. 403. Conforming amendments regarding the collection and use of 
              social security numbers for purposes of child support 
              enforcement.
Sec. 404. Elimination of definition regarding high-volume automated 
              administrative enforcement of child support.
Sec. 405. General accounting office reports.
Sec. 406. Technical corrections.
          TITLE I--CHILD SUPPORT DATA PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS

     SEC. 101. ALTERNATIVE PENALTY PROCEDURE.

       (a) In General.--Section 455(a) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 655(a)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(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 
     section 454(24)(A), 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) The Secretary may only impose a single reduction of 
     the amount otherwise payable to the State under paragraph 
     (1)(A) of this subsection for a fiscal year for the failure 
     of the State to comply during such fiscal year with section 
     454(24)(A) or with any other provision of this part that 
     imposes a requirement with respect to the establishment or 
     operation of an automated data processing and information 
     retrieval system.
       ``(B) In this paragraph:
       ``(i) The term `penalty amount' means, with respect to a 
     failure of a State to comply with section 454(24)--
       ``(I) 4 percent of the penalty base, in the case of the 1st 
     fiscal year in which such a failure by the State occurs;
       ``(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; or
       ``(IV) 30 percent of the penalty base, in the case of the 
     4th or any subsequent such fiscal year.
       ``(ii) The term `penalty base' means, with respect to a 
     failure of a State to comply with 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 a fiscal year if--
       ``(I) at any time during the fiscal year, 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 (regardless of whether the certification is 
     provided in that fiscal year) as a result of a timely review 
     conducted pursuant to the request; and
       ``(III) the State has not failed such a review.
       ``(ii) With respect to only the 1st or 2nd fiscal years in 
     which a reduction is imposed under this paragraph for the 
     failure of a State to comply with section 454(24)(A), if the 
     State achieves compliance with section 454(24)(A) during the 
     2nd fiscal year, in the case of a reduction imposed for 1 
     fiscal year, or during the 3rd fiscal year, in the case of a 
     reduction imposed for 2 consecutive fiscal years, the 
     Secretary shall increase the amount otherwise payable to the 
     State under paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection for such 2nd 
     or 3rd fiscal year, as the case may be, by an amount equal to 
     20 percent of the reduction imposed for the immediately 
     preceding 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 preceding provisions of this paragraph (except 
     for subparagraph (C)(i)) shall apply, separately and 
     independently, to a failure to comply with section 454(24)(B) 
     in the same manner in which the preceding provisions apply to 
     a failure to comply with section 454(24)(A).''.
       (b) Inapplicability of Penalty Under TANF Program.--Section 
     409(a)(8)(A)(i)(III) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     609(a)(8)(A)(i)(III)) is amended by inserting ``(other than 
     section 454(24))'' before the semicolon.

     SEC. 102. AUTHORITY TO WAIVE SINGLE STATEWIDE AUTOMATED DATA 
                   PROCESSING AND INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM 
                   REQUIREMENT.

       (a) In General.--Section 452(d)(3) of the Social Security 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 652(d)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(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 1 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

[[Page S3164]]

     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.''.
       (b) Payments to States.--Section 455(a)(1) of such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 655(a)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B);
       (2) by striking the semicolon at the end of subparagraph 
     (C) and inserting ``, and''; and
       (3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
       ``(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;''.
                TITLE II--CHILD SUPPORT INCENTIVE SYSTEM

     SEC. 201. INCENTIVE PAYMENTS TO STATES.

       (a) In General.--Part D of title IV of the Social Security 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 651-669) is amended by inserting after section 
     458 the following:

     ``SEC. 458A. 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 2nd 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
            At least:                 But less than:     percentage is:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
            At least:                 But less than:     percentage is:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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

[[Page S3165]]

 
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
            At least:                 But less than:     percentage is:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
            At least:                 But less than:     percentage is:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
            At least:                 But less than:     percentage is:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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

[[Page S3166]]

       ``(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.''.
       (b) Transition Rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
     of law--
       (1) for fiscal year 2000, the Secretary shall reduce by \1/
     3\ the amount otherwise payable to a State under section 458 
     of the Social Security Act, and shall reduce by \2/3\ the 
     amount otherwise payable to a State under section 458A of 
     such Act; and
       (2) for fiscal year 2001, the Secretary shall reduce by \2/
     3\ the amount otherwise payable to a State under section 458 
     of the Social Security Act, and shall reduce by \1/3\ the 
     amount otherwise payable to a State under section 458A of 
     such Act.
       (c) Regulations.--Within 9 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this section, the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services shall prescribe regulations governing the 
     implementation of section 458A of the Social Security Act 
     when such section takes effect and the implementation of 
     subsection (b) of this section.
       (d) Studies.--
       (1) General review of new incentive payment system.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     shall conduct a study of the implementation of the incentive 
     payment system established by section 458A of the Social 
     Security Act, in order to identify the problems and successes 
     of the system.
       (B) Reports to the congress.--
       (i) Report on variations in state performance attributable 
     to demographic variables.--Not later than October 1, 2000, 
     the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report that 
     identifies any demographic or economic variables that account 
     for differences in the performance levels achieved by the 
     States with respect to the performance measures used in the 
     system, and contains the recommendations of the Secretary for 
     such adjustments to the system as may be necessary to ensure 
     that the relative performance of States is measured from a 
     baseline that takes account of any such variables.
       (ii) Interim report.--Not later than March 1, 2001, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Congress an interim report that 
     contains the findings of the study required by subparagraph 
     (A).
       (iii) Final report.--Not later than October 1, 2003, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Congress a final report that 
     contains the final findings of the study required by 
     subparagraph (A). The report shall include any 
     recommendations for changes in the system that the Secretary 
     determines would improve the operation of the child support 
     enforcement program.
       (2) Development of medical support incentive.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, in consultation with State directors of programs 
     operated under part D of title IV of the Social Security Act 
     and representatives of children potentially eligible for 
     medical support, shall develop a performance measure based on 
     the effectiveness of States in establishing and enforcing 
     medical support obligations, and shall make recommendations 
     for the incorporation of the measure, in a revenue neutral 
     manner, into the incentive payment system established by 
     section 458A of the Social Security Act.
       (B) Report.--Not later than October 1, 1999, the Secretary 
     shall submit to the Congress a report that describes the 
     performance measure and contains the recommendations required 
     by subparagraph (A).
       (e) Technical Amendments.--
       (1) In general.--Section 341 of the Personal Responsibility 
     and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 
     658 note) is amended--
       (A) by striking subsection (a) and redesignating 
     subsections (b), (c), and (d) as subsections (a), (b), and 
     (c), respectively; and
       (B) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)--
       (i) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
       ``(1) Conforming amendments to present system.--The 
     amendments made by subsection (a) of this section shall 
     become effective with respect to a State as of the date the 
     amendments made by section 103(a) (without regard to section 
     116(a)(2)) first apply to the State.''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(c)'' and inserting 
     ``(b)''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 
     341 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
     Reconciliation Act of 1996.
       (f) Elimination of Predecessor Incentive Payment System.--
       (1) Repeal.--Section 458 of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 658) is repealed.
       (2) Conforming amendments.--
       (A) Section 458A of the Social Security Act, as added by 
     section 201(a) of this Act, is redesignated as section 458.
       (B) Section 455(a)(4)(C)(iii) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     655(a)(4)(C)(iii)), as added by section 101(a) of this Act, 
     is amended--
       (i) by striking ``458A(b)(4)'' and inserting ``458(b)(4)'';
       (ii) by striking ``458A(b)(6)'' and inserting 
     ``458(b)(6)''; and
       (iii) by striking ``458A(b)(5)(B)'' and inserting 
     ``458(b)(5)(B)''.
       (C) Subsection (d)(1) of this section is amended by 
     striking ``458A'' and inserting ``458''.
       (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall take effect on October 1, 2001.
       (g) General Effective Date.--Except as otherwise provided 
     in this section, the amendments made by this section shall 
     take effect on October 1, 1999.
                     TITLE III--ADOPTION PROVISIONS

     SEC. 301. MORE FLEXIBLE PENALTY PROCEDURE TO BE APPLIED FOR 
                   FAILING TO PERMIT INTERJURISDICTIONAL ADOPTION.

       (a) Conversion of Funding Ban Into State Plan 
     Requirement.--Section 471(a) of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 671(a)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (21);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (22) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(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.''.
       (b) Penalty for Noncompliance.--Section 474(d) of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 674(d)) is amended in each of paragraphs (1) and 
     (2) by striking ``section 471(a)(18)'' and inserting 
     ``paragraph (18) or (23) of section 471(a)''.
       (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 474 of such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 674) is amended by striking subsection (e).
       (d) Retroactivity.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 
     202 of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 
     105-89; 111 Stat. 2125).
                        TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS

     SEC. 401. ELIMINATION OF BARRIERS TO THE EFFECTIVE 
                   ESTABLISHMENT AND ENFORCEMENT OF MEDICAL CHILD 
                   SUPPORT.

       (a) Promulgation of National Standardized Medical Support 
     Notice.--Section 452(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     652(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (10), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (11), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(12)(A) develop jointly with the Secretary of Labor--
       ``(i) a National Standardized Medical Support Notice that 
     satisfies the requirements of section 609(a)(3) of the 
     Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 
     1169(a)(3)) and the requirements of this part and shall be 
     used by States to enforce medical support orders; and
       ``(ii) appropriate procedures for the transmission of such 
     Notice to employers by State agencies administering the 
     program established under this part;
       ``(B) not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
     this paragraph, establish with the Secretary of Labor, a 
     medical support working group, not to exceed 20 individuals, 
     that shall--
       ``(i) identify the impediments to the effective enforcement 
     of medical support by State agencies administering the 
     program established under this part; and
       ``(ii) be composed of representatives of--
       ``(I) the Department of Labor;
       ``(II) the Department of Health and Human Services;
       ``(III) State directors of programs under this part;
       ``(IV) State directors of the medicaid program under title 
     XIX;
       ``(V) employers, including owners of small businesses;
       ``(VI) plan administrators and plan sponsors of group 
     health plans (as defined in section 607(1) of the Employee 
     Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1167(1));
       ``(VII) children potentially eligible for medical support, 
     such as child advocacy organizations; and
       ``(VIII) State public welfare programs;
       ``(C) require the working group established in accordance 
     with subparagraph (B) to, not later than 18 months after the 
     date of enactment of this paragraph, submit to the Secretary 
     and Congress a report containing recommendations for 
     appropriate measures to address the impediments to the 
     effective enforcement of medical support by State agencies 
     administering the program established under this part 
     identified by the working group, including--
       ``(i) appropriate measures that establish the priority of 
     withholding of child support obligations, medical support 
     obligations, arrearages in such obligations, and, in the case 
     of a medical support obligation, the employee's portion of 
     any health care coverage premium, by the State agency 
     administering the program established under this part in 
     light of the restrictions on garnishment provided under title 
     III of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1671-
     1677);
       ``(ii) appropriate procedures for coordinating the 
     provision, enforcement, and transition of health care 
     coverage under the State programs established under this 
     part, title XIX, and title XXI;
       ``(iii) appropriate measures to improve the enforcement of 
     alternate types of medical

[[Page S3167]]

     support that are aside from health coverage offered through 
     the noncustodial parent's health plan and unrelated to the 
     noncustodial parent's employer, including measures that 
     establish a noncustodial parent's responsibility to share the 
     cost of a copayment, deductible, or a payment for services 
     not covered under a child's existing health coverage; and
       ``(iv) appropriate measures for eliminating any other 
     impediments to the effective enforcement of medical support 
     orders that the working group deems necessary; and
       ``(D) issue, under the authority of the Secretary--
       ``(i) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
     of this paragraph, a proposed regulation that specifies that 
     the National Standardized Medical Support Notice shall be 
     used by State agencies administering the program under this 
     part to enforce medical support orders, and that includes 
     such procedures for transmission of the Notice to employers 
     that the Secretary determines are appropriate; and
       ``(ii) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
     this paragraph, a final regulation that specifies that the 
     National Standardized Medical Support Notice shall be used by 
     State agencies administering the program under this part to 
     enforce medical support orders and the procedures for the 
     transmission of that Notice to employers.''.
       (b) Required Use of Notice by States.--
       (1) State procedures.--Section 466(a)(19) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 466(a)(19)) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(19) Health care coverage.--Procedures under which--
       ``(A) all child support orders enforced pursuant to this 
     part include a provision for the health care coverage of the 
     child that, not later than October 1, 2000, is enforced, 
     where appropriate, through the use of the National 
     Standardized Medical Support Notice promulgated pursuant to 
     section 452(a)(12);
       ``(B) in any case in which a noncustodial parent is 
     required to provide such health care coverage and the 
     employer of such noncustodial parent is known to the State 
     agency, the State agency shall use the National Standardized 
     Medical Support Notice to transfer notice of the provision 
     for the health care coverage of the child to the employer in 
     conjunction, where appropriate, with an income withholding 
     notice within 2 days of the date that information regarding a 
     newly hired employee is entered in the State Directory of New 
     Hires pursuant to section 453A(e), and to any subsequent 
     employer if the parent changes employment or obtains 
     additional employment and the subsequent employer of such 
     noncustodial parent is known to the State agency;
       ``(C) not later than 7 business days after the date the 
     National Standardized Medical Support Notice is issued, the 
     Notice shall operate to enroll the child in the noncustodial 
     parent's employer's health plan, and to authorize the 
     collection of any employee contributions required for such 
     enrollment, unless the noncustodial parent contests 
     enforcement of the health care coverage provision of the 
     child support order pursuant to the Notice to the State 
     agency based on mistake of fact; and
       ``(D) the employer shall, within 21 days after the date the 
     Notice is issued, notify the State agency administering the 
     program under this part whether such health care coverage is 
     available and, if so, whether the child has been enrolled in 
     such coverage and the effective date of the enrollment, and 
     provide to the custodial parent any necessary documentation 
     to provide the child with coverage.''.
       (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 452(f) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 652(f)) is amended in the first 
     sentence--
       (A) by striking ``petition for the inclusion of'' and 
     inserting ``include''; and
       (B) by inserting ``and enforce medical support'' before 
     ``whenever''.
       (c) National Standardized Medical Support Notice Deemed a 
     Qualified Medical Child Support Order.--
       (1) Amendment to erisa.--Section 609(a)(5) of the Employee 
     Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1169(a)(5)) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) National standardized medical support notice deemed 
     to be a qualified medical child support order.--If a group 
     health plan administrator receives a completed National 
     Standardized Medical Support Notice promulgated pursuant to 
     section 452(a)(12) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     652(a)(13)), and the notice meets the requirements of 
     paragraphs (3) and (4), the notice shall, not later than 7 
     business days after the date the National Standardized 
     Medical Support Notice is issued, be deemed to be a qualified 
     medical child support order and the plan administrator shall 
     comply with the notice.''.
       (2) Rule of construction.--The amendment made by paragraph 
     (1) shall not be construed as requiring an employer to 
     provide or expand any health benefits coverage provided by 
     the employer that the employer is not, as of the date of 
     enactment of this section, required to provide, or to modify 
     or change the eligibility rules applicable to a group health 
     plan (as defined in section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement 
     Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1167(1))).
       (d) Report and Recommendations Regarding the Enforcement of 
     Qualified Medical Support Orders Under ERISA.--Not later than 
     1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
     of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services, shall submit to the Committee on Labor and 
     Human Resources and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, 
     and the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the 
     Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, 
     a report containing recommendations for appropriate 
     legislation to improve the effectiveness of, and enforcement 
     of, qualified medical child support orders under the 
     provisions of section 609 of the Employee Retirement Income 
     Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1169).

     SEC. 402. SAFEGUARD OF NEW EMPLOYEE INFORMATION.

       (a) Penalty for Unauthorized Access, Disclosure, or Use of 
     Information.--Section 453(l) of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 653(l)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Information'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(1) In general.--Information''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(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 who knowingly and willfully violates 
     this paragraph.''.
       (b) Limits on Retention of Data in the National Directory 
     of New Hires.--Section 453(i)(2) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 653(i)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(2) Data entry and deletion requirements.--Information 
     shall be--
       ``(A) entered into the data base maintained by the National 
     Directory of New Hires within 2 business days of receipt 
     pursuant to section 453A(g)(2);
       ``(B) in the case of an individual for whom an information 
     comparison under subsection (j) does not reveal a match, 
     deleted from such data base 12 months after the date of 
     entry; and
       ``(C) in the case of an individual for whom an information 
     comparison under subsection (j) does reveal a match, deleted 
     from such data base 24 months after the date of entry.''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
     and (b) shall take effect on January 1, 1999.

     SEC. 403. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS REGARDING THE COLLECTION AND 
                   USE OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS FOR PURPOSES OF 
                   CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT.

       (a) Conforming Amendments.--Section 205(c)(2)(C) of the 
     Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)) is amended--
       (1) in clause (i), by striking ``may require'' and 
     inserting ``shall require'';
       (2) in clause (ii)--
       (A) by inserting after the 1st sentence the following: ``In 
     the administration of any law involving the issuance of a 
     marriage certificate or license, each State shall require 
     each individual named in the certificate or license to 
     furnish to the State (or political subdivision thereof), or 
     any State agency having administrative responsibility for the 
     law involved, the social security number of the 
     individual.''; and
       (B) by inserting ``or marriage certificate'' after ``Such 
     numbers shall not be recorded on the birth certificate'';
       (3) in clause (vi), by striking ``may'' and inserting 
     ``shall''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(x) An agency of a State (or a political subdivision 
     thereof) charged with the administration of any law 
     concerning the issuance or renewal of a professional license, 
     driver's license, occupational license, or recreational 
     license shall require each applicant for issuance or renewal 
     of the license to provide the applicant's social security 
     number to the agency for the purpose of administering such 
     laws, and for the purpose of responding to requests for 
     information from an agency operating pursuant to part D of 
     title IV. 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.
       ``(xi) All divorce decrees, support orders, and paternity 
     determinations issued, and all paternity acknowledgments 
     made, in each State shall include the social security number 
     of each individual subject to the decree, order, 
     determination, or acknowledgment in the records relating to 
     the matter, for the purpose of responding to requests for 
     information from an agency operating pursuant to part D of 
     title IV.''.
       (b) Retroactivity.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 
     317 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
     Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193; 110 
     Stat.2220).

     SEC. 404. ELIMINATION OF DEFINITION REGARDING HIGH-VOLUME 
                   AUTOMATED ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD 
                   SUPPORT.

       (a) Technical Amendment.--Section 466(a)(14) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 666(a)(14)) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(14) High-volume, automated administrative enforcement in 
     interstate cases.--Procedures under which--
       ``(A) 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

[[Page S3168]]

     to enforce support orders, and shall promptly report the 
     results of such enforcement procedure to the requesting 
     State;
       ``(B) 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--

       ``(I) of the amount of support under an order the payment 
     of which is in arrears; and
       ``(II) that the requesting State has complied with all 
     procedural due process requirements applicable to each case;

       ``(C) 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; and
       ``(D) 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) Retroactivity.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 
     5550 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33; 
     111 Stat. 633).

     SEC. 405. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE REPORTS.

       (a) Report On Feasibility of Instant Check System.--Not 
     later than December 31, 1998, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall report to the Committee on Finance of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
     Representatives on the feasibility and cost of creating and 
     maintaining a nationwide instant child support order check 
     system under which an employer would be able to determine 
     whether a newly hired employee is required to provide support 
     under a child support order.
       (b) Report On Implementation and Use of Child Support 
     Databases.--Not later than December 31, 1998, the Comptroller 
     General of the United States shall report to the Committee on 
     Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of 
     the House of Representatives on the implementation of the 
     Federal Parent Locater Service (including the Federal Case 
     Registry of Child Support Orders and the National Directory 
     of New Hires) established under section 453 of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653) and the State Directory of New 
     Hires established under section 453A of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     653a). The report shall include a detailed discussion of the 
     purposes for which, and the manner in which, the information 
     maintained in such databases has been used, and an 
     examination as to whether such databases are subject to 
     adequate safeguards to protect the privacy of the individuals 
     with respect to whom information is reported and maintained.

     SEC. 406. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

       (a) Section 413(g)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     613(g)(1)) is amended by striking ``Economic and Educational 
     Opportunities'' and inserting ``Education and the 
     Workforce''.
       (b) Section 422(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     622(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``under under'' and 
     inserting ``under''.
       (c) Section 432(a)(8) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     632(a)(8)) is amended by adding ``; and'' at the end.
       (d) Section 453(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     653(a)(2)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``parentage,'' and inserting ``parentage 
     or'';
       (2) by striking ``or making or enforcing child custody or 
     visitation orders,''; and
       (3) in subparagraph (A), by decreasing the indentation of 
     clause (iv) by 2 ems.
       (e)(1) Section 5557(b) of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 
     (42 U.S.C. 608 note) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following: ``The amendment made by section 5536(1)(A) shall 
     not take effect with respect to a State until October 1, 
     2000, or such earlier date as the State may select.''.
       (2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect 
     as if included in the enactment of section 5557 of the 
     Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33; 111 Stat. 
     637).
       (f) Section 473A(c)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 673b(c)(2)(B)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``November 30, 1997'' and inserting ``April 
     30, 1998''; and
       (2) by striking ``March 1, 1998'' and inserting ``July 1, 
     1998''.
       (g) Section 474(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     674(a)) is amended by striking ``(subject to the limitations 
     imposed by subsection (b))''.
       (h) Section 232 of the Social Security Act Amendments of 
     1994 (42 U.S.C. 1314a) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(3)(D), by striking ``Energy and''; 
     and
       (2) in subsection (d)(4), by striking ``(b)(3)(C)'' and 
     inserting ``(b)(3)''.

       Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to provide for an 
     alternative penalty procedure for States that fail to meet 
     Federal child support data processing requirements, to reform 
     Federal incentive payments for effective child support 
     performance, to provide for a more flexible penalty procedure 
     for States that violate interjurisdictional adoption 
     requirements, and for other purposes.''.

                          ____________________