Compilation of Titles IV-B and IV-E of the SSA (8/25/98)

This document reflects amendments made to the Social Security Act by the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-89), and the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-200), as of 8/25/98. Deleted text is in strikeout and added text is underlined. This document is designed for easy viewing and does not contain the proper spacing and formatting that is reflected in the hardcopy.

Title IV-B, Subpart 1 - Child Welfare Services | Title IV-B, Subpart 2 - Promoting Safe and Stable Families | Title IV-E - Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance

TITLE IV

PART B--CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES

Subpart 1--Child Welfare Services

APPROPRIATION

SEC. 420. [42 U.S.C. 620] (a) For the purpose of enabling the United States, through the Secretary, to cooperate with State public welfare agencies in establishing, extending, and strengthening child welfare services, there is authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year the sum of $325,000,000.

(b) Funds appropriated for any fiscal year pursuant to the authorization contained in subsection (a) shall be included in the appropriation Act (or supplemental appropriation Act) for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which such funds are available for obligation. In order to effect a transition to this method of timing appropriation action, the preceding sentence shall apply notwithstanding the fact that its initial application will result in the enactment in the same year (whether in the same appropriation Act or otherwise) of two separate appropriations, one for the then current fiscal year and one for the succeeding fiscal year.

ALLOTMENTS TO STATES

SEC. 421. [42 U.S.C. 621] (a) The sum appropriated pursuant to section 420 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: He 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.

(b) The "allotment percentage" for any State shall be 100 per centum less the State percentage; and the State percentage shall be the percentage which bears the same ratio to 50 per centum 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 centum or more than 70 per centum, and (2) the allotment percentage shall be 70 per centum in the case of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

(c) 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) For purposes of this section, the term "United States" means the fifty States and the District of Columbia.

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--

provide that (A) the individual or agency that administers or supervises the administration of the State's services program under title XX 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;
provide for coordination between the services provided for children under the plan and the services and assistance provided under title XX, under the State program funded under part A, under the State plan approved under subpart 2 of this part, ~~under under~~ 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.
provide that the standards and requirements imposed with respect to child day care under title XX shall apply with respect to day care services under this subpart, except insofar as eligibility for such services is involved;
provide for the training and effective use of paid paraprofessional staff, with particular emphasis on the full-time or part-time employment of persons of low income, as community service aides, in the administration of the plan, and for the use of nonpaid or partially paid volunteers in providing services and in assisting any advisory committees established by the State agency;
contain a description of the services to be provided and specify the geographic areas where such services will be available;
contain a description of the steps which the State will take to provide child welfare services and to make progress in--
1. covering additional political subdivisions,
2. reaching additional children in need of services, and
3. expanding and strengthening the range of existing services and developing new types of services, along with a description of the State's child welfare services staff development and training plans;
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;
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;
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;
provide assurances that the State--
1. since June 17, 1980, has completed an inventory of all children who, before the inventory, had been in foster care under the responsibility of the State for 6 months or more, which determined--
  1. the appropriateness of, and necessity for, the foster care placement;
  2. whether the child could or should be returned to the parents of the child or should be freed for adoption or other permanent placement; and
  3. the services necessary to facilitate the return of the child or the placement of the child for adoption or legal guardianship;
2. is operating, to the satisfaction of the Secretary--
  1. 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;
  2. a case review system (as defined in section 475(5) for each child receiving foster care under the supervision of the State;
  3. a service program designed to help children--
    1. where safe and appropriate, return to families from which they have been removed; or
    2. 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; and
  4. a preplacement preventive services program designed to help children at risk of foster care placement remain safely with their families; and
3. 1. has reviewed (or within 12 months after the date of the enactment of this paragraph will review) State policies and administrative and judicial procedures in effect for children abandoned at or shortly after birth (including policies and procedures providing for legal representation of such children); and
  2. is implementing (or within 24 months after the date of the enactment of this paragraph will implement) such policies and procedures as the State determines, on the basis of the review described in clause (i), to be necessary to enable permanent decisions to be made expeditiously with respect to the placement of such children; ~~and~~
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.; and
contain assurances that the State shall develop plans for the effective use of cross-jurisdictional resources to facilitate timely adoptive or permanent placements for waiting children.

PAYMENT TO STATES

SEC. 423. [42 U.S.C. 623] (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 per centum 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:

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.
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)(1)No payment may be made to a State under this part, for any fiscal year beginning after September 30, 1979, with respect to State expenditures made for (A) child day care necessary solely because of the employment, or training to prepare for employment, of a parent or other relative with whom the child involved is living, (B) foster care maintenance payments, and (C) adoption assistance payments, to the extent that the Federal payment with respect to those expenditures would exceed the total amount of the Federal payment under this part for fiscal year 1979.

(2) Expenditures made by a State for any fiscal year which begins after September 30, 1979, for foster care maintenance payments shall be treated for purposes of making Federal payments under this part with respect to expenditures for child welfare services, as if such foster care maintenance payments constituted child welfare services of a type to which the limitation imposed by paragraph (1) does not apply; except that the amount payable to the State with respect to expenditures made for other child welfare services and for foster care maintenance payments during any such year shall not exceed 100 per centum of the amount of the expenditures made for child welfare services for which payment may be made under the limitation imposed by paragraph (1) as in effect without regard to this paragraph.

(d) No payment may be made to a State under this part in excess of the payment made under this part for fiscal year 1979, for any fiscal year beginning after September 30, 1979, if for the latter fiscal year the total of the State's expenditures for child welfare services under this part (excluding expenditures for activities specified in subsection (c)(1)) is less than the total of the State's expenditures under this part (excluding expenditures for such activities) for fiscal year 1979.

REALLOTMENT

SEC. 424. [42 U.S.C. 624] (a) IN GENERAL.--Subject to subsection (b), the amount of any allotment to a State under section 421 for any fiscal year 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 (1) have need in carrying out their State plans so developed for sums in excess of those previously allotted to them under section 421 and (2) will be able to use such excess amounts during such fiscal year. Such reallotments shall be made on the basis of the State plans so developed, after taking into consideration the population under the age of twenty-one, and the per capita income of each such State as compared with the population under the age of twenty-one, and the per capita income of all such States with respect to which such a determination by the Secretary has been made. Any amount so reallotted to a State shall be deemed part of its allotment under section 421.

(b) EXCEPTION RELATING TO FOSTER CHILD PROTECTIONS.--The Secretary shall not reallot under subsection (a) of this section any amount that is withheld or recovered from a State due to the failure of the State to meet the requirements of section 422(b)(10).

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 425. [42 U.S.C. 625] (a)(1) For purposes of this title, the term "child welfare services" means public social services which are directed toward the accomplishment of the following purposes:(A) protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, including handicapped, homeless, dependent, or neglected children; (B) preventing or remedying, or assisting in the solution of problems which may result in, the neglect, abuse, exploitation, or delinquency of children; (C) preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families by identifying family problems, assisting families in resolving their problems, and preventing breakup of the family where the prevention of child removal is desirable and possible; (D) restoring to their families children who have been removed, by the provision of services to the child and the families; (E) placing children in suitable adoptive homes, in cases where restoration to the biological family is not possible or appropriate; and (F) assuring adequate care of children away from their homes, in cases where the child cannot be returned home or cannot be placed for adoption.

(2) Funds expended by a State for any calendar quarter to comply with section 422(b)(10) or 476(b), and funds expended with respect to nonrecurring costs of adoption proceedings in the case of children placed for adoption with respect to whom assistance is provided under a State plan for adoption assistance approved under part E of this title, shall be deemed to have been expended for child welfare services.

(b) For other definitions relating to this part and to part E of this title, see section 475 of this Act.

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--

for grants by the Secretary--
1. 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;
2. 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 there- from) in the field of child welfare in order to encourage experimental and special types of welfare services; and
3. 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
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)(1) There are authorized to be appropriated $4,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1988, 1989, and 1990 for grants by the Secretary to public or private nonprofit entities submitting applications under this subsection for the purpose of conducting demonstration projects under this subsection to develop alternative care arrangements for infants who do not have health conditions that require hospitalization and who would otherwise remain in inappropriate hospital settings.

(2) The demonstration projects conducted under this section may include--

multidisciplinary projects designed to prevent the inappropriate hospitalization of infants and to allow infants described in paragraph (1) to remain with or return to a parent in a residential setting, where appropriate care for the infant and suitable treatment for the parent (including treatment for drug or alcohol addiction) may be assured, with the goal (where possible) of rehabilitating the parent and eliminating the need for such care for the infant;
multidisciplinary projects that assure appropriate, individualized care for such infants in a foster home or other non-medical residential setting in cases where such infant does not require hospitalization and would otherwise remain in inappropriate hospital settings, including projects to demonstrate methods to recruit, train, and retain foster care families; and
such other projects as the Secretary determines will best serve the interests of such infants and will serve as models for projects that agencies or organizations in other communities may wish to develop.

(3) In the case of any project which includes the use of funds authorized under this subsection for the care of infants in foster homes or other non-medical residential settings away from their parents, there shall be developed for each such infant a case plan of the type described in section 475(1) (to the extent that such infant is not otherwise covered by such a plan), and each such project shall include a case review system of the type described in section 475(5) (covering each such infant who is not otherwise subject to such a system).

(4) In evaluating applications from entities proposing to conduct demonstration projects under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to those projects that serve areas most in need of alternative care arrangements for infants described in paragraph (1).

(5) No project may be funded unless the application therefor contains assurances that it will--

provide for adequate evaluation;
provide for coordination with local governments;
provide for community education regarding the inappropriate hospitalization of infants;
use, to the extent practical, other available private, local, State, and Federal sources for the provision of direct services; and
meet such other criteria as the Secretary may prescribe.

(6) Grants may be used to pay the costs of maintenance and of necessary medical and social services (to the extent that these costs are not otherwise paid for under other titles of this Act), and for such other purposes as the Secretary may allow.

(7) The Secretary shall provide training and technical assistance to grantees, as requested.

(c) 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.

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 421) 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.

CHILD WELFARE TRAINEESHIPS

SEC. 429. [42 U.S.C. 628a] 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") will enter into an agreement with the institution under which the recipient agrees--

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;
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;
to furnish to the institution and the Secretary evidence of compliance with subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
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--

enter into agreements with child welfare agencies for onsite training of recipients;
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
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.

NATIONAL RANDOM SAMPLE STUDY OF CHILD WELFARE

SEC. 429A. [42 U.S.C. 628b] (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--

have a longitudinal component; and
yield data reliable at the State level for as many States as the Secretary determines is feasible.

carefully consider selecting the sample from cases of confirmed abuse or neglect; and
follow each case for several years while obtaining information on, among other things--
1. the type of abuse or neglect involved;
2. the frequency of contact with State or local agencies;
3. whether the child involved has been separated from the family, and, if so, under what circumstances;
4. the number, type, and characteristics of out-of-home placements of the child; and
5. the average duration of each placement.

(d) REPORTS.--

IN GENERAL.--From time to time, the Secretary shall prepare reports summarizing the results of the study required by subsection (a).
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.
AUTHORITY TO CHARGE FEE.--The Secretary may charge and collect a fee for the furnishing of reports under paragraph (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.

~~Subpart 2--Family Preservation and Support Services~~

Subpart 2--Promoting Safe and Stable Families

PURPOSES; LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS; RESERVATION OF CERTAIN AMOUNTS

SEC. 430. [42 U.S.C. 629] (a) PURPOSES; LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.--For the purpose of encouraging and enabling each State to develop and establish, or expand, and to operate a program of family preservation services ~~and community-based family support services~~, community-based family support services, time-limited family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary the amounts described in subsection (b) for the fiscal years specified in subsection (b).

(b) Description of Amounts.--The amount described in this subsection is--

for fiscal year 1994, $60,000,000;
for fiscal year 1995, $150,000,000;
for fiscal year 1996, $225,000,000;
for fiscal year 1997, $240,000,000; or
for fiscal year 1998, the greater of--
1. $255,000,000; or
2. the amount described in this subsection for fiscal year 1997, increased by the inflation percentage applicable to fiscal year 1998.;
for fiscal year 1999, $275,000,000;
for fiscal year 2000, $295,000,000; and
for fiscal year 2001, $305,000,000.

(c) INFLATION PERCENTAGE.--For purposes of subsection (b)(5)(B) of this section, the inflation percentage applicable to any fiscal year is the percentage (if any) by which--

the average of the Consumer Price Index (as defined in section 1(f)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the immediately preceding fiscal year; exceeds
the average of the Consumer Price Index (as so defined) for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the 2nd preceding fiscal year.

(d) RESERVATION OF CERTAIN AMOUNTS.--

EVALUATION, RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.--The Secretary shall reserve $2,000,000 of the amount described in subsection (b) for fiscal year 1994, and $6,000,000 of the amounts so described for each of fiscal years 1995, 1996, 1997, ~~and 1998~~ 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001, for expenditure by the Secretary--
1. for research, training, and technical assistance related to the program under this subpart; and
2. for evaluation of State programs 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 program under this subpart.
STATE COURT ASSESSMENTS.--The Secretary shall reserve $5,000,000 of the amount described in subsection (b) for fiscal year 1995, and $10,000,000 of the amounts so described for each of fiscal years 1996, 1997, ~~and 1998~~ 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001, for grants under section 13712 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.
Indian tribes.--The Secretary shall reserve 1 percent of the amounts described in subsection (b) for each fiscal year, for allotment to Indian tribes in accordance with section 433(a)

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 431. [42 U.S.C. 629a] (a) IN GENERAL.--As used in this subpart:

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--
1. service programs designed to help children--
  1. where safe and appropriate, return to families from which they have been removed; or
  2. 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;
2. 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;
3. service programs designed to provide followup care to families to whom a child has been returned after a foster care placement;
4. respite care of children to provide temporary relief for parents and other caregivers (including foster parents); and
5. 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.
FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES.--The term "family support services" means community-based services to promote the safety and well-being of children and families designed to increase the strength and stability of families (including adoptive, foster, and extended families), to increase parents' confidence and competence in their parenting abilities, to afford children a ~~stable~~ safe, stable and supportive family environment, and otherwise to enhance child development.
State agency.--The term "State agency" means the State agency responsible for administering the program under subpart 1.
State.--The term "State" includes an Indian tribe or tribal organization, in addition to the meaning given such term for purposes of subpart 1.
Tribal organization.--The term "tribal organization" means the recognized governing body of any Indian tribe.
Indian tribe.--The term "Indian tribe" means any Indian tribe (as defined in 482(i)(5)) and any Alaska Native organization (as defined in 482(i)(7)(A)).
TIME-LIMITED FAMILY REUNIFICATION SERVICES.--
1. IN GENERAL.--The term `time-limited 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 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, but only during the 15-month period that begins on the date that the child, pursuant to section 475(5)(F), is considered to have entered foster care.
2. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED.--The services and activities described in this subparagraph are the following:
  1. Individual, group, and family counseling.
  2. Inpatient, residential, or outpatient substance abuse treatment services.
  3. Mental health services.
  4. Assistance to address domestic violence.
  5. Services designed to provide temporary child care and therapeutic services for families, including crisis nurseries.
  6. Transportation to or from any of the services and activities described in this subparagraph.
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.
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.

STATE PLANS

SEC. 432. [42 U.S.C. 629b] (a) PLAN REQUIREMENTS.--A State plan meets the requirements of this subsection if the plan--

provides that the State agency shall administer, or supervise the administration of, the State program under this subpart;
1. (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;
2. describes the methods to be used in measuring progress toward accomplishment of the goals;
3. contains assurances that the State--
  1. 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
  2. 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;
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;
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 ~~and community-based family support services~~, community-based family support services, time-limited family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services, with significant portions of such expenditures for each such program;
contains assurances that the State will--
1. annually prepare, furnish to the Secretary, and make available to the public a description (including separate descriptions with respect to family preservation services ~~and community-based family support services~~, community-based family support services, time-limited family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services) of--
  1. the service programs to be made available under the plan in the immediately succeeding fiscal year;
  2. the populations which the programs will serve; and
  3. the geographic areas in the State in which the services will be available; and
2. perform the activities described in subparagraph (A)--
  1. in the case of the 1st fiscal year under the plan, at the time the State submits its initial plan; and
  2. in the case of each succeeding fiscal year, by the end of the 3rd quarter of the immediately preceding fiscal year;
provides for such methods of administration as the Secretary finds to be necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the plan;
1. 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
2. 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); ~~and~~
provides that the State agency will furnish such reports, containing such information, and participate in such evaluations, as the Secretary may require; and
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.

(b) APPROVAL OF PLANS.--

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 ~~and family support~~, family support, time-limited family reunification, and adoption promotion and support services).
PLANS OF INDIAN TRIBES.--
1. EXEMPTION FROM INAPPROPRIATE REQUIREMENTS.--The Secretary may exempt a plan submitted by an Indian tribe from any requirement of this section that the Secretary determines would be inappropriate to apply to the Indian tribe, taking into account the resources, needs, and other circumstances of the Indian tribe.
2. SPECIAL RULE.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the Secretary may not approve a plan of an Indian tribe 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 with plans approved under this subpart with the same or larger numbers of children.

ALLOTMENTS TO STATES

SEC. 433. [42 U.S.C. 629c] (a) INDIAN TRIBES.--From the amount reserved pursuant to section 430(d)(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.

(b) TERRITORIES.--From the amount described in section 430(b) for any fiscal year that remains after applying section 430(d) 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 421.

IN GENERAL.--From the amount described in section 430(b) for any fiscal year that remains after applying section 430(d) 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 food stamp percentage of the State for the fiscal year.
FOOD STAMP PERCENTAGE DEFINED.--
1. IN GENERAL.--As used in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the term "food stamp percentage" means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the average monthly number of children receiving food stamp 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 Stamp Act of 1977, expressed as a percentage of the average monthly number of children receiving food stamp benefits in the States described in such paragraph (1) for months in such 3 fiscal years, as so determined.
2. 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.

PAYMENTS TO STATES

SEC. 434. [42 U.S.C. 629d] (a) ENTITLEMENT.--

GENERAL RULE.--Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each State which has a plan approved under this subpart shall be entitled to payment of 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 section 433 for the fiscal year.
SPECIAL RULE.--Upon submission by a State to the Secretary during fiscal year 1994 of an application in such form and containing such information as the Secretary may require (including, if the State is seeking payment of an amount pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, a description of the services to be provided with the amount), the State shall be entitled to payment of an amount equal to the sum of--
1. such amount, not exceeding $1,000,000, from the allotment of the State under section 433 for fiscal year 1994, as the State may require to develop and submit a plan for approval under section 432; and
2. an amount equal to the lesser of--
  1. 75 percent of the expenditures by the State for services to children and families in accordance with the application and the expenditure rules of section 432(a)(4); or
  2. the allotment of the State under section 433 for fiscal year 1994, reduced by any amount paid to the State pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.

(b) PROHIBITIONS.--

NO USE OF OTHER FEDERAL FUNDS FOR STATE MATCH.--Each State receiving an amount paid under paragraph (1) or (2)(B) of subsection (a) may not expend any Federal funds to meet the costs of services described in this subpart not covered by the amount so paid.
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.--A State may not expend any amount paid under subsection (a)(1) for any fiscal year after the end of the immediately succeeding fiscal year.

(c) DIRECT PAYMENTS TO TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS OF INDIAN TRIBES.--The Secretary shall pay any amount to which an Indian tribe is entitled under this section directly to the tribal organization of the Indian tribe.

EVALUATIONS

SEC. 435. [42 U.S.C. 629e] (a) EVALUATIONS.--

IN GENERAL.--The Secretary shall evaluate 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).
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--
1. State agencies administering programs under this part and part E;
2. 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
3. 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.

(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.

*****

Part E--Federal Payments for Foster Care
and Adoption Assistance

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) and adoption assistance for children with special needs, there are authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year (commencing with the fiscal year which begins October 1, 1980) 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--

provides for foster care maintenance payments in accordance with section 472 and for adoption assistance in accordance with section 473;
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;
provides that the plan shall be in effect in all political subdivisions of the State, and, if administered by them, be mandatory upon them;
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 title XX of this Act, and under any other appropriate provision of Federal law;
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;
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;
provides that the State agency will monitor and conduct periodic evaluations of activities carried out under this part;
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 (including activities under part F) or under title I, V, X, XIV, XVI (as in effect in Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands), XIX, or XX, 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;
provides that the State agency will--
1. 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; and
2. provide such information with respect to a situation described in subparagraph (A) as the State agency may have;
provides for the establishment or designation of a State authority or authorities which 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 such institutions or homes, including standards related to admission policies, safety, sanitation, and protection of civil rights, and provides that the standards so established shall be applied by the State to any foster family home or child care institution receiving funds under this part or part B of this title;
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;
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;
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;
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;
effective October 1, 1983, provides that, in each case, reasonable efforts will be made (A) prior to the placement of a child in foster care, to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child from his home, and (B) to make it possible for the child to return to his home;

provides that--
1. 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;
2. (B) except as provided in subparagraph (D), reasonable efforts shall be made to preserve and reunify families--
  1. 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
  2. to make it possible for a child to safely return to the child's home;
3. 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, and to complete whatever steps are necessary to finalize the permanent placement of the child;
4. 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--
  1. 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);
  2. (ii) the parent has--
    1. 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;
    2. 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;
    3. aided or abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to commit such a murder or such a voluntary manslaughter; or
    4. committed a felony assault that results in serious bodily injury to the child or another child of the parent; or
  3. the parental rights of the parent to a sibling have been terminated involuntarily;
5. 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)--
  1. a permanency hearing (as described in section 475(5)(C)) shall be held for the child within 30 days after the determination; and
  2. 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
6. reasonable efforts to place a child for adoption or with a legal guardian may be made concurrently with reasonable efforts of the type described in subparagraph (B);
provides for the development of a case plan (as defined in section 475(1)) 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 section 475(5)(B) with respect to each such child;
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;
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--
1. 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
2. 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; ~~and~~
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.; ~~and~~
1. unless an election provided for in subparagraph (B) is made with respect to the State, provides procedures for criminal records checks for any prospective foster or adoptive parent before the foster or adoptive parent may be finally approved for placement of a child on whose behalf foster care maintenance payments or adoption assistance payments are to be made under the State plan under this part, including procedures requiring that--
  1. in any case 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
  2. in any case 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; and
2. subparagraph (A) shall not apply to a State plan if the Governor of the State has notified the Secretary in writing that the State has elected to make subparagraph (A) inapplicable to the State, or if the State legislature, by law, has elected to make subparagraph (A) inapplicable to the State.; ~~and~~
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--
1. such coverage may be provided through 1 or more State medical assistance programs;
2. 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;
3. 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
4. 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.; ~~and~~
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.; and
provides that the State shall not--
1. 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
2. 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) The Secretary shall approve any plan which complies with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.

FOSTER CARE MAINTENANCE PAYMENTS PROGRAM

SEC. 472. [42 U.S.C. 672] (a) Each State with a plan approved under this part shall make foster care maintenance payments (as defined in section 475(4)) under this part with respect to a child who would have met the requirements of section 406(a) or of section 407 (as such sections were in effect on July 16, 1996) but for his removal from the home of a relative (specified in section 406(a) (as so in effect), if--

the removal from the home occurred pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement entered into by the child's parent or legal guardian, or was the result of a judicial determination to the effect that continuation therein would be contrary to the welfare of such child and (effective October 1, 1983) that reasonable efforts of the type described in section 471(a)(15) for a child have been made;
such child's placement and care are the responsibility of (A) the State agency administering the State plan approved under section 471, or (B) any other public agency with whom the State agency administering or supervising the administration of the State plan approved under section 471 has made an agreement which is still in effect;
such child has been placed in a foster family home or child-care institution as a result of the voluntary placement agreement or judicial determination referred to in paragraph (1); and
such child--
1. would have received aid under the State plan approved under section 402 (as in effect on July 16, 1996) in or for the month in which such agreement was entered into or court proceedings leading to the removal of such child from the home were initiated, or
2. (i) would have received such aid in or for such month if application had been made therefor, or (ii) had been living with a relative specified in section 406(a) (as in effect on July 16, 1996) within six months prior to the month in which such agreement was entered into or such proceedings were initiated, and would have received such aid in or for such month if in such month he had been living with such a relative and application therefor had been made.

In any case where the child is an alien disqualified under section 245A(h), 210(f), or 210A(d)(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act from receiving aid under the State plan approved under section 402 in or for the month in which such agreement was entered into or court proceedings leading to the removal of the child from the home were instituted, such child shall be considered to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (4) (and the corresponding requirements of section 473(a)(2)(B)), with respect to that month, if he or she would have satisfied such requirements but for such 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--

in the foster family home of an individual, whether the payments therefor are made to such individual or to a public or nonprofit private child-placement or child-care agency, or
in a child-care institution, whether the payments therefor are made to such institution or to a public or nonprofit 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) For the purposes of this part, (1) the term "foster family home" means a foster family home for children which is licensed by the State in which it is situated or has been approved, by the agency of such State having responsibility for licensing homes of this type, as meeting the standards established for such licensing; and (2) the term "child-care institution" means a private child-care institution, or a public child-care institution which accommodates no more than twenty-five children, which is licensed by the State in which it is situated or has been approved, by the agency of such State responsible for licensing or approval of institutions of this type, as meeting the standards established for such licensing, but 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)(10).

(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--

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
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 titles 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 title XX, 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.

(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.

ADOPTION 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--

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
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) For purposes of paragraph (1)(B)(ii), a child meets the requirements of this paragraph if such child--

1. at the time adoption proceedings were initiated, met the requirements of section 406(a) or section 407 (as such sections were in effect on July 16, 1996) or would have met such requirements except for his removal from the home of a relative (specified in section 406(a) (as so in effect)) or, either pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement with respect to which Federal payments are provided under section 474 (or 403) (as such section was in effect on July 16, 1996) or as a result of a judicial determination to the effect that continuation therein would be contrary to the welfare of such child,
2. meets all of the requirements of title XVI with respect to eligibility for supplemental security income benefits, or
3. 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 his or her minor parent as provided in section 475(4)(B),
1. would have received aid under the State plan approved under section 402 (as in effect on July 16, 1996) in or for the month in which such agreement was entered into or court proceedings leading to the removal of such child from the home were initiated, or
2. (I) would have received such aid in or for such month if application had been made therefor, or (II) had been living with a relative specified in section 406(a) (as in effect on July 16, 1996) within six months prior to the month in which such agreement was entered into or such proceedings were initiated, and would have received such aid in or for such month if in such month he had been living with such a relative and application therefor had been made, or
3. is a child described in subparagraph (A)(ii) or (A)(iii), and

The last sentence of section 472(a) shall apply, for purposes of subparagraph (B), in any case where the child is an alien described in that sentence. Any child who meets the requirements of subparagraph (C), who was determined eligible for adoption assistance payments under this part with respect to a prior adoption, who 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, and who fails to meet the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) but would meet such requirements if 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 the prior adoption were treated as never having occurred, shall be treated as meeting the requirements of this paragraph for purposes of paragraph (1)(B)(ii).

(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) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, (A) no payment may be made to parents with respect to any child who has attained the age of eighteen (or, where the State determines that the child has a mental or physical handicap which warrants the continuation of assistance, the age of twenty-one), and (B) no payment may be made to parents with respect to any child if the State determines that the parents are no longer legally responsible for the support of the child or if the State determines that the child is no longer receiving any support from such parents. Parents who have been receiving adoption 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 such assistance payments, or eligible for assistance 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).

(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 title XX, 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.

(3) A child described in this paragraph is any child--

1. who is a child described in subsection (a)(2), and
2. 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), or
with respect to whom foster care maintenance payments are being made under section 472.

(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.

the State has determined that the child cannot or should not be returned to the home of his parents; and
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.

SEC. 473A. ADOPTION 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 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--

the State has a plan approved under this part for the fiscal year;
the number of foster child adoptions in the State during the fiscal year exceeds the base number of foster child adoptions for the State for the fiscal year;
the State is in compliance with subsection (c) for the fiscal year;
in the case of fiscal years 2001 and 2002, 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
the fiscal year is any of fiscal years 1998 through 2002.

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)--
1. 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 1st fiscal year); and
2. for each succeeding fiscal year that precedes the fiscal year.
DETERMINATION OF NUMBERS OF ADOPTIONS.--
1. DETERMINATIONS BASED ON AFCARS DATA.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall determine the numbers of foster child adoptions and of special needs adoptions in a State during each of fiscal years 1995 through 2002, for purposes of this section, 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.
2. ALTERNATIVE DATA SOURCES PERMITTED FOR FISCAL YEARS 1995 THROUGH 1997.--For purposes of the determination described in subparagraph (A) for fiscal years 1995 through 1997, the Secretary may use data from a source or sources other than that specified in subparagraph (A) that the Secretary finds to be of equivalent completeness and reliability, as reported by a State by ~~November 30, 1997~~April 30, 1998, and approved by the Secretary by ~~March 1, 1998~~ July 1, 1998.
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 INCENTIVE PAYMENT.--

IN GENERAL.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the adoption incentive payment payable to a State for a fiscal year under this section shall be equal to the sum of--
1. $4,000, multiplied by the amount (if any) by which the number of foster child adoptions in the State during the fiscal year exceeds the base number of foster child adoptions for the State for the fiscal year; and
2. $2,000, multiplied by the amount (if any) by which the number of special needs adoptions in the State during the fiscal year exceeds the base number of special needs adoptions for the State for the fiscal year.
PRO RATA ADJUSTMENT IF INSUFFICIENT FUNDS AVAILABLE.--For any fiscal year, if the total amount of adoption incentive payments otherwise payable under this section 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 this section for the fiscal year shall be--
1. the amount of the adoption incentive payment that would otherwise be payable to the State under this section for the fiscal year; multiplied by
2. the percentage represented by the amount so appropriated for the fiscal year, divided by the total amount of adoption incentive payments otherwise payable under this section for the fiscal year.

(e) 2-YEAR AVAILABILITY OF INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.--Payments to a State under this section in a fiscal year shall remain available for use by the State through the end of the succeeding fiscal year.

(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. 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 423, 434, and 474.

(g) DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section:

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.
SPECIAL NEEDS ADOPTION.--The term `special needs adoption' means the final adoption of a child for whom an adoption assistance agreement is in effect under section 473.
BASE NUMBER OF FOSTER CHILD ADOPTIONS.--The term `base number of foster child adoptions for a State' means--
1. with respect to fiscal year 1998, the average number of foster child adoptions in the State in fiscal years 1995, 1996, and 1997; and
2. with respect to any subsequent fiscal year, the number of foster child adoptions in the State in the fiscal year for which the number is the greatest in the period that begins with fiscal year 1997 and ends with the fiscal year preceding such subsequent fiscal year.
BASE NUMBER OF SPECIAL NEEDS ADOPTIONS.--The term `base number of special needs adoptions for a State' means--
1. with respect to fiscal year 1998, the average number of special needs adoptions in the State in fiscal years 1995, 1996, and 1997; and
2. with respect to any subsequent fiscal year, the number of special needs adoptions in the State in the fiscal year for which the number is the greatest in the period that begins with fiscal year 1997 and ends with the fiscal year preceding such subsequent fiscal year.

(h) LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.--

IN GENERAL.--For grants under subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2003.
AVAILABILITY.--Amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) are authorized to remain available until expended, but not after fiscal year 2003.

(i) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.--

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.
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:
1. The development of best practice guidelines for expediting termination of parental rights.
2. Models to encourage the use of concurrent planning.
3. The development of specialized units and expertise in moving children toward adoption as a permanency goal.
4. The development of risk assessment tools to facilitate early identification of the children who will be at risk of harm if returned home.
5. Models to encourage the fast tracking of children who have not attained 1 year of age into pre-adoptive placements.
6. Development of programs that place children into pre-adoptive families without waiting for termination of parental rights.
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.
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 1998 through 2000.

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 ~~(subject to the limitations imposed by subsection (b))~~ shall be entitled to a payment equal to the sum of--

an amount equal to the Federal medical assistance percentage (as defined in section 1905(b) of this Act) 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; plus
an amount equal to the Federal medical assistance percentage (as defined in section 1905(b) of this Act) of the total amount expended during such quarter as adoption assistance payments under section 473 pursuant to adoption assistance agreements; plus
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--
1. 75 per centum of so much of such expenditures as are for the training (including both short-and 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,
2. 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 and the members of the staff of State-licensed or State-approved child care institutions providing care to foster and adopted children receiving assistance under this part, in ways that increase the ability of such current or prospective parents, staff members, and institutions to provide support and assistance to foster and adopted children, whether incurred directly by the State or by contract,
3. 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--
  1. meet the requirements imposed by regulations promulgated pursuant to section 479(b)(2);
  2. to the extent practicable, are capable of interfacing with the State data collection system that collects information relating to child abuse and neglect;
  3. 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
  4. 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
4. 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
5. one-half of the remainder of such expenditures; plus
an amount equal to the sum of--
1. so much of the amounts expended by such State to carry out programs under section 477 as do not exceed the basic amount for such State determined under section 477(e)(1); and
2. the lesser of--
  1. one-half of any additional amounts expended by such State for such programs; or
  2. the maximum additional amount for such State under such section 477(e)(1).

(b) (1) The Secretary shall, prior to the beginning of each quarter, 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 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.

(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.

disallow the claim, if able to complete the review and determine that the claim is not allowable, or
in any other case, allow the claim, subject to disallowance (as necessary)--
1. upon completion of the review, if it is determined that the claim is not allowable; or
2. 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 ~~section 471(a)(18)~~ 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--

2 percent of such otherwise payable amount, in the case of the 1st such finding for the fiscal year with respect to the State;
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
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 ~~section 471(a)(18)~~ 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) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a State shall not be eligible for any payment under this section if the Secretary finds that, after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the State has--~~

~~(1) denied or delayed 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~~

(2) failed to grant an opportunity for a fair hearing, as described in section 471(a)(12), to an individual whose allegation of a violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection is denied by the State or not acted upon by the State with reasonable promptness.

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 475. [42 U.S.C. 675] As used in this part or part B of this title:

The term "case plan" means a written document which includes at least the following:
1. 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).
2. 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.
3. To the extent available and accessible, the health and education records of the child, including--
  1. the names and addresses of the child's health and educational providers;
  2. the child's grade level performance;
  3. the child's school record;
  4. assurances that the child's placement in foster care takes into account proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement;
  5. a record of the child's immunizations;
  6. the child's known medical problems;
  7. the child's medications; and
  8. any other relevant health and education information concerning the child determined to be appropriate by the State agency.
4. Where appropriate, for a child age 16 or over, ~~the case plan must also include~~ a written description of the programs and services which will help such child prepare for the transition from foster care to independent living.
5. 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.

(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, and reasonable travel to the child's home for visitation. 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 12 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, or of the State in which the child has been placed, visit such child in such home or institution and submit a report on such visit to the State agency of the State in which the home of the parents of the child is located,

(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,

(C) with respect to each such child, procedural safeguards will be applied, among other things, to assure each child in foster care under the supervision of the State of a ~~dispositional~~ 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 ~~eighteen~~ 12 months after the ~~original placement~~ 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 future status of the child (including, but not limited to, whether the child should be returned to the parent, should be continued in foster care for a specified period, should be placed for adoption, or should (because of the child's special needs or circumstances) be continued in foster care on a permanent or long-term basis) 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 (in cases where the State agency has documented to the State court a compelling reason for determining 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 and, in the case of a child described in subparagraph (A)(ii), 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 16, the services needed to assist the child to make the transition from foster care to independent living; and procedural safeguards shall also 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; ~~and~~

(D) a child's health and education record (as described in paragraph (1)(A)) is reviewed and updated, and 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~~

(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.; ~~and~~

(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.; and

(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 an opportunity to be heard in, any review or hearing 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 review or hearing solely on the basis of such notice and opportunity to be heard.

(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.

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.

INDEPENDENT LIVING INITIATIVES

SEC. 477. [42 U.S.C. 677] (a)(1) Payments shall be made in accordance with this section for the purpose of assisting States and localities in establishing and carrying out programs designed to assist children described in paragraph (2) who have attained age 16 in making the transition from foster care to independent living. Any State which provides for the establishment and carrying out of one or more such programs in accordance with this section for a fiscal year shall be entitled to receive payments under this section for such fiscal year, in an amount determined under subsection (e).

(2) A program established and carried out under paragraph (1)--

(A) shall be designed to assist children with respect to whom foster care maintenance payments are being made by the State under this part (including children with respect to whom such payments are no longer being made because the child has accumulated assets, not to exceed $5,000, which are otherwise regarded as resources for purposes of determining eligibility for benefits under this part),

(B) may at the option of the State also include any or all other children in foster care under the responsibility of the State, and

(C) may at the option of the State also include any child who has not attained age 21 to whom foster care maintenance payments were previously made by a State under this part and whose payments were discontinued on or after the date such child attained age 16, and any child who previously was in foster care described in subparagraph (B) and for whom such care was discontinued on or after the date such child attained age 16; and a written transitional independent living plan of the type described in subsection (d)(6) shall be developed for such child as a part of such program.

(b) The State agency administering or supervising the administration of the State's programs under this part shall be responsible for administering or supervising the administration of the State's programs described in subsection (a). Payment under this section shall be made to the State, and shall be used for the purpose of conducting and providing in accordance with this section (directly or under contracts with local governmental entities or private nonprofit organizations) the activities and services required to carry out the program or programs involved.

(c) In order for a State to receive payments under this section for any fiscal year, the State agency must submit to the Secretary, in such manner and form as the Secretary may prescribe, a description of the program together with satisfactory assurances that the program will be operated in an effective and efficient manner and will otherwise meet the requirements of this section. In the case of payments for fiscal year 1987, such description and assurances must be submitted within 90 days after the Secretary promulgates regulations as required under subsection (i), and in the case of payments for any succeeding fiscal year such description and assurances must be submitted prior to February 1 of such fiscal year.

(d) In carrying out the purpose described in subsection (a), it shall be the objective of each program established under this section to help the individuals participating in such program to prepare to live independently upon leaving foster care. Such programs may include (subject to the availability of funds) programs to--

(1) enable participants to seek a high school diploma or its equivalent or to take part in appropriate vocational training;

(2) provide training in daily living skills, budgeting, locating and maintaining housing, and career planning;

(3) provide for individual and group counseling;

(4) integrate and coordinate services otherwise available to participants;

(5) provide for the establishment of outreach programs designed to attract individuals who are eligible to participate in the program;

(6) provide each participant a written transitional independent living plan which shall be based on an assessment of his needs, and which shall be incorporated into his case plan, as described in section 475(1); and

(7) provide participants with other services and assistance designed to improve their transition to independent living.

(e)(1)(A) The basic amount to which a State shall be entitled under section 474(a)(4) for fiscal year 1987 and any succeeding fiscal year shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to the basic ceiling for such fiscal year as such State's average number of children receiving foster care maintenance payments under this part in fiscal year 1984 bears to the total of the average number of children receiving such payments under this part for all States for fiscal year 1984.

(B) The maximum additional amount to which a State shall be entitled under section 474(a)(4) for fiscal year 1991 and any succeeding fiscal year shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to the additional ceiling for such fiscal year as the basic amount of such State bears to $45,000,000.

(i) The term "basic ceiling" means--

(I) for fiscal year 1990, $50,000,000; and

(II) for each fiscal year other than fiscal year 1990, 45,000,000.

(ii) The term "additional ceiling" means--

(I) for fiscal year 1991, $15,000,000; and

(II) for any succeeding fiscal year, $25,000,000.

(2) If any State does not apply for funds under this section for any fiscal year within the time provided in subsection (c), the funds to which such State would have been entitled for such fiscal year shall be reallocated to one or more other States on the basis of their relative need for additional payments under this section (as determined by the Secretary).

(3) Any amounts payable to States under this section shall be in addition to amounts payable to States under subsections (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3) of section 474, and shall supplement and not replace any other funds which may be available for the same general purposes in the localities involved. Amounts payable under this section may not be used for the provision of room or board.

(f) Payments made to a State under this section for any fiscal year--

(1) shall be used only for the specific purposes described in this section;

(2) may be made on an estimated basis in advance of the determination of the exact amount, with appropriate subsequent adjustments to take account of any error in the estimates; and

(3) shall be expended by such State in such fiscal year or in the succeeding fiscal year.

Notwithstanding paragraph (3), payments made to a State under this section for the fiscal year 1987 and unobligated may be expended by such State in the fiscal year 1989.

(g)(1) Not later than the first January 1 following the end of each fiscal year, each State shall submit to the Secretary a report on the programs carried out during such fiscal year with the amounts received under this section. Such report--

(A) shall be in such form and contain such information as may be necessary to provide an accurate description of such activities, to provide a complete record of the purposes for which the funds were spent, and to indicate the extent to which the expenditure of such funds succeeded in accomplishing the purpose described in subsection (a); and

(B) shall specifically contain such information as the Secretary may require in order to carry out the evaluation under paragraph (2).

(2)(A) Not later than July 1, 1988, the Secretary shall submit an interim report on the activities carried out under this section.

(B) Not later than March 1, 1989, the Secretary, on the basis of the reports submitted by States under paragraph (1) for the fiscal years 1987 and 1988, and on the basis of such additional information as the Secretary may obtain or develop, shall evaluate the use by States of the payments made available under this section for such fiscal year with respect to the purpose of this section, with the objective of appraising the achievements of the programs for which such payments were made available, and developing comprehensive information and data on the basis of which decisions can be made with respect to the improvement of such programs and the necessity for providing further payments in subsequent years. The Secretary shall report such evaluation to the Congress. As a part of such evaluation, the Secretary shall include, at a minimum, a detailed overall description of the number and characteristics of the individuals served by the programs, the various kinds of activities conducted and services provided and the results achieved, and shall set forth in detail findings and comments with respect to the various State programs and a statement of plans and recommendations for the future.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, payments made and services provided to participants in a program under this section, as a direct consequence of their participation in such program, shall not be considered as income or resources for purposes of determining eligibility (or the eligibility of any other persons) for aid under the State's plan approved under section 402 or 471, or for purposes of determining the level of such aid.

(i) The Secretary shall promulgate final regulations for implementing this section within 60 days after the date of the enactment of this section.

SEC. 478. 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;

(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.

(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),

(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, and

(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

(4) utilize appropriate requirements and incentives to ensure that the system functions reliably throughout the United States.

SEC. 479A. ANNUAL REPORT. 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; and

(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.

NOTES:

P.L. 96-272, §103(a), amended §422 in its entirety effective June 17, 1980, except that in the case of Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, §422(b)(1) shall be deemed to read as follows:

(1) provide that (A) the State agency designated pursuant to section 402(a)(3) to administer or supervise the administration of the plan of the State approved under part A of this title will administer or supervise the administration of such plan for child welfare services, and (B) to the extent that child welfare services are furnished by the staff of the State agency or local agency administering such plan for child welfare services the organizational unit in such State or local agency established pursuant to section 402(a)(15) will be responsible for furnishing such child welfare services;

Attachments:

Attachment A - The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-89) HTML or PDF Version [105 KB] Attachment C - Certification of Required State Legislation Attachment D - ACF Regional Office list