[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9316 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9316
To amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to increase
awareness among eligible children and youths of, and encourage their
participation in, the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful
Transition to Adulthood, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 6, 2024
Mr. Nunn of Iowa (for himself, Mr. Bacon, and Mrs. Dingell) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to increase
awareness among eligible children and youths of, and encourage their
participation in, the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful
Transition to Adulthood, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Brighter Futures for Teens and Young
Adults in Foster Care Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVING AWARENESS OF THE CHAFEE PROGRAM.
(a) Case Review System Requirements.--Section 475(5)(I) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 675(5)(I)) is amended to read as
follows:
``(I)(i) each child in foster care under the
responsibility of the State who has attained 14 years
of age receives, if the child is eligible to receive
the document and without cost to the child--
``(I) a copy of any consumer report (as
defined in section 603(d) of the Fair Credit
Reporting Act) pertaining to the child, each
year until the child is discharged from care,
and assistance (including, when feasible, from
any court-appointed advocate for the child) in
interpreting and resolving any inaccuracies in
the consumer report;
``(II) an official or certified copy of the
United States birth certificate of the child;
``(III) a social security card issued by
the Commissioner of Social Security;
``(IV) health insurance information;
``(V) a copy of the child's medical
records;
``(VI) a driver's license or identification
card issued by a State in accordance with the
requirements of section 202 of the REAL ID Act
of 2005; and
``(VII) official documentation necessary to
prove that the child is in foster care; and
``(ii) each child who is leaving foster care under
the responsibility of the State by reason of having
attained 18 years of age or such greater age as the
State has elected under paragraph (8), unless the child
has been in foster care for less than 6 months, is not
discharged from care without being provided, without
cost to the child--
``(I) official documentation necessary to
prove that the child was in foster care; and
``(II) each document described in
subclauses (I) through (VI) of clause (i), if
the child is eligible to receive the
document.''.
(b) Additional Case Plan and Case Review System Requirements.--
Section 475A(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 675a(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), to read as follows:
``(1) a document that describes the rights of the child--
``(A) with respect to education, health,
visitation, and court participation;
``(B) to be informed, in an age-appropriate way, of
the services available to the child under the State
programs carried out pursuant to section 477, in--
``(i) every meeting between a caseworker
and the child; and
``(ii) every court or administrative
hearing held with respect to the child
requiring the attendance of the child;
``(C) to be provided with the documents specified
in section 475(5)(I) in accordance with that section;
``(D) to stay safe and avoid exploitation; and
``(E) to seek redress for a violation of a right of
the child under this section;'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by inserting ``described in paragraph (1)''
after ``copy of the document''; and
(B) by striking the period and inserting a
semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) for each year that the child is in foster care, a
document that describes the requirements for the child to
receive each document specified in section 475(5)(I) and any
assistance available to the child to meet the requirements; and
``(4) a signed and dated acknowledgment by the child that
the child has been provided with a copy of the document
described in paragraph (3), for each year that the document has
been provided.''.
(c) John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to
Adulthood.--Section 477 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraphs (1) through
(4) and inserting the following:
``(1) to support youth who have experienced foster care at
age 14 or older, youth in extended foster care, former foster
care recipients between ages 18 and 23, and youth placed into
guardianship or adoption at age 16 or older in their transition
to adulthood to support them in achieving positive outcomes so
that they are able to thrive in adulthood consistent with peers
who have not experienced foster care;
``(2) to provide the individuals access to appropriate
supports, services, and programs, without barriers and with the
goal of maximizing engagement, in order to achieve positive
outcomes among the individuals with respect to--
``(A) secure, meaningful, and permanent connections
with family and kin;
``(B) secure, meaningful, and permanent connections
with mentors and supportive adults;
``(C) healing and wellness, including substance
abuse prevention, preventative health skills (including
smoke avoidance, nutrition education, and pregnancy
prevention), and areas related to mental health;
``(D) attaining a high school diploma or equivalent
qualification and pursuing post-secondary education or
vocational training;
``(E) job placement and retention and career
exploration;
``(F) acquisition of daily living skills, including
driving instruction;
``(G) budgeting, financial management skills, and
asset building;
``(H) housing; and
``(I) self-advocacy and leadership skills;
``(3) to provide opportunities to the individuals for
normalcy and age- or developmentally-appropriate activities and
experiences;
``(4) to achieve maximum reach and effect by ensuring that
State agencies consult and partner with the individuals in
planning, implementing, and assessing programs funded under
this section;'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``achieving
independence'' and inserting ``making a successful
transition to adulthood'';
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``achieve
independence'' and inserting ``make a successful
transition to adulthood''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) Reach and engage eligible youth to encourage
their participation in the programs available to them,
with particular focus on certain vulnerable
populations, including youth--
``(i) with disabilities;
``(ii) experiencing homelessness; or
``(iii) who are, or expecting to be,
parents.
``(H) Ensure that eligible youth are provided
information about the services and resources available
to them.
``(I) Include eligible youth from across the
geographical regions of the State in outreach and in
the planning and delivery of services provided under
this section.'';
(3) in subsection (b)(3)--
(A) in subparagraph (E)--
(i) by striking ``30'' and inserting
``90''; and
(ii) by inserting ``after making the plan
available to the public for comment'' before
the period;
(B) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``independent
living'' and inserting ``a successful transition to
adulthood'';
(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (I) through (K)
as subparagraphs (K) through (M), respectively;
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the
following:
``(J) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that the State has made all
reasonable efforts to provide the eligible youth in the
State a description of the programs and services
provided under this section.'';
(E) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (H)
as subparagraphs (G) through (I), respectively;
(F) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the
following:
``(F) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that the State has consulted with
eligible youth from across the State about the
effectiveness of the methods used by the State for
outreach and engagement and about the development of
services and resources provided under this section.'';
and
(G) by adding at the end the following:
``(N) A certification by the chief executive
officer of the State that the State developed the
portion of the State plan describing how the State
intends to comply with paragraph (2)(G)--
``(i) in consultation with children, youth,
and young adults who are or were in foster care
and with community-based stakeholders who can
share best practices in the outreach to and
engagement of children, youth, and young adults
who are or were in foster care; and
``(ii) based on performance measures that
the State collects and evaluates on an ongoing
basis.'';
(4) in subsection (f)--
(A) in the heading, to read as follows: ``Data
Collection, Benchmarks, and Performance Incentives.--
'';
(B) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by inserting ``youth with experience
in foster care or affiliated with foster care
organizations or networks,'' before ``and
researchers'';
(C) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``performance
benchmarks for'' before ``outcome measures''; and
(D) in paragraph (1)(B), to read as follows:
``(B) identify data elements needed to track--
``(i) the notification of eligible youth of
the type and availability of services;
``(ii) the number of eligible youth who
have signed and dated the acknowledgments
pursuant to section 475A(b)(4); and
``(iii) the number of eligible youth who
have achieved the performance benchmarks after
beginning to receive services provided under
this section; and''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Report to congress on recommendations for funding
with performance incentives.--Within 6 months after the
enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report with
recommendations to develop incentive payments for States based
on the performance benchmarks developed pursuant to paragraph
(1).''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(k) Technical Assistance.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide technical
assistance to States and State agencies in the development and
implementation of effective and robust outreach policies and
practices.
``(2) Content of technical assistance.--The technical
assistance shall include--
``(A) guidance on how to reduce barriers to
eligible youth accessing the programs available to
them, such as through interagency information-sharing
agreements; and
``(B) best practices in outreach to and informing
eligible youth of the programs available to them.
``(l) Definition of Eligible Youth.--In this section, the term
`eligible youth' means youth eligible to participate in a State program
under this section.''.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) In General.--The amendments made by this Act shall take effect
on the 1st day of the 1st fiscal year beginning on or after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and shall apply to payments--
(1) except as provided under subparagraph (2), under part E
of title IV of the Social Security Act for calendar quarters
beginning on or after such date; and
(2) under section 477 of such Act pursuant to plans
approved by the Secretary on or after such date.
(b) Delay Permitted if State Legislation Required.--If the
Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that State
legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) is required in
order for any State plan approved under part E of title IV of the
Social Security Act to meet the additional requirements imposed by the
amendments made by this Act, the plan shall not be regarded as failing
to meet any of the additional requirements before the 1st day of the
1st calendar quarter beginning after the 1st regular session of the
State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this
Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if the State has a 2-year
legislative session, each year of the session is deemed to be a
separate regular session of the State legislature.
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