IIB
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3205
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 28, 2013
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT
To reauthorize and restructure the adoption incentives grant program, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Promoting Adoption and Legal Guardianship for Children in Foster Care Act
.
Table of contents
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Title I—Adoption incentives grant program
Sec. 101. Extension of program through fiscal year 2016.
Sec. 102. Improvements to award structure.
Sec. 103. Renaming of program.
Sec. 104. Limitation on use of incentive payments.
Sec. 105. Increase in period for which incentive payments are available for expenditure.
Sec. 106. State report on calculation and use of savings resulting from the phase-out of eligibility requirements for adoption assistance; requirement to spend 20 percent of savings on post-adoption services.
Sec. 107. Preservation of eligibility for kinship guardianship assistance payments with a successor guardian.
Sec. 108. Effective dates.
Title II—Extension of family connection grant program
Sec. 201. Extension of family connection grant program.
Title III—Unemployment compensation
Sec. 301. Improving the collection of unemployment insurance overpayments through tax refund offset.
Adoption incentives grant program
Extension of program through fiscal year 2016
Section 473A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 673b) is amended—
in subsection (b)(5), by striking 2008 through 2012
and inserting 2013 through 2015
; and
in each of paragraphs (1)(D) and (2) of subsection (h), by striking 2013
and inserting 2016
.
Improvements to award structure
Eligibility for award
Section 473A(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 673b(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively.
Data requirements
Section 473A(c)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 673b(c)(2)) is amended—
in the paragraph heading, by striking numbers of adoptions
and inserting rates of adoptions and guardianships
; and
by striking the numbers
and all that follows through section,
and inserting each of the rates required to be determined under this section with respect to a State and a fiscal year,
.
Award amount
Section 473A(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 673b(d)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)—
by striking paragraphs (2) and (3)
and inserting paragraph (2)
; and
by striking subparagraphs (A) through (C) and inserting the following:
$2,000, multiplied by the amount (if any) by which—
the number of foster child adoptions in the State during the fiscal year; exceeds
the product (rounded to the nearest whole number) of—
the base rate of foster child adoptions for the State for the fiscal year; and
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year;
$4,000, multiplied by the amount (if any) by which—
the number of pre-adolescent child adoptions in the State during the fiscal year; exceeds
the product (rounded to the nearest whole number) of—
the base rate of pre-adolescent child adoptions for the State for the fiscal year; and
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year who have attained 9 years of age but not 14 years of age; and
$8,000, multiplied by the amount (if any) by which—
the number of older child adoptions in the State during the fiscal year; exceeds
the product (rounded to the nearest whole number) of—
the base rate of older child adoptions for the State for the fiscal year; and
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year who have attained 14 years of age; and
$1,000, multiplied by the amount (if any) by which—
the number of foster child guardianships in the State during the fiscal year; exceeds
the product (rounded to the nearest whole number) of—
the base rate of foster child guardianships for the State for the fiscal year; and
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year.
; and
by striking paragraph (3).
Definitions
Section 473A(g) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 673b(g)) is amended by striking paragraphs (1) through (8) and inserting the following:
Foster child adoption rate
The term foster child adoption rate means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the percentage determined by dividing—
the number of foster child adoptions finalized in the State during the fiscal year; by
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year.
Base rate of foster child adoptions
The term base rate of foster child adoptions means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the lesser of—
the foster child adoption rate for the State for fiscal year 2007; or
the foster child adoption rate for the State for the then preceding fiscal year.
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.
Pre-adolescent child adoption rate
The term pre-adolescent child adoption rate means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the percentage determined by dividing—
the number of pre-adolescent child adoptions finalized in the State during the fiscal year; by
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year, who have attained 9 years of age but not 14 years of age.
Base rate of pre-adolescent child adoptions
The term base rate of pre-adolescent child adoptions means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the lesser of—
the pre-adolescent child adoption rate for the State for fiscal year 2007; or
the pre-adolescent child adoption rate for the State for the then preceding fiscal year.
Pre-adolescent child adoption
The term pre-adolescent child adoption means the final adoption of a child who has attained 9 years of age but not 14 years of age if—
at the time of the adoptive placement, the child was in foster care under the supervision of the State; or
an adoption assistance agreement was in effect under section 473 with respect to the child.
Older child adoption rate
The term older child adoption rate means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the percentage determined by dividing—
the number of older child adoptions finalized in the State during the fiscal year; by
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year, who have attained 14 years of age.
Base rate of older child adoptions
The term base rate of older child adoptions means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the lesser of—
the older child adoption rate for the State for fiscal year 2007; or
the older child adoption rate for the State for the then preceding fiscal year.
Older child adoption
The term older child adoption means the final adoption of a child who has attained 14 years of age if—
at the time of the adoptive placement, the child was in foster care under the supervision of the State; or
an adoption assistance agreement was in effect under section 473 with respect to the child.
Foster child guardianship rate
The term foster child guardianship rate means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the percentage determined by dividing—
the number of foster child guardianships occurring in the State during the fiscal year; by
the number of children in foster care under the supervision of the State on the last day of the preceding fiscal year.
Base rate of foster child guardianships
The term base rate of foster child guardianships means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the lesser of—
the foster child guardianship rate for the State for fiscal year 2007; or
the foster child guardianship rate for the State for the then preceding fiscal year.
Foster child guardianship
The term foster child guardianship means, with respect to a State, the exit of a child from foster care under the responsibility of the State to live with a legal guardian, if the State has reported to the Secretary—
that the State agency has determined that—
the child has been removed from his or her home pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement or as a result of a judicial determination to the effect that continuation in the home would be contrary to the welfare of the child;
being returned home or adopted are not appropriate permanency options for the child;
the child demonstrates a strong attachment to the prospective legal guardian, and the prospective legal guardian has a strong commitment to caring permanently for the child; and
if the child has attained 14 years of age, the child has been consulted regarding the legal guardianship arrangement; or
the alternative procedures used by the State to determine that legal guardianship is the appropriate option for the child.
.
Renaming of program
In general
The section heading of section 473A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 673b) is amended to read as follows:
Adoption and legal guardianship incentive payments
.
Conforming amendments
Section 473A of such Act is amended in each of subsections (a), (d)(1), (d)(2)(A), and (d)(2)(B) (42 U.S.C. 673b(a), (d)(1), (d)(2)(A), and (d)(2)(B)) by inserting and legal guardianship
after adoption
each place it appears.
The heading of section 473A(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 673b(d)) is amended by inserting and legal guardianship
after adoption
.
Limitation on use of incentive payments
Section 473A(f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 673b(f)) is amended in the 1st sentence by inserting , and shall use the amount to supplement, and not supplant, any Federal or non-Federal funds used to provide any service under part B or E
before the period.
Increase in period for which incentive payments are available for expenditure
Section 473A(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 673b(e)) is amended—
in the subsection heading, by striking 24-month
and inserting 36-month
; and
by striking 24-month
and inserting 36-month
.
State report on calculation and use of savings resulting from the phase-out of eligibility requirements for adoption assistance; requirement to spend 20 percent of savings on post-adoption services
Section 473(a)(8) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 673(a)(8)) is amended to read as follows:
A State shall calculate the savings (if any) resulting from the application of paragraph (2)(A)(ii) to all applicable children for a fiscal year, using a methodology specified by the Secretary or an alternate methodology proposed by the State and approved by the Secretary.
A State shall annually report to the Secretary—
the methodology used to make the calculation described in subparagraph (A), without regard to whether any savings are found;
the amount of any savings referred to in subparagraph (A); and
how any such savings are spent, accounting for and reporting the spending separately from any other spending reported to the Secretary under part B or E.
The Secretary shall make all information reported pursuant to subparagraph (B) available on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services in a location easily accessible to the public.
A State shall spend an amount equal to the amount of the savings (if any) in State expenditures under this part resulting from the application of paragraph (2)(A)(ii) to all applicable children for a fiscal year, to provide to children of families any service that may be provided under this part or part B, and shall spend not less than 20 percent of any such savings on post-adoption services. Any such spending shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, any Federal or non-Federal funds used to provide any service under part B or E.
.
Preservation of eligibility for kinship guardianship assistance payments with a successor guardian
Section 473(d)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 673(d)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Eligibility not affected by replacement of guardian with a successor guardian
In the event of the death or incapacity of the relative guardian, the eligibility of a child for a kinship guardianship assistance payment under this subsection shall not be affected by reason of the replacement of the relative guardian with a successor legal guardian named in the kinship guardianship assistance agreement referred to in paragraph (1) (including in any amendment to the agreement), notwithstanding subparagraph (A) of this paragraph and section 471(a)(28).
.
Effective dates
In general
Except as otherwise provided in this section, the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on October 1, 2013.
Restructuring and renaming of program
In general
The amendments made by sections 102 and 103 shall take effect on October 1, 2014, subject to paragraph (2).
Transition rule
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the total amount payable to a State under section 473A of the Social Security Act for fiscal year 2014 shall be an amount equal to 1/2 of the sum of—
the total amount that would be payable to the State under such section for fiscal year 2014 if the amendments made by section 102 of this Act had not taken effect; and
the total amount that would be payable to the State under such section for fiscal year 2014 in the absence of this paragraph.
Preservation of eligibility for kinship guardianship assistance payments with a successor guardian
The amendment made by section 107 shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
Extension of family connection grant program
Extension of family connection grant program
Section 427(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 627(h)) is amended by striking 2013
and inserting 2016
.
Unemployment compensation
Improving the collection of unemployment insurance overpayments through tax refund offset
In general
Section 303 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 503) is amended by adding at the end the following:
In the case of a covered unemployment compensation debt (as defined under section 6402(f)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) that remains uncollected as of the date that is 2 years after the date when such debt was first incurred, the State to which such debt is owed shall take action to recover such debt under section 6402(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
.
Effective date
The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2015.
Passed the House of Representatives October 22, 2013.
Karen L. Haas,
Clerk
