I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8460 

To strengthen the Court Improvement Program to advance technology and 

modernizing the judicial child welfare system. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 17, 2024 

Mr. MOORE of Utah (for himself, Ms. CHU, and Mrs. MILLER of West Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and 

the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To strengthen the Court Improvement Program to advance 

technology and modernizing the judicial child welfare system. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Court Improvement 

5 Program Enhancement Act of 2024’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION THAT COURT IMPROVEMENT PRO2 GRAM FUNDS MAY BE USED FOR TECHNO3 LOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS TO PREVENT DIS4 RUPTION AND ENABLE RECOVERY FROM 

5 VARIOUS THREATS. 

6 Section 438(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

7 629h(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

8 ‘‘(3) to prevent disruption and enable recovery 

9 from threats such as public health crises, natural 

10 disasters, or cyber-attacks, including technology sup11 port for remote hearings or legal representation, de12 veloping guidance, coordinating with other agencies, 

13 or otherwise ensuring back-up approaches are in 

14 place to ensure continuity of needed services.’’. 

15 SEC. 3. ASSESSMENT OF, AND IMPROVEMENT IN, HAN16 DLING OF PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO FOS17 TER CARE AND ADOPTION. 

18 Section 438(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

19 629h(a)), as amended by this Act, is further amended— 

20 (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the 

21 following: 

22 ‘‘(F) that determine the appropriateness, 

23 and best practices for use, of technology to 

24 allow conduct of remote hearings, including to 

25 ensure maximum participation of individuals in26 volved in proceedings and to enable courts to 


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1 maintain operations in times of public health or 

2 other emergencies;’’; and 

3 (2) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting after ‘‘and 

4 other legal personnel’’ the following: ‘‘and sup5 porting optimal use of remote hearing technology’’. 

6 SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE ON SHARING BEST 

7 PRACTICES FOR TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES 

8 NEEDED FOR COURT PROCEEDINGS FOR 

9 FOSTER CARE OR ADOPTION TO BE CON10 DUCTED REMOTELY. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Every 5 years, the Secretary of 

12 Health and Human Services, through the Administration 

13 for Children and Families, shall issue implementation 

14 guidance for sharing information on the best practices 

15 for— 

16 (1) technological changes needed for court pro17 ceedings for foster care or adoption to be conducted 

18 remotely in a way that maximizes engagement and 

19 protects the privacy of participants; and 

20 (2) the manner in which the proceedings should 

21 be conducted. 

22 (b) INITIAL ISSUANCE.—The Secretary of Health and 

23 Human Services shall issue the 1st guidance required by 

24 subsection (a) not later than January 1, 2025. 


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1 (c) ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION.—The Administra2 tion for Children and Families shall consult with Indian 

3 tribes on the development of appropriate guidelines for 

4 State proceedings involving Indian children to maximize 

5 engagement of Indian tribes and provide appropriate 

6 guidelines on the conducting of proceedings subject to the 

7 Indian Child Welfare Act (25 USC 1901 et seq.). 

8 SEC. 5. RESERVATION OF AMOUNTS. 

9 Section 436(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 

10 U.S.C. 629f(b)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘$30,000,000’’ 

11 and inserting ‘‘$40,000,000’’. 

12 SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

13 This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall 

14 take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date 

15 of the enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


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