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###### Department of Health and Human Services

###### Administration for Children and Families

# AGENCY:

Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.

# ACTION:

Request for Public Comment and Tribal Consultation Meetings.

# SUMMARY:

Effective October 1, 2009, Public Law 110-351 provides Indian Tribes with the option to operate a foster care, adoption assistance and, at Tribal option, a kinship guardianship assistance program under title IV-E of the Social Security Act (the Act). The Federal government would share in the costs of Tribes operating an ACF-approved title IV-E program. Public Law 110-351 requires that ACF develop interim final rules after consulting with Tribes and affected States on the implementation of the Tribal plan requirements in section 479B of the Act and other amendments made by the Tribal provisions in section 301 of Public Law 110-351. The law requires that such regulations include: (1) Procedures to ensure that a transfer of State responsibility for the placement and care of a child under a State title IV-E plan to a Tribal title IV-E plan occurs in a manner that does not affect the child's eligibility for title IV-E or title XIX Medicaid and such services or payments; and, (2) the in-kind expenditures from third-party sources permitted for the Tribal share of administration and training expenditures under title IV-E. This notice is designed to provide a written opportunity for comment to all interested persons, and specifically the affected States and to notify Tribal leaders of in-person opportunities to consult with the Children's Bureau on the development of these regulations.

# DATES:

                        Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the                         **ADDRESSES**                         section below on or before May 12, 2009. Please see                         **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION**                         for additional details on the Tribal consultation meetings.                    

# ADDRESSES:

Interested persons may submit written comments by any of the following methods:
      -  Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments.                               ( print page 10921)      
      -  E-mail: CBComments@acf.hhs.gov . Please include “Request for Public Comment on Tribal IV-E Requirements” in the subject line of the message.                    
      -  Mail or Courier Delivery : Miranda Lynch, Division of Policy, Children's Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Administration for Children and Families, 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW., 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20024.                    

*Instructions:*                         Please be aware that mail sent to us may take an additional 3-4 days to process due to changes in mail handling resulting from the anthrax crisis of October 2001. If you choose to use an express, overnight, or other special delivery method, please ensure first that they are able to deliver to the above address. We urge you to submit comments electronically to ensure they are received in a timely manner. All comments received will be posted without change to                         *www.regulations.gov*                         including any personal information provided. Comments provided to us during a meeting or in writing in response to this                         **Federal Register**                         notice will receive equal consideration by ACF.                     

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Miranda Lynch, Children's Bureau, 1250 Maryland Ave., SW., 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20024; (202) 205-8138,                         *miranda.lynch@acf.hhs.gov.*

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## Title IV-E Background 

The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, Public Law 110-351 was enacted on October 7, 2008. Prior to the law's enactment, the title IV-E program provided States and territories (hereafter, “States”) with Federal funds to support eligible children in foster care, eligible children with special needs in adoptions, and to assist the State with the administrative expenses of operating the title IV-E program. The law, as amended, permits Federally-recognized Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations or consortia (hereafter, “Tribes”) to apply to ACF to operate a title IV-E program beginning October 1, 2009. By law, the requirements of the title IV-E statute apply to such Tribes “in the same manner as this part applies to a State” (section 479B(b) of the Act), with limited exceptions. Public Law 110-351 also provides limited funding, beginning in Federal fiscal year (FY) 2009, for Tribes that intend to submit an application to ACF for direct funding of the title IV-E program that apply for a grant to assist in developing a title IV-E plan. Finally, the law codifies a Tribe's ability to enter into agreements and contracts with State title IV-E agencies to share in the administration of the title IV-E programs on behalf of Indian children in their placement and care responsibility. 

                    In addition to creating this opportunity for Tribes, the law permits title IV-E agencies who choose to do so to administer a new kinship guardianship assistance program under title IV-E, revises the eligibility criteria for the title IV-E adoption assistance program, allows title IV-E agencies to choose to extend title IV-E foster care, adoption assistance, and kinship guardianship payments to youth who meet certain conditions up to age 21, among other changes to the title IV-B and IV-E requirements. The entire law and issuances related to the new provisions can be found on the Children's Bureau's Web site at                     *http://www.acf.hhs.gov/​programs/​cb.*

## Implementation of the Tribal Title IV-E Plan 

                    The law limits exceptions or modifications to the title IV-E statutory requirements for Tribes that will directly operate a title IV-E program to those granted in the law (                    *i.e.*, the ability for Tribes to define their own service areas, Tribal licensing standards and flexibility to use nunc pro tunc and affidavits to meet judicial determination requirements in the first 12 months of operation of the Tribal title IV-E plan). This means that Tribes wishing to operate their own title IV-E plan must adhere to the following requirements:                 
    - Secretarial approval of a plan to operate a title IV-E foster care (per section 472 of the Act) and adoption assistance program (per section 473 of the Act) that complies with the applicable title IV-E plan requirements in sections 471(a) and definitions in section 475 of the Act;
    - Tribal title IV-E plan provisions in section 479B of the Act;
    - Regulations in 45 CFR 1355  and  1356  or incorporated by cross-reference, except to the extent that such regulations either have been superseded by  Public Law 110-351  or are not applicable at this time to directly-funded Tribes (e.g., regulations requiring title IV-E eligibility reviews and Child and Family Services Reviews); and, 
    - Federal reporting requirements as required by the Secretary (section 471(a)(6) of the Act).

## Transfer of Placement and Care of Title IV-E Children 

The law requires the Secretary to issue interim final rules on the transfer of children in foster care under a State title IV-E plan to the placement and care responsibility of a Tribe under a directly-funded Tribal title IV-E plan to ensure that the children maintain their eligibility for title IV-E and title XIX Medicaid. We note that the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978 provides existing statutory direction for State courts to transfer certain child custody proceedings—including foster care—involving Indian children to the jurisdiction of Indian courts. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, has also issued guidelines regarding such transfers in “Guidelines for State Courts—Indian Child Custody Proceedings” (see 44 FR 67584, November 26, 1979).

## Tribal Share of Title IV-E Administration and Training Expenditures

Tribes whose title IV-E plans are approved by the Secretary may receive Federal reimbursement of a share of title IV-E allowable administrative and training costs (section 479B(c)(1)(D) of the Act). As of October 1, 2009, the law permits such Tribes, but not States, to use in-kind funds from third-party sources in contributing their Tribal share of such costs. The law establishes initial provisions for permitted third-party sources and sets specific limits on the percentage of the Tribal share that may be used for title IV-E purposes. The law requires HHS to develop interim final regulations on the Tribal share provisions to apply beginning in FY 2012. 

## Opportunity To Comment 

Interim final rules are final rules that have immediate effect without the Federal agency first issuing and inviting public comment on a notice of proposed rulemaking. Because the law requires us to promulgate interim final regulations on the limited topics of the procedures to effect the transfer of children from State to directly-funded Tribal title IV-E plans and the in-kind third party match sources and percentages in consultation with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Tribal consortia, and affected States we will hold in-person Tribal consultation meetings to discuss these topics. Affected States may submit written comments on these issues. Specifically, we are seeking comments on the following: 
    - Considering that the Secretary is to apply title IV-E of the Act to Tribes in the same manner as to States except where directed by law, what, if any, provisions and clarifications related to the title IV-E program for directly-funded Tribes should be in regulations?       ( print page 10922)      
    - Are guidelines above and beyond those provided pursuant to the ICWA needed to execute the transfer of placement and care responsibility of a title IV-E Indian child to a Tribe operating a title IV-E plan? If, so please provide suggestions.
    - What specific information pertaining to title IV-E and title XIX Medicaid should a State make available to a Tribe that seeks to gain placement and care responsibility over an Indian child?
    - Should the third-party sources and in-kind limits on Tribal administrative and training costs remain consistent with section 479B(c)(1)(D) of the Act? Please provide a rationale for this response.

Any other comments regarding the development of an interim final rule per section 301(e) of Public Law 110-351 are welcome. Please note, however, that this request is limited in scope and is not intended to solicit comments on the remaining provisions of Public Law 110-351. 

## Tribal Consultation 

                    We invite Tribal leaders and/or the representatives of Federally recognized Tribes to attend consultation meetings that will be held across the United States to provide their input on the issues subject to regulations as explained below. Tribal leaders and/or their representatives who choose to attend a consultation session must register at least one week in advance of the meeting date by contacting the applicable Children's Bureau (CB) Regional Program Manager. Registered participants for the consultation session may submit written remarks in advance, or present them in oral or written form at the consultation session. Tribal leaders and/or their representatives, regardless of whether they participate in the consultation session, may provide written comments as noted in the                     **ADDRESSES**                     section. Finally, please note that Federal representatives attending the consultation sessions will not be able to respond directly during the session to the concerns or questions raised by participants. The consultation sessions and contact information are listed below:                 

### Thursday, March 26, 2009—Region V 

Park Plaza Bloomington Hotel, 4460 West 78th Street Circle, Bloomington, MN 55435. 

Region includes: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. 

                    Contact: Carolyn Wilson-Hurey, CB Regional Program Manager, phone (312) 353-4237 or e-mail                     *carolyn.wilson-hurey@acf.hhs.gov.*

### Friday, March 27, 2009—Region VII 

Federal Office Building, 601 E 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. 

Region includes: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. 

                    Contact: Rosalyn Wilson, CB Regional Program Manager, phone (816) 426-2262 or e-mail                     *rosalyn.wilson@acf.hhs.gov.*

### Thursday, April 9, 2009—Region X

2201 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121-1827. 

Region includes: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. 

                    Contact: John Henderson, CB Regional Program Manager, phone (206) 615-2482 or e-mail                     *john.henderson@acf.hhs.gov.*

### Friday, April 17, 2009—Region VIII 

Byron Rogers Federal Building, 1961 Stout Street, Denver, CO 80294. 

Region includes: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. 

                    Contact: Marilyn Kennerson, CB Regional Program Manager, phone (303) 844-3100 or e-mail                     *marilyn.kennerson@acf.hhs.gov.*

### Monday, April 27, 2009—Region IX

90 7th Street—Conf. Rm. B040 and B020, San Francisco, CA 94103. 

Region includes: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Outer Pacific—American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Pohnpei, Yap), Guam, Marshall Islands and Palau. 

                    Contact: Sally Flanzer, CB Regional Program Manager, phone (415) 437-8400 or e-mail                     *sally.flanzer@acf.hhs.gov.*

### Thursday, April 30, 2009—Region VI

1301 Young Street, Room 1119, Dallas, TX 75202. 

Region includes: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. 

                    Contact: June Lloyd, CB Regional Program Manager, phone (214) 767-8466 or e-mail                     *june.lloyd@acf.hhs.gov.*

### Wednesday, May 13, 2009—Regions I, II & IV

Semi-Annual meeting of the United Southern and Eastern Tribes.

Paragon Casino Resort Hotel, 711 Paragon Place, Marksville, LA 71351. 

Region I includes: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 

                    Contact: Bob Cavanaugh, CB Regional Program Manager, phone (617) 565-1020 or e-mail                     *bob.cavanaugh@acf.hhs.gov.*

Region II includes: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 

                    Contact: Junius Scott, CB Regional Program Manager, phone (212) 264-2890 or e-mail                     *junius.scott@acf.hhs.gov.*

Region IV includes: Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee. 

                    Contact: Ruth Walker, CB Regional Program Manager, phone (404) 562-2901 or e-mail                     *ruth.walker@acf.hhs.gov.*

Dated: March 9, 2009. 

Curtis Coy, 

Acting Assistant Secretary for Administration.

 [FR Doc. E9-5505 Filed 3-12-09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4184-01-P