I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8813 
To amend subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to 
address child welfare involvement caused by poverty, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 25, 2024 
Mr. SMITH of Missouri (for himself and Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To amend subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the Social 
Security Act to address child welfare involvement caused 
by poverty, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Preventing Child Wel-
fare Entry Caused by Poverty Act’’. 
SEC. 2. MARYLEE ALLEN PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE 
FAMILIES PROGRAM. 
(a) FAMILY
PRESERVATION
SERVICES.—Section 
431(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
629a(a)(1)) is amended— 
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(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(G)(i) services providing nonrecurring 
short term benefits (including supports related 
to housing instability, utilities, transportation, 
and food assistance, among other basic needs) 
that address immediate needs related to a spe-
cific crisis, situation, or event affecting the abil-
ity of a child to remain in a home established 
for the child that is not intended to meet an on-
going need; and 
‘‘(ii) for purposes of this subpart, an ex-
penditure for a service described in clause (i) 
may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or 
more of family support services, family preser-
vation services, family reunification services, or 
adoption promotion and support services.’’. 
(b) STATE PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—Section 432(a) 
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629b(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon; 
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(2) in paragraph (10), by striking the period 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(11) provides a description of policies in place, 
including training for employees, to address child 
welfare reports and investigations concerning the liv-
ing arrangements or subsistence needs of a child 
with the goal to prevent the separation of a child 
from a parent of the child solely due to poverty, to 
ensure access to services described in section 
431(a)(1)(G).’’. 
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 made under subpart 2 
of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act for calendar 
quarters beginning on or after such date. 
(b) DELAY PERMITTED IF STATE LEGISLATION IS 
REQUIRED.—If the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices determines that State legislation (other than legisla-
tion appropriating funds) is required in order for any 
State plan approved under subpart 2 of part B of title 
IV of the Social Security Act to meet the additional re-
quirements imposed by the amendments made by this Act, 
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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 sen-
tence, if the State has a 2-year legislative session, each 
year of the session is deemed to be a separate regular ses-
sion of the State legislature. 
Æ 
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