I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3781 
To amend parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act to invest 
in funding prevention and family services to help keep children safe 
and supported at home with their families, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 21, 2015 
Mr. DOGGETT (for himself, Ms. BASS, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. 
LEWIS, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. BONAMICI, 
Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. CICILLINE, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. 
CONYERS, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. GENE GREEN of 
Texas, Mr. HECK of Washington, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. JOHNSON of Geor-
gia, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. MOORE, Mr. NADLER, Mrs. 
NAPOLITANO, Ms. NORTON, Mr. POCAN, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. LINDA T. 
SA´NCHEZ of California, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. 
TAKANO, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. CLEAVER, Mrs. DINGELL, 
Ms. EDWARDS, Mr. COHEN, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Ms. WILSON of Flor-
ida, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, 
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, and Ms. EDDIE BERNICE 
JOHNSON of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To amend parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security 
Act to invest in funding prevention and family services 
to help keep children safe and supported at home with 
their families, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Family Stability and Kinship Care Act of 2015’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Purpose. 
Sec. 4. Time-limited family services under part E of title IV of the Social Secu-
rity Act. 
Sec. 5. Assuring funding under part B of title IV of the Social Security Act 
for prevention and post-permanency support. 
Sec. 6. Effective date. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Our Nation’s child welfare financing system 
gives States and Indian tribes few resources to in-
vest in prevention and family services that help keep 
children safely at home or in the care of other family 
members. 
(2) Title IV–E of the Social Security Act cur-
rently provides States and Indian tribes with manda-
tory Federal funding support for children only after 
they are placed in foster care. Title IV–E provides 
few incentives for State and tribal efforts to prevent 
the need for out-of-home placements of children or 
to reduce the time children spend in foster care. 
(3) In contrast, State and tribal innovations im-
plemented through title IV–E waivers suggest that 
permitting State and tribal spending under title IV– 
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E for front end prevention and family services may 
help reduce the prevalence and length of foster care 
placements while maintaining or improving safety 
and permanency outcomes for children. 
(4) Additionally, State experiences with sub-
sidized guardianship demonstrate that when children 
cannot remain with their parents, children placed 
with relatives or kin experience greater stability than 
children placed with non-relative foster families. 
Kinship or relative care reduces the emotional trau-
ma associated with separation from parents, helps 
keep siblings together, and preserves cultural herit-
age and community bonds. Providing supportive 
services to relatives and kin can reduce the number 
of children entering or re-entering foster care. 
(5) At the same time, current Federal funding 
for broad, community-based, primary prevention pro-
grams through title IV–B is too limited to ade-
quately reach the number of families in need. 
(6) Greater access to prevention and family 
services will help keep children safe and supported 
at home with their parents or other family members, 
give States and Indian tribes the flexibility to adapt 
evidence-based support services to the specific needs 
of each family, and ensure that States and Indian 
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tribes are held accountable for allocating services in 
ways that maximize safety and permanency for chil-
dren, while minimizing the prevalence of lengthy fos-
ter care placements. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to enable States to provide 
enhanced support to children and families and prevent fos-
ter care placements through the provision of time-limited 
family services and expanded kinship supports. 
SEC. 4. TIME-LIMITED FAMILY SERVICES UNDER PART E OF 
TITLE IV OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT. 
(a) TIME-LIMITED FAMILY SERVICES DEFINED.— 
Section 475 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 675) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(13)(A) The term ‘time-limited family services’ 
means supports and services that are among the 
services and supports specified in subparagraph (B) 
and that are provided to a child or to the parents 
or potential or designated kin caregivers of a child 
described in subparagraph (C) during a 12-month 
period that begins on a date described in subpara-
graph (D). Such individuals shall remain eligible for 
time-limited family services for a full 12-month pe-
riod without regard to whether any such individuals 
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cease to be described in subparagraph (C) after the 
period begins. 
‘‘(B) The services and supports described in 
this subparagraph are the following: 
‘‘(i) Parenting and family skills training 
and parent education, including parent advo-
cates, peer-to-peer mentoring and support 
groups for parents, primary caregivers, and po-
tential kinship caregivers. 
‘‘(ii) Individual, group, and family coun-
seling, mentoring, and therapy, including inten-
sive family preservation or reunification pro-
grams and trauma-informed care. 
‘‘(iii) Services or assistance to address bar-
riers to family preservation and reunification, 
including mental health needs, domestic vio-
lence, substance abuse, and inadequate housing. 
‘‘(iv) Crisis assistance or services to sta-
bilize families in times of crisis or facilitate kin-
ship placement, such as transportation, cloth-
ing, household goods, assistance with housing 
and utility payments, child care, respite care, 
and assistance connecting families with other 
community-based services. 
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‘‘(C) Individuals described in this subparagraph 
are the following: 
‘‘(i) A child who is a candidate for foster 
care (as defined in paragraph 14) but can re-
main safely at home or in a kinship placement 
with receipt of specified time-limited family 
services. 
‘‘(ii) A child in foster care (without regard 
to whether the child is or would be eligible for 
payments under section 472 or 473). 
‘‘(iii) A child in foster care who is a preg-
nant or parenting foster youth. 
‘‘(iv) Parents or potential or designated 
kin caregivers of a child described in clause (i), 
(ii), or (iii) when their service needs are directly 
related to the safety, permanence, or well-being 
of the child or to the child’s ability not to enter 
or re-enter foster care. 
‘‘(D) The dates described in this subparagraph 
are the following: 
‘‘(i) The date on which a child is identified 
in a case plan as a child who is a candidate for 
foster care (as defined in paragraph (14)). 
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‘‘(ii) The date on which a child is consid-
ered to have entered foster care pursuant to 
paragraph (5)(F). 
‘‘(iii) The date on which a child is identi-
fied in a case plan as a pregnant or parenting 
foster youth in need of time-limited family serv-
ices. 
‘‘(14) The term ‘child who is a candidate for foster 
care’ means, a child who is identified in a case plan as 
being at imminent risk of entering or re-entering foster 
care (without regard to whether the child is or would be 
eligible for payments under section 472 or 473) but who 
can remain safely in the child’s current home or in a kin-
ship placement as long as the time-limited family services 
that are necessary to prevent the child’s entry or reentry 
into foster care are provided. Such term includes a child 
whose adoption or guardianship arrangement is at risk of 
a disruption or dissolution that would result in a foster 
care placement.’’. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Section 471 of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 671) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘and’’ and 
all that follows through the semicolon and inserting 
‘‘, adoption assistance in accordance with section 
473, and, at the option of the State, time-limited 
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family services in accordance with subsection (e);’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) REQUIREMENTS
FOR TIME-LIMITED FAMILY 
SERVICES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State may provide time- 
limited family services (as defined in section 
475(13)) to individuals described in subparagraph 
(C) of section 475(13) only if the State— 
‘‘(A) submits as part of the State plan re-
quired under subsection (a) a time-limited fam-
ily services plan component that meets the re-
quirements of paragraph (2); and 
‘‘(B) satisfies the general requirements 
specified in paragraph (3) and the maintenance 
of effort requirements specified in (5). 
‘‘(2) TIME-LIMITED
FAMILY
SERVICES
PLAN 
COMPONENT.—In order to meet the requirements of 
this paragraph, a time-limited family services plan 
component shall include, with respect to each 5-year 
period for which the plan component is in operation 
in the State, the following: 
‘‘(A) How the State intends to utilize the 
Federal funding available for providing time- 
limited family services, including a description 
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of how Federal funds provided for such services 
will be used to supplement, and not supplant, 
the level of State and local funds expended for 
child welfare. 
‘‘(B) How providing time-limited family 
services is expected to improve outcomes for 
children and families, including which specific 
outcomes the State expects to achieve and the 
means by which those outcomes will be mon-
itored. 
‘‘(C) How the State will monitor and over-
see the safety of children who receive time-lim-
ited family services, including through periodic 
risk assessments throughout the period in 
which such services are provided on behalf of a 
child remaining at home and re-examination of 
the plan for service provision on behalf of a 
child remaining at home or in foster care if 
there is a determination that the child’s risk of 
entering or re-entering into foster care, or of 
being prevented from exiting foster care, re-
mains high over the course of the provision of 
such services. 
‘‘(D) Information on the specific evidence- 
based programs and promising practice models 
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the State plans to implement to provide time- 
limited family services, including a description 
of— 
‘‘(i) each such program or model; 
‘‘(ii) how the State plans to imple-
ment each such program or model; 
‘‘(iii) how the State selected such pro-
grams or models; and 
‘‘(iv) the target population for each 
model. 
‘‘(E) A description of the collaboration be-
tween the State agencies responsible for admin-
istering the State plans under this part and 
part B and the State agency responsible for ad-
ministering the State plan under title XIX, as 
well as with other public and private agencies 
with experience in administering child and fam-
ily services, including community-based organi-
zations, in order to foster a continuum of care 
and services available for children and families. 
‘‘(F) A description of how the State shall 
assess children and families to determine eligi-
bility for time-limited family services. 
‘‘(G) A description of training and support 
for caseworkers handling prevention cases, in-
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cluding how caseload size and type will be de-
termined, managed, and overseen. 
‘‘(H) A description of training and support 
for parents or potential or designated kin care-
givers of a child eligible for time-limited family 
services. 
‘‘(3) GENERAL
REQUIREMENTS.—The general 
requirements for providing time-limited family serv-
ices specified in this paragraph are the following: 
‘‘(A) SPECIFIED SERVICES IN ADVANCE OF 
PROVISION.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Except as pro-
vided in clause (ii), the specific services 
necessary to prevent the child’s entry or 
reentry into foster care or enable the 
child’s exit from foster care to be reunified 
with their family or placed with kin are 
specified in the child’s case plan in advance 
of the provision of such services. 
‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION FOR EMERGENCY OR 
OTHER EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES.—Clause 
(i) shall not apply to the provision of time- 
limited family services in emergency or exi-
gent circumstances but the provision of 
such services shall be included in the 
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child’s case plan as soon as practicable 
after the provision of the services. 
‘‘(B) PROMISING
AND
EVIDENCE-BASED 
PROGRAMS, ASSISTANCE, OR SERVICES.— 
‘‘(i) EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS, AS-
SISTANCE, OR SERVICES.—Not later than 
October 1, 2018, at least 25 percent of the 
total amount of expenditures by the State 
for time-limited family services are for evi-
dence-based programs, assistance, or serv-
ices that have demonstrated any of the fol-
lowing outcomes, as determined by the 
Secretary and based on rigorous evalua-
tion: 
‘‘(I) Reducing the likelihood or 
duration of foster care placement. 
‘‘(II) Decreasing use of con-
gregate care settings. 
‘‘(III) Increasing use of kinship 
care arrangements. 
‘‘(ii) REQUIREMENT.—The State only 
provides time-limited family services that 
are promising programs, services, or assist-
ance and through evidence-informed or cul-
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turally specific or other adaptations of pro-
grams. 
‘‘(iii) GUIDANCE
ON
CRITERIA
AND 
PRE-APPROVED PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND 
ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—Not later 
than October 1, 2017, the Secretary 
shall issue guidance to States that 
specifies the level of evidence required 
for a program, service, or form of as-
sistance to satisfy the requirements of 
this subparagraph, and contains a 
pre-approved list of programs, services 
and forms of assistance that meet 
such criteria or satisfy such require-
ments. 
‘‘(II) UPDATES.—The Secretary 
shall issue updates to the guidance re-
quired under this clause as often as 
the Secretary determines necessary. 
‘‘(C) PAYMENT ONLY IF NO OTHER FED-
ERAL
FUNDING
AVAILABLE.—Payment under 
section 474(a)(6) for expenditures for time-lim-
ited family services shall not duplicate other 
Federal funding sources for services and sup-
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ports that are provided as time-limited family 
services and shall only be made to the extent 
that payment for services and supports provided 
as time-limited family services cannot reason-
ably be expected to be available under another 
federally funded program within a reasonable 
time given the needs of the child and the child’s 
family during the child’s 12-month eligibility 
period. 
‘‘(D) OUTCOME ASSESSMENT AND REPORT-
ING.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The State shall 
collect and report to the Secretary the fol-
lowing with respect to each child for whom, 
or on whose behalf, time-limited family 
services are provided during a 12-month 
period: 
‘‘(I) With respect to each cat-
egory of services and supports de-
scribed in section 475(13)(B), the 
specific services provided and the total 
expenditures for each such service. 
‘‘(II) The child’s placement sta-
tus at the beginning, and at the end, 
of the period, respectively. 
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‘‘(III) The child’s placement sta-
tus 1 year after the end of the period. 
‘‘(ii) SIBLINGS.—If time-limited fam-
ily services are provided over a 12-month 
period to or on behalf of 2 or more sib-
lings, the aggregate amount of expendi-
tures for such services to be reported 
under clause (i)(I) may be allocated to 1 
sibling or divided among such siblings so 
long as such siblings are all included in 
calculation of the per-child spending meas-
ure under paragraph (4)(A)(i)(III). 
‘‘(4) 
AUTHORIZATION
FOR
OUTCOMES-RE-
WARDED INCREASED MATCH.— 
‘‘(A) NATIONAL
PERFORMANCE
MEAS-
URES.— 
‘‘(i) ESTABLISHMENT; ANNUAL
UP-
DATES.—Beginning with fiscal year 2021, 
and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
shall establish the following national per-
formance measures: 
‘‘(I) 
PERCENTAGES
OF
CAN-
DIDATES
WHO
DO
NOT
SUBSE-
QUENTLY
ENTER
FOSTER
CARE.— 
With respect to all children for whom, 
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or on whose behalf, time-limited fam-
ily services are provided during any 
12-month period, the percentages of 
such children initially determined to 
be candidates for foster care who do 
not enter a foster care placement 
(other than a kinship placement) dur-
ing such period and through the end 
of the succeeding 12-month period. 
‘‘(II) PERCENTAGES
OF
CHIL-
DREN WHO LEAVE FOSTER CARE FOR 
REUNIFICATION, 
KINSHIP
PLACE-
MENT, 
GUARDIANSHIP, 
OR
ADOP-
TION.—With respect to all children 
for whom, or on whose behalf, time- 
limited family services are provided 
during any 12-month period, the per-
centages of such children who are ini-
tially in a foster care placement who 
are returned to, or are placed with a 
biological or adoptive parent or in a 
kinship placement or guardianship at 
the end of such period and who re-
main in each such placement through 
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the end of the succeeding 12-month 
period. 
‘‘(III) PER-CHILD SPENDING ON 
TIME-LIMITED
FAMILY
SERVICES.— 
With respect to each 12-month period 
for which percentages are determined 
under subclauses (I) and (II) (other 
than a percentage determined for a 
succeeding 12-month period), the total 
amount of expenditures for providing 
time-limited family services for, or on 
behalf of, each child during the pe-
riod. 
‘‘(ii) DATA.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish and update the national perform-
ance measures— 
‘‘(I) based on the median State 
values of the information reported 
under each subclause of clause (i) for 
the 3 most recent years; and 
‘‘(II) taking into account State 
differences in the price levels of con-
sumption goods and services using the 
most recent regional price parities 
published by the Bureau of Economic 
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Analysis of the Department of Com-
merce or such other data as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(iii) PUBLICATION
OF
STATE
PER-
FORMANCE.—The Secretary shall annually 
make available to the public each State’s 
performance with respect to the national 
performance measures. 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION TO MATCHING RATE.— 
‘‘(i) CRITERIA
FOR
INCREASE.—Be-
ginning with fiscal year 2022, the Federal 
percentage applicable to payments to a 
State for a fiscal year under section 
474(a)(6) for expenditures attributable to 
time-limited family services shall be in-
creased by such number of percentage 
points (not to exceed 10 percentage points) 
as the Secretary shall determine, for any 
State for which— 
‘‘(I) each of the State-specific 
percentages described in subclauses 
(I) and (II) of subparagraph (A)(i) 
are greater than the national average 
percentages determined under such 
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‘‘(II) the State-specific per child 
spending amount described in sub-
clause (III) of subparagraph (A)(i) is 
more 
than 
the 
national 
average 
amount determined under that sub-
clause for the preceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(iii) NO CHANGE UNLESS ALL CRI-
TERIA MET.—A State shall not be eligible 
for an increase in its applicable Federal 
matching rate under section 474(a)(6) for 
a fiscal year, or shall not be subject to a 
reduction in that rate for a fiscal year, un-
less the State satisfies both of the condi-
tions specified in clause (i) or (ii) (as ap-
plicable). 
‘‘(5) MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.— 
‘‘(A) CERTIFICATION.—The Governor of a 
State shall certify that payments under this 
part for time-limited family services are used to 
supplement, and not supplant, the level of State 
and local funds expended for child welfare for 
fiscal year 2015. 
‘‘(B) STATE REPORTS.—A State shall fur-
nish reports to the Secretary, at such times, in 
such format, and containing such information 
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as the Secretary may require, that demonstrate 
the State’s compliance with subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(6) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH 
THE
PROVISION
OF
TIME-LIMITED
FAMILY
SERV-
ICES.—Expenditures described in paragraph (6) or 
(7) of section 474(a)— 
‘‘(A) shall not be eligible for payment 
under paragraph (3) of section 474(a); and 
‘‘(B) shall be eligible for payment without 
regard to whether such expenditures are in-
curred on behalf of a child who is, or is poten-
tially, eligible for foster care maintenance or 
adoption assistance payments under this part. 
‘‘(7) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
this subsection shall be construed to reduce or limit 
the responsibility of the State agency responsible for 
administering the State plan approved under title 
XIX to administer and provide care and services for 
children with respect to whom services are provided 
under the State plan developed pursuant to this sub-
part.’’. 
(c) PAYMENTS UNDER TITLE IV–E.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 474(a) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 674(a)) is amended— 
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(A) in paragraph (5), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; plus’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) subject to section 471(e), for each quarter 
beginning after September 30, 2015, an amount 
equal to the Federal medical assistance percentage 
(which shall be as defined in section 1905(b), in the 
case of a State other than the District of Columbia, 
or 70 percent, in the case of the District of Colum-
bia) of the total amount expended during such quar-
ter for the provision of time-limited family services 
(as defined in section 475(13)) (or, with respect to 
such payments made during such quarter under a 
cooperative agreement or contract entered into by 
the State and an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or 
tribal consortium for the administration or payment 
of funds under this part, an amount equal to the 
Federal medical assistance percentage that would 
apply under section 479B(d) (in this paragraph re-
ferred to as the ‘tribal FMAP’) if such Indian tribe, 
tribal organization, or tribal consortium made such 
payments under a program operated under that sec-
tion, unless the tribal FMAP is less than the Fed-
eral medical assistance percentage that applies to 
the State); plus 
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‘‘(7) subject to section 471(e)(6), for each quar-
ter beginning after September 30, 2015, an amount 
equal to the sum of the following proportions of the 
total amount expended during such quarter— 
‘‘(A) 50 percent of so much of such ex-
penditures as found necessary by the Secretary 
for the proper and efficient administration of 
the State plan for the provision of time-limited 
family services (as defined in section 475(13)), 
including expenditures for activities approved 
by the Secretary that promote the development 
of necessary infrastructure to establish and im-
plement the provision of time-limited family 
services for individuals who are eligible for such 
services; and 
‘‘(B) 50 percent of so much of such ex-
penditures as are for training of personnel em-
ployed or preparing for employment by the 
State agency or by the local agency admin-
istering the plan in the political subdivision, 
with respect to the provision of time-limited 
family services, including on how to determine 
who are individuals eligible for such services, 
how to identify and provide appropriate time- 
limited family services, and how to oversee and 
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evaluate the ongoing appropriateness of such 
services.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (i) 
of section 472 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 672) is 
amended by adding after and below paragraph 
(2)(B) of such subsection the following flush sen-
tence: 
‘‘Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to Federal match-
ing payments for administrative expenditures that are eli-
gible for payment under section 474(a)(7).’’. 
(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, DATA COLLECTION, 
AND EVALUATION.—Section 476 of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 676) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, DATA COLLECTION, 
AND EVALUATIONS RELATING TO TIME-LIMITED FAMILY 
SERVICES.— 
‘‘(1) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE; 
BEST
PRAC-
TICES.—The Secretary shall provide to States and, 
as applicable, to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, 
and tribal consortia, technical assistance regarding 
the provision of time-limited family services under 
this part and shall disseminate best practices with 
respect to the provision of such services. 
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‘‘(2) DATA COLLECTION AND EVALUATIONS.— 
The Secretary, directly or through grants, contracts, 
or interagency agreements, shall collect data and 
conduct research and evaluations with respect to the 
provision of time-limited family services under this 
part for purposes of assessing the extent to which 
the provision of such services reduces the prevalence 
and length of foster care placements and improves 
safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes for 
children on whose behalf services or assistance are 
provided under this part. 
‘‘(3) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Ways and Means 
of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Finance of the Senate periodic re-
ports based on the provision of time-limited 
family services under this part and the activi-
ties carried out under this subsection. 
‘‘(B) PUBLIC
AVAILABILITY.—The Sec-
retary shall make the reports to Congress sub-
mitted under this paragraph publicly available. 
‘‘(4) APPROPRIATION.—There is appropriated 
to the Secretary, out of any money in the Treasury 
of the United States not otherwise appropriated, 
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$2,500,000 for fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year 
thereafter to carry out this subsection.’’. 
(e) APPLICATION TO PROGRAMS OPERATED BY IN-
DIAN TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 479B of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 679c) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (c)(1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (C)(i)— 
(I) in subclause (II), by striking 
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 
(II) in subclause (III), by strik-
ing the period at the end and insert-
ing ‘‘; and’’; and 
(III) by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(IV) at the option of the tribe, 
organization, or consortium, time-lim-
ited family services (as defined in sec-
tion 475(13)) to individuals described 
in 
subparagraph 
(C) 
of 
section 
475(13), in accordance with section 
471(e) and subparagraph (E).’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(E) TIME-LIMITED FAMILY SERVICES.— 
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‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a 
tribe, organization, or consortium that 
elects to provide time-limited family serv-
ices (as defined in section 475(13)) to indi-
viduals described in subparagraph (C) of 
section 475(13) under the plan, the Sec-
retary shall specify the requirements appli-
cable to the provision of such services. 
Such requirements shall, to the greatest 
extent practicable, be consistent with the 
requirements applicable to States under 
section 471(e) and shall permit the provi-
sion of such services in the form of pro-
grams, assistance, or services that are 
adapted to the culture and context of the 
tribal communities served. 
‘‘(ii) PERFORMANCE MEASURES.—The 
Secretary shall establish specific perform-
ance measures for each tribe, organization, 
or consortium that elects to provide time- 
limited family services. The performance 
measures shall, to the greatest extent prac-
ticable, be consistent with the national per-
formance measures required for States 
under paragraph (4)(A) of section 471(e) 
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but shall allow for consideration of factors 
unique to the provision of such services by 
tribes, organizations, or consortia.’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ‘‘and 
(5)’’ and inserting ‘‘(5), and (6)’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The heading 
for subsection (d) of section 479B of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 679c) is amended by striking ‘‘FOR FOSTER 
CARE MAINTENANCE AND ADOPTION ASSISTANCE 
PAYMENTS’’. 
(f) MODERNIZING
THE TITLE
AND PURPOSE
OF 
TITLE IV–E.— 
(1) PART HEADING.—The heading for part E of 
title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670 
et seq.) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘PART E—FEDERAL PAYMENTS FOR FOSTER 
CARE AND PERMANENCY’’. 
(2) PURPOSE.—The first sentence of section 
470 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670) is 
amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ before ‘‘adoption as-
sistance’’ and inserting a comma; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘kinship guardianship as-
sistance, and time-limited family services,’’ after 
‘‘needs,’’; and 
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(C) by striking ‘‘(commencing with the fis-
cal year which begins October 1, 1980)’’. 
SEC. 5. ASSURING FUNDING UNDER PART B OF TITLE IV OF 
THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT FOR PREVEN-
TION AND POST-PERMANENCY SUPPORT. 
(a) ELIMINATION OF TIME-LIMIT FOR FAMILY RE-
UNIFICATION SERVICES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 431(a)(7) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)(7)) is amend-
ed— 
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
‘‘TIME-LIMITED FAMILY’’ and inserting ‘‘FAM-
ILY’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘time-limited family’’ 
and inserting ‘‘family’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘, but only during the 
15-month period that begins on the date 
that 
the 
child, 
pursuant 
to 
section 
475(5)(F), is considered to have entered 
foster care’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) Section 430 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
629) is amended in the matter preceding para-
graph (1), by striking ‘‘time-limited’’. 
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(B) Subsections (a)(4), (a)(5)(A), and 
(b)(1) of section 432 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
629b) are amended by striking ‘‘time-limited’’ 
each place it appears. 
(b) MANDATORY FUNDING
FOR
THE PROMOTING 
SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES (PSSF) PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) APPROPRIATION
FOR
FISCAL
YEAR 
2016.—Section 436(a) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 629f(a)) is amended by striking 
‘‘are authorized’’ and all that follows through 
the period and inserting ‘‘is appropriated 
$1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2016.’’. 
(B) INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR EVALUA-
TION, RESEARCH, TRAINING
AND
TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE
AND
STATE
COURT
IMPROVE-
MENTS.—Section 436(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
629f(b)) is amended— 
(i) in paragraph (1), in the matter 
preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘$6,000,000’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘$10,000,000’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2), by striking 
‘‘$30,000,000’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘$33,000,000’’. 
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(C) INCREASE
IN
FUNDING
FOR
STATE 
COURT
ASSESSMENTS
AND
IMPROVEMENTS.— 
Section 438(c)(3)(A)(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
629h(c)(3)(A)(i)) 
is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘$9,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$12,000,000’’. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
437(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629g(a)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2015’’. 
(c) SPENDING REQUIREMENTS.—Section 432(a)(4) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629b(a)(4)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘, with significant portions of such 
expenditures for each such program’’ and inserting ‘‘with 
at least 25 percent of the expenditures made for adoption 
promotion and support services’’. 
(d) RESEARCH, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND GUID-
ANCE ON PROMISING PROGRAM MODELS AND EVIDENCE- 
BASED PROGRAMS.—Section 435(c) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 629e(c)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(1); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (2) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) 
beginning 
with 
fiscal 
year 
2016, 
$4,000,000 for research on promising programs, in-
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cluding culturally specific adaptations, to identify 
additional evidence-based prevention and interven-
tion programs that prevent child abuse and neglect, 
reduce the likelihood of foster care placement by 
supporting birth families and kinship families, in-
crease family reunification with parents or other kin, 
improve targeted supports for pregnant and par-
enting teens and their children, and promote post- 
permanency placement stability for children living 
with relatives or non-related caregivers, and for pro-
viding technical assistance and guidance to States 
with respect to such programs.’’. 
(e) FAMILY CONNECTION GRANTS.— 
(1) REAUTHORIZATION OF FUNDING FOR FIS-
CAL YEAR 2016.—Section 427(h) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 627(h)) is amended by inserting 
‘‘, and $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2016’’ after 
‘‘2014’’. 
(2) INCLUSION OF OTHER FAMILY STABILITY 
PROGRAMS.—Section 427(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
627(a)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ‘‘or’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(B) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
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(C) by inserting after paragraph (4)(B) 
the following: 
‘‘(5) other programs with evidence to support 
their effectiveness at preventing foster care place-
ment or supporting family stability post-permanency 
(or both).’’. 
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), the 
amendments made by this Act take effect on October 1, 
2015. 
(b) TRANSITION RULE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a State plan 
under part B or E of title IV of the Social Security 
Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices determines requires State legislation (other than 
legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan 
to meet the additional requirements imposed by the 
amendments made by this Act, the State plan shall 
not be regarded as failing to comply with the re-
quirements of such part solely on the basis of the 
failure of the plan to meet such additional require-
ments before the first day of the first calendar quar-
ter beginning after the close of the first regular ses-
sion of the State legislature that begins after the 
date of enactment of this Act. For purposes of the 
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previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 
2-year legislative session, each year of such session 
shall be deemed to be a separate regular session of 
the State legislature. 
(2) APPLICATION TO PROGRAMS OPERATED BY 
INDIAN TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS.—In the case of an 
Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium 
which the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
determines requires time to take action necessary to 
comply with the additional requirements imposed by 
the amendments made by this Act (whether the 
tribe, organization, or tribal consortium has a plan 
under section 479B of the Social Security Act or a 
cooperative agreement or contract entered into with 
a State), the Secretary shall provide the tribe, orga-
nization, or tribal consortium with such additional 
time as the Secretary determines is necessary for the 
tribe, organization, or tribal consortium to take such 
action before being regarded as failing to comply 
with such requirements. 
Æ 
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