I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8643 
To amend subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to 
strengthen State plan requirements to include comprehensive mental 
health and well-being for children and youth in foster care to ensure 
their thriving and success. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 5, 2024 
Mrs. STEEL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To amend subpart 1 of part B of title IV of the Social 
Security Act to strengthen State plan requirements to 
include comprehensive mental health and well-being for 
children and youth in foster care to ensure their thriving 
and success. 
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 ‘‘Foster Youth Mental 
Health Support Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. STRENGTHENING OF STATE PLAN REQUIREMENTS 
TO 
INCLUDE 
COMPREHENSIVE 
MENTAL 
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR CHILDREN 
AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE TO ENSURE 
THEIR THRIVING AND SUCCESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 422(b)(15)(A) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 622(b)(15) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding clause (i)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and, if applicable, the 
State agency responsible for mental health serv-
ices,’’ before ‘‘and in consultation’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘mental health pro-
viders,’’ before ‘‘other experts’’; 
(2) in clause (ii), by inserting ‘‘a list of services 
provided to support the physical and’’ before ‘‘emo-
tional’’; 
(3) in clause (iv), by inserting ‘‘an mental 
health’’ before ‘‘services’’; 
(4) in clause (v), by inserting ‘‘, informed con-
sent of youth, and compliance with professional 
practice guidelines’’ before the semicolon; and 
(5) in clause (vi), by inserting ‘‘, mental health 
providers,’’ before ‘‘or other’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on October 1, 2026, 
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and shall apply to payments under subpart 1 of part 
B of title IV of the Social Security Act for calendar 
quarters beginning on or after such date. 
(2) DELAY PERMITTED IF STATE LEGISLATION 
REQUIRED.—If the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services determines that State legislation (other 
than legislation appropriating funds) is required in 
order for a State plan developed pursuant to subpart 
1 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to 
meet the additional requirements imposed by the 
amendments made by this section, 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 first regular session of 
the State legislature that begins after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. For purposes of the preceding 
sentence, if the State has a 2-year legislative session, 
each year of the session is deemed to be a separate 
regular session of the State legislature. 
Æ 
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