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 Vir-
ginia) 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 Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To strengthen the Court Improvement Program to advance 
technology and modernizing the judicial child welfare system. 
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 ‘‘Court Improvement 
Program Enhancement Act of 2024’’. 
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SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION THAT COURT IMPROVEMENT PRO-
GRAM FUNDS MAY BE USED FOR TECHNO-
LOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS TO PREVENT DIS-
RUPTION AND ENABLE RECOVERY FROM 
VARIOUS THREATS. 
Section 438(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
629h(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) to prevent disruption and enable recovery 
from threats such as public health crises, natural 
disasters, or cyber-attacks, including technology sup-
port for remote hearings or legal representation, de-
veloping guidance, coordinating with other agencies, 
or otherwise ensuring back-up approaches are in 
place to ensure continuity of needed services.’’. 
SEC. 3. ASSESSMENT OF, AND IMPROVEMENT IN, HAN-
DLING OF PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO FOS-
TER CARE AND ADOPTION. 
Section 438(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
629h(a)), as amended by this Act, is further amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(F) that determine the appropriateness, 
and best practices for use, of technology to 
allow conduct of remote hearings, including to 
ensure maximum participation of individuals in-
volved in proceedings and to enable courts to 
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maintain operations in times of public health or 
other emergencies;’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting after ‘‘and 
other legal personnel’’ the following: ‘‘and sup-
porting optimal use of remote hearing technology’’. 
SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE ON SHARING BEST 
PRACTICES FOR TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES 
NEEDED FOR COURT PROCEEDINGS FOR 
FOSTER CARE OR ADOPTION TO BE CON-
DUCTED REMOTELY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Every 5 years, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, through the Administration 
for Children and Families, shall issue implementation 
guidance for sharing information on the best practices 
for— 
(1) technological changes needed for court pro-
ceedings for foster care or adoption to be conducted 
remotely in a way that maximizes engagement and 
protects the privacy of participants; and 
(2) the manner in which the proceedings should 
be conducted. 
(b) INITIAL ISSUANCE.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall issue the 1st guidance required by 
subsection (a) not later than January 1, 2025. 
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(c) ADDITIONAL CONSULTATION.—The Administra-
tion for Children and Families shall consult with Indian 
tribes on the development of appropriate guidelines for 
State proceedings involving Indian children to maximize 
engagement of Indian tribes and provide appropriate 
guidelines on the conducting of proceedings subject to the 
Indian Child Welfare Act (25 USC 1901 et seq.). 
SEC. 5. RESERVATION OF AMOUNTS. 
Section 436(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 629f(b)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘$30,000,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$40,000,000’’. 
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall 
take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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