HR 5456 PCS 
Subtitle B—Enhanced Support 
Under Title IV–B 
SEC. 121. ELIMINATION OF TIME LIMIT FOR FAMILY REUNI-
FICATION SERVICES WHILE IN FOSTER CARE 
AND PERMITTING TIME-LIMITED FAMILY RE-
UNIFICATION SERVICES WHEN A CHILD RE-
TURNS HOME FROM FOSTER CARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 431(a)(7) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629a(a)(7)) is amended— 
(1) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
‘‘TIME-LIMITED FAMILY’’ and inserting ‘‘FAMILY’’; 
and 
(2) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘time-limited family’’ and 
inserting ‘‘family’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or a child who has been 
returned home’’ after ‘‘child care institution’’; 
and 
(C) by striking ‘‘, but only during the 15- 
month period that begins on the date that the 
child, pursuant to section 475(5)(F), is consid-
ered to have entered foster care’’ and inserting 
‘‘and to ensure the strength and stability of the 
reunification. In the case of a child who has 
been returned home, the services and activities 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:41 Jun 23, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5456.PCS
H5456
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 5456 PCS 
shall only be provided during the 15-month pe-
riod that begins on the date that the child re-
turns home’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 430 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629) is 
amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘time-limited’’. 
(2) 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 ap-
pears. 
SEC. 122. REDUCING BUREAUCRACY AND UNNECESSARY 
DELAYS 
WHEN 
PLACING 
CHILDREN 
IN 
HOMES ACROSS STATE LINES. 
(a) 
STATE
PLAN
REQUIREMENT.—Section 
471(a)(25) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
671(a)(25)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘provide’’ and insert ‘‘provides’’; 
and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, which, not later than Octo-
ber 1, 2026, shall include the use of an electronic 
interstate case-processing system’’ before the first 
semicolon. 
(b) GRANTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELEC-
TRONIC INTERSTATE CASE-PROCESSING SYSTEM TO EX-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:41 Jun 23, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5456.PCS
H5456
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 5456 PCS 
PEDITE THE INTERSTATE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN IN 
FOSTER CARE OR GUARDIANSHIP, OR FOR ADOPTION.— 
Section 437 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629g) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(g) GRANTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELEC-
TRONIC INTERSTATE CASE-PROCESSING SYSTEM TO EX-
PEDITE THE INTERSTATE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN IN 
FOSTER CARE OR GUARDIANSHIP, OR FOR ADOPTION.— 
‘‘(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this subsection 
is to facilitate the development of an electronic inter-
state case-processing system for the exchange of 
data and documents to expedite the placements of 
children in foster, guardianship, or adoptive homes 
across State lines. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION
REQUIREMENTS.—A State 
that desires a grant under this subsection shall sub-
mit to the Secretary an application containing the 
following: 
‘‘(A) A description of the goals and out-
comes to be achieved during the period for 
which grant funds are sought, which goals and 
outcomes must result in— 
‘‘(i) reducing the time it takes for a 
child to be provided with a safe and appro-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:41 Jun 23, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5456.PCS
H5456
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 5456 PCS 
priate 
permanent 
living 
arrangement 
across State lines; 
‘‘(ii) improving administrative proc-
esses and reducing costs in the foster care 
system; and 
‘‘(iii) the secure exchange of relevant 
case files and other necessary materials in 
real time, and timely communications and 
placement decisions regarding interstate 
placements of children. 
‘‘(B) A description of the activities to be 
funded in whole or in part with the grant 
funds, including the sequencing of the activities. 
‘‘(C) A description of the strategies for in-
tegrating programs and services for children 
who are placed across State lines. 
‘‘(D) Such other information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
‘‘(3) GRANT AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may 
make a grant to a State that complies with para-
graph (2). 
‘‘(4) USE OF FUNDS.—A State to which a grant 
is made under this subsection shall use the grant to 
support the State in connecting with the electronic 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:41 Jun 23, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5456.PCS
H5456
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 5456 PCS 
interstate case-processing system described in para-
graph (1). 
‘‘(5) EVALUATIONS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the final year in which grants are awarded 
under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to 
the Congress, and make available to the general 
public by posting on a website, a report that con-
tains the following information: 
‘‘(A) How using the electronic interstate 
case-processing system developed pursuant to 
paragraph (4) has changed the time it takes for 
children to be placed across State lines. 
‘‘(B) The number of cases subject to the 
Interstate Compact on the Placement of Chil-
dren that were processed through the electronic 
interstate case-processing system, and the num-
ber of interstate child placement cases that 
were processed outside the electronic interstate 
case-processing system, by each State in each 
year. 
‘‘(C) The progress made by States in im-
plementing the electronic interstate case-proc-
essing system. 
‘‘(D) How using the electronic interstate 
case-processing system has affected various 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:41 Jun 23, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5456.PCS
H5456
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 5456 PCS 
metrics related to child safety and well-being, 
including the time it takes for children to be 
placed across State lines. 
‘‘(E) How using the electronic interstate 
case-processing system has affected administra-
tive costs and caseworker time spent on placing 
children across State lines. 
‘‘(6) DATA
INTEGRATION.—The Secretary, in 
consultation with the Secretariat for the Interstate 
Compact on the Placement of Children and the 
States, shall assess how the electronic interstate 
case-processing system developed pursuant to para-
graph (4) could be used to better serve and protect 
children that come to the attention of the child wel-
fare system, by— 
‘‘(A) connecting the system with other 
data systems (such as systems operated by 
State law enforcement and judicial agencies, 
systems operated by the Federal Bureau of In-
vestigation for the purposes of the Innocence 
Lost National Initiative, and other systems); 
‘‘(B) simplifying and improving reporting 
related to paragraphs (34) and (35) of section 
471(a) regarding children or youth who have 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:41 Jun 23, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5456.PCS
H5456
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 5456 PCS 
been identified as being a sex trafficking victim 
or children missing from foster care; and 
‘‘(C) improving the ability of States to 
quickly comply with background check require-
ments of section 471(a)(20), including checks of 
child abuse and neglect registries as required by 
section 471(a)(20)(B).’’. 
(c) RESERVATION
OF FUNDS TO IMPROVE
THE 
INTERSTATE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN.—Section 437(b) 
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629g(b)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) IMPROVING THE INTERSTATE PLACEMENT 
OF
CHILDREN.—The 
Secretary 
shall 
reserve 
$5,000,000 of the amount made available for fiscal 
year 2017 for grants under subsection (g), and the 
amount so reserved shall remain available through 
fiscal year 2021.’’. 
SEC. 123. ENHANCEMENTS TO GRANTS TO IMPROVE WELL- 
BEING OF FAMILIES AFFECTED BY SUB-
STANCE ABUSE. 
Section 437(f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
629g(f)) is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘IN-
CREASE THE WELL-BEING OF, AND TO IMPROVE 
THE PERMANENCY OUTCOMES FOR, CHILDREN AF-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:41 Jun 23, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5456.PCS
H5456
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 5456 PCS 
FECTED BY’’ and inserting ‘‘IMPLEMENT IV–E PRE-
VENTION
SERVICES, AND
IMPROVE
THE
WELL- 
BEING OF, AND IMPROVE PERMANENCY OUTCOMES 
FOR, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY HER-
OIN, OPIOIDS, AND OTHER’’; 
(2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(2) REGIONAL
PARTNERSHIP
DEFINED.—In 
this subsection, the term ‘regional partnership’ 
means a collaborative agreement (which may be es-
tablished on an interstate, State, or intrastate basis) 
entered into by the following: 
‘‘(A) MANDATORY
PARTNERS
FOR
ALL 
PARTNERSHIP GRANTS.— 
‘‘(i) The State child welfare agency 
that is responsible for the administration 
of the State plan under this part and part 
E. 
‘‘(ii) The State agency responsible for 
administering the substance abuse preven-
tion and treatment block grant provided 
under subpart II of part B of title XIX of 
the Public Health Service Act. 
‘‘(B) MANDATORY PARTNERS FOR PART-
NERSHIP GRANTS PROPOSING TO SERVE CHIL-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:41 Jun 23, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5456.PCS
H5456
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 5456 PCS 
DREN IN OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENTS.—If the 
partnership proposes to serve children in out-of- 
home placements, the Juvenile Court or Admin-
istrative Office of the Court that is most appro-
priate to oversee the administration of court 
programs in the region to address the popu-
lation of families who come to the attention of 
the court due to child abuse or neglect. 
‘‘(C) OPTIONAL PARTNERS.—At the option 
of the partnership, any of the following: 
‘‘(i) An Indian tribe or tribal consor-
tium. 
‘‘(ii) Nonprofit child welfare service 
providers. 
‘‘(iii) For-profit child welfare service 
providers. 
‘‘(iv) Community health service pro-
viders, including substance abuse treat-
ment providers. 
‘‘(v) Community mental health pro-
viders. 
‘‘(vi) Local law enforcement agencies. 
‘‘(vii) School personnel. 
‘‘(viii) Tribal child welfare agencies 
(or a consortia of the agencies). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:41 Jun 23, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5456.PCS
H5456
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 5456 PCS 
‘‘(ix) Any other providers, agencies, 
personnel, officials, or entities that are re-
lated to the provision of child and family 
services under a State plan approved under 
this subpart. 
‘‘(D) EXCEPTION
FOR
REGIONAL
PART-
NERSHIPS WHERE THE LEAD APPLICANT IS AN 
INDIAN TRIBE OR TRIBAL CONSORTIA.—If an 
Indian tribe or tribal consortium enters into a 
regional partnership for purposes of this sub-
section, the Indian tribe or tribal consortium— 
‘‘(i) may (but is not required to) in-
clude the State child welfare agency as a 
partner in the collaborative agreement; 
‘‘(ii) may not enter into a collabo-
rative agreement only with tribal child wel-
fare agencies (or a consortium of the agen-
cies); and 
‘‘(iii) if the condition described in 
paragraph (2)(B) applies, may include 
tribal court organizations in lieu of other 
judicial partners.’’; 
(3) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:41 Jun 23, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5456.PCS
H5456
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 5456 PCS 
(i) by striking ‘‘2012 through 2016’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2017 through 2021’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘$500,000 and not 
more than $1,000,000’’ and inserting 
‘‘$250,000 
and 
not 
more 
than 
$1,000,000’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) in the subparagraph heading, by 
inserting ‘‘; PLANNING’’ after ‘‘APPROVAL’’; 
(ii) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘clause 
(ii)’’ and inserting ‘‘clauses (ii) and (iii)’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iii) 
SUFFICIENT
PLANNING.—A 
grant awarded under this subsection shall 
be disbursed in two phases: a planning 
phase (not to exceed 2 years); and an im-
plementation phase. The total disburse-
ment to a grantee for the planning phase 
may not exceed $250,000, and may not ex-
ceed the total anticipated funding for the 
implementation phase.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:41 Jun 23, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5456.PCS
H5456
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
HR 5456 PCS 
‘‘(D) LIMITATION ON PAYMENT FOR A FIS-
CAL YEAR.—No payment shall be made under 
subparagraph (A) or (C) for a fiscal year until 
the Secretary determines that the eligible part-
nership has made sufficient progress in meeting 
the goals of the grant and that the members of 
the eligible partnership are coordinating to a 
reasonable degree with the other members of 
the eligible partnership.’’; 
(4) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘, par-
ents, and families’’ after ‘‘children’’; 
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘safety 
and permanence for such children; and’’ 
and inserting ‘‘safe, permanent caregiving 
relationships for the children;’’; 
(iii) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘or’’ 
and inserting ‘‘increase reunification rates 
for children who have been placed in out of 
home care, or decrease’’; and 
(iv) by redesignating clause (iii) as 
clause (v) and inserting after clause (ii) 
the following: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:41 Jun 23, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5456.PCS
H5456
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS