I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4461 
To amend subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to 
extend State court funding for child welfare, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 28, 2017 
Mr. BRADY of Texas 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 extend State court funding for child 
welfare, 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 ‘‘Continuation of Useful 
Resources to States Act’’ or ‘‘COURTS Act’’. 
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF STATE COURT FUNDING FOR CHILD 
WELFARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 436(a) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 629f) is amended by striking ‘‘2012 
through 2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2018 through 2022’’. 
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(b) PROGRAM CHANGES.—Section 438 of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 629h) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
‘‘in a timely and complete manner’’ before 
‘‘, as set forth’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
the semicolon and inserting ‘‘, including by 
training judges, attorneys, and other legal 
personnel.’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4); 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (2); 
(B) by striking all that precedes ‘‘be eligi-
ble to receive’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) APPLICATIONS.—In order to’’; and 
(C) in the matter preceding paragraph 
(2)— 
(i) by moving the matter 2 ems to the 
left; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘(A) in the case of 
a grant for the purpose described in 
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subsection 
(a)(3),’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘(1)’’; and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘use not less 
than 30 percent of grant funds to’’ 
before ‘‘collaborate’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘(B) in the case of a grant for the purpose 
described in subsection (a)(4),’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘(2)’’; and 
(iv) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘(C) in the case of a grant for the purpose 
described in subsection (a),’’ and inserting 
‘‘(3)’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(c) AMOUNT OF GRANT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From the amounts reserved 
under sections 436(b)(2) and 437(b)(2) for a fiscal 
year, each highest State court that has an applica-
tion approved under this section for the fiscal year 
shall be entitled to payment of an amount equal to 
the sum of— 
‘‘(A) $255,000; and 
‘‘(B) the amount described in paragraph 
(2) with respect to the court and the fiscal year. 
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‘‘(2) AMOUNT
DESCRIBED.—The amount de-
scribed in this paragraph with respect to a court and 
a fiscal year is the amount that bears the same ratio 
to the total of the amounts reserved under sections 
436(b)(2) and 437(b)(2) for grants under this sec-
tion for the fiscal year (after applying paragraphs 
(1)(A) and (3) of this subsection) as the number of 
individuals in the State in which the court is located 
who have not attained 21 years of age bears to the 
total number of such individuals in all States with 
a highest State court that has an approved applica-
tion under this section for the fiscal year. 
‘‘(3) INDIAN TRIBES.—From the amounts re-
served under section 436(b)(2) for a fiscal year, the 
Secretary shall, before applying paragraph (1) of 
this subsection, allocate $1,000,000 for grants to be 
awarded on a competitive basis among the highest 
courts of Indian tribes or tribal consortia that— 
‘‘(A) are operating a program under part 
E, in accordance with section 479B; 
‘‘(B) are seeking to operate a program 
under part E and have received an implementa-
tion grant under section 476; or 
‘‘(C) have a court responsible for pro-
ceedings related to foster care or adoption.’’; 
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(4) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘2012 through 
2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2018 through 2022’’; and 
(5) by striking subsection (e). 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on October 1, 2017. 
SEC. 3. ADJUSTMENT TO THE TANF CONTINGENCY FUND 
FOR STATE WELFARE PROGRAMS. 
Section 403(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 603(b)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘$608,000,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$408,000,000, and for fiscal year 2019 
such sums as are necessary for payment to the Fund in 
a total amount not to exceed $608,000,000’’. 
Æ 
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