H. R. 1892—159 
that will allow the entity to furnish such products in a 
manner consistent with its bid and— 
‘‘(i) demonstrate to the Secretary, through letters 
of intent with manufacturers, wholesalers, or other 
suppliers, or other evidence as the Secretary may 
specify, such ability; or 
‘‘(ii) demonstrate to the Secretary that it made 
a good faith attempt to obtain such a letter of intent 
or such other evidence. 
‘‘(D) USE
OF
UNLISTED
TYPES
IN
CALCULATION
OF 
PERCENTAGE.—With respect to bids to furnish diabetic 
testing strip products on or after January 1, 2019, in deter-
mining under subparagraph (A) whether a bid submitted 
by an entity under such subparagraph covers 50 percent 
(or such higher percentage as the Secretary may specify) 
of all types of diabetic testing strip products, the Secretary 
may not attribute a percentage to types of diabetic testing 
strip products that the Secretary does not identify by brand, 
model, and market share volume. 
‘‘(E) ADHERENCE TO DEMONSTRATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In the case of an entity that 
is furnishing diabetic testing strip products on or after 
January 1, 2019, under a contract entered into under 
the competition conducted pursuant to paragraph (1), 
the Secretary shall establish a process to monitor, on 
an ongoing basis, the extent to which such entity con-
tinues to cover the product types included in the 
entity’s bid. 
‘‘(ii) TERMINATION.—If the Secretary determines 
that an entity described in clause (i) fails to maintain 
in inventory, or otherwise maintain ready access to 
(through requirements, contracts, or otherwise) a type 
of product included in the entity’s bid, the Secretary 
may terminate such contract unless the Secretary finds 
that the failure of the entity to maintain inventory 
of, or ready access to, the product is the result of 
the discontinuation of the product by the product 
manufacturer, a market-wide shortage of the product, 
or the introduction of a newer model or version of 
the product in the market involved.’’. 
(b) CODIFYING AND EXPANDING ANTI-SWITCHING RULE.—Section 
1847(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–3(b)), as 
amended by subsection (a)(1), is further amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (11) as paragraph (12); 
and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (10) the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(11) ADDITIONAL SPECIAL RULES IN CASE OF COMPETITION 
FOR DIABETIC TESTING STRIPS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—With respect to an entity that is 
furnishing diabetic testing strip products to individuals 
under a contract entered into under the competitive acquisi-
tion program established under this section, the entity 
shall furnish to each individual a brand of such products 
that is compatible with the home blood glucose monitor 
selected by the individual.
H. R. 1892—160 
‘‘(B) 
PROHIBITION
ON
INFLUENCING
AND 
INCENTIVIZING.—An entity described in subparagraph (A) 
may not attempt to influence or incentivize an individual 
to switch the brand of glucose monitor or diabetic testing 
strip product selected by the individual, including by— 
‘‘(i) persuading, pressuring, or advising the indi-
vidual to switch; or 
‘‘(ii) furnishing information about alternative 
brands to the individual where the individual has not 
requested such information. 
‘‘(C) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.— 
‘‘(i) STANDARDIZED INFORMATION.—Not later than 
January 1, 2019, the Secretary shall develop and make 
available to entities described in subparagraph (A) 
standardized information that describes the rights of 
an individual with respect to such an entity. The 
information described in the preceding sentence shall 
include information regarding— 
‘‘(I) the requirements established under sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B); 
‘‘(II) the right of the individual to purchase 
diabetic testing strip products from another mail 
order supplier of such products or a retail phar-
macy if the entity is not able to furnish the brand 
of such product that is compatible with the home 
blood glucose monitor selected by the individual; 
and 
‘‘(III) the right of the individual to return 
diabetic testing strip products furnished to the 
individual by the entity. 
‘‘(ii) REQUIREMENT.—With respect to diabetic 
testing strip products furnished on or after the date 
on which the Secretary develops the standardized 
information under clause (i), an entity described in 
subparagraph (A) may not communicate directly to 
an individual until the entity has verbally provided 
the individual with such standardized information. 
‘‘(D) ORDER REFILLS.—With respect to diabetic testing 
strip products furnished on or after January 1, 2019, the 
Secretary shall require an entity furnishing diabetic testing 
strip products to an individual to contact and receive a 
request from the individual for such products not more 
than 14 days prior to dispensing a refill of such products 
to the individual.’’. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION; NON-APPLICATION
OF
THE PAPERWORK 
REDUCTION ACT.— 
(1) IMPLEMENTATION.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may 
implement the provisions of, and amendments made by, this 
section by program instruction or otherwise. 
(2) NON-APPLICATION OF THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT.— 
Chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly referred 
to as the ‘‘Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995’’), shall not apply 
to this section or the amendments made by this section.
H. R. 1892—161 
TITLE V—OTHER HEALTH EXTENDERS 
SEC. 50501. EXTENSION FOR FAMILY-TO-FAMILY HEALTH INFORMA-
TION CENTERS. 
Section 501(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 701(c)) 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(A)— 
(A) in clause (v), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in clause (vi), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new clause: 
‘‘(vii) $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 and 2019.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3)(C), by inserting before the period the 
following: ‘‘, and with respect to fiscal years 2018 and 2019, 
such centers shall also be developed in all territories and at 
least one such center shall be developed for Indian tribes’’; 
and 
(3) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows: 
‘‘(5) For purposes of this subsection— 
‘‘(A) the term ‘Indian tribe’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement 
Act (25 U.S.C. 1603); 
‘‘(B) the term ‘State’ means each of the 50 States and 
the District of Columbia; and 
‘‘(C) the term ‘territory’ means Puerto Rico, Guam, Amer-
ican Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana 
Islands.’’. 
SEC. 50502. EXTENSION FOR SEXUAL RISK AVOIDANCE EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 510 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 710) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 510. SEXUAL RISK AVOIDANCE EDUCATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) ALLOTMENTS TO STATES.—For the purpose described 
in subsection (b), the Secretary shall, for each of fiscal years 
2018 and 2019, allot to each State which has transmitted 
an application for the fiscal year under section 505(a) an 
amount equal to the product of— 
‘‘(A) the amount appropriated pursuant to subsection 
(e)(1) for the fiscal year, minus the amount reserved under 
subsection (e)(2) for the fiscal year; and 
‘‘(B) the proportion that the number of low-income 
children in the State bears to the total of such numbers 
of children for all the States. 
‘‘(2) OTHER ALLOTMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) OTHER ENTITIES.—For the purpose described in 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall, for each of fiscal years 
2018 and 2019, for any State which has not transmitted 
an application for the fiscal year under section 505(a), 
allot to one or more entities in the State the amount 
that would have been allotted to the State under paragraph 
(1) if the State had submitted such an application. 
‘‘(B) PROCESS.—The Secretary shall select the recipi-
ents of allotments under subparagraph (A) by means of 
a competitive grant process under which—
H. R. 1892—162 
‘‘(i) not later than 30 days after the deadline for 
the State involved to submit an application for the 
fiscal year under section 505(a), the Secretary pub-
lishes a notice soliciting grant applications; and 
‘‘(ii) not later than 120 days after such deadline, 
all such applications must be submitted. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except for research under paragraph 
(5) and information collection and reporting under paragraph 
(6), the purpose of an allotment under subsection (a) to a 
State (or to another entity in the State pursuant to subsection 
(a)(2)) is to enable the State or other entity to implement 
education exclusively on sexual risk avoidance (meaning volun-
tarily refraining from sexual activity). 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED
COMPONENTS.—Education on sexual risk 
avoidance pursuant to an allotment under this section shall— 
‘‘(A) ensure that the unambiguous and primary 
emphasis and context for each topic described in paragraph 
(3) is a message to youth that normalizes the optimal 
health behavior of avoiding nonmarital sexual activity; 
‘‘(B) be medically accurate and complete; 
‘‘(C) be age-appropriate; 
‘‘(D) be based on adolescent learning and develop-
mental theories for the age group receiving the education; 
and 
‘‘(E) be culturally appropriate, recognizing the experi-
ences of youth from diverse communities, backgrounds, 
and experiences. 
‘‘(3) TOPICS.—Education on sexual risk avoidance pursuant 
to an allotment under this section shall address each of the 
following topics: 
‘‘(A) The holistic individual and societal benefits associ-
ated with personal responsibility, self-regulation, goal set-
ting, healthy decisionmaking, and a focus on the future. 
‘‘(B) The advantage of refraining from nonmarital 
sexual activity in order to improve the future prospects 
and physical and emotional health of youth. 
‘‘(C) The increased likelihood of avoiding poverty when 
youth attain self-sufficiency and emotional maturity before 
engaging in sexual activity. 
‘‘(D) The foundational components of healthy relation-
ships and their impact on the formation of healthy mar-
riages and safe and stable families. 
‘‘(E) How other youth risk behaviors, such as drug 
and alcohol usage, increase the risk for teen sex. 
‘‘(F) How to resist and avoid, and receive help 
regarding, sexual coercion and dating violence, recognizing 
that even with consent teen sex remains a youth risk 
behavior. 
‘‘(4) CONTRACEPTION.—Education on sexual risk avoidance 
pursuant to an allotment under this section shall ensure that— 
‘‘(A) any information provided on contraception is medi-
cally accurate and complete and ensures that students 
understand that contraception offers physical risk reduc-
tion, but not risk elimination; and 
‘‘(B) the education does not include demonstrations, 
simulations, or distribution of contraceptive devices.
H. R. 1892—163 
‘‘(5) RESEARCH.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A State or other entity receiving 
an allotment pursuant to subsection (a) may use up to 
20 percent of such allotment to build the evidence base 
for sexual risk avoidance education by conducting or sup-
porting research. 
‘‘(B) REQUIREMENTS.—Any research conducted or sup-
ported pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be— 
‘‘(i) rigorous; 
‘‘(ii) evidence-based; and 
‘‘(iii) designed and conducted by independent 
researchers who have experience in conducting and 
publishing research in peer-reviewed outlets. 
‘‘(6) INFORMATION COLLECTION AND REPORTING.—A State 
or other entity receiving an allotment pursuant to subsection 
(a) shall, as specified by the Secretary— 
‘‘(A) collect information on the programs and activities 
funded through the allotment; and 
‘‘(B) submit reports to the Secretary on the data from 
such programs and activities. 
‘‘(c) NATIONAL EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) in consultation with appropriate State and local 
agencies, conduct one or more rigorous evaluations of the 
education funded through this section and associated data; 
and 
‘‘(B) submit a report to the Congress on the results 
of such evaluations, together with a summary of the 
information collected pursuant to subsection (b)(6). 
‘‘(2) 
CONSULTATION.—In 
conducting 
the 
evaluations 
required by paragraph (1), including the establishment of rig-
orous evaluation methodologies, the Secretary shall consult 
with relevant stakeholders and evaluation experts. 
‘‘(d) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS.— 
‘‘(1) Sections 503, 507, and 508 apply to allotments under 
subsection (a) to the same extent and in the same manner 
as such sections apply to allotments under section 502(c). 
‘‘(2) Sections 505 and 506 apply to allotments under sub-
section (a) to the extent determined by the Secretary to be 
appropriate. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘age-appropriate’ means suitable (in terms 
of topics, messages, and teaching methods) to the developmental 
and social maturity of the particular age or age group of chil-
dren or adolescents, based on developing cognitive, emotional, 
and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘medically accurate and complete’ means 
verified or supported by the weight of research conducted in 
compliance with accepted scientific methods and— 
‘‘(A) published in peer-reviewed journals, where 
applicable; or 
‘‘(B) comprising information that leading professional 
organizations and agencies with relevant expertise in the 
field recognize as accurate, objective, and complete. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘rigorous’, with respect to research or evalua-
tion, means using—
H. R. 1892—164 
‘‘(A) established scientific methods for measuring the 
impact of an intervention or program model in changing 
behavior (specifically sexual activity or other sexual risk 
behaviors), or reducing pregnancy, among youth; or 
‘‘(B) other evidence-based methodologies established by 
the Secretary for purposes of this section. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘youth’ refers to one or more individuals 
who have attained age 10 but not age 20. 
‘‘(f) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To carry out this section, there is appro-
priated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appro-
priated, $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 and 2019. 
‘‘(2) RESERVATION.—The Secretary shall reserve, for each 
of fiscal years 2018 and 2019, not more than 20 percent of 
the amount appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) for admin-
istering the program under this section, including the con-
ducting of national evaluations and the provision of technical 
assistance to the recipients of allotments.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by this section 
shall take effect as if enacted on October 1, 2017. 
SEC. 50503. EXTENSION FOR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 513 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 713) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘2017’’ and inserting 
‘‘2019’’; and 
(2) in subsection (a)(4)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘2017’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘2019’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) in the subparagraph heading, by striking ‘‘3- 
YEAR
GRANTS’’ and inserting ‘‘COMPETITIVE
PREP 
GRANTS’’; and 
(ii) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘solicit applications 
to award 3-year grants in each of fiscal years 2012 
through 2017’’ and inserting ‘‘continue through fiscal 
year 2019 grants awarded for any of fiscal years 2015 
through 2017’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting after ‘‘youth with HIV/ 
AIDS,’’ the following: ‘‘victims of human trafficking,’’; and 
(4) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘2017’’ and inserting ‘‘2019’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section 
shall take effect as if enacted on October 1, 2017.
H. R. 1892—165 
TITLE VI—CHILD AND FAMILY 
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS EXTENDERS 
Subtitle A—Continuing the Maternal, In-
fant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting 
Program 
SEC. 50601. CONTINUING EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING PROGRAM. 
Section 511(j)(1)(H) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
711(j)(1)(H)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year 2017’’ and inserting 
‘‘each of fiscal years 2017 through 2022’’. 
SEC. 50602. CONTINUING TO DEMONSTRATE RESULTS TO HELP FAMI-
LIES. 
(a) REQUIRE SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS TO DEMONSTRATE 
IMPROVEMENT IN APPLICABLE BENCHMARK AREAS.—Section 511 of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 711) is amended in each of 
subsections (d)(1)(A) and (h)(4)(A) by striking ‘‘each of’’. 
(b) 
DEMONSTRATION
OF
IMPROVEMENTS
IN
SUBSEQUENT 
YEARS.—Section 511(d)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 711(d)(1)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) DEMONSTRATION
OF
IMPROVEMENTS
IN
SUBSE-
QUENT YEARS.— 
‘‘(i) CONTINUED MEASUREMENT OF IMPROVEMENT IN 
APPLICABLE
BENCHMARK
AREAS.—The eligible entity, 
after demonstrating improvements for eligible families 
as specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B), shall con-
tinue to track and report, not later than 30 days after 
the end of fiscal year 2020 and every 3 years thereafter, 
information demonstrating that the program results 
in improvements for the eligible families participating 
in the program in at least 4 of the areas specified 
in subparagraph (A) that the service delivery model 
or models selected by the entity are intended to 
improve. 
‘‘(ii) CORRECTIVE
ACTION
PLAN.—If the eligible 
entity fails to demonstrate improvement in at least 
4 of the areas specified in subparagraph (A), as com-
pared to eligible families who do not receive services 
under an early childhood home visitation program, the 
entity shall develop and implement a plan to improve 
outcomes in each of the areas specified in subparagraph 
(A) that the service delivery model or models selected 
by the entity are intended to improve, subject to 
approval by the Secretary. The plan shall include provi-
sions for the Secretary to monitor implementation of 
the plan and conduct continued oversight of the pro-
gram, including through submission by the entity of 
regular reports to the Secretary. 
‘‘(iii) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
provide an eligible entity required to develop and 
implement an improvement plan under clause (ii) with 
technical assistance to develop and implement the
H. R. 1892—166 
plan. The Secretary may provide the technical assist-
ance directly or through grants, contracts, or coopera-
tive agreements. 
‘‘(iv) NO
IMPROVEMENT
OR
FAILURE
TO
SUBMIT 
REPORT.—If the Secretary determines after a period 
of time specified by the Secretary that an eligible entity 
implementing an improvement plan under clause (ii) 
has failed to demonstrate any improvement in at least 
4 of the areas specified in subparagraph (A), or if 
the Secretary determines that an eligible entity has 
failed to submit the report required by clause (i), the 
Secretary shall terminate the grant made to the entity 
under this section and may include any unexpended 
grant funds in grants made to nonprofit organizations 
under subsection (h)(2)(B).’’. 
(c) INCLUDING INFORMATION ON APPLICABLE BENCHMARKS IN 
APPLICATION.—Section 511(e)(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 711(e)(5)) 
is amended by inserting ‘‘that the service delivery model or models 
selected by the entity are intended to improve’’ before the period 
at the end. 
SEC. 50603. REVIEWING STATEWIDE NEEDS TO TARGET RESOURCES. 
Section 511(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 711(b)(1)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘Not later than’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘section 505(a))’’ and inserting ‘‘Each State shall, as a condition 
of receiving payments from an allotment for the State under section 
502, conduct a statewide needs assessment (which may be separate 
from but in coordination with the statewide needs assessment 
required under section 505(a) and which shall be reviewed and 
updated by the State not later than October 1, 2020)’’. 
SEC. 50604. IMPROVING THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS IN HIGH-RISK 
COMMUNITIES. 
Section 511(d)(4)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
711(d)(4)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, taking into account the 
staffing, community resource, and other requirements to operate 
at least one approved model of home visiting and demonstrate 
improvements for eligible families’’ before the period. 
SEC. 50605. OPTION TO FUND EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING ON 
A PAY FOR OUTCOME BASIS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 511(c) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 711(c)) is amended by redesignating paragraphs (3) and 
(4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively, and by inserting after 
paragraph (2) the following: 
‘‘(3) AUTHORITY TO USE GRANT FOR A PAY FOR OUTCOMES 
INITIATIVE.—An eligible entity to which a grant is made under 
paragraph (1) may use up to 25 percent of the grant for out-
comes or success payments related to a pay for outcomes initia-
tive that will not result in a reduction of funding for services 
delivered by the entity under a childhood home visitation pro-
gram under this section while the eligible entity develops or 
operates such an initiative.’’. 
(b) DEFINITION
OF PAY
FOR OUTCOMES INITIATIVE.—Section 
511(k) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 711(k)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(4) PAY
FOR
OUTCOMES
INITIATIVE.—The term ‘pay for 
outcomes initiative’ means a performance-based grant, contract,
H. R. 1892—167 
cooperative agreement, or other agreement awarded by a public 
entity in which a commitment is made to pay for improved 
outcomes achieved as a result of the intervention that result 
in social benefit and direct cost savings or cost avoidance to 
the public sector. Such an initiative shall include— 
‘‘(A) a feasibility study that describes how the proposed 
intervention is based on evidence of effectiveness; 
‘‘(B) a rigorous, third-party evaluation that uses experi-
mental or quasi-experimental design or other research 
methodologies that allow for the strongest possible causal 
inferences to determine whether the initiative has met 
its proposed outcomes as a result of the intervention; 
‘‘(C) an annual, publicly available report on the 
progress of the initiative; and 
‘‘(D) a requirement that payments are made to the 
recipient of a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement 
only when agreed upon outcomes are achieved, except that 
this requirement shall not apply with respect to payments 
to a third party conducting the evaluation described in 
subparagraph (B).’’. 
(c) EXTENDED AVAILABILITY
OF FUNDS.—Section 511(j)(3) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 711(j)(3)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY.—Funds’’ and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(3) AVAILABILITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 
(B), funds’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) FUNDS
FOR
PAY
FOR
OUTCOMES
INITIATIVES.— 
Funds made available to an eligible entity under this sec-
tion for a fiscal year (or portion of a fiscal year) for a 
pay for outcomes initiative shall remain available for 
expenditure by the eligible entity for not more than 10 
years after the funds are so made available.’’. 
SEC. 50606. DATA EXCHANGE STANDARDS FOR IMPROVED INTEROPER-
ABILITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 511(h) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 711(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) DATA EXCHANGE STANDARDS FOR IMPROVED INTEROPER-
ABILITY.— 
‘‘(A) DESIGNATION AND USE OF DATA EXCHANGE STAND-
ARDS.— 
‘‘(i) DESIGNATION.—The head of the department 
or agency responsible for administering a program 
funded under this section shall, in consultation with 
an interagency work group established by the Office 
of Management and Budget and considering State 
government perspectives, designate data exchange 
standards for necessary categories of information that 
a State agency operating the program is required to 
electronically exchange with another State agency 
under applicable Federal law. 
‘‘(ii) DATA
EXCHANGE
STANDARDS
MUST
BE
NON-
PROPRIETARY AND INTEROPERABLE.—The data exchange 
standards designated under clause (i) shall, to the
H. R. 1892—169 
‘‘(4) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.—To the extent that the grant 
amount awarded under this section to an eligible entity is 
determined on the basis of relative population or poverty consid-
erations, the Secretary shall make the determination using 
the most accurate Federal data available for the eligible 
entity.’’. 
Subtitle B—Extension of Health Profes-
sions Workforce Demonstration Projects 
SEC. 50611. EXTENSION OF HEALTH WORKFORCE DEMONSTRATION 
PROJECTS FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS. 
Section 2008(c)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1397g(c)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘2017’’ and inserting ‘‘2019’’. 
TITLE VII—FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION 
SERVICES ACT 
Subtitle A—Investing in Prevention and 
Supporting Families 
SEC. 50701. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Bipartisan Budget Act of 
2018’’. 
SEC. 50702. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this subtitle is to enable States to use Federal 
funds available under parts B and E of title IV of the Social 
Security Act to provide enhanced support to children and families 
and prevent foster care placements through the provision of mental 
health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services, 
in-home parent skill-based programs, and kinship navigator serv-
ices. 
PART I—PREVENTION ACTIVITIES UNDER 
TITLE IV–E 
SEC. 50711. FOSTER CARE PREVENTION SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. 
(a) STATE OPTION.—Section 471 of the Social Security 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 assist-
ance in accordance with section 473, and, at the option of 
the State, services or programs specified in subsection (e)(1) 
of this section for children who are candidates for foster care 
or who are pregnant or parenting foster youth and the parents 
or kin caregivers of the children, in accordance with the require-
ments of that subsection;’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) PREVENTION AND FAMILY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the succeeding provisions of 
this subsection, the Secretary may make a payment to a State 
for providing the following services or programs for a child
H. R. 1892—170 
described in paragraph (2) and the parents or kin caregivers 
of the child when the need of the child, such a parent, or 
such a caregiver for the services or programs are directly related 
to the safety, permanence, or well-being of the child or to 
preventing the child from entering foster care: 
‘‘(A) MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVEN-
TION AND TREATMENT SERVICES.—Mental health and sub-
stance abuse prevention and treatment services provided 
by a qualified clinician for not more than a 12-month 
period that begins on any date described in paragraph 
(3) with respect to the child. 
‘‘(B) IN-HOME
PARENT
SKILL-BASED
PROGRAMS.—In- 
home parent skill-based programs for not more than a 
12-month period that begins on any date described in para-
graph (3) with respect to the child and that include par-
enting skills training, parent education, and individual and 
family counseling. 
‘‘(2) CHILD DESCRIBED.—For purposes of paragraph (1), a 
child described in this paragraph is the following: 
‘‘(A) A child who is a candidate for foster care (as 
defined in section 475(13)) but can remain safely at home 
or in a kinship placement with receipt of services or pro-
grams specified in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(B) A child in foster care who is a pregnant or par-
enting foster youth. 
‘‘(3) DATE DESCRIBED.—For purposes of paragraph (1), the 
dates described in this paragraph are the following: 
‘‘(A) The date on which a child is identified in a preven-
tion plan maintained under paragraph (4) as a child who 
is a candidate for foster care (as defined in section 475(13)). 
‘‘(B) The date on which a child is identified in a preven-
tion plan maintained under paragraph (4) as a pregnant 
or parenting foster youth in need of services or programs 
specified in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(4) REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO PROVIDING SERVICES AND 
PROGRAMS.—Services and programs specified in paragraph (1) 
may be provided under this subsection only if specified in 
advance in the child’s prevention plan described in subpara-
graph (A) and the requirements in subparagraphs (B) through 
(E) are met: 
‘‘(A) PREVENTION PLAN.—The State maintains a written 
prevention plan for the child that meets the following 
requirements (as applicable): 
‘‘(i) CANDIDATES.—In the case of a child who is 
a candidate for foster care described in paragraph 
(2)(A), the prevention plan shall— 
‘‘(I) identify the foster care prevention strategy 
for the child so that the child may remain safely 
at home, live temporarily with a kin caregiver 
until reunification can be safely achieved, or live 
permanently with a kin caregiver; 
‘‘(II) list the services or programs to be pro-
vided to or on behalf of the child to ensure the 
success of that prevention strategy; and 
‘‘(III) comply with such other requirements as 
the Secretary shall establish.
H. R. 1892—171 
‘‘(ii) PREGNANT OR PARENTING FOSTER YOUTH.—In 
the case of a child who is a pregnant or parenting 
foster youth described in paragraph (2)(B), the preven-
tion plan shall— 
‘‘(I) be included in the child’s case plan 
required under section 475(1); 
‘‘(II) list the services or programs to be pro-
vided to or on behalf of the youth to ensure that 
the youth is prepared (in the case of a pregnant 
foster youth) or able (in the case of a parenting 
foster youth) to be a parent; 
‘‘(III) describe the foster care prevention 
strategy for any child born to the youth; and 
‘‘(IV) comply with such other requirements as 
the Secretary shall establish. 
‘‘(B) TRAUMA-INFORMED.—The services or programs to 
be provided to or on behalf of a child are provided under 
an organizational structure and treatment framework that 
involves understanding, recognizing, and responding to the 
effects of all types of trauma and in accordance with recog-
nized principles of a trauma-informed approach and 
trauma-specific interventions to address trauma’s con-
sequences and facilitate healing. 
‘‘(C) ONLY
SERVICES
AND
PROGRAMS
PROVIDED
IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH PROMISING, SUPPORTED, OR WELL-SUP-
PORTED PRACTICES PERMITTED.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Only State expenditures for serv-
ices or programs specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) 
of paragraph (1) that are provided in accordance with 
practices that meet the requirements specified in 
clause (ii) of this subparagraph and that meet the 
requirements specified in clause (iii), (iv), or (v), respec-
tively, for being a promising, supported, or well-sup-
ported practice, shall be eligible for a Federal matching 
payment under section 474(a)(6)(A). 
‘‘(ii) GENERAL PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS.—The gen-
eral practice requirements specified in this clause are 
the following: 
‘‘(I) The practice has a book, manual, or other 
available writings that specify the components of 
the practice protocol and describe how to admin-
ister the practice. 
‘‘(II) There is no empirical basis suggesting 
that, compared to its likely benefits, the practice 
constitutes a risk of harm to those receiving it. 
‘‘(III) If multiple outcome studies have been 
conducted, the overall weight of evidence supports 
the benefits of the practice. 
‘‘(IV) Outcome measures are reliable and valid, 
and are administrated consistently and accurately 
across all those receiving the practice. 
‘‘(V) There is no case data suggesting a risk 
of harm that was probably caused by the treatment 
and that was severe or frequent. 
‘‘(iii) PROMISING
PRACTICE.—A practice shall be 
considered to be a ‘promising practice’ if the practice 
is superior to an appropriate comparison practice using
H. R. 1892—172 
conventional standards of statistical significance (in 
terms of demonstrated meaningful improvements in 
validated measures of important child and parent out-
comes, such as mental health, substance abuse, and 
child safety and well-being), as established by the 
results or outcomes of at least one study that— 
‘‘(I) was rated by an independent systematic 
review for the quality of the study design and 
execution and determined to be well-designed and 
well-executed; and 
‘‘(II) utilized some form of control (such as 
an untreated group, a placebo group, or a wait 
list study). 
‘‘(iv) SUPPORTED
PRACTICE.—A practice shall be 
considered to be a ‘supported practice’ if— 
‘‘(I) the practice is superior to an appropriate 
comparison practice using conventional standards 
of statistical significance (in terms of demonstrated 
meaningful improvements in validated measures 
of important child and parent outcomes, such as 
mental health, substance abuse, and child safety 
and well-being), as established by the results or 
outcomes of at least one study that— 
‘‘(aa) was rated by an independent system-
atic review for the quality of the study design 
and execution and determined to be well- 
designed and well-executed; 
‘‘(bb) was a rigorous random-controlled 
trial (or, if not available, a study using a rig-
orous quasi-experimental research design); 
and 
‘‘(cc) was carried out in a usual care or 
practice setting; and 
‘‘(II) the study described in subclause (I) estab-
lished that the practice has a sustained effect 
(when compared to a control group) for at least 
6 months beyond the end of the treatment. 
‘‘(v) WELL-SUPPORTED PRACTICE.—A practice shall 
be considered to be a ‘well-supported practice’ if— 
‘‘(I) the practice is superior to an appropriate 
comparison practice using conventional standards 
of statistical significance (in terms of demonstrated 
meaningful improvements in validated measures 
of important child and parent outcomes, such as 
mental health, substance abuse, and child safety 
and well-being), as established by the results or 
outcomes of at least two studies that— 
‘‘(aa) were rated by an independent 
systematic review for the quality of the study 
design and execution and determined to be 
well-designed and well-executed; 
‘‘(bb) were rigorous random-controlled 
trials (or, if not available, studies using a rig-
orous quasi-experimental research design); 
and 
‘‘(cc) were carried out in a usual care or 
practice setting; and
H. R. 1892—173 
‘‘(II) at least one of the studies described in 
subclause (I) established that the practice has a 
sustained effect (when compared to a control 
group) for at least 1 year beyond the end of treat-
ment. 
‘‘(D) GUIDANCE
ON
PRACTICES
CRITERIA
AND
PRE- 
APPROVED SERVICES AND PROGRAMS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than October 1, 2018, 
the Secretary shall issue guidance to States regarding 
the practices criteria required for services or programs 
to satisfy the requirements of subparagraph (C). The 
guidance shall include a pre-approved list of services 
and programs that satisfy the requirements. 
‘‘(ii) UPDATES.—The Secretary shall issue updates 
to the guidance required by clause (i) as often as the 
Secretary determines necessary. 
‘‘(E) OUTCOME ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING.—The State 
shall collect and report to the Secretary the following 
information with respect to each child for whom, or on 
whose behalf mental health and substance abuse preven-
tion and treatment services or in-home parent skill-based 
programs are provided during a 12-month period beginning 
on the date the child is determined by the State to be 
a child described in paragraph (2): 
‘‘(i) The specific services or programs provided and 
the total expenditures for each of the services or pro-
grams. 
‘‘(ii) The duration of the services or programs pro-
vided. 
‘‘(iii) In the case of a child described in paragraph 
(2)(A), the child’s placement status at the beginning, 
and at the end, of the 1-year period, respectively, and 
whether the child entered foster care within 2 years 
after being determined a candidate for foster care. 
‘‘(5) STATE PLAN COMPONENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A State electing to provide services 
or programs specified in paragraph (1) shall submit as 
part of the State plan required by subsection (a) a preven-
tion services and programs plan component that meets 
the requirements of subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(B) PREVENTION SERVICES AND PROGRAMS PLAN COMPO-
NENT.—In order to meet the requirements of this subpara-
graph, a prevention services and programs plan component, 
with respect to each 5-year period for which the plan 
component is in operation in the State, shall include the 
following: 
‘‘(i) How providing services and programs specified 
in paragraph (1) is expected to improve specific out-
comes for children and families. 
‘‘(ii) How the State will monitor and oversee the 
safety of children who receive services and programs 
specified in paragraph (1), including through periodic 
risk assessments throughout the period in which the 
services and programs are provided on behalf of a 
child and reexamination of the prevention plan main-
tained for the child under paragraph (4) for the provi-
sion of the services or programs if the State determines
H. R. 1892—175 
‘‘(II) developing appropriate prevention plans, 
and conducting the risk assessments required 
under clause (iii). 
‘‘(viii) A description of how the State will provide 
training and support for caseworkers in assessing what 
children and their families need, connecting to the 
families served, knowing how to access and deliver 
the needed trauma-informed and evidence-based serv-
ices, and overseeing and evaluating the continuing 
appropriateness of the services. 
‘‘(ix) A description of how caseload size and type 
for prevention caseworkers will be determined, man-
aged, and overseen. 
‘‘(x) An assurance that the State will report to 
the Secretary such information and data as the Sec-
retary may require with respect to the provision of 
services and programs specified in paragraph (1), 
including information and data necessary to determine 
the performance measures for the State under para-
graph (6) and compliance with paragraph (7). 
‘‘(C) 
REIMBURSEMENT
FOR
SERVICES
UNDER
THE 
PREVENTION PLAN COMPONENT.— 
‘‘(i) LIMITATION.—Except as provided in subclause 
(ii), a State may not receive a Federal payment under 
this part for a given promising, supported, or well- 
supported practice unless (in accordance with subpara-
graph (B)(iii)(V)) the plan includes a well-designed and 
rigorous evaluation strategy for that practice. 
‘‘(ii) WAIVER OF LIMITATION.—The Secretary may 
waive the requirement for a well-designed and rigorous 
evaluation of any well-supported practice if the Sec-
retary deems the evidence of the effectiveness of the 
practice to be compelling and the State meets the 
continuous quality improvement requirements included 
in subparagraph (B)(iii)(II) with regard to the practice. 
‘‘(6) PREVENTION SERVICES MEASURES.— 
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT; ANNUAL
UPDATES.—Beginning 
with fiscal year 2021, and annually thereafter, the Sec-
retary shall establish the following prevention services 
measures based on information and data reported by States 
that elect to provide services and programs specified in 
paragraph (1): 
‘‘(i) PERCENTAGE OF CANDIDATES FOR FOSTER CARE 
WHO DO NOT ENTER FOSTER CARE.—The percentage of 
candidates for foster care for whom, or on whose behalf, 
the services or programs are provided who do not enter 
foster care, including those placed with a kin caregiver 
outside of foster care, during the 12-month period in 
which the services or programs are provided and 
through the end of the succeeding 12-month period. 
‘‘(ii) PER-CHILD
SPENDING.—The total amount of 
expenditures made for mental health and substance 
abuse prevention and treatment services or in-home 
parent skill-based programs, respectively, for, or on 
behalf of, each child described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(B) DATA.—The Secretary shall establish and annually 
update the prevention services measures—
H. R. 1892—176 
‘‘(i) based on the median State values of the 
information reported under each clause of subpara-
graph (A) for the 3 then most recent years; and 
‘‘(ii) taking into account State differences in the 
price levels of consumption goods and services using 
the most recent regional price parities published by 
the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department 
of Commerce or such other data as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
‘‘(C) PUBLICATION
OF
STATE
PREVENTION
SERVICES 
MEASURES.—The Secretary shall annually make available 
to the public the prevention services measures of each 
State. 
‘‘(7) MAINTENANCE
OF
EFFORT
FOR
STATE
FOSTER
CARE 
PREVENTION EXPENDITURES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If a State elects to provide services 
and programs specified in paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, 
the State foster care prevention expenditures for the fiscal 
year shall not be less than the amount of the expenditures 
for fiscal year 2014 (or, at the option of a State described 
in subparagraph (E), fiscal year 2015 or fiscal year 2016 
(whichever the State elects)). 
‘‘(B) STATE FOSTER CARE PREVENTION EXPENDITURES.— 
The term ‘State foster care prevention expenditures’ means 
the following: 
‘‘(i) TANF; IV–B; SSBG.—State expenditures for 
foster care prevention services and activities under 
the State program funded under part A (including 
from amounts made available by the Federal Govern-
ment), under the State plan developed under part B 
(including any such amounts), or under the Social Serv-
ices Block Grant Programs under subtitle A of title 
XX (including any such amounts). 
‘‘(ii) OTHER STATE PROGRAMS.—State expenditures 
for foster care prevention services and activities under 
any State program that is not described in clause (i) 
(other than any State expenditures for foster care 
prevention services and activities under the State pro-
gram under this part (including under a waiver of 
the program)). 
‘‘(C) STATE EXPENDITURES.—The term ‘State expendi-
tures’ means all State or local funds that are expended 
by the State or a local agency including State or local 
funds that are matched or reimbursed by the Federal 
Government and State or local funds that are not matched 
or reimbursed by the Federal Government. 
‘‘(D) DETERMINATION
OF
PREVENTION
SERVICES
AND 
ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary shall require each State that 
elects to provide services and programs specified in para-
graph (1) to report the expenditures specified in subpara-
graph (B) for fiscal year 2014 and for such fiscal years 
thereafter as are necessary to determine whether the State 
is complying with the maintenance of effort requirement 
in subparagraph (A). The Secretary shall specify the spe-
cific services and activities under each program referred 
to in subparagraph (B) that are ‘prevention services and 
activities’ for purposes of the reports.
H. R. 1892—177 
‘‘(E) STATE DESCRIBED.—For purposes of subparagraph 
(A), a State is described in this subparagraph if the popu-
lation of children in the State in 2014 was less than 200,000 
(as determined by the United States Census Bureau). 
‘‘(8) PROHIBITION
AGAINST
USE
OF
STATE
FOSTER
CARE 
PREVENTION
EXPENDITURES
AND
FEDERAL
IV–E
PREVENTION 
FUNDS FOR MATCHING OR EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENT.—A State 
that elects to provide services and programs specified in para-
graph (1) shall not use any State foster care prevention expendi-
tures for a fiscal year for the State share of expenditures 
under section 474(a)(6) for a fiscal year. 
‘‘(9) ADMINISTRATIVE
COSTS.—Expenditures described in 
section 474(a)(6)(B)— 
‘‘(A) shall not be eligible for payment under subpara-
graph (A), (B), or (E) of section 474(a)(3); and 
‘‘(B) shall be eligible for payment under section 
474(a)(6)(B) without regard to whether the expenditures 
are incurred on behalf of a child who is, or is potentially, 
eligible for foster care maintenance payments under this 
part. 
‘‘(10) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The provision of services or pro-
grams under this subsection to or on behalf of a child 
described in paragraph (2) shall not be considered to be 
receipt of aid or assistance under the State plan under 
this part for purposes of eligibility for any other program 
established under this Act. 
‘‘(B) CANDIDATES IN KINSHIP CARE.—A child described 
in paragraph (2) for whom such services or programs under 
this subsection are provided for more than 6 months while 
in the home of a kin caregiver, and who would satisfy 
the 
AFDC 
eligibility 
requirement 
of 
section 
472(a)(3)(A)(ii)(II) but for residing in the home of the care-
giver for more than 6 months, is deemed to satisfy that 
requirement for purposes of determining whether the child 
is eligible for foster care maintenance payments under 
section 472.’’. 
(b) DEFINITION.—Section 475 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 675) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(13) The term ‘child who is a candidate for foster care’ 
means, a child who is identified in a prevention plan under 
section 471(e)(4)(A) as being at imminent risk of entering foster 
care (without regard to whether the child would be eligible 
for foster care maintenance payments under section 472 or 
is or would be eligible for adoption assistance or kinship 
guardianship assistance payments under section 473) but who 
can remain safely in the child’s home or in a kinship placement 
as long as services or programs specified in section 471(e)(1) 
that are necessary to prevent the entry of the child into foster 
care are provided. The term includes a child whose adoption 
or guardianship arrangement is at risk of a disruption or dis-
solution that would result in a foster care placement.’’. 
(c) PAYMENTS UNDER TITLE IV–E.—Section 474(a) of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 674(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘; plus’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following:
H. R. 1892—178 
‘‘(6) subject to section 471(e)— 
‘‘(A) for each quarter— 
‘‘(i) subject to clause (ii)— 
‘‘(I) beginning after September 30, 2019, and 
before October 1, 2026, an amount equal to 50 
percent of the total amount expended during the 
quarter for the provision of services or programs 
specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 
471(e)(1) that are provided in accordance with 
promising, supported, or well-supported practices 
that meet the applicable criteria specified for the 
practices in section 471(e)(4)(C); and 
‘‘(II) beginning after September 30, 2026, 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 Columbia) of the total amount 
expended during the quarter for the provision of 
services or programs specified in subparagraph (A) 
or (B) of section 471(e)(1) that are provided in 
accordance with promising, supported, or well-sup-
ported practices that meet the applicable criteria 
specified for the practices in section 471(e)(4)(C) 
(or, with respect to the payments made during 
the quarter under a cooperative agreement or con-
tract 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 sec-
tion 479B(d) (in this paragraph referred to as the 
‘tribal FMAP’) if the Indian tribe, tribal organiza-
tion, or tribal consortium made the payments 
under a program operated under that section, 
unless the tribal FMAP is less than the Federal 
medical assistance percentage that applies to the 
State); except that 
‘‘(ii) not less than 50 percent of the total amount 
expended by a State under clause (i) for a fiscal year 
shall be for the provision of services or programs speci-
fied in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 471(e)(1) 
that are provided in accordance with well-supported 
practices; plus 
‘‘(B) for each quarter specified in subparagraph (A), 
an amount equal to the sum of the following proportions 
of the total amount expended during the quarter— 
‘‘(i) 50 percent of so much of the expenditures 
as are found necessary by the Secretary for the proper 
and efficient administration of the State plan for the 
provision of services or programs specified in section 
471(e)(1), 
including 
expenditures 
for 
activities 
approved by the Secretary that promote the develop-
ment of necessary processes and procedures to estab-
lish and implement the provision of the services and
H. R. 1892—179 
programs for individuals who are eligible for the serv-
ices and programs and expenditures attributable to 
data collection and reporting; and 
‘‘(ii) 50 percent of so much of the expenditures 
with respect to the provision of services and programs 
specified in section 471(e)(1) as are for training of 
personnel employed or preparing for employment by 
the State agency or by the local agency administering 
the plan in the political subdivision and of the members 
of the staff of State-licensed or State-approved child 
welfare 
agencies 
providing 
services 
to 
children 
described in section 471(e)(2) and their parents or kin 
caregivers, including on how to determine who are 
individuals eligible for the services or programs, how 
to identify and provide appropriate services and pro-
grams, and how to oversee and evaluate the ongoing 
appropriateness of the services and programs.’’. 
(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND BEST PRACTICES, CLEARING-
HOUSE, AND DATA COLLECTION AND EVALUATIONS.—Section 476 of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 676) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(d) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND BEST PRACTICES, CLEARING-
HOUSE, DATA COLLECTION, AND EVALUATIONS RELATING TO PREVEN-
TION SERVICES AND PROGRAMS.— 
‘‘(1) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND BEST PRACTICES.—The Sec-
retary shall provide to States and, as applicable, to Indian 
tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal consortia, technical 
assistance regarding the provision of services and programs 
described in section 471(e)(1) and shall disseminate best prac-
tices with respect to the provision of the services and programs, 
including how to plan and implement a well-designed and rig-
orous evaluation of a promising, supported, or well-supported 
practice. 
‘‘(2) CLEARINGHOUSE OF PROMISING, SUPPORTED, AND WELL- 
SUPPORTED PRACTICES.—The Secretary shall, directly or through 
grants, contracts, or interagency agreements, evaluate research 
on the practices specified in clauses (iii), (iv), and (v), respec-
tively, of section 471(e)(4)(C), and programs that meet the 
requirements described in section 427(a)(1), including culturally 
specific, or location- or population-based adaptations of the 
practices, to identify and establish a public clearinghouse of 
the practices that satisfy each category described by such 
clauses. In addition, the clearinghouse shall include information 
on the specific outcomes associated with each practice, including 
whether the practice has been shown to prevent child abuse 
and neglect and reduce the likelihood of foster care placement 
by supporting birth families and kinship families and improving 
targeted supports for pregnant and parenting youth and their 
children. 
‘‘(3) DATA COLLECTION AND EVALUATIONS.—The Secretary, 
directly or through grants, contracts, or interagency agree-
ments, may collect data and conduct evaluations with respect 
to the provision of services and programs described in section 
471(e)(1) for purposes of assessing the extent to which the 
provision of the services and programs— 
‘‘(A) reduces the likelihood of foster care placement; 
‘‘(B) increases use of kinship care arrangements; or
H. R. 1892—180 
‘‘(C) improves child well-being. 
‘‘(4) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee 
on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives peri-
odic reports based on the provision of services and programs 
described in section 471(e)(1) and the activities carried 
out under this subsection. 
‘‘(B) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall make 
the reports to Congress submitted under this paragraph 
publicly available. 
‘‘(5) APPROPRIATION.—Out of any money in the Treasury 
of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are 
appropriated to the Secretary $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2018 
and each fiscal year thereafter to carry out this subsection.’’. 
(e) APPLICATION TO PROGRAMS OPERATED BY INDIAN TRIBAL 
ORGANIZATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 479B of such 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 striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(III) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(IV) at the option of the tribe, organization, 
or consortium, services and programs specified in 
section 471(e)(1) to children described in section 
471(e)(2) and their parents or kin caregivers, in 
accordance with section 471(e) and subparagraph 
(E).’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) PREVENTION SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FOR CHIL-
DREN AND THEIR PARENTS AND KIN CAREGIVERS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a tribe, organiza-
tion, or consortium that elects to provide services and 
programs specified in section 471(e)(1) to children 
described in section 471(e)(2) and their parents or kin 
caregivers under the plan, the Secretary shall specify 
the requirements applicable to the provision of the 
services and programs. The requirements shall, to the 
greatest extent practicable, be consistent with the 
requirements applicable to States under section 471(e) 
and shall permit the provision of the services and 
programs in the form of services and programs that 
are adapted to the culture and context of the tribal 
communities served. 
‘‘(ii) PERFORMANCE
MEASURES.—The Secretary 
shall establish specific performance measures for each 
tribe, organization, or consortium that elects to provide 
services and programs specified in section 471(e)(1). 
The performance measures shall, to the greatest extent 
practicable, be consistent with the prevention services 
measures required for States under section 471(e)(6) 
but shall allow for consideration of factors unique to
H. R. 1892—181 
the provision of the services by tribes, organizations, 
or consortia.’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ‘‘and (5)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘(5), and (6)(A)’’. 
(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) APPLICATION TO PROGRAMS OPERATED BY TERRITORIES.— 
Section 1108(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1308(a)(2)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘or 413(f)’’ and inserting ‘‘413(f), or 
474(a)(6)’’. 
SEC. 50712. FOSTER CARE MAINTENANCE PAYMENTS FOR CHILDREN 
WITH PARENTS IN A LICENSED RESIDENTIAL FAMILY- 
BASED TREATMENT FACILITY FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 472 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 672) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(C), by striking ‘‘or’’ and inserting 
‘‘, with a parent residing in a licensed residential family-based 
treatment facility, but only to the extent permitted under sub-
section (j), or in a’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) CHILDREN PLACED WITH A PARENT RESIDING IN A LICENSED 
RESIDENTIAL FAMILY-BASED TREATMENT FACILITY FOR SUBSTANCE 
ABUSE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding the preceding provi-
sions of this section, a child who is eligible for foster care 
maintenance payments under this section, or who would be 
eligible for the payments if the eligibility were determined 
without regard to paragraphs (1)(B) and (3) of subsection (a), 
shall be eligible for the payments for a period of not more 
than 12 months during which the child is placed with a parent 
who is in a licensed residential family-based treatment facility 
for substance abuse, but only if— 
‘‘(A) the recommendation for the placement is specified 
in the child’s case plan before the placement; 
‘‘(B) the treatment facility provides, as part of the 
treatment for substance abuse, parenting skills training, 
parent education, and individual and family counseling; 
and 
‘‘(C) the substance abuse treatment, parenting skills 
training, parent education, and individual and family coun-
seling is provided under an organizational structure and 
treatment framework that involves understanding, recog-
nizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma 
and in accordance with recognized principles of a trauma- 
informed approach and trauma-specific interventions to 
address the consequences of trauma and facilitate healing. 
‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—With respect to children for whom foster 
care maintenance payments are made under paragraph (1), 
only the children who satisfy the requirements of paragraphs 
(1)(B) and (3) of subsection (a) shall be considered to be children 
with respect to whom foster care maintenance payments are 
made under this section for purposes of subsection (h) or section 
473(b)(3)(B).’’.
H. R. 1892—182 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 474(a)(1) of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 674(a)(1)) is amended by inserting ‘‘subject to section 
472(j),’’ before ‘‘an amount equal to the Federal’’ the first place 
it appears. 
SEC. 50713. TITLE IV–E PAYMENTS FOR EVIDENCE-BASED KINSHIP 
NAVIGATOR PROGRAMS. 
Section 474(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 674(a)), 
as amended by section 50711(c), is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end 
and inserting ‘‘; plus’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) an amount equal to 50 percent of the amounts 
expended by the State during the quarter as the Secretary 
determines are for kinship navigator programs that meet the 
requirements described in section 427(a)(1) and that the Sec-
retary determines are operated in accordance with promising, 
supported, or well-supported practices that meet the applicable 
criteria specified for the practices in section 471(e)(4)(C), with-
out regard to whether the expenditures are incurred on behalf 
of children who are, or are potentially, eligible for foster care 
maintenance payments under this part.’’. 
PART II—ENHANCED SUPPORT UNDER TITLE 
IV–B 
SEC. 50721. ELIMINATION OF TIME LIMIT FOR FAMILY REUNIFICATION 
SERVICES WHILE IN FOSTER CARE AND PERMITTING 
TIME-LIMITED FAMILY REUNIFICATION SERVICES WHEN 
A CHILD RETURNS 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 considered 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 shall only be provided 
during the 15-month period that begins on the date that 
the child returns 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-lim-
ited’’. 
(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 appears.
H. R. 1892—183 
SEC. 50722. 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 inserting ‘‘provides’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, which, in the case of a State other 
than the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States 
Virgin Islands, Guam, or American Samoa, not later than 
October 1, 2027, shall include the use of an electronic interstate 
case-processing system’’ before the first semicolon. 
(b) EXEMPTION
OF INDIAN TRIBES.—Section 479B(c) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 679c(c)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) INAPPLICABILITY OF STATE PLAN REQUIREMENT TO HAVE 
IN EFFECT PROCEDURES PROVIDING FOR THE USE OF AN ELEC-
TRONIC
INTERSTATE
CASE-PROCESSING
SYSTEM.—The require-
ment in section 471(a)(25) that a State plan provide that the 
State shall have in effect procedures providing for the use 
of an electronic interstate case-processing system shall not 
apply to an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consor-
tium that elects to operate a program under this part.’’. 
(c) FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELECTRONIC INTER-
STATE CASE-PROCESSING SYSTEM
TO EXPEDITE
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) FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELECTRONIC INTER-
STATE CASE-PROCESSING SYSTEM
TO EXPEDITE
THE INTERSTATE 
PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE OR GUARDIANSHIP, OR 
FOR ADOPTION.— 
‘‘(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this subsection is to facili-
tate the development of an electronic interstate 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) REQUIREMENTS.—A State that seeks funding under 
this subsection shall submit to the Secretary the following: 
‘‘(A) A description of the goals and outcomes to be 
achieved, which goals and outcomes must result in— 
‘‘(i) reducing the time it takes for a child to be 
provided with a safe and appropriate permanent living 
arrangement across State lines; 
‘‘(ii) 
improving 
administrative 
processes 
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 funds, including the sequencing 
of the activities. 
‘‘(C) A description of the strategies for integrating pro-
grams and services for children who are placed across 
State lines. 
‘‘(D) Such other information as the Secretary may 
require.
H. R. 1892—184 
‘‘(3) FUNDING
AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may provide 
funds to a State that complies with paragraph (2). In providing 
funds under this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize 
States that are not yet connected with the electronic interstate 
case-processing system referred to in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(4) USE OF FUNDS.—A State to which funding is provided 
under this subsection shall use the funding to support the 
State in connecting with, or enhancing or expediting services 
provided under, the electronic interstate case-processing system 
referred to in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(5) EVALUATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after the final 
year in which funds 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 
contains 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 Children that were processed 
through the electronic interstate case-processing system, 
and the number of interstate child placement cases that 
were processed outside the electronic interstate case-proc-
essing system, by each State in each year. 
‘‘(C) The progress made by States in implementing 
the electronic interstate case-processing system. 
‘‘(D) How using the electronic interstate case-proc-
essing system has affected various metrics related to child 
safety and well-being, including the time it takes for chil-
dren to be placed across State lines. 
‘‘(E) How using the electronic interstate case-processing 
system has affected administrative 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 Place-
ment 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 welfare 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 Investigation 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 chil-
dren or youth who have 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 requirements of section 471(a)(20), 
including checks of child abuse and neglect registries as 
required by section 471(a)(20)(B).’’. 
(d) RESERVATION OF FUNDS TO IMPROVE THE INTERSTATE PLACE-
MENT OF CHILDREN.—Section 437(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629g(b)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
H. R. 1892—185 
‘‘(4) IMPROVING
THE
INTERSTATE
PLACEMENT
OF
CHIL-
DREN.—The Secretary shall reserve $5,000,000 of the amount 
made available for fiscal year 2018 for grants under subsection 
(g), and the amount so reserved shall remain available through 
fiscal year 2022.’’. 
SEC. 50723. ENHANCEMENTS TO GRANTS TO IMPROVE WELL-BEING 
OF FAMILIES AFFECTED BY SUBSTANCE ABUSE. 
Section 437(f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)) 
is amended— 
(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘INCREASE THE 
WELL-BEING OF, AND TO IMPROVE THE PERMANENCY OUTCOMES 
FOR, CHILDREN AFFECTED BY’’ and inserting ‘‘IMPLEMENT IV– 
E PREVENTION SERVICES, AND IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF, 
AND IMPROVE PERMANENCY OUTCOMES
FOR, CHILDREN
AND 
FAMILIES AFFECTED BY HEROIN, 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 established 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 respon-
sible for the administration of the State plan under 
this part and part E. 
‘‘(ii) The State agency responsible for admin-
istering the substance abuse prevention and treatment 
block grant provided under subpart II of part B of 
title XIX of the Public Health Service Act. 
‘‘(B) MANDATORY PARTNERS FOR PARTNERSHIP GRANTS 
PROPOSING
TO
SERVE
CHILDREN
IN
OUT-OF-HOME
PLACE-
MENTS.—If the partnership proposes to serve children in 
out-of-home placements, the Juvenile Court or Administra-
tive Office of the Court that is most appropriate to oversee 
the administration of court programs in the region to 
address the population of families who come to the atten-
tion of the court due to child abuse or neglect. 
‘‘(C) OPTIONAL PARTNERS.—At the option of the partner-
ship, any of the following: 
‘‘(i) An Indian tribe or tribal consortium. 
‘‘(ii) Nonprofit child welfare service providers. 
‘‘(iii) For-profit child welfare service providers. 
‘‘(iv) 
Community 
health 
service 
providers, 
including substance abuse treatment providers. 
‘‘(v) Community mental health providers. 
‘‘(vi) Local law enforcement agencies. 
‘‘(vii) School personnel. 
‘‘(viii) Tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortia 
of the agencies). 
‘‘(ix) Any other providers, agencies, personnel, offi-
cials, or entities that are related to the provision of 
child and family services under a State plan approved 
under this subpart. 
‘‘(D) EXCEPTION FOR REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WHERE 
THE LEAD APPLICANT IS AN INDIAN TRIBE OR TRIBAL CON-
SORTIA.—If an Indian tribe or tribal consortium enters
H. R. 1892—186 
into a regional partnership for purposes of this subsection, 
the Indian tribe or tribal consortium— 
‘‘(i) may (but is not required to) include the State 
child welfare agency as a partner in the collaborative 
agreement; 
‘‘(ii) may not enter into a collaborative agreement 
only with tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortium 
of the agencies); 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)— 
(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 following: 
‘‘(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 
implementation phase. The total disbursement to a 
grantee for the planning phase may not exceed 
$250,000, and may not exceed the total anticipated 
funding for the implementation phase.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(D) LIMITATION ON PAYMENT FOR A FISCAL YEAR.— 
No payment shall be made under subparagraph (A) or 
(C) for a fiscal year until the Secretary determines that 
the eligible partnership 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 ‘‘, parents, and fami-
lies’’ after ‘‘children’’; 
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘safety and perma-
nence 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: 
‘‘(iii) improve the substance abuse treatment out-
comes for parents including retention in treatment and 
successful completion of treatment; 
‘‘(iv) facilitate the implementation, delivery, and 
effectiveness of prevention services and programs 
under section 471(e); and’’;
H. R. 1892—187 
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘where appro-
priate,’’; and 
(C) by striking subparagraphs (E) and (F) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(E) A description of a plan for sustaining the services 
provided by or activities funded under the grant after the 
conclusion of the grant period, including through the use 
of prevention services and programs under section 471(e) 
and other funds provided to the State for child welfare 
and substance abuse prevention and treatment services. 
‘‘(F) Additional information needed by the Secretary 
to determine that the proposed activities and implementa-
tion will be consistent with research or evaluations showing 
which practices and approaches are most effective.’’; 
(5) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking ‘‘abuse treatment’’ and 
inserting ‘‘use disorder treatment including medication assisted 
treatment and in-home substance abuse disorder treatment 
and recovery’’; 
(6) in paragraph (7)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (C); 
and 
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subpara-
graph (E) and inserting after subparagraph (C) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(D) demonstrate a track record of successful collabora-
tion among child welfare, substance abuse disorder treat-
ment and mental health agencies; and’’; 
(7) in paragraph (8)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘establish indicators that will be’’ 
and inserting ‘‘review indicators that are’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘in using funds made available 
under such grants to achieve the purpose of this sub-
section’’ and inserting ‘‘and establish a set of core 
indicators related to child safety, parental recovery, 
parenting capacity, and family well-being. In devel-
oping the core indicators, to the extent possible, indica-
tors shall be made consistent with the outcome meas-
ures described in section 471(e)(6)’’; and 
(B) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting 
‘‘base the performance measures on lessons learned 
from prior rounds of regional partnership grants under 
this subsection, and’’ before ‘‘consult’’; and 
(ii) by striking clauses (iii) and (iv) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(iii) Other stakeholders or constituencies as deter-
mined by the Secretary.’’; 
(8) in paragraph (9)(A), by striking clause (i) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(i) SEMIANNUAL
REPORTS.—Not later than Sep-
tember 30 of each fiscal year in which a recipient 
of a grant under this subsection is paid funds under 
the grant, and every 6 months thereafter, the grant 
recipient shall submit to the Secretary a report on 
the services provided and activities carried out during 
the reporting period, progress made in achieving the
H. R. 1892—188 
goals of the program, the number of children, adults, 
and families receiving services, and such additional 
information as the Secretary determines is necessary. 
The report due not later than September 30 of the 
last such fiscal year shall include, at a minimum, data 
on each of the performance indicators included in the 
evaluation of the regional partnership.’’; and 
(9) in paragraph (10), by striking ‘‘2012 through 2016’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2017 through 2021’’. 
PART III—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 50731. REVIEWING AND IMPROVING LICENSING STANDARDS FOR 
PLACEMENT IN A RELATIVE FOSTER FAMILY HOME. 
(a) IDENTIFICATION OF REPUTABLE MODEL LICENSING STAND-
ARDS.—Not later than October 1, 2018, the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services shall identify reputable model licensing stand-
ards with respect to the licensing of foster family homes (as defined 
in section 472(c)(1) of the Social Security Act). 
(b) STATE PLAN REQUIREMENT.—Section 471(a) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (34)(B), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semi-
colon; 
(2) in paragraph (35)(B), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(36) provides that, not later than April 1, 2019, the State 
shall submit to the Secretary information addressing— 
‘‘(A) whether the State licensing standards are in 
accord with model standards identified by the Secretary, 
and if not, the reason for the specific deviation and a 
description as to why having a standard that is reasonably 
in accord with the corresponding national model standards 
is not appropriate for the State; 
‘‘(B) whether the State has elected to waive standards 
established in 471(a)(10)(A) for relative foster family homes 
(pursuant to waiver authority provided by 471(a)(10)(D)), 
a description of which standards the State most commonly 
waives, and if the State has not elected to waive the 
standards, the reason for not waiving these standards; 
‘‘(C) if the State has elected to waive standards speci-
fied in subparagraph (B), how caseworkers are trained 
to use the waiver authority and whether the State has 
developed a process or provided tools to assist caseworkers 
in waiving nonsafety standards per the authority provided 
in 471(a)(10)(D) to quickly place children with relatives; 
and 
‘‘(D) a description of the steps the State is taking 
to improve caseworker training or the process, if any; and’’. 
SEC. 50732. DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE PLAN TO PREVENT CHILD 
ABUSE AND NEGLECT FATALITIES. 
Section 422(b)(19) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
622(b)(19)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(19) document steps taken to track and prevent child 
maltreatment deaths by including—
H. R. 1892—189 
‘‘(A) a description of the steps the State is taking 
to compile complete and accurate information on the deaths 
required by Federal law to be reported by the State agency 
referred to in paragraph (1), including gathering relevant 
information on the deaths from the relevant organizations 
in the State including entities such as State vital statistics 
department, child death review teams, law enforcement 
agencies, offices of medical examiners, or coroners; and 
‘‘(B) a description of the steps the State is taking 
to develop and implement a comprehensive, statewide plan 
to prevent the fatalities that involves and engages relevant 
public and private agency partners, including those in 
public health, law enforcement, and the courts.’’. 
SEC. 50733. MODERNIZING THE TITLE AND PURPOSE OF TITLE IV– 
E. 
(a) 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, PREVENTION, AND PERMANENCY’’. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The first sentence of section 470 of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 670) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘1995) and’’ and inserting ‘‘1995),’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘kinship guardianship assistance, and 
prevention services or programs specified in section 471(e)(1),’’ 
after ‘‘needs,’’; and 
(3) by striking ‘‘(commencing with the fiscal year which 
begins October 1, 1980)’’. 
SEC. 50734. EFFECTIVE DATES. 
(a) EFFECTIVE DATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), sub-
ject to subsection (b), the amendments made by parts I through 
III of this subtitle shall take effect on October 1, 2018. 
(2) EXCEPTIONS.—The amendments made by sections 
50711(d), 50731, and 50733 shall take effect on the date of 
enactment of this Act. 
(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 Services determines requires State legis-
lation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for 
the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by the 
amendments made by parts I through III of this subtitle, the 
State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with 
the requirements of such part solely on the basis of the failure 
of the plan to meet such additional requirements before the 
first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the close 
of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins 
after the date of enactment of this Act. For purposes of the 
previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year 
legislative session, each year of the session shall be deemed 
to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.
H. R. 1892—190 
(2) APPLICATION TO PROGRAMS OPERATED BY INDIAN TRIBAL 
ORGANIZATIONS.—In the case of an Indian tribe, tribal organiza-
tion, or tribal consortium which the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services determines requires time to take action nec-
essary to comply with the additional requirements imposed 
by the amendments made by parts I through III of this subtitle 
(whether the tribe, organization, or tribal consortium has a 
plan under section 479B of the Social Security Act or a coopera-
tive agreement or contract entered into with a State), the 
Secretary shall provide the tribe, organization, or tribal consor-
tium with such additional time as the Secretary determines 
is necessary for the tribe, organization, or tribal consortium 
to take the action to comply with the additional requirements 
before being regarded as failing to comply with the require-
ments. 
PART IV—ENSURING THE NECESSITY OF A 
PLACEMENT THAT IS NOT IN A FOSTER FAM-
ILY HOME 
SEC. 50741. LIMITATION ON FEDERAL FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION FOR 
PLACEMENTS THAT ARE NOT IN FOSTER FAMILY HOMES. 
(a) LIMITATION ON FEDERAL FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 472 of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 672), as amended by section 50712(a), is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)(2)(C), by inserting ‘‘, but only 
to the extent permitted under subsection (k)’’ after ‘‘institu-
tion’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) LIMITATION ON FEDERAL FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning with the third week for which 
foster care maintenance payments are made under this section 
on behalf of a child placed in a child-care institution, no Federal 
payment shall be made to the State under section 474(a)(1) 
for amounts expended for foster care maintenance payments 
on behalf of the child unless— 
‘‘(A) the child is placed in a child-care institution that 
is a setting specified in paragraph (2) (or is placed in 
a licensed residential family-based treatment facility con-
sistent with subsection (j)); and 
‘‘(B) in the case of a child placed in a qualified residen-
tial treatment program (as defined in paragraph (4)), the 
requirements specified in paragraph (3) and section 475A(c) 
are met. 
‘‘(2) SPECIFIED SETTINGS FOR PLACEMENT.—The settings for 
placement specified in this paragraph are the following: 
‘‘(A) A qualified residential treatment program (as 
defined in paragraph (4)). 
‘‘(B) A setting specializing in providing prenatal, post- 
partum, or parenting supports for youth. 
‘‘(C) In the case of a child who has attained 18 years 
of age, a supervised setting in which the child is living 
independently. 
‘‘(D) A setting providing high-quality residential care 
and supportive services to children and youth who have
H. R. 1892—191 
been found to be, or are at risk of becoming, sex trafficking 
victims, in accordance with section 471(a)(9)(C). 
‘‘(3) ASSESSMENT
TO
DETERMINE
APPROPRIATENESS
OF 
PLACEMENT
IN
A
QUALIFIED
RESIDENTIAL
TREATMENT
PRO-
GRAM.— 
‘‘(A) DEADLINE FOR ASSESSMENT.—In the case of a child 
who is placed in a qualified residential treatment program, 
if the assessment required under section 475A(c)(1) is not 
completed within 30 days after the placement is made, 
no Federal payment shall be made to the State under 
section 474(a)(1) for any amounts expended for foster care 
maintenance payments on behalf of the child during the 
placement. 
‘‘(B) DEADLINE FOR TRANSITION OUT OF PLACEMENT.— 
If the assessment required under section 475A(c)(1) deter-
mines that the placement of a child in a qualified residen-
tial treatment program is not appropriate, a court dis-
approves such a placement under section 475A(c)(2), or 
a child who has been in an approved placement in a quali-
fied residential treatment program is going to return home 
or be placed with a fit and willing relative, a legal guardian, 
or an adoptive parent, or in a foster family home, Federal 
payments shall be made to the State under section 474(a)(1) 
for amounts expended for foster care maintenance pay-
ments on behalf of the child while the child remains in 
the qualified residential treatment program only during 
the period necessary for the child to transition home or 
to such a placement. In no event shall a State receive 
Federal payments under section 474(a)(1) for amounts 
expended for foster care maintenance payments on behalf 
of a child who remains placed in a qualified residential 
treatment program after the end of the 30-day period that 
begins on the date a determination is made that the place-
ment is no longer the recommended or approved placement 
for the child. 
‘‘(4) QUALIFIED
RESIDENTIAL
TREATMENT
PROGRAM.—For 
purposes of this part, the term ‘qualified residential treatment 
program’ means a program that— 
‘‘(A) has a trauma-informed treatment model that is 
designed to address the needs, including clinical needs 
as appropriate, of children with serious emotional or behav-
ioral disorders or disturbances and, with respect to a child, 
is able to implement the treatment identified for the child 
by the assessment of the child required under section 
475A(c); 
‘‘(B) subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), has registered 
or licensed nursing staff and other licensed clinical staff 
who— 
‘‘(i) provide care within the scope of their practice 
as defined by State law; 
‘‘(ii) are on-site according to the treatment model 
referred to in subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(iii) are available 24 hours a day and 7 days 
a week; 
‘‘(C) to extent appropriate, and in accordance with the 
child’s best interests, facilitates participation of family 
members in the child’s treatment program;
H. R. 1892—192 
‘‘(D) facilitates outreach to the family members of the 
child, including siblings, documents how the outreach is 
made (including contact information), and maintains con-
tact information for any known biological family and fictive 
kin of the child; 
‘‘(E) documents how family members are integrated 
into the treatment process for the child, including post- 
discharge, and how sibling connections are maintained; 
‘‘(F) provides discharge planning and family-based 
aftercare support for at least 6 months post-discharge; and 
‘‘(G) is licensed in accordance with section 471(a)(10) 
and is accredited by any of the following independent, 
not-for-profit organizations: 
‘‘(i) The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilita-
tion Facilities (CARF). 
‘‘(ii) The Joint Commission on Accreditation of 
Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). 
‘‘(iii) The Council on Accreditation (COA). 
‘‘(iv) Any other independent, not-for-profit accred-
iting organization approved by the Secretary. 
‘‘(5) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—The prohibition in paragraph 
(1) on Federal payments under section 474(a)(1) shall not be 
construed as prohibiting Federal payments for administrative 
expenditures incurred on behalf of a child placed in a child- 
care institution and for which payment is available under sec-
tion 474(a)(3). 
‘‘(6) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The requirements in para-
graph (4)(B) shall not be construed as requiring a qualified 
residential treatment program to acquire nursing and behav-
ioral health staff solely through means of a direct employer 
to employee relationship.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 474(a)(1) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 674(a)(1)), as amended by section 
50712(b), is amended by striking ‘‘section 472(j)’’ and inserting 
‘‘subsections (j) and (k) of section 472’’. 
(b) DEFINITION OF FOSTER FAMILY HOME, CHILD-CARE INSTITU-
TION.—Section 472(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 672(c)(1)) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this part: 
‘‘(1) FOSTER FAMILY HOME.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘foster family home’ means 
the home of an individual or family— 
‘‘(i) that is licensed or approved by the State in 
which it is situated as a foster family home that meets 
the standards established for the licensing or approval; 
and 
‘‘(ii) in which a child in foster care has been placed 
in the care of an individual, who resides with the 
child and who has been licensed or approved by the 
State to be a foster parent— 
‘‘(I) that the State deems capable of adhering 
to the reasonable and prudent parent standard; 
‘‘(II) that provides 24-hour substitute care for 
children placed away from their parents or other 
caretakers; and 
‘‘(III) that provides the care for not more than 
six children in foster care.
H. R. 1892—193 
‘‘(B) STATE FLEXIBILITY.—The number of foster children 
that may be cared for in a home under subparagraph 
(A) may exceed the numerical limitation in subparagraph 
(A)(ii)(III), at the option of the State, for any of the following 
reasons: 
‘‘(i) To allow a parenting youth in foster care to 
remain with the child of the parenting youth. 
‘‘(ii) To allow siblings to remain together. 
‘‘(iii) To allow a child with an established meaning-
ful relationship with the family to remain with the 
family. 
‘‘(iv) To allow a family with special training or 
skills to provide care to a child who has a severe 
disability. 
‘‘(C) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Subparagraph (A) shall 
not be construed as prohibiting a foster parent from renting 
the home in which the parent cares for a foster child 
placed in the parent’s care. 
‘‘(2) CHILD-CARE INSTITUTION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘child-care institution’ 
means a private child-care institution, or a public child- 
care institution which accommodates no more than 25 chil-
dren, which is licensed by the State in which it is situated 
or has been approved by the agency of the State responsible 
for licensing or approval of institutions of this type as 
meeting the standards established for the licensing. 
‘‘(B) SUPERVISED SETTINGS.—In the case of a child who 
has attained 18 years of age, the term shall include a 
supervised setting in which the individual is living 
independently, in accordance with such conditions as the 
Secretary shall establish in regulations. 
‘‘(C) EXCLUSIONS.—The term shall not include deten-
tion facilities, forestry camps, training schools, or any other 
facility operated primarily for the detention of children 
who are determined to be delinquent.’’. 
(c) TRAINING FOR STATE JUDGES, ATTORNEYS, AND OTHER LEGAL 
PERSONNEL IN CHILD WELFARE CASES.—Section 438(b)(1) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 629h(b)(1)) is amended in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘shall provide for the training of 
judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel in child welfare cases 
on Federal child welfare policies and payment limitations with 
respect to children in foster care who are placed in settings that 
are not a foster family home,’’ after ‘‘with respect to the child,’’. 
(d) ASSURANCE OF NONIMPACT ON JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.— 
(1) STATE PLAN REQUIREMENT.—Section 471(a) of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 671(a)), as amended by section 50731, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(37) includes a certification that, in response to the limita-
tion imposed under section 472(k) with respect to foster care 
maintenance payments made on behalf of any child who is 
placed in a setting that is not a foster family home, the State 
will not enact or advance policies or practices that would result 
in a significant increase in the population of youth in the 
State’s juvenile justice system.’’. 
(2) GAO STUDY
AND
REPORT.—The Comptroller General 
of the United States shall evaluate the impact, if any, on 
State juvenile justice systems of the limitation imposed under
H. R. 1892—194 
section 472(k) of the Social Security Act (as added by section 
50741(a)(1)) on foster care maintenance payments made on 
behalf of any child who is placed in a setting that is not 
a foster family home, in accordance with the amendments made 
by subsections (a) and (b) of this section. In particular, the 
Comptroller General shall evaluate the extent to which children 
in foster care who also are subject to the juvenile justice system 
of the State are placed in a facility under the jurisdiction 
of the juvenile justice system and whether the lack of available 
congregate care placements under the jurisdiction of the child 
welfare systems is a contributing factor to that result. Not 
later than December 31, 2025, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to Congress a report on the results of the evaluation. 
SEC. 50742. ASSESSMENT AND DOCUMENTATION OF THE NEED FOR 
PLACEMENT IN A QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT 
PROGRAM. 
Section 475A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 675a) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) ASSESSMENT, DOCUMENTATION, AND JUDICIAL DETERMINA-
TION REQUIREMENTS FOR PLACEMENT IN A QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL 
TREATMENT PROGRAM.—In the case of any child who is placed 
in a qualified residential treatment program (as defined in section 
472(k)(4)), the following requirements shall apply for purposes of 
approving the case plan for the child and the case system review 
procedure for the child: 
‘‘(1)(A) Within 30 days of the start of each placement in 
such a setting, a qualified individual (as defined in subpara-
graph (D)) shall— 
‘‘(i) assess the strengths and needs of the child using 
an age-appropriate, evidence-based, validated, functional 
assessment tool approved by the Secretary; 
‘‘(ii) determine whether the needs of the child can 
be met with family members or through placement in a 
foster family home or, if not, which setting from among 
the settings specified in section 472(k)(2) would provide 
the most effective and appropriate level of care for the 
child in the least restrictive environment and be consistent 
with the short- and long-term goals for the child, as speci-
fied in the permanency plan for the child; and 
‘‘(iii) develop a list of child-specific short- and long- 
term mental and behavioral health goals. 
‘‘(B)(i) The State shall assemble a family and permanency 
team for the child in accordance with the requirements of 
clauses (ii) and (iii). The qualified individual conducting the 
assessment required under subparagraph (A) shall work in 
conjunction with the family of, and permanency team for, the 
child while conducting and making the assessment. 
‘‘(ii) The family and permanency team shall consist of all 
appropriate biological family members, relative, and fictive kin 
of the child, as well as, as appropriate, professionals who are 
a resource to the family of the child, such as teachers, medical 
or mental health providers who have treated the child, or 
clergy. In the case of a child who has attained age 14, the 
family and permanency team shall include the members of 
the permanency planning team for the child that are selected 
by the child in accordance with section 475(5)(C)(iv).
H. R. 1892—195 
‘‘(iii) The State shall document in the child’s case plan— 
‘‘(I) the reasonable and good faith effort of the State 
to identify and include all the individuals described in 
clause (ii) on the child’s family and permanency team; 
‘‘(II) all contact information for members of the family 
and permanency team, as well as contact information for 
other family members and fictive kin who are not part 
of the family and permanency team; 
‘‘(III) evidence that meetings of the family and perma-
nency team, including meetings relating to the assessment 
required under subparagraph (A), are held at a time and 
place convenient for family; 
‘‘(IV) if reunification is the goal, evidence dem-
onstrating that the parent from whom the child was 
removed provided input on the members of the family 
and permanency team; 
‘‘(V) evidence that the assessment required under 
subparagraph (A) is determined in conjunction with the 
family and permanency team; 
‘‘(VI) the placement preferences of the family and 
permanency team relative to the assessment that recog-
nizes children should be placed with their siblings unless 
there is a finding by the court that such placement is 
contrary to their best interest; and 
‘‘(VII) if the placement preferences of the family and 
permanency team and child are not the placement setting 
recommended by the qualified individual conducting the 
assessment under subparagraph (A), the reasons why the 
preferences of the team and of the child were not rec-
ommended. 
‘‘(C) In the case of a child who the qualified individual 
conducting the assessment under subparagraph (A) determines 
should not be placed in a foster family home, the qualified 
individual shall specify in writing the reasons why the needs 
of the child cannot be met by the family of the child or in 
a foster family home. A shortage or lack of foster family homes 
shall not be an acceptable reason for determining that the 
needs of the child cannot be met in a foster family home. 
The qualified individual also shall specify in writing why the 
recommended placement in a qualified residential treatment 
program is the setting that will provide the child with the 
most effective and appropriate level of care in the least restric-
tive environment and how that placement is consistent with 
the short- and long-term goals for the child, as specified in 
the permanency plan for the child. 
‘‘(D)(i) Subject to clause (ii), in this subsection, the term 
‘qualified individual’ means a trained professional or licensed 
clinician who is not an employee of the State agency and 
who is not connected to, or affiliated with, any placement 
setting in which children are placed by the State. 
‘‘(ii) The Secretary may approve a request of a State to 
waive any requirement in clause (i) upon a submission by 
the State, in accordance with criteria established by the Sec-
retary, that certifies that the trained professionals or licensed 
clinicians with responsibility for performing the assessments 
described in subparagraph (A) shall maintain objectivity with
H. R. 1892—196 
respect to determining the most effective and appropriate place-
ment for a child. 
‘‘(2) Within 60 days of the start of each placement in 
a qualified residential treatment program, a family or juvenile 
court or another court (including a tribal court) of competent 
jurisdiction, or an administrative body appointed or approved 
by the court, independently, shall— 
‘‘(A) consider the assessment, determination, and docu-
mentation made by the qualified individual conducting the 
assessment under paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) determine whether the needs of the child can 
be met through placement in a foster family home or, 
if not, whether placement of the child in a qualified residen-
tial treatment program provides the most effective and 
appropriate level of care for the child in the least restrictive 
environment and whether that placement is consistent with 
the short- and long-term goals for the child, as specified 
in the permanency plan for the child; and 
‘‘(C) approve or disapprove the placement. 
‘‘(3) The written documentation made under paragraph 
(1)(C) and documentation of the determination and approval 
or disapproval of the placement in a qualified residential treat-
ment program by a court or administrative body under para-
graph (2) shall be included in and made part of the case 
plan for the child. 
‘‘(4) As long as a child remains placed in a qualified residen-
tial treatment program, the State agency shall submit evidence 
at each status review and each permanency hearing held with 
respect to the child— 
‘‘(A) demonstrating that ongoing assessment of the 
strengths and needs of the child continues to support the 
determination that the needs of the child cannot be met 
through placement in a foster family home, that the place-
ment in a qualified residential treatment program provides 
the most effective and appropriate level of care for the 
child in the least restrictive environment, and that the 
placement is consistent with the short- and long-term goals 
for the child, as specified in the permanency plan for the 
child; 
‘‘(B) documenting the specific treatment or service 
needs that will be met for the child in the placement 
and the length of time the child is expected to need the 
treatment or services; and 
‘‘(C) documenting the efforts made by the State agency 
to prepare the child to return home or to be placed with 
a fit and willing relative, a legal guardian, or an adoptive 
parent, or in a foster family home. 
‘‘(5) In the case of any child who is placed in a qualified 
residential treatment program for more than 12 consecutive 
months or 18 nonconsecutive months (or, in the case of a 
child who has not attained age 13, for more than 6 consecutive 
or nonconsecutive months), the State agency shall submit to 
the Secretary— 
‘‘(A) the most recent versions of the evidence and docu-
mentation specified in paragraph (4); and 
‘‘(B) the signed approval of the head of the State agency 
for the continued placement of the child in that setting.’’.
H. R. 1892—197 
SEC. 50743. PROTOCOLS TO PREVENT INAPPROPRIATE DIAGNOSES. 
(a) STATE PLAN REQUIREMENT.—Section 422(b)(15)(A) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 622(b)(15)(A)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (vi), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 
(2) by redesignating clause (vii) as clause (viii); and 
(3) by inserting after clause (vi) the following: 
‘‘(vii) the procedures and protocols the State has 
established to ensure that children in foster care place-
ments are not inappropriately diagnosed with mental 
illness, other emotional or behavioral disorders, medi-
cally fragile conditions, or developmental disabilities, 
and placed in settings that are not foster family homes 
as a result of the inappropriate diagnoses; and’’. 
(b) EVALUATION.—Section 476 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 676), 
as amended by section 50711(d), is further amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(e) EVALUATION OF STATE PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS TO 
PREVENT INAPPROPRIATE DIAGNOSES OF MENTAL ILLNESS OR OTHER 
CONDITIONS.—The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the 
procedures and protocols established by States in accordance with 
the requirements of section 422(b)(15)(A)(vii). The evaluation shall 
analyze the extent to which States comply with and enforce the 
procedures and protocols and the effectiveness of various State 
procedures and protocols and shall identify best practices. Not later 
than January 1, 2020, the Secretary shall submit a report on 
the results of the evaluation to Congress.’’. 
SEC. 50744. ADDITIONAL DATA AND REPORTS REGARDING CHILDREN 
PLACED IN A SETTING THAT IS NOT A FOSTER FAMILY 
HOME. 
Section 479A(a)(7)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
679b(a)(7)(A)) is amended by striking clauses (i) through (vi) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) with respect to each such placement— 
‘‘(I) the type of the placement setting, 
including whether the placement is shelter care, 
a group home and if so, the range of the child 
population in the home, a residential treatment 
facility, a hospital or institution providing medical, 
rehabilitative, or psychiatric care, a setting special-
izing in providing prenatal, post-partum, or par-
enting supports, or some other kind of child-care 
institution and if so, what kind; 
‘‘(II) the number of children in the placement 
setting and the age, race, ethnicity, and gender 
of each of the children; 
‘‘(III) for each child in the placement setting, 
the length of the placement of the child in the 
setting, whether the placement of the child in the 
setting is the first placement of the child and 
if not, the number and type of previous placements 
of the child, and whether the child has special 
needs or another diagnosed mental or physical 
illness or condition; and 
‘‘(IV) the extent of any specialized education, 
treatment, counseling, or other services provided 
in the setting; and
H. R. 1892—198 
‘‘(ii) separately, the number and ages of children 
in the placements who have a permanency plan of 
another planned permanent living arrangement; and’’. 
SEC. 50745. CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECKS AND CHECKS OF CHILD 
ABUSE 
AND 
NEGLECT 
REGISTRIES 
FOR 
ADULTS 
WORKING IN CHILD-CARE INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER 
GROUP CARE SETTINGS. 
(a) STATE PLAN REQUIREMENT.—Section 471(a)(20) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(20)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the 
semicolon; 
(2) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by striking ‘‘and’’after the semi-
colon; 
(3) in subparagraph (C), by adding ‘‘and’’ after the semi-
colon; and 
(4) by inserting after subparagraph (C), the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) provides procedures for any child-care institution, 
including a group home, residential treatment center, 
shelter, or other congregate care setting, to conduct 
criminal records checks, including fingerprint-based checks 
of national crime information databases (as defined in sec-
tion 534(f)(3)(A) of title 28, United States Code), and checks 
described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, on any 
adult working in a child-care institution, including a group 
home, residential treatment center, shelter, or other con-
gregate care setting, unless the State reports to the Sec-
retary the alternative criminal records checks and child 
abuse registry checks the State conducts on any adult 
working in a child-care institution, including a group home, 
residential treatment center, shelter, or other congregate 
care setting, and why the checks specified in this subpara-
graph are not appropriate for the State;’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Subparagraphs (A) and (C) of 
section 471(a)(20) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(20)) 
are each amended by striking ‘‘section 534(e)(3)(A)’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 534(f)(3)(A)’’. 
SEC. 50746. EFFECTIVE DATES; APPLICATION TO WAIVERS. 
(a) EFFECTIVE DATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2) and subsections 
(b), (c), and (d), the amendments made by this part shall 
take effect as if enacted on January 1, 2018. 
(2) TRANSITION RULE.—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 Services 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 part, the State 
plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the require-
ments of part B or E of title IV of such Act solely on the 
basis of the failure of the plan to meet the additional require-
ments before the first day of the first calendar quarter begin-
ning after the close of the first regular session of the State 
legislature that begins after the date of enactment of this 
Act. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of 
a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of
H. R. 1892—199 
the session shall be deemed to be a separate regular session 
of the State legislature. 
(b) LIMITATION
ON FEDERAL FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION
FOR 
PLACEMENTS
THAT
ARE
NOT
IN
FOSTER
FAMILY
HOMES
AND 
RELATED PROVISIONS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amendments made by sections 
50741(a), 50741(b), 50741(d), and 50742 shall take effect on 
October 1, 2019. 
(2) STATE OPTION TO DELAY EFFECTIVE DATE FOR NOT MORE 
THAN 2 YEARS.—If a State requests a delay in the effective 
date, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall delay 
the effective date provided for in paragraph (1) with respect 
to the State for the amount of time requested by the State, 
not to exceed 2 years. If the effective date is so delayed for 
a period with respect to a State under the preceding sentence, 
then— 
(A) notwithstanding section 50734, the date that the 
amendments made by section 50711(c) take effect with 
respect to the State shall be delayed for the period; and 
(B) in applying section 474(a)(6) of the Social Security 
Act with respect to the State, ‘‘on or after the date this 
paragraph takes effect with respect to the State’’ is deemed 
to be substituted for ‘‘after September 30, 2019’’ in subpara-
graph (A)(i)(I) of such section. 
(c) CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECKS AND CHECKS OF CHILD ABUSE 
AND NEGLECT REGISTRIES FOR ADULTS WORKING IN CHILD-CARE 
INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER GROUP CARE SETTINGS.—Subject to sub-
section (a)(2), the amendments made by section 50745 shall take 
effect on October 1, 2018. 
(d) APPLICATION TO STATES WITH WAIVERS.—In the case of 
a State that, on the date of enactment of this Act, has in effect 
a waiver approved under section 1130 of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1320a–9), the amendments made by this part shall 
not apply with respect to the State before the expiration (determined 
without regard to any extensions) of the waiver to the extent 
the amendments are inconsistent with the terms of the waiver. 
PART V—CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR CHILD 
AND FAMILY SERVICES 
SEC. 50751. SUPPORTING AND RETAINING FOSTER FAMILIES FOR CHIL-
DREN. 
(a) SUPPORTING AND RETAINING FOSTER PARENTS AS A FAMILY 
SUPPORT SERVICE.—Section 431(a)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 631(a)(2)(B)) is amended by redesignating clauses (iii) 
through (vi) as clauses (iv) through (vii), respectively, and inserting 
after clause (ii) the following: 
‘‘(iii) To support and retain foster families so they 
can provide quality family-based settings for children 
in foster care.’’. 
(b) SUPPORT FOR FOSTER FAMILY HOMES.—Section 436 of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 629f) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) SUPPORT FOR FOSTER FAMILY HOMES.—Out of any money 
in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, 
there are appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2018, 
$8,000,000 for the Secretary to make competitive grants to States, 
Indian tribes, or tribal consortia to support the recruitment and
H. R. 1892—200 
retention of high-quality foster families to increase their capacity 
to place more children in family settings, focused on States, Indian 
tribes, or tribal consortia with the highest percentage of children 
in non-family settings. The amount appropriated under this 
subparagraph shall remain available through fiscal year 2022.’’. 
SEC. 50752. EXTENSION OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAMS. 
(a) EXTENSION OF STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES CHILD WELFARE 
SERVICES PROGRAM.—Section 425 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 625) is amended by striking ‘‘2012 through 2016’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2017 through 2021’’. 
(b) EXTENSION OF PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES PRO-
GRAM AUTHORIZATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 436(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
629f(a)) is amended by striking all that follows ‘‘$345,000,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021.’’. 
(2) DISCRETIONARY
GRANTS.—Section 437(a) of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 629g(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012 through 2016’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2017 through 2021’’. 
(c) EXTENSION OF FUNDING RESERVATIONS FOR MONTHLY CASE-
WORKER
VISITS
AND
REGIONAL
PARTNERSHIP
GRANTS.—Section 
436(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629f(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ‘‘2012 through 2016’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2017 through 2021’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘2012 through 2016’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2017 through 2021’’. 
(d) REAUTHORIZATION OF FUNDING FOR STATE COURTS.— 
(1) EXTENSION OF PROGRAM.—Section 438(c)(1) of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 629h(c)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012 through 
2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2017 through 2021’’. 
(2) EXTENSION OF FEDERAL SHARE.—Section 438(d) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 629h(d)) is amended by striking ‘‘2012 through 
2016’’ and inserting ‘‘2017 through 2021’’. 
(e) REPEAL OF EXPIRED PROVISIONS.—Section 438(e) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 629h(e)) is repealed. 
SEC. 50753. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER CARE 
INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM AND RELATED PROVISIONS. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO SERVE FORMER FOSTER YOUTH UP TO AGE 
23.—Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(5), by inserting ‘‘(or 23 years of age, 
in the case of a State with a certification under subsection 
(b)(3)(A)(ii) to provide assistance and services to youths who 
have aged out of foster care and have not attained such age, 
in accordance with such subsection)’’ after ‘‘21 years of age’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(3)(A)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(i)’’ before ‘‘A certification’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘children who have left foster care’’ 
and all that follows through the period and inserting 
‘‘youths who have aged out of foster care and have not 
attained 21 years of age.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ii) If the State has elected under section 475(8)(B) 
to extend eligibility for foster care to all children who 
have not attained 21 years of age, or if the Secretary 
determines that the State agency responsible for admin-
istering the State plans under this part and part B uses
H. R. 1892—201 
State funds or any other funds not provided under this 
part to provide services and assistance for youths who 
have aged out of foster care that are comparable to the 
services and assistance the youths would receive if the 
State had made such an election, the certification required 
under clause (i) may provide that the State will provide 
assistance and services to youths who have aged out of 
foster care and have not attained 23 years of age.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (b)(3)(B), by striking ‘‘children who have 
left foster care’’ and all that follows through the period and 
inserting ‘‘youths who have aged out of foster care and have 
not attained 21 years of age (or 23 years of age, in the case 
of a State with a certification under subparagraph (A)(i) to 
provide assistance and services to youths who have aged out 
of foster care and have not attained such age, in accordance 
with subparagraph (A)(ii)).’’. 
(b) AUTHORITY TO REDISTRIBUTE UNSPENT FUNDS.—Section 
477(d) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(d)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘or does not expend 
allocated funds within the time period specified under section 
477(d)(3)’’ after ‘‘provided by the Secretary’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) REDISTRIBUTION OF UNEXPENDED AMOUNTS.— 
‘‘(A) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS.—To the extent that 
amounts paid to States under this section in a fiscal year 
remain unexpended by the States at the end of the suc-
ceeding fiscal year, the Secretary may make the amounts 
available for redistribution in the second succeeding fiscal 
year among the States that apply for additional funds 
under this section for that second succeeding fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) REDISTRIBUTION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall redistribute 
the amounts made available under subparagraph (A) 
for a fiscal year among eligible applicant States. In 
this subparagraph, the term ‘eligible applicant State’ 
means a State that has applied for additional funds 
for the fiscal year under subparagraph (A) if the Sec-
retary determines that the State will use the funds 
for the purpose for which originally allotted under 
this section. 
‘‘(ii) AMOUNT TO BE REDISTRIBUTED.—The amount 
to be redistributed to each eligible applicant State shall 
be the amount so made available multiplied by the 
State foster care ratio, (as defined in subsection (c)(4), 
except that, in such subsection, ‘all eligible applicant 
States (as defined in subsection (d)(5)(B)(i))’ shall be 
substituted for ‘all States’). 
‘‘(iii) TREATMENT OF REDISTRIBUTED AMOUNT.—Any 
amount made available to a State under this paragraph 
shall be regarded as part of the allotment of the State 
under this section for the fiscal year in which the 
redistribution is made. 
‘‘(C) TRIBES.—For purposes of this paragraph, the term 
‘State’ includes an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or 
tribal consortium that receives an allotment under this 
section.’’.
H. R. 1892—202 
(c) EXPANDING AND CLARIFYING THE USE OF EDUCATION AND 
TRAINING VOUCHERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 477(i)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
677(i)(3)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘on the date’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘23’’ and inserting ‘‘to remain eligible until they 
attain 26’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, but in no event may a youth partici-
pate in the program for more than 5 years (whether or 
not consecutive)’’ before the period. 
(2) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 477(i)(1) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 677(i)(1)) is amended by inserting ‘‘who have 
attained 14 years of age’’ before the period. 
(d) OTHER IMPROVEMENTS.—Section 477 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
677), as amended by subsections (a), (b), and (c), is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘INDEPENDENCE 
PROGRAM’’ and inserting ‘‘PROGRAM FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSI-
TION TO ADULTHOOD’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘identify children who are likely 
to remain in foster care until 18 years of age and 
to help these children make the transition to self- 
sufficiency by providing services’’ and inserting ‘‘sup-
port all youth who have experienced foster care at 
age 14 or older in their transition to adulthood through 
transitional services’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘and post-secondary education’’ 
after ‘‘high school diploma’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘training in daily living skills, 
training in budgeting and financial management skills’’ 
and inserting ‘‘training and opportunities to practice 
daily living skills (such as financial literacy training 
and driving instruction)’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘who are likely to 
remain in foster care until 18 years of age receive the 
education, training, and services necessary to obtain 
employment’’ and inserting ‘‘who have experienced foster 
care at age 14 or older achieve meaningful, permanent 
connections with a caring adult’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘who are likely to 
remain in foster care until 18 years of age prepare for 
and enter postsecondary training and education institu-
tions’’ and inserting ‘‘who have experienced foster care 
at age 14 or older engage in age or developmentally appro-
priate activities, positive youth development, and experien-
tial learning that reflects what their peers in intact families 
experience’’; and 
(D) by striking paragraph (4) and redesignating para-
graphs (5) through (8) as paragraphs (4) through (7); 
(3) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking ‘‘adolescents’’ and 
inserting ‘‘youth’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) in subparagraph (D)— 
(I) by inserting ‘‘including training on youth 
development’’ after ‘‘to provide training’’; and
H. R. 1892—203 
(II) by striking ‘‘adolescents preparing for inde-
pendent living’’ and all that follows through the 
period and inserting ‘‘youth preparing for a 
successful transition to adulthood and making a 
permanent connection with a caring adult.’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘adolescents’’ 
each place it appears and inserting ‘‘youth’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (K)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘an adolescent’’ and inserting 
‘‘a youth’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘the adolescent’’ each place 
it appears and inserting ‘‘the youth’’; and 
(4) in subsection (f), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than October 1, 2019, 
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ways and 
Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Finance of the Senate a report on the National Youth 
in Transition Database and any other databases in which States 
report outcome measures relating to children in foster care 
and children who have aged out of foster care or left foster 
care for kinship guardianship or adoption. The report shall 
include the following: 
‘‘(A) A description of the reasons for entry into foster 
care and of the foster care experiences, such as length 
of stay, number of placement settings, case goal, and dis-
charge reason of 17-year-olds who are surveyed by the 
National Youth in Transition Database and an analysis 
of the comparison of that description with the reasons 
for entry and foster care experiences of children of other 
ages who exit from foster care before attaining age 17. 
‘‘(B) A description of the characteristics of the individ-
uals who report poor outcomes at ages 19 and 21 to the 
National Youth in Transition Database. 
‘‘(C) Benchmarks for determining what constitutes a 
poor outcome for youth who remain in or have exited 
from foster care and plans the executive branch will take 
to incorporate these benchmarks in efforts to evaluate child 
welfare agency performance in providing services to chil-
dren transitioning from foster care. 
‘‘(D) An analysis of the association between types of 
placement, number of overall placements, time spent in 
foster care, and other factors, and outcomes at ages 19 
and 21. 
‘‘(E) An analysis of the differences in outcomes for 
children in and formerly in foster care at age 19 and 
21 among States.’’. 
(e) CLARIFYING DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED TO FOSTER YOUTH 
LEAVING FOSTER CARE.—Section 475(5)(I) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
675(5)(I)) is amended by inserting after ‘‘REAL ID Act of 2005’’ 
the following: ‘‘, and any official documentation necessary to prove 
that the child was previously in foster care’’.
H. R. 1892—204 
PART 
VI—CONTINUING 
INCENTIVES 
TO 
STATES TO PROMOTE ADOPTION AND LEGAL 
GUARDIANSHIP 
SEC. 50761. REAUTHORIZING ADOPTION AND LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP 
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 473A of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 673b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(4), by striking ‘‘2013 through 2015’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2016 through 2020’’; 
(2) in subsection (h)(1)(D), by striking ‘‘2016’’ and inserting 
‘‘2021’’; and 
(3) in subsection (h)(2), by striking ‘‘2016’’ and inserting 
‘‘2021’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection 
(a) shall take effect as if enacted on October 1, 2017. 
PART VII—TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS 
SEC. 50771. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO DATA EXCHANGE STAND-
ARDS TO IMPROVE PROGRAM COORDINATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 440 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 629m) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 440. DATA EXCHANGE STANDARDS FOR IMPROVED INTEROPER-
ABILITY. 
‘‘(a) DESIGNATION.—The Secretary shall, in consultation with 
an interagency work group established by the Office of Management 
and Budget and considering State government perspectives, by 
rule, designate data exchange standards to govern, under this part 
and part E— 
‘‘(1) necessary categories of information that State agencies 
operating programs under State plans approved under this 
part are required under applicable Federal law to electronically 
exchange with another State agency; and 
‘‘(2) Federal reporting and data exchange required under 
applicable Federal law. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The data exchange standards required 
by paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable— 
‘‘(1) incorporate a widely accepted, non-proprietary, search-
able, computer-readable format, such as the Extensible Markup 
Language; 
‘‘(2) contain interoperable standards developed and main-
tained by intergovernmental partnerships, such as the National 
Information Exchange Model; 
‘‘(3) incorporate interoperable standards developed and 
maintained by Federal entities with authority over contracting 
and financial assistance; 
‘‘(4) 
be 
consistent 
with 
and 
implement 
applicable 
accounting principles; 
‘‘(5) be implemented in a manner that is cost-effective 
and improves program efficiency and effectiveness; and 
‘‘(6) be capable of being continually upgraded as necessary. 
‘‘(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this subsection shall 
be construed to require a change to existing data exchange stand-
ards found to be effective and efficient.’’.
H. R. 1892—231 
(ii) in clause (i)(II)(bb)— 
(I) in the heading, by striking ‘‘2 YEARS’’ and 
inserting ‘‘5 YEARS’’; and 
(II) by striking the second sentence and 
inserting the following new sentences: ‘‘For each 
of the second, third, fourth, and fifth years for 
which the MIPS applies to payments, not less than 
10 percent and not more than 30 percent of such 
score shall be based on performance with respect 
to the category described in clause (ii) of paragraph 
(2)(A). Nothing in the previous sentence shall be 
construed, with respect to a performance period 
for a year described in the previous sentence, as 
preventing the Secretary from basing 30 percent 
of such score for such year with respect to the 
category described in such clause (ii), if the Sec-
retary determines, based on information posted 
under subsection (r)(2)(I) that sufficient resource 
use measures are ready for adoption for use under 
the 
performance 
category 
under 
paragraph 
(2)(A)(ii) for such performance period.’’; 
(D) in paragraph (6)(D)— 
(i) in clause (i), in the second sentence, by striking 
‘‘Such performance threshold’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject 
to clauses (iii) and (iv), such performance threshold’’; 
(ii) in clause (ii)— 
(I) in the first sentence, by inserting ‘‘(begin-
ning with 2019 and ending with 2024)’’ after ‘‘for 
each year of the MIPS’’; and 
(II) in the second sentence, by inserting ‘‘sub-
ject to clause (iii),’’ after ‘‘For each such year,’’; 
(iii) in clause (iii)— 
(I) in the heading, by striking ‘‘2’’ and inserting 
‘‘5’’; and 
(II) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘two 
years’’ and inserting ‘‘five years’’; and 
(iv) by adding at the end the following new clause: 
‘‘(iv) ADDITIONAL SPECIAL RULE FOR THIRD, FOURTH 
AND
FIFTH
YEARS
OF
MIPS.—For purposes of deter-
mining MIPS adjustment factors under subparagraph 
(A), in addition to the requirements specified in clause 
(iii), the Secretary shall increase the performance 
threshold with respect to each of the third, fourth, 
and fifth years to which the MIPS applies to ensure 
a gradual and incremental transition to the perform-
ance threshold described in clause (i) (as estimated 
by the Secretary) with respect to the sixth year to 
which the MIPS applies.’’; 
(E) in paragraph (6)(E)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘In the case of items and services’’ 
and inserting ‘‘In the case of covered professional serv-
ices (as defined in subsection (k)(3)(A))’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘under this part with respect to 
such items and services’’ and inserting ‘‘under this 
part with respect to such covered professional services’’; 
and
H. R. 1892—247 
subsection (a) to reflect the designation of seed cotton as a 
covered commodity for that crop year under section 1111(6)(B). 
‘‘(2) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO MAKE UNANIMOUS ELECTION.— 
If all the producers on a farm fail to make a unanimous election 
under paragraph (1), the producers on the farm shall be deemed 
to have elected price loss coverage under section 1116 for acres 
allocated on the farm to seed cotton.’’. 
(8) EFFECTIVE PRICE.—Section 1116 of the Agricultural Act 
of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9016) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(h) EFFECTIVE PRICE FOR SEED COTTON.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The effective price for seed cotton under 
subsection (b) shall be equal to the marketing year average 
price for seed cotton, as calculated under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) CALCULATION.—The marketing year average price for 
seed cotton for a crop year shall be equal to the quotient 
obtained by dividing— 
‘‘(A) the sum obtained by adding— 
‘‘(i) the product obtained by multiplying— 
‘‘(I) the upland cotton lint marketing year 
average price; and 
‘‘(II) the total United States upland cotton lint 
production, measured in pounds; and 
‘‘(ii) the product obtained by multiplying— 
‘‘(I) the cottonseed marketing year average 
price; and 
‘‘(II) the total United States cottonseed produc-
tion, measured in pounds; by 
‘‘(B) the sum obtained by adding— 
‘‘(i) the total United States upland cotton lint 
production, measured in pounds; and 
‘‘(ii) the total United States cottonseed production, 
measured in pounds.’’. 
(9) DEEMED LOAN RATE FOR SEED COTTON.—Section 1202 
of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9032) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) SEED COTTON.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of section 1116(b)(2) and 
paragraphs (1)(B)(ii) and (2)(A)(ii)(II) of section 1117(b), the 
loan rate for seed cotton shall be deemed to be equal to $0.25 
per pound. 
‘‘(2) EFFECT.—Nothing in this subsection authorizes any 
nonrecourse marketing assistance loan under this subtitle for 
seed cotton.’’. 
(10) LIMITATION ON STACKED INCOME PROTECTION PLAN FOR 
PRODUCERS OF UPLAND COTTON.—Section 508B of the Federal 
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1508b) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) LIMITATION.—Effective beginning with the 2019 crop year, 
a farm shall not be eligible for the Stacked Income Protection 
Plan for upland cotton for a crop year for which the farm is enrolled 
in coverage for seed cotton under— 
‘‘(1) price loss coverage under section 1116 of the Agricul-
tural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9016); or 
‘‘(2) agriculture risk coverage under section 1117 of that 
Act (7 U.S.C. 9017).’’.
H. R. 1892—248 
(11) TECHNICAL
CORRECTION.—Section 1114(b)(2) of the 
Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9014(b)(2)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(B)’’ and inserting ‘‘para-
graphs (1) and (2)’’. 
(12) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
carry out the amendments made by this subsection in accord-
ance with section 1601 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 
9091). 
(13) APPLICATION.—Except as provided in paragraph (10), 
the amendments made by this subsection shall apply beginning 
with the 2018 crop year. 
(b) MARGIN PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR DAIRY PRODUCERS.— 
(1) MONTHLY CALCULATION OF ACTUAL DAIRY PRODUCTION 
MARGIN.— 
(A) DEFINITIONS.—Section 1401 of the Agricultural Act 
of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9051) is amended— 
(i) by striking paragraph (4); and 
(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (5) through (11) 
as paragraphs (4) through (10), respectively. 
(B) CALCULATION
OF
ACTUAL
DAIRY
PRODUCTION 
MARGIN.—Section 1402(b)(1) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 
(7 U.S.C. 9052(b)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘consecutive 
2-month period’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘month’’. 
(C) MARGIN PROTECTION PAYMENTS.—Section 1406 of 
the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9056) is amended— 
(i) by striking ‘‘consecutive 2-month period’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘month’’; and 
(ii) in subsection (c)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘6’’ and 
inserting ‘‘12’’. 
(2) PARTICIPATION OF DAIRY OPERATIONS IN MARGIN PROTEC-
TION PROGRAM.—Section 1404 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 
(7 U.S.C. 9054) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, including the 
establishment of a date each calendar year by which 
a dairy operation shall register for the calendar year’’ 
before the period at the end; 
(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 
paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and 
(iii) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: 
‘‘(2) EXTENSION OF ELECTION PERIOD FOR 2018 CALENDAR 
YEAR.—The Secretary shall extend the election period for the 
2018 calendar year by not less than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 or such 
additional period as the Secretary determines is necessary for 
dairy operations to make new elections to participate for that 
calendar year, including dairy operations that elected to so 
participate before that date of enactment.’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) EXEMPTION.—A limited resource, beginning, veteran, 
or socially disadvantaged farmer, as defined by the Secretary, 
shall be exempt from the administrative fee under this sub-
section.’’. 
(3) PRODUCTION
HISTORY
OF
PARTICIPATING
DAIRY
OPER-
ATIONS.—Section 1405(a) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 
U.S.C. 9055(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
H. R. 1892—249 
‘‘(3) CONTINUED APPLICABILITY OF BASE PRODUCTION HIS-
TORY.—A production history established for a dairy operation 
under paragraph (1) shall be the base production history for 
the dairy operation in subsequent years (as adjusted under 
paragraph (2)).’’. 
(4) PREMIUMS FOR MARGIN PROTECTION PROGRAM.—Section 
1407 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (7 U.S.C. 9057) is 
amended— 
(A) in subsection (b)— 
(i) by striking the subsection heading and inserting 
the following: ‘‘TIER I: PREMIUM PER HUNDREDWEIGHT 
FOR FIRST 5,000,000 POUNDS OF PRODUCTION.—’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘4,000,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘5,000,000’’; and 
(iii) in paragraph (2)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘$0.010’’ and inserting ‘‘None’’; 
(II) by striking ‘‘$0.025’’ and inserting ‘‘None’’; 
(III) by striking ‘‘$0.040’’ and inserting 
‘‘$0.009’’; 
(IV) 
by 
striking 
‘‘$0.055’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘$0.016’’; 
(V) by striking ‘‘$0.090’’ and inserting ‘‘$0.040’’; 
(VI) 
by 
striking 
‘‘$0.217’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘$0.063’’; 
(VII) by striking ‘‘$0.300’’ and inserting 
‘‘$0.087’’; and 
(VIII) by striking ‘‘$0.475’’ and inserting 
‘‘$0.142’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c)— 
(i) by striking the subsection heading and inserting 
the following: ‘‘TIER II: PREMIUM PER HUNDREDWEIGHT 
FOR PRODUCTION IN EXCESS OF 5,000,000 POUNDS.— 
’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘4,000,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘5,000,000’’. 
(5) APPLICATION.—The amendments made by this sub-
section shall apply beginning with the 2018 calendar year. 
(c) LIMITATION
ON
CROP
INSURANCE
LIVESTOCK-RELATED 
EXPENDITURES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 523(b) of the Federal Crop Insur-
ance Act (7 U.S.C. 1523(b)) is amended by striking paragraph 
(10). 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 516 of the Federal 
Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1516) is amended in subsections 
(a)(2)(C) and (b)(1)(D) by striking ‘‘subsections (a)(3)(E)(ii) and 
(b)(10) of section 523’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘subsection (a)(3)(E)(ii) of that section’’. 
SEC. 60102. (a) Section 1240B of the Food Security Act of 
1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa–2) is amended by striking subsection (a) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—During each of the 2002 through 2019 
fiscal years, the Secretary shall provide payments to producers 
that enter into contracts with the Secretary under the program.’’. 
(b) Section 1241 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 
3841) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)—
H. R. 1892—250 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2018 (and fiscal year 2019 in the 
case of the program specified in paragraph (5))’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (5)(E), by striking ‘‘fiscal year 2018’’ 
and inserting ‘‘each of fiscal years 2018 through 2019’’; 
and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘2018’’ and inserting ‘‘2018 
(and fiscal year 2019 in the case of the program specified 
in subsection (a)(5))’’. 
This division may be cited as the ‘‘Improvements to Agriculture 
Programs Act of 2018’’. 
DIVISION G—BUDGETARY EFFECTS 
SEC. 70101. BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The budgetary effects of division A, subdivi-
sion 2 of division B, and division C and each succeeding division 
shall not be entered on either PAYGO scorecard maintained pursu-
ant to section 4(d) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010. 
(b) SENATE PAYGO SCORECARDS.—The budgetary effects of divi-
sion A, subdivision 2 of division B, and division C and each suc-
ceeding division shall not be entered on any PAYGO scorecard 
maintained for purposes of section 4106 of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th 
Congress). 
(c) CLASSIFICATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.—Notwithstanding 
Rule 3 of the Budget Scorekeeping Guidelines set forth in the 
joint explanatory statement of the committee of conference accom-
panying Conference Report 105–217 and section 250(c)(8) of the 
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the 
budgetary effects of division A, subdivision 2 of division B, and 
division C and each succeeding division shall not be estimated— 
(1) for purposes of section 251 of such Act; and 
(2) for purposes of paragraph (4)(C) of section 3 of the 
Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 as being included in an 
appropriation Act. 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.