Continued State Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act
Bill: H.R.5661 | Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Danny K. (D-IL)
Policy area: Families

Summary:
Continued State Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act
This bill temporarily extends certain flexibilities for states to assist older youth in foster care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This includes expanding through FY2022 eligibility for services until a child reaches age 27 and suspending until December 31, 2021, certain education and training requirements.

To extend flexible use of John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence 
Program funding to address pandemic-related challenges for older foster 
                                 youth.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Continued State Flexibility To 
Assist Older Foster Youth Act''.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF PANDEMIC PROVISIONS AFFECTING OLDER FOSTER YOUTH.

    (a) Extension of Chafee Program Flexibility.--Section 3 of division 
X of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (42 U.S.C. 677 note) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``and 2021'' and 
        inserting ``through 2022''; and
            (2) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) by striking ``During the COVID-19 public health 
                emergency period:'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``The'' and 
                inserting ``Through December 31, 2021, the'';
                    (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``A'' and 
                inserting ``Through fiscal year 2022, a'';
                    (D) in paragraph (3), by striking 
                ``Notwithstanding'' and inserting ``Through fiscal year 
                2022, notwithstanding''; and
                    (E) in paragraph (4), by inserting after the 
                paragraph heading the following: ``Through fiscal year 
                2022:''.
    (b) Extension of State Funding Flexibility Related to Youth Aging 
Out of Foster Care.--Section 4 of such division (42 U.S.C. 671 note) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``2021'' and 
                inserting ``2022''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Additional chafee funding flexibilities.--
        Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of this subsection, a State to 
        which additional funds are made available as a result of 
        section 3(a) of this division may use the funds to meet any 
        costs referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection incurred 
        on or before September 30, 2022, with respect to children who--
                    ``(A) have attained 18 years of age;
                    ``(B) are in foster care, or re-enter care; and
                    ``(C) are not eligible for foster care maintenance 
                payments under section 472 of the Social Security 
                Act.''; and
            (2) in subsection (e), by striking ``2021'' and inserting 
        ``2022''.

            Passed the House of Representatives October 27, 2021.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.