CARE Act
Bill: H.R.7843 | Sponsor: Rep. Gonzales, Tony (R-TX)
Policy area: Families

Summary:
Communities Advancing Reunification Efforts Act or the CARE Act
This bill provides incentive payments to states, under certain circumstances, for children who are successfully reunified with their biological families.

To amend the Adoption and Legal Guardianship Incentive Payment Program 
  to promote reunifying families, community-based care, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``Communities Advancing Reunification 
Efforts Act'' or the ``CARE Act''.

SEC. 2. INCENTIVE PAYMENTS TO STATES FOR INCREASING SUCCESSFUL 
              REUNIFICATIONS OF CHILDREN WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 473A(d)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 673b(d)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (C);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) $500, multiplied by the amount (if any) by 
                which--
                            ``(i) the number of successful 
                        reunifications in the State during the fiscal 
                        year; exceeds
                            ``(ii) the number of successful 
                        reunifications in the State during the 
                        preceding fiscal year.''.
    (b) Limitation on Use of Incentive Payment.--Section 473A(f) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 673b(f)) is amended by striking ``(including post-
adoption services) that may be provided under part B or E'' and 
inserting ``that may be provided under part B or E (including post-
adoption services, and community-based, trauma-informed services to 
assist in reuniting and strengthening families)''.
    (c) Definition of Successful Reunification.--Section 473A(g) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 673b(g)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(13) Successful reunification.--The term `successful 
        reunification' means, with respect to a State and a fiscal 
        year, the number of qualified children with respect to the 
        State who--
                    ``(A) in the preceding fiscal year, were reunified 
                with their biological families in the State within 1 
                year after removal; and
                    ``(B) have remained with their biological families, 
                without re-entry into foster care, for at least 1 year 
                after reunification.
            ``(14) Qualified child.--The term `qualified child' means, 
        with respect to a State, a child--
                    ``(A) who is not ineligible for foster care under 
                the supervision of the State by reason of age; and
                    ``(B) the parental rights with respect to whom have 
                not been terminated.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect when the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that 
the information needed to implement the amendments is available.
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