Strengthening Tribal Families Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.8954 | Sponsor: Rep. Chu, Judy (D-CA)
Policy area: Native Americans

Summary:
Strengthening Tribal Families Act of 2022
This bill requires a state plan for child welfare services and a state plan related to the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program to ensure that the state shall comply with all federal standards established under the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to submit biennial reports to Congress on certain reviews of child and family service programs.

To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to require 
 States to comply with Federal standards established under the Indian 
                       Child Welfare Act of 1978.

    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 ``Strengthening Tribal Families Act of 
2022''.

SEC. 2. STATE PLAN REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) State Plan Requirement Relating to Child Welfare Services.--
Section 422(b)(9) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 622(b)(9)) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(9)'';
            (2) by striking ``Act;'' and inserting ``Act of 1978; 
        and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(B) provide that the State shall comply with all Federal 
        standards established under the Indian Child Welfare Act of 
        1978;''.
    (b) State Plan Requirement Relating to Promoting Safe and Stable 
Families.--Section 432(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 629b(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (9), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (10), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(11) provides that the State shall comply with all 
        Federal standards established under the Indian Child Welfare 
        Act of 1978.''.
    (c) Biennial Reports to the Congress.--Section 422 of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 622) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Biennial Reports to the Congress.--The Secretary shall 
biennially submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a written 
report on the reviews of child and family service programs under 
section 1123A, which shall include a detailed summary of the ways in 
which States are addressing the requirement in subsection (b)(9)(B) of 
this section.''.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the 
amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the 1st day of the 1st 
calendar quarter that begins on or after the date of enactment of this 
Act.
    (b) Delay Permitted if State Legislation Required.--If the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that State 
legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) is required in 
order for a State plan developed pursuant to part B of title IV of the 
Social Security Act to meet the additional requirements imposed by the 
amendments made by this Act, the plan shall not be regarded as failing 
to meet any of the additional requirements before the 1st day of the 
1st calendar quarter beginning after the first regular session of the 
State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if the State has a 2-year 
legislative session, each year of the session is deemed to be a 
separate regular session of the State legislature.
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