Connecting Forever Families Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.8789 | Sponsor: Rep. Moore, Blake D. (R-UT)
Policy area: Families

Summary:
Connecting Forever Families Act of 2022
This bill authorizes additional funding for the Court Improvement Program, which supports state courts' role in achieving stable, permanent homes for children in foster care.

To temporarily increase funding to the Court Improvement Program, to 
     improve the ability of courts to conduct remote child welfare 
                  proceedings, 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 ``Connecting Forever Families Act of 
2022''.

SEC. 2. TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE COURT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 436 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
629f) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``, $375,000,000 for 
        each fiscal year in the 5-fiscal-year period beginning with the 
        1st fiscal year beginning after the effective date of the 
        Connecting Forever Families Act of 2022, and $345,000,000 for 
        each succeeding fiscal year'' before the period; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting ``until the 1st 
        fiscal year beginning after the effective date of the 
        Connecting Forever Families Act of 2022, $60,000,000 for the 
        grants for each fiscal year in the 5-fiscal-year period 
        beginning with the 1st fiscal year after such effective date, 
        and $30,000,000 for the grants for each succeeding fiscal 
        year'' before the period.
    (b) Indian Tribes.--Section 438(c)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
629h(c)(3)) is amended by inserting ``for each fiscal year that begins 
before the effective date of the Connecting Forever Families Act of 
2022, $2,000,000 in the case of the 1st 5 fiscal years that begin after 
such effective date, and $1,000,000 for each succeeding fiscal year,'' 
after ``$1,000,000''.
    (c) Offset.--
            (1) Effective on October 1 of the 1st fiscal year beginning 
        after the effective date of this Act, section 403(b)(2) of such 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 603(b)(2)) is amended by striking 
        ``$608,000,000'' and inserting ``$448,000,000''.
            (2) Effective on October 1 of the 2nd fiscal year beginning 
        after such effective date, section 403(b)(2) of such Act (42 
        U.S.C. 603(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``$448,000,000'' and 
        inserting ``$618,000,000''.
            (3) Effective on October 1 of the 3rd fiscal year beginning 
        after such effective date, section 403(b)(2) of such Act (42 
        U.S.C. 603(b)(2)) is amended by striking ``$618,000,000'' and 
        inserting ``$608,000,000''.

SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION THAT COURT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUNDS MAY BE USED 
              FOR TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS TO PREVENT DISRUPTION AND 
              ENABLE RECOVERY FROM VARIOUS THREATS.

    Section 438(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629h(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (1);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (2) and 
        inserting ``and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) to prevent disruption and enable recovery from 
        threats such as public health crises, natural disasters, or 
        cyber-attacks, including technology support for remote hearings 
        or legal representation, developing guidance, coordinating with 
        other agencies, or otherwise ensuring back-up approaches are in 
        place to ensure continuity of needed services.''.

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE ON SHARING BEST PRACTICES FOR 
              TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES NEEDED FOR COURT PROCEEDINGS FOR 
              FOSTER CARE OR ADOPTION TO BE CONDUCTED REMOTELY.

    (a) In General.--Every 5 years, the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, through the Administration for Children and Families, shall 
issue implementation guidance for sharing information on the best 
practices for--
            (1) technological changes needed for court proceedings for 
        foster care or adoption to be conducted remotely in a way that 
        maximizes engagement and protects the privacy of participants; 
        and
            (2) the manner in which the proceedings should be 
        conducted.
    (b) Initial Issuance.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall issue the 1st guidance required by subsection (a) not later than 
January 1, 2024.

SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    Except as provided in section 2(b), this Act and the amendments 
made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 6 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
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