Title: Fostering Healthy Transitions into Adulthood Act of 2020
Policy area: Families

Summary:
Fostering Healthy Transitions into Adulthood Act of 2020
This bill modifies foster care assistance programs, including extending payments for youth who stay in foster care up to age 21, extending supports to former foster youth transitioning to adulthood, and establishing workforce grants for current and former foster youth.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7591 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7591

To support the health and well-being of current and former foster care 
                  youth transitioning into adulthood.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 13, 2020

  Mr. Lewis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on 
  Education and Labor, the Judiciary, and Energy and Commerce, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To support the health and well-being of current and former foster care 
                  youth transitioning into adulthood.

    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 ``Fostering Healthy Transitions into 
Adulthood Act of 2020''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to foster healthy adult outcomes for 
current and former foster care youth aging out of the foster care 
system and transitioning into adulthood. This Act also strengthens the 
direct responsibility of the Federal Government for foster care youth 
transitioning out of care.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Nearly 25,000 foster youth become too old to receive 
        foster care assistance and benefits--or ``age out''--every 
        year.
            (2) Youth aging out of foster care and transitioning to 
        independent living require considerable support from local, 
        State, and Federal Government to ensure a smooth transition 
        into healthy, independent adulthood.
            (3) Foster youth are more likely to have been exposed to 
        childhood and adolescent trauma, subjected to multiple chronic 
        health challenges, and diagnosed with poorer mental and 
        physical health outcomes than their peers. Additionally, foster 
        youth are more vulnerable to suffer from persistent anxiety, 
        depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other severe 
        challenges to their health.
            (4) As a result, youth aging out of foster care experience 
        tremendous difficulty in completing education, obtaining 
        gainful employment, accessing and receiving basic health care, 
        maintaining stable housing, and avoiding the criminal justice 
        system.
            (5) Studies indicate that more than 80 percent of foster 
        youth transitioning into adulthood are unable to support 
        themselves financially.
            (6) Only 4 percent of youth aging out of foster care earn a 
        college degree by age 26, as compared to 36 percent of 
        individuals who never experience foster care.
            (7) On average, youth aging out of foster care earn 
        approximately half the income of their similarly educated peers 
        and are employed at significantly lower rates.
            (8) Accordingly, individuals transitioning out of foster 
        care are often linked with homelessness and housing 
        instability. One national study estimated that approximately 66 
        percent of former foster youth experience a homeless episode 
        within 6 months after transitioning out of care.
            (9) Moreover, youth aging out of foster care are less 
        likely to seek health and mental care services that are often 
        desperately needed.
            (10) Nearly 60 percent of young men who have aged out of 
        foster care and of emancipated young men have been convicted of 
        a crime.

SEC. 4. MODIFICATIONS TO FEDERAL FOSTER CARE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) Expansion of Age of Eligibility.--
            (1) In general.--Section 475(8) of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 675(8)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(8) The term `child' means--
                    ``(A) an individual who has not attained 18 years 
                of age; and
                    ``(B) an individual who has attained 18 years of 
                age but has not attained 21 years of age, but only in 
                the case of an individual--
                            ``(i) who is in foster care under the 
                        responsibility of the State;
                            ``(ii) with respect to whom an adoption 
                        assistance agreement is in effect under section 
                        473 if the child had attained 16 years of age 
                        before the agreement became effective; or
                            ``(iii) with respect to whom a kinship 
                        guardianship assistance agreement is in effect 
                        under section 473(d) if the child had attained 
                        16 years of age before the agreement became 
                        effective.''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--Part E of title IV of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.) is amended--
                    (A) by amending section 473(a)(4)(A)(i) of such Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 673(a)(4)(A)(i)) to read as follows:
                            ``(i) who has attained 21 years of age;'';
                    (B) in section 471(a)(9)(C)(i)(I) of such Act (42 
                U.S.C. 671(a)(9)(C)(i)(I)), by striking ``18 years of 
                age or such older age as the State has elected under 
                section 475(8) of this Act'' and inserting ``21 years 
                of age'';
                    (C) in section 472(c)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                672(c)(2)), by striking ``18'' and inserting ``21''; 
                and
                    (D) in section 475(5)(I) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                675(5)(I)), by striking ``18 years of age or such 
                greater age as the State has elected under paragraph 
                (8)'' and inserting ``21 years of age''.
    (b) Placement and Interaction of Siblings in Foster Care.--Section 
471(a)(31) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(31)) is 
amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
        ``reasonable'' and inserting ``all available''; and
            (2) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
        following:
                    ``(B) in the case of siblings removed from their 
                home who are not so jointly placed--
                            ``(i) to place each such sibling at a 
                        distance that is in close proximity to the 
                        placement location of, and permits frequent, 
                        in-person contact with, all other siblings; and
                            ``(ii) to provide for frequent visitation 
                        or other ongoing interaction between the 
                        siblings, including by making available to each 
                        such sibling at all times detailed up-to-date 
                        contact information for each other sibling who 
                        is or has previously been in foster care in the 
                        State,
                unless the State documents that such placement or 
                interaction would be contrary to the safety or well-
                being of any of the siblings; and
                    ``(C) to provide adults who were formerly in foster 
                care and removed from their homes with assistance in 
                locating siblings and to facilitate contact between 
                siblings if both parties consent to contact.''.
    (c) Requirements for Older Foster Youth.--Section 475(1)(D) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 675(1)(D)) is amended to read as 
follows:
                    ``(D) For a child who has attained 14 years of age 
                or over, a written description, developed in 
                consultation with the child, updated on an annual basis 
                until the child attains 17 years of age, and, if 
                necessary, coordinated with a transition plan under 
                subparagraph (5)(H), of the programs and services which 
                will help such child prepare for the transition from 
                foster care to a successful adulthood, including 
                specific options on--
                            ``(i) education, including identifying 
                        personalized goals for the child in terms of 
                        academic performance, course selection, and 
                        college admission as well as any counseling, 
                        tutoring, or other support needed to meet those 
                        goals;
                            ``(ii) extracurricular activities and 
                        opportunities, including those offered both at 
                        the child's school and in the child's 
                        community;
                            ``(iii) local opportunities for mentors and 
                        other continuing support services;
                            ``(iv) behavioral or mental health 
                        services, including trauma-informed counseling; 
                        and
                            ``(v) assistance, if requested by the 
                        child, in finding a part-time job, that does 
                        not require more than 10 hours of work per week 
                        when school is in session or 20 hours of work 
                        per week when school is not in session.''.
    (d) Requirements for Transition Planning.--Section 475(5) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 675(5)) is amended--
            (1) by amending subparagraph (H) to read as follows:
                    ``(H) on an annual basis during each year of the 
                period beginning on the date the child attains 17 years 
                of age and ending on the date the child is discharged 
                from foster care, a caseworker on the staff of the 
                State agency, and, as appropriate, other 
                representatives of the child provide the child with 
                assistance and support in developing a transition plan 
                that--
                            ``(i) is personalized at the direction of 
                        the child and is as detailed as the child may 
                        elect;
                            ``(ii) includes specific options on 
                        housing, health insurance, education, local 
                        opportunities for mentors and continuing 
                        support services, and work force supports and 
                        employment services;
                            ``(iii) includes information about joining 
                        the Armed Services, AmeriCorps, the Peace 
                        Corps, or Job Corps, or participating in any 
                        program under the Workforce Innovation and 
                        Opportunity Act or section 10 of the Fostering 
                        Healthy Transitions into Adulthood Act of 2020;
                            ``(iv) includes information about the 
                        importance of designating another individual to 
                        make financial and health care treatment 
                        decisions on behalf of the child if the child 
                        becomes unable to participate in such decisions 
                        and the child does not have, or does not want, 
                        a relative who would otherwise be authorized 
                        under State law to make such decisions; and
                            ``(v) provides the child with the option to 
                        execute a durable power of attorney for 
                        finances, and a health care power of attorney, 
                        health care proxy, or other similar document 
                        recognized under State law; and''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (I), by inserting after ``REAL ID Act 
        of 2005,'' the following: ``certified copies of any legal 
        documents pertaining to custody of the child or the child's 
        status in foster care, banking and financial information 
        related to any accounts opened by the child or on behalf of the 
        child,''.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 2020.

SEC. 5. MODIFICATIONS TO CHAFEE FOSTER CARE INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Expansion of Age of Eligibility.--Section 477 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(6), by striking ``16'' and inserting 
        ``14'';
            (2) by striking ``18'' each place it appears (except in 
        subsection (b)(3)(C)) and inserting ``21'';
            (3) by striking ``21'' each place it appears (except in 
        subsection (f)) and inserting ``26''; and
            (4) by striking ``23'' each place it appears and inserting 
        ``28''.
    (b) In-State Tuition Rates for Qualifying Foster Youth.--Section 
477(b)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
                    ``(L) A certification by the chief executive 
                officer of the State that the State will not charge 
                youths eligible for services under the State program of 
                any State under this section tuition for attendance at 
                a public institution of higher education (as defined in 
                section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965) or a 
                postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in 
                section 102(c) of such Act) in the State at a rate that 
                is greater than the rate charged for residents of the 
                State for such attendance.''.
    (c) Improved Services for Transitioning Youth.--Section 477(b)(3) 
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(b)(3)), as amended by subsection (b), is 
further amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``abstinence education 
        programs'' and inserting ``comprehensive sexual education 
        programs'';
            (2) in subparagraph (K)--
                    (A) by inserting ``financial and'' before ``health 
                care treatment''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``a durable power of attorney for 
                finances, and'' before ``a health care power of 
                attorney''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(M) A certification by the chief executive 
                officer of the State that the State will--
                            ``(i) ensure that each youth participating 
                        in the program under this section is provided 
                        with--
                                    ``(I) a financial education that 
                                helps the youth understand basic 
                                financial topics, including budgeting, 
                                managing bank accounts, interest rates, 
                                savings, credit, retirement, 
                                investment, insurance, mortgages, 
                                loans, and identity theft and 
                                protection;
                                    ``(II) assistance with establishing 
                                a checking account and a savings 
                                account at no cost to the youth; and
                                    ``(III) information about 
                                participating, and assistance with 
                                enrolling, in an individual development 
                                account (as defined in section 404(5) 
                                of the Assets for Independence Act (42 
                                U.S.C. 604(5)); and
                            ``(ii) designate at least 10 percent of the 
                        amount paid to the State from its allotment 
                        under subsection (c) for a fiscal year to 
                        provide for an additional State match of the 
                        youth's contributions to an individual 
                        development account (as so defined).
                    ``(N) A certification by the chief executive 
                officer of the State that the State will ensure that 
                each youth participating in the program under this 
                section is provided with information about identifying 
                and applying for public and private scholarships, 
                grants, and loans to continue education or career 
                training, including (if requested by the youth) 
                individualized assistance with completing the Free 
                Application for Federal Student Aid.
                    ``(O) A certification by the chief executive 
                officer of the State that the State will ensure that 
                each youth participating in the program under this 
                section is provided with information about the 
                availability of various mental and behavioral health 
                services in the youth's community and an explanation of 
                how those services generally benefit youth who have 
                experienced foster care.
                    ``(P) A certification by the chief executive 
                officer of the State that, if the State has a voter 
                registration requirement for any voter in the State 
                with respect to an election for Federal office, the 
                State will ensure that each youth participating in the 
                program under this section who is a United States 
                citizen and who meets the qualifications to be a voter 
                under State law is, on an annual basis and not later 
                than three months before the earlier of the date of the 
                general election or the date that is the deadline for 
                registration for a general election, provided with 
                written notice of the youth's voter registration status 
                and, if the youth is not registered to vote, provided 
                with the opportunity to register to vote.
                    ``(Q) A certification by the chief executive 
                officer of the State that the State will ensure that 
                each youth participating in the program under this 
                section who is not a citizen of the United States is 
                provided with information about maintaining or 
                acquiring legal status, including information about how 
                to begin or complete the process of naturalization.
                    ``(R) A certification by the chief executive 
                officer of the State that the State will ensure that 
                each youth participating in the program under this 
                section has the opportunity to participate, at no 
                expense to the youth, in a mentoring program or another 
                program designed to build personal and emotional 
                connections between adults and children aging out of 
                foster care, and that each youth is provided with 
                information about participating in such a program on no 
                less than an annual basis, which shall include an 
                explanation of how such programs and connections 
                generally benefit youth who have experienced foster 
                care.
                    ``(S) A certification by the chief executive 
                officer of the State that the State will--
                            ``(i) inquire of each individual convicted 
                        of a State offense (including juveniles), if 
                        such individual, at the time of conviction, was 
                        in foster care, or was previously in foster 
                        care at any point;
                            ``(ii) inquire of each individual convicted 
                        of a State offense who is or was in foster care 
                        the circumstances and duration of foster care;
                            ``(iii) inform each individual convicted of 
                        a State offense who is or was in foster care of 
                        the right to decline to answer questions under 
                        clause (ii); and
                            ``(iv) report to the Secretary on an annual 
                        basis, in such form as the Secretary may 
                        require--
                                    ``(I) the number of individuals 
                                convicted of a State offense in the 
                                preceding year, disaggregated by type 
                                of conviction;
                                    ``(II) the number of individuals 
                                convicted of a State offense in the 
                                preceding year who are or were in 
                                foster care, disaggregated by type of 
                                conviction;
                                    ``(III) the number of individuals 
                                held in incarceration for a Federal 
                                offense in the preceding year, 
                                disaggregated by type of conviction;
                                    ``(IV) the number of individuals 
                                held in incarceration for a Federal 
                                offense in the preceding year who are 
                                or were in foster care, disaggregated 
                                by type of conviction;
                                    ``(V) the total estimated cost of 
                                incarceration for each person who is or 
                                was in foster care; and
                                    ``(VI) such other information as 
                                the Secretary may require.''.
    (d) Increased Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 477(h) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(h)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$140,000,000, or, 
        beginning in fiscal year 2021, $143,000,000'' and inserting 
        ``$429,000,000''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$60,000,000'' and 
        inserting ``$180,000,000''.
    (e) Expansion of Educational and Training Vouchers.--Section 477(i) 
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 677(i)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``may'' and inserting 
        ``shall'';
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking ``16'' and inserting ``14''; and
                    (B) by striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall'';
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking ``may allow'' and inserting ``shall 
                allow'';
                    (B) by striking ``26'' and inserting ``28''; and
                    (C) by striking ``, but in no event may a youth 
                participate in the program for more than 5 years 
                (whether or not consecutive)'' and inserting ``, except 
                that the State shall allow youths participating in the 
                voucher program who attain 28 years of age to complete 
                their postsecondary education or training program'';
            (4) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
            ``(4) The voucher or vouchers provided for an individual 
        under this section shall be available for, and in an amount 
        that shall not exceed, the cost of attendance (as defined in 
        section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965) at an 
        institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of 
        the Higher Education Act of 1965) or a postsecondary vocational 
        institution (as defined in section 102(c) of such Act).''; and
            (5) in paragraph (5), by striking ``may'' and inserting 
        ``shall''.
    (f) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
        take effect on June 1, 2021, except that the amendments made by 
        subsection (d) shall apply with respect to fiscal years 
        beginning with fiscal year 2021.
            (2) Authority to extend deadline.--If a State demonstrates 
        to the satisfaction of the Secretary that it is necessary to 
        amend State law in order to change a particular practice that 
        is inconsistent with this Act, the Secretary may extend the 
        compliance date for the State a reasonable number of days after 
        the close of the first State legislative session beginning 
        after the date of the enactment of the Fostering Healthy 
        Transitions into Adulthood Act of 2020.

SEC. 6. FOSTER CARE TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS.

    Part E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670 et 
seq.) is amended by inserting after section 477 the following:

``SEC. 477A. FOSTER CARE TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--In coordination with assistance provided under 
the programs under sections 477 and 477B, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) administer the programs described in this section; 
        and
            ``(2) develop professional guidelines and national 
        standards to be made available for use by foster care 
        transitional services and related programs receiving Federal 
        funding.
    ``(b) Improved Federal Information Resources for Current and Former 
Foster Youth.--
            ``(1) Website for current and former foster youth.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall develop and 
                maintain a website designed to provide specific 
                information about Federal, State, and local resources 
                available to current and former foster youth.
                    ``(B) Information guidelines.--The website shall 
                include information about the availability of, and the 
                eligibility requirements for, all public resources 
                available to current and former foster youth, 
                including--
                            ``(i) information about transition planning 
                        requirements required by section 475(5)(H);
                            ``(ii) assistance with any program under 
                        this section, section 477, or section 477B;
                            ``(iii) assistance with any program 
                        established under the Fostering Healthy 
                        Transitions into Adulthood Act of 2020;
                            ``(iv) the Free Application for Federal 
                        Student Aid and other information about Federal 
                        financial aid;
                            ``(v) Pell Grants;
                            ``(vi) Federal TRIO programs;
                            ``(vii) waivers for applications to 
                        institutions of higher education;
                            ``(viii) job training programs available to 
                        current or former foster youth;
                            ``(ix) Medicaid; and
                            ``(x) programs offered by State and local 
                        governments aimed at assisting current or 
                        former foster youth.
                    ``(C) Accessibility.--The website shall be--
                            ``(i) accessible with a simple website 
                        address that can be used in advertisements and 
                        easily remembered;
                            ``(ii) searchable from the public websites 
                        of the Department of Health and Human Services, 
                        the Department of Education, the Department of 
                        Housing and Urban Development, and the 
                        Department of Labor;
                            ``(iii) compliant with all applicable laws 
                        and regulations regarding accessibility, data 
                        protection, and privacy for Federal websites; 
                        and
                            ``(iv) able to be easily navigated and 
                        understood by current and former foster youth.
            ``(2) Hotline.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall develop and 
                maintain a telephone hotline designed to provide 
                specific information about Federal, State, and local 
                resources available to current and former foster youth.
                    ``(B) Information guidelines.--The hotline shall--
                            ``(i) accept calls from current foster 
                        youth, former foster youth, and assisting 
                        adults; and
                            ``(ii) answer questions and provide 
                        guidance about the availability of, and an 
                        individual's eligibility for, all public 
                        resources available to current and former 
                        foster youth described in paragraph (1)(B).
                    ``(C) Accessibility.--The hotline shall be--
                            ``(i) accessible with a toll-free number 
                        that can be used in advertisements and easily 
                        remembered;
                            ``(ii) compliant with all applicable laws 
                        and regulations regarding accessibility, data 
                        protection, and privacy for Federal telephone 
                        systems; and
                            ``(iii) able to be easily navigated and 
                        understood by current and former foster youth.
            ``(3) Consultation.--In developing the resources required 
        by this section, the Secretary shall consult with--
                    ``(A) the Secretary of Education;
                    ``(B) the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
                Development;
                    ``(C) the Secretary of Labor;
                    ``(D) other Federal agencies serving current or 
                former foster youth;
                    ``(E) State and local government child welfare 
                agencies;
                    ``(F) State Medicaid agencies;
                    ``(G) State and local government education and 
                labor agencies;
                    ``(H) advocacy groups representing current and 
                former foster youth; and
                    ``(I) nonprofit organizations serving current or 
                former foster youth.
            ``(4) Public awareness campaign.--After establishing the 
        website and telephone hotline as required by this subsection, 
        the Secretary shall collaborate with agencies and stakeholders 
        identified in paragraph (3) to publicize the website and the 
        hotline to current foster youth, former foster youth, 
        caseworkers, service providers, mentors, school counselors, 
        foster parents, adoptive parents of former foster youth, and 
        other concerned adults.
            ``(5) Deadlines.--The requirements of this subsection shall 
        be fully implemented not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act.
    ``(c) Basic Housing and Transportation Allowance for Transitional 
Foster Care Individuals.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (5), the Secretary 
        shall provide to eligible individuals (as described in 
        paragraph (3)) a basic monthly allowance for housing and 
        transportation in the amount determined under paragraph (2), to 
        be paid in advance on the day preceding the first day of each 
        month in the individual's independent living transition period.
            ``(2) Amounts.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraphs (B), the amount of a basic monthly 
                allowance for housing and transportation with respect 
                to an eligible individual for a month in the 
                individual's independent living transition period shall 
                be an amount equal to the applicable percentage (as 
                determined under subparagraph (C)) of the sum of the 
                following:
                            ``(i) The average monthly cost (as 
                        determined by the Secretary in coordination 
                        with the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
                        Development) of a one-bedroom apartment in the 
                        geographic area in which the eligible 
                        individual resides during such month, including 
                        the cost of--
                                    ``(I) rent;
                                    ``(II) utilities, including 
                                electricity, natural gas, heating oil, 
                                water, sewer, trash, recycling, cable 
                                television, telephones, and internet 
                                access;
                                    ``(III) maintenance fees or other 
                                fees commonly paid in connection with a 
                                residential property; and
                                    ``(IV) renter's insurance or a 
                                similar product.
                            ``(ii) The average monthly cost (as 
                        determined by the Secretary in coordination 
                        with the Secretary of Transportation) of 
                        automobile ownership in the geographic area in 
                        which the eligible individual resides during 
                        such month, including the cost of--
                                    ``(I) automobile operation, 
                                maintenance, registration, and 
                                insurance;
                                    ``(II) licensing and insuring a 
                                driver;
                                    ``(III) property, ad valorem, or 
                                other State or local taxes paid in 
                                relation to owning or operating an 
                                automobile; and
                                    ``(IV) parking an automobile.
                    ``(B) Initial month installment payment.--In the 
                case of an eligible individual who receives a basic 
                monthly allowance under subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
                shall provide the individual an initial installment 
                payment for the first month of the individual's 
                independent living transition period, in an amount 
                equal to and in addition to the basic monthly allowance 
                for such month, for the purpose of paying a security 
                deposit, application fee, or related expenses.
                    ``(C) Applicable percentage.--For purposes of 
                subparagraph (A), the applicable percentage shall be--
                            ``(i) 100 percent for any month in the 1st 
                        year of the individual's independent living 
                        transition period;
                            ``(ii) 75 percent for any month in the 2nd 
                        year of the individual's independent living 
                        transition period;
                            ``(iii) 50 percent for any month in the 3rd 
                        year of the individual's independent living 
                        transition period; and
                            ``(iv) 25 percent for any month in the 4th 
                        year of the individual's independent living 
                        transition period.
                    ``(D) Authority to provide additional amounts.--In 
                addition to amounts otherwise provided to an eligible 
                individual under this paragraph, the Secretary may use 
                amounts made available to carry out this subsection to 
                make a one-time payment to any eligible individual to 
                purchase items and services and pay fees necessary to 
                establish a household. An eligible individual seeking 
                such a payment shall apply in such a manner and at such 
                time as the Secretary shall prescribe not later than 6 
                months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
                    ``(E) No requirement relating to automobile 
                ownership.--Nothing in this paragraph shall be 
                construed to require an eligible individual who 
                receives a basic monthly allowance under subparagraph 
                (A) to own, operate, maintain, license, permit, insure, 
                park, or pay taxes on an automobile, or license or 
                insure the eligible individual as a driver thereof, in 
                order to receive such allowance.
                    ``(F) No reduction based on changes in average 
                housing or transportation cost.--The amount of a basic 
                monthly allowance for housing and transportation with 
                respect to an eligible individual may not be reduced in 
                any month as a result of changes in the average monthly 
                costs, in the geographic area in which the eligible 
                individual resides, of a one-bedroom apartment or 
                automobile ownership, as such costs are described in 
                subparagraph (A).
            ``(3) Eligibility.--An individual eligible to receive a 
        basic allowance for housing and transportation for a month 
        under this subsection is an individual--
                    ``(A) who is a former foster care recipient who has 
                attained 21 years of age;
                    ``(B) who is living independently and not 
                residing--
                            ``(i) at a Federal, State, local, or 
                        private foster home, group home, or similar 
                        transitional living facility; or
                            ``(ii) with a parent, foster parent, or 
                        legal guardian; and
                    ``(C) who is--
                            ``(i) completing secondary education or a 
                        program leading to an equivalent credential;
                            ``(ii) enrolled in an institution that 
                        provides postsecondary or vocational education;
                            ``(iii) actively seeking employment or 
                        participating in a program or activity designed 
                        to promote, or remove barriers to, employment;
                            ``(iv) employed for at least 80 hours per 
                        month; or
                            ``(v) incapable of doing any of the 
                        activities described in clauses (i) through 
                        (iv) due to a medical condition demonstrated by 
                        regularly updated information submitted to the 
                        Secretary.
            ``(4) Independent living transition period.--For purposes 
        of this subsection, the term `independent living transition 
        period' means, with respect to an eligible individual, the 4-
        year period beginning with the month after the month during 
        which the individual aged out of foster care or left foster 
        care for independent living.
            ``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
        subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated 
        $217,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
    ``(d) Foster Youth Educational Initiative.--
            ``(1) In general.--To the extent amounts are made available 
        to carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) award grants to eligible entities to 
                establish, expand, or support programs for eligible 
                individuals as described in paragraph (2);
                    ``(B) ensure that any such programs receiving 
                funding under this subsection use evidence-informed or 
                evidence-based models, practices, and methods that are 
                culturally and linguistically appropriate and can be 
                replicated in other appropriate settings; and
                    ``(C) provide technical assistance to eligible 
                entities in applying for and administering a grant made 
                under this subsection.
            ``(2) Use of funds.--An eligible entity may use amounts 
        awarded under a grant under paragraph (1) to--
                    ``(A) provide information or services related to 
                housing, nutrition assistance, financial assistance, 
                academic tutoring and guidance, mental health support 
                services, child care, or career preparatory services 
                for eligible individuals;
                    ``(B) provide training to employees of eligible 
                entities in promising and evidence-based practices and 
                models for the education of current and former foster 
                youth; and
                    ``(C) evaluate outcomes of current and former 
                foster youth enrolled in institutions of higher 
                education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)).
            ``(3) Eligible individuals and entities.--In this 
        subsection:
                    ``(A) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible 
                individual' means an individual at least 14 years of 
                age--
                            ``(i) who--
                                    ``(I) is in foster care; or
                                    ``(II) was formerly in foster care 
                                at any time after attaining 14 years of 
                                age;
                            ``(ii) is enrolled at an institution of 
                        higher education (as defined in section 101 of 
                        the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                        1001)) or a postsecondary vocational 
                        institution (as defined in section 102(c) of 
                        such Act (20 U.S.C. 1002(c))).
                    ``(B) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' 
                means an institution of higher education (as defined in 
                section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1001)) or a postsecondary vocational institution 
                (as defined in section 102(c) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
                1002(c)).
            ``(4) Application.--An eligible entity seeking a grant 
        under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary an 
        application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require.
            ``(5) Matching funds.--The Secretary may not award a grant 
        under this subsection to an eligible entity unless the eligible 
        entity agrees, with respect to the costs to be incurred by the 
        eligible entity in carrying out the activities described in 
        paragraph (2), to make available non-Federal contributions (in 
        cash or in kind) toward such costs in an amount that is not 
        less than 10 percent of the total amount of Federal funds 
        provided in the grant.
            ``(6) Coordination with federal trio programs.--An eligible 
        entity awarded a grant under this subsection that also operates 
        a program that receives assistance under chapter 1 of subpart 2 
        of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1070a-11 et seq.) shall coordinate activities under each such 
        program to ensure that current or former foster youth have 
        maximum access and involvement in such activities.
            ``(7) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall, by grant, contract, 
        or interagency agreement, conduct rigorous and well-designed 
        evaluations of the programs for which a grant is made under 
        this section.
            ``(8) Reports.--
                    ``(A) To the secretary.--
                            ``(i) In general.--An eligible entity 
                        awarded a grant under this section shall--
                                    ``(I) submit interim reports to the 
                                Secretary on the activities carried out 
                                under the project, including the number 
                                of applications received and the number 
                                of participants enrolled; and
                                    ``(II) on the conclusion of the 
                                project, a final report on the 
                                activities, including the number of 
                                participants who successfully completed 
                                the program.
                            ``(ii) Data on participant outcomes.--Each 
                        such report shall include data on participant 
                        outcomes related to employment, educational or 
                        credential attainment, participant 
                        demographics, and such other data as may be 
                        specified by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) To the congress.--Not later than December 31 
                of each calendar year, the Secretary shall submit to 
                the appropriate Congressional committees a report for 
                the preceding fiscal year on activities funded under 
                this subsection, including--
                            ``(i) the demographics of the participants 
                        in the projects for which a grant is made under 
                        this subsection;
                            ``(ii) the amount of funds spent on 
                        complying with subparagraphs (A) and (B) of 
                        paragraph (2) of this subsection, respectively;
                            ``(iii) the employment and educational 
                        credentials acquired by project participants;
                            ``(iv) the employment of participants on 
                        completion of activities under the projects, 
                        and the earnings of participants at entry into 
                        employment;
                            ``(v) best practices and promising 
                        practices used by grantees;
                            ``(vi) the nature of any technical 
                        assistance provided to grantees under this 
                        subsection;
                            ``(vii) with respect to the period since 
                        the period covered in the most recent prior 
                        report submitted under this paragraph--
                                    ``(I) the number of applications 
                                submitted under this subsection and the 
                                number of applications that were 
                                approved; and
                                    ``(II) the number of eligible 
                                individuals who applied, enrolled, and 
                                remained enrolled in programs operated 
                                by each eligible entity; and
                            ``(viii) the 10 individual applications not 
                        approved for a grant under this subsection that 
                        showed the greatest potential to meet the goals 
                        of this subsection, including the estimated 
                        number of beneficiaries of each such 
                        application.
                    ``(C) Appropriate congressional committees.--In 
                this paragraph, the term `appropriate Congressional 
                committees' means--
                            ``(i) the Committee on Education and Labor 
                        of the House of Representatives;
                            ``(ii) the Committee on Ways and Means of 
                        the House of Representatives;
                            ``(iii) the Committee on Appropriations of 
                        the House of Representatives;
                            ``(iv) the Committee on Health, Education, 
                        Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;
                            ``(v) the Committee on Finance of the 
                        Senate; and
                            ``(vi) the Committee on Appropriations of 
                        the Senate.
            ``(9) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
        subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 
        for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
    ``(e) Foster Youth Education Preparation Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--To the extent amounts are made available 
        to carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) make grants to eligible entities to provide 
                assistance to eligible individuals for costs associated 
                with preparing for postsecondary education; and
                    ``(B) provide technical assistance to eligible 
                entities in applying for and administering a grant made 
                under this subsection.
            ``(2) Use of funds.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Assistance provided to an 
                eligible individual by a grantee under this subsection 
                may be used for--
                            ``(i) the cost of an examination required 
                        for admission to an institution of higher 
                        education (as defined in section 101 of the 
                        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) 
                        or a postsecondary vocational institution (as 
                        defined in section 102(c) of such Act (20 
                        U.S.C. 1002(c)));
                            ``(ii) the cost of a preparatory course for 
                        an examination required for admission to such 
                        an institution;
                            ``(iii) the cost of visiting such an 
                        institution prior to attendance, including the 
                        associated costs of lodging, transportation, 
                        and food;
                            ``(iv) the cost of a preparatory course for 
                        a professional licensing or certification 
                        examination; or
                            ``(v) the cost of any applicable 
                        application fees for enrollment in such an 
                        institution.
                    ``(B) Amount of assistance.--The amount of 
                assistance provided to an eligible individual by a 
                grantee under this subsection may not exceed--
                            ``(i) for fiscal year 2021, $1,000; and
                            ``(ii) for each succeeding fiscal year, 
                        $1,000 multiplied by the percentage (if any) by 
                        which the consumer price index for all urban 
                        consumers (CPI-U) for the fiscal year preceding 
                        such fiscal year exceeds the CPI-U for fiscal 
                        year 2020.
                    ``(C) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this 
                paragraph permits the use of assistance provided to an 
                eligible individual under this section to pay for 
                tuition at a private elementary, middle, or secondary 
                school.
            ``(3) Eligible individuals and entities.--In this 
        subsection:
                    ``(A) Eligible individual.--The term `eligible 
                individual' means an individual who--
                            ``(i) is in foster care or was formerly in 
                        foster care and is participating in the program 
                        under section 477; and
                            ``(ii) is actively seeking or preparing to 
                        seek admission to an institution of higher 
                        education (as defined in section 101 of the 
                        Higher Education Act of 1965) or a 
                        postsecondary vocational institution (as 
                        defined in section 102(c) of such Act).
                    ``(B) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' 
                means an entity eligible to receive grants under 
                chapter 1 of subpart 2 of title IV of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 et seq.).
            ``(4) Additional considerations.--In making grants under 
        this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that at least one 
        grantee is an eligible entity from which assistance is 
        available to all eligible individuals in the United States.
            ``(5) Verification.--Not later than 6 months after the date 
        of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall provide 
        guidance to eligible entities--
                    ``(A) to regulate the process by which an eligible 
                individual receives assistance or reimbursement from an 
                eligible entity; and
                    ``(B) to ensure that such process is as simple and 
                coordinated for the eligible individual as possible.
            ``(6) Coordination with federal trio programs.--An eligible 
        entity awarded a grant under this subsection that also operates 
        a program that receives assistance under chapter 1 of subpart 2 
        of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1070a-11 et seq.) shall coordinate activities under each such 
        program to ensure that current or former foster youth have 
        maximum access and involvement in such activities.
            ``(7) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
        subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 
        for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.

``SEC. 477B. FOSTER YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) In General.--To the extent amounts are made available to 
carry out this section, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) award grants to eligible entities to develop, 
        maintain, or enhance foster youth mental health promotion, 
        intervention, and treatment programs for eligible individuals;
            ``(2) ensure that any such programs receiving funding under 
        this section use evidence-informed or evidence-based models, 
        practices, and methods that are culturally and linguistically 
        appropriate and can be replicated in other appropriate 
        settings; and
            ``(3) provide technical assistance to eligible entities in 
        applying for and administering a grant made under this section.
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity may use amounts awarded 
under a grant under subsection (a) to--
            ``(1) provide age-appropriate mental health promotion, 
        assessment, diagnosis, and treatment services, including social 
        and behavioral services, for eligible individuals;
            ``(2) provide training--
                    ``(A) to health care professionals with expertise 
                in the mental health care of foster youth and youth 
                suffering traumatic experiences in appropriate and 
                relevant integration with other disciplines such as 
                primary care clinicians, early intervention 
                specialists, child welfare staff, home visitors, and 
                others who work with children, adolescents, and young 
                adults; and
                    ``(B) to mental health clinicians in promising and 
                evidence-based practices and models for foster youth 
                mental health treatment, including practices for 
                identifying and treating mental illness and behavioral 
                disorders of foster youth resulting from exposure or 
                repeated exposure to adverse experiences or trauma; and
            ``(3) provide comprehensive services, including 
        transportation, child care, and replacement of lost wages, to 
        eligible individuals in care in order to facilitate activities 
        described in paragraph (1).
    ``(c) Eligible Individuals and Entities.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible individuals.--The term `eligible individual' 
        means an individual at least 5 years of age but not more than 
        26 years of age--
                    ``(A) who--
                            ``(i) is in foster care; or
                            ``(ii) was formerly in foster care at any 
                        time after attaining 5 years of age;
                    ``(B) is at risk for, shows early signs of, or has 
                been diagnosed with a mental illness, including a 
                serious emotional disturbance; and
                    ``(C) may benefit from intervention, mental health 
                treatment programs, or other services provided by an 
                eligible entity.
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
        State agency or nonprofit entity that--
                    ``(A) employs licensed mental health professionals 
                who have specialized training and experience in 
                childhood or adolescent mental health promotion, 
                assessment, diagnosis, trauma-informed care, and 
                treatment services;
                    ``(B) is accredited or approved by the State to 
                provide such services for individuals who are or were 
                in foster care at any point between the ages of 5 and 
                26; and
                    ``(C) provides such services using methods that are 
                evidence-based or that have been scientifically 
                demonstrated to show promise but would benefit from 
                further applied development.
    ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under 
subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require.
    ``(e) Preference.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary may give priority to eligible entities located in or serving 
areas with--
            ``(1) insufficient access to behavioral or mental health 
        services despite demonstrated need, especially among vulnerable 
        populations; or
            ``(2) the largest populations of individuals in foster 
        care.
    ``(f) Matching Funds.--The Secretary may not award a grant under 
this subsection to an eligible entity unless the eligible entity 
agrees, with respect to the costs to be incurred by the eligible entity 
in carrying out the activities described in subsection (b), to make 
available non-Federal contributions (in cash or in kind) toward such 
costs in an amount that is not less than 10 percent of the total amount 
of Federal funds provided in the grant.
    ``(g) Coordination With Medicaid.--An eligible entity awarded grant 
under this section shall coordinate activities under each such program 
with the State Medicaid program to ensure that current or former foster 
youth have maximum access and involvement in such activities.
    ``(h) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall, by grant, contract, or 
interagency agreement, conduct rigorous and well-designed evaluations 
of the programs for which a grant is made under this section.
    ``(i) Reports.--
            ``(1) To the secretary.--(A) An eligible entity awarded a 
        grant under this section shall submit interim reports to the 
        Secretary on the activities carried out under the project, 
        including the number of eligible individuals served, and on the 
        conclusion of the project, shall submit a final report to the 
        Secretary on the activities carried out under a grant made 
        under this section.
            ``(B) Each such report shall include data on participant 
        outcomes related to earnings, employment, education, credential 
        attainment, participant demographics, and other data specified 
        by the Secretary.
            ``(2) To the congress.--Not later than December 31 of each 
        year, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
        Congressional committees a report for the preceding fiscal year 
        on--
                    ``(A) the demographics of the participants in the 
                projects for which a grant is made under this section;
                    ``(B) results of the evaluations required by 
                subsection (h);
                    ``(C) best practices and promising practices used 
                in the projects;
                    ``(D) the nature of any technical assistance 
                provided to grantees under this section; and
                    ``(E) the 10 individual applications not approved 
                for a grant under this subsection that showed the 
                greatest potential to meet the goals of this 
                subsection, including the estimated number of 
                beneficiaries of each such application.
            ``(3) Publication.--Upon submission to Congress of a report 
        under this subsection, the Secretary shall make such report 
        available to the public on an internet website of the 
        Department of Health and Human Services in a manner that is 
        user friendly and able to be searched and downloaded by users 
        of the website.
    ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2021 through 2025.

``SEC. 477C. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO OLDER FOSTER YOUTH.

    ``(a) Programmatic Flexibility.--During any qualifying emergency 
period, the following rules apply with respect to areas affected by 
such qualifying emergency period:
            ``(1) Elimination of age limitations on eligibility for 
        assistance.--Eligibility for services or assistance under a 
        State program operated pursuant to sections 477 or 477A shall 
        be provided without regard to the age of the recipient.
            ``(2) Suspension of work and education requirements under 
        the education and training voucher program.--Sections 
        477(i)(3), 477A(c)(3)(C), and 477A(d) shall be applied and 
        administered without regard to any work or education 
        requirement.
            ``(3) Authority to waive limitation on percentage of funds 
        used for housing assistance.--The Secretary shall apply and 
        administer section 477 without regard to subsection (b)(3)(B) 
        of such section.
            ``(4) Suspension of applicable percentage of independent 
        living period.--The applicable percentage described in section 
        477A(c)(2)(C) shall be 100 percent.
    ``(b) State Defined.--In subsection (a), the term `State' has the 
meaning given the term in section 1101(a) of the Social Security Act 
for purposes of title IV of such Act, and includes an Indian tribe, 
tribal organization, or tribal consortium with an application and plan 
approved under section 477(j) of such Act for fiscal year 2020.
    ``(c) Qualifying Emergency Defined.--For purposes of subsection 
(a), the term `qualifying emergency period' means the period beginning 
on the date on which an emergency is declared under section 319 of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) or under section 401 or 
section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) and ending on the date that is 180 days after 
the date on which such emergency terminates.''.

SEC. 7. IN-STATE TUITION RATES FOR HOMELESS YOUTH AND FOSTER YOUTH; 
              COORDINATION WITH CERTAIN HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Institutional Services for Foster Youth.--
            (1) In general.--Part B of title I of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
        the end the following new section:

``SEC. 124. SERVICES FOR CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH.

    ``(a) In General.--No institution of higher education shall be 
eligible to receive funds or any other form of financial assistance 
under any Federal program, including participation in any federally 
funded or guaranteed student loan program, unless the institution 
certifies to the Secretary that the institution--
            ``(1) provides flexibility and assistance to help eligible 
        youth complete the application and admission process for the 
        institution, including by waiving application fees and 
        facilitating the process of enrollment for such youth;
            ``(2) designates a single point of contact to--
                    ``(A) meet with eligible youth and assist them 
                identifying and utilizing available support services 
                for current or former foster youth, including academic 
                supports, financial assistance, and professional or 
                internship opportunities; and
                    ``(B) coordinate programs with relevant on- and 
                off-campus stakeholders, including State child welfare 
                agencies and nonprofit organizations, to increase the 
                enrollment of eligible youth at the institution and 
                align services at the institution for such youth;
            ``(3) adjusts the cost of attendance for eligible youth to 
        include the cost of housing during periods of non-enrollment 
        and assists such youth in identifying housing resources 
        available during such periods;
            ``(4) subsidizes any fees for eligible youth associated 
        with orientation, offers free transportation to college 
        orientation or move-in week, offers free lodging if necessary 
        for the purposes of traveling for orientation or move-in week, 
        and offers free transportation for one person to accompany each 
        eligible youth on such travel;
            ``(5) ensures the availability of robust health services 
        for students, including physical and mental health services, 
        that meet the specific needs of eligible youth;
            ``(6) establishes or expands early alert systems to 
        identify and support eligible youth who may be struggling 
        academically;
            ``(7) provides eligible youth with emergency grants to 
        subsidize reasonable, unanticipated expenses that are not 
        included in the cost of attendance for the institution or that 
        may not be covered by other forms of student financial 
        assistance; and
            ``(8) collects, reviews, and monitors data for program 
        improvement.
    ``(b) Eligible Youth.--In this section, the term `eligible youth' 
means an individual who--
            ``(1) is in foster care; or
            ``(2) is receiving services under section 477 or 477A of 
        the Social Security Act.''.
            (2) Applicability.--Section 124 of the Higher Education Act 
        of 1965, as added by paragraph (1), shall apply with respect to 
        the eligibility of institutions of higher education to 
        participate in Federal programs for academic years beginning 
        after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) In-State Tuition Rates for Homeless Youth and Foster Youth.--
Section 135 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015d) is 
amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``members of the 
        armed forces on active duty, spouses, and dependent children'' 
        and inserting ``certain individuals'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``In the case'' and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(1) Armed forces.--In the case''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Homeless youth and foster youth.--In the case of a 
        homeless youth or a foster youth, such State shall not charge 
        such individual tuition for attendance at a public institution 
        of higher education in the State at a rate that is greater than 
        the rate charged for residents of the State.''; and
            (3) by striking subsections (c) and (d) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(c) Effective Date.--
            ``(1) Armed forces.--With respect to an individual 
        described in subsection (a)(1), this section shall remain in 
        effect as it was in effect on the day before the date of 
        enactment of the Fostering Healthy Transitions into Adulthood 
        Act of 2020.
            ``(2) Homeless youth and foster youth.--With respect to an 
        individual described in subsection (a)(2) or (a)(3), this 
        section shall take effect at each public institution of higher 
        education in a State that receives assistance under this Act 
        for the first period of enrollment at such institution that 
        begins during the first full award year following the date of 
        enactment the Fostering Healthy Transitions into Adulthood Act 
        of 2020.
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Armed forces.--The terms `armed forces' and `active 
        duty for a period of more than 30 days' have the meanings given 
        those terms in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
            ``(2) Homeless youth.--The term `homeless youth' has the 
        meaning given the term `homeless children and youths' in 
        section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 11434a).
            ``(3) Foster youth.--The term `foster youth' means an 
        individual who--
                    ``(A) is in foster care; or
                    ``(B) is receiving services under section 477 or 
                477A of the Social Security Act.''.
    (c) Coordination With Foster Care Transitional Assistance Grants.--
Section 402A(c)(6) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a-11(c)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``The 
Secretary shall ensure that any recipient of funds under a program 
authorized by this chapter that also receives funds under section 477A 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677A) shall coordinate activities 
carried out under this chapter with activities carried out under such 
section 477A to ensure that current or former foster youth have maximum 
access to and involvement in such activities.''.
    (d) Information for Foster Youth on Department Website.--Section 
485E(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092f(b)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) Information for foster youth on department website.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall include on 
                the Department's website information for current and 
                former foster youth regarding such youth's potential 
                eligibility for Federal student aid, including the 
                specific Federal programs under which such youth may be 
                eligible to receive assistance.
                    ``(B) Coordination with secretary of health and 
                human services.--The posting of the information 
                required by subparagraph (A) on the website and via the 
                hotline established by section 477A of the Social 
                Security Act shall satisfy the requirement established 
                by this paragraph''.

SEC. 8. EXPANSION OF WORK OPPORTUNITY TAX CREDIT ELIGIBILITY TO CURRENT 
              AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH.

    (a) In General.--Section 51 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 
51) is amended in subsection (d)(1)--
            (1) by striking ``, or'' in subparagraph (I);
            (2) by striking the period and inserting ``, or'' in 
        subparagraph (J); and
            (3) by inserting at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(K) an individual who--
                            ``(i) receives or is eligible to receive 
                        benefits under section 477 or section 477A of 
                        the Social Security Act;
                            ``(ii) who has aged out of foster care; or
                            ``(iii) has been in foster care at any 
                        point after age 14.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The changes made by this section shall take 
effect on January 1, 2021.

SEC. 9. FOSTER CARE DEVELOPMENT TAX CREDIT.

    (a) In General.--Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to refundable credits) 
is amended by adding after section 36B the following new section:

``SEC. 36C. CREDIT FOR FOSTER CARE DEVELOPMENT.

    ``(a) In General.--In the case of an individual, there shall be 
allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this subtitle for any 
taxable year an amount equal to 50 percent of the contributions made by 
the taxpayer for the taxable year to an individual development account 
for a current or former foster youth.
    ``(b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            ``(1) Current or former foster youth.--The term `current or 
        former foster youth' means any individual--
                    ``(A) currently in foster care;
                    ``(B) who was in foster care at any point after age 
                14; or
                    ``(C) receiving services under section 477 or 
                section 477A of the Social Security Act.
            ``(2) Individual development account.--The term `individual 
        development account' has the meaning given such term in section 
        404(5) of the Assets for Independence Act (42 U.S.C. 
        604(5)).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart C of 
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 36B the 
following new item:

Sec. 36C. Credit for foster care development.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019.

SEC. 10. WORKFORCE GRANTS FOR CURRENT OR FORMER FOSTER YOUTH.

    Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 173. WORKFORCE GRANTS FOR CURRENT OR FORMER FOSTER YOUTH.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Labor shall--
            ``(1) make four-year grants on a competitive basis to 
        eligible entities to design and implement programs to improve 
        the self-sufficiency, education attainment, and employment 
        skills of eligible individuals;
            ``(2) ensure that any such programs receiving funding under 
        this subsection use evidence-informed or evidence-based models, 
        practices, and methods that are culturally and linguistically 
        appropriate and can be replicated in other appropriate 
        settings;
            ``(3) develop best practices for serving current and former 
        foster youth in the workforce;
            ``(4) offer recommendations to Congress and States about 
        improving workforce conditions for current and former foster 
        youth; and
            ``(5) provide technical assistance to eligible entities in 
        applying for and administering a grant made under this section.
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity may use amounts awarded 
under a grant under subsection to provide--
            ``(1) job training or other workforce development 
        programming for eligible individuals;
            ``(2) comprehensive services, including counseling, 
        transportation, and child care, to participants in order to 
        facilitate successful completion of activities described in 
        paragraph (1);
            ``(3) training to businesses and employers who have 
        dedicated programs to hiring current or former foster youth; 
        and
            ``(4) training to workforce development professionals about 
        best practices for counseling and serving current or former 
        foster youth in training and successful, long-term job 
        placement.
    ``(c) Eligible Entity.--In this section, an eligible entity is 
defined as--
            ``(1) a State;
            ``(2) a local government;
            ``(3) a labor organization;
            ``(4) a nonprofit organization that trains workers or 
        serves current or former foster youth;
            ``(5) an institution of higher education (as defined in 
        section 101 or section 102(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act 
        of 1965); or
            ``(6) a partnership of one or more of the above entities.
    ``(d) Eligible Individual.--In this section, an eligible individual 
is defined as--
            ``(1) a youth older than 16 years of age who is aging out 
        of foster care; or
            ``(2) an individual older than 16 years of age who was in 
        foster care at any point after age 14 who is receiving services 
        under section 477 or section 477A of the Social Security Act.
    ``(e) Application.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under this 
section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require.
    ``(f) Preference.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary may give priority to applications serving youth in areas with 
the largest foster care populations.
    ``(g) Matching Funds.--The Secretary may not award a grant under 
this section to an eligible entity unless the eligible entity agrees, 
with respect to the costs to be incurred by the eligible entity in 
carrying out the activities described in subsection (b), to make 
available non-Federal contributions (in cash or in kind) toward such 
costs in an amount that is not less than 10 percent of the total amount 
of Federal funds provided in the grant.
    ``(h) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall, by grant, contract, or 
interagency agreement, conduct rigorous and well-designed evaluations 
of the programs for which a grant is made under this section.
    ``(i) Reports.--
            ``(1) Eligible entity report.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An eligible entity awarded a 
                grant under this section shall--
                            ``(i) submit interim reports to the 
                        Secretary on the activities carried out under 
                        the project, including the number of 
                        applications received and the number of 
                        participants enrolled; and
                            ``(ii) on the conclusion of the project, a 
                        final report on the activities, including the 
                        number of participants who successfully 
                        completed the program.
                    ``(B) Data requirement.--Each such report shall 
                include data on participant outcomes related to 
                earnings, employment, education, credential attainment, 
                participant demographics, and other data specified by 
                the Secretary.
            ``(2) Congressional report.--Not later than December 31 of 
        each year, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
        Committees of Congress a report for the preceding fiscal year 
        on--
                    ``(A) the demographics of the participants in the 
                projects for which a grant is made under this section;
                    ``(B) the rate of which project participants 
                completed all activities under the projects;
                    ``(C) the employment credentials acquired by 
                project participants;
                    ``(D) the employment of project participants on 
                completion of activities under the projects, and the 
                earnings of project participants at entry into 
                employment;
                    ``(E) best practices and promising practices used 
                in the projects;
                    ``(F) the nature of any technical assistance 
                provided to grantees under this section;
                    ``(G) with respect to the period since the period 
                covered in the most recent prior report submitted under 
                this paragraph--
                            ``(i) the number of applications submitted 
                        under this section and the number of 
                        applications that were approved; and
                            ``(ii) the number of eligible individuals 
                        who applied, enrolled, and remained enrolled in 
                        programs operated by each eligible entity; and
                    ``(H) the 10 individual applications not approved 
                for a grant under this section that showed the greatest 
                potential to meet the goals of this section, including 
                the estimated number of beneficiaries of each such 
                application.
            ``(3) Appropriate committees of congress.--In this 
        paragraph, the term `appropriate Committees of Congress' 
        means--
                    ``(A) the Committee on Education and Labor of the 
                House of Representatives;
                    ``(B) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House 
                of Representatives;
                    ``(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
                of Representatives;
                    ``(D) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
                and Pensions of the Senate;
                    ``(E) the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and
                    ``(F) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                Senate.
    ``(j) Appropriations.--To carry out this section, there are 
authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2021 through 2025.''.

SEC. 11. FOSTER YOUTH IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 301 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the following the new section:
``Sec. 4015. Foster care reporting
    ``(a) The Attorney General shall inquire of each individual 
convicted of a Federal offense, including juveniles, if such individual 
is currently or was at any point in foster care.
    ``(b) In the case of an individual convicted of a Federal offense 
who is or was in foster care, the Attorney General shall further 
inquire about the circumstances around and duration of the time spent 
in foster care, except than the Attorney General shall inform each such 
individual of the right to decline to answer, and an individual may 
decline to answer any such inquiry.
    ``(c) Not later than December 31 of each year, the Attorney General 
shall issue a report to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee of Finance of the Senate, and the 
Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and of the 
Senate that includes--
            ``(1) the number of individuals convicted of a Federal 
        offense during the preceding year, disaggregated by--
                    ``(A) the classification of the offense under 
                section 3559(a);
                    ``(B) whether the offense was a crime of violence 
                (as such term is defined in section 16);
                    ``(C) whether the offense was a felony drug offense 
                (as such term is defined in section 102 of the 
                Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802); and
                    ``(D) whether the offense was committed by a 
                juvenile;
            ``(2) the number of individuals convicted of a Federal 
        offense during the preceding year who are or were in foster 
        care, disaggregated by the types of convictions described in 
        paragraph (1);
            ``(3) the number of individuals who were serving a term of 
        imprisonment for a Federal offense during the preceding year, 
        disaggregated by the types of convictions described in 
        paragraph (1);
            ``(4) the number of individuals who were serving a term of 
        imprisonment for a Federal offense during the preceding year 
        who, at the time of conviction, were in foster care, or were 
        previously in foster care at any point, disaggregated by the 
        types of convictions described in paragraph (1); and
            ``(5) the total cost of incarcerating individuals who were 
        in foster care at the time of conviction or previously were in 
        foster care at any point.
    ``(d) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
section, the Attorney General shall issue rules to implement this 
section.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 301 of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item 
related to section 4014 the following:

``4015. Foster care reporting.''.

SEC. 12. HEALTH INSURANCE FOR FORMER FOSTER YOUTH.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 1002 of the SUPPORT for 
Patients and Communities Act (Public Law 115-271) is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(a) Coverage Continuity for Former Foster Care Children up to Age 
26.--
            ``(1) In general.--Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX) of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX)) is 
        amended--
                    ``(A) in item (bb)--
                            ``(i) by striking `are not described in or 
                        enrolled under' and inserting `are not 
                        described in and are not enrolled under'; and
                            ``(ii) by adding `and' at the end;
                    ``(B) in item (cc), by striking `responsibility of 
                the State' and all that follows through 
                `475(8)(B)(iii); and' and inserting `responsibility of 
                a State on the date of attaining 21 years of age, were 
                in such care at any age but subsequently left such care 
                to enter into a legal guardianship with a kinship 
                caregiver (without regard to whether kinship 
                guardianship payments are being made on behalf of the 
                child under part E of title IV), or were emancipated 
                from such care prior to attaining age 21;'; and
                    ``(C) by striking item (dd).
            ``(2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this 
        subsection shall apply with respect to eligibility 
        determinations made on or after the date of enactment of the 
        Fostering Healthy Transitions into Adulthood Act of 2020.''.
    (b) Secretarial Notification Process.--Not later than January 1, 
2021, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with 
State Medicaid agencies and State agencies responsible for 
administering the State plan under part E of title IV of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.), shall have in place a process--
            (1) to notify each foster child and each individual under 
        26 years of age who was previously in foster care in any State 
        that such child or individual may be eligible to enroll in the 
        State plan approved under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 
        et seq.) of the State in which such child or individual resides 
        (or under a waiver of such plan); and
            (2) to provide each such child and individual with 
        information on how to submit an application to enroll in such 
        State plan (or under such a waiver).
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