Title: Increasing Opportunity for Former Foster Youth Act
Policy area: Families

Summary:
Increasing Opportunity for Former Foster Youth Act
This bill establishes and funds grants to provide services to youth aging out of the foster care system. Such grants must be awarded based on specified degrees of evidence-based effectiveness. Grant applications must specify the target population for the grant, such as foster youth who (1) are at risk of homelessness; (2) have, or are expecting, a child; (3) lack financial stability; or (4) have been involved with the juvenile justice system.
The bill also modifies child welfare programs to facilitate the enforcement of child support orders.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3025 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 3025

  To establish innovation grants under the John H. Chafee Foster Care 
  Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood to improve adulthood 
  outcomes for youth aging out of foster care, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 11, 2019

Mr. Grassley (for himself and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish innovation grants under the John H. Chafee Foster Care 
  Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood to improve adulthood 
  outcomes for youth aging out of foster care, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Increasing Opportunity for Former 
Foster Youth Act''.

SEC. 2. CHAFEE INNOVATION GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
677) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Innovation Grants To Improve Adulthood Outcomes for 
Transition-Age Foster Youth.--
            ``(1) Purpose.--The purpose of this subsection is to 
        support the development of programs that improve outcomes for 
        transition-age foster youth, specifically by identifying 
        programs with evidence of effectiveness, determining if they 
        can be replicated with fidelity and demonstrate results, and 
        scaling up successful programs so more youth receive effective 
        services that help them to transition successfully to 
        adulthood.
            ``(2) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Adulthood outcomes.--The term `adulthood 
                outcomes' means outcomes in employment, education, 
                housing, mental health, physical health, financial 
                stability, permanency, and criminal involvement.
                    ``(B) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' 
                means--
                            ``(i) a State child welfare agency;
                            ``(ii) a local child welfare agency;
                            ``(iii) a tribal child welfare agency of an 
                        Indian tribe or tribal organization operating a 
                        program under this part (including as part of a 
                        tribal consortium), in accordance with section 
                        479B; or
                            ``(iv) a non-governmental organization that 
                        has experience working with transition-age 
                        foster youth.
                    ``(C) Moderate evidence of effectiveness.--The term 
                `moderate evidence of effectiveness' means that the 
                results of at least 1 well-designed and well-
                implemented quasi-experimental study of a program 
                demonstrates a statistically significant, sizable, and 
                sustained effect on improving 1 or more adulthood 
                outcomes for transition-age foster youth and the 
                overall weight of the evidence shows meaningful 
                benefits for program participants.
                    ``(D) Preliminary evidence of effectiveness.--The 
                term `preliminary evidence of effectiveness' means that 
                prior studies of a program, key components of a 
                program, or similar programs suggest potential for 
                sizable, and sustained effects on improving adulthood 
                outcomes for transition-age foster youth but the 
                overall weight of the evidence does not yet constitute 
                moderate or strong causal evidence of such effects.
                    ``(E) Strong evidence of effectiveness.--The term 
                `strong evidence of effectiveness' means that the 
                results of at least 1 well-designed and well-
                implemented experimental study of a program 
                demonstrates a statistically significant, sizable, and 
                sustained effect on improving 1 or more adulthood 
                outcomes for transition-age foster youth and the 
                overall weight of the evidence shows meaningful 
                benefits for program participants.
                    ``(F) Transition-age foster youth.--The term 
                `transition-age foster youth' means individuals who 
                have experienced foster care at age 14 or older.
            ``(3) Innovation grants.--
                    ``(A) Authority to award grants.--The Secretary 
                shall award the following types of innovation grants to 
                eligible entities to improve adulthood outcomes for 
                transition-age foster youth through the development, 
                validation, and dissemination of evidence-based 
                effective programs for improving adulthood outcomes for 
                transition-age foster youth:
                            ``(i) Development grants.--Development 
                        grants to carry out programs with preliminary 
                        evidence of effectiveness in improving 
                        adulthood outcomes for transition-age foster 
                        youth.
                            ``(ii) Validation grants.--Validation 
                        grants to carry out programs with moderate 
                        evidence of effectiveness in improving 
                        adulthood outcomes for transition-age foster 
                        youth.
                            ``(iii) Replication grants.--Replication 
                        grants to carry out programs with strong 
                        evidence of effectiveness in improving 
                        adulthood outcomes for transition-age foster 
                        youth.
                    ``(B) Proportion of different types of grants 
                awarded.--To the extent feasible and practicable, the 
                Secretary shall award development, validation, and 
                replication grants in equal proportion, but shall award 
                validation and replication grants only to the extent 
                the programs proposed to be carried out with such 
                grants meet the evidence requirements for the 
                applicable type of grant to be awarded.
                    ``(C) Number of grants.--The Secretary shall award 
                at least 10, but not more than 15, innovation grants 
                under this subsection.
                    ``(D) Tribal child welfare agency.--At least 1 
                innovation grant shall be reserved for awarding to an 
                eligible entity described in paragraph (2)(B)(iii), 
                unless no such eligible entity meets the application 
                requirements.
            ``(4) Duration.--Each innovation grant awarded under this 
        subsection shall be awarded for a period of not less than 5 
        years.
            ``(5) Amount of grant.--The amount of an innovation grant 
        awarded under this subsection shall be proportional to the 
        level of funding necessary to implement and evaluate the 
        proposed program at a scale that can be evaluated rigorously, 
        as described in paragraph (5)(F).
            ``(6) Application requirements.--In order to be eligible 
        for an innovation grant under this subsection, an eligible 
        entity shall submit to the Secretary an application containing 
        the following:
                    ``(A) Program design.--A description of the 
                proposed program to be carried out using amounts 
                awarded under the grant, including the target 
                population of transition-age foster youth to be served 
                by the program, which may be 1 or more of the following 
                populations:
                            ``(i) Transition-age foster youth who are 
                        homeless or at high risk of homelessness.
                            ``(ii) Transition-age foster youth with 
                        emotional or behavioral challenges.
                            ``(iii) Transition-age foster youth who are 
                        not engaged in employment, education, or 
                        training.
                            ``(iv) Transition-age foster youth who are 
                        expectant or parenting.
                            ``(v) Transition-age foster youth 
                        experiencing financial instability.
                            ``(vi) Transition-age foster youth with a 
                        history of juvenile justice or criminal 
                        involvement or who are at risk of criminal 
                        involvement.
                            ``(vii) Transition-age foster youth placed 
                        in another planned permanent living arrangement 
                        subject to section 475A(a).
                            ``(viii) Transition-age foster youth who 
                        exited foster care without permanency.
                            ``(ix) Transition-age foster youth at risk 
                        of experiencing negative outcomes in adulthood 
                        not described in a preceding clause of this 
                        subparagraph.
                    ``(B) Adulthood outcomes measured.--A description 
                of the adulthood outcomes that would be measured under 
                the program.
                    ``(C) Program model.--The logic model for the 
                proposed program and whether the program has strong, 
                moderate, or preliminary evidence.
                    ``(D) Collaborative partnership.--An assurance 
                that--
                            ``(i) if the eligible entity is a State, 
                        county, or tribal child welfare agency, the 
                        eligible entity will establish 1 or more 
                        partnerships with non-governmental 
                        organizations or entities for purposes of 
                        collaborating on the implementation and 
                        evaluation of the program funded under the 
                        grant; and
                            ``(ii) if the eligible entity is a non-
                        governmental organization, the eligible entity 
                        will establish a partnership with the State, or 
                        a county or tribal child welfare agency on the 
                        implementation and evaluation of the program 
                        funded under the grant.
                    ``(E) Funding assurance.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        an assurance that not less than 50 percent of 
                        the amounts expended by the eligible entity to 
                        carry out the program funded under the 
                        innovation grant shall be provided from non-
                        Federal sources (which may be in cash or in 
                        kind) composed of the following:
                                    ``(I) Not less than 20 percent of 
                                the amounts expended by the eligible 
                                entity shall be derived from State 
                                expenditures that are not from amounts 
                                made available to the State by the 
                                Federal Government or amounts expended 
                                as a condition of receiving Federal 
                                funds (other than under this 
                                subsection).
                                    ``(II) Not less than 30 percent of 
                                amounts expended by the eligible entity 
                                shall be derived from expenditures made 
                                by a collaborative partner of the 
                                eligible entity that are not from 
                                amounts made available to the partner 
                                by the Federal Government or amounts 
                                expended as a condition of receiving 
                                Federal funds (other than under this 
                                subsection).
                            ``(ii) Exception.--Clause (i) shall be 
                        applied to an eligible entity described in 
                        paragraph (2)(B)(iii) by substituting `30 
                        percent' for `50 percent' and without regard to 
                        subclause (I).
                    ``(F) Program evaluation.--Assurances that the 
                eligible entity will (in accordance with guidelines 
                proscribed by the Secretary in coordination with the 
                Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning, Research and 
                Evaluation) use such amounts of the innovation grant 
                awarded to the entity as is adequate to--
                            ``(i) have a rigorous, third-party 
                        evaluation of the program that employs 
                        experimental designs, using random assignment 
                        whenever feasible, and other research 
                        methodologies that allow for the strongest 
                        possible causal inferences when random 
                        assignment is not feasible;
                            ``(ii) conduct an analysis of costs and 
                        benefits of the program; and
                            ``(iii) adhere to an evaluation plan that 
                        is developed with 1 or more collaborative 
                        partners of the eligible entity.
                    ``(G) Other information or assurances.--Such other 
                information or assurances as the Secretary may require.
            ``(7) Preference in awarding grants.--In awarding 
        innovation grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
        give preference to grant applications to carry out proposed 
        interventions that have prior evidence of meaningfully 
        improving the greatest number of outcomes.
            ``(8) Technical assistance; dissemination of findings.--The 
        Secretary shall (directly, or by contract or a cooperative 
        agreement with 1 or more organizations with relevant 
        expertise)--
                    ``(A) provide technical assistance to eligible 
                entities awarded innovation grants under this 
                subsection to ensure that--
                            ``(i) implementation of the programs funded 
                        under such grants adheres faithfully to the key 
                        elements of the program models; and
                            ``(ii) the third-party evaluations of such 
                        programs are designed and implemented with 
                        scientific rigor, as described in paragraph 
                        (6)(F); and
                    ``(B) ensure that findings from such evaluations 
                are disseminated to support broad implementation and 
                scaling up of successful approaches.
            ``(9) Funding.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In addition to the amounts made 
                available for a fiscal year under subsection (h) to 
                carry out this section and paid to States under section 
                474(a)(4), out of any money in the Treasury of the 
                United States not otherwise appropriated, there are 
                appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 
                through 2025 to carry out this subsection.
                    ``(B) Technical assistance.--Not more than 5 
                percent of the amount appropriated under subparagraph 
                (A) to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year may 
                be used to provide technical assistance and disseminate 
                findings under paragraph (8).''.
    (b) Report.--Not later than October 1, 2022, and periodically 
thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to 
the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on the innovation grants 
awarded under section 477(k) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
677(k)) (as added by subsection (a)) and the findings from the programs 
funded with such grants as such findings become available, including 
the impact of the interventions on outcomes for transition-age foster 
youth. Each report submitted under this subsection shall include 
recommendations for legislation and administrative action based on such 
findings.
    (c) Technical Assistance and Other Activities.--Subsection (g) of 
section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended to 
read as follows:
    ``(g) Technical Assistance and Other Activities.--The Secretary 
shall reserve 1 percent of the amount specified in subsection (h) for a 
fiscal year to carry out, during the fiscal year, evaluation, technical 
assistance, performance measurement, and data collection activities 
related to this section, directly or through grants, contracts, or 
cooperative agreements with appropriate entities.''.
    (d) Conforming Amendments.--Section 479B(f) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 679c(f)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``section 477(j)'' and inserting 
        ``subsections (j) and (k) of section 477''; and
            (2) by inserting ``or 477(k)'' after ``474(e)''.

SEC. 3. INCREASING CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS TO FAMILIES.

    (a) Reporting of Nonemployees to Directories of New Hires.--Section 
453A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)(A), by striking ``by employers on 
        each newly hired employee'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                ``Employer'' and inserting ``Reported'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) by striking ``Except as 
                                provided'' and inserting the following:
                            ``(i) Employees.--Except as provided'';
                                    (II) by striking ``identifying 
                                number'' and inserting ``employer 
                                identification number'';
                                    (III) by inserting ``(in this 
                                section referred to as the `employer 
                                identification number')'' after ``under 
                                section 6109 of the Internal Revenue 
                                Code of 1986''; and
                                    (IV) by adding at the end the 
                                following new clause:
                            ``(ii) Nonemployees.--Except as provided in 
                        subparagraphs (B) and (C), if a service-
                        recipient is required to make a return in 
                        accordance with section 6041A(a) of the 
                        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to a 
                        nonemployee, such service-recipient shall 
                        furnish to the Directory of New Hires of the 
                        State in which such nonemployee works, a report 
                        that contains the name, address, and social 
                        security number of or identifying number 
                        assigned under section 6109 of the Internal 
                        Revenue Code (in this section referred to as 
                        the `identifying number') to such nonemployee, 
                        the date services for remuneration were first 
                        performed by such nonemployee, and the name, 
                        address, and employer identification number of 
                        the service-recipient.'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) in the subparagraph heading, by 
                                striking ``employers'' and inserting 
                                ``reporting'';
                                    (II) by striking ``An employer'' 
                                and inserting the following:
                            ``(i) Employees.--An employer that has 
                        employees'';
                                    (III) by inserting ``(i)'' after 
                                ``subparagraph (A)'' each place it 
                                appears;
                                    (IV) by striking the second 
                                sentence; and
                                    (V) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(ii) Nonemployees.--A service-recipient 
                        required to make returns in accordance with 
                        section 6041A(a) of the Internal Revenue Code 
                        with respect to nonemployees located in 2 or 
                        more States and that transmits reports 
                        magnetically or electronically may comply with 
                        subparagraph (A)(ii) by designating 1 State in 
                        which any such nonemployee is located to which 
                        the service-recipient will transmit the report 
                        described in subparagraph (A)(ii), and 
                        transmitting such report to such State.
                            ``(iii) Designation.--Any employer or 
                        service-recipient that transmits reports 
                        pursuant to this subparagraph shall notify the 
                        Secretary in writing as to which State such 
                        employer or service-recipient designates for 
                        the purpose of sending reports.''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C)--
                                    (I) in the subparagraph heading, by 
                                striking ``Employers''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``report'' and 
                                inserting ``reports''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in the matter that precedes 
                        subparagraph (A), by striking ``with respect to 
                        an employee'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) by inserting ``with respect to 
                                an employee,'' before ``not later than 
                                20 days''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``or'' after the 
                                semicolon;
                            (iii) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
                        subparagraph (C);
                            (iv) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
                        the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(B) with respect to a nonemployee, not later than 
                20 days after the earlier of--
                            ``(i) first making payments as a 
                        consequence of which a return in accordance 
                        with section 6041A(a) of the Internal Revenue 
                        Code of 1986 is required to be made; or
                            ``(ii) entering into a contract providing 
                        for such payments; or''; and
                            (v) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated by 
                        clause (iii), by striking ``in the case of an 
                        employer transmitting reports'' and inserting 
                        ``in the case of reports transmitted'';
            (3) in subsection (c), by inserting ``or service-
        recipient'' after ``at the option of the employer'';
            (4) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in the heading, by inserting ``and Service-
                Recipients'' after ``Employers'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or 
                nonemployee'' after ``employee''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by inserting ``or service-recipient'' 
                        after ``employer''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``or nonemployee, 
                        respectively,'' after ``employee'';
            (5) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                ``Employer''; and
                    (B) by striking ``from an employer'';
            (6) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1);
                            (i) by inserting ``and identifying 
                        numbers'' after ``social security numbers'' 
                        each place it appears; and
                            (ii) by striking ``by employers'' before 
                        ``pursuant to subsection (b)''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by inserting ``or identifying number'' 
                        after ``social security number'' each place it 
                        appears;
                            (ii) by striking ``employee'' and inserting 
                        ``individual''; and
                            (iii) by striking ``and the name and 
                        address of, and identifying number assigned 
                        under section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Act 
                        of 1986 to, the employer'' and inserting ``and 
                        the name, address, and employer identification 
                        number of the employer or service-recipient'';
            (7) in subsection (g)(2)(A), by inserting ``or 
        nonemployee'' after ``newly hired employee''; and
            (8) in subsection (h), by striking ``by employers'' each 
        place it appears.
    (b) Assisting in Identifying Assets Across State Lines.--
            (1) Duties of the secretary.--Subsection (l) of section 452 
        of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 652) is amended to read 
        as follows:
    ``(l) Assets Held by Financial Institutions.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, through the Federal 
        Parent Locator Service, is authorized--
                    ``(A) to assist State agencies operating programs 
                under this part and financial institutions (as defined 
                in section 469A(d)(1)) in reaching agreements regarding 
                the receipt from such institutions, and the transfer to 
                the State agencies, of information that may be provided 
                pursuant to section 466(a)(17)(A)(i) or 469A(a);
                    ``(B) to perform data matches comparing information 
                from such State agencies and financial institutions 
                entering into such agreements with respect to 
                individuals owing past due support; and
                    ``(C) upon State request, using formats prescribed 
                by the Secretary, to send a notice of lien on assets, 
                held by such financial institutions, of individuals 
                identified through such data matches who owe past-due 
                support.
            ``(2) Liability.--A financial institution shall not be 
        liable under any Federal law to any person--
                    ``(A) for encumbering any assets held by such 
                financial institution in response to a notice of lien 
                sent by the Secretary as provided for in paragraph 
                (1)(C); or
                    ``(B) for any other action taken in good faith to 
                comply with paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Treatment of disclosures.--For purposes of section 
        1113(d) of the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978, a 
        disclosure pursuant to this subsection shall be considered a 
        disclosure pursuant to a Federal statute.''.
            (2) State duties.--
                    (A) Liens on bank accounts.--Section 466(a)(4)(A) 
                of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 666(a)(4)(A)) is 
                amended by inserting ``, including bank accounts,'' 
                after ``personal property''.
                    (B) Liens arising in another state.--Section 
                466(a)(4)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 666(a)(4)(B)) is 
                amended by striking ``, when the State agency, party, 
                or other entity'' and all that follows and inserting a 
                period.
                    (C) Federal notices of lien.--Section 466(a)(17)(A) 
                of such Act (42 U.S.C. 666(a)(17)(A)) is amended--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon;
                            (ii) in clause (ii), by striking the period 
                        at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following 
                        new clause:
                            ``(iii) in response to a notice of lien 
                        sent by the Secretary, to encumber assets held 
                        by such institution on behalf of any 
                        noncustodial parent who is subject to a child 
                        support lien pursuant to paragraph (4).''.
                    (D) Uniform notices of lien.--Section 
                466(a)(17)(A)(ii) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
                666(a)(17)(A)(ii)), as amended by subparagraph (C)(ii), 
                is amended by inserting ``in such format and containing 
                such information as the Secretary may require,'' after 
                ``notice of lien or levy,''.
                    (E) Reimbursement of federal costs.--Paragraph (3) 
                of section 453(k) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 653(k)(3)) is 
                amended--
                            (i) in the heading, by inserting ``and 
                        enforcement services'' after ``information'';
                            (ii) by inserting ``or enforcement 
                        services'' after ``that receives information'';
                            (iii) by striking ``or section 452(m)'' and 
                        inserting ``or subsection (l) or (m) of 
                        sections 452''; and
                            (iv) by striking ``in furnishing the 
                        information'' and inserting ``in furnishing 
                        such information or enforcement services''.
            (3) Conforming amendment.--Section 469A(a) of such Act (42 
        U.S.C. 669a(a)) is amended by inserting ``section 452(l) or'' 
        before ``section 466(a)(17)(A)''.
    (c) Allowing Single-State Financial Institutions To Participate in 
the Financial Institution Data Match.--Section 466(a)(17)(A)(i) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 666(a)(17)(A)(i)) is amended by striking ``in the case 
of financial institutions doing business in two or more States''.
    (d) Report on Withholding Practices for Independent Contractors.--
Not later than December 30, 2020, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall issue a report on State rules and practices in relation to 
income withholding for nonemployees and how they are similar to or 
different from those applicable to employees under the Consumer Credit 
Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
    (e) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the amendments 
        made by this section take effect on January 1, 2021.
            (2) Delay if state legislation required.--In the case of a 
        State plan under part D of title IV of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) which the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services determines requires State legislation in order for the 
        respective plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by 
        the amendments made by this section, the respective plan shall 
        not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of 
        such part solely on the basis of its failure to meet such 
        additional requirement before the first day of the first 
        calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular 
        session of the State legislature that begins after the date of 
        enactment of this section. For purposes of the previous 
        sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative 
        session, each year of the session shall be considered to be a 
        separate regular session of the State legislature.
                                 <all>