Timely Mental Health for Foster Youth Act

Bill: 115-s-439
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO]
Introduced: 2017-02-17
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Adoption and foster care

Child health

Child safety and welfare

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Mental health
Latest action: action_date: 2017-02-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-02-17
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Timely Mental Health for Foster Youth Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends part B (Child and Family Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act with respect to state plans for the ongoing oversight and coordination of health care services for children in a foster care placement.</p> <p>An initial mental health screening of any child in foster care must be completed within 30 days after the child enters into foster care. In the case of any child for whom a mental health issue is identified in such initial screening, a comprehensive assessment of the child's mental health must be completed within 60 days after the child's entry into foster care.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 439 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 17 (legislative day, February 16), 2017 Mr. Blunt (for himself, Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Boozman , and Mr. Casey ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to ensure that mental health screenings and assessments are provided to children and youth upon entry into foster care.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Timely Mental Health for Foster Youth Act . 2. Timely mental health screenings and assessments for children and youth upon entry into foster care (a) State plan requirement Section 422(b)(15)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 622(b)(15)(A) ) is amended— (1) in clause (i), by inserting and that require that an initial mental health screening of any child in foster care be completed not later than 30 days after the date the child enters into foster care and, in the case of any child in foster care for whom a mental health issue is identified in such initial screening, that a comprehensive assessment of the mental health of the child be completed not later than 60 days after the date the child enters into foster care before the semicolon; and (2) in clause (ii), by striking screenings and inserting such screenings and assessments . (b) Technical amendment Section 422(b)(15)(A) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 622(b)(15)(A) ) is further amended in the matter before clause (i), by striking provides and inserting provide . (c) Effective date (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2018. (2) Delay permitted if state legislation required In the case of a State plan approved under part B of title IV of the Social Security Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by this section, the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such part solely on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet such additional requirements 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 such session shall be deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.