CARE Act

Bill: 117-hr-7843
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23]
Introduced: 2022-05-19
Policy area: Families
Latest action: action_date: 2022-05-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-05-19
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Communities Advancing Reunification Efforts Act or the CARE Act</b></p> <p>This bill provides incentive payments to states, under certain circumstances, for children who are successfully reunified with their biological families.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7843 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 19, 2022 Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas (for himself, Mr. Langevin , and Mr. Bacon ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend the Adoption and Legal Guardianship Incentive Payment Program to promote reunifying families, community-based care, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Communities Advancing Reunification Efforts Act or the CARE Act . 2. Incentive payments to States for increasing successful reunifications of children with their families (a) In general Section 473A(d)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 673b(d)(1) ) is amended— (1) by striking and at the end of subparagraph (C); (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (E) $500, multiplied by the amount (if any) by which— (i) the number of successful reunifications in the State during the fiscal year; exceeds (ii) the number of successful reunifications in the State during the preceding fiscal year. . (b) Limitation on use of incentive payment Section 473A(f) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 673b(f) ) is amended by striking (including post-adoption services) that may be provided under part B or E and inserting that may be provided under part B or E (including post-adoption services, and community-based, trauma-informed services to assist in reuniting and strengthening families) . (c) Definition of successful reunification Section 473A(g) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 673b(g) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (13) Successful reunification The term successful reunification means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the number of qualified children with respect to the State who— (A) in the preceding fiscal year, were reunified with their biological families in the State within 1 year after removal; and (B) have remained with their biological families, without re-entry into foster care, for at least 1 year after reunification. (14) Qualified child The term qualified child means, with respect to a State, a child— (A) who is not ineligible for foster care under the supervision of the State by reason of age; and (B) the parental rights with respect to whom have not been terminated. . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect when the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that the information needed to implement the amendments is available.