Brighter Futures for Teens and Young Adults in Foster Care Act of 2024

Bill: 118-hr-9316
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]
Introduced: 2024-08-06
Policy area: Families
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9316 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 6, 2024 Mr. Nunn of Iowa (for himself, Mr. Bacon , and Mrs. Dingell ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to increase awareness among eligible children and youths of, and encourage their participation in, the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Brighter Futures for Teens and Young Adults in Foster Care Act of 2024 . 2. Improving awareness of the Chafee program (a) Case review system requirements Section 475(5)(I) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 675(5)(I) ) is amended to read as follows: (I) (i) each child in foster care under the responsibility of the State who has attained 14 years of age receives, if the child is eligible to receive the document and without cost to the child— (I) a copy of any consumer report (as defined in section 603(d) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act) pertaining to the child, each year until the child is discharged from care, and assistance (including, when feasible, from any court-appointed advocate for the child) in interpreting and resolving any inaccuracies in the consumer report; (II) an official or certified copy of the United States birth certificate of the child; (III) a social security card issued by the Commissioner of Social Security; (IV) health insurance information; (V) a copy of the child’s medical records; (VI) a driver’s license or identification card issued by a State in accordance with the requirements of section 202 of the REAL ID Act of 2005; and (VII) official documentation necessary to prove that the child is in foster care; and (ii) each child who is leaving foster care under the responsibility of the State by reason of having attained 18 years of age or such greater age as the State has elected under paragraph (8), unless the child has been in foster care for less than 6 months, is not discharged from care without being provided, without cost to the child— (I) official documentation necessary to prove that the child was in foster care; and (II) each document described in subclauses (I) through (VI) of clause (i), if the child is eligible to receive the document. . (b) Additional case plan and case review system requirements Section 475A(b) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 675a(b) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), to read as follows: (1) a document that describes the rights of the child— (A) with respect to education, health, visitation, and court participation; (B) to be informed, in an age-appropriate way, of the services available to the child under the State programs carried out pursuant to section 477, in— (i) every meeting between a caseworker and the child; and (ii) every court or administrative hearing held with respect to the child requiring the attendance of the child; (C) to be provided with the documents specified in section 475(5)(I) in accordance with that section; (D) to stay safe and avoid exploitation; and (E) to seek redress for a violation of a right of the child under this section; ; (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by inserting described in paragraph (1) after copy of the document ; and (B) by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (3) for each year that the child is in foster care, a document that describes the requirements for the child to receive each document specified in section 475(5)(I) and any assistance available to the child to meet the requirements; and (4) a signed and dated acknowledgment by the child that the child has been provided with a copy of the document described in paragraph (3), for each year that the document has been provided. . (c) John H. Chafee foster care program for successful transition to adulthood Section 477 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 677 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraphs (1) through (4) and inserting the following: (1) to support youth who have experienced foster care at age 14 or older, youth in extended foster care, former foster care recipients between ages 18 and 23, and youth placed into guardianship or adoption at age 16 or older in their transition to adulthood to support them in achieving positive outcomes so that they are able to thrive in adulthood consistent with peers who have not experienced foster care; (2) to provide the individuals access to appropriate supports, services, and programs, without barriers and with the goal of maximizing engagement, in order to achieve positive outcomes among the individuals with respect to— (A) secure, meaningful, and permanent connections with family and kin; (B) secure, meaningful, and permanent connections with mentors and supportive adults; (C) healing and wellness, including substance abuse prevention, preventative health skills (including smoke avoidance, nutrition education, and pregnancy prevention), and areas related to mental health; (D) attaining a high school diploma or equivalent qualification and pursuing post-secondary education or vocational training; (E) job placement and retention and career exploration; (F) acquisition of daily living skills, including driving instruction; (G) budgeting, financial management skills, and asset building; (H) housing; and (I) self-advocacy and leadership skills; (3) to provide opportunities to the individuals for normalcy and age- or developmentally-appropriate activities and experiences; (4) to achieve maximum reach and effect by ensuring that State agencies consult and partner with the individuals in planning, implementing, and assessing programs funded under this section; ; (2) in subsection (b)(2)— (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking achieving independence and inserting making a successful transition to adulthood ; (B) in subparagraph (D), by striking achieve independence and inserting make a successful transition to adulthood ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (G) Reach and engage eligible youth to encourage their participation in the programs available to them, with particular focus on certain vulnerable populations, including youth— (i) with disabilities; (ii) experiencing homelessness; or (iii) who are, or expecting to be, parents. (H) Ensure that eligible youth are provided information about the services and resources available to them. (I) Include eligible youth from across the geographical regions of the State in outreach and in the planning and delivery of services provided under this section. ; (3) in subsection (b)(3)— (A) in subparagraph (E)— (i) by striking 30 and inserting 90 ; and (ii) by inserting after making the plan available to the public for comment before the period; (B) in subparagraph (H), by striking independent living and inserting a successful transition to adulthood ; (C) by redesignating subparagraphs (I) through (K) as subparagraphs (K) through (M), respectively; (D) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following: (J) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State has made all reasonable efforts to provide the eligible youth in the State a description of the programs and services provided under this section. ; (E) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) through (H) as subparagraphs (G) through (I), respectively; (F) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following: (F) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State has consulted with eligible youth from across the State about the effectiveness of the methods used by the State for outreach and engagement and about the development of services and resources provided under this section. ; and (G) by adding at the end the following: (N) A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State developed the portion of the State plan describing how the State intends to comply with paragraph (2)(G)— (i) in consultation with children, youth, and young adults who are or were in foster care and with community-based stakeholders who can share best practices in the outreach to and engagement of children, youth, and young adults who are or were in foster care; and (ii) based on performance measures that the State collects and evaluates on an ongoing basis. ; (4) in subsection (f)— (A) in the heading, to read as follows: Data collection, benchmarks, and performance incentives. — ; (B) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting youth with experience in foster care or affiliated with foster care organizations or networks, before and researchers ; (C) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting performance benchmarks for before outcome measures ; and (D) in paragraph (1)(B), to read as follows: (B) identify data elements needed to track— (i) the notification of eligible youth of the type and availability of services; (ii) the number of eligible youth who have signed and dated the acknowledgments pursuant to section 475A(b)(4); and (iii) the number of eligible youth who have achieved the performance benchmarks after beginning to receive services provided under this section; and ; and (E) by adding at the end the following: (3) Report to Congress on recommendations for funding with performance incentives Within 6 months after the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a report with recommendations to develop incentive payments for States based on the performance benchmarks developed pursuant to paragraph (1). ; and (5) by adding at the end the following: (k) Technical assistance (1) In general The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to States and State agencies in the development and implementation of effective and robust outreach policies and practices. (2) Content of technical assistance The technical assistance shall include— (A) guidance on how to reduce barriers to eligible youth accessing the programs available to them, such as through interagency information-sharing agreements; and (B) best practices in outreach to and informing eligible youth of the programs available to them. (l) Definition of eligible youth In this section, the term eligible youth means youth eligible to participate in a State program under this section. . 3. Effective date (a) In general The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the 1st day of the 1st fiscal year beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply to payments— (1) except as provided under subparagraph (2), under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date; and (2) under section 477 of such Act pursuant to plans approved by the Secretary on or after such date. (b) Delay permitted if State legislation required If the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) is required in order for any State plan approved under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by this Act, the plan shall not be regarded as failing to meet any of the additional requirements before the 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter beginning after the 1st regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if the State has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the session is deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.