Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act
PL 113-183 (H.R.4980), enacted 09/29/2014

[113th Congress Public Law 183]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 128 STAT. 1919]]

Public Law 113-183
113th Congress

                                 An Act


 
 To prevent and address sex trafficking of children in foster care, to 
  extend and improve adoption incentives, and to improve international 
    child support recovery. <<NOTE: Sept. 29, 2014 -  [H.R. 4980]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Preventing Sex 
Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act.>> 
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 42 USC 1305 note.>>  SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing Sex Trafficking and 
Strengthening Families Act''.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. References.

    TITLE I--PROTECTING CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT RISK OF SEX TRAFFICKING

Subtitle A--Identifying and Protecting Children and Youth at Risk of Sex 
                               Trafficking

Sec. 101. Identifying, documenting, and determining services for 
           children and youth at risk of sex trafficking.
Sec. 102. Reporting instances of sex trafficking.
Sec. 103. Including sex trafficking data in the Adoption and Foster Care 
           Analysis and Reporting System.
Sec. 104. Locating and responding to children who run away from foster 
           care.
Sec. 105. Increasing information on children in foster care to prevent 
           sex trafficking.

  Subtitle B--Improving Opportunities for Children in Foster Care and 
                          Supporting Permanency

Sec. 111. Supporting normalcy for children in foster care.
Sec. 112. Improving another planned permanent living arrangement as a 
           permanency option.
Sec. 113. Empowering foster children age 14 and older in the development 
           of their own case plan and transition planning for a 
           successful adulthood.
Sec. 114. Ensuring foster children have a birth certificate, Social 
           Security card, health insurance information, medical records, 
           and a driver's license or equivalent State-issued 
           identification card.
Sec. 115. Information on children in foster care in annual reports using 
           AFCARS data; consultation.

                 Subtitle C--National Advisory Committee

Sec. 121. Establishment of a national advisory committee on the sex 
           trafficking of children and youth in the United States.

TITLE II--IMPROVING ADOPTION INCENTIVES AND EXTENDING FAMILY CONNECTION 
                                 GRANTS

            Subtitle A--Improving Adoption Incentive Payments

Sec. 201. Extension of program through fiscal year 2016.

[[Page 128 STAT. 1920]]

Sec. 202. Improvements to award structure.
Sec. 203. Renaming of program.
Sec. 204. Limitation on use of incentive payments.
Sec. 205. Increase in period for which incentive payments are available 
           for expenditure.
Sec. 206. State report on calculation and use of savings resulting from 
           the phase-out of eligibility requirements for adoption 
           assistance; requirement to spend 30 percent of savings on 
           certain services.
Sec. 207. Preservation of eligibility for kinship guardianship 
           assistance payments with a successor guardian.
Sec. 208. Data collection on adoption and legal guardianship disruption 
           and dissolution.
Sec. 209. Encouraging the placement of children in foster care with 
           siblings.
Sec. 210. Effective dates.

        Subtitle B--Extending the Family Connection Grant Program

Sec. 221. Extension of family connection grant program.

        TITLE III--IMPROVING INTERNATIONAL CHILD SUPPORT RECOVERY

Sec. 301. Amendments to ensure access to child support services for 
           international child support cases.
Sec. 302. Child support enforcement programs for Indian tribes.
Sec. 303. Sense of the Congress regarding offering of voluntary 
           parenting time arrangements.
Sec. 304. Data exchange standardization for improved interoperability.
Sec. 305. Report to Congress.
Sec. 306. Required electronic processing of income withholding.

                       TITLE IV--BUDGETARY EFFECTS

Sec. 401. Determination of budgetary effects.

SEC. 3. REFERENCES.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, wherever in this 
Act an amendment is expressed in terms of an amendment to a section or 
other provision, the amendment shall be considered to be made to a 
section or other provision of the Social Security Act.

    TITLE I--PROTECTING CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT RISK OF SEX TRAFFICKING

Subtitle A--Identifying and Protecting Children and Youth at Risk of Sex 
                               Trafficking

SEC. 101. IDENTIFYING, DOCUMENTING, AND DETERMINING SERVICES FOR 
                        CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT RISK OF SEX 
                        TRAFFICKING.

    (a) In General.--Section 471(a)(9) (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(9)) is 
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'';
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``and'' after the 
        semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) <<NOTE: Deadlines.>>  not later than--
                          ``(i) 1 year after the date of enactment of 
                      this subparagraph, demonstrate to the Secretary 
                      that the State agency has developed, in 
                      consultation with State and local law enforcement, 
                      juvenile justice systems, health care providers, 
                      education agencies, and organizations with 
                      experience in dealing with at-risk

[[Page 128 STAT. 1921]]

                      children and youth, policies and procedures 
                      (including relevant training for caseworkers) for 
                      identifying, documenting in agency records, and 
                      determining appropriate services with respect to--
                                    ``(I) any child or youth over whom 
                                the State agency has responsibility for 
                                placement, care, or supervision and who 
                                the State has reasonable cause to 
                                believe is, or is at risk of being, a 
                                sex trafficking victim (including 
                                children for whom a State child welfare 
                                agency has an open case file but who 
                                have not been removed from the home, 
                                children who have run away from foster 
                                care and who have not attained 18 years 
                                of age or such older age as the State 
                                has elected under section 475(8) of this 
                                Act, and youth who are not in foster 
                                care but are receiving services under 
                                section 477 of this Act); and
                                    ``(II) at the option of the State, 
                                any individual who has not attained 26 
                                years of age, without regard to whether 
                                the individual is or was in foster care 
                                under the responsibility of the State; 
                                and
                          ``(ii) 2 years after such date of enactment, 
                      demonstrate to the Secretary that the State agency 
                      is implementing the policies and procedures 
                      referred to in clause (i).''.

    (b) Definition of Sex Trafficking Victim.--Section 475 (42 U.S.C. 
675) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) The term `sex trafficking victim' means a victim of--
                    ``(A) sex trafficking (as defined in section 103(10) 
                of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000); or
                    ``(B) a severe form of trafficking in persons 
                described in section 103(9)(A) of such Act.''.
SEC. 102. REPORTING INSTANCES OF SEX TRAFFICKING.

    (a) State Plan Requirements.--Section 471(a) (42 U.S.C. 671(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (32);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (33) and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(34) provides that, for each child or youth described in 
        paragraph (9)(C)(i)(I), the State agency shall--
                    ``(A) not later than 2 years after the date of the 
                enactment of this paragraph, report immediately, and in 
                no case later than 24 hours after receiving information 
                on children or youth who have been identified as being a 
                sex trafficking victim, to the law enforcement 
                authorities; and
                    ``(B) not later than 3 years after such date of 
                enactment and annually thereafter, report to the 
                Secretary the total number of children and youth who are 
                sex trafficking victims.''.

    (b) Duties of the Secretary.--Section 471 (42 U.S.C. 671) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Annual Reports by the Secretary on Number of Children and 
Youth Reported by States To Be Sex Trafficking Victims. <<NOTE: Public 
information. Web posting.>> --Not later than 4 years after the date of 
the enactment

[[Page 128 STAT. 1922]]

of this subsection and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall report 
to the Congress and make available to the public on the Internet website 
of the Department of Health and Human Services the number of children 
and youth reported in accordance with subsection (a)(34)(B) of this 
section to be sex trafficking victims (as defined in section 
475(9)(A)).''.
SEC. 103. INCLUDING SEX TRAFFICKING DATA IN THE ADOPTION AND 
                        FOSTER CARE ANALYSIS AND REPORTING SYSTEM.

    Section 479(c)(3) (42 U.S.C. 679(c)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (C)(iii), by striking ``and'' after the 
        comma; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) the annual number of children in foster care 
                who are identified as sex trafficking victims--
                          ``(i) who were such victims before entering 
                      foster care; and
                          ``(ii) who were such victims while in foster 
                      care; and''.
SEC. 104. LOCATING AND RESPONDING TO CHILDREN WHO RUN AWAY FROM 
                        FOSTER CARE.

    Section 471(a) (42 U.S.C. 671(a)), as amended by section 102(a) of 
this Act, is amended--
            (1) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (34) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(35) <<NOTE: Deadlines. Protocols.>>  provides that--
                    ``(A) not later than 1 year after the date of the 
                enactment of this paragraph, the State shall develop and 
                implement specific protocols for--
                          ``(i) expeditiously locating any child missing 
                      from foster care;
                          ``(ii) determining the primary factors that 
                      contributed to the child's running away or 
                      otherwise being absent from care, and to the 
                      extent possible and appropriate, responding to 
                      those factors in current and subsequent 
                      placements;
                          ``(iii) determining the child's experiences 
                      while absent from care, including screening the 
                      child to determine if the child is a possible sex 
                      trafficking victim (as defined in section 
                      475(9)(A)); and
                          ``(iv) reporting such related information as 
                      required by the Secretary; and
                    ``(B) <<NOTE: Reports.>>  not later than 2 years 
                after such date of enactment, for each child and youth 
                described in paragraph (9)(C)(i)(I) of this subsection, 
                the State agency shall report immediately, and in no 
                case later than 24 hours after receiving, information on 
                missing or abducted children or youth to the law 
                enforcement authorities for entry into the National 
                Crime Information Center (NCIC) database of the Federal 
                Bureau of Investigation, established pursuant to section 
                534 of title 28, United States Code, and to the National 
                Center for Missing and Exploited Children.''.

[[Page 128 STAT. 1923]]

SEC. 105. INCREASING INFORMATION ON CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE TO 
                        PREVENT SEX TRAFFICKING.

    Not <<NOTE: Deadline. Reports.>>  later than 2 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall submit to the Congress a written report which summarizes the 
following:
            (1) Information on children who run away from foster care 
        and their risk of becoming sex trafficking victims, using data 
        reported by States under section 479 of the Social Security Act 
        and information collected by States related to section 
        471(a)(35) of such Act, including--
                    (A) characteristics of children who run away from 
                foster care;
                    (B) potential factors associated with children 
                running away from foster care (such as reason for entry 
                into care, length of stay in care, type of placement, 
                and other factors that contributed to the child's 
                running away);
                    (C) information on children's experiences while 
                absent from care; and
                    (D) trends in the number of children reported as 
                runaways in each fiscal year (including factors that may 
                have contributed to changes in such trends).
            (2) Information on State efforts to provide specialized 
        services, foster family homes, child care institutions, or other 
        forms of placement for children who are sex trafficking victims.
            (3) Information on State efforts to ensure children in 
        foster care form and maintain long-lasting connections to caring 
        adults, even when a child in foster care must move to another 
        foster family home or when the child is placed under the 
        supervision of a new caseworker.

  Subtitle B--Improving Opportunities for Children in Foster Care and 
                          Supporting Permanency

SEC. 111. SUPPORTING NORMALCY FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.

    (a) Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard.--
            (1) Definitions relating to the standard.--Section 475 (42 
        U.S.C. 675), as amended by section 101(b) of this Act, is 
        amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(10)(A) The term `reasonable and prudent parent standard' 
        means the standard characterized by careful and sensible 
        parental decisions that maintain the health, safety, and best 
        interests of a child while at the same time encouraging the 
        emotional and developmental growth of the child, that a 
        caregiver shall use when determining whether to allow a child in 
        foster care under the responsibility of the State to participate 
        in extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, and social activities.
            ``(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term `caregiver' 
        means a foster parent with whom a child in foster care has been 
        placed or a designated official for a child care institution in 
        which a child in foster care has been placed.
            ``(11)(A) The term `age or developmentally-appropriate' 
        means--
                    ``(i) activities or items that are generally 
                accepted as suitable for children of the same 
                chronological age or level

[[Page 128 STAT. 1924]]

                of maturity or that are determined to be 
                developmentally-appropriate for a child, based on the 
                development of cognitive, emotional, physical, and 
                behavioral capacities that are typical for an age or age 
                group; and
                    ``(ii) in the case of a specific child, activities 
                or items that are suitable for the child based on the 
                developmental stages attained by the child with respect 
                to the cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral 
                capacities of the child.
            ``(B) In the event that any age-related activities have 
        implications relative to the academic curriculum of a child, 
        nothing in this part or part B shall be construed to authorize 
        an officer or employee of the Federal Government to mandate, 
        direct, or control a State or local educational agency, or the 
        specific instructional content, academic achievement standards 
        and assessments, curriculum, or program of instruction of a 
        school.''.
            (2) State plan requirement.--Section 471(a)(24) (42 U.S.C. 
        671(a)(24)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``include'' and inserting 
                ``includes'';
                    (B) by striking ``and that such preparation'' and 
                inserting ``that the preparation''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``, and that the preparation shall 
                include knowledge and skills relating to the reasonable 
                and prudent parent standard for the participation of the 
                child in age or developmentally-appropriate activities, 
                including knowledge and skills relating to the 
                developmental stages of the cognitive, emotional, 
                physical, and behavioral capacities of a child, and 
                knowledge and skills relating to applying the standard 
                to decisions such as whether to allow the child to 
                engage in social, extracurricular, enrichment, cultural, 
                and social activities, including sports, field trips, 
                and overnight activities lasting 1 or more days, and to 
                decisions involving the signing of permission slips and 
                arranging of transportation for the child to and from 
                extracurricular, enrichment, and social activities'' 
                before the semicolon.
            (3) <<NOTE: 42 USC 671 note.>>  Technical assistance.--The 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide assistance 
        to the States on best practices for devising strategies to 
        assist foster parents in applying a reasonable and prudent 
        parent standard in a manner that protects child safety, while 
        also allowing children to experience normal and beneficial 
        activities, including methods for appropriately considering the 
        concerns of the biological parents of a child in decisions 
        related to participation of the child in activities (with the 
        understanding that those concerns should not necessarily 
        determine the participation of the child in any activity).

    (b) Normalcy for Children in Child Care Institutions.--Section 
471(a)(10) (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(10)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(10) provides--
                    ``(A) for the establishment or designation of a 
                State authority or authorities that shall be responsible 
                for establishing and maintaining standards for foster 
                family homes and child care institutions which are 
                reasonably in accord with recommended standards of 
                national organizations concerned with standards for the 
                institutions or homes,

[[Page 128 STAT. 1925]]

                including standards related to admission policies, 
                safety, sanitation, and protection of civil rights, and 
                which shall permit use of the reasonable and prudent 
                parenting standard;
                    ``(B) <<NOTE: Applicability.>>  that the standards 
                established pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be 
                applied by the State to any foster family home or child 
                care institution receiving funds under this part or part 
                B and shall require, as a condition of each contract 
                entered into by a child care institution to provide 
                foster care, the presence on-site of at least 1 official 
                who, with respect to any child placed at the child care 
                institution, is designated to be the caregiver who is 
                authorized to apply the reasonable and prudent parent 
                standard to decisions involving the participation of the 
                child in age or developmentally-appropriate activities, 
                and who is provided with training in how to use and 
                apply the reasonable and prudent parent standard in the 
                same manner as prospective foster parents are provided 
                the training pursuant to paragraph (24);
                    ``(C) that the standards established pursuant to 
                subparagraph (A) shall include policies related to the 
                liability of foster parents and private entities under 
                contract by the State involving the application of the 
                reasonable and prudent parent standard, to ensure 
                appropriate liability for caregivers when a child 
                participates in an approved activity and the caregiver 
                approving the activity acts in accordance with the 
                reasonable and prudent parent standard; and
                    ``(D) that a waiver of any standards established 
                pursuant to subparagraph (A) may be made only on a case-
                by-case basis for nonsafety standards (as determined by 
                the State) in relative foster family homes for specific 
                children in care;''.

    (c) Supporting Participation in Age-Appropriate Activities.--
            (1) Section 477(a) (42 U.S.C. 677(a)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (6);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                (7) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) to ensure children who are likely to remain in foster 
        care until 18 years of age have regular, ongoing opportunities 
        to engage in age or developmentally-appropriate activities as 
        defined in section 475(11).''.
            (2) Section 477(h)(1) (42 U.S.C. 677(h)(1)) is amended by 
        inserting ``or, beginning in fiscal year 2020, $143,000,000'' 
        after ``$140,000,000''.

    (d) <<NOTE: 42 USC 671 note.>>  Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
        take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
            (2) Delay permitted if state legislation required.--
        If <<NOTE: Determination.>>  the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services determines that State legislation (other than 
        legislation appropriating funds) is required in order for a 
        State plan developed pursuant to part E of title IV of the 
        Social Security Act to meet the additional requirements imposed 
        by the amendments made by

[[Page 128 STAT. 1926]]

        this section, 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. 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.
SEC. 112. IMPROVING ANOTHER PLANNED PERMANENT LIVING ARRANGEMENT 
                        AS A PERMANENCY OPTION.

    (a) Elimination of Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement for 
Children Under Age 16.--
            (1) In general.--Section 475(5)(C)(i) (42 U.S.C. 
        675(5)(C)(i)) is amended by inserting ``only in the case of a 
        child who has attained 16 years of age'' before ``(in cases 
        where''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 422(b)(8)(A)(iii)(II) (42 
        U.S.C. 622(b)(8)(A)(iii)(II)) is amended by inserting ``, 
        subject to the requirements of sections 475(5)(C) and 475A(a)'' 
        after ``arrangement''.
            (3) <<NOTE: 42 USC 622 note.>>  Delayed applicability with 
        respect to certain children.--In the case of children in foster 
        care under the responsibility of an Indian tribe, tribal 
        organization, or tribal consortium (either directly or under 
        supervision of a State), the amendments made by this subsection 
        shall not apply until the date that is 3 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act.

    (b) Additional Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--Part E of title IV (42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.) 
        is amended by inserting after section 475 the following:
``SEC. 475A. <<NOTE: 42 USC 675a.>>  ADDITIONAL CASE PLAN AND CASE 
                          REVIEW SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.

    ``(a) Requirements for Another Planned Permanent Living 
Arrangement.-- <<NOTE: Applicability.>> In the case of any child for 
whom another planned permanent living arrangement is the permanency plan 
determined for the child under section 475(5)(C), the following 
requirements shall apply for purposes of approving the case plan for the 
child and the case system review procedure for the child:
            ``(1) Documentation of intensive, ongoing, unsuccessful 
        efforts for family placement.--At each permanency hearing held 
        with respect to the child, the State agency documents the 
        intensive, ongoing, and, as of the date of the hearing, 
        unsuccessful efforts made by the State agency to return the 
        child home or secure a placement for the child with a fit and 
        willing relative (including adult siblings), a legal guardian, 
        or an adoptive parent, including through efforts that utilize 
        search technology (including social media) to find biological 
        family members for the children.
            ``(2) Redetermination of appropriateness of placement at 
        each permanency hearing. <<NOTE: Procedures.>> --The State 
        agency shall implement procedures to ensure that, at each 
        permanency hearing held with respect to the child, the court or 
        administrative body appointed or approved by the court 
        conducting the hearing on the permanency plan for the child does 
        the following:
                    ``(A) Ask the child about the desired permanency 
                outcome for the child.
                    ``(B) Make a judicial determination explaining why, 
                as of the date of the hearing, another planned permanent 
                living arrangement is the best permanency plan for the

[[Page 128 STAT. 1927]]

                child and provide compelling reasons why it continues to 
                not be in the best interests of the child to--
                          ``(i) return home;
                          ``(ii) be placed for adoption;
                          ``(iii) be placed with a legal guardian; or
                          ``(iv) be placed with a fit and willing 
                      relative.
            ``(3) Demonstration of support for engaging in age or 
        developmentally-appropriate activities and social events.--At 
        each permanency hearing held with respect to the child, the 
        State agency shall document the steps the State agency is taking 
        to ensure that--
                    ``(A) the child's foster family home or child care 
                institution is following the reasonable and prudent 
                parent standard; and
                    ``(B) the child has regular, ongoing opportunities 
                to engage in age or developmentally appropriate 
                activities (including by consulting with the child in an 
                age-appropriate manner about the opportunities of the 
                child to participate in the activities).''.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) State plan requirements.--
                          (i) Part b.--Section 422(b)(8)(A)(ii) (42 
                      U.S.C. 622(b)(8)(A)(ii)) is amended by inserting 
                      ``and in accordance with the requirements of 
                      section 475A'' after ``section 475(5)''.
                          (ii) Part e.--Section 471(a)(16) (42 U.S.C. 
                      671(a)(16)) is amended--
                                    (I) by inserting ``and in accordance 
                                with the requirements of section 475A'' 
                                after ``section 475(1)''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``section 
                                475(5)(B)'' and inserting ``sections 
                                475(5) and 475A''.
                    (B) Definitions.--Section 475 (42 U.S.C. 675) is 
                amended--
                          (i) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding 
                      subparagraph (A), by inserting ``meets the 
                      requirements of section 475A and'' after ``written 
                      document which''; and
                          (ii) in paragraph (5)--
                                    (I) in subparagraph (B), by adding 
                                at the end the following ``and, for a 
                                child for whom another planned permanent 
                                living arrangement has been determined 
                                as the permanency plan, the steps the 
                                State agency is taking to ensure the 
                                child's foster family home or child care 
                                institution is following the reasonable 
                                and prudent parent standard and to 
                                ascertain whether the child has regular, 
                                ongoing opportunities to engage in age 
                                or developmentally appropriate 
                                activities (including by consulting with 
                                the child in an age-appropriate manner 
                                about the opportunities of the child to 
                                participate in the activities);''; and
                                    (II) in subparagraph (C)--
                                            (aa) by inserting ``, as of 
                                        the date of the hearing,'' after 
                                        ``compelling reason for 
                                        determining''; and

[[Page 128 STAT. 1928]]

                                            (bb) by inserting ``subject 
                                        to section 475A(a),'' after 
                                        ``another planned permanent 
                                        living arrangement,''.

    (c) <<NOTE: 42 USC 622 note.>>  Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
        take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
            (2) <<NOTE: Determination.>>  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 a 
        State plan developed pursuant to part E of title IV of the 
        Social Security Act to meet the additional requirements imposed 
        by the amendments made by this section, 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. 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.
SEC. 113. EMPOWERING FOSTER CHILDREN AGE 14 AND OLDER IN THE 
                        DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR OWN CASE PLAN AND 
                        TRANSITION PLANNING FOR A SUCCESSFUL 
                        ADULTHOOD.

    (a) In General.--Section 475(1)(B) (42 U.S.C. 675(1)(B)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: ``With respect to a child who has 
attained 14 years of age, the plan developed for the child in accordance 
with this paragraph, and any revision or addition to the plan, shall be 
developed in consultation with the child and, at the option of the 
child, with up to 2 members of the case planning team who are chosen by 
the child and who are not a foster parent of, or caseworker for, the 
child. A State may reject an individual selected by a child to be a 
member of the case planning team at any time if the State has good cause 
to believe that the individual would not act in the best interests of 
the child. One individual selected by a child to be a member of the 
child's case planning team may be designated to be the child's advisor 
and, as necessary, advocate, with respect to the application of the 
reasonable and prudent parent standard to the child.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments To Include Children 14 and Older in 
Transition Planning.--Section 475 (42 U.S.C. 675) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(D), by striking ``Where appropriate, 
        for a child age 16'' and inserting ``For a child who has 
        attained 14 years of age''; and
            (2) in paragraph (5)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (C)--
                          (i) in clause (i), by striking ``16'' and 
                      inserting ``14'';
                          (ii) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause 
                      (ii); and
                          (iii) by adding at the end the following: 
                      ``and (iv) if a child has attained 14 years of 
                      age, the permanency plan developed for the child, 
                      and any revision or addition to the plan, shall be 
                      developed in consultation with the child and, at 
                      the option of the child, with

[[Page 128 STAT. 1929]]

                      not more than 2 members of the permanency planning 
                      team who are selected by the child and who are not 
                      a foster parent of, or caseworker for, the child, 
                      except that the State may reject an individual so 
                      selected by the child if the State has good cause 
                      to believe that the individual would not act in 
                      the best interests of the child, and 1 individual 
                      so selected by the child may be designated to be 
                      the child's advisor and, as necessary, advocate, 
                      with respect to the application of the reasonable 
                      and prudent standard to the child;''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``16'' and 
                inserting ``14''.

    (c) Transition Planning for a Successful Adulthood.--Paragraphs 
(1)(D), (5)(C)(i), and (5)(C)(iii) of section 475 (42 U.S.C. 675) are 
each amended by striking ``independent living'' and inserting ``a 
successful adulthood''.
    (d) List of Rights.--Section 475A, as added by section 112(b)(1) of 
this Act, <<NOTE: Ante, p. 1926.>>  is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

    ``(b) List of Rights.--The case plan for any child in foster care 
under the responsibility of the State who has attained 14 years of age 
shall include--
            ``(1) a document that describes the rights of the child with 
        respect to education, health, visitation, and court 
        participation, the right to be provided with the documents 
        specified in section 475(5)(I) in accordance with that section, 
        and the right to stay safe and avoid exploitation; and
            ``(2) a signed acknowledgment by the child that the child 
        has been provided with a copy of the document and that the 
        rights contained in the document have been explained to the 
        child in an age-appropriate way.''.

    (e) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a 
report to Congress regarding the implementation of the amendments made 
by this section. The report shall include--
            (1) an analysis of how States are administering the 
        requirements of paragraphs (1)(B) and (5)(C) of section 475 of 
        the Social Security Act, as amended by subsections (a) and (b) 
        of this section, that a child in foster care who has attained 14 
        years of age be permitted to select up to 2 members of the case 
        planning team or permanency planning team for the child from 
        individuals who are not a foster parent of, or caseworker for, 
        the child; and
            (2) a description of best practices of States with respect 
        to the administration of the requirements.

    (f) <<NOTE: 42 USC 675 note.>>  Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
        take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
            (2) <<NOTE: Determination.>>  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 a 
        State plan developed pursuant to part E of title IV of the 
        Social Security Act to meet the additional requirements imposed 
        by the amendments made by this section, the plan shall not be 
        regarded as failing to meet any of the additional requirements 
        before the 1st day of the

[[Page 128 STAT. 1930]]

        1st calendar quarter beginning after the 1st regular session of 
        the State legislature that begins after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act. 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.
SEC. 114. ENSURING FOSTER CHILDREN HAVE A BIRTH CERTIFICATE, 
                        SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, HEALTH INSURANCE 
                        INFORMATION, MEDICAL RECORDS, AND A 
                        DRIVER'S LICENSE OR EQUIVALENT STATE-
                        ISSUED IDENTIFICATION CARD.

    (a) Case Review System Requirement.--Section 475(5)(I) (42 U.S.C. 
675(5)(I)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and receives assistance'' and inserting 
        ``receives assistance''; and
            (2) by inserting ``, and, if the child is leaving foster 
        care 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 with (if the child 
        is eligible to receive such document) an official or certified 
        copy of the United States birth certificate of the child, a 
        social security card issued by the Commissioner of Social 
        Security, health insurance information, a copy of the child's 
        medical records, and 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'' before the period.

    (b) <<NOTE: 42 USC 675 note.>>  Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
        take effect 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.
            (2) <<NOTE: Determination.>>  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 a 
        State plan developed pursuant to part E of title IV of the 
        Social Security Act to meet the additional requirements imposed 
        by the amendments made by this section, 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. 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.
SEC. 115. INFORMATION ON CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE IN ANNUAL REPORTS 
                        USING AFCARS DATA; CONSULTATION.

    Section 479A (42 U.S.C. 679b) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the 
        following:

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary'';
            (2) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (3) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) include in the report submitted pursuant to paragraph 
        (5) for fiscal year 2016 or any succeeding fiscal year, State-
        by-State data on--

[[Page 128 STAT. 1931]]

                    ``(A) children in foster care who have been placed 
                in a child care institution or other setting that is not 
                a foster family home, including--
                          ``(i) the number of children in the placements 
                      and their ages, including separately, the number 
                      and ages of children who have a permanency plan of 
                      another planned permanent living arrangement;
                          ``(ii) the duration of the placement in the 
                      settings (including for children who have a 
                      permanency plan of another planned permanent 
                      living arrangement);
                          ``(iii) the types of child care institutions 
                      used (including group homes, residential 
                      treatment, shelters, or other congregate care 
                      settings);
                          ``(iv) with respect to each child care 
                      institution or other setting that is not a foster 
                      family home, the number of children in foster care 
                      residing in each such institution or non-foster 
                      family home;
                          ``(v) any clinically diagnosed special need of 
                      such children; and
                          ``(vi) the extent of any specialized 
                      education, treatment, counseling, or other 
                      services provided in the settings; and
                    ``(B) children in foster care who are pregnant or 
                parenting.

    ``(b) Consultation on Other Issues.--The Secretary shall consult 
with States and organizations with an interest in child welfare, 
including organizations that provide adoption and foster care services, 
and shall take into account requests from Members of Congress, in 
selecting other issues to be analyzed and reported on under this section 
using data available to the Secretary, including data reported by States 
through the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System and 
to the National Youth in Transition Database.''.

                 Subtitle C--National Advisory Committee

SEC. 121. ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE 
                        SEX TRAFFICKING OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN 
                        THE UNITED STATES.

    Title XI (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 1114 the following:


 ``national advisory committee on the sex trafficking of chiildren and 
                       youth in the united states


    ``Sec. 1114A. <<NOTE: 42 USC 1314b.>>   (a) Official Designation.--
This section relates to the National Advisory Committee on the Sex 
Trafficking of Children and Youth in the United States (in this section 
referred to as the `Committee').

    ``(b) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  Authority.--Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish and 
appoint all members of the Committee.

    ``(c) Membership.--
            ``(1) Composition.--The Committee shall be composed of not 
        more than 21 members whose diverse experience and background 
        enable them to provide balanced points of view with regard to 
        carrying out the duties of the Committee.

[[Page 128 STAT. 1932]]

            ``(2) <<NOTE: Consultation.>>  Selection.--The Secretary, in 
        consultation with the Attorney General and National Governors 
        Association, shall appoint the members to the Committee. At 
        least 1 Committee member shall be a former sex trafficking 
        victim. 2 Committee members shall be a Governor of a State, 1 of 
        whom shall be a member of the Democratic Party and 1 of whom 
        shall be a member of the Republican Party.
            ``(3) Period of appointment; vacancies.--Members shall be 
        appointed for the life of the Committee. A vacancy in the 
        Committee shall be filled in the manner in which the original 
        appointment was made and shall not affect the powers or duties 
        of the Committee.
            ``(4) Compensation.--Committee members shall serve without 
        compensation or per diem in lieu of subsistence.

    ``(d) Duties.--
            ``(1) National response.--The Committee shall advise the 
        Secretary and the Attorney General on practical and general 
        policies concerning improvements to the Nation's response to the 
        sex trafficking of children and youth in the United States.
            ``(2) Policies for cooperation.--The Committee shall advise 
        the Secretary and the Attorney General on practical and general 
        policies concerning the cooperation of Federal, State, local, 
        and tribal governments, child welfare agencies, social service 
        providers, physical health and mental health providers, victim 
        service providers, State or local courts with responsibility for 
        conducting or supervising proceedings relating to child welfare 
        or social services for children and their families, Federal, 
        State, and local police, juvenile detention centers, and runaway 
        and homeless youth programs, schools, the gaming and 
        entertainment industry, and businesses and organizations that 
        provide services to youth, on responding to sex trafficking, 
        including the development and implementation of--
                    ``(A) successful interventions with children and 
                youth who are exposed to conditions that make them 
                vulnerable to, or victims of, sex trafficking; and
                    ``(B) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>>  recommendations 
                for administrative or legislative changes necessary to 
                use programs, properties, or other resources owned, 
                operated, or funded by the Federal Government to provide 
                safe housing for children and youth who are sex 
                trafficking victims and provide support to entities that 
                provide housing or other assistance to the victims.
            ``(3) Best practices and recommendations for states.--
                    ``(A) <<NOTE: Deadline.>>  In general.--Within 2 
                years after the establishment of the Committee, the 
                Committee shall develop 2 tiers (referred to in this 
                subparagraph as `Tier I' and `Tier II') of recommended 
                best practices for States to follow in combating the sex 
                trafficking of children and youth. Tier I shall provide 
                States that have not yet substantively addressed the sex 
                trafficking of children and youth with an idea of where 
                to begin and what steps to take. Tier II shall provide 
                States that are already working to address the sex 
                trafficking of children and youth with examples of 
                policies that are already being used effectively by 
                other States to address sex trafficking.
                    ``(B) Development.--The best practices shall be 
                based on multidisciplinary research and promising, 
                evidence-

[[Page 128 STAT. 1933]]

                based models and programs as reflected in State efforts 
                to meet the requirements of sections 101 and 102 of the 
                Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families 
                Act.
                    ``(C) Content.--The best practices shall be user-
                friendly, incorporate the most up-to-date technology, 
                and include the following:
                          ``(i) Sample training materials, protocols, 
                      and screening tools that, to the extent possible, 
                      accommodate for regional differences among the 
                      States, to prepare individuals who administer 
                      social services to identify and serve children and 
                      youth who are sex trafficking victims or at-risk 
                      of sex trafficking.
                          ``(ii) Multidisciplinary strategies to 
                      identify victims, manage cases, and improve 
                      services for all children and youth who are at 
                      risk of sex trafficking, or are sex trafficking 
                      victims, in the United States.
                          ``(iii) Sample protocols and recommendations 
                      based on current States' efforts, accounting for 
                      regional differences between States that provide 
                      for effective, cross-system collaboration between 
                      Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, 
                      child welfare agencies, social service providers, 
                      physical health and mental health providers, 
                      victim service providers, State or local courts 
                      with responsibility for conducting or supervising 
                      proceedings relating to child welfare or social 
                      services for children and their families, the 
                      gaming and entertainment industry, Federal, State, 
                      and local police, juvenile detention centers and 
                      runaway and homeless youth programs, housing 
                      resources that are appropriate for housing child 
                      and youth victims of trafficking, schools, and 
                      businesses and organizations that provide services 
                      to children and youth. These protocols and 
                      recommendations should include strategies to 
                      identify victims and collect, document, and share 
                      data across systems and agencies, and should be 
                      designed to help agencies better understand the 
                      type of sex trafficking involved, the scope of the 
                      problem, the needs of the population to be served, 
                      ways to address the demand for trafficked children 
                      and youth and increase prosecutions of traffickers 
                      and purchasers of children and youth, and the 
                      degree of victim interaction with multiple 
                      systems.
                          ``(iv) Developing the criteria and guidelines 
                      necessary for establishing safe residential 
                      placements for foster children who have been sex 
                      trafficked as well as victims of trafficking 
                      identified through interaction with law 
                      enforcement.
                          ``(v) Developing training guidelines for 
                      caregivers that serve children and youth being 
                      cared for outside the home.
                    ``(D) <<NOTE: Notifications. Deadlines.>>  Informing 
                states of best practices.--The Committee, in 
                coordination with the National Governors Association, 
                Secretary and Attorney General, shall ensure that State 
                Governors and child welfare agencies are notified and 
                informed on a quarterly basis of the best practices and 
                recommendations for States, and notified 6 months

[[Page 128 STAT. 1934]]

                in advance that the Committee will be evaluating the 
                extent to which States adopt the Committee's 
                recommendations.
                    ``(E) <<NOTE: Public information. Web posting.>>  
                Report on state implementation.--Within 3 years after 
                the establishment of the Committee, the Committee shall 
                submit to the Secretary and the Attorney General, as 
                part of its final report as well as for online and 
                publicly available publication, a description of what 
                each State has done to implement the recommendations of 
                the Committee.

    ``(e) Reports.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Committee shall submit an interim and 
        a final report on the work of the Committee to--
                    ``(A) the Secretary;
                    ``(B) the Attorney General;
                    ``(C) the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and
                    ``(D) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House 
                of Representatives.
            ``(2) Reporting dates.--The interim report shall be 
        submitted not later than 3 years after the establishment of the 
        Committee. The final report shall be submitted not later than 4 
        years after the establishment of the Committee.

    ``(f) Administration.--
            ``(1) Agency support.--The Secretary shall direct the head 
        of the Administration for Children and Families of the 
        Department of Health and Human Services to provide all necessary 
        support for the Committee.
            ``(2) Meetings.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Committee will meet at the 
                call of the Secretary at least twice each year to carry 
                out this section, and more often as otherwise required.
                    ``(B) Accommodation for committee members unable to 
                attend in person.--The Secretary shall create a process 
                through which Committee members who are unable to travel 
                to a Committee meeting in person may participate 
                remotely through the use of video conference, 
                teleconference, online, or other means.
            ``(3) Subcommittees.--The Committee may establish 
        subcommittees or working groups, as necessary and consistent 
        with the mission of the Committee. The subcommittees or working 
        groups shall have no authority to make decisions on behalf of 
        the Committee, nor shall they report directly to any official or 
        entity listed in subsection (d).
            ``(4) Recordkeeping.--The records of the Committee and any 
        subcommittees and working groups shall be maintained in 
        accordance with appropriate Department of Health and Human 
        Services policies and procedures and shall be available for 
        public inspection and copying, subject to the Freedom of 
        Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552).

    ``(g) <<NOTE: Web site.>>  Termination.--The Committee shall 
terminate 5 years after the date of its establishment, but the Secretary 
shall continue to operate and update, as necessary, an Internet website 
displaying the State best practices, recommendations, and evaluation of 
State-by-State implementation of the Secretary's recommendations.

    ``(h) Definition.--For the purpose of this section, the term `sex 
trafficking' includes the definition set forth in section 103(10) of the 
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C.

[[Page 128 STAT. 1935]]

7102(10)) and `severe form of trafficking in persons' described in 
section 103(9)(A) of such Act.''.

TITLE II--IMPROVING ADOPTION INCENTIVES AND EXTENDING FAMILY CONNECTION 
                                 GRANTS

            Subtitle A--Improving Adoption Incentive Payments

SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF PROGRAM THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2016.

    Section 473A (42 U.S.C. 673b) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(5), by striking ``2008 through 2012'' 
        and inserting ``2013 through 2015''; and
            (2) in each of paragraphs (1)(D) and (2) of subsection (h), 
        by striking ``2013'' and inserting ``2016''.
SEC. 202. IMPROVEMENTS TO AWARD STRUCTURE.

    (a) Eligibility for Award.--Section 473A(b) (42 U.S.C. 673b(b)) is 
amended by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraphs (3) 
through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively.
    (b) Data Requirements.--Section 473A(c)(2) (42 U.S.C. 673b(c)(2)) is 
amended--
            (1) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``numbers of 
        adoptions'' and inserting ``rates of adoptions and 
        guardianships'';
            (2) by striking ``the numbers'' and all that follows through 
        ``section,'' and inserting ``each of the rates required to be 
        determined under this section with respect to a State and a 
        fiscal year,''; and
            (3) by inserting before the period the following: ``, and, 
        with respect to the determination of the rates related to foster 
        child guardianships, on the basis of information reported to the 
        Secretary under paragraph (12) of subsection (g)''.

    (c) Award Amount.--Section 473A(d) (42 U.S.C. 673b(d)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A) through 
        (C) and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) $5,000, multiplied by the amount (if any) by 
                which--
                          ``(i) the number of foster child adoptions in 
                      the State during the fiscal year; exceeds
                          ``(ii) the product (rounded to the nearest 
                      whole number) of--
                                    ``(I) the base rate of foster child 
                                adoptions for the State for the fiscal 
                                year; and
                                    ``(II) the number of children in 
                                foster care under the supervision of the 
                                State on the last day of the preceding 
                                fiscal year;
                    ``(B) $7,500, multiplied by the amount (if any) by 
                which--

[[Page 128 STAT. 1936]]

                          ``(i) the number of pre-adolescent child 
                      adoptions and pre-adolescent foster child 
                      guardianships in the State during the fiscal year; 
                      exceeds
                          ``(ii) the product (rounded to the nearest 
                      whole number) of--
                                    ``(I) the base rate of pre-
                                adolescent child adoptions and pre-
                                adolescent foster child guardianships 
                                for the State for the fiscal year; and
                                    ``(II) the number of children in 
                                foster care under the supervision of the 
                                State on the last day of the preceding 
                                fiscal year who have attained 9 years of 
                                age but not 14 years of age; and
                    ``(C) $10,000, multiplied by the amount (if any) by 
                which--
                          ``(i) the number of older child adoptions and 
                      older foster child guardianships in the State 
                      during the fiscal year; exceeds
                          ``(ii) the product (rounded to the nearest 
                      whole number) of--
                                    ``(I) the base rate of older child 
                                adoptions and older foster child 
                                guardianships for the State for the 
                                fiscal year; and
                                    ``(II) the number of children in 
                                foster care under the supervision of the 
                                State on the last day of the preceding 
                                fiscal year who have attained 14 years 
                                of age; and
                    ``(D) $4,000, multiplied by the amount (if any) by 
                which--
                          ``(i) the number of foster child guardianships 
                      in the State during the fiscal year; exceeds
                          ``(ii) the product (rounded to the nearest 
                      whole number) of--
                                    ``(I) the base rate of foster child 
                                guardianships for the State for the 
                                fiscal year; and
                                    ``(II) the number of children in 
                                foster care under the supervision of the 
                                State on the last day of the preceding 
                                fiscal year.''; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
            ``(3) Increased adoption and legal guardianship incentive 
        payment for timely adoptions.--
                    ``(A) <<NOTE: Determination.>>  In general.--If for 
                any of fiscal years 2013 through 2015, the total amount 
                of adoption and legal guardianship incentive payments 
                payable under paragraph (1) of this subsection are less 
                than the amount appropriated under subsection (h) for 
                the fiscal year, then, from the remainder of the amount 
                appropriated for the fiscal year that is not required 
                for such payments (in this paragraph referred to as the 
                `timely adoption award pool'), the Secretary shall 
                increase the adoption incentive payment determined under 
                paragraph (1) for each State that the Secretary 
                determines is a timely adoption award State for the 
                fiscal year by the award amount determined for the 
                fiscal year under subparagraph (C).
                    ``(B) Timely adoption award state defined.--A State 
                is a timely adoption award State for a fiscal year if 
                the Secretary determines that, for children who were in 
                foster care under the supervision of the State at the 
                time of

[[Page 128 STAT. 1937]]

                adoptive placement, the average number of months from 
                removal of children from their home to the placement of 
                children in finalized adoptions is less than 24 months.
                    ``(C) Award amount.--For purposes of subparagraph 
                (A), the award amount determined under this subparagraph 
                with respect to a fiscal year is the amount equal to the 
                timely adoption award pool for the fiscal year divided 
                by the number of timely adoption award States for the 
                fiscal year.''.

    (d) Definitions.--Section 473A(g) (42 U.S.C. 673b(g)) is amended by 
striking paragraphs (1) through (8) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) Foster child adoption rate.--The term `foster child 
        adoption rate' means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, 
        the percentage determined by dividing--
                    ``(A) the number of foster child adoptions finalized 
                in the State during the fiscal year; by
                    ``(B) the number of children in foster care under 
                the supervision of the State on the last day of the 
                preceding fiscal year.
            ``(2) Base rate of foster child adoptions.--The term `base 
        rate of foster child adoptions' means, with respect to a State 
        and a fiscal year, the lesser of--
                    ``(A) the foster child adoption rate for the State 
                for the then immediately preceding fiscal year; or
                    ``(B) the foster child adoption rate for the State 
                for the average of the then immediately preceding 3 
                fiscal years.
            ``(3) Foster child adoption.--The term `foster child 
        adoption' means the final adoption of a child who, at the time 
        of adoptive placement, was in foster care under the supervision 
        of the State.
            ``(4) Pre-adolescent child adoption and pre-adolescent 
        foster child guardianship rate.--The term `pre-adolescent child 
        adoption and pre-adolescent foster child guardianship rate' 
        means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the percentage 
        determined by dividing--
                    ``(A) the number of pre-adolescent child adoptions 
                and pre-adolescent foster child guardianships finalized 
                in the State during the fiscal year; by
                    ``(B) the number of children in foster care under 
                the supervision of the State on the last day of the 
                preceding fiscal year, who have attained 9 years of age 
                but not 14 years of age.
            ``(5) Base rate of pre-adolescent child adoptions and pre-
        adolescent foster child guardianships.--The term `base rate of 
        pre-adolescent child adoptions and pre-adolescent foster child 
        guardianships' means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, 
        the lesser of--
                    ``(A) the pre-adolescent child adoption and pre-
                adolescent foster child guardianship rate for the State 
                for the then immediately preceding fiscal year; or
                    ``(B) the pre-adolescent child adoption and pre-
                adolescent foster child guardianship rate for the State 
                for the average of the then immediately preceding 3 
                fiscal years.
            ``(6) Pre-adolescent child adoption and pre-adolescent 
        foster child guardianship.--The term `pre-adolescent

[[Page 128 STAT. 1938]]

        child adoption and pre-adolescent foster child guardianship' 
        means the final adoption, or the placement into foster child 
        guardianship (as defined in paragraph (12)) of a child who has 
        attained 9 years of age but not 14 years of age if--
                    ``(A) at the time of the adoptive or foster child 
                guardianship placement, the child was in foster care 
                under the supervision of the State; or
                    ``(B) an adoption assistance agreement was in effect 
                under section 473(a) with respect to the child.
            ``(7) Older child adoption and older foster child 
        guardianship rate.--The term `older child adoption and older 
        foster child guardianship rate' means, with respect to a State 
        and a fiscal year, the percentage determined by dividing--
                    ``(A) the number of older child adoptions and older 
                foster child guardianships finalized in the State during 
                the fiscal year; by
                    ``(B) the number of children in foster care under 
                the supervision of the State on the last day of the 
                preceding fiscal year, who have attained 14 years of 
                age.
            ``(8) Base rate of older child adoptions and older foster 
        child guardianships.--The term `base rate of older child 
        adoptions and older foster child guardianships' means, with 
        respect to a State and a fiscal year, the lesser of--
                    ``(A) the older child adoption and older foster 
                child guardianship rate for the State for the then 
                immediately preceding fiscal year; or
                    ``(B) the older child adoption and older foster 
                child guardianship rate for the State for the average of 
                the then immediately preceding 3 fiscal years.
            ``(9) Older child adoption and older foster child 
        guardianship.--The term `older child adoption and older foster 
        child guardianship' means the final adoption, or the placement 
        into foster child guardianship (as defined in paragraph (12)) of 
        a child who has attained 14 years of age if--
                    ``(A) at the time of the adoptive or foster child 
                guardianship placement, the child was in foster care 
                under the supervision of the State; or
                    ``(B) an adoption assistance agreement was in effect 
                under section 473(a) with respect to the child.
            ``(10) Foster child guardianship rate.--The term `foster 
        child guardianship rate' means, with respect to a State and a 
        fiscal year, the percentage determined by dividing--
                    ``(A) the number of foster child guardianships 
                occurring in the State during the fiscal year; by
                    ``(B) the number of children in foster care under 
                the supervision of the State on the last day of the 
                preceding fiscal year.
            ``(11) Base rate of foster child guardianships.--The term 
        `base rate of foster child guardianships' means, with respect to 
        a State and a fiscal year, the lesser of--
                    ``(A) the foster child guardianship rate for the 
                State for the then immediately preceding fiscal year; or
                    ``(B) the foster child guardianship rate for the 
                State for the average of the then immediately preceding 
                3 fiscal years.
            ``(12) Foster child guardianship.--The term `foster child 
        guardianship' means, with respect to a State, the exit of a

[[Page 128 STAT. 1939]]

        child from foster care under the responsibility of the State to 
        live with a legal guardian, if the State has reported to the 
        Secretary--
                    ``(A) that the State agency has determined that--
                          ``(i) the child has been removed from his or 
                      her home pursuant to a voluntary placement 
                      agreement or as a result of a judicial 
                      determination to the effect that continuation in 
                      the home would be contrary to the welfare of the 
                      child;
                          ``(ii) being returned home or adopted are not 
                      appropriate permanency options for the child;
                          ``(iii) the child demonstrates a strong 
                      attachment to the prospective legal guardian, and 
                      the prospective legal guardian has a strong 
                      commitment to caring permanently for the child; 
                      and
                          ``(iv) if the child has attained 14 years of 
                      age, the child has been consulted regarding the 
                      legal guardianship arrangement; or
                    ``(B) the alternative procedures used by the State 
                to determine that legal guardianship is the appropriate 
                option for the child.''.
SEC. 203. RENAMING OF PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The section heading of section 473A (42 U.S.C. 
673b) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 473A. ADOPTION AND LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP INCENTIVE 
                          PAYMENTS.''.

    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 473A is amended in each of subsections (a), 
        (d)(1), (d)(2)(A), and (d)(2)(B) (42 U.S.C. 673b(a), (d)(1), 
        (d)(2)(A), and (d)(2)(B)) by inserting ``and legal 
        guardianship'' after ``adoption'' each place it appears.
            (2) The heading of section 473A(d) (42 U.S.C. 673b(d)) is 
        amended by inserting ``and Legal Guardianship'' after 
        ``Adoption''.
SEC. 204. LIMITATION ON USE OF INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.

    Section 473A(f) (42 U.S.C. 673b(f)) is amended in the 1st sentence 
by inserting ``, and shall use the amount to supplement, and not 
supplant, any Federal or non-Federal funds used to provide any service 
under part B or E'' before the period.
SEC. 205. INCREASE IN PERIOD FOR WHICH INCENTIVE PAYMENTS ARE 
                        AVAILABLE FOR EXPENDITURE.

    Section 473A(e) (42 U.S.C. 673b(e)) is amended--
            (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``24-month'' and 
        inserting ``36-month''; and
            (2) by striking ``24-month'' and inserting ``36-month''.
SEC. 206. STATE REPORT ON CALCULATION AND USE OF SAVINGS RESULTING 
                        FROM THE PHASE-OUT OF ELIGIBILITY 
                        REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTION ASSISTANCE; 
                        REQUIREMENT TO SPEND 30 PERCENT OF SAVINGS 
                        ON CERTAIN SERVICES.

    Section 473(a)(8) (42 U.S.C. 673(a)(8)) is amended to read as 
follows:

[[Page 128 STAT. 1940]]

    ``(8)(A) A State shall calculate the savings (if any) resulting from 
the application of paragraph (2)(A)(ii) to all applicable children for a 
fiscal year, using a methodology specified by the Secretary or an 
alternate methodology proposed by the State and approved by the 
Secretary.
    ``(B) A State shall annually report to the Secretary--
            ``(i) the methodology used to make the calculation described 
        in subparagraph (A), without regard to whether any savings are 
        found;
            ``(ii) the amount of any savings referred to in subparagraph 
        (A); and
            ``(iii) how any such savings are spent, accounting for and 
        reporting the spending separately from any other spending 
        reported to the Secretary under part B or this part.

    ``(C) <<NOTE: Public information. Web posting.>>  The Secretary 
shall make all information reported pursuant to subparagraph (B) 
available on the website of the Department of Health and Human Services 
in a location easily accessible to the public.

    ``(D)(i) A State shall spend an amount equal to the amount of the 
savings (if any) in State expenditures under this part resulting from 
the application of paragraph (2)(A)(ii) to all applicable children for a 
fiscal year, to provide to children of families any service that may be 
provided under part B or this part. A State shall spend not less than 30 
percent of any such savings on post-adoption services, post-guardianship 
services, and services to support and sustain positive permanent 
outcomes for children who otherwise might enter into foster care under 
the responsibility of the State, with at least \2/3\ of the spending by 
the State to comply with such 30 percent requirement being spent on 
post-adoption and post-guardianship services.
    ``(ii) Any State spending required under clause (i) shall be used to 
supplement, and not supplant, any Federal or non-Federal funds used to 
provide any service under part B or this part.''.
SEC. 207. PRESERVATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR KINSHIP GUARDIANSHIP 
                        ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS WITH A SUCCESSOR 
                        GUARDIAN.

    Section 473(d)(3) (42 U.S.C. 673(d)(3)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
                    ``(C) Eligibility not affected by replacement of 
                guardian with a successor guardian.--In the event of the 
                death or incapacity of the relative guardian, the 
                eligibility of a child for a kinship guardianship 
                assistance payment under this subsection shall not be 
                affected by reason of the replacement of the relative 
                guardian with a successor legal guardian named in the 
                kinship guardianship assistance agreement referred to in 
                paragraph (1) (including in any amendment to the 
                agreement), notwithstanding subparagraph (A) of this 
                paragraph and section 471(a)(28).''.
SEC. 208. DATA COLLECTION ON ADOPTION AND LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP 
                        DISRUPTION AND DISSOLUTION.

    Section 479 (42 U.S.C. 679) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

[[Page 128 STAT. 1941]]

    ``(d) <<NOTE: Regulations.>>  To promote improved knowledge on how 
best to ensure strong, permanent families for children, the Secretary 
shall promulgate regulations providing for the collection and analysis 
of information regarding children who enter into foster care under the 
supervision of a State after prior finalization of an adoption or legal 
guardianship. <<NOTE: Reports.>>  The regulations shall require each 
State with a State plan approved under this part to collect and report 
as part of such data collection system the number of children who enter 
foster care under supervision of the State after finalization of an 
adoption or legal guardianship and may include information concerning 
the length of the prior adoption or guardianship, the age of the child 
at the time of the prior adoption or guardianship, the age at which the 
child subsequently entered foster care under supervision of the State, 
the type of agency involved in making the prior adoptive or guardianship 
placement, and any other factors determined necessary to better 
understand factors associated with the child's post-adoption or post-
guardianship entry to foster care.''.
SEC. 209. ENCOURAGING THE PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE 
                        WITH SIBLINGS.

    (a) State Plan Amendment.--
            (1) Notification of parents of siblings.--Section 471(a)(29) 
        (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(29)) is amended by striking ``all adult 
        grandparents'' and inserting ``the following relatives: all 
        adult grandparents, all parents of a sibling of the child, where 
        such parent has legal custody of such sibling,''.
            (2) Sibling defined.--Section 475 (42 U.S.C. 675), as 
        amended by sections 101(b) and 111(a)(1) of this Act, is amended 
        by adding at the end the following:
            ``(12) The term `sibling' means an individual who satisfies 
        at least one of the following conditions with respect to a 
        child:
                    ``(A) The individual is considered by State law to 
                be a sibling of the child.
                    ``(B) The individual would have been considered a 
                sibling of the child under State law but for a 
                termination or other disruption of parental rights, such 
                as the death of a parent.''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 42 USC 671 note.>>  Rule of Construction.--Nothing in 
this section shall be construed as subordinating the rights of foster or 
adoptive parents of a child to the rights of the parents of a sibling of 
that child.
SEC. 210. <<NOTE: 42 USC 671 note.>>  EFFECTIVE DATES.

    (a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, the 
amendments made by this subtitle shall take effect as if enacted on 
October 1, 2013.
    (b) Restructuring and Renaming of Program.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by sections 202 and 203 
        shall take effect on October 1, 2014, subject to paragraph (2).
            (2) Transition rule.--
                    (A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
                of law, the total amount payable to a State under 
                section 473A of the Social Security Act for fiscal year 
                2014 shall be an amount equal to \1/2\ of the sum of--
                          (i) the total amount that would be payable to 
                      the State under such section for fiscal year 2014 
                      if the amendments made by section 202 of this Act 
                      had not taken effect; and

[[Page 128 STAT. 1942]]

                          (ii) the total amount that would be payable to 
                      the State under such section for fiscal year 2014 
                      in the absence of this paragraph.
                    (B) Pro rata adjustment if insufficient funds 
                available.--If the total amount otherwise payable under 
                subparagraph (A) for fiscal year 2014 exceeds the amount 
                appropriated pursuant to section 473A(h) of the Social 
                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 673b(h)) for that fiscal year, 
                the amount payable to each State under subparagraph (A) 
                for fiscal year 2014 shall be--
                          (i) the amount that would otherwise be payable 
                      to the State under subparagraph (A) for fiscal 
                      year 2014; multiplied by
                          (ii) the percentage represented by the amount 
                      so appropriated for fiscal year 2014, divided by 
                      the total amount otherwise payable under 
                      subparagraph (A) to all States for that fiscal 
                      year.

    (c) Use of Incentive Payments; Eligibility for Kinship Guardianship 
Assistance Payments With a Successor Guardian; Data Collection.--The 
amendments made by sections 204, 207, and 208 shall take effect on the 
date of enactment of this Act.
    (d) Calculation and Use of Savings Resulting From the Phase-Out of 
Eligibility Requirements for Adoption Assistance.--The amendment made by 
section 206 shall take effect on October 1, 2014.
    (e) Notification of Parents of Siblings.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by section 209 shall 
        take effect on the date of enactment of this Act, subject to 
        paragraph (2).
            (2) <<NOTE: Determination.>>  Delay permitted if state 
        legislation required.--In the case of a State plan approved 
        under part E 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 section 209, 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 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter beginning after 
        the close of the 1st regular session of the State legislature 
        that ends after the 1-year period beginning with the date of 
        enactment of this Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, 
        in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, 
        each year of the session is deemed to be a separate regular 
        session of the State legislature.

        Subtitle B--Extending the Family Connection Grant Program

SEC. 221. EXTENSION OF FAMILY CONNECTION GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 427(h) (42 U.S.C. 627(h)) is amended by 
striking ``2013'' and inserting ``2014''.
    (b) Eligibility of Universities for Matching Grants.--Section 427(a) 
(42 U.S.C. 627(a)) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--

[[Page 128 STAT. 1943]]

            (1) by striking ``and'' before ``private''; and
            (2) by inserting ``and institutions of higher education (as 
        defined under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1001)),'' after ``arrangements,''.

    (c) Finding Families for Foster Children Who Are Parents.--Section 
427(a)(1)(E) (42 U.S.C. 627(a)(1)(E)) is amended by inserting ``and 
other individuals who are willing and able to be foster parents for 
children in foster care under the responsibility of the State who are 
themselves parents'' after ``kinship care families''.
    (d) Reservation of Funds.--Section 427(g) (42 U.S.C. 627(g)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (1); and
            (2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
        (1) and (2), respectively.

    (e) <<NOTE: 42 USC 627 note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendments made 
by this section shall take effect as if enacted on October 1, 2013.

        TITLE III--IMPROVING INTERNATIONAL CHILD SUPPORT RECOVERY

SEC. 301. AMENDMENTS TO ENSURE ACCESS TO CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES 
                        FOR INTERNATIONAL CHILD SUPPORT CASES.

    (a) Authority of the Secretary of HHS To Ensure Compliance With 
Multilateral Child Support Conventions.--
            (1) In general.--Section 452 (42 U.S.C. 652) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating the second subsection (l) (as 
                added by section 7306 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 
                2005) as subsection (m); and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:

    ``(n) The Secretary shall use the authorities otherwise provided by 
law to ensure the compliance of the United States with any multilateral 
child support convention to which the United States is a party.''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 453(k)(3) (42 U.S.C. 
        653(k)(3)) is amended by striking ``452(l)'' and inserting 
        ``452(m)''.

    (b) Access to the Federal Parent Locator Service.--Section 453(c) 
(42 U.S.C. 653(c)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) an entity designated as a Central Authority for child 
        support enforcement in a foreign reciprocating country or a 
        foreign treaty country for purposes specified in section 
        459A(c)(2).''.

    (c) State Option To Require Individuals in Foreign Countries To 
Apply Through Their Country's Appropriate Central Authority.--Section 
454 (42 U.S.C. 654) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4)(A)(ii), by inserting before the 
        semicolon ``(except that, if the individual applying for the 
        services resides in a foreign reciprocating country or foreign 
        treaty country, the State may opt to require the individual to 
        request the services through the Central Authority for child 
        support enforcement in the foreign reciprocating country or the 
        foreign

[[Page 128 STAT. 1944]]

        treaty country, and if the individual resides in a foreign 
        country that is not a foreign reciprocating country or a foreign 
        treaty country, a State may accept or reject the application)''; 
        and
            (2) in paragraph (32)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, a foreign 
                treaty country,'' after ``a foreign reciprocating 
                country''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``or foreign 
                obligee'' and inserting ``, foreign treaty country, or 
                foreign individual''.

    (d) Amendments to International Support Enforcement Provisions.--
Section 459A (42 U.S.C. 659a) is amended--
            (1) by adding at the end the following:

    ``(e) References.--In this part:
            ``(1) Foreign reciprocating country.--The term `foreign 
        reciprocating country' means a foreign country (or political 
        subdivision thereof) with respect to which the Secretary has 
        made a declaration pursuant to subsection (a).
            ``(2) Foreign treaty country.--The term `foreign treaty 
        country' means a foreign country for which the 2007 Family 
        Maintenance Convention is in force.
            ``(3) 2007 family maintenance convention.--The term `2007 
        Family Maintenance Convention' means the Hague Convention of 23 
        November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and 
        Other Forms of Family Maintenance.'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``foreign countries that are the subject of a 
                declaration under this section'' and inserting ``foreign 
                reciprocating countries or foreign treaty countries''; 
                and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and foreign 
                treaty countries'' after ``foreign reciprocating 
                countries''; and
            (3) in subsection (d), by striking ``the subject of a 
        declaration pursuant to subsection (a)'' and inserting ``foreign 
        reciprocating countries or foreign treaty countries''.

    (e) Collection of Past-Due Support From Federal Tax Refunds.--
Section 464(a)(2)(A) (42 U.S.C. 664(a)(2)(A)) is amended by striking 
``under section 454(4)(A)(ii)'' and inserting ``under paragraph 
(4)(A)(ii) or (32) of section 454''.
    (f) State Law Requirement Concerning the Uniform Interstate Family 
Support Act (UIFSA).--
            (1) In general.--Section 466(f) (42 U.S.C. 666(f)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by striking ``on and after January 1, 1998,'';
                    (B) by striking ``and as in effect on August 22, 
                1996,''; and
                    (C) by striking ``adopted as of such date'' and 
                inserting ``adopted as of September 30, 2008''.
            (2) Conforming amendments to title 28, united states code.--
        Section 1738B of title 28, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (d), by striking ``individual 
                contestant'' and inserting ``individual contestant or 
                the parties have consented in a record or open court 
                that the tribunal of the State may continue to exercise 
                jurisdiction to modify its order,'';
                    (B) in subsection (e)(2)(A), by striking 
                ``individual contestant'' and inserting ``individual 
                contestant and the

[[Page 128 STAT. 1945]]

                parties have not consented in a record or open court 
                that the tribunal of the other State may continue to 
                exercise jurisdiction to modify its order''; and
                    (C) in subsection (b)--
                          (i) by striking `` `child' means'' and 
                      inserting ``(1) The term `child' means'';
                          (ii) by striking `` `child's State' means'' 
                      and inserting ``(2) The term `child's State' 
                      means'';
                          (iii) by striking `` `child's home State' 
                      means'' and inserting ``(3) The term `child's home 
                      State' means'';
                          (iv) by striking `` `child support' means'' 
                      and inserting ``(4) The term `child support' 
                      means'';
                          (v) by striking `` `child support order' '' 
                      and inserting ``(5) The term `child support order' 
                      '';
                          (vi) by striking `` `contestant' means'' and 
                      inserting ``(6) The term `contestant' means'';
                          (vii) by striking `` `court' means'' and 
                      inserting ``(7) The term `court' means'';
                          (viii) by striking `` `modification' means'' 
                      and inserting ``(8) The term `modification' 
                      means''; and
                          (ix) by striking `` `State' means'' and 
                      inserting ``(9) The term `State' means''.
            (3) Effective date; grace period for state law changes.--
                    (A) <<NOTE: 42 USC 666 note.>>  Paragraph (1).--(i) 
                The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect 
                with respect to a State no later than the effective date 
                of laws enacted by the legislature of the State 
                implementing such paragraph, but in no event later than 
                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 the 
                enactment of this Act.
                    (ii) For purposes of clause (i), in the case of a 
                State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year 
                of the session shall be deemed to be a separate regular 
                session of the State legislature.
                    (B) <<NOTE: 28 USC 1738B note.>>  Paragraph (2).--
                (i) The amendments made by subparagraphs (A) and (B) of 
                paragraph (2) shall take effect on the date on which the 
                Hague Convention of 23 November 2007 on the 
                International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms 
                of Family Maintenance enters into force for the United 
                States.
                    (ii) The amendments made by subparagraph (C) of 
                paragraph (2) shall take effect on the date of the 
                enactment of this Act.
SEC. 302. CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS FOR INDIAN TRIBES.

    (a) Tribal Access to the Federal Parent Locator Service.--Section 
453(c)(1) (42 U.S.C. 653(c)(1)) is amended by inserting ``or Indian 
tribe or tribal organization (as defined in subsections (e) and (l) of 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
(25 U.S.C. 450b)),'' after ``any State''.
    (b) Waiver Authority for Indian Tribes or Tribal Organizations 
Operating Child Support Enforcement Programs.--Section 1115(b) (42 
U.S.C. 1315(b)) is amended--

[[Page 128 STAT. 1946]]

            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as 
        subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively, and realigning the 
        left margin of subparagraph (C) so as to align with 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B) (as so redesignated);
            (2) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(b)''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:

    ``(2) An Indian tribe or tribal organization operating a program 
under section 455(f) shall be considered a State for purposes of 
authority to conduct an experimental, pilot, or demonstration project 
under subsection (a) to assist in promoting the objectives of part D of 
title IV and receiving payments under the second sentence of that 
subsection. <<NOTE: Waiver authority.>>  The Secretary may waive 
compliance with any requirements of section 455(f) or regulations 
promulgated under that section to the extent and for the period the 
Secretary finds necessary for an Indian tribe or tribal organization to 
carry out such project. Costs of the project which would not otherwise 
be included as expenditures of a program operating under section 455(f) 
and which are not included as part of the costs of projects under 
section 1110, shall, to the extent and for the period prescribed by the 
Secretary, be regarded as expenditures under a tribal plan or plans 
approved under such section, or for the administration of such tribal 
plan or plans, as may be appropriate. An Indian tribe or tribal 
organization applying for or receiving start-up program development 
funding pursuant to section 309.16 of title 45, Code of Federal 
Regulations, shall not be considered to be an Indian tribe or tribal 
organization operating a program under section 455(f) for purposes of 
this paragraph.''.

    (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 453(f) (42 U.S.C. 653(f)) is 
amended by inserting ``and tribal'' after ``State'' each place it 
appears.
SEC. 303. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING OFFERING OF VOLUNTARY 
                        PARENTING TIME ARRANGEMENTS.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) The separation of a child from a parent does not end the 
        financial or other responsibilities of the parent toward the 
        child.
            (2) Increased parental access and visitation not only 
        improve parent-child relationships and outcomes for children, 
        but also have been demonstrated to result in improved child 
        support collections, which creates a double win for children--a 
        more engaged parent and improved financial security.

    (b) Sense of the Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) establishing parenting time arrangements when obtaining 
        child support orders is an important goal which should be 
        accompanied by strong family violence safeguards; and
            (2) States should use existing funding sources to support 
        the establishment of parenting time arrangements, including 
        child support incentives, Access and Visitation Grants, and 
        Healthy Marriage Promotion and Responsible Fatherhood Grants.

[[Page 128 STAT. 1947]]

SEC. 304. DATA EXCHANGE STANDARDIZATION FOR IMPROVED 
                        INTEROPERABILITY.

    (a) In General.--Section 452 (42 U.S.C. 652), as amended by section 
301(a)(1) of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(o) Data Exchange Standards for Improved Interoperability.--
            ``(1) <<NOTE: Consultation.>>  Designation.--The Secretary 
        shall, in consultation with an interagency work group 
        established by the Office of Management and Budget and 
        considering State government perspectives, by rule, designate 
        data exchange standards to govern, under this part--
                    ``(A) necessary categories of information that State 
                agencies operating programs under State plans approved 
                under this part are required under applicable Federal 
                law to electronically exchange with another State 
                agency; and
                    ``(B) Federal reporting and data exchange required 
                under applicable Federal law.
            ``(2) Requirements.--The data exchange standards required by 
        paragraph (1) shall, to the extent practicable--
                    ``(A) incorporate a widely accepted, non-
                proprietary, searchable, computer-readable format, such 
                as the eXtensible Markup Language;
                    ``(B) contain interoperable standards developed and 
                maintained by intergovernmental partnerships, such as 
                the National Information Exchange Model;
                    ``(C) incorporate interoperable standards developed 
                and maintained by Federal entities with authority over 
                contracting and financial assistance;
                    ``(D) be consistent with and implement applicable 
                accounting principles;
                    ``(E) be implemented in a manner that is cost-
                effective and improves program efficiency and 
                effectiveness; and
                    ``(F) be capable of being continually upgraded as 
                necessary.
            ``(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
        shall be construed to require a change to existing data exchange 
        standards found to be effective and efficient.''.

    (b) <<NOTE: Regulations. Deadline. 42 USC 652 note.>>  Effective 
Date.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue a proposed 
rule within 24 months after the date of the enactment of this section. 
The rule shall identify federally required data exchanges, include 
specification and timing of exchanges to be standardized, and address 
the factors used in determining whether and when to standardize data 
exchanges. It should also specify State implementation options and 
describe future milestones.
SEC. 305. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall--
            (1) <<NOTE: Review. Recommenda- tions.>>  in conjunction 
        with the strategic plan, review and provide recommendations for 
        cost-effective improvements to the child support enforcement 
        program under part D of title IV of the Social Security Act, and 
        ensure that the plan addresses the effectiveness and performance 
        of the program, analyzes program practices, identifies possible 
        new collection tools and approaches, and identifies strategies 
        for holding parents accountable for supporting their children 
        and for building the

[[Page 128 STAT. 1948]]

        capacity of parents to pay child support, with specific 
        attention given to matters including front-end services, on-
        going case management, collections, Tribal-State partnerships, 
        interstate and intergovernmental interactions, program 
        performance, data analytics, and information technology;
            (2) <<NOTE: Consultation.>>  in carrying out paragraph (1), 
        consult with and include input from--
                    (A) State, tribal, and county child support 
                directors;
                    (B) judges who preside over family courts or other 
                State or local courts with responsibility for conducting 
                or supervising proceedings relating to child support 
                enforcement, child welfare, or social services for 
                children and their families, and organizations that 
                represent the judges;
                    (C) custodial parents and organizations that 
                represent them;
                    (D) noncustodial parents and organizations that 
                represent them; and
                    (E) organizations that represent fiduciary entities 
                that are affected by child support enforcement policies; 
                and
            (3) in developing the report required by paragraph (4), 
        solicit public comment;
            (4) not later than June 30, 2015, submit to the Congress a 
        report that sets forth policy options for improvements in child 
        support enforcement, which report shall include the following:
                    (A) A review of the effectiveness of State child 
                support enforcement programs, and the collection 
                practices employed by State agencies administering 
                programs under such part, and an analysis of the extent 
                to which the practices result in unintended consequences 
                or performance issues associated with the programs and 
                practices.
                    (B) Recommendations for methods to enhance the 
                effectiveness of child support enforcement programs and 
                collection practices.
                    (C) A review of State best practices in regards to 
                establishing and operating State and multistate lien 
                registries.
                    (D) A compilation of State recovery and distribution 
                policies.
                    (E) Options, with analysis, for methods to engage 
                noncustodial parents in the lives of their children 
                through consideration of parental time and visitation 
                with children.
                    (F) An analysis of the role of alternative dispute 
                resolution in making child support determinations.
                    (G) Identification of best practices for--
                          (i) determining which services and support 
                      programs available to custodial and noncustodial 
                      parents are non-duplicative, evidence-based, and 
                      produce quality outcomes, and connecting custodial 
                      and noncustodial parents to those services and 
                      support programs;
                          (ii) providing employment support, job 
                      training, and job placement for custodial and 
                      noncustodial parents; and
                          (iii) establishing services, supports, and 
                      child support payment tracking for noncustodial 
                      parents,

[[Page 128 STAT. 1949]]

                      including options for the prevention of, and 
                      intervention on, uncollectible arrearages, such as 
                      retroactive obligations.
                    (H) Options, with analysis, for methods for States 
                to use to collect child support payments from 
                individuals who owe excessive arrearages as determined 
                under section 454(31) of such Act.
                    (I) A review of State practices under 454(31) of 
                such Act used to determine which individuals are 
                excluded from the requirements of section 452(k) of such 
                Act, including the extent to which individuals are able 
                to successfully contest or appeal decisions.
                    (J) Options, with analysis, for actions as are 
                determined to be appropriate for improvement in child 
                support enforcement.
SEC. 306. REQUIRED ELECTRONIC PROCESSING OF INCOME WITHHOLDING.

    (a) In General.--Section 454A(g)(1) (42 U.S.C. 654a(g)(1)(A)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``, to the maximum extent feasible,''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i);
                    (B) by adding ``and'' at the end of clause (ii); and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                          ``(iii) at the option of the employer, using 
                      the electronic transmission methods prescribed by 
                      the Secretary;''.

    (b) <<NOTE: 42 USC 654a note.>>  Effective Date.--The amendments 
made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2015.

                       TITLE IV--BUDGETARY EFFECTS

SEC. 401. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

    The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with 
the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by 
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO 
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the

[[Page 128 STAT. 1950]]

Congressional Record by the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, 
provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on 
passage.

    Approved September 29, 2014.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4980:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 160 (2014):
            July 23, considered and passed House.
            Sept. 18, considered and passed Senate.

                                  <all>