HR 4602 — COURTS Act

Summary

Continuation of Useful Resources to States Act or the COURTS Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2028, and otherwise makes changes to, the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program, which provides funding to states, territories, and tribes for child and family services. Among other changes, recipients of certain grants to improve child welfare proceedings in court systems must use a minimum percentage of funds on data collection and data sharing activities between the court systems and child welfare agencies. In addition, the bill provides funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Contingency Fund through FY2021.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html October 04, 2019

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill extends the funding timeline for state court grants related to child welfare and makes various modifications to the application process and grant amounts.

• 42 U.S.C. 629f(a)

  2017 through 2021 → 2022 through 2028

  The funding authorization for state courts is extended to cover fiscal years 2022 through 2028.

• 42 U.S.C. 629h(a)(2)(A)

  to provide for the safety, well-being, and permanence of children in foster care in a timely and complete manner, as set forth in the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–89) → in a timely and complete manner, including by training judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel.

  Clarifies that state courts must conduct their responsibilities regarding child welfare with an emphasis on training legal personnel.

• 42 U.S.C. 629h(b)(2)

  (2)

  Removes the requirement related to a specific type of grant application, potentially streamlining the application process.

• 42 U.S.C. 629h(b)

  In order to be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a highest State court shall have in effect a rule requiring State courts to ensure that foster parents, pre-adoptive parents, and relative caregivers of a child in foster care under the responsibility of the State are notified of any proceeding to be held with respect to the child, shall provide for the training of judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel in child welfare cases on Federal child welfare policies and payment limitations with respect to children in foster care who are placed in settings that are not a foster family home, and shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and including such information and assurances as the Secretary may require, including—

  Streamlines the eligibility requirements for state courts to receive funding by removing certain stipulations.

• 42 U.S.C. 629h(b)(1)(A)

  (A) in the case of a grant for the purpose described in subsection (a)(3), → 1)

  Alters the numbering of provisions in the application requirements for clarity.

• 42 U.S.C. 629h(b)(1)(A)

  to collaborate and jointly plan for the collection and sharing of all relevant data and information to demonstrate how improved case tracking and analysis of child abuse and neglect cases will produce safe and timely permanency decisions; → use not less than 30 percent of grant funds to collaborate and jointly plan for the collection and sharing of all relevant data and information to demonstrate how improved case tracking and analysis of child abuse and neglect cases will produce safe and timely permanency decisions;

  Specifies that at least 30 percent of grant funds must be used for collaborative planning and data sharing.

• 42 U.S.C. 629h(b)(1)(B)

  (B) in the case of a grant for the purpose described in subsection (a)(4), → 2)

  Changes the numbering of a provision related to court applications for clarity.

• 42 U.S.C. 629h(b)(1)(C)

  (C) in the case of a grant for the purpose described in subsection (a), → 3)

  Updates the numbering of grant application provisions.

• 42 U.S.C. 629h(c)

  (c) Amount of grant

  Replaces the entire structure of the grant amount determination for clarity and updates.

• 42 U.S.C. 629h(c)(3)

  From the amounts reserved under section 436(b)(2) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall, before applying paragraph (1) of this subsection, allocate $1,000,000 for grants to be awarded on a competitive basis among the highest courts of Indian tribes or tribal consortia that--

  Incorporates a specific allocation for grants to Indian tribes within the grant funding provisions.

• 42 U.S.C. 603(b)(2)

  2018 and all that follows → 2020 $468,000,000, and for fiscal year 2021 such sums as are necessary for payment to the Fund in a total amount not to exceed $608,000,000.

  Updates funding provisions for the TANF Contingency Fund.

Action History

1. October 04, 2019

   Introduced in House

2. October 04, 2019

   Introduced in House

3. October 04, 2019

   Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

4. October 04, 2019

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.

Sponsors

• Kevin Brady · Primary

Subjects