Health and Human Services Department Proposed Rule

2026-16414: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System

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Summary

This document withdraws a proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on January 11, 2008. The proposed rule would have amended the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations at 45 CFR 1355.40 and the appendices to Part 1355 to modify the requirements for States to collect and report data to ACF on children in out-of-home care and in subsidized adoption or guardianship arrangements with the State. This document also withdraws the provision of the 2008 proposed rule that implemented the AFCARS penalty requirements of the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-145).

The agency’s own summary, as published.

The rule, in full

443 words as published, August 12, 2026. View the original →

Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 154 (Wednesday, August 12, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 12, 2026)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 52038-52039] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-16414] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families 45 CFR Part 1356 RIN 0970-AC23 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System

Agency

Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Action

Proposed rule; withdrawal. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

This document withdraws a proposed rule that was published in the [[Page 52039]] Federal Register on January 11, 2008. The proposed rule would have amended the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations at 45 CFR 1355.40 and the appendices to Part 1355 to modify the requirements for States to collect and report data to ACF on children in out-of-home care and in subsidized adoption or guardianship arrangements with the State. This document also withdraws the provision of the 2008 proposed rule that implemented the AFCARS penalty requirements of the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-145).

Dates

The proposed rule published January 11, 2008 (73 FR 2082) is withdrawn effective August 12, 2026.

For Further Information Contact

Adam N. Jones, Deputy Chief of Staff, Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 202-417-0115, or [email protected].

Supplementary Information

ACF published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) related to AFCARS in the Federal Register on January 11, 2008. The proposed rule would have amended the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations at 45 CFR 1355.40 and the appendices to Part 1355 to modify the requirements for States to collect and report data to ACF on children in out-of-home care and in subsidized adoption or guardianship arrangements with the State. The 2008 proposed rule would also have implemented the AFCARS penalty requirements of the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-145). ACF does not intend to publish a final rule following the publication of this NPRM on January 11, 2008. This decision was made due to the fact that the NPRM was published nearly 20 years ago by a prior Administration, and its continued existence on the Federal Register serves to only confuse the public. There have been multiple Administrations spanning this timeframe, with none seeking to finalize this proposed rulemaking. This withdrawal represents good governance and will ease the understandability of current Administration priorities for the public. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services. [FR Doc. 2026-16414 Filed 8-11-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4184-01-P

What this changes

Amends 1 part of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.

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