§ 671. State plan for foster care and adoption assistance

Pub. L. 109–248, title I, § 152(c), July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 609, provided that: “(1) General.—The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on October 1, 2006, and shall apply with respect to payments under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.] for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, without regard to whether regulations to implement the amendments are promulgated by such date. “(2) Elimination of opt-out.—The amendments made by subsection (b) [amending this section] shall take effect on October 1, 2008, and shall apply with respect to payments under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, without regard to whether regulations to implement the amendments are promulgated by such date. “(3) 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 under section 471 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 671] to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by a subsection of this section, the plan shall not be regarded as failing to meet any of the additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the otherwise applicable effective date of the amendments. 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.”

Amendment by Pub. L. 109–239 effective Oct. 1, 2006, except as otherwise provided, and applicable to payments under this part and part B of this subchapter for calendar quarters beginning on or after Oct. 1, 2006, without regard to whether regulations have been promulgated by Oct. 1, 2006, and with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 14 of Pub. L. 109–239, set out as a note under section 622 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 109–171 effective as if enacted on Oct. 1, 2005, except as otherwise provided, see section 7701 of Pub. L. 109–171, set out as a note under section 603 of this title.

Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–169, title I, § 112(b), Dec. 14, 1999, 113 Stat. 1829, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on October 1, 1999.”

Amendment by section 401(o) of Pub. L. 106–169 effective as if included in the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–193, see section 401(q) of Pub. L. 106–169, set out as a note under section 602 of this title.

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–200, title III, § 301(d), July 16, 1998, 112 Stat. 658, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 674 of this title] shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 202 of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–89; 111 Stat. 2125) [see Effective Date of 1997 Amendments note below].”

Effective Date of 1997 Amendments

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–89 effective Nov. 19, 1997, except as otherwise provided, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 501 of Pub. L. 105–89, set out as a note under section 622 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–33 effective as if included in the enactment of title V of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–193, see section 5593 of Pub. L. 105–33, set out as a note under section 622 of this title.

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by section 108(d)(2) of Pub. L. 104–193 effective July 1, 1997, with transition rules relating to State options to accelerate such date, rules relating to claims, actions, and proceedings commenced before such date, rules relating to closing out of accounts for terminated or substantially modified programs and continuance in office of Assistant Secretary for Family Support, and provisions relating to termination of entitlement under AFDC program, see section 116 of Pub. L. 104–193, as amended, set out as an Effective Date note under section 601 of this title.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–432, title II, § 203(c)(2), Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4456, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (b) [amending this section] shall take effect on October 1, 1995.”

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–66 effective with respect to calendar quarters beginning on or after Oct. 1, 1993, see section 13711(c) of Pub. L. 103–66, set out as a note under section 622 of this title.

Effective Date of 1990 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–508, title V, § 5054(c), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–229, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 602 of this title] shall apply with respect to benefits for months beginning on or after the first day of the 6th calendar month following the month in which this Act is enacted [November 1990].”

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–485, title II, § 204, Oct. 13, 1988, 102 Stat. 2381, provided that: “(a) In General.—Except as provided in subsection (b), the amendments made by this title [enacting sections 681 to 687 of this title, amending this section, sections 602, 603, 607, 1308, 1396a, and 1396s of this title, and section 51 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, repealing sections 609, 614, 630 to 632, and 633 to 645 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 681 of this title] shall become effective on October 1, 1990. “(b) Special Rules.—(1)(A) If any State makes the changes in its State plan approved under section 402 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 602] that are required in order to carry out the amendments made by this title and formally notifies the Secretary of Health and Human Services of its desire to become subject to such amendments as of the first day of any calendar quarter beginning on or after the date on which the proposed regulations of the Secretary of Health and Human Services are published under section 203(a) [42 U.S.C. 671 note] (or, if earlier, the date on which such regulations are required to be published under such section) and before October 1, 1990, such amendments shall become effective with respect to that State as of such first day. “(B) In the case of any State in which the amendments made by this title become effective (in accordance with subparagraph (A)) with respect to any quarter of a fiscal year beginning before October 1, 1990, the limitation applicable to the State for the fiscal year under section 403(k)(2) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 603(k)(2)] (as added by section 201(c)(1) of this Act) shall be an amount that bears the same ratio to such limitation (as otherwise determined with respect to the State for the fiscal year) as the number of quarters in the fiscal year throughout which such amendments apply to the State bears to 4. “(2) Section 403(l)(3) of the Social Security Act [section 603(l)(3) of this title] (as added by section 201(c)(2) of this Act) is repealed effective October 1, 1995 (except that subparagraph (A) of such section 403(l)(3) shall remain in effect for purposes of applying any reduction in payment rates required by such subparagraph for any of the fiscal years specified therein); and section 403(l)(4) of such Act (as so added) is repealed effective October 1, 1998. “(3) Subsections (a), (c), and (d) of section 203 of this Act [42 U.S.C. 671 note, 681 notes], and section 486 of the Social Security Act [former 42 U.S.C. 686] (as added by section 201(b) of this Act), shall become effective on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 13, 1988].”

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–514 applicable only with respect to expenditures made after Dec. 31, 1986, see section 1711(d) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 670 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–378 effective Oct. 1, 1984, and applicable to collections made on or after that date, see section 11(e) of Pub. L. 98–378, set out as a note under section 654 of this title.

Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–248 effective Oct. 1, 1981, see section 160(e) of Pub. L. 97–248, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–35 effective Oct. 1, 1981, except as otherwise explicitly provided, see section 2354 of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1397 of this title.

Regulations

Pub. L. 110–351, title III, § 301(e), Oct. 7, 2008, 122 Stat. 3970, provided that: “(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section [Oct. 7, 2008], the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with Indian tribes, tribal organizations, tribal consortia, and affected States, shall promulgate interim final regulations to carry out this section [enacting section 679c of this title and amending this section and sections 672, 674, and 677 of this title] and the amendments made by this section. Such regulations shall include procedures to ensure that a transfer of responsibility for the placement and care of a child under a State plan approved under section 471 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 671] to a tribal plan approved under section 471 of such Act in accordance with section 479B of such Act [42 U.S.C. 679c] (as added by subsection (a)(1) of this section) or to an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a tribal consortium that has entered into a cooperative agreement or contract with a State for the administration or payment of funds under part E of title IV of such Act [42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.] does not affect the eligibility of, provision of services for, or the making of payments on behalf of, such children under part E of title IV of such Act, or the eligibility of such children for medical assistance under title XIX of such Act [42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.]. “(2) In-kind expenditures from third-party sources for purposes of determining non-federal share of administrative and training expenditures.—“(A) In general.—Subject to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, not later than September 30, 2011, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal consortia, shall promulgate interim final regulations specifying the types of in-kind expenditures, including plants, equipment, administration, and services, and the third-party sources for such in-kind expenditures which may be claimed by tribes, organizations, and consortia with plans approved under section 471 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 671] in accordance with section 479B of such Act [42 U.S.C. 679c], up to such percentages as the Secretary, in such consultation shall specify in such regulations, for purposes of determining the non-Federal share of administrative and training expenditures for which the tribes, organizations, and consortia may receive payments for [sic] under any subparagraph of section 474(a)(3) of such Act [42 U.S.C. 674(a)(3)]. “(B) Effective date.—In no event shall the regulations required to be promulgated under subparagraph (A) take effect prior to October 1, 2011. “(C) Sense of the congress.—It is the sense of the Congress that if the Secretary of Health and Human Services fails to publish in the Federal Register the regulations required under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the Congress should enact legislation specifying the types of in-kind expenditures and the third-party sources for such in-kind expenditures which may be claimed by tribes, organizations, and consortia with plans approved under section 471 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 671] in accordance with section 479B of such Act [42 U.S.C. 679c], up to specific percentages, for purposes of determining the non-Federal share of administrative and training expenditures for which the tribes, organizations, and consortia may receive payments for [sic] under any subparagraph of section 474(a)(3) of such Act [42 U.S.C. 674(a)(3)].”

Pub. L. 100–485, title II, § 203(a), Oct. 13, 1988, 102 Stat. 2378, provided that: “Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 13, 1988], the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘Secretary’) shall issue proposed regulations for the purpose of implementing the amendments made by this title [see Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note above], including regulations establishing uniform data collection requirements. The Secretary shall publish final regulations for such purpose not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. Regulations issued under this subsection shall be developed by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and with the responsible State agencies described in section 482(a)(2) of the Social Security Act [former 42 U.S.C. 682(a)(2)].”

Construction of 2014 Amendment

Pub. L. 113–183, title II, § 209(b), Sept. 29, 2014, 128 Stat. 1941, provided that: “Nothing in this section [amending this section and section 675 of this title] 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.”

Construction of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–351, title III, § 301(d), Oct. 7, 2008, 122 Stat. 3970, provided that: “Nothing in the amendments made by this section [enacting section 679c of this title and amending this section and sections 672, 674, and 677 of this title] shall be construed as— “(1) authorization to terminate funding on behalf of any Indian child receiving foster care maintenance payments or adoption assistance payments on the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 7, 2008] and for which the State receives Federal matching payments under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 474(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 674(a)), regardless of whether a cooperative agreement or contract between the State and an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium is in effect on such date or an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium elects subsequent to such date to operate a program under section 479B of such Act [42 U.S.C. 679c] (as added by subsection (a) of this section); or “(2) affecting the responsibility of a State—“(A) as part of the plan approved under section 471 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 671), to provide foster care maintenance payments, adoption assistance payments, and if the State elects, kinship guardianship assistance payments, for Indian children who are eligible for such payments and who are not otherwise being served by an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium pursuant to a program under such section 479B of such Act or a cooperative agreement or contract entered into between an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a tribal consortium and a State for the administration or payment of funds under part E of title IV of such Act [42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.]; or “(B) as part of the plan approved under section 477 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 677) to administer, supervise, or oversee programs carried out under that plan on behalf of Indian children who are eligible for such programs if such children are not otherwise being served by an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal consortium pursuant to an approved plan under section 477(j) of such Act [42 U.S.C. 677(j)] or a cooperative agreement or contract entered into under section 477(b)(3)(G) of such Act [42 U.S.C. 677(b)(3)(G)].”

Preventing Aging out of Foster Care During the Pandemic

Pub. L. 116–260, div. X, § 4, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2411, provided that: “(a) Addressing Foster Care Age Restrictions During the Pandemic.—A State operating a program under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 670 et seq.] may not require a child who is in foster care under the responsibility of the State to leave foster care solely by reason of the child’s age. A child may not be found ineligible for foster care maintenance payments under section 472 of such Act [42 U.S.C. 672] solely due to the age of the child or the failure of the child to meet a condition of section 475(8)(B)(iv) of such Act [42 U.S.C. 675(8)(B)(iv)] before October 1, 2021. “(b) Re-entry to Foster Care for Youth Who Age Out During the Pandemic.—A State operating a program under the State plan approved under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act (and without regard to whether the State has exercised the option provided by section 475(8)(B) of such Act to extend assistance under such part to older children) shall—“(1) permit any youth who left foster care due to age during the COVID–19 public health emergency to voluntarily re-enter foster care; “(2) provide to each such youth who was formally discharged from foster care during the COVID–19 public health emergency, a notice designed to make the youth aware of the option to return to foster care; “(3) facilitate the voluntary return of any such youth to foster care; and “(4) conduct a public awareness campaign about the option to voluntarily re-enter foster care for youth who have not attained 22 years of age, who aged out of foster care in fiscal year 2020 or fiscal year 2021, and who are otherwise eligible to return to foster care. “(c) Protections for Youth in Foster Care.—A State operating a program under the State plan approved under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act shall—“(1) continue to ensure that the safety, permanence, and well-being needs of older foster youth, including youth who remain in foster care and youth who age out of foster care during that period but who re-enter foster care pursuant to this section, are met; and “(2) work with any youth who remains in foster care after attaining 18 years of age (or such greater age as the State may have elected under section 475(8)(B)(iii) of such Act) to develop, or review and revise, a transition plan consistent with the plan referred to in section 475(5)(H) of such Act [42 U.S.C. 675(5)(H)], and assist the youth with identifying adults who can offer meaningful, permanent connections. “(d) Authority to Use Additional Funding for Certain Costs Incurred to Prevent Aging Out of, Facilitating Re-entry to, and Protecting Youth in Care During the Pandemic.—“(1) In general.—Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a State to which additional funds are made available as a result of section 3(a) [section 3(a) of div. X of Pub. L. 116–260, set out in a note under section 677 of this title] may use the funds to meet any costs incurred in complying with subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section. “(2) Restrictions.—“(A) The costs referred to in paragraph (1) must be incurred after the date of the enactment of this section [Dec. 27, 2020] and before October 1, 2021. “(B) The costs of complying with subsection (a) or (c) of this section must not be incurred on behalf of children eligible for foster care maintenance payments under section 472 of the Social Security Act, including youth who have attained 18 years of age who are eligible for the payments by reason of the temporary waiver of the age requirement or the conditions of section 475(8)(B)(iv) of such Act. “(C) A State shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that eligibility for foster care maintenance payments under section 472 of the Social Security Act is determined when a youth remains in, or re-enters, foster care as a result of the State complying with subsections (a) and (c) of this section. “(D) A child who re-enters care during the COVID–19 public health emergency period may not be found ineligible for foster care maintenance payments under section 472 of the Social Security Act solely due to age or the requirements of section 475(8)(B)(iv) of such Act before October 1, 2021. “(e) Termination of Certain Provisions.—The preceding provisions of this section shall have no force or effect after September 30, 2021.”

[For definitions of “COVID–19 public health emergency” and “COVID–19 public health emergency period” as used in section 4 of div. X of Pub. L. 116–260, set out above, see section 2 of div. X of Pub. L. 116–260, set out as a note under section 629h of this title.]

Identification of Reputable Model Licensing Standards

Pub. L. 115–123, div. E, title VII, § 50731(a), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 251, provided that: “Not later than October 1, 2018, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall identify reputable model licensing standards with respect to the licensing of foster family homes (as defined in section 472(c)(1) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 672(c)(1)]).”

Technical Assistance

Pub. L. 113–183, title I, § 111(a)(3), Sept. 29, 2014, 128 Stat. 1924, provided that: “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).”

No Federal Funding to Unlawfully Present Individuals

Pub. L. 110–351, title V, § 503, Oct. 7, 2008, 122 Stat. 3981, provided that: “Nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 2008 Amendment note set out under section 1305 of this title] shall be construed to alter prohibitions on Federal payments to individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States.”

Preservation of Reasonable Parenting

Pub. L. 105–89, title IV, § 401, Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2133, provided that: “Nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 1997 Amendment note set out under section 1305 of this title] is intended to disrupt the family unnecessarily or to intrude inappropriately into family life, to prohibit the use of reasonable methods of parental discipline, or to prescribe a particular method of parenting.”

Reporting Requirements

Pub. L. 105–89, title IV, § 402, Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2134, provided that: “Any information required to be reported under this Act [see Short Title of 1997 Amendment note set out under section 1305 of this title] shall be supplied to the Secretary of Health and Human Services through data meeting the requirements of the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System established pursuant to section 479 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 679), to the extent such data is available under that system. The Secretary shall make such modifications to regulations issued under section 479 of such Act with respect to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System as may be necessary to allow States to obtain data that meets the requirements of such system in order to satisfy the reporting requirements of this Act.”

Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products

Pub. L. 105–89, title IV, § 406, Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2135, provided that: “(a) In General.—It is the sense of the Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equipment and products purchased with funds made available under this Act [see Short Title of 1997 Amendment note set out under section 1305 of this title] should be American-made. “(b) Notice Requirement.—In providing financial assistance to, or entering into any contract with, any entity using funds made available under this Act, the head of each Federal agency, to the greatest extent practicable, shall provide to such entity a notice describing the statement made in subsection (a) by the Congress.”