§629h. Entitlement funding for State courts to assess and improve handling of proceedings relating to foster care and adoption

(a) In general

The Secretary shall make grants, in accordance with this section, to the highest State courts in States participating in the program under part E of this subchapter, for the purpose of enabling such courts-

(1) to conduct assessments, in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary shall publish, of the role, responsibilities, and effectiveness of State courts in carrying out State laws requiring proceedings (conducted by or under the supervision of the courts)-

(A) that implement this part and part E of this subchapter;

(B) that determine the advisability or appropriateness of foster care placement;

(C) that determine whether to terminate parental rights;

(D) that determine whether to approve the adoption or other permanent placement of a child; ¹

(E) that determine the best strategy to use to expedite the interstate placement of children, including-

(i) requiring courts in different States to cooperate in the sharing of information;

(ii) authorizing courts to obtain information and testimony from agencies and parties in other States without requiring interstate travel by the agencies and parties; and

(iii) permitting the participation of parents, children, other necessary parties, and attorneys in cases involving interstate placement without requiring their interstate travel; and ²

(2) to implement improvements the highest state ³ courts deem necessary as a result of the assessments, including-

(A) to provide for the safety, well-being, and permanence of children in foster care, as set forth in the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–89); and

(B) to implement a corrective action plan, as necessary, resulting from reviews of child and family service programs under section 1320a–2a of this title;

(3) to ensure that the safety, permanence, and well-being needs of children are met in a timely and complete manner; and

(4) to provide for the training of judges, attorneys and other legal personnel in child welfare cases.

(b) Applications

(1) In general

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, 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-

(A) in the case of a grant for the purpose described in subsection (a)(3), a description of how courts and child welfare agencies on the local and State levels will 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;

(B) in the case of a grant for the purpose described in subsection (a)(4), a demonstration that a portion of the grant will be used for cross-training initiatives that are jointly planned and executed with the State agency or any other agency under contract with the State to administer the State program under the State plan under subpart 1, the State plan approved under section 629d of this title, or the State plan approved under part E; and

(C) in the case of a grant for any purpose described in subsection (a), a demonstration of meaningful and ongoing collaboration among the courts in the State, the State agency or any other agency under contract with the State who is responsible for administering the State program under this part or part E, and, where applicable, Indian tribes.

(2) Separate applications

A highest State court desiring grants under this section for 2 or more purposes shall submit separate applications for the following grants:

(A) A grant for the purposes described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a).

(B) A grant for the purpose described in subsection (a)(3).

(C) A grant for the purpose described in subsection (a)(4).

(c) Allotments

(1) Grants to assess and improve handling of court proceedings relating to foster care and adoption

(A) In general

Each highest State court which has an application approved under subsection (b) of this section for a grant described in subsection (b)(2)(A) of this section, and is conducting assessment and improvement activities in accordance with this section, shall be entitled to payment, for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2011, from the amount reserved pursuant to section 629f(b)(2) of this title (and the amount, if any, reserved pursuant to section 629g(b)(2) of this title), of an amount equal to the sum of $85,000 plus the amount described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph for the fiscal year.

(B) Formula

The amount described in this subparagraph for any fiscal year is the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount reserved pursuant to section 629f(b)(2) of this title (and the amount, if any, reserved pursuant to section 629g(b)(2) of this title) for the fiscal year (reduced by the dollar amount specified in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for the fiscal year) as the number of individuals in the State who have not attained 21 years of age bears to the total number of such individuals in all States the highest State courts of which have approved applications under subsection (b) for such a grant.

(2) Grants for improved data collection and training

(A) In general

Each highest State court which has an application approved under subsection (b) of this section for a grant referred to in subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (b)(2) shall be entitled to payment, for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010, from the amount made available under whichever of paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (e) applies with respect to the grant, of an amount equal to the sum of $85,000 plus the amount described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph for the fiscal year with respect to the grant.

(B) Formula

The amount described in this subparagraph for any fiscal year with respect to a grant referred to in subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (b)(2) is the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount made available under subsection (e) for such a grant (reduced by the dollar amount specified in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph) as the number of individuals in the State who have not attained 21 years of age bears to the total number of such individuals in all States the highest State courts of which have approved applications under subsection (b) for such a grant.

(d) Federal share

Each highest State court which receives funds paid under this section may use such funds to pay not more than 75 percent of the cost of activities under this section in each of fiscal years 2002 through 2011.

(e) Funding for grants for improved data collection and training

Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary, for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010-

(1) $10,000,000 for grants referred to in subsection (b)(2)(B); and

(2) $10,000,000 for grants referred to in subsection (b)(2)(C).

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, §438, formerly Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, §13712, Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 655 , as amended Pub. L. 105–89, title III, §305(a)(3), Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2130 ; renumbered §438 of act Aug. 14, 1935, and amended Pub. L. 107–133, title I, §107, Jan. 17, 2002, 115 Stat. 2418 ; Pub. L. 109–171, title VII, §7401(a), Feb. 8, 2006, 120 Stat. 148 ; Pub. L. 109–239, §§8(b), 9, July 3, 2006, 120 Stat. 513 ; Pub. L. 109–288, §9, Sept. 28, 2006, 120 Stat. 1255 .)

References in Text

Part E of this subchapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b)(1)(B), (C), is classified to section 670 et seq. of this title.

The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(A), is Pub. L. 105–89, Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2115 , as amended. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1997 Amendment note set out under section 1305 of this title and Tables.

Subpart 1, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(B), is classified to section 620 et seq. of this title.

Codification

Section was formerly set out as a note under section 670 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 107–133.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 438 of act Aug. 14, 1935, was classified to section 638 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–485.

Amendments

2006-Subsec. (a)(1)(E). Pub. L. 109–239, §9, added subpar. (E).

Subsec. (a)(3), (4). Pub. L. 109–171, §7401(a)(1), added pars. (3) and (4).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–239, §8(b), which directed amendment of subsec. (b) by inserting "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, and" after "highest State court", was executed by making the insertion after "highest State court" in introductory provisions of par. (1), to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 109–171, §7401(a)(2), amended heading and text of subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "In order to be eligible for a grant under this section, a highest State court shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and including such information and assurances as the Secretary shall require."

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–171, §7401(a)(3), designated existing provisions as par. (1) and inserted heading, redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, of par. (1), in subpar. (A), inserted "of this section for a grant described in subsection (b)(2)(A) of this section" after "subsection (b)" and substituted "subparagraph (B) of this paragraph" for "paragraph (2) of this subsection", in subpar. (B), substituted "this subparagraph" for "this paragraph" and "subparagraph (A) of this paragraph" for "paragraph (1) of this subsection" and inserted "for such a grant" after "subsection (b)", and added par. (2).

Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 109–288 substituted "2011" for "2006".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–288 substituted "2011" for "2006".

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–171, §7401(a)(4), added subsec. (e).

2002-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–133, §107(d)(1)(A), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to part E of this subchapter.

Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 107–133, §107(d)(1)(B), made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to this part and part E of this subchapter.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 107–133, §107(a)(1), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: "to implement changes deemed necessary as a result of the assessments."

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 107–133, §107(a)(2), (b), inserted "and improvement" after "assessment" and substituted "for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006, from the amount reserved pursuant to section 629f(b)(2) of this title (and the amount, if any, reserved pursuant to section 629g(b)(2) of this title), of an amount equal to the sum of $85,000 plus the amount described in paragraph (2) of this subsection for the fiscal year." for "for each of fiscal years 1995 through 2001, from amounts reserved pursuant to section 629(d)(2) of this title, of an amount equal to the sum of-

"(A) for fiscal year 1995, $75,000 plus the amount described in paragraph (2) for fiscal year 1995; and

"(B) for each of fiscal years 1996 through 2001, $85,000 plus the amount described in paragraph (2) for each of such fiscal years."

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 107–133, §107(d)(2), substituted "section 629f(b)(2) of this title (and the amount, if any, reserved pursuant to section 629g(b)(2) of this title)" for "section 629(d)(2) of this title".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–133, §107(c), in heading substituted "Federal share" for "Use of grant funds" and in text substituted "to pay not more than 75 percent of the cost of activities under this section in each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006." for "to pay-

"(1) any or all costs of activities under this section in fiscal year 1995; and

"(2) not more than 75 percent of the cost of activities under this section in each of fiscal years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001."

1997-Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 105–89, §305(a)(3)(A), substituted "2001" for "1998" in introductory provisions and par. (B).

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 105–89, §305(a)(3)(B), substituted "1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001" for "and 1998".

Effective Date of 2006 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 109–288 effective Oct. 1, 2006, and applicable to payments under this part and part E of this subchapter for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, without regard to whether implementing regulations have been promulgated, and with delay permitted if State legislation is required to meet additional requirements, see section 12(a), (b) of Pub. L. 109–288, set out as a note under section 621 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 109–239 effective Oct. 1, 2006, and applicable to payments under this part and part E of this subchapter for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, without regard to whether implementing regulations have been promulgated, and with delay permitted if State legislation is required to meet additional requirements, 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 2002 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–133 effective Jan. 17, 2002, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 301 of Pub. L. 107–133, set out as a note under section 629 of this title.

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

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.

¹ So in original. Probably should be followed by "and".

² So in original. The word "and" probably should not appear.

³ So in original. Probably should be capitalized.