COURTS Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 4514 To amend subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to extend State court funding for child welfare, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 Mr. BRADY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend subpart 2 of part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to extend State court funding for child welfare, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Continuation of Useful 4 Resources to States Act’’ or ‘‘COURTS Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF STATE COURT FUNDING FOR CHILD 6 WELFARE. 7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 436(a) of the Social Secu- 8 rity Act (42 U.S.C. 629f) is amended by striking ‘‘2017 9 through 2021’’ and inserting ‘‘2022 through 2028’’. 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:39 Oct 04, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4514.IH H4514 jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 4514 IH (b) PROGRAM CHANGES.—Section 438 of such Act 1 (42 U.S.C. 629h) is amended— 2 (1) in subsection (a)— 3 (A) in paragraph (2)— 4 (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 5 ‘‘in a timely and complete manner’’ before 6 ‘‘, as set forth’’; and 7 (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 8 the semicolon and inserting ‘‘, including by 9 training judges, attorneys, and other legal 10 personnel.’’; and 11 (B) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4); 12 (2) in subsection (b)— 13 (A) by striking paragraph (2); 14 (B) by striking all that precedes ‘‘be eligi- 15 ble to receive’’ and inserting the following: 16 ‘‘(b) APPLICATIONS.—In order to’’; and 17 (C) in the matter preceding paragraph 18 (2)— 19 (i) by moving the matter 2 ems to the 20 left; 21 (ii) in subparagraph (A)— 22 (I) by striking ‘‘(A) in the case of 23 a grant for the purpose described in 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:39 Oct 04, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4514.IH H4514 jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 4514 IH subsection (a)(3),’’ and inserting 1 ‘‘(1)’’; and 2 (II) by inserting ‘‘use not less 3 than 30 percent of grant funds to’’ 4 before ‘‘collaborate’’; 5 (iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 6 ‘‘(B) in the case of a grant for the purpose 7 described in subsection (a)(4),’’ and insert- 8 ing ‘‘(2)’’; and 9 (iv) in subparagraph (C), by striking 10 ‘‘(C) in the case of a grant for the purpose 11 described in subsection (a),’’ and inserting 12 ‘‘(3)’’; 13 (3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the 14 following: 15 ‘‘(c) AMOUNT OF GRANT.— 16 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—From the amounts reserved 17 under sections 436(b)(2) and 437(b)(2) for a fiscal 18 year, each highest State court that has an applica- 19 tion approved under this section for the fiscal year 20 shall be entitled to payment of an amount equal to 21 the sum of— 22 ‘‘(A) $255,000; and 23 ‘‘(B) the amount described in paragraph 24 (2) with respect to the court and the fiscal year. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:39 Oct 04, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4514.IH H4514 jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 4514 IH ‘‘(2) AMOUNT DESCRIBED.—The amount de- 1 scribed in this paragraph with respect to a court and 2 a fiscal year is the amount that bears the same ratio 3 to the total of the amounts reserved under sections 4 436(b)(2) and 437(b)(2) for grants under this sec- 5 tion for the fiscal year (after applying paragraphs 6 (1)(A) and (3) of this subsection) as the number of 7 individuals in the State in which the court is located 8 who have not attained 21 years of age bears to the 9 total number of such individuals in all States with 10 a highest State court that has an approved applica- 11 tion under this section for the fiscal year. 12 ‘‘(3) INDIAN TRIBES.—From the amounts re- 13 served under section 436(b)(2) for a fiscal year, the 14 Secretary shall, before applying paragraph (1) of 15 this subsection, allocate $1,000,000 for grants to be 16 awarded on a competitive basis among the highest 17 courts of Indian tribes or tribal consortia that— 18 ‘‘(A) are operating a program under part 19 E, in accordance with section 479B; 20 ‘‘(B) are seeking to operate a program 21 under part E and have received an implementa- 22 tion grant under section 476; or 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:39 Oct 04, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4514.IH H4514 jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 4514 IH ‘‘(C) have a court responsible for pro- 1 ceedings related to foster care or adoption.’’; 2 and 3 (4) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘2017 through 4 2021’’ and inserting ‘‘2018 through 2022’’. 5 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 6 this section shall take effect on October 1, 2019. 7 SEC. 3. ADJUSTMENT TO THE TANF CONTINGENCY FUND 8 FOR STATE WELFARE PROGRAMS. 9 Section 403(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 10 U.S.C. 603(b)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘2018’’ and all 11 that follows and inserting ‘‘2020 $468,000,000, and for 12 fiscal year 2021 such sums as are necessary for payment 13 to the Fund in a total amount not to exceed 14 $608,000,000’’. 15 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:39 Oct 04, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H4514.IH H4514 jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS